Of Jade and Dragons follows Ying, a young woman who disguises herself as a man to enroll as a candidate in the prestigious Engineers Guild in the hopes of uncovering the truth about her father’s suspicious murder.

As soon as I heard this described as a Mulan reimagining I was so in! I also really enjoy an academic setting, so seeing Ying figure out life in the guild was my favorite part.

Unfortunately, the plotting in this felt a bit unsure of itself. I was mostly sold on the silkpunk fantasy elements (although I thought we could’ve gone more in depth on the political conflict and history) but I was definitely not sold on the romantic elements. The romance felt stiff and lacked that tense, yearning quality that I look for. Overall, it felt like we were skimming over things that should’ve been more important and then over-explaining things that weren’t.

The ending was action-packed, but it didn’t leave me feeling excited to pick up book 2.

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a great debut novel about an 18 year old aspiring engineer named Ying, who goes on a quest for revenge after witnessing her dad’s murder. The young woman is able to go undercover to find the truth about her father’s death it has different challenges and there are unlikely alliances made throughout the novel. The characters are well written, there are plot twists, great world building, ethical dilemmas, mystery and romance.

Read if you like...
-Mulan (girl disguises herself to get where she wants to go)
-Engineering, but make it fantasy
-She's trying to find her father's killer
-Competition for a place in power
This was a solid debut and start to a new series! The world-building can get a bit confusing; it is a fantasy but it's very engineering-based, so it can take a minute to get a good understanding. I liked our main character, though this is more of a plot-driven story as opposed to being character-driven. There were relationships throughout the story between the competitors, which was nice to read about and offered some lightheartedness, but nothing too deep. I got a bit bored at times, but the ending was exciting and I look forward to the next installment!

A fast start, a slower middle, and a whirlwind ending that will make you want to continue Ying's story.
I loved this authors writing style, it was descriptive but didn't take me out of the story.
The pacing of the book is a little herky jerky and the beginning seemed a little rushed, I wish I could have connected to the MFC before the big event happens. However; you get to have a lot of time with Ying as she develops throughout the book and her journey just really touched me. Ying is such a strong FMC in a different and unique way using more brain than brawn. I loved that this book focused on the learning of engineering aspects and I'd love to see more of the integration of those robotic because they were fascinating.
My largest complaint is I wish this book had a map and character list. We have a lot of locations given in the book and without a map I had no frame of reference where anything was located. Along the same line, we have these very intricate family dynasties that would have been helpful to list out. With the commander having so many wives and children it was a bit hard to keep track of everyone.

Overall this book is a solid YA standard of teenage journey, romance, and epic battle strategies; showcasing that wars aren't just won with brute strength but with a strategic maneuvers.

Just not for me. I found the main character and the plot to be very boring. Felt much more middle grade than YA.

I really liked the concept of the story, it unfortunately just fell a bit flat for me in execution. I had difficulty with the execution, but I think the biggest hindrance was our fmc. It's really hard to get into a story - especially as a very character based reader - when you can't connect with the protagonist, or even are annoyed by them.

This fell really flat for me. The world building was lacking so bad and the fmc was supposed to be an eldest daughter of this great cheiftan but she read as a whiney middle school age kid. This probably would have been much better if the fmc was aged down and it was marketed towards middle grade readers. Plus some of the pacing was just off. Really great concept but just really wasn't that great for me.

Thank you Penguin for the eArc

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at 48 percent. I couldn’t get past two issues, the pacing and how YA it felt. For the pacing, it moved very quickly when it felt like it should be slow and very slowly when it felt like it should’ve been faster. I kept getting confused over how much time we had spent at the engineering guild and it made my reading experience less than pleasant. For the issue of it feeling too YA, I love a good YA but I was expecting a new adult based on the way the book is described, so it being more childish than I was prepared for was a bit of a shock. One more minor issue I had was the main character felt like they were supposed to be a reader self-insert, a character you are supposed to project yourself onto as you read, and that took me out of the immersion a bit. I think I would’ve liked this book more if the synopsis prepared me for the actual content of the book. Besides those things, it was a pretty good book with a solid plot and good, memorable characters and I would recommend giving it a try, just personally it wasn’t my taste.

Did not finish at 8%. I can see the potential of the story but it was not holding my attention. The writing was easy to read and the world building was cool.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange of my honest review.

To be honest when I firsts started reading this one I was not invested at all but slowly started feeling more and more like a historical C-drama set in steampunk times lol idk if it makes any sense but that’s the vibe I got.

I really enjoyed the progression of the story and everything about engineering that the author wrote about. I specially enjoyed the characters and their growth through this first installment. Specially Yin’s growth.

Because I’m a fan of C-dramas I was expecting the twists to be as messed up as they were but idk I guess I was not expecting it from those characters.

I’ll be definitely reading book 2 because I want to know how the author is going to fix what she did and I still feel like we as readers don’t truly know everything that happened and there’s still a hidden reason of why everything went down the way it did.

what a clever story this was. it had so many things i enjoy in a book: a cool setting, an interesting ensemble of characters - the most developed being the main character herself, an intriguing mystery, and most of all, a premise reminiscent of mulan.

ying was such a compelling protagonist to read from. she was firm in her beliefs - that was often at odds with the people around her, and her focus on her goals kept the story grounded. however, not only do we watch her story unfold, but we learn that bigger things are at play around her. this was a refreshing take, and not not just a regurgitated plot i’ve seen a dozen times before.

in terms of criticism, as someone who wants to strongly understand the world building of the story, i did not have a firm grasp of the politics or lore. there were so many clans but we don’t learn their hierarchy in the nine isles. how did the ruling clan become so? what is the history between the empire and antara and why are they at war? solid worldbuilding gives the book more depth and stakes, but this is an area that could’ve been developed more.

also, i wish that the trials into the engineering guild felt like they had a bit more stakes to them, instead of feeling like a series of steps we had to get through to the end. the plot lost a bit of momentum in the middle chunk of the book but the ending was such a thrilling experience.

this was a refreshing start to a series that i will definitely will be continuing on with.

Mulan-inspired? Check. Head-headed MCs? Check. Slow burn? Check. Academia? Check. Betrayal? Check, check, and check. Cliffhanger? More like a second story drop. (Totally bearable.)

If you go into this expecting magic, you’ll be disappointed. There is zero magic (at least, so far) but there are magical feats of engineering; it gives steampunk vibes, but in China. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between the FMC with the MMC and all of friends she makes at the guild. The beginning is a little slow-paced but picks up as she proceeds through her training and uncovers more and more about the circumstances surrounding her father’s death. I absolutely love how she grows into her own while also coming to an understanding with her father’s legacy.

The ending was pretty satisfying for me. No major cliffhanger and just enough to keep me wanting more and looking forward to the story continuing to see how the conflict plays out and how her relationships develop with the MMC, her friends, and her family. I can’t wait to see more of her siblings!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this arc; all opinions are my own.

The novel excitedly begins with a break-in, confrontation and murder of Ying’s father. This propels her to pretend to be her brother at the Engineer’s Guild to ultimately seek justice and revenge for her family.

Overall, thought it has its moments and I’ll read sequel. I couldn’t connect to the romantic pairing(s). Not sure I believed it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review from me.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun take of a Mulan retelling. I loved the world building and all the characters. I got to know their hardships and reasons why they had to do the things they did. There was secrecy, betrayal, love, friendship. Even though there were heavy ties to the war happening it really wasn't too political and war like. The war was still important, but more so in the background of things so I wasn't bored by the politics and war strategies. The romance is very slow burn, no spice, and they don't get a happy ever after. The way this book ends is very open ended, not quite a cliff hanger but it still leaves you wanting more. It felt like the story wasn't finished so I really hope there is more to this story soon. I really want to see the main characters happy even if they don't get together.

After seeing her father murdered, Ying seeks revenge and wants to find out who and why he was killed. She disguises herself as her younger brother to sneak into the engineering guild that her father was apart of and participate in the trials to become guild master. There she makes close friends, tests her wits and everything her father taught her, and finds out the mystery behind his murder. She becomes close to the heir apparent, the eighth prince who helps guide her along the way. Once she finds out everything she must choose between doing what is right and what her heart wants.

Rating: 3.25/5
Overall, I liked the book. A girl goes on a quest to avenge her father and has a chance to meet her goal of joining the Engineers Guild at the same time.

I thought the ending of the book was quite strong and the last quarter of the book is where it really shines. I really liked the relationship between Ying and Ye-kan and the understanding that Ying developed of her father.

The world building is somewhat weak and parts of the plot don't stand up to scrutiny. I had a hard time reconciling the level of industry required for Ying and her father to conduct experiments on their island with them being nomadic herders. Ying's father's position as chieftain is a part of the romantic plot of the book, but otherwise does not make sense (why would you send your future chieftain to learn engineering?). I also wonder if all the airship engineers were part of the Engineers Guild, because if they're only taking 3 students a year and there were at least 20 senior airship engineers, most of those airship engineers must have found a different path to that career.

There are a few parts where the writing is confusing and I had to read a sentence several times to figure out what was being said.

Despite the complaints, I could see myself picking up the second book.

Rating: Enjoyed It, 3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4

I had a really hard time deciding between a 3.5 and 4 stars for this one. Of Jade and Dragons is what I've seen referred to as silk-punk fantasy. Ying has learned a lot about engineering from her father on their remote island. When he is murdered in front of her, she decides to disguise herself as her brother and enter the trials for the Engineering Guild in the hopes of discovering the reason and the people behind it.

On her way to the capital city, she is rescued from a dangerous by Ye-yang, one of the many princes of the kingdom. He decides to sponsor her in her entrance to the all-male engineering guild, even though her discovery would be considered treason.

I had a good time with this book. I definitely think that if I had read this when I was younger, I would have absolutely loved it. The romantic tension for the first 60% or so was on-point, and I mostly enjoyed Ying's character. The plot moves forward at a good pace, and I like the tech elements that are blended into the world. That being said, it was pretty predictable, I was frustrated by the route that the romance went in the last 30-40%, and the character development felt very surface level. I think that what it really came down to was the character interactions. It never really felt like authentic interactions with significant emotions and was more a summary of those interactions. So, telling over showing I suppose.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book, but some of those elements just ultimately didn't work as well for me. I still haven't fully decided how I feel about continuing the series, but I suppose I will have to see when the next book comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Of Jade and Dragons releases on June 18, 2024.

After 18-year-old Ying’s father is murdered, she ventures to the Capital seeking answers and revenge. Following in her father's footsteps, she enters the Engineers Guild apprenticeship trial, however, she is disguised as her brother, as the guild does not allow women to join. Along the way she meets Ye-Yang, one of the princes of the High Command, who ends up becoming an unlikely ally. Keeping a huge secret herself, she doesn't know who she can trust, and wonders if what she's doing would make her father proud.

Things I LOVED about this book

The Mulan vibes – Only men are allowed to be a part of the prestigious Engineer’s Guild, so Ying must pretend to be her younger brother to be able to enter the apprenticeship trial. Ying is such a badass and is extremely loyal to her family, willing to do whatever it takes to figure out what happened to her father.

The Technology – I loved reading about the relay systems of tracks and tubes in the restaurants to deliver the food and about the Chimera, which are beast/machine hybrids.

The Romance – Once or twice, I blushed at something that Ye-yang said. There were only a few scenes between them, but I loved them all!

The Cover - it's beautiful!! I'm obsessed.

Things I didn’t love

The Pacing – It felt a little bit off sometimes - the beginning and ending both felt somewhat rushed. I was wondering how everything was going to be wrapped up at the end when I noticed I was almost finished. There's going to be at least 1 more book though, so I know that

The Romance – I know I put that I loved the romance, but I also wanted more!! I know that it's a YA novel, but I was hoping for more scenes between Ying and Ye-Yang. 'm hoping for more development of this in book 2.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and I can't wait for book 2. Of Jade and Dragons is the Illumicrate June book, and I'm so excited to have a special edition physical copy soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE ENDING BROUGHT IT.

I was minding my own business reading this book, enjoying it, thinking this would be a good four star and I’d be happy to pick up the next book. BUT THEN, I just absolutely loved that the last 25% took it to another level for me. This had the classic middle ground young adult vibes (and actually kept it that way with the content) that reminded me of all the things I love about young adult books.

I loved Ying. She was tenacious and full of heart. There were some Mulan nods alongside a fantasy woman in STEM and I loved the combination. The competition and guild trials were interesting and paced well. I loved that the progression of the story kept moving forward and had me glued to my book.

The slow burn romance made me FEEL by the end. And I am HERE FOR THE DRAMA of it all. I can’t wait to see how things shake out and where they go. I love that this ended on a cliffhanger that demanded my attention. I also really loved the friendship Ying had with a few of her fellow apprentices. It showcased a true boy / girl friendship (which I feel like we don’t see enough of???) and I loved how the loyalty was truly forged in fire.

Fantastic book, can’t wait for more!!

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Content Warnings: war themes, near death experiences, murder, weapons violence

I enjoyed this book immensely. I want to give a big thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for giving me an advanced copy.

This was such a fun retelling of Mulan that I read it as quickly as possible while working retail on a holiday weekend. Ying is the perfect female protagonist with her fiercely smart and independent personality. And while she was naive to the world's ways, she still pushed to better herself to find her father's killer and become a member of the Engineer's Guild.

Ye-Yang and Ye-Kan are amazing male leads that I can't wait to see more of. It will be interesting to see what will happen when Ying realizes just how much Ye-Kan cares for her. I can only imagine how dirty the battle for her heart will be. I just hope her sister makes it out of the fight as unscathed as possible because of the marriage contract between her and Ye-Yang.

I'm wondering with the impending war that Ying will end up back as a proper engineer to help save the country from the war. She is the brightest mind they have seen since her father in a long time after all. Things are only going to get darker as the story goes on. I just need them to not be completely traumatized in the end.

I sincerely hope that more people read this book, because of how much I liked it. Please go read this when it comes out on June 18th!

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC!

This is a classic YA fantasy with a “school training” arc. I enjoyed the elements of Asian culture brought into the book, but I feel like it might also have hindered it a bit when it came to the world building. The author borrows liberally enough from the real world (using the Chinese language, costume descriptions reminiscent of the Manchus, etc) that the world created never feels truly fantastical. It felt a little confusing
at times keeping track of all the elements introduced as they felt familiar-but-not to reality.

I had a hard time getting into this in the beginning and kept putting it down or feeling my attention wander, but I will say it picked up at the latter third
of the book. I am curious to find out what happens and would pick up the sequel if I came across it!