I love Asian-inspired fantasy - Daughter of the Moon Goddess, A Magic Steeped in Poison, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, A Thousand Steps into Night, and The Bone Shard series and Green Bones saga are some of my favorite recent fantasy books. So I was really primed to love this one too. However, the writing here was quite basic and felt very mechanical. There was lots of "telling" rather than "showing" and it could've used an extra copy edit. I never got the sense that the characters were real - the dialogue was wooden.

Unfortunately, the poor writing really turned me off and prevented me from enjoying something I would have really loved. Please do an extra edit on this one!

Lushly written, this wonderful debut by Amber Chen drew me in from the very first page. I loved the premise and will definitely be looking out for more from the author in the future!

I tried and got thru 40% but I just cannoooooot get invested in this. It might be because I just recently finished another Mulan-inspired fantasy, so maybe I just need to try again at another time. I did like the main character, Ying, and the trials were somewhat interesting, but I also didn’t really feel much for the romance.

If you enjoyed six crimson cranes or song of silver flame like night. You will enjoy this book. The world building was very good and had my attention from the beginning.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book. Below is my honest review!

In this story, we follow Aihui Ying, who just experienced seeing her father get murdered. To find how why he was killed, she secretly enlists in the Guild, a school for the best of the best engineers where her father also attended. Her only two clues are her father's cryptic journal and a jade pendant dropped by the murdered. While trying to solve the murder, she's also faced with the challenges at the Guild, which is male dominated and extremely competitive.

I thought this book was pretty good. Something about the writing style didn't quite sit right with me (though I can't explain why and is totally a personal preference). There were parts of the world that I wish were expanded a bit more, but I'm sure we'll get that in the second, third, etc. books. I love how the author ties in this theme of knowledge and power. Ying's father was an extremely intelligent man and was practically on the verge of creating something that could help their country win the war. But in the name of peace, he decided to not to create it and live his life in peace. However, people will do whatever they can in order to maintain power.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. I would reccomend to pick

In the shadow of an engineer's brutal murder, Aihui Ying embarks on a heart-wrenching quest for truth and justice in "Secrets of the Engineers Guild." Disguised as her brother, she infiltrates the male-dominated world of the Guild, armed with her father's cryptic journal and a jade pendant – fragments of the puzzle leading to his death. But ambition and treachery lurk within the Guild's gilded halls, as rivals scramble for secrets and hidden agendas simmer.

Ying's determination is further ignited by a spark with the enigmatic eighth prince, Aogiya Ye-yang, whose motives entwine with her own in a tangled web of deceit. Can she navigate the perilous currents of ambition and betrayal, all while mastering the arcane art of engineering and untangling the secrets her father left behind?

This captivating tale of grief, resilience, and forbidden love promises a heart-pounding ride through a meticulously crafted world where cogs and gears churn alongside political intrigue. Prepare to be enthralled by Ying's fierce spirit and her daring struggle against a legacy that could consume her or, if wielded wisely, become her weapon against her father's enemies. Be warned, dear reader, for within the gilded halls of the Engineers Guild, trust is a fragile cog, and survival hinges on uncovering the truth, one deadly secret at a time.

Oh this was BRILLIANT.

It is such a gorgeous fantasy world with a steampunk edge. Utterly stunning its its depiction of how the thirst for knowledge can be such a driving force - for both good and bad. While the bloody realities of war work in the background of this book, the way they blossom as Ying continues her way through the Engineer's Guild is so spectacularly done. The violence that comes with power is not ignored, but rather subtly woven into the tapestry that is being built. So many levels work in tandem to fuel this book, and it's a wonder to watch them come together.

Never knew I needed steampunk(actually my first silkpunk book!) dragons so bad until now. This felt on the longer side but it kept my interest. I was really fascinated by the mechanisms and physics in this one. A cool unique YA fantasy with Chinese legend. It's also a Mulan retelling of sorts on some aspects! Just a really fun read! Reminded me a bit of arcane!