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Jade Tiger
Shan Westin -- half-Chinese, half-American, one hundred percent kung fu badass -- is on a mission to recover five mystical jade animals before they fall into the wrong hands. Over 15 years ago, Shan's mother led a secret society of female martial artists sworn to protect the statues. When the Jade Circle lost four of the five statues during a murderous attack on their sanctuary, 12-year-old Shan's destiny was sealed. It was she who carried the remaining tiger statue all the way to America; she who felt it clawing at her with the need to recover the crane, snake, leopard and dragon. The Circle was destroyed that night, and Shan hasn't seen her mother since. Shan has grown up under the tiger's unforgiving influence and the shadow of her mother's legacy. Her quest to recover the statues takes her to upstate New York and Ian Dashall, a geeky but brave archaeology professor, and then on to France and England with Ian at her side. Finally, on a secret island off the coast of Hong Kong, Shan overcomes torture, betrayal and deadly tigers in order to battle the man who destroyed the Jade Circle. But even as she faces off with him, she loses hope. How can she possibly succeed where her mother had failed? A 5 disc CD-Audio edition.
Audio CD
First published November 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Reese
29 books256 followersJenn Reese (she/they) writes speculative fiction for readers of all ages. She is the author of Every Bird a Prince and A Game of Fox & Squirrels, an NPR Best Book of 2020, a finalist for the Andre Norton Award and the Mythopoeic Award, and winner of the Oregon Book Award. Her other publications include the Above World trilogy and numerous short stories and essays. Jenn lives in Portland, Oregon where she makes art, plays video games, and talks to the birds.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 23, 2008
Jenn Reese's Jade Tiger is not a book to be taken seriously, but this isn't a bad thing. It reads very much like a lighthearted martial arts flick, and there are certainly times when that's exactly what I want to read.
It didn't hurt in the slightest, either, that the love interest in the book was a skinny, geeky scientific type with sticky-uppy brown hair, brown eyes, narrow features, and a prominent nose. And there were also several scenes towards the end where he was running around in a tuxedo. (Not that this reminded me of anybody, mind you. Nuh uh. I was purely coincidentally interested in that mental image, I swear.)
Ahem, where was I? Right! So, half-Chinese, half-American chick who's one of the last surviving members of a martial arts order, check. Stolen sacred jade artifacts, check. Aforementioned geeky yet attractive love interest, check. Gallivanting all over the world to exotic locals, check. Ass-kicking every twenty pages or so, check. Yep, definitely the text form of a kung fu flick. ;) It's got the occasional problem--for example, I caught one bit in the initial meeting between heroine Shan and love interest Ian that read weird, as if a line had been left out of the prose, and I couldn't really buy Shan referring to herself even in jest as a "kung-fu badass". But, it was fun for a super-fast, lightweight read nonetheless. Three stars.
It didn't hurt in the slightest, either, that the love interest in the book was a skinny, geeky scientific type with sticky-uppy brown hair, brown eyes, narrow features, and a prominent nose. And there were also several scenes towards the end where he was running around in a tuxedo. (Not that this reminded me of anybody, mind you. Nuh uh. I was purely coincidentally interested in that mental image, I swear.)
Ahem, where was I? Right! So, half-Chinese, half-American chick who's one of the last surviving members of a martial arts order, check. Stolen sacred jade artifacts, check. Aforementioned geeky yet attractive love interest, check. Gallivanting all over the world to exotic locals, check. Ass-kicking every twenty pages or so, check. Yep, definitely the text form of a kung fu flick. ;) It's got the occasional problem--for example, I caught one bit in the initial meeting between heroine Shan and love interest Ian that read weird, as if a line had been left out of the prose, and I couldn't really buy Shan referring to herself even in jest as a "kung-fu badass". But, it was fun for a super-fast, lightweight read nonetheless. Three stars.
January 4, 2024
Bro lol. The bad guy's motivation was wishing for gentle parenting? So she defeats him with the power of love? You can't even say this is YA because there's too much sex and murder. The orange chicken-for-dinner scene was really my last straw with this lmaaoo
June 10, 2007
I finished reading Jade Tiger last night. This is not only the debut novel from Jenn Reese, but also the lead title for Juno Books, a new paranormal romance line from Prime Books/Wildside Press.
Let me put it this way. With two little kids at home, I have a desperate craving for sleep. But I stayed up late to finish the book.
Jade Tiger tells the tale of Shan, one of the last survivors of the Jade Circle, a martial arts group dedicated to the teaching of women. The circle was attacked years ago, and most of the women were killed. Shan escaped, taking with her the jade tiger, one of five animial statues that fit together to form a circle. Each statue infuses its owner with traits of the animal. Shan has carried the tiger for years, which has shaped her into a dedicated -- one could even say obsessed -- hunter. Her search for the other four statues brings her to Ian, archaeologist and cute-geek extraordinaire. But Shan isn't the only one searching for the statues....
Reese writes a fast-paced book. There's plenty of kung fu action, a strong heroine, and a nicely written romance between Shan and Ian. Other reviews have compared it to a hybrid of Indiana Jones and Bruce Lee. Personally, I see more of the Bruce Lee influence, complete with the big martial arts exhibition at the end. Reese even gives props to Lee's work at several points in the book, which was a nice touch.
One of the book's greatest strengths is the passion Reese brings. It's always risky to try to guess at authorial intention, but reading Jade Tiger, I feel like I'm sharing Reese's love for the martial arts, and her empathy for girls and women struggling to find their own strength. (Not to mention an attraction to cute geek boys.) They say authors should write what they're passionate about. The result, as in Jade Tiger, is that the reader is drawn into that same passion and investment in the story.
There were times when I thought Reese started to push a little too hard. All three of the major female characters have to deal with being hurt and betrayed by men, which felt like a little too much repetition of the same theme. In Ian's case, he sometimes came across as a bit too perfect and sensitive. I consider myself a pretty sensitive guy, but I put my foot in my mouth at least once a week with my wife. It would be nice to see Ian screw up a little more, too ... if only to make me feel better.
All in all, a fun read. I'm very much looking forward to Reese's future books, and I hope she brings the same energy and passion to those projects that she did with Jade Tiger.
Let me put it this way. With two little kids at home, I have a desperate craving for sleep. But I stayed up late to finish the book.
Jade Tiger tells the tale of Shan, one of the last survivors of the Jade Circle, a martial arts group dedicated to the teaching of women. The circle was attacked years ago, and most of the women were killed. Shan escaped, taking with her the jade tiger, one of five animial statues that fit together to form a circle. Each statue infuses its owner with traits of the animal. Shan has carried the tiger for years, which has shaped her into a dedicated -- one could even say obsessed -- hunter. Her search for the other four statues brings her to Ian, archaeologist and cute-geek extraordinaire. But Shan isn't the only one searching for the statues....
Reese writes a fast-paced book. There's plenty of kung fu action, a strong heroine, and a nicely written romance between Shan and Ian. Other reviews have compared it to a hybrid of Indiana Jones and Bruce Lee. Personally, I see more of the Bruce Lee influence, complete with the big martial arts exhibition at the end. Reese even gives props to Lee's work at several points in the book, which was a nice touch.
One of the book's greatest strengths is the passion Reese brings. It's always risky to try to guess at authorial intention, but reading Jade Tiger, I feel like I'm sharing Reese's love for the martial arts, and her empathy for girls and women struggling to find their own strength. (Not to mention an attraction to cute geek boys.) They say authors should write what they're passionate about. The result, as in Jade Tiger, is that the reader is drawn into that same passion and investment in the story.
There were times when I thought Reese started to push a little too hard. All three of the major female characters have to deal with being hurt and betrayed by men, which felt like a little too much repetition of the same theme. In Ian's case, he sometimes came across as a bit too perfect and sensitive. I consider myself a pretty sensitive guy, but I put my foot in my mouth at least once a week with my wife. It would be nice to see Ian screw up a little more, too ... if only to make me feel better.
All in all, a fun read. I'm very much looking forward to Reese's future books, and I hope she brings the same energy and passion to those projects that she did with Jade Tiger.
October 5, 2016
Pop Quiz:
1.You have just diabled one of your (many) dangerous enemies, all of whom are attempting to catch, torture and most likely kill you. Do you...
A) Kill him so he won't be able to hunt you down
B) Tie him up so tight he will later need to amputate limbs
or
C) Assume he will stay asleep for as long as it takes you to rescue the civilians
2. How many times do you make the same mistake before learning to avoid it?
A) Once because I'm smart like that
B) Twice, because I need to make sure it wasn't a fluke
or
C) What mistake?
If you answered C to both of these questions, you will probably like this book. It is well paced with plenty of plot movement and action. It isn't boring and there's not much angst. It was different enough to mostly feel like its own story rather than a watered down retelling.
But I couldn't get past the lack of ruthlessness on the main character's part. It makes the action feel so unreal because real people tend to get pragmatic when their life is on the line. Not to mention she's a trained fighter and therefore used to inflicting pain/damage on others. Plus, the enemies are people who have killed before and who plan on killing many others, including children. Of course the book would have been very short if she had done the smart thing. But it's still like a pebble in my shoe to read how she mismanages all of her fights.
also, her mentor is arrogant, rude and dangerous to allies but Shan is blind to it. Super annoying!
1.You have just diabled one of your (many) dangerous enemies, all of whom are attempting to catch, torture and most likely kill you. Do you...
A) Kill him so he won't be able to hunt you down
B) Tie him up so tight he will later need to amputate limbs
or
C) Assume he will stay asleep for as long as it takes you to rescue the civilians
2. How many times do you make the same mistake before learning to avoid it?
A) Once because I'm smart like that
B) Twice, because I need to make sure it wasn't a fluke
or
C) What mistake?
If you answered C to both of these questions, you will probably like this book. It is well paced with plenty of plot movement and action. It isn't boring and there's not much angst. It was different enough to mostly feel like its own story rather than a watered down retelling.
But I couldn't get past the lack of ruthlessness on the main character's part. It makes the action feel so unreal because real people tend to get pragmatic when their life is on the line. Not to mention she's a trained fighter and therefore used to inflicting pain/damage on others. Plus, the enemies are people who have killed before and who plan on killing many others, including children. Of course the book would have been very short if she had done the smart thing. But it's still like a pebble in my shoe to read how she mismanages all of her fights.
also, her mentor is arrogant, rude and dangerous to allies but Shan is blind to it. Super annoying!
July 14, 2011
I'm being totally unfair, holding Jenn Reese to a higher standard. I put four stars so that I have room to upgrade to five stars for her not just well written stuff, like this novel, but her mind-bending, sear-into-memory, windows-into-alternate-realities that she creates. I first met Jenn at the Hidden City workshop, and read her short story about children in gangs organized by a beagle who must decide which species truly deserves their loyalty - yes, that was the premise, and it was one of the best short stories I've ever read. I still remember so much of it vividly, the masterful use of language and gritty detail.
The upshot? If it has Jenn Reese's name on it, read it, no matter what the blurb says. She can take quirky, unreal ideas and mold them into whole other worlds contained in a faceted gem. This book was well worth reading - action, romance, and archeology all rolled into one nonstop quest. Jenn is herself a martial artist and well versed in Chinese culture (take it from this half-Chinese person).
I'm eagerly awaiting her soon to be published series from Candlewick!
The upshot? If it has Jenn Reese's name on it, read it, no matter what the blurb says. She can take quirky, unreal ideas and mold them into whole other worlds contained in a faceted gem. This book was well worth reading - action, romance, and archeology all rolled into one nonstop quest. Jenn is herself a martial artist and well versed in Chinese culture (take it from this half-Chinese person).
I'm eagerly awaiting her soon to be published series from Candlewick!
September 26, 2009
This fun, action-packed story is a melange of Indiana Jones and kung fu flick: an archaeology professor and a martial artist pursue stolen jade animals with mystical powers.
August 31, 2018
2 stars for the book 1 for the narrator. The book had potential but it didn't quite cut it almost like it was written by a teen
September 23, 2007
Book Review - Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese
If you're looking for a ass-kicking chick who can save the world, her heritage and herself while still finding time to have a hot romance, Jade Tiger is the book for you.
This book is the story of a Chinese-American girl, Shan, whose sole purpose in life is to reunite the jade animals which were separated after the Jade Circle (society/village/training area) was destroyed when she was a young girl in China. She gets a break when one of the animals is photographed in a news article, and that one break leads her on trek around the world to regain control of the other animals. All, of course, with a smart handsome man at her side.
I, of course, love an ass-kickin' heroine. But too often that also seems to involve a frustrating level of social retardation where the heroine can't carry on a civilized conversation but rather is nasty and combative with just about everyone. Not the case in this book. Shan even offers her softer side right after beating the crap out of a number of bad guys. She was a well-rounded character with her own desires, flaws and motivations.
There's a lot of fight scenes in this book. I thought they were well crafted and was able to follow them well, although I'm not totally sure someone without a martial arts background would follow them as well as I did. That said, anyone can learn a little something from reading them :)
Jade Tiger was a wild ride, filled with great characters and spinning kicks. I highly recommend it.
If you're looking for a ass-kicking chick who can save the world, her heritage and herself while still finding time to have a hot romance, Jade Tiger is the book for you.
This book is the story of a Chinese-American girl, Shan, whose sole purpose in life is to reunite the jade animals which were separated after the Jade Circle (society/village/training area) was destroyed when she was a young girl in China. She gets a break when one of the animals is photographed in a news article, and that one break leads her on trek around the world to regain control of the other animals. All, of course, with a smart handsome man at her side.
I, of course, love an ass-kickin' heroine. But too often that also seems to involve a frustrating level of social retardation where the heroine can't carry on a civilized conversation but rather is nasty and combative with just about everyone. Not the case in this book. Shan even offers her softer side right after beating the crap out of a number of bad guys. She was a well-rounded character with her own desires, flaws and motivations.
There's a lot of fight scenes in this book. I thought they were well crafted and was able to follow them well, although I'm not totally sure someone without a martial arts background would follow them as well as I did. That said, anyone can learn a little something from reading them :)
Jade Tiger was a wild ride, filled with great characters and spinning kicks. I highly recommend it.
Read
November 24, 2015This book was like reading a YA fantasy novel written for faux feminist "strong female" loving women who want to indulge in a Romance novel. It is labeled fantasy. It is not. It is romance. I personally decided to take it upon myself to edit the parts that the editor should have taken out simply because I payed for this so I had to finish it.
Like most YA fantasy I have read, I was extremely frustrated and annoyed by the decently interesting plot that kept getting submerged and overlooked so that the romantic subplot could flourish despite the fact that these characters met and "fell in love" in the space of a 5 minute fight sequence in which one was on the receiving end of a concussion. It was obnoxious to find adult characters who were just as unable to focus on imminent death and destruction because they were so distracted by the absolute perfects embodied by their love interest.
I would like everyone involved in the production and labeling, (as well as the back blurb writing) of this book to reimburse me for my ₩5,000 and the time that I wasted reading it.
Like most YA fantasy I have read, I was extremely frustrated and annoyed by the decently interesting plot that kept getting submerged and overlooked so that the romantic subplot could flourish despite the fact that these characters met and "fell in love" in the space of a 5 minute fight sequence in which one was on the receiving end of a concussion. It was obnoxious to find adult characters who were just as unable to focus on imminent death and destruction because they were so distracted by the absolute perfects embodied by their love interest.
I would like everyone involved in the production and labeling, (as well as the back blurb writing) of this book to reimburse me for my ₩5,000 and the time that I wasted reading it.
Read
March 16, 2011Another that's difficult to rate! I guess it'd average out at about three and a half stars, as there were elements I loved and others that I didn't, and some of the elements I loved seemed to be dropped, rather -- a sequel? The ending felt as if it might be setting up for one, certainly.
The things I loved include Shan herself, and her committment to her quest to retrieve the individual figures of the jade circle, and Ian, the delightfully geeky-as-attractive romantic interest. Things I didn't love include that Shan's conflicted, half-American, half-Chinese self seemed to get rather dropped in the wild adventure, that we got far too much comparing of the perfect Ian with the diametrically opposite ex, and the descriptions of the energy flowing between Shan and Ian. I felt I'd had enough of the sex-as-animal-energies long before they were -- satisfied.
Ending felt quite open, even to the point of unresolved, but the next book seems to be a children's series.
The things I loved include Shan herself, and her committment to her quest to retrieve the individual figures of the jade circle, and Ian, the delightfully geeky-as-attractive romantic interest. Things I didn't love include that Shan's conflicted, half-American, half-Chinese self seemed to get rather dropped in the wild adventure, that we got far too much comparing of the perfect Ian with the diametrically opposite ex, and the descriptions of the energy flowing between Shan and Ian. I felt I'd had enough of the sex-as-animal-energies long before they were -- satisfied.
Ending felt quite open, even to the point of unresolved, but the next book seems to be a children's series.
October 30, 2011
I enjoyed this book. It took a little bit to get into this book it but I liked it. The plot is simple and some what predictable but the characters are endearing. Shan is a kick but female martial artist who is searching for her heritage. Her outlook on life and values are what every hero should be. I particularly liked the her devotion to helping those who can not help themselves. The fight scenes were dramatic without getting too wordy and technical. All in all, it was an easy read that will entertain.
September 17, 2013
In this, my friend's first published novel, there is much to be lauded and much to mourn. Unfortunately, the plot, action and storyline feel like a bad James Bond movie.
However, in this first effort, one can easily see Jenn's ability to develop characters, theme and background.
While I will not recommend this novel, I am glad to have read it.
However, in this first effort, one can easily see Jenn's ability to develop characters, theme and background.
While I will not recommend this novel, I am glad to have read it.
Read
July 27, 2015While I'm enjoying this title, it seems to be going on way too long. And I'm kinda wishing it would get to the point. Not to mention it is starting to sound very familiar. Parts of it anyway. Ever heard of the Bruce Lee movie Enter the Dragon? This is reading a lot like that. But it's also inspiring me to once again look into martial arts.
March 1, 2016
This book reminded me of one of those cheesy martial arts movies in book form. However the plot was good. The climax area reminded me of James Bond.
That said, having a martial arts fight on land dividers in a pool---totally unrealistic but hilarious. I think Shan's revelation at the end was very sudden and wasn't all the believable.
That said, having a martial arts fight on land dividers in a pool---totally unrealistic but hilarious. I think Shan's revelation at the end was very sudden and wasn't all the believable.
September 28, 2008
Enjoyable but could have been fleshed out more. I would have liked it more if there was more into the characters and especially if the we could have learned more about Shan's mother. I hope this author writes again. She has a lot of potential.
June 16, 2009
This has become a comfort book I come back to again and again - it's my go-to book every time I'm sad or sick or just need a burst of fun, romance, and kick-ass, female-led martial arts. I absolutely love it!
October 20, 2009
Listened to this on the long drives to and from classes. DH thought I'd like it. This book seemed like it was written to be made into a fantasy martial arts film. Kinda cheesy but okay. Quite descriptive of the violence and a sex scene between two main characters.
Read
December 9, 2010Exciting, adventure, romance, martial arts. What more could a children's librarian want? Sometimes you just have to read something else. Jenn (the author) joined our book club and I'm really glad she was willing to give me a copy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 6, 2009
My favorite romance read of 2007.
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May 29, 2012
This was definitely not a young adult book, but I really appreciated the way the author described the fight scenes so well.
February 27, 2015
Meow...more like Jade Pussycat. Not a bad read though.
April 22, 2017
Three stars to the book, zero to the audio production. This is possibly the most poorly produced audiobook I've ever heard--sound quality issues, weird editing, repeated lines, no pauses where there clearly should have been, massive gaping pauses between sentences in the same paragraph--just a mess.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews