Jade Fire Gold

I LOVE it!!

I kept hearing of the Zutara vibes in Jade Fire Gold and immediately was like „WHERE DO I SIGN UP?“ I was really really scared that I might not enjoy the story, because to me it sounded like a difficult read, BUT it‘s not at all!

It‘s a really light read and the story is also very easy to follow.
I was offended whenever I had to put it down, because I wanted to keep reading and follow Ahn and Altan through their journey.

June‘s writing style is beautiful and as I said really easy to follow, I‘d say that non-native English speakers could follow the story line - I still hope there‘ll be a German edition in the near future tho!

I just pre-ordered it a couple of months ago (and also send a request for the eArc) and I don‘t regret pre-ordering i at all!
I‘m even more excited now, to own a physical copy in a couple of months!

All in all 5 stars!

WHOA!

So first of all, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

I saw comparisons to Avatar: the last airbender and was incredibly intrigued- and ooooh boy that comparison lived up to the hype! I loved this. The pacing was very quick and engaging to read and kept me hooked all the way through.

I highly recommend this book! (And also look at the covers- both the US and UK covers are so nice!)

I really loved that book ! The universe was awesome, how the character works together, how they discover themself… I 100% recommand that book

“I see jade, I see fire... and I see gold. The three are bound together. Jade does not melt in Fire. And gold-gold follows you and red thread of fate binds you together.”

Genre: #YA #AsianLiterature #Fantasy #Mythology

My rating: 5+ / 5 GR: 4,43 / 5

I didn’t have big expectations from this book, but it surprised me indeed. This book is everything I like about Asian author Fantasy books. There is so much Chinese Mythology inspired moments. There are Phoenixes and Dragons here. And magic. Two swords, which can either heal or destroy the world.

Ahn is no one, she lives with the woman who found her many years ago and raised up as her granddaughter. She has to steel in order to survive.

Altan is a lost heir, his future was stolen at his child, now he is looking for revenge.

Eventually their paths will cross and they will see an opportunity in each other to get what they both want. But the price might be too high for both of them.

I won’t write more, because honestly, there is so much beauty about this story and I don’t want to spoil it for you.

Very intriguing, slowly paced book. With magic and its affinities properly explained. World full with Mythological creatures and objects. Royal intrigues and secrets of the palace. All characters were well thought through, I wish there is more information about Lotus sect in the book two. There is m + m as well as f + f female relationships, but they aren’t playing big role in this book.

There is romance present in this book, but what I liked about this, was self-sacrificing for another. Healing each other from the wounds of the past.

Last 25% of this book is a separate story, there is just so much action, and the ending... And the Epilogue... Now I need book 2 ASAP, but guess what? I got to wait for another year... :D

4.75 stars
I have to start by screaming. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED JADE FIRE GOLD.
When it comes to fantasy, my standards are a little high and that's why when I read any sort of fantasy, I tend to be overly critical of them. And I just loved this book. The world building, the characters, the writing...everything was fantastic.
Let me start with the characters. Ahn is an incredible girl. From being a simple, peasant girl trying to survive and protect her grandmother, she grows into an incredibly powerful character and undergoes development that I cannot talk about without spoiling things. But I really really love this girl so much <3 <3
Then there's Altan, the other protagonist, is a prince out for revenge against the people who wronged him and his family. His change, in how he goes from being obsessed with revenge to changing his goals for the better (and for Ahn hehe), was just incredible to see. Tang Wei was my favorite side character out of everyone we got to see. She's just my kind of gal and her sense of humor and dialogue was just amazing. And the way the romance between Altan and Ahn was so nice to read; it wasn't too slow but it wasn't so fast either. Plus there is this one specific scene that lives rent free in my mind.
The only reason I took off the .25 stars was that the climax felt a little rushed. I think they were a little too many fade out scenes which somewhat took away from the action. But nevertheless, I absolutely loved it.

the ending though...I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

Please take in mind it’s my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have one.

This was such an amazing, interesting and unique read, I truly loved this from beginning till the end. It was so well written, and the plot was so amazing! And the ending? WOW!

I absolutely loved all of the characters, literally every character was so unique. To see what they’ve done or experienced. The slow burn romance was so great as well.

10/10 would recommend reading this!

"...always remember, the heart is not a weakness."

I bookmarked SO many pages because this book is chock full of beautiful quotes and stunning scenes. The writing is lyrical, but accessible. I cannot wait until it releases so I can reread it. I love it SO much.

The split narration of Ahn and Altan was brilliant, and it was really easy to tell who was narrating without looking at the top of the page. Their voices were really unique, and they offered very different points of view and depth to the world.

Speaking of the world - I love it. The palace is the most beautiful thing and I want to live there (but maybe not with certain people who also reside there, haha). The rest of the world is also beautifully built and it would translate beautifully into a show or movie!

My biggest complaint about this book is that it made me SO hungry. The food all sounded so delicious it was unreal. I don’t normally snack whilst reading, but this book made it impossible not to.

I just really love this book. I need more of June C L Tan’s writing (especially if it’s a sequel to this beauty). Now to cross my fingers and toes for a special edition because I need all of them.

Very happy to say that this book just became my favorite fantasy of 2021.

I loved everything about this book. I think the pacing of this book was splendid in the way it was fast paced but also not too fast, and I had fun getting immersed in the storyline and the world itself. I loved the writing in this book, and for a fantasy, it was pretty accessible to read. There was a lot of quotes and passages that I loved and wanted to quote, so I can't wait to annotate once I get my hands on a physical copy of this book.

My favorite elements of the story, and I think the strongest also, are the characters. I loved being introduced to Ahn and Altan, the main characters who I am now very much attached to. I loved the development of their relationship from the start, and enjoyed reading their dynamics, although for me there was some problems that they faced that I feel were unnecessary because how easy and quick it was resolved. But I love them nonetheless and I appreciate how the author wrote in some of my favorite tropes in this for them.

I also loved meeting Tai Weng, Linxi, Leiye and Tai Shun. Tai Weng and Altan also has the best dynamic for me, and I loved reading their banter. I would really love to see more from these characters in the next installment, and I really hope that we get to see the friendship between these 6 characters more in the next one.

My only problem with this book was the action in the end, I feel like it could've been more build up and the resolve came a little too easy/fast. Despite that, I really did enjoy this book and I will definitely be supporting the author for any of her upcoming works.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-arc of this.

June…. Please give more of this. This book is getting into my top 10 reads. You literally gave me everything I was looking for in a book. Fantasy, strong mc, romance that warmed my cold heart, beautiful writing and fast paced. I pre-ordered my own copy because I need a re-read so I can put post-it’s all over the book. Read this, really! Make yourself a favor and read it!

A kind thank you to the publisher who granted me an e-ARC of this book.

I usually write my reviews as soon as I finished the book, but in this case, I had to let my head process everything so I could find the words to convey my infinite love over this beauty. Alas, words still elude me, but I'll do my best to write a loveletter to one of my all-time favorite books.

Jade Fire Gold is told by two perspectives, of Ahn's and Altan's. The author does an excellent job at immersing us into both character's heads and hearts. The voice is distinctive and leaves no margin to wonder whose pov you're reading. Ahn and Altan, as characters, are brilliantly constructed and developed. You see and feel their development vividly as if it was your own. To be honest, I love both main characters so much. I want to high-five Ahn and give Altan a tight hug. As a duo, you also feel their chemistry from the first time they meet. I have no idea how the author made their connection so real and genuine and alive.

The world is outstanding. If you're a Chinese or Asian dramas enthusiast like me, you'll just sit back and enjoy reading this book as if you were watching your favorite Asian drama. I especially recommend this book to those who loved The Imperial Coroner, The Untamed, and Word of Honor. If you're not familiar with wuxia or Asian dramas, get ready to be immersed into the most majestic and captivating world-building ever.

As for LGBTQIA+ representation, I'd say the world is queernorm. We have a f/f couple and a m/m wishing-to-be couple, and there are no homophobic comments. Personally, this is how I prefer it: LGBTIA+ characters living their lives just like any straight character.

And don't make me choose between the characters. I literally love everyone in this book A LOT, which hasn't happened in a long while. Every single character is their own person, with their habits and quirks and unique mannerisms. The author really made sure to offer fully-developed characters that steal our hearts, so thanks for that.

The plot was also so interesting. The author kept surprising me with the plot twists and the choices the characters made. I really, really, REALLY enjoyed the plot that always kept me hanging.

To conclude my loveletter, I'd like to state that I'M OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. I've read a lot of books, many great, many that I love, but Jade Fire Gold is in another dimension of adoration. It honestly devoured my mind as I was reading it. I couldn't think about anything else except GO BACK TO IT. I haven't felt this way in a long while. In some ways, it reminds me of We Hunt the Flame, with the undeniable main duo and found families.

BUY THIS BOOK. IF I COULD, I'D HAND IT TO EVERY PERSON I KNOW AND MEET. PLEASE. BUY THIS BOOK.

FIVE STARS IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH. THIS IS EXCELLENCE AND BRILLIANCE IN ONE PERFECT PACKAGING, AND IT RENEWED MY LOVE FOR READING--AND ASIAN DRAMAS.

This book was AMAZING. Honestly, I want to reread it all over again!! I was very lucky to have been sent a physical ARC as well as a digital one and I couldn't help but tab this book. I fell in love with the characters of Ahn and Altan and how realistic and raw they both were. This is definitely one of my favourite fantasy books I've read in a while!
The magic descriptions of this world and the concept of the life stealer were truly interesting, and I loved the flip of POV for certain scenes.
June also keeps you guessing throughout the book, and I was left feeling shocked in the last few chapters as the way it tied up was just... wow.
I can't explain it without giving details away but you must read this book! It is an absolutely fantastic book and I'm happy to say it's in my top list of books.

Wow and wow. This was an amazing debut by the author and I’m happy to say that it won’t be the last time I pick up any books written by her in the future.

First of all, I was hesitant to go into this book because the tag line being “Her destiny. His revenge” drew me in and I feared that it wouldn’t reach my expectations. I was wrong!

Altan was an excellent character. He was flawed, misunderstood and trying his best to figure out a way to survive after becoming a mere exiled prince. I think his arc was superb and it’s huge credit to June Cl Tan for perfecting his arc.

Ahn, the peasant female character is doing everything she can do make money for medicine for her Ama. At only 16 years old shes trying to navigate through the world and has a much more larger role then what we see, both altan and ahn are broken souls who try to come together and make the most of what they can before it’s too late.

An excellent read full of magic and plot twists that leave you craving more. Credit to the author for an amazing debut.

I’m just going to go ahead and say that this book is now one of my favourites. A unique and exciting take in a young adult fantasy book.

This is like nothing you have seen before. It is thrilling, eye catching and enjoyable to read with nothing out of place. Ahn and Altan’s backstories are perfect for this book, everything seems to align and its incredible to read.

When I say I did not want to finish this, I mean it. I felt truly involved in it and at every chapter I couldn’t stop myself from continuing. I think the way each chapter ended kept me wanting to know more.

The actual writing style in this is my favourite maybe ever. It is written so you know how the characters feel but also that you can see the from an outside point. Every sentence in this made me happy, well apart from the sad bits but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

As a reader, I can not fault this book and I am so grateful that I got to read it. I highly recommend pre-ordering it because I want as many people to read this as possible.

I am aware that this book may not be for everyone but if you love fantasy and enemies to lovers, I highly recommend it. Thank you to netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

Trigger warnings: self-harm, child abuse, parent death, (death, blood, war, politcal violence mentions), potentially triggering descriptions of emetophobia, alcohol consumption

5 stars/ 5 stars, I will be re reading this!!!

☆☆☆☆☆

How can I even start describing how much I loved this book . One of my highly anticipated releases and it just proved to be it . Right from the world to character building everything was just beautiful and memorizing.
This book is a Chinese mythology retelling and you could see the rich culture , myths and tales flowing through it . Considering how fast and short this book is I'm awe at how brilliantly every single character had their own character arc . This book gives of a complete experience of a fantasy world filled with magic , wars , fight , love and friendship.
This book is such masterpiece that everyone should have it on their tbrs if it isn't already

TW: self-harm (gouging, eye horror; non-graphic), child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting), parent death (implied, off-page), character deaths, mentions and descriptions of fantasy/magical violence (blood, war, politcal violence), mentions and descriptions of physical, symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, alcohol consumption)

Just WOW!
This book was so beautifully written that you can’t help but fall in love with the whole book universe.
In this book, ‘Jade Fire Gold’, we follow our two main characters Ahn and Atlan. We have a dual narrative which i loved as we are able to see the different perspectives without it being confusing.
Let me start by saying that at no point in the book was i bored, there was amazing fight scenes, dragons, phoenixes, a lost heir, betrayals, magic, LGBTQIA+ representation and so much more!
The world building was amazing and the detail included was phenomenal. You can clearly see the amount of love and work that went into this book and it is definitely worth reading.
Every single character in this book was a joy to read about (especially Ahn who goes through a lot of character development and learns to embrace/accept herself (in my opinion anyway))and i adored the slow-burn romance.
This is also one of those books where it doesn’t feel like your reading as it is easy to picture the scenes in your head and make it seem like you are following a movie. (sort of like an out of body experience if you get what i mean)
This book is definitely worth the hype and i am incredibly grateful and lucky to have received an ARC from NetGalley. A huge thank you to June C.L. Tan for this amazing action packed book which i will being recommending to loads of people so that this gets the attention it deserves! There is so much more i could say about ‘Jade Fire Gold’ but i don’t want to ruin any of the details for others.

5/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jade Fire Gold is a novel told in dual POV that follows Ahn, a peasant girl with powers many see as a curse, and Altan, an outcast prince hell-bent on finding his way back to the throne. Realising each can help the other get what they want, the two characters end up becoming allies, albeit reluctantly, and the book follows their journey.

The writing in Jade Fire Gold is lyrical but also easy to read, arguably a perfect introduction to fantasy/YA fantasy for those who have not read much of it, and a comfortable read for those who enjoy it already. The worldbuilding is similar, satisfying but not overtly complex, just the right level of development in relation to on=page action, making Jade Fire Gold an extremely engaging read.

For me, the best part of this book was without a doubt the characters, especially the side characters. While I loved both Ahn and Altan, the real stars of Jade Fire Gold were most certainly the side characters, and I adored reading about each and everyone of them, along with watching the relationships between different characters develop and grow.

My only complaint about this book would be the pacing, but, honestly, in my eyes the characters make up for this enough for me to retain my five star writing, and I'm beyond excited for Jade Fire Gold to be released into the world, and also to read whatever June C.L. Tan has in store for us next.

Content warnings (provided by the author): self-harm (gouging/eye horror; non-graphic), child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting), parent death (implied and off-page), character deaths, mentions and descriptions of fantasy/magical violence (blood, war, political violence), mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, alcohol consumption.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. i wasn’t sure how i felt about this book at first, but i really enjoyed it. because of this i’m giving it 5/5 stars.

I absolutely loved it! Definitely will be reading it again. Tan did a wonderful job putting into words the adventures of these characters and their portrayals.

I was super excited to be able to read this book. The synopsis was intriguing and sounded amazing. I've not read The Tiger at Midnight but there is definitely Girls of Paper and Fire vibes going on in this book, along with magic. I've seen some people comparing or mentioning that it also give Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes which is also very true!!

I find it meaningful that the author has drawn up her own feelings and experiences of Chinese culture within this book, it makes it even more meaningful to read.
There are some content warnings to read before reading and can be found in the authors Goodreads page. I like that thus has been included as there could be quite a few triggering things for different people but I understand why they were included, it makes the book what it is.

The world building was well done and the writing beautifully captured. I will definitely be reading this again when my finished copy arrives!

I don’t really even know where to start with this review. It was another book that I absolutely adored this year and honestly, if you’re a fan of East Asian inspired fantasies and this is, somehow, not already on your radar then please make sure it is!

I’ve seen the main romance compared to Zutara (Zuko and Katara from Avatar) and I get that, plus there’s elemental magic throughout and kind of the “chosen one” trope going on as well so if you liked Avatar, you will love Jade Fire Gold. But, Jade Fire Gold has got so much more to it.

We have our two main characters, Ahn and Altan. Both ended up lost in the desert without their parents as children but Ahn is actually an important noble family’s daughter and Altan is a lost prince. They have one of those ‘your fates are tied together’ moments and then it’s a while until they meet again. At first they’re playful and fairly flirty, then they end up being super sassy towards each other and eventually it develops into a sweet mutual caring for each other. It kind of reminded me of Eden and Maia’s relationship development in Spin the Dawn and honestly, I’m so here for it.

Side characters though, I completely understand why everyone wants Tang Wei as a wife. She is such an adorable little assassin and her relationship with Linxi is beautiful (I wouldn’t mind her for a wife either). She might as well be Altan’s adoptive sister with how they are together and their teasing of each other was just really cute. Ahn can’t help but fall for her a little too, describing her as ‘a violent, glorious roar of wind and water that turns everything upside down and leaves you standing in awe of its raw beauty.’ As far as is shown, Ahn sees her solely in a friend way so this description of another female is just so lovely to have in a book, a real breath of fresh air! This set of pals will basically appeal to every fan of found family.

For an overall quick breakdown of the characters we have:

Ahn: one of our main perspectives, she is a lovable little stubborn creature who believes the best in people for the most part. Tendency to be a little jealous. Loved blue clothes as a kid! Secretly a super magical person.
Altan: our other perspective, his heart’s in the right place but he needs a shouting at. A lost prince in a land that has gone a little bit awry thanks to bad cases of colonialism and regicide.
Tang Wei: an adorable little assassin who loves her girlfriend (Linxi) very much, Altan’s closest friend (kind of like a sister to him) and would kill anyone in a heartbeat to protect someone she loves. Sassy as hell too.
Linxi: the mum. Adorable again and does her absolute best to look out for everyone! Her and Tang Wei’s love is clear to see for everyone.
Leiye: very mysterious, is he good or bad? He’s a very powerful magic user though.
Tai Shun: needs a cuddle, everyone should protect him. Little cute musician.
The magic system is elemental and it really is similar in some ways to Avatar. People have affinities towards certain elements but some can master multiple elements. Ahn is kind of a supernatural creature herself, being the Life Stealer. Essentially she can take the life force out of something and Altan, for this reason, kind of wants to see her dead. (But he also still kind of likes her so there’s mega confusion for him there.)

June covers colonialism in this world too, and one thing that will stick in the minds of everyone is one specific line: ‘History is never written by its victims.‘ This is really important throughout the story as no one really seems to know the truth about their country’s past, instead they’ve been taught idealistic things in education. It’s something that will make you think, and I think that’s important for any book but especially so in a young adult book.

Family is a super important element to Jade Fire Gold too. There are reunited families and truths discovered… My absolute favourite part of it though? The emphasis on found family. And, forgiving people because you love them.

‘Mother often said I was the sun to her moon. But if she were the moon, I was the tide that ebbed and flowed with her pull.’

Linked to this, there’s a lot of light and dark/yin and yang references throughout the story. Ahn and Altan are very good examples of this and there’s also mention of a white sword and a black sword. Ultimately, though, one of the reasons why I loved Jade Fire Gold is that it goes deeper than that – pretty much every character has light and dark elements to them (though Linxi is pure light, really): Tang Wei is an assassin so, y’know, dark… but she loves fiercely and protects those around her. Morally grey characters like her and even the main two characters make Jade Fire Gold that little bit more realistic.

For me, this didn’t read like a debut novel at all. It was very fast paced in some places but I feel like that was more because I absolutely HAD to keep reading! It’s pretty rare of me to finish a book in just over a day but I genuinely had to with this story. I had to know how things panned out and I wanted to know that the main and side characters would be okay. Even still, I could vividly picture the story in each part.

I’m just so glad we have this story, but my only bad thing is that I really need a follow up. The epilogue lends itself well to another story and please please please, I need it. Give me all the stories set in this world. June has become an auto-buy author for me and I feel very good about the fact I’ll have *a few* copies of this book because I love it.

If you fell in love with Six Crimson Cranes earlier this year then I promise you’ll experience the same adoration for Jade Fire Gold. There’s so much to this wonderful world and I’ll probably be talking about it for a very long time. Also, I’ve kind of gone on a fair bit here about the book but there is so much to this story that I’m leaving out, because it’s so worth reading for yourself and experiencing the feels.

I’ve tried my hardest to put into words how much I loved this book, but it’s hard to write about the fact that I’m just so excited for people to discover it for themselves? I’m not generally someone who rereads books either, but I can definitely see myself picking up one of the finished copies to read again straight after the release!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me a early copy of this book.

I had heard so many good things about this book and I went in completely blind but damn! This book really packs a punch 😎 I loved every element to this book it was action packed but still kept a fascinating story throughout!

I would 100% recommend this book and I think it is a real treasure of the 2021 literary scene.

Jade fire gold was such a brilliant read!! I was absolutely shocked that this is the lovely June CL Tan's debut! It is everything you would want in a young adult fantasy!

Inspired by Chinese mythology Ahn and Altan's story had me hooked from the very beginning. The history, world building and magic system in Jade Fire Gold was so effortlessly done it provided such a fascinating background for the characters and the story.

Can I just say a big YAY for all the representation in this book- and for more woman of colour in publishing!!!🎉🎉 (I have accepted this will not be a coherent review because I am way to excited about this one haha)

Jade Fire Gold follows the story of Ahn a poor village girl who possess forbidden magic and Altan the lost heir to the empire. Their paths cross and the journey begins!

As much as I loved Ahn and Altan this book had such memorable side characters that slowly crept their way into my heart, they all had so much depth and really nobody fell short.

I loved reading about the culture and lore in Jade Fire Gold it was so wonderfully done (usually fantasy books have a tendency to cause such confusion- this was not one of those books!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Jade Fire Gold is a story inspired by Chinese mythology about Ahn, a fugitive trying to get the money to feed her and her grandmother, and Atlan, the rightful heir to the Dragon Throne who everyone believes died years ago.

The book started of strong, right from the very first page, grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go until I finished this! I absolutely loved every second of reading this book and honestly can’t wait for the final copy to be on my shelves once it comes out! It was one of my most anticipated releases this year and didn’t disappoint!

The setting and world-building were written in a way that they seemed so vivid to me, I could clearly picture it all. The Chinese mythology blended so well with the political scheming and the fantasy setting. The magic system created, while not super unique, fitted perfectly and was very easy to understand.

The plot written was really good! It was written in a way that kept me turning pages to see what would happen next. It was fast paced, but not in a way that seemed hurried. It had the perfect balance between the action paced scenes and the journeying scenes. The twist were ones that I didn’t see coming and they left me gasping in shock! Just the way I like best when twists are revealed in books.

I loved the group of characters we meet in this book! Ahn, a peasant girl who would do anything to save her grandmother. I loved reading how she grew from someone who knew almost nothing to someone who grows into her power and accepts herself. She was very likeable and sometimes did some questionable thing, but then I remembered she was 16. Atlan, the prince out for vengeance reminded me a lot of Zuko from Avatar! He would do anything to right what was done to his family and his resolve and determination were inspiring. Also, his dynamics with Ahn, the constant bickering, I was there for it! The side characters all were amazing on their own. Tang Wei was such a sarcastic fun person, Tai Shun was super likable and I wanted to give him the world. Linxi and Leiye were amazing in their own. All the characters really found each other and complemented each other’s personalities. Their relationships developed into a found family, and I loved it.

The prologue written has me really hopeful for a sequel or short story/novella to be released sometime in the future! I truly want to go back to these amazing characters, I’m not ready to say goodbye to them yet!

Overall, an amazing book with a great blend of Chinese mythology, a gorgeous setting and wonderful character.

One of the best fantasy books that I have read this year. I was hooked from page 1 and the author didn't let me go until the last word.

Jade Fire Gold hooked me from the very first page. I loved the vivid world and the mythology woven through it, the accessible and cinematic writing, and the twists and turns the story took. This is a firm favourite of the year and will definitely be in my top reads of 2021.

‘History is never written by its victims.’

I loved so many things about this book, but my absolute favourite were the characters. They all had really distinct personalities and a backstory that truly shaped them.
We follow the POV of the main characters Ahn and Altan; with 4 major side characters (Leiye, Tang Wei, Tai Shun and Linxi), and several minor side characters.
Occasionally you read a book where the whole cast just ‘fit’ and bounce off each other, this was the case here.
There wasn’t a single relationship dynamic between any of these characters I didn’t enjoy reading. The dialogue was sharp, witty, sarcastic and humorous. It made you feel like you were in on everyone’s inside jokes. I was constantly looking forward to different characters meeting each other throughout the book just so I could see how they’d interact.
Leiye, Tang Wei and Tai Shun are my favourites. I’m a sucker for broody mystery men, badass lesbian assassins and absolute cinnamon rolls, respectively.

I also want to highlight Altan and Tang Wei’s friendship. It’s not often we get a great male/female platonic relationship, and this one was done so well! I loved their back and forth banter and backhanded way of looking out for each other.

The trauma and PTSD representation in this book hit me hard. I feel like it was portrayed really well and the thoughts/emotions just leapt off the page. I loved seeing these character’s develop throughout the story.

“But even in the deepest night, the stars continue to shine.”

I really enjoyed being in this world, it felt nostalgic to me for a reason I can’t quite pinpoint. The descriptions of the palace and festivals in particular were gorgeous- and the food!
The Soul Beast scenes have to be some of the most cinematic I’ve ever read, and they were among my favourite parts of the book.

Jade Fire Gold definitely works as a standalone, but there’s so much more to explore in this world! There are characters I’d love to delve further into, a particular character’s backstory I’m dying to hear about, and after that epilogue… I need to know the fate of what’s to come. I truly hope we get to see a sequel/companion novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to the publishers for the chance to read and review this book.
this book has my heart. the world is described beautifully and i can not get the characters out of my mind. i loved watching the bond form between Anh and Altan, and although i could guess some character development that was going it happen, it was written so well that it still kept me hooked. the plot itself was refreshing after reading so many fantasy books, following this journey with the characters felt like something new and something that i felt a part of. i found it hard to get into the book at the beginning but that isn't necessarily the books fault, however once the stakes got higher and the tension rose oh boyyyyyy was i hooked. i'm so sad that it's over but it is definitely a book i will remember!

This is easily one of the best fantasy books I have read this year.

There is nothing too graphic in this, but still, I will put up a trigger warning for physical violence.

Imagine a world with a divided magic system governed by power-hungry, corrupt rulers. It favours the strong and the rich while further oppressing the needy. It's fate and future depends upon the actions of our two MCs. Both are orphans, abandoned when they were kids. While one seeks vengeance, other is trying to escape destiny. Their paths collide and what comes next is a quest full of dangers, adventures and magic.

This book has a perfect blend of mythology and magic. It has mythological creatures granting magical wishes. I am totally in for this!

Not only this, the book also has a strong plot and well written storyline to support it. There are so many twists and turns! I could guess a few of them but some were totally unexpected.

I was 100% fully, completely immersed in this book the entire time I was reading it. That itself is an indicator of how good the story was!

The characters are so lovable, we can't help but root for them! Even the side characters. I just loved all of them! I wanted more of their friendship and camaraderie and love.

The ending was so well executed. Up untill the very last page, I was sure that this was going to be a standalone, BUT that last page completely threw me off!
Now I am sure there will be sequel and I CANNOT WAIT to pick it up!

find it meaningful that the author has drawn up her own feelings and experiences of Chinese culture within this book, it makes it even more meaningful to read.
There are some content warnings to read before reading and can be found in the authors Goodreads page. I like that thus has been included as there could be quite a few triggering things for different people but I understand why they were included, it makes the book what it is.

The world building was well done and the writing beautifully captured. I will definitely be reading this one again!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review.

Ahn and Altan are very different from one other. Ahn is an orphan, poor and without a true home, while Altan is the lost heir of the empire, his family killed and he looking for revenge and to get his throne back. When magic and fate bring them together, they are forced to help one other and save everyone and their country, discovering secrets and falling in love.

I loved reading this book! The writing style is amazing and the worldbuilding really fascinating, even though I wish I knew more about it. The enemies to lovers romance is nice, even though I couldn't see much chemistry between them.
Still the characterization is good, I loved Altan more then Ahn and the story is captivating and really well written. Definitely recommend it.

This is the perfect example of all the great elements of a truly epic fantasy series all in one book! I absolutely loved it and was gripped from beginning to end. Everything was excellent. The characters, the story, the pacing. I can’t fault it!

Who doesn't love reading Chinese mythology with a twisty plot? What an epic journey theis book takes you on it has you hooked in only less then 50 pages!