The concept of an Asia-inspired steampunk setting was so promising, but it didn't nearly live up to expectations. There were moments of marvel, like placing restaurant orders using a tube and rail contraption, but there wasn't anything else. For a revered Engineers Guild where would-be apprentices "[dabbled] in cutting-edge engineering technology" there was a distinct lack of any kind of description about this technology.

I didn't care for the instant love between Ying and Yeyang, nor for the 3+ times he catches her before she falls. Ying was more focused on Yeyang than solving her father's murder, which didn't seem to affect her at all and was only mentioned conveniently to move the plot forward. I didn't expect the reveal where <spoiler>Yeyang had a hand in her father's death</spoiler>, but it wasn't anything special to me.

Overall, the story feels hollow and the world-building is all but nonexistent. I can't articulate or even understand why the Great Jade Empire and the Antaran isles are at war or why <spoiler>Shanjin agreed to design weaponry with Lianshu since he left the Engineers Guild because he didn't want to cause harm</spoiler>. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

AHHHHH! I love reading novels involving Asian characteristics and culture. Reading the book description beforehand, I was immediately reminded of Mulan. The stubborn female main character was an enjoyable character to follow along as she grew and learned. It was a very simple and quick read. However, I would’ve loved to see more world-building and introductions (or references) to more characters because I felt like we were only seeing the same few over and over again. This made the story seem smaller when I feel like it could’ve been expanded more. Overall, I think it is a great book for those looking for a quick, enjoyable read.

3.75⭐️

For those who loved a Mulan as a kid this book is a must-read! It is suitable for all audiences, but it is a YA which is shows a lot but it was still very enjoyable. I loved the unique world and the writing is so good. I will be reading the second one when it comes out. I just thought it was so fun and magical. Mythology fantasy books always get me!! it was a predicable tbh but it is written for a younger audience so i guess that can give a reason why i was able to predict it so easily.

4.5/5 ⭐

If you like...

🐲 silkpunk
🐲 Chinese-inspired historical fantasy/sci-fi
🐲 a FMC in STEM
🐲 a morally grey MMC
🐲 a murder mystery
🐲 DRAGONS (yes, the dragon on the cover is in the book, wait for it...)

then please read this book!!

Of Jade and Dragons is a beautiful story about a woman doing whatever necessary to avenge the death of her father, even if it means leaving her family, disguising herself as a boy, and going against her father dying wish for her to burn his journal and stay away from the Engineers Guild. But after a chance encounter with Ye-yang, the eighth prince and fourth beile to the High Commander, Ying is given the chance to not only track down her father's murderer, but also to follow a dream that was never a real possibility for her: a chance to compete for a spot in the Engineers Guild. And she takes it.

This book is the perfect blend of plot, politics, romance, and technology. Chen did an amazing job balancing all the aspects of her story (the assassin, the murder mystery, the competition, the romance...) and created an extremely well-paced story. There was always something happening! I was never bored or wishing that Ye-yang would come back from wartime things to further the romance subplot.

And speaking of romance...

Finally, an FMC that doesn't let her feelings, of both romance and betrayal, get in the way of what she wants and needs to do! Ying is an excellent FMC. She is a career-based woman with a good head on her shoulders, who doesn't let her feelings for Ye-yang cloud her judgement, and that is something I really respect. Because of this, I grew to fall for Ye-yang as Ying did, slowly, but surely. The romantic feelings came first, and then the trust came later. How *realistic* of Ying to decide she doesn't trust a man she met only two months prior. We love a girl who can think logically, even if she loves a beautiful, morally ambiguous man like the rest of us. I mean, how can you not fall for a man who drops lines like "If I want to conquer the world, will you stand by my side?" I get it, girl. I get it.

Everything was so well thought out. The characters, the mystery, the romance. The characters had excellent development (Ye-kan, I didn't expect to love you as much as I did, but I don't think Ying did either), the mystery was uncovered in a way that didn't leave Ying looking naive or stupid for not figuring it out earlier (no "how could I have possibly missed that?" moments), and the romance was given the time and space it needed to develop naturally (and to give it more of an impact when things may or may not start to go wrong).

Please read this book, it is 100% worth your time. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I'm being completely honest, the title and (stunning) cover are what made me curious about OF JAD AND DRAGONS. But I'm glad it came onto my radar, because I enjoyed it!

This is the sort of novel that I feel really fits the category of young adult. Readers are thrown right into the action in the first chapter; the plot continues to move along at a steady, quick pace from there. The plot really is the main focus of the story, with our main character navigating her investigation in the capital, maintaining the guise of a male trial competitor in the hopes of earning a place in the Engineer's Guild, and discovering more about her nation and the bodies of power along the way. There are certainly conveniences that feel either a touch deus ex machina or a glossing over of some details, but honestly, those didn't stick out in a way that personally bothered me.

Given this is very plot-driven, there was a lighter hand when it came to the world-building and character development. But it wasn't overly detrimental to me either since there was just enough detail to grab and keep my attention, and honestly, I was still pretty interested in seeing how Ying's story was going to play out (and I actually like how it ended, though I'm sure there will be a variety of opinions on that).

Overall, this was a fun and entertaining YA book! I liked it a great deal, and look forward to the sequel.

P.S. If you enjoyed A Magic Steeped in Poison, Spin the Dawn, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and Tamora Pierce, you might enjoy this one too.

it was okayyyy, the prose is really vivid and detailed but the plot beats are kinda predictable and very typical but i can see the creative aspects that shine thru anyways, i think a younger person would love this

“Of Jade and Dragons,” by Amber Chen

Ying wants to be a world-class engineer like her father so when her father is murdered, she decides to go to the capital in disguised to the Engineers Guild to find answers. Ying makes an ally with Ye-yang, the eight prince of the High Command.

I really liked the Asian aspect of the story; the lore and imagery were so unique. The entire engineering stuff made it feel slightly futuristic but in a historical fiction world. It was such a good Mulan retelling type of story. I related to the FMC and loved the main characters relationship. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

this was magnificent! and that ending??? i am completely ruined! this story means so much to me! i cannot wait to get my hands on the second book!!

This was an easy read. The pacing was good, the plot was easy to understand, and the key developments and obstacles for the heroine were interesting.

The biggest strength in this book is the protagonist herself. Ying is an easy heroine to root for; she has resolve, cleverness, thoughtfulness, and strength. But she becomes a foil for the book's biggest weakness: all the incredibly huge odds stacked against her that could have provided a nuanced landscape for her growth barely materialize in the story. To be more specific about the nitpicking, she had never left her insular, sheltered hometown before, she is a girl posing secretly as a boy, she is the child of the guildmaster's rival, she is being sponsored specially by a prince even though she's not from a noble's family... but so few of these things make a dent in her journey. (I'm especially disappointed in the gender issue, since this is a key theme as a Mulan reimagining and in the book's marketing. She is found out immediately at the beginning by the beile who also immediately agrees to keep her secret, no one questioned why she never bathed, she never had periods, she is described as extremely pretty at the beginning but no one bats an eye... even her reveal to the Guild at the end is kept from the readers, with only the note that her acceptance was unanimous but no other comments.) In a book that is very like one that would be labelled "palace intrigue," there was so little sabotage and rivalry. It would have been so interesting to see how she was challenged in these various precarious aspects of her life, but so little of it ended up mattering.

I appreciated the question that came up often in this book: at what point is progress unethical?

I thought the ending was somehow both extremely predictable and pretty interesting. I love when books that are part of a series wrap up pretty open-endedly, without an obvious cliffhanger. You get to choose whether or not to continue adventuring with these characters, and I hope the next book lets me do so!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

For those who love a Mulan-inspired story, this book is a must-read! It is suitable for all audiences, true YA. I enjoyed the rich world and the unique twists to the plot, and the writing is well-crafted. While I did not find it mind-blowing, it is worth picking up and I will be reading the second one when it comes out.

Action packed and well written. I love that the fmc, Ying, is a femme fatale badass who is trying to avenge her father and find out the secrets of his past. She does so by pretending to be her brother to get into the Engineers guild who only take in me -very Mulan of her. She has the help of the taciturn 8th prince of the High Command, Ye-Yang. But he has his own complicated agenda.
The ending left me reeling and I can't wait for a 2nd book!
Thank you to Amber Chen for the pleasure of reading this story and giving my honest review.

I loved this book great Mulan retelling I just thought it was so fun and magical and the mythology weaved I'm to it is just great I love this book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My heart cannot handle the love between Ying and Ye-yang. Every single scene between them, I was silently screaming to myself for them to kiss. I absolutely love Ye-yang. I love how he can see Ying every single time. Nothing gets past him and my heart just surge each time he finds her out. It's absolutely adorable. Ye-yang is intelligent. He plans his moves carefully to get what he wants, but there is also a part of him that can't really plan his moves when he's around Ying. There is the vulnerabilities you see within him that he only shows to Ying, but there is also a part of him that is hidden away, that eventually hurts Ying in the end. A part of me broke when Ye-yang revealed his plan and it hurt that Ying was in the cross-fire. She doesn't deserve it, not after her father's death. She doesn't belong to be in that contiuous loop that her father was dragged into.

This book was fast-paced, but it also slowed at the important moments, allowing me to savor the interactions between Ying and Ye-yang. In addition, the interactions between her and Ye-kan. An unexpected friendship blossom between the two and I absolutely loved how they cared for one another. Not only was it nice to see her bonding with others at the Engineers Guild, but it was nice to go on the journey to find more about her father. Going through his past and seeing who he was back then, felt so heartwarming each time I learn a new thing about him, just as Ying was experiencing as well. She eventually understands why he left and soon she comes to realization that his reasoning for leaving, is similar to the situation she's in. I believe she's at peace with her father's death, but she's not at peace with herself. The plot of finding clues to her father's murderer, felt like it was in the background as she goes through the Engineers Guild, but I don't mind at all. What she is doing there was so enthralling, that I couldn't get mad that she became sidetracked.

Overall, this book was breathtaking and I couldn't put it down. The characters were captivating and there was something to each one of them. I also enjoy how the love that blossoms between Ying and Ye-yang was slow and it didn't overwhelm the plot of the story. He's there and he's not the main point of attention as she goes through the trials of the Engineers Guild. I enjoy Ying's perseverance and passion for engineering. With the author's great work of writing, it doesn't feel like Ying passion for engineering is just something that has to be there for the sake of the plot. With that bittersweet ending, I am curious to see how Ying will continue her life and if she will ever continue the fiery passion she had in the Engineers Guild. In addition, how will the Antarans fair with a war against the Empire? I worry for the deaths that are to come.

Overall I thought this book was pretty predictable. It felt like reading a YA fantasy I've already reads dozens of times, just dropped into a slightly different universe. So I think it could really work for some people! Mostly what disappointed me was the meandering middle of the book where Ying seems totally disconnected from her original goal, then suddenly comes back to it at the end. Her motivations for her actions did not feel well thought out, and I wish we got to see more of her actually contemplating the consequences of her actions, but at the end I did like that it seemed she learned and grew from her experience. It wasn't bad, and I would try another book from this author in the future, but this was just was kind of a snooze for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing for the eARC!

- wait i didn’t expect to enjoy this so much i love this book 😭👍🏻 HIGHLY recommend if you like any of the following: historical cdrama/kdramas, mulan, or the apothecary diaries
- i love ying she’s so smart and has AGENCY
- lowkey this book was predictable imo but still so entertaining and enjoyable to read, it’s so easy to fall into the world the author has built the silkpunk setting is so cool i literally couldn’t stop reading
- the romance omg?? this is slow burn done right 😩
- i need to know how many books will be in this series i already can’t wait for the next book 😭😭

thank you so much netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

It is so unfortunate that I did not enjoy this book. The synopsis drew me in immediately but while reading my experience took a turn. The writing was just not clicking for me. It felt very stunted which pulled me out if the story...

aihui ying dreams of following in her father’s footsteps by becoming an engineer, but after he’s murdered, her life falls apart. she disguises herself as her brother to infiltrate the male-only engineers guild apprenticeship, sure she’ll find her answers there.

so, i actually didn’t know what “silkpunk” was before reading this, but now i really want to find more books that fit the bill! i enjoyed the blending of chinese mythology with ying’s drive for justice and the engineering aspects. we love a woman in STEM😌

overall, this was a wonderful story that blended science with fantasy. i highly recommend this and can’t wait for book two!

So thankful for receiving this arc from the publisher. First off, I have to say I saw Mulan vibes in the synopsis and that immediately sold me on this one. I'm so glad I requested and received this arc because it didn't let me down. The Mulan vibes were present in this book and so amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the immersive writing, the characters, and the setting. The romance was beautiful and so well done. There's not much negatives I could say about this book. First time reading this author and I will continue to buy. Highly recommend. 5 stars.

「 ✦ 3.75 ✦ 」

⋆.˚“If he chooses you, he will lose everything.”

The murder mystery was interesting and I did have a little inkling about who was involved but it still came as a surprise and utter betrayal.

⋆.˚“It’s only a matter of time, Ying.” I’m still stuck here by the way.

The romance was the main thing keeping me interested. Like Yeyang the man that you are 😮‍💨. When he wasn’t there I was low key bored. He’s such a simp. But also men ☕️. While Ying didn’t always agree with his views, he is truly just “trapped as a victim of his circumstances.” If you love pretty princes that internally struggle with what they think is right vs what they need to do, you’ll love him. As much as I’m rooting for them to be endgame, I totally understand why Ying took a step back and was like that’s not really the life I want to live. I even did cry a bit during the “third act breakup” that happened, like sick to my stomach.

Love all the friendships Ying has, especially with Yekan who was an annoying little twerp in the beginning but became one of her closest friends. I really hope he’ll be able to become an engineer now that he doesn’t have anyone holding him back.

⋆.˚“I was your sword, but you were never mine.” Why must you leave me with this heartbreak Amber Chen

While I was a little disappointed with the ending that made my heart ache (because it didn’t really go how I expected), it’s clearly set up for the sequel. Which I’m not sure if I’ll be reading or not. I’ll probably forget about the entire plot by the time it comes out to be fair.

⋆.˚“If I want to conquer the world, will you stand by my side?” um immediately yes

The political issues weren’t the main concern of the book but I think the next book will expand on it more.

⋆.˚He was the one who opened this door for her— and then held her hand through it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this 🏯

Dnfed at 20%

I’m sad to say, but the writing is stilted, the dialogue clunky. So much has happened in the first 20% of the book, but it feels as though nothing has happened. The emotions are muted and don’t have much depth to it: her grief when her father died, her anger at her brother, Wen, for dismissing her, and her fear of being chased down by the maybe-assassin and his chimera. It all feels disconnected from the storyline, even though everything else in this book is done nicely.

The setting is vivid, from her village to the tavern, to the palace in Fei. The plot also has some good bare bones, it is interesting, the concept of disguising herself as her brother to go to the engineer guild and find who killed her father and why he was targeted. However, the writing style itself is distracting, especially when it comes to Ying’s emotions and lack of internal dialogue. Things happen to her. She responds in turn. But she never really pauses and spends time to reflect.

This was clear when her father died, and she spent almost no time thinking or grieving about him. He died, she looked at his notebook, found some calculations and formulas, then she went to Wen to advocate for finding the assassin. In all happens methodically with no space to breath. It was just go go go. This style would appeal to those who constantly want action, so it want terrible, but I feel like this isn’t for me and if I continue on, I would just not enjoy it as it is.

I would definitely recommend this to someone who cares less about stylistic writing and more about plot and characters, especially since Ying is cleaver and takes no bs from anyone. I absolutely love the engineering aspect of this book, and I wish I could love this more, since it seemed right up my alley.