It was a fun read. I enjoyed the character development and everything that went throughout the story...idk if I would pick up the sequel if happens to have one someday

Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan was an enjoyable fantasy read. I found the storytelling interesting. I loved how the the author interwined the history of the culture into the fantasy elements of the story, it was beautifully done. I also enjoyed the characters especially the main characters when it came to their back story as well as the vulnerabilities they possessed. I did really connect or felt the romance between them, at times the romance came across and felt forced instead of natural. despite this I really did enjoy the read overall

When this book was announced I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, it took me longer than I care to admit to finally pick it up. But I'm glad I did. Honestly, the beginning was a little slow for me which is why I couldn't give it fully 5 stars. While creating and establishing a new fantasy world takes time, understanding what was happening took a little longer. This caused the delay in the beginning for myself. Once I comprehended the world and the plot, I really dove into the book. I finished it so fast because I wanted to know how it was going to end. I really enjoyed the way the story played out. Apparently, I'm the opposite in this situation because most reviewers enjoyed the first half but I felt like all the connections and action happened in the second. The beginning felt forced and a little rushed while the ending to me took more of it's time to flush it out. My issue is there is no known sequel for this book and the way it ended, it feels like there should be. I know debuts tend to not promise a sequel but then they should at least have an ending.

Ahn and Altan were our main characters and I adored them both. Ahn had no memories of her past and grew up with her "grandmother". Even though Ahn was a thief, it was still clear she knew morally right and wrong. After an incident with some guards after being caught stealing, her whole life is changed when she is reunited with her Father and her powers become known. Altan is a prince whom is believed to be dead but looking for revenge for his family. Altan's story arc is more flushed than Ahn because he has to overcome that sense of revenge and determine a path for himself that he is willing to walk. However, I loved these two together and even though most of their book was spent apart, it was apparent how they'd come to be.

Overall, Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan was a great debut novel. The beginning was slower for me while establishing the world and plot but I felt like the story really picked up after. I flew through the book and continuously wanted to know what was happening next. The main characters were so easy to get behind and each one had their own obstacles to overcome. Altan's story was more flushed out due to his arc but I adored Ahn all the same. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy, prophecies, and magic.

"Jade Fire Gold" is very much inspired by xianxia stories. For those not familiar with xianxia is a type of Chinese martial arts fantasy where the character must develop through meditation and training. Browse through some Chinese manhua xianxia titles, and you'll see the word "cultivation" over and over again.
Much like the xianxia that inspired the story, "Jade Fire Gold" is action-packed. The elements of revenge and the slow romance also made it a super fun read.
I would recommend it to teens and adults who love their fantasy with a dose of mystery and revenge.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I really enjoyed this. The plot really propels you through the book and the characters were really likable. Excited for more from this author.

A YA fantasy that engages new and standard tropes of the genre, Jade Fire Gold is a read that will likely have the most impact on those who are new to YA fantasy. While there were several aspects of the story that I found intriguing enough to finish the book, I'm not sure that the way they were resolved will lead to interest in the sequel.

Jade Fire Gold is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. June CL Tan has earned herself a spot on my auto-buy authors list. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Jade Fire Gold today.

Disclaimer : I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.

Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

Content Warning: Alcohol consumption, Character deaths, Child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting), Emesis, Fantasy/magical violence, Parent death (implied, off-page), Self-harm

Considering I was going to stop reading, this ended up being not that bad. Plagued by pacing issues, a lack of direction at some points, and a lot of plot convenience, I actually enjoyed the overarching plot and conflict resolution.

The worldbuilding was really well done, the setting was super lush and I enjoyed being immersed in the world itself. I also was pretty meh about the characters, especially their romance, but the side characters definitely made up for it! I would like some one-shots for some of the characters, especially with the ending!

Although, I do want to make sure that this stays as a standalone! The ending kept it open for more, but I liked it most for the standalone aspect. Too many fantasy series and not enough that I can recommend that don't take up 10 years of someone's life.

I think if you were already interested in this, you should still read it. But if you are just learning about it from my review, pass.

I decided not to read/review this one I have been leaning away from YA fantasy, and this no longer appeals to me.

I wanted to love this one but sadly it just didn't work out. I had this one from Netgalley, Owlcrate, and Fairyloot and lord I don't know how this one ended up in two book boxes because it was horrible. I felt the male POV was crap and I really hated him. The girls POV was fabulous but of course that male POV just had to ruin all her story!! You get a massive spoiler right before she uses her powers were told what she is. I was like seriously NO!! I put it down shortly after that. I think that if this would have only had the girls POV I would have die hard loved this one. But sadly that male POV was just ugh.

Jade Fire Gold is a solid YA standalone fantasy novel. The author was about to pack quite a bit, and a part of me wishes this were a series! I wish the character growth was shown more throughout, which may have been difficult since it is a standalone. The overall symbolism throughout the novel is what really held the two perspectives together. I enjoyed both characters most of the time; however, the pacing was a bit weird and inconsistent at some points. Overall, a solid YA fantasy! I can not wait to read more work from June CL Tan.

This has not received a ton of praise and I think that is sad because I really enjoyed this book. It is fast moving and well written. The cover is gorgeous! For me this is a high recommendation for YA collections.

While Jade Fire Gold has some beautiful descriptions and a lush, Asian fantasy setting, it just didn't deliver in terms of the story. I felt like it definitely had a lot of potential, but it fell down in terms of pacing, character building and tension. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed when I finished it.

Ahn and Altan, the main characters, felt bland and flat. I couldn't bring myself to root for them or just care about them. They lacked the dimension and layers I'm usually sold by in other characters, and their motivations were unconvincing to me. There was no chemistry between them at all whatsoever and all their interactions and banter--if it can be called that--felt forced.

Fabulous idea for a story with great world building. The main characters are great and I always enjoy multiple points of view., but I struggled a bit with the pacing. Maybe just not the right time for me to read it!

I went into this book a little skeptical just because of some mixed reviews, but I loved it. The author did a good job of setting up the story and bringing the characters together in a way that enhanced the plot. This is another series in which I can't wait to read the next book.

“history is never written by it’s victims”

Teaming up together, Ahn, a girl with no past, and Altan, the lost heir to the throne, must reclaim his rightful throne and a lost artifact, which could make or break their home realm.

I will admit, it took me a while to get into June CL Tan’s writing, but when I did, I was glad to see that it was incredibly fast paced. I was so happy that meeting between the two main characters was not pushed to later in the book!

While most of the plot was easy to understand, the bits of information dumps confused me quite a bit. The romance between Ahn and Altan was great and I really enjoyed it!!

While I won’t be reading this again, I loved the plot twist at the end!! I would definitely be interested in reading an extended epilogue!!

Anyways, if you enjoy ATLA and fantasy, you’ll definitely enjoy this !

Release date: October 12, 2021

This sweet wuxia fantasy is perfect for fans of Zutara or Avatar the last airbender. The epilogue does end on a cliff hanger and the author has said that there are no plans for a sequel as JFG is a standalone.

Someone pitched this book to me as "Shadow and Bone meets Avatar the Last Airbender" and they were 100% correct. The world building was next level, and characters were fantastic. 10/10

Read full review at our blog - link provided. We'd like to thank the publisher for giving us a copy in exchange for a review!