I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley. This does not affect my review.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed in this book. The synopsis sounded excellent, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

I’m going to preface this by saying that some of my issues are definitely a personal preference. This is a YA book written in first person and both are hard sells for me. If that sounds like your thing, you might enjoy this more, but sadly, the odds were already stacked against this book for me. (It also didn’t help that the formatting on the eARC was terrible, and I had to read on my phone, but I tried not to let that affect my opinion)

First, things I did like – because there were several. The writing was beautiful. There were some truly standout lines here – particularly within the imagery. Tan has talent and I wouldn’t dismiss another of her books because of this one. Likewise, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and magic system: effort had clearly gone into crafting these. I enjoyed the Chinese-inspired setting and the use of the mythology.

The secondary characters were a delight. Tang Wei in particular. I loved her. She was wonderful and I would willingly read a whole book about her and Linxi, with a side of Leiye and Tai Shun. The side characters were all so distinct and interesting and I loved each and every one.

Unfortunately, what really let the book down for me was the main characters. I wasn’t particularly enamoured of either. Ahn grew on me towards the end – she had her fun, fiery moments, and had all the potential to be a really interesting character if she hadn’t been held back by Altan.

Altan bored me. I can’t put my finger on why, in particular, he just seemed to be the standard broody male love interest and I’ve read better? I didn’t feel the chemistry between him and Ahn at all, so it was a little difficult to really get into the romance between them. (Another hard sell for me – I prefer f/f or m/m over m/f)

Honestly, Ahn had more chemistry with Tang Wei. I was dying for her to ditch Altan and head off for a polyamorous relationship with her and Linxi.

I think part of the fault was that this felt like it should have been part of a series – I’d have loved more of the secondary characters and I might have liked Altan more if I’d seen him develop over a longer period.

In all, I would read more from this author, but not necessarily in this world.

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!

Right from that gorgeous synopsis, I knew Tan had me in the palm of her hand. Every single part of that description is right up my street. Luckily for me, I think Jade Fire Gold lived up to the hype for me.

From the first page, you are thrust into the thick stench of betrayal and an enclosing atmosphere. You can feel the terror running through the characters and just like that, you are completely gripped and unable to escape Tan’s clutches. Tan is relentless in the fast pacing of this book, as we race from place to place and the tension builds as we learn the true motivations behind every action. At the same time, Tan always allows room for characters to breathe and readers to get more of an insight into their minds. Those are treacherous places however to tread, with plenty of betrayal and dark secrets being held by various people. I loved the way the political machinations and schemes played out, with the stakes only ever getting more intense and life-threatening.

This is a gorgeously rich fantasy packed full of twists and turns that blends historical and magical fiction in a way that captures your mind. Tan’s writing style is so descriptive and vivid that you cannot help but imagine every page coming to life before you. There’s glimpses of beauty amongst the sheer hardship and brutality of life in this realm. Those flashes of brilliance are exquisite to see and this is such a strong debut story. I felt completely wrapped up in Tan’s imagination and want more. Speaking of which, that ending left my mouth hanging open and needing to know what happens beyond that tantalising final page.

Jade Fire Gold is a stunning addition to YA fantasy shelves that combines beauty with brutality in a dance of revenge, family and destiny.

Sadly I had to DNF this book because the format was downloaded weirdly and it was missing blocks of text and instead had random weird pictures. So I am having to wait to get the actual book. What I did read so far was really interesting so I am excited to read it in the correct format soon!

[An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

CN: 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, political violence), mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, alcohol consumption, grief, blood

What I liked about this book:

- fascinating magic system
- amazing world-building (inspired by Chinese mythology)
- beautiful slow-burn romance
- sapphic and achillean side characters
- dual POV with two really interesting main characters
- fast paced plot with a lot of action
- beautiful writing style
- shocking plot twists

I highly recommend this book to all fans of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and Avatar: The Last Airbender!

the pitch is stunning, atla being one of my favourite shows, i was excited to see 'what if katara were the dark avatar & zuko was hunting her down in an empire on the brink of war?’ but the execution is done poorly.

—it starts off really well, i liked the character motivations introduced initially and the easy pacing in the first 1/3 or half of the book
—the writing is fairly simple to follow and the worldbuilding inspired by chinese myth/folklore is imbedded pretty well. the descriptions of the different settings and locations were spot on
—i love the side characters, tang wei, tai shun, leiye, and the relationships they have between themselves and the protagonists.

—then the pacing starts to stumble and i lose interest in both ahn and altan because their thoughts seem to feel repetitive and i couldn't care less. i wouldn't have minded if the book went on a little longer if it meant giving a satisfying climax to the buildup rather than finishing it all off in a couple chapters. is it a standalone? or a series? especially with the ending, i'm confused here.
—the so called romance felt very bland, no tension no angst of supposedly being "enemies" so yeah
—i also didn't feel the urgency of a country being at war with others?? the political intrigue was just dumped and not handled with depth

overall, jade fire gold can be an interesting and enjoyable debut ya fantasy, if you're looking for a simple one but its simply not for me.

Oh man, I really wanted to fall in love with this book!
I mean, have you seen that gorgeous cover and that awesome blurb?
I did love the setting, world, and magic system and I was intrigued by most of the characters, but
unfortunately, I also had some issues with this book.

First of all, the pacing is off. Due to this book being divided in what appears to be four parts, there are some major time jumps, which made me feel like we were missing parts of the story and the connection between Ahn and Altan. And the events we do experience seem unimportant and suffer from slow pacing.

I felt like I couldn't connect to the main characters due to the constant POV switching and time jumps. I really wanted to ship them, but I must have missed them bonding or something, because one moment they felt nothing and the next they suddenly had feelings. They also suffered from a major lack of communication.

That's not to say this book was all bad. I was definitely invested in the story and wanted to see how things would end. The ending was satisfactory and after that epilogue I really want there to be a sequel!

I've watched a lot of wuxia and xianxia material in my time, both movies and (especially in the recent couple of years) more c-drama than I care to think about, so it's really good to see the universe I know so well from those reflected in more and more books. To be honest, though I don't read a lot of YA, it was very much the setting and related promised world-building that drew me to <I>Jade Fire Gold</i> as an ARC.

Beyond that, it's a pretty well-trodden story line - a hidden prince and a girl from a poor background join together in search of revenge (not to mention the reclamation of a throne) with a quest for a mythical sword thrown in. The world-building is solid, more so at times than the plot itself, and also definitely more convincing than the inevitable romance sub-plot.

Altan is our prince, who spends the first part of the book bemoaning the loss of his mother and sister and who has also (for a reason I don't actually remember being explained) mutilated himself and cut out his own eye? I think it's supposed to have been because it showed he was the son of the previous emperor, but I don't actually recall it being explicitly stated. Seems a bit extreme, tbh. Meanwhile, Ahn has also been orphaned - seriously, being a parent in a YA story is so high risk! - and is scraping by with her adopted grandmother when their paths cross. She, of course, also has a secret and in her case it's hidden magic that can steal people's souls.

Things wind on to their pretty much inevitable conclusion but I found myself caring more about the fate of the supporting characters than I did about the two main leads - there's some clunky plotting involved for them too, especially in terms of the occasional time jump between scenes. In particular, for me anyway, the romantic sub-plot was contrived and I found myself wishing more than once for a Luke-and-Leia situation, where they fall for each other and then it's revealed they're siblings. That, at least, would have had the virtue of being something a little different.

So, all in all not the worst thing I've ever read but I'm not convinced I would have finished it if I wasn't planning to review it. The world in which it's set deserves more stories being told, that's for certain, but I hope they'll be a little more nuanced than this one turned out to be for me.

<I>I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This review is my honest opinion of this book.</i>

This is a fantasy novel told in dual povs, this was an anticipated read of mine, however it was ok for me. It is a good debut novel, but I was expecting a little bit more and it didn't deliver as the pacing was a bit off for me. Also, when I read fantasy, I like to read a lot of action, but the action only started at 50%. Furthermore, the e-arc format was not the best, which affected my enjoyment of the book.

If you're looking for something to fill the Shadow & Bone shaped hole in your life then give this East Asian/Chinese mythology-inspired YA fantasy a go.

Ahn is poor, stealing food to survive but, when her dangerous magic is discovered, she's thrown into the imperial court & danger. Altan is the lost heir, determined to have his revenge & retake the throne. Their fates are entwinned & follow dangerous paths.

Recently, I've read some debut fantasies that have fallen flat thanks to some clunky writing. I can't tell you how happy I was when I realised this wasn't going to be one of those books. Silky-smooth to read, flowing & just, generally, well-written. The lush world-building immediately draws you in - descriptions of food, clothing & location creating layers of texture & give a really firm sense of place. There's a great cast of characters, particularly the side characters who really add a spark to the story - funny, witty, overly dramatic - all the different types of cinnamon roll.

The ending resolved everything too quickly for me - a lot happens in a short time - & I'd have liked a longer book or a follow-up to give us more time with the plot & the characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Jade Fire Gold - it was lush, evocative & exciting - and I'll certainly read whatever June CL Tan writes next.

3.75 stars.

Jade Fire Gold was an enjoyable and quick YA fantasy read. I loved the world-building; it was descriptive and immersive. Tan writes beautifully and words flow easily to form sentences that pulls you into the book’s world, though you can still tell that it is a debut. Some transitions were not as smooth and felt like the story was jumping from one scene to the next. Another thing that I wish were better were the action in the story. Some events seemed too easy and happened or were over to quickly, especially the climax. The romance was also just okay, and I was not able to connect with the characters that much. Despite all that, I still think that this book has a nice premise and is already a good book for a debut author. I’m excited to read more from June CL Tan in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc!

DNF at 60%

I’m not one to dnf books no matter how much I’m disliking it so when I do dnf, you know something wasn’t right. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t get through Jade Fire Gold because it started off amazing.

After the beginning, everything was a little hazy and I was struggling to understand who was related to who. That wasn’t the worst though, I just chose to continue reading and it did clear up. After Ahn is caught with magic and taken to the Palace, everything was set in motion— or so I thought. When I thought there would finally be some action, it was a little dry and boring. It could be that I didn’t feel invested in the characters (mainly Ahn and Altan) so their journey wasn’t interesting or gripping enough for me to want to continue reading.

This review is short because even though I got to 60%, nothing much was happening so there isn’t much for me to say. I thought Ahn would have spent more time in the Palace, at least spying on her father when she began to distrust him and spending more time with the Crown Prince. (The Prince was definitely the most fun character in there!) But these things didn’t have a chance as Ahn left the Palace too soon.

I might pick it up again but as of now, I feel zero investment.

Jade Fire Gold was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and it did alright. I was expecting a bit more from it, but I'm not disappointed.

I liked almost all the characters, main and side. They were fun to follow, and the author did a good job making each of them distinct.

Ahn and Altan were adorable together, I shipped them from their very first meeting. This is how you write slow burn.

The pacing was good, up until the final third (which was supposed to be the most exciting). It slowed down, and the random time jumps increased.

The jumps didn't make it confusing, but it did feel incomplete. Sort of how, when you're writing something and you didn't plan a scene out fully so you just do a time skip to move on, with the intention of going back and adding more before the final draft...yeah, that's missing.

The story would've benefited from more details in those parts, but it's not bad as is. It's easy to follow, and I liked the writing style too.

All together, it's a decent debut. I don't have overly strong feelings about it, or much to say, but I might reread it in the future.

3.5 stars

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Inspired by Chinese mythology, this is a new debut ya fantasy with dual perspective. Ahn is a peasant girl, with secret magical abilities. Altan is a lost heir from the murdered emperor.

3,5 stars rounded up. For a debut author, I was definitely impressed by the rich world-building and writing style. I love reading fantasy books inspired by different cultures, and the Chinese cultural aspects were so interesting. The beginning really intrigued me and I immediately loved Ahn. Unfortunately this book had some issues about pacing. The middle dragged for me, and I had to push myself a bit. And the big climax and ending, is resolved in the last 10-15 percent of the book. For me it could have been better paced. However, I still highly enjoyed this read and would recommend it to others.

This is a young adult fantasy, with a world inspired by Chinese folklore. It's a world where magic is forbidden, so of course both our main characters have magic, with our female character being a once in a generation type power. Or main male character is an exiled prince who has lot his kingdom after his family were betrayed and killed. They team to track down a mythical artifact and essentially save the world.

This was a very typical YA fantasy, and have me Shadow and Bone flashbacks for a number of reasons (with our main character being very much an Alina Starkov).

I wouldn't particularly class this as enemies to lovers - she doesn't view him as an enemy and the confessions of love don't ring true given the relationship you've seen develop. Faking out kn the one bed trope also made me assume the love interest was going to lie elsewhere!

The pacing is somewhat odd with a lot of time jumps, and them a very rushed ending. What I had assumed was going to take several books to evolve was wrapped up within a few pages.

If you skip the epilogue, this becomes a standalone book

If you have read at least five YA Fantasies in your life, you know where this story is going – lost princes, undiscovered magical powers, tragic childhoods, and the looming threat of war. And yet, “Jade Fire Gold” takes these battered down tropes and breathes new life into them. June C.L. Tan weaves a rich story of family legacies, doomed destinies and budding first love.
As the author herself states, this is a wuxia/xianxia story through and through. I believe that being familiar with the genre will enhance one’s experience in a positive way: you will have an easier time visualizing the fight sequences and the decadent palace life, as well as the detailed descriptions of food and garments. Even if you’re not in the known, the prose flows freely and is immersive. I had no problem fully submerging into this Fantasy world.
Being a fan of road trips in my stories I had a lot of fun with “Jade Fire Gold” – the majority of the book takes place on the road. I don’t mind characters travelling from place to place, because a good writer uses this page time for worldbuilding, relationship building and some truly engaging action. If you’re like me, you’ll get all of that and more.
However, the characters themselves were like a double-edged sword – in the end, I never grew attached to anyone. I couldn’t fully feel for them or root for them, but they were a fun bunch of varying personalities and life stories. Most importantly, they fit together and had entertaining conversations. Towards the end, each shined in their own way, especially Ahn, and that made up for their lacklustre characterizations earlier. The romance…was a decision™. There was not enough chemistry to grip me, but their pasts created an intricate relationship web that did draw me in. Much like the story finale, it never was fully realized and was quite a let-down.
In the end, I’m thankful that it ended the way it did – it gives way for more development in the future, and I do hope there is a future. There is a ton of potential to expand this world and I will be first in line to get on the hype train if a sequel is ever announced.

'What if Katara were the Dark Avatar & Zuko was hunting her down?' This was the first thing I heard about this book that got me hooked right away!

I really enjoyed this book. The Chinese mythology woven into the story was beautiful in this ancient China-inspired world.

My hopes sky-rocketed when readers were saying that this book is reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Airbender -- and in most ways, it definitely stayed true to this fact while being its own thing. That being said, do NOT go into this book expecting an Avatar: The Last Airbender re-telling because JADE FIRE GOLD was completely its own story.

I wish that we could’ve explored the characters some more. They were interesting to read about but, their archetypes felt only touched on the surface for me. I wish we could’ve gotten more of it.

If you asked me whether this was an enemies-to-lovers sort of book, I think? I felt that it was more on the lovers part rather than the enemies part. The romance between Ahn and Altan was very cute. I’m still rather confused at some parts of the book, so I’ll have to give it a reread at some point. This book was enjoyable regardless.

That being said, definitely check out JADE FIRE GOLD when it comes out!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book!

This is a promising debut for YA fantasy fans. Set in a Chinese-inspired fantasy world, we follow peasant girl Ahn as she discovers a legacy that ties her destiny to exiled prince Altan.

As a YA fantasy, it ticks a lot of the right boxes: it's a quick read with clean writing, likeable queer side characters, and entertaining banter. The world building is a highlight: the novel weaves together Chinese mythology, religion, martial arts, and other traditional elements to create a epic setting filled with promise. Imperial politics, a magic-hating priesthood, a fabled sword that could change the Empire's destiny, and an examination of how history is written by the winners... What's not to like?

Unfortunately, the execution falls a little flat. The pacing is uneven, and however much I usually enjoy romantic subplots, the focus on Ahn/Altan - to the expense of a promising plot - leaves me uninspired because their relationship feels rushed. The final climax doesn't have the impact I want, and the ending is a bit too happily-ever-after for my gloomy self.

While it didn't quite hit the mark for me, I do think this is promising for a debut, and am curious to see what the author writes next.

Read this if you enjoyed Girls of Paper and Fire (although JADE doesn't have the sexual violence that some may have found triggering in GIRLS). Kudos to the author as well for posting content warnings - highly recommend checking these out on her website.

2.5★

jade fire gold promises an unforgettable adventure weaving together elements of forbidden magic, enemies-to-lovers zutara-style romance, and enchanting chinese folklore.

once again, a disappointing new highly anticipated release :/

this book was barely enjoyable until the ending at the 80% mark or so, and even then it didn't deliver like it should've. i didn't care for the characters; they felt generic and surface-level, almost forced to fit in the vessel that the author portrayed for them—if that makes sense. we spend most of the book building up for the plot, in painfully dragging pace, for conflicts that felt irrelevant and detached. and they get resolved in a less than satisfying way, which left me feeling deflated. this could be because of my indifference to the characters and the unconvincing stakes, but i also find the execution of the grand pitches that were made for this book very poor.

however, i enjoyed the writing and the world-building laced with chinese folklore. (i have seen ownvoices reviewers comment on the rep, but i can't speak on that myself.)


content warning: 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, political violence), mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, alcohol consumption. — as listed by the author here: https://www.junecltan.com/content-warnings.

— thank you to harper collins for providing me with the digital arc via netgalley and edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

I am gutted this is a standalone!!! I can’t wait to read more from this author, their debut novel was a knock out! We need more East Asian stories like this in the book world, and it’s one I’ll be recommending for a long time to come!