Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen is thrilling and complex, exploding into action from the first scene. From the very beginning, the intrigue and mystery are set in motion as we follow Ying on her journey to discover the truth of her father’s death and find justice. But the answers Ying seeks are not what she expects and the complexities of the world she enters could change her forever.
What I love about Ying is how well we feel her frustration over her father’s death but also the complexity of the relationship she builds with Ye-Yang. The story is emotional and as the intrigue builds, so too do the stakes for Ying. If she is found, she could lose everything and that includes her relationship with Ye-Yang. I also love the dynamics of her friendships with the other students, in particular Ye-Kun. Even though she is pretending to be a boy, her friendships with the others are all too real and there are very real consequences for her finding out the truth about her father.
The complexity of war and the choice for peace are also shown with real depth and detail in Ying’s story. Nothing is black and white, not even Ying’s actions. The only thing that is certain is what each individual must choose and what they must sacrifice in order to get what they want. The ending is explosive and dynamic and is entirely unexpected.
If you like complex stories with wonderful steampunk detail set in an Asian fantasy world, this is the story for you. I love the detailed worldbuilding, the steampunk elements are well thought out and the details of the world are fantastic. The story is thrilling and complex with characters that will keep you engaged. It is easy to connect to Ying and the characters in the novel and the ending is dynamic and emotional.

I absolutely LOVED reading this book. I requested Of Jade and Dragons through Penguin Teen after reading the synopsis and Xiran Jay Zhao's review (who wrote Iron Widow, which I also loved), and this book did not disappoint me.

One of my favorite subgenres is steampunk, so naturally I knew I was going to enjoy a story with retrofuturistic technology. Besides the steampunk, I love a well-written female main character. Aihui Ying is a rising engineer, who has to turn herself into a man to join the apprenticeship trial at the Engineers Guild and avenge the death of her father. She's extremely intelligent and won't back down from anything once her mind is set.

I was hooked the entire time when reading the book, and honestly, I think it got me back into reading fantasy. I'm interested in seeing if there's going to be a second book in this series or if Of Jade and Dragons will be a stand alone, because the ending is phenomenal. I can't wait to tell my friends about this book. I need other people to talk about it with.

ing holds the recipe to a dangerous weapon of destruction. It was so dangerous her own father was murdered for it. Ying disguises herself to find her father's killer. On her journey she meets the son of the High Commander. He is just willing to help her and helps hide her real identity. She has a clue that the plot against her father came from the Empire. The plan is for her to join the Engineers' Guild Trial where she will be able to investigate and find the truth.
Another Mulan inspired novel.
I get that Mulan is such an iconic story but I'm bored of the same cross dressing story. Most of the popular Asian fantasy books (YA) these days have Mulan elements. I can name so many. I wish we could have more original stories that aren't just a Mulan retelling.
I did like that her weapon of choice was a fan. It is very Mulan but I wished it was more like Kitana. Even though Kitana is Japanese. I would have liked it so much better if her skill of the fan was more incorporated.
There were a few plot holes and the ending was predictable. For a YA novel it was enjoyable and easy to read. I would like to see what happens in book 2 how she will take down the enemy and how this destructive weapon will be used.

Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Books for a digital ARC. Unfortunately, it's been tough sledding getting through this. This is a soft DNF at 60%. I'm hoping to borrow the audiobook from my library when it comes out on June 18th and listen to the remaining 40%, if I can do it. We'll see!

If you have read A Magic Steeped in Poison (like I did last month and rated it 3 stars), then you will have read this book. They are the exact same plot, setting, and characters with the exception that our FMC in Of Jade and Dragons is disguised as a man. I'll put the full comparison below. If you haven't read A Magic Steeped in Poison, then you will probably enjoy this more than me. Other than that uncanny resemblance, the book struggles with pacing issues starting at about 20% until at least where I've stopped at 60%. There's a lot of repetitive inner monologue from our FMC Ying, and a lot of minor events that sometimes add to the overall story arc, but a lot that do not. I've been in a weird ebook funk lately. Audiobooks have been a lot more successful for me, which is why I'd like to give this another shot with the audio to see if it's me or the book.

Of Jade and Dragons vs. A Magic Steeped in Poison
Rural teenage girl (even the names are similar: Ying and Ning) goes to the big city to compete in a competition and avenge their parent’s death and solve a mystery. They have both been apprentices of their parent’s craft this competition is centered around (Tea Making and Engineering). The parent used to live in the big city and then fled under suspicious circumstances. The parent was a master at their craft until they died, and the girl is trying to prove herself to be worthy of her parent. There is a thief/assassin they are hunting down, and a noble boy they run into randomly on the street and befriend. There is a slow, tenuous friendship then possible romance between the girl and the noble boy and several times she assumes he is the assassin/thief. The girl meets with the boy secretively/privately in between the tests/trials of their competition. The boy is an excellent fighter, which doesn’t help the suspicions that he is the thief/assassin or working with them. Throughout the book, the girl is second guessing if she is good enough to be the master at this craft, and good enough to be with the noble boy. She scrapes through the competition with a combination of quirky inventive ideas that go outside the box of what everyone else is doing, and (in McGonagall's voice) "sheer dumb luck".

Of course, this is only the first 60% of the book, I don't know how the ending will go yet. But I will update if I get farther in the book.

From the moment I heard about Of Jade and Dragons in 2023, I knew I needed to read it. Immediately. I eagerly reached out to the author, Amber Chen, who kindly sent me an advanced reader’s copy, and the rest is history! (It also felt like a perfect coincidence that its release day, June 18, is my birthday. This book was simply calling to me!)

Thank you again, Amber and Penguin Teen, for providing me with an advanced copy and allowing me to experience this story as soon as possible!

Before I get ahead of myself, I need to take a moment to appreciate this beautiful cover, designed by Kelly Chong (@afterblossom_art). This cover only added to my excitement. Kelly has created some of my all-time favorite covers, including those for Daughter of the Moon Goddess, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Fathomfolk, and Hurricane Wars. And this one does not disappoint!

Okay, let’s get into it.

Eighteen-year-old Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father. But when her father is killed by a masked assassin, her life turns upside down. Disguised as a man (Mulan vibes, anyone?), Ying joins the prestigious Engineers Guild to uncover her father’s secret past. Joining the Guild has always been her dream, so this is more than just a quest for revenge—though Ying never forgets her main goal. As the story unfolds, Ying’s mission turns into a fight for survival, with a touch of complicated romance woven in. Yeah, there’s a lot going on here.

If you’re looking for a thrilling YA fantasy with Mulan vibes and a hint of Legend of Korra, then Amber Chen’s debut, Of Jade and Dragons, is a must-read. Chen crafts a captivating world with a unique blend of fantasy and industrial elements—imagine airships and incredible inventions alongside a society with strict traditions. Fantasy inspired by Chinese legend is one of my favorite subgenres, and while this book doesn’t quite fit the typical fantasy mold (spoiler alert: the ‘dragons’ might surprise you), the silkpunk vibes were right up my alley!

I also really like Ying! She’s smart, resourceful, and determined to find justice for her father. I loved following her journey of self-discovery and perseverance in a world that underestimates her.

Chen’s writing is engaging and easy to follow, with a fast pace that kept me glued to the pages for hours. I’ll be honest; I finished this book in a single day. While the writing style leans towards simplicity, the story and characters really shine through. The conclusion leaves plenty of unanswered questions, making me very eager for the sequel. (Unfortunately, reading this book early means I’ll have to wait even longer for the second one.)

This is a fantastic debut YA fantasy novel by Amber Chen, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA fantasy with strong heroines and intricate worlds. Although the writing is on the simpler side and there were a few predictable moments, these are minor points compared to how much I enjoyed reading it overall. 4.5 stars!

*ARC REVIEW*

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen- Release date June 18, 2024

Blurb:

"Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune. 

Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own. 

The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?"

I enjoyed this book! Our female lead, Ying, is very spirted and inventive. I really like the scholarly Mulan vibes! The inventions in the story are very creative and it was fun to go through the trials with the characters. Chen did a great job building a complex storyline and provided clear imagery of the world she created. This is great for YA fantasy fans!

Thank you Amber Chen and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

A big shoutout to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen was a book that I went into not really remembering any of the details. And at first I found it a bit slow, but I was definitely in for a big surprise!

The story starts out in a smaller village where the main character is immediately shown to not be your typical girl, and to dislike what everyone expects her to be as the oldest child of the village leader. But after she witnesses the murder of her father, Ying sets out to find more answers about her father's past - a past that will lead her to the Engineers Guild, where it's a fight for survival to get admitted and to find out what her father was busy with and what resulted in his sudden death.

Firstly, this has the trope where the girl disguises herself as a boy to enter a male dominated world. I absolutely love this trope, and there were people who knew and helped her at times to continue this disguise. I also absolutely loved the engineering aspect of this universe, which was a different take on the usual magic schools that we see in these types of books.

The characters all also have hidden agendas and it was fun to see what the motivations behind some of the decisions were. Ying as a main character was very reminicent of a Tamora Pierce character, and I think that might have been why I enjoyed this so much.

Although the book mainly had three locations, I'm hoping that the sequel will open the world a little bit more. I can't wait to read more from Amber Chen and this particular world!

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I heard this was a girls in STEM book and I was immediately intrigued, even though I am sometimes a little hesitant towards YA titles. I did ultimately really like this and found it well-paced and engaging, though I did think the chapters ran a little long for my liking. Though she is at times frustrating, I felt that Ying was fully realized (I mean—she’s 18, and a little stupid, and going through it, it’s fine). I also liked the other characters that Chen introduced; Ye-Kan’s character arc was good to see in particular.

The overall plot was interesting and I’m definitely interested in seeing how the rest of the story will unfold in the sequel. There’s some neat things happening and I liked the worldbuilding a lot, though I’ve always thought silkpunk is an interesting genre. Though there are no real dragons in this, reading about the engineers’ work was fun. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the turns this took and while I didn’t care much for the tiny romance subplot, I also didn’t mind it.

There were some bumps at the start but I think they evened out as the story progressed and I had fun reading it! My biggest complaint is that I felt like the chapters were all a bit too long and could’ve been cut in half (even if it would’ve doubled the chapter count) but that’s just a matter of personal preference.

Amber Chen's Of Jade and Dragons offers an engaging blend of Mulan-esque disguise and murder mystery, set against the backdrop of a richly imagined world. The story follows eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying, who dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father. However, her aspirations are derailed when her father is suddenly murdered. Left with only his journal of engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, Ying embarks on a quest to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild. Disguised as her brother, she infiltrates the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of the taciturn eighth prince, Aogiya Ye-Yang. Determined to uncover why anyone would want her father dead, Ying must navigate jealous guild masters, fellow competitors, and the relentless killer still hunting for her father's journal.

While the book is quite lengthy, I managed to stay engaged and read through it fairly quickly. Ying is a determined protagonist, though her naivety sometimes undermines her supposed intelligence. Her friendships with her classmates are far more interesting and compelling than her romantic entanglement with Ye-Yang. However, the ending subverts typical romantic tropes, which was refreshing and sets up an intriguing direction for the second book.

Chen has created an expansive world, but unfortunately, we see very little of it as most of the story is confined to the Engineers Guild. I hope future installments will expand on this world, introduce more political intrigue, and further develop Ying’s relationships, particularly with her classmates and Ye-Kan.

Overall, Of Jade and Dragons is an enjoyable start to a new series, despite a few missteps. Ying's journey is compelling, the mystery surrounding her father's death is intriguing, and the potential for future books in this series is promising. If you enjoy stories with strong, determined protagonists and a mix of personal and political stakes, this book is worth a read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was enjoyable, but ultimately kind of all over the place in terms of characters and story.

After Ying’s father is murdered, she goes to the engineering school that he went to for answers. What I love about this plot line is that Ying is a HORRIBLE detective. She figures out absolutely nothing and gets no clues, and it was honestly kind of refreshing to see. She’s an engineer, not a detective.

I really had trouble with Ying and Ye-yang’s relationship, as I didn’t trust him even a little bit the whole time (and I was ultimately right), but I think this was intentional. It made me feel uncomfortable and unsure, and I think (hope) that was the goal, to show some truly morally gray characters.

One relationship I loved was Ying and Ye-kan, they were great together and I know they had a brotherly/sisterly bond but I was still like… I could get behind that romance if the author went that way. They had great back-and-forth and they truly cared about each other and made each other laugh.

Ultimately, the biggest issue with this book for me was the pacing. Time was going by so fast and we were seeing some moments that I felt we should have seen. We didn’t see ANY of Ying’s lessons and schooling so I’m really not sure what she learned and what growth she had as an engineer other than her starting to design and build weapons. Everything felt very rushed and convenient to me.

I’m probably going to read the next book because I am curious to see where the story goes and I think there’s room for a lot of growth and interesting story ideas, plus the writing potential is there.

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would!! The silkpunk vibes were my favourite and the writing was beautiful! I’m a sucker for anything Mulan-inspired so this was right up my alley. The romance was AMAZING; Yeyang you will always be loved by me <3

I can’t wait to read the next book!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! What an absolute gem. With strong characters and excellent worldbuilding, Of Jade and Dragons had me hooked from beginning to end. Teenage Aihui Ying disguises herself as a boy to join the prestigious Engineers Guild as an apprentice to investigate the murder of her father. During her time there, she not only learns more about his research and his character, but she grows and learns herself as well. I absolutely loved this book and while the ending might be unsatisfying for some, I was extremely happy where it landed. I could only wonder if it was left open for more!?

I can't wait to read more from Amber Chen! I wait with bated breath!

I want to start off by saying I really enjoyed this book! The concept and the Asian steampunk/silkpunk vibes were super unique. The main character must disguise herself to enter a male-only prestigious engineering competition and solve the murder of her father along the way. Again, very different concept for a YA fantasy/sci-fi story. This book honestly gave Mulan meets the industrial side of Legend of Korra. Although the plot really drew me in initially, I will say the middle got a little slow for me and probably could have been edited down a bit. This probably would have improved the pacing. I don't know how else to put this other than I was equally pleased by and disappointed with the ending. Maybe a mild spoiler, so don't read if you don't want to. I found the ending kind of poetic, but it also made a lot of the plot feel pointless. I don't know. That's just my opinion. The vibes still sold me on the book! Overall, though, it was an interesting read and I recommend it for fans of the above mentioned shows I mentioned or Asian YA fantasy in general! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the review copy.

Of Jade and Dragons was beautifully written. It’s a captivating story about Aihui Ying who is set to discover the truth behind her father’s death. She goes to the Engineer Guild where her father used to study disguised as her brother due to it being a prestigious male only engineering apprenticeship. She is nervous and cautious of who she confides in in case her identity is uncovered which would put it all at risk. Aihui Ying goes through the guild trials while also trying to find clues and those responsible for her dad’s death. Throughout her time there she uncovers secrets and learns so much about her dad’s history during his time at the guild including friendships and jealousy.
Aihui Ying is a strong, clever, and loyal main character. She is determined and I liked that she followed her intuition. The love she has for her dad and family drive her.
I enjoyed reading this so much! The author’s writing was amazing, I liked how descriptive it was and cannot get over the story. Im excited for everyone to read this. The cover of the book is also stunning!!

This was a very interesting but sad read. I so badly wanted there to be a happily ever after, but then I wanted to punch Ye-yeun into a wall. I felt that betrayal personally. How could he do this to us? Lol but the world building was really good. I occasionally questioned why Ying was doing what she was, and why she didn't connect some dots together sooner. I still enjoyed the book and want to see what happens in the second book, even if I'm still feeling a little devastated.

*I received this book (Via eArc by Netgalley) for free from the Publisher ( Penguin young reader group/ Viking group ) in exchange for an honest review*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a captivating modern retelling of the Mulan story, bringing a fresh and interesting perspective to the classic tale. The plot was filled with high stakes and dangerous moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, making every twist and turn well worth it. One of the standout elements for me was the integration of engineering into the storyline. It was refreshing to see this unique twist, adding depth and a contemporary flair to the narrative. From the beginning, when the protagonist is deemed ill-suited for marriage, I was immediately reminded of Mulan. Watching her journey unfold in a modern context was both engaging and satisfying.
The book consistently entertained me, and the epilogue left me craving more. It tied up the story in a way that was both surprising and satisfying, making the entire reading experience truly enjoyable.

RELEASE DATE: June 18, 2024

Thank you so much to [Penguin young reader group/ Viking group] and NetGalley for the ARC and I am instantly gonna purchase this when it releases.

This was such a great read! I loved the fantasy world, built to be a silkpunk reimagining of Mulan mixed with Iron Widow and inspired by Chinese history - the Qing Dynasty, I think I read. The FMC, Ying is out to investigate her fathers murder by joining the Engineer’s Guild as a boy, as the guild - surprise - does not allow women into it. I did really enjoy her character and how she pushed to stay true to herself, despite losing that somewhere along the way.

The MMC, Ye-Yang, is the eighth prince of the High Command and has a lot of mystery surrounding him and his motivations for helping Ying get into the Engineer’s Guild. He has morally gray vibes due to how he acts as a politically minded person, but is very kind and gentle toward Ying at the same time.

“If I want to conquer the world, will you stand by my side?”

There are some convenient moments in the plot, that I think work well still since it is YA and I wish to see more of this world and go on a high speed airship chase/battle in the sky. Hopefully we see more of this world sometime soon!

“I was your sword, but you were never mine.”

FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded up.

Thank you to Viking Books and NetGalley for the eARC of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I was so enamored with the focus on engineering and how integral engineering is to all facets of life, but there’s shockingly little focus on the principles of engineering. I was fine accepting it as a vehicle for challenging sexism and traditionalism - indeed, the way Ying challenges the (outdated and inaccurate) “accepted truths” of The Annals was the most engineer part of the whole book.

However, when we turn our attention to engineering as a vehicle for empire, that’s when things kind of started to fall apart. We didn’t get enough background in what exactly the weapons did and what principles the wannabe apprentices were studying. Suddenly, Ying made a weapon. The political climate, the romance, even the progress of the apprenticeship trials: none was developed quite enough to hold water. Having all three there just made them each feel weaker.

I will admit, though, that I’m curious about where a second book would take us because this felt pretty nicely wrapped up.

4.8 Stars !!!!

I truly enjoyed the beautiful story that Amber Chen gave us with "Of Jade and Dragons"
After doing some research (followed her on instagram) I learned that her novel was inspired by true events that happened during the Ming and Qing Dynasty and that both FMC and MMC are based on real people!!

Even though we did not see a lot of interaction between Ying and Ye-yang the little sweet moments that we did get from them was enough for me to fall in love with their relationship & for me to root for their happy ending. With that being said, I'm hoping and praying Ying overcomes her "dad issues" in the second novel because WHY !!!!!??? (That's all I can say without giving spoilers)

The plot and imagery were great! I will say that it starts a bit slow but then it picks up and you end up reading until 3am.

I also do not read many Sci-Fi Fantasy books so I was very surprised in how I really enjoyed the technology development part of the plot. it was very easy to follow and very intriguing. Did I also mention that the technology prototypes are inspired from actual weaponry design from the Ming Dynasty.

Lastly if you enjoy Mulan Vibes, History, weaponry, technology advancements and C-dramas you will enjoy "Of Jade and Dragons" !

Now I will go and watch all the C-dramas that are inspired by Ming and Qin Dynasty to get my fill until I wait for the announcement of book two.

Must Read for sure. ADD IT TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW!


p.s. Thank you Netgally and Amber Chen for allow me to read the ARC !!

I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm sad I have to wait until book 2 comes out to continue. We follow Aihui Ying secretly leave home dressed as a boy impersonating her younger brother Aihui Min, in search of finding her father's killer. In the process she runs into Ye-Yang, the High Commander's 8th prince who helps her enter the Engineer's Guild apprentice trials. While hunting for the killer and also trying to keep her secret identity hidden during the trials she unexpectedly reveals herself to another contestant who has a secret of his own, the 14th prince of the High Commander. They in turn keep each others secrets safe and become friends throughout the trials. During her search she finds friendship, deceit, love, heartbreak, and death. I found myself completely into the story not wanting to put it down. But I won't lie I was not ready for the ending, and while the end of the book gave clues on where it was going I was not fully prepared for how it ended. But where it left off is where I gave the book 4 stars. I was so secretly hoping for a different ending but I'm hoping maybe in the next book I might get to see that.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.