Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

We’re really thrown into the thick of a dire situation after book 1, the betrayals and secrets linger over our main characters like a storm cloud. In book 2 we see new alliances, unknown enemies and more political warfare. Our FMC Ying finds herself at the centre of things as her engineering skills are called upon once more, her sister is more of a main character in this book and I liked getting to see her growth. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive Ye-Yang after book 1, but we do see a lot of remorse in book 2 and we see decisions made that maybe Ye-Yang can’t come back from.

I really enjoy how plot focused this book is with it’s solid pacing and unique story, the romance takes a back seat and I didn’t mind one bit. The ending felt a little open ended for me, but it is still somewhat satisfying. The betrayals in this book caught me off guard and it really makes you rethink all the characters intentions because who can you really trust.

Highly recommend this series for fantasy, political intrigue, unique storyline and complex characters who are wonderfully imperfect.

Although I feel like I enjoyed the first book a little more, Amber continues the sequel with beautiful and immersive world building along with expanding on the unresolved issues and relationship dynamics from Of Jade and Dragons.

As with the first book, the character I enjoyed the most was probably Ye-Kan, but it was nice to see the development of Ying as well as the added POV of Nian. At times, the pacing felt a little slow and at others, a bit rushed. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the ending but overall I did enjoy the book!

A satisfying conclusion to Ying and Nian's story. It's an exciting adventure with Ying working with Blood Phoenix pirates to stop an invasion of her homeland, using all her technological ingenuity in the creation of the undersea Bladebreakers. Nian's story of her evolution into a formidable court lady skilled in politics is just as interesting as we watch her take centre stage with Ye-Kan to protect their people from invasion. It's a good and solid conclusion to the duology but could easily be stretched into a third book!

I'm not entirely sure this was as good as the first in the series. That said, it was still excellent. The first book was one of my top reads, and while I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel, it didn't grip me in the same way.

I love the romance in this. It's complicated and messy and slow. It involves brothers and sisters (not incestuously, of course) in complex relationships filled with murder, lack of trust, political manoeuvres, protection, betrayal, and all sorts of complications. But the love is there and some of them feel that it's worth fighting for, and that shines throughout the book.

The introduction of Nian's PoV was really interesting. I'm torn on how to feel about it. I loved seeing everything from Ying's perspective and it added a different dimension to see things from a different viewpoint. However, I also spent the time away from Ying just wanting to get back to her.

I'm not sure how to feel about the ending either, especially knowing it is a duology and not a trilogy. I like how some things were wrapped up, but there were definitely other things that I felt could have been resolved more clearly. I think it's still open for a third book as there are still some unanswered questions.

Overall, 4.5 stars out 5, rounded up.

This book gave me everything and more than I could ever have dreamed after Of Jade and Dragons. I have fallen head over heels for these characters and there's always the worry that the second outing won't be as good as the first, but here those fears are completely irrelevant. The Blood Phoenix had me hooked right the way through and brought the story to a satisfying close. That said I am not above begging for a third book in this series!

A superb sequel which carries the mythical nature of its predecessor to new heights. An immersive, full throttle tale that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Unfortunately this book fell short for me. After of jade and dragons, i was really looking forward to book two but after reading it, im left feeling unfulfilled. The plot was again interesting and engaging but lacked the same pull and immersion from the first book. Honestly my biggest gripe with this is that it didn't feel like a good conclusion. I feel like things were not resolved and knowing this is only a duology, this was a deal breaker for me.

I just finished The Blood Phoenix, and wow—what a ride. From the start, it pulled me into this beautiful, intense world full of gods, rebellion, and magic, and I didn’t want to leave.

The story follows a girl torn between revenge, loyalty, and finding her own place in a world that expects so much from her. It’s inspired by Chinese mythology, which gives it such a rich, unique vibe. Amber Chen’s writing is easy to sink into—poetic but never too much—and the way she builds the world and the characters is just so good.

I really loved the main character’s journey. She’s strong, angry, vulnerable, and real. Watching her figure out who she is and what she wants felt really powerful. The romance was also slow and tender in the best way—not over the top, just the kind that sneaks up on you and stays with you.

If you like fantasy that’s emotional, a little dark, and full of heart, I totally recommend this one. It gave me a lot to think about, and the ending left me both satisfied and wanting more.


*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*