I was very excited to see this sequel to the Falling Dragon duology on NetGalley and was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It has been two years since the end of ‘Of Jade and Dragons,’ and our characters from the first group have all matured and or changed in their own way slightly since we left them. It was really interesting to glimpse these changes slowly as we are reintroduced to each character and learn their motivations.

The story this time was not messing around and was full steam ahead from the get go, and you could tell it was headed toward that critical point from early on.

I loved that this story was plot heavy with romantic sub-plot. It really made the relationships that were there that much more believable.

Thank you again Amber Chen, Penguin Australia and NetGalley for allowing me to read such a lovely series.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

⭐️: 4/5
Format: 📱+ 🎧

I was so looking forward to this sequel in the Fall of the Dragon duology and it did not disappoint! Honestly, Chen could have turned it into a trilogy and I'd be happy--I want more politics!

This second book built on the first well, and I liked that each book is very self-contained. They absolutely go together, but each can stand on its own. We got to return to the characters I fell in love with in the first book, and I can genuinely say I was interested to know what happens next for them.

In The Blood Phoenix, I really enjoyed that book 2 felt more like I was driving to a specific end. It was structured in a way that I as a reader was able to orient myself in the narrative and didn't feel lost, even when I didn't know what would happen next. Chen has a wonderful mix of political intrigue, fantasy elements, and character/relationship development, and she blends these together well to form a story that hooked me.

For the characters, I loved how we got a deeper glimpse into origins and motivation, and that Chen focused on more than the two main characters from the previous books. Although she writes in third person limited, this book became an ensemble where Of Jade and Dragons was closer to dual-POV, or even singluar. It rounded out several cast members we only met at a fairly surface level last time. And the relationships between characters had depth to them as well--I loved how she demonstrated tension in relationships in particular.

Finally, I'm glad that this duology focuses on fantasy first, romance second, and it helped me get back to what I love about fantasy. The audiobook narrator was fantastic, too!

Thank you, NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

It's been two years since Ying left the Engineer's Guild and her father's injust death, but soon she's forced back into the tense world of the new High Commander Ye-yang, after an horrific pirate attack by the mysterious Blood Phoenix fleet. Soon they, and their friends, will have to work together to stop these pirates and their mastermind.
At the same time, Ying's sister, Nian, lives now in the capital, awaiting to be married to the High Commander, finding company in the fourteen prince Ye-kan and in their affinity with governance and strategy. But the capital is more dangerous than she thought and soon they will have to work together to avoid the High Command to collapse. With new dangers around, Ying and her friends are forced to make difficult choices and betrayals. Will they defeat their enemies and survive?


The sequel to Of Jade and Dragons,an epic silkpunk fantasy inspired by the legendary Qing dynasty, The Blood Phoenix brings the reader back to the silkpunk world found before, with new and old character and new dangers to deal with. Ying is, like always, a brilliant, fantastic and amazing characters and I'll love forever her relationship with the High Commander and their complicated love. I will always root for them, to be honest.
The story is told by different point of views. We have Ying and her friends, fighting their pirate adventure and, at the capital, Nian and Ye-kan, with politics and strategy and dangers from the inside.
It was refreshing and very nice to read and I really loved the story.

I loved the first book, but I really struggled with this one. I wanted to love it but it just felt so different. I was really flabbergasted by the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Amber Chen for the opportunity to read The Blood Phoenix in exchange for an honest review.

The Blood Phoenix is the second installment in the Fall of the Dragon duology, following Of Jade and Dragons. The second novel takes a bit of a different shift in its tale than the first. While the first features a crossdressing trope and an engineering contest with a competition-based plot, this novel is more of an adventure. There are  pirates and politics at war in the nation.

One difference between this novel and the first is that there are some added chapters in Nian's third-person limited perspective, so the story isn't just about Ying. Ying's sister and the fourteenth prince, Ye-kan, have quite a bit to contribute to this tale.  We get to see a bit of what is going on with Nian and the politics she wraps herself in, while Ying is swept away on a pirate adventure.

Ying and Ye-yang, the current Commander, still have a fire for each other, but Ying just refuses to allow Ye-yang her heart for various reasons, most coming back to herself and who she is as an independent woman. Ye-yang just has a hard time letting her risk herself for what she believes in.

Taking place two years after the first novel, Ying reemerges in the capital with a mission: design something to take out the underwater devices that the pirates are using to control the waterways of the Nine Isles. When testing her design in the waters with two of her guild mates and good friends, along with Ye-yang overseeing, the four are swept overboard in a surprise storm, only to be taken in by the crew of the notorious Blood Phoenix.

As Ying gets to know the all-female crew, some misconceptions come to light. A sea-faring contest puts their lives on the line, and they learn of the greater enemy against the empire. Meanwhile, Nian and Ye-kan do their best to keep the capital from being taken by one of the other not-so-king princes in the absence of their leader.

Still filled with steampunk and a new flavor of adventure, the reader gets to explore more aspects of the beloved characters from the first book while also getting to know some side characters more in a new leading role. While I adored the cross-dressing trop and competition plot of the first novel, this novel still has some of the engineering excitement, just presented in a different way. And who doesn't enjoy a good pirate tale?

Displayed in the acknowledgements, this is in fact the conclusion to the duology. while that may be, there is certainly enough going on with the characters that perhaps readers will have an opportunity to see more of this world from the author down the line. The ending is a bit ambiguous, in a hopeful regard, and offers a lot to be imaging, while also opening up other story opportunities. If you like Asian history, mythology, steampunk, adventure, pirates, and mild romance, then hey, this is a duology you do not want to miss!

Review: 2.5 stars

If I had to describe this book in one word, the term “bored” would be it. I so wanted to like this one since book 1 was an okay read and this was disappointing.

This book takes place 2 years later after the events on book 1 and with a time jump like that, book 2 felt very disconnected from book 1 bringing in different vibes. This book takes place in the pov of Nian and Ying as they lead different missions and intersect on occasion.

The two thirds were filled with filler scenes, I mean why the sudden appearance of pirates when they were not present in the plot, seeing that the overarching theme of the duology was always against the empire (which was not finished when we reached the end btw!) The women pirates were a fun introduction but there wasn’t much time spent on them. The switching of POVs just didn’t work for me.

Ying and Ye Yang’s relationship is confusing…the push-pull between them didn’t make sense and to add salt in the wound, their arc was incomplete after that ending?!!! Nian and Ye Kan’s relationship was sweet and I did enjoy Nian’s portion more since there was some palace politics that took place…

The last one third of the book was filled with action packed scenes, with some political intrigue, betrayal and battle scenes thrown in that felt relevant to the book…hence, the overall rating. Still that ending leaves much to be desired and felt incomplete. I felt like Book1 could have been a standalone and could have skipped book 2!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for this arc via Netgalley

This is the sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, which I thought was mostly underwhelming but I had LOVED the ending where she and the main love interest did not end up together. That spark of something different was the bright spot in that book, but I’m afraid this one didn’t have a similar bright spot to excite me in the same way – although I did love the book having some focus on pirates.

Nian’s POV was introduced in this book, and I found I liked it more than I expected to considering how frustrated I was with her in the last book. I liked her changing dynamic with Ye-kang (as well as his growth since the last book). I liked her perspective and relationship a little more than Ying’s, although I wish we’d seen more of their romance develop.

This book is a two-year time skip from the first one, and there are a lot more time skips in the book. Sometimes there would be a build up to something, it would happen, and then there would be weeks before the next event. It was sometimes hard to follow.

Ying’s POV is different in this book. She’s more focused on her engineering projects and the problems their world is facing than romance. The romance absolutely feels like it took a back seat, and I couldn’t decide if I was supposed to be hoping they’d get together or deciding that they should stay far, far away from each other. I didn’t find it satisfying.

I liked the unexpected ending in the first book, but I don’t feel like that ending in this one worked very well for me. Some of the twists didn’t really have enough setup to make them have an impact, and Ying felt so disconnected from some of the characters that it didn’t have the impact it should have. I also don’t think the ambiguous ending when it’s supposed to be the end of the duology. In this case, it wasn’t interesting and captivating. It was just a let-down after investing so much time into reading these two books.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this book. It had some exciting points and I liked Nian’s relationship, but I ultimately felt like it wasn’t really worth the time I spent reading it.

Unique use of technology in a fantasy world!

Ying and her fellow engineering competitors are called back together to help the kingdom fight off the pirates and stop the deadly attacks that are occurring. Ying and Ye-Yang haven’t spoken and they both continue to have feelings for each other. Ying isn’t sure if she can get over his past deception. Ying enjoys working with her engineer friends and wants to stop the pirates from killing anyone else. She discovers there’s more to the attacks and the Blood Phoenix than the rulers think and it puts her friends and loved ones in terrible danger.

Likes/dislikes: I like how the friends from the engineering competition are brought together to help the kingdom fight off the pirates. The comrades work well together. The relationship between Ye-Yang and Ying is topsy turvy and adds to storyline. I love how much Ying and her sister Nian care about each other.
Mature content: PG for urgent kissing, drinking.
Language: PG-13 for 18 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Oriental with pearl skin and bronze skin mentioned.

Complex story with great world building. I did find the female lead to be whiny in this book when I did not feel like that about her in the first.

A good sequel for this duology from Amber Chen. I enjoyed the direction that the story took. This is a good YA duology for younger teenagers, perhaps 13+. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but I sort of wish she joined the pirates.

What was that ending!!!! What do you mean?!?

This was so good! I enjoyed the sequel so much but that ending!?! I need to know what happened! I’ll definitely be checking out this authors next book!

How gorgeous is this cover?!

The Blood Phoenix concludes Ying and Ye-yang’s story in an unexpected way. With expanded world building and an increased focus on two very interesting characters, this book delivers an adventure full of drama, politics, romance and even pirates. I’m really interested in seeing where the author takes us next and I can hope we get a glimpse into the lives of some of these favorite characters.

Perfect sequel to the first book, was able to relate more to some characters & THAT ENDING was amazing.

And we're back! As we dive into TBP, there are some notable differences from its predecessor. This story takes place two years after the last events in OJAD. We're in the middle of a war, and there's a POV switch between Ying and her little sister, Nian. I'm all for growth and broader storytelling, but I didn't particularly care for the sequel. It didn't grasp me as the first book did. And even though OJAD ended on an open cliffhanger, I could have done without finding out what happens to Ying after. It has more to do with the creative direction of where the book was heading, rather than the writing. I'd say one of the good things that came from this story was that bratty, now grown-up sidekick, Ye-Kan. He had an amazing coming-of-age arc and came out to be the true hero in this sequel.

The plot was all over the place and felt super disjointed. It needed more setup and a clearer direction to make me actually care. Also, the side characters were never really developed, so when things got dramatic, I just didn't feel anything.

Ying and Ye-Yang's relationship is so confusing. Are we supposed to be rooting for them? He doesn't respect her at all and manipulates her constantly. She keeps saying she's done, then they're back to kissing. It's not healthy at all and just plain unsatisfying.

This was super disappointing, especially because I liked the first one. There was way too much going on, and it barely connected to the first book. p.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Five stars for me!! 🥰
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏴‍☠️🤖💣🐙🐉

The Blood Phoenix is the continuation of Of Jade and Dragons, set two years after the events of the first book.

I was beyond excited to get my hands on this ARC, I needed to know if Ying would find her way back to Ye-Yang! Let’s just say I was giggling every time they had a scene together. 😜 We also get chapters from Nian’s point of view, and I loved her dynamic with Ye-Kan, especially the way she stood her ground and took charge.

No spoilers… but ohhh the twists and turns—the PIRATES, the BETRAYAL! OMG! 😮 I was on the edge of my seat.

And that ending… BROKE. MY. HEART. My Sheyla!!! 😭

I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the Illumicrate special edition to match my Of Jade and Dragons copy!

I greatly enjoyed Of Jade and Dragons, the first book in this duology, and was looking forward to this one, but I'm sorry to say it fell short of my expectations. There was significant focus on the relationships - particularly the relationships between Ying and Nian and their respective love interests - but the ending, which included the resolution to one of those relationships, felt both rushed and forced, as well as unfinished, as if this duology is now intended to be a trilogy, or more.

It's too bad that the ending fell short, because the rest of the novel was enjoyable, if a little slow in places. The characters continue to grow and develop, motivations are revealed, wars are fought, in ways that are interesting and engaging. There are a great many strong female characters, which I appreciate, and a strong Asian vibe, which was well done. Overall, if you read Of Jade and Dragons, then The Blood Phoenix is worth your time.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this sequel! It had romantic subplots, political intrigue, hidden identities, betrayals, and characters finding their strength when the world expects them to be docile. I do think the two-year time jump between books one and two was a bit too much. I would’ve loved a novella about Ying’s time after leaving the guild and the events that took place upon returning home.

This book beautifully explores the complexities of family, the tug-of-war between love and duty, and challenges a woman’s place in society. I especially loved the introduction of pirates (always a win for me!). While I know some readers aren’t fans of Ye-Yang and Ying’s relationship, I think it’s important to remember they’re young. At that age, always choosing duty over feelings isn’t easy. Yes, Ye-Yang can be manipulative in his duty-bound way, but those moments where both of them act on emotion instead of logic felt age-appropriate and true to the story.

The cunning plotting, the scheming, the surprising character growth, especially from those thought to be weak, kept me engaged with the story. I also loved the underlying theme that invention is only as good as the intention and application behind it. If the first book was Ying’s rise to prove herself among the boys like the first half of Mulan, this one feels like the second half. Here she owns her choices, faces the consequences, and truly understands sacrifice, fighting not just for those she loves but for her entire people.

The ending took me by surprise. It was not the “happily ever after” I expected, but was fitting for the journey. Definitely YA: some kissing, some battle-scene gore, but nothing beyond that.

The Blood Phoenix by Amber Chen was a good sequel to her first book Of Jade and Dragons.
Ying is a great character to follow in part because of her flaws but I feel like this book took away some of what she learned in the first book.
I enjoyed the pirate story line and the open ending for her and Ye Yong.
If there is a third book I will definitely be reading.