What do you think?
Rate this book
An Auction of Souls #1
An Auction of Souls
A start to a new duology from Of Jade and Dragons author Amber Chen, perfect for fans of The Scorpion and the Night Blossom and A Forgery of Fate!
Meng Lingxi and her grandmother run a legendary auction house, Meng Wu—the House of Dreams. But when a mysterious traveler arrives bearing a fragment of a soul, all that Lingxi knows changes in an instant. Her grandmother mysteriously vanishes, and restless spirits descend upon Meng Wu.
Then two unlikely allies—Yan Jun and Yan Shan, guardians of hell itself—come to Lingxi's aid, revealing a shocking secret about the only home she's ever known: Meng Wu sits upon the gateway to hell, and her grandmother serves the god of the underworld himself.
Soon, Lingxi joins her two companions on a perilous journey to find her grandmother and unravel the mystery behind the dangerous fragment of soul. Along the way, the trio must outsmart humans, gods, and demons alike who try to stand in their way—before hell is let loose on earth.
Meng Lingxi and her grandmother run a legendary auction house, Meng Wu—the House of Dreams. But when a mysterious traveler arrives bearing a fragment of a soul, all that Lingxi knows changes in an instant. Her grandmother mysteriously vanishes, and restless spirits descend upon Meng Wu.
Then two unlikely allies—Yan Jun and Yan Shan, guardians of hell itself—come to Lingxi's aid, revealing a shocking secret about the only home she's ever known: Meng Wu sits upon the gateway to hell, and her grandmother serves the god of the underworld himself.
Soon, Lingxi joins her two companions on a perilous journey to find her grandmother and unravel the mystery behind the dangerous fragment of soul. Along the way, the trio must outsmart humans, gods, and demons alike who try to stand in their way—before hell is let loose on earth.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2026
About the author
Amber Chen
3 books525 followersAmber Chen is the UK #1 bestselling author of the YA silkpunk fantasy novel, Of Jade and Dragons.
She is currently based in sweltering Singapore and spends much of her free time living within Chinese fantasy novels and dramas. She also drinks one too many cups of bubble tea. One of her webnovels, The Cutting Edge, has been adapted for television.
This GR account is managed by a friend. If you would like to interact with Amber directly, head over to IG or Tiktok @amberwrites88 !
She is currently based in sweltering Singapore and spends much of her free time living within Chinese fantasy novels and dramas. She also drinks one too many cups of bubble tea. One of her webnovels, The Cutting Edge, has been adapted for television.
This GR account is managed by a friend. If you would like to interact with Amber directly, head over to IG or Tiktok @amberwrites88 !
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Did Not Finish
September 1, 2026DNF @ 21%
This was too young YA for me (simple plotline and characterization) and I prefer older YA. Despite that, I think that this would be perfect for MG readers transitioning into YA or adults wanting a simpler fantasy novel. The descriptions are so lush and vibrant that I immediately thought of Studio Ghibli. (I mean, they're literally flying through the air on a giant flying sword and traveling to different realms lol)
If you're looking for that specific brand of magic and adventure, then this would definitely fit the bill.
Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.
This was too young YA for me (simple plotline and characterization) and I prefer older YA. Despite that, I think that this would be perfect for MG readers transitioning into YA or adults wanting a simpler fantasy novel. The descriptions are so lush and vibrant that I immediately thought of Studio Ghibli. (I mean, they're literally flying through the air on a giant flying sword and traveling to different realms lol)
If you're looking for that specific brand of magic and adventure, then this would definitely fit the bill.
Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.
Want to Read
October 9, 2025"YA fantasy duology that follows a girl who runs a legendary magical auction house, whose life is upended after a stranger shows up wanting to sell a soul"
October 25, 2026
What I enjoyed most about this book was that it genuinely felt like a xianxia C-drama in novel form. I liked the world and the adventure plot, even if they weren't groundbreaking.
Unfortunately, the overall execution of the story didn’t hit the mark for me. The writing had a case of Thesaurus Syndrome, which was pretty distracting (and once again, the author misused the word “imperceptibly”—if something is imperceptible, then no one else can react to it…).
I didn’t love any of the main characters. I found Lingxi a difficult character to like; the trauma of being ignored by family can only go so far in excusing a character who is characterized primarily by being selfish. At the same time, the author didn’t lean hard enough into her mercenary/ruthless qualities to portray her as someone who has become dysfunctional due to valuing money above anything else and maybe having a character arc based on that.
Not that I really liked Yan Jun that much, either. The first third or so of the story consisted of Lingxi and Yan Jun constantly being rude to each other. Yeah, they’re supposed to have an enemies-to-lovers arc, I get it, but having the romantic leads insult each other for no reason isn’t a great way to get me invested in their romance. Later, there were moments that could have built up to something, but they didn’t really go anywhere. The romantic subplot felt half-baked, the chemistry tepid.
Considering how important past events were to the current plot, I found it disappointing that we never get a full explanation and are left to infer what happened from fragmentary bits and pieces. Sometimes, that can work in a story, but not when past events have supposedly shaped important characters and the stakes of the current world.
Unfortunately, the overall execution of the story didn’t hit the mark for me. The writing had a case of Thesaurus Syndrome, which was pretty distracting (and once again, the author misused the word “imperceptibly”—if something is imperceptible, then no one else can react to it…).
I didn’t love any of the main characters. I found Lingxi a difficult character to like; the trauma of being ignored by family can only go so far in excusing a character who is characterized primarily by being selfish. At the same time, the author didn’t lean hard enough into her mercenary/ruthless qualities to portray her as someone who has become dysfunctional due to valuing money above anything else and maybe having a character arc based on that.
Not that I really liked Yan Jun that much, either. The first third or so of the story consisted of Lingxi and Yan Jun constantly being rude to each other. Yeah, they’re supposed to have an enemies-to-lovers arc, I get it, but having the romantic leads insult each other for no reason isn’t a great way to get me invested in their romance. Later, there were moments that could have built up to something, but they didn’t really go anywhere. The romantic subplot felt half-baked, the chemistry tepid.
Considering how important past events were to the current plot, I found it disappointing that we never get a full explanation and are left to infer what happened from fragmentary bits and pieces. Sometimes, that can work in a story, but not when past events have supposedly shaped important characters and the stakes of the current world.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author Amber Chen for the ARC! 3.75⭐ for this start to her sophomore series.
I feel that I enjoyed her debut Of Jade and Dragons a bit more, though I know my teen self would be OBSESSED with this, so it's done the job. Shame that An Auction of Souls could've been a near 5 if not for that romantic development which made me wanna tear my hair out.
I'm just over novels with the heroine feeling attraction to Male Love Interests who are assholes to her, especially for no reason?? Yan Jun, one of the Guardians of Hell who accompanies protag Lingxi on her journey to find her grandmother, has been dismissive and rude to her from the start. We can infer that his attitude is because he thinks a human will slow them down on their urgent mission, but honestly I don't think it warrants that level of hostility. Like you'd have Lingxi make a mildly snarky comment (which I'd say was appropriate for ~banter~) and Yan Jun would act like she just told him to throw a puppy off a cliff and follow after it himself (uncalled for; total dick move). I almost expected a reveal of his vendetta against humans because of some Personal Reason in his past life, but none of that. He's just an annoying tumour of a prick stuck with us. (He does get better yes, but uh I expect a whole essay of an apology and some groveling for his heinous attitude towards our protag.)
Otherwise, I had a blast with this xianxia quest-style adventure. It starts out pretty straightforward: Lingxi & her companions have to procure three specific items, in exchange for information on where her grandmother is being kept hostage. In each location, we come across adversarial obstacles (because of course it can't be that easy!) and learn more about the world's lore of immortals and demons. There's also mystical objects, reincarnation (👀) and an earthshaking war between the realms in the past (👀👀). We're also introduced to this whole thing about love/relations between immortals & mortals being forbidden, which I felt would've been a stronger point if all the examples of love weren't romantic. What about platonic love, familial love? But it's a pretty negligible nitpick in the grand scheme of things.
I personally really enjoyed Lingxi as our protag. Was her introduction to us in the first chapter portraying her in an unscrupulous light? Sure, but I thought that was a character trait that made her interesting rather than off-putting, especially when soon after we get to see her true motivation of wanting to earn so much money. (Also she's swindling the rich, not people in poverty. 🤷) And as expected, her callousness did come back to bite her ass in the end, which made for an opportunity for character growth in this YA book. I do wish we saw more of that stonecold calculated cunningness past the opening chapter, like I don't get why she'd so readily trust this newcomer Zhanfeng into their group? The excuse she gave about wanting to take advantage of his skills feel like an afterthought; it would be more convincing if that was her intent from the get-go. That said, her street-smartness and quick-thinking are retained throughout the novel, particularly during the quests where she came up with strategies on getting out of sticky situations.
There's also a minor subplot of Lingxi's complicated feelings towards her grandmother and the only home she's ever known that I found both relatable and compelling. Stop me if you've heard this before: an Asian teenager longing for affection and validation from an unflinchingly strictand borderline emotionally abusive parental figure. Or a youth feeling stifled in the walls of their home and wanting the freedom to explore the world, yet still feels some homesickness for the familiar when they're finally out there.
This is a fast-paced story; perhaps too fast because I would've loved quieter, slower-paced moments where Lingxi bonds properly with her group of companions. And I mean ALL her companions, not just her planned love interest. Poor Yan Shan, the other Hell Guardian on this adventure, got the shaft in terms of character development. I think making her younger (physically & mentally, since she's definitely older in terms of chronological age) than Lingxi was a detriment, because if she were our protag's peer rather than a little sister-type figure, they could have an easier time forming a connection.
Based on this and her previous duology, Chen knows how to pull out banger third acts that strengthen the story as a whole, whether it's a revelation I didn't see coming or an ending that makes me hungry for what comes next. And I know flying on a sword is cool and all... but after this adventure, I want a talking crow as my ride-or-die travel companion.
I feel that I enjoyed her debut Of Jade and Dragons a bit more, though I know my teen self would be OBSESSED with this, so it's done the job. Shame that An Auction of Souls could've been a near 5 if not for that romantic development which made me wanna tear my hair out.
I'm just over novels with the heroine feeling attraction to Male Love Interests who are assholes to her, especially for no reason?? Yan Jun, one of the Guardians of Hell who accompanies protag Lingxi on her journey to find her grandmother, has been dismissive and rude to her from the start. We can infer that his attitude is because he thinks a human will slow them down on their urgent mission, but honestly I don't think it warrants that level of hostility. Like you'd have Lingxi make a mildly snarky comment (which I'd say was appropriate for ~banter~) and Yan Jun would act like she just told him to throw a puppy off a cliff and follow after it himself (uncalled for; total dick move). I almost expected a reveal of his vendetta against humans because of some Personal Reason in his past life, but none of that. He's just an annoying tumour of a prick stuck with us. (He does get better yes, but uh I expect a whole essay of an apology and some groveling for his heinous attitude towards our protag.)
Otherwise, I had a blast with this xianxia quest-style adventure. It starts out pretty straightforward: Lingxi & her companions have to procure three specific items, in exchange for information on where her grandmother is being kept hostage. In each location, we come across adversarial obstacles (because of course it can't be that easy!) and learn more about the world's lore of immortals and demons. There's also mystical objects, reincarnation (👀) and an earthshaking war between the realms in the past (👀👀). We're also introduced to this whole thing about love/relations between immortals & mortals being forbidden, which I felt would've been a stronger point if all the examples of love weren't romantic. What about platonic love, familial love? But it's a pretty negligible nitpick in the grand scheme of things.
I personally really enjoyed Lingxi as our protag. Was her introduction to us in the first chapter portraying her in an unscrupulous light? Sure, but I thought that was a character trait that made her interesting rather than off-putting, especially when soon after we get to see her true motivation of wanting to earn so much money. (Also she's swindling the rich, not people in poverty. 🤷) And as expected, her callousness did come back to bite her ass in the end, which made for an opportunity for character growth in this YA book. I do wish we saw more of that stonecold calculated cunningness past the opening chapter, like I don't get why she'd so readily trust this newcomer Zhanfeng into their group? The excuse she gave about wanting to take advantage of his skills feel like an afterthought; it would be more convincing if that was her intent from the get-go. That said, her street-smartness and quick-thinking are retained throughout the novel, particularly during the quests where she came up with strategies on getting out of sticky situations.
There's also a minor subplot of Lingxi's complicated feelings towards her grandmother and the only home she's ever known that I found both relatable and compelling. Stop me if you've heard this before: an Asian teenager longing for affection and validation from an unflinchingly strict
This is a fast-paced story; perhaps too fast because I would've loved quieter, slower-paced moments where Lingxi bonds properly with her group of companions. And I mean ALL her companions, not just her planned love interest. Poor Yan Shan, the other Hell Guardian on this adventure, got the shaft in terms of character development. I think making her younger (physically & mentally, since she's definitely older in terms of chronological age) than Lingxi was a detriment, because if she were our protag's peer rather than a little sister-type figure, they could have an easier time forming a connection.
Based on this and her previous duology, Chen knows how to pull out banger third acts that strengthen the story as a whole, whether it's a revelation I didn't see coming or an ending that makes me hungry for what comes next. And I know flying on a sword is cool and all... but after this adventure, I want a talking crow as my ride-or-die travel companion.
October 31, 2026
An Auction of Souls was a bit hit-and-miss for me. Starting with the positives, this book felt very lush because of the immersive, mythical setting Amber Chen created. I also thought that our main character, Lingxi, was very likeable and used her intelligence to problem solve every obstacle encountered. While I wasn’t overly sold on the romantic set-up, it didn’t pull the focus of the story
What caused the biggest limitation to my enjoyment was the overarching storyline. I seldom enjoy storylines centred on a quest to find specific magical items because the plot calls for it. These storylines are not exciting to me; it feels inevitable that they will cross off every item on the list, making the journey from Point A to Point B feel tedious. Since this took up a large chunk of the book, I was not able to connect with it, or the character like I did with Of Jade and Dragons (which is a book I had so much fun with!)
I would recommend this to readers that want a book that feels like a C-drama and has the signature tropes they would come to expect .
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
What caused the biggest limitation to my enjoyment was the overarching storyline. I seldom enjoy storylines centred on a quest to find specific magical items because the plot calls for it. These storylines are not exciting to me; it feels inevitable that they will cross off every item on the list, making the journey from Point A to Point B feel tedious. Since this took up a large chunk of the book, I was not able to connect with it, or the character like I did with Of Jade and Dragons (which is a book I had so much fun with!)
I would recommend this to readers that want a book that feels like a C-drama and has the signature tropes they would come to expect .
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
tbr-fantasies
March 17, 2025So down bad for OJAD and its sequel that this is an instant to-read
October 23, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Favorite quote(s):
"Fearing death has nothing to do with whether you are mortal or immortal, and everything to do with whether or not you have anything to lose.”
Review:
Wow. I really enjoyed this book and its story. It felt so much like a xianxia Chinese drama, and I loved it. Especially when it dealt with Immortals, the Heavenly Court and the demonic realm, and more. I found this whole plot with the missing soul and market to be really fascinating, and I was so intrigued by it all. I really enjoyed Lingxi as a character and her determination and love for her grandmother and how she was determined to get her back. I loved our two Guardians of Hell Yan Jun and his little sister Yan Shan so much. The banter as a whole in this book was incredible. I adored Lingxi and Yan Jun so much, and i hope for more of them in the next book. I did like Zhangfeng at first, but by the end, he pissed me off so much. I do want to know where the story takes him, though. Liu-shu was a fascinating character, and how the last chapters left him was interesting, and I can't wait for more of him. I will say that despite all of these things, I did feel like it read more younger YA at times, but that didn't stop me from loving it. I can't wait for the next book to see what comes next. Overall, this was an unbelievable experience of a read.
Favorite quote(s):
"Fearing death has nothing to do with whether you are mortal or immortal, and everything to do with whether or not you have anything to lose.”
Review:
Wow. I really enjoyed this book and its story. It felt so much like a xianxia Chinese drama, and I loved it. Especially when it dealt with Immortals, the Heavenly Court and the demonic realm, and more. I found this whole plot with the missing soul and market to be really fascinating, and I was so intrigued by it all. I really enjoyed Lingxi as a character and her determination and love for her grandmother and how she was determined to get her back. I loved our two Guardians of Hell Yan Jun and his little sister Yan Shan so much. The banter as a whole in this book was incredible. I adored Lingxi and Yan Jun so much, and i hope for more of them in the next book. I did like Zhangfeng at first, but by the end, he pissed me off so much. I do want to know where the story takes him, though. Liu-shu was a fascinating character, and how the last chapters left him was interesting, and I can't wait for more of him. I will say that despite all of these things, I did feel like it read more younger YA at times, but that didn't stop me from loving it. I can't wait for the next book to see what comes next. Overall, this was an unbelievable experience of a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2026
Oh wow! This was such a fast-paced book, full of an intriguing world and magic system. The FMC, Lingxi, has to go through trials to save her grandmother and, hopefully, save Meng Wu from being destroyed by spirits who are not able to pass on to Hell. To find a glimpse of where her grandmother is, Lingxi travels with two sibling Hell gods, her crow Liu-shu (essentially a father figure), and a Rulin trainee, and solves three trials. Throughout the book, I kept trying to predict how the trials would go and the story behind Lingxi, with many conspiracies, but gosh, I was wrong about all of them. I really liked how Amber Chen kept foreshadowing, while still balancing vague but obvious hints. I loved the interactions with the main and side characters, especially the second trial they go through. One thing I felt could be more developed was Yan Shan's character. Halfway through the book, we don't hear much interaction between Lingxi and Yan Shan, though I understand the focus was on Lingxi, Yan Jun, and Zhanfeng. At that point, it felt like Yan Shan was set aside without any clear purpose. Otherwise, I definitely enjoyed this story and will continue reading!
Thank you, Netgalley, for the eARC :)
Thank you, Netgalley, for the eARC :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A book I would've devoured when I was a preteen and aching to find Asian representation. Reading about a selfish teenage auction master is the last character type I thought I'd sit through a book for. But pivoting her biggest problem to her missing grandmother instead of how to swindle a buyer for the most profits makes for such an interesting take on the "hero's journey".
No matter her hefty auction master persona, she's still a sheltered girl, and I loved watching her be challenged throughout the journey (especially by Yan Jun). There's more than meets the eye with Lingxi, and I can't wait to see what else lies for this universe.
No matter her hefty auction master persona, she's still a sheltered girl, and I loved watching her be challenged throughout the journey (especially by Yan Jun). There's more than meets the eye with Lingxi, and I can't wait to see what else lies for this universe.
August 24, 2026
An Auction of Souls follows the journey of Meng Lingxi after the disappearance of her grandmother and the closing of the gates of hell. Lingxi is embarks on a quest to find her grandmother, aided by Yan Jun and Yan Shan, two young guardians of the underworld.
The characters in this story are very compelling and three dimensional. As they form relationships, the characters become even more interesting and endearing. There is a sweet slow burn romance between Lingxi and one of her companions.
I really enjoyed the world building in this story. Chen does a great job of creating a complex world without overloading the reader with unnecessary detail. I enjoyed the twists towards the end.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, this is a definite recommend for any teen collection.
The characters in this story are very compelling and three dimensional. As they form relationships, the characters become even more interesting and endearing. There is a sweet slow burn romance between Lingxi and one of her companions.
I really enjoyed the world building in this story. Chen does a great job of creating a complex world without overloading the reader with unnecessary detail. I enjoyed the twists towards the end.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, this is a definite recommend for any teen collection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a great time reading An Auction of Souls. I am often confused when I read a book based on Chinese mythology but the author did a very good job here at explaining the different aspects of the mythology present in the book.
It's a simple enough plot but I was invested all the way and there's quite the plot twist at the end.
My favourite part was the characters especially the MFC Lingxi. She's greedy, a bit grumpy, not always very brave, she has questionable morals but I loved her from the very first chapter and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book.
I can't wait for book 2.
It's a simple enough plot but I was invested all the way and there's quite the plot twist at the end.
My favourite part was the characters especially the MFC Lingxi. She's greedy, a bit grumpy, not always very brave, she has questionable morals but I loved her from the very first chapter and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book.
I can't wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*review of advance copy from NetGalley*
This was a fun and fast-paced read! It did sometimes feel a little bit too YA for me, but my teenage self would have absolutely loved this so I would say the writing is doing it's job. I loved setting of this; it felt very immersive and I could easily picture it. It did take me a little bit to get into the characters at first, but by the end I was really rooting for them. And I was not really expecting the twist at the end! I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book.
This was a fun and fast-paced read! It did sometimes feel a little bit too YA for me, but my teenage self would have absolutely loved this so I would say the writing is doing it's job. I loved setting of this; it felt very immersive and I could easily picture it. It did take me a little bit to get into the characters at first, but by the end I was really rooting for them. And I was not really expecting the twist at the end! I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book.
August 23, 2026
4.5 stars
Thank you so much to the publisher and author for sending me an arc copy of this book.
Pick this one up!!! I honestly can’t say enough good things about this story. Full of magic, quests, gods and demons, and story telling— this book has quickly become a new favorite!
An Auction of Souls is an absolutely gorgeous fantasy world with equally incredible characters. Every single character played such an integral role in the story. They were so multi-faceted. I enjoyed watching them all grow and change throughout the story, especially Lingxi!
The imagery was so vivid that I could visualize myself within the book! The author added soooo much into this book. It was quick-paced throughout, and yet there was still so much world and character building.
A must read for anyone that loves fantasy! I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you so much to the publisher and author for sending me an arc copy of this book.
Pick this one up!!! I honestly can’t say enough good things about this story. Full of magic, quests, gods and demons, and story telling— this book has quickly become a new favorite!
An Auction of Souls is an absolutely gorgeous fantasy world with equally incredible characters. Every single character played such an integral role in the story. They were so multi-faceted. I enjoyed watching them all grow and change throughout the story, especially Lingxi!
The imagery was so vivid that I could visualize myself within the book! The author added soooo much into this book. It was quick-paced throughout, and yet there was still so much world and character building.
A must read for anyone that loves fantasy! I can’t wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Look at this cover!! This is the kind of book you should read based on the cover alone; it’s stunning. I like Lingxi’s strength. That she keeps going, even when it’s foolish to do so, is another matter. But she’s persistent, and it’s that perseverance that draws people to her. I liked what amounted to a quest for everyone. I also like that it essentially amounted to a found family of sorts, considering Lingxi’s Popo treats her as less than for much of her life. And I really enjoyed both the hell guardian’s and how their relationship blossomed the more they all spent time together.
I really liked this one, but that ending, wow! What a time to be upset that the other book isn’t out already. My heart broke a little bit, but I have faith that things will turn out alright in the end. I’m definitely going to need to read it asap.
I really liked this one, but that ending, wow! What a time to be upset that the other book isn’t out already. My heart broke a little bit, but I have faith that things will turn out alright in the end. I’m definitely going to need to read it asap.
November 1, 2026
This reminds me of a mash up of the C-dramas Love Between Fairy and Devil and Till the End of the Moon.
Did Not Finish
August 11, 2026DNF at 7% (Read Chapter 1)
This book reads a lot younger than I was anticipating. The protagonist reads like a middle-grade (12- or 13-year-old) character rather than the older YA protagonist I usually prefer to read about.
I also didn’t feel all that connected to our protagonist Lingxi. The way she acted in the opening chapter made her unlikable, which I don’t mind… But I don’t understand her reasoning for being as heartless as she came across (and her being abandoned by her own parents wasn’t enough for me).
So I’ve decided to DNF this book. I hope that this book will continue to find its audience though!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
This book reads a lot younger than I was anticipating. The protagonist reads like a middle-grade (12- or 13-year-old) character rather than the older YA protagonist I usually prefer to read about.
I also didn’t feel all that connected to our protagonist Lingxi. The way she acted in the opening chapter made her unlikable, which I don’t mind… But I don’t understand her reasoning for being as heartless as she came across (and her being abandoned by her own parents wasn’t enough for me).
So I’ve decided to DNF this book. I hope that this book will continue to find its audience though!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review: 4.25 stars
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for the eARC.
I was a bit hesitant in picking this one up since I didn’t love her first duology, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one! This really gives a lot of Xianxia c-drama vibes!
Meng Lingxi runs an auction house with her grandmother. One day, a mysterious traveller arrives with a fragment of a soul, and the next day, her grandmother disappears, leading the restless spirits attacking the house and two guardians from hell turn up also looking for her grandmother and the soul fragment, saving the day and telling her that the auction house actually sits upon the gateway to the underworld. In the hopes of finding her grandmother, she decides to journey with the guardians of hell to do so.
I genuinely love Lingxi - she is smart, and bratty, and somewhat greedy to start (I mean, she has to be to run a profitable auction house!) Her character growth is fun to watch, given that she is new to everything supernatural, but somehow things seem to come easily to her…and she just wants to earn the love and approval of her grandmother, who is always very aloof to her, whom she can’t help but feel resentful of at times. Liu-Shu, a human cursed into a crow, has been her companion since she was young and, at times, her trusted confidant.
The introduction of the two guardians of hell, Yan Jun and Yan Shan, makes things interesting…Her relationship with Yan Shan is fine to start since they get along, but she and Yan Jun seem to butt heads all the time, and it took some time to warm up to each other. The banter between them makes me grin at times. There seems to be an alluded-to past connection between her and Yan Jun… possibly. At one point, I thought it was going to be a love triangle with the introduction of another character, and I was like, " Noooooo," but thankfully, it didn’t turn out that way!
The worldbuilding in this one is phenomenal! This book really brings the xianxia vibes with the heavenly realm, human realm, demon realm - with the introduction of spirits, past lives and reincarnation, demons and magical artifacts. I mean, what I wouldn’t give to travel upon a sword!
The pacing was very fast, which means the relationship-building aspect sometimes takes a back seat. So, sometimes I struggle to connect with the story emotionally despite the crazy stakes. Although I do find this normal for a lot of YA-inspired fantasy. Despite this, I do find the twists quite unpredictable, which makes this an intriguing and fun read.
As this is marketed as a duology, the open ending didn’t surprise me, and I’m curious enough to want to continue reading this one! If you are looking for Asian inspired fantasy with solid worldbuilding and a fun plot, this might be an enjoyable one to pick up!
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for the eARC.
I was a bit hesitant in picking this one up since I didn’t love her first duology, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one! This really gives a lot of Xianxia c-drama vibes!
Meng Lingxi runs an auction house with her grandmother. One day, a mysterious traveller arrives with a fragment of a soul, and the next day, her grandmother disappears, leading the restless spirits attacking the house and two guardians from hell turn up also looking for her grandmother and the soul fragment, saving the day and telling her that the auction house actually sits upon the gateway to the underworld. In the hopes of finding her grandmother, she decides to journey with the guardians of hell to do so.
I genuinely love Lingxi - she is smart, and bratty, and somewhat greedy to start (I mean, she has to be to run a profitable auction house!) Her character growth is fun to watch, given that she is new to everything supernatural, but somehow things seem to come easily to her…and she just wants to earn the love and approval of her grandmother, who is always very aloof to her, whom she can’t help but feel resentful of at times. Liu-Shu, a human cursed into a crow, has been her companion since she was young and, at times, her trusted confidant.
The introduction of the two guardians of hell, Yan Jun and Yan Shan, makes things interesting…Her relationship with Yan Shan is fine to start since they get along, but she and Yan Jun seem to butt heads all the time, and it took some time to warm up to each other. The banter between them makes me grin at times. There seems to be an alluded-to past connection between her and Yan Jun… possibly. At one point, I thought it was going to be a love triangle with the introduction of another character, and I was like, " Noooooo," but thankfully, it didn’t turn out that way!
The worldbuilding in this one is phenomenal! This book really brings the xianxia vibes with the heavenly realm, human realm, demon realm - with the introduction of spirits, past lives and reincarnation, demons and magical artifacts. I mean, what I wouldn’t give to travel upon a sword!
The pacing was very fast, which means the relationship-building aspect sometimes takes a back seat. So, sometimes I struggle to connect with the story emotionally despite the crazy stakes. Although I do find this normal for a lot of YA-inspired fantasy. Despite this, I do find the twists quite unpredictable, which makes this an intriguing and fun read.
As this is marketed as a duology, the open ending didn’t surprise me, and I’m curious enough to want to continue reading this one! If you are looking for Asian inspired fantasy with solid worldbuilding and a fun plot, this might be an enjoyable one to pick up!
Want to Read
March 17, 2025Mar 17, 2025
Excited for this one!! 💫
Excited for this one!! 💫
October 16, 2026
3.75 stars. this was a fun, fast-paced read! i usually gravitate towards older/upper YA when i do read YA and this one is a bit closer to middle grade, but it was so reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films that i couldn't help but enjoy it! i'm always intrigued by Chinese mythology and it sometimes seems a little convoluted and confusing, but Chen did a great job making it easier to understand in this! the writing is fantastic, the imagery is immersive, and the story kept you interested. i didn't feel all that connected to the protagonist or the other characters, but that might be my age talking, since Lingxi reads a lot younger than i expected. beautiful cover and a great start to a duology that i'd definitely introduce to my daughter when she's old enough!
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
July 18, 2026
To save her grandmother, Meng Lingxi searches far and wide for ancient objects that will show her the way. With her supernatural companions, she discovers some secrets may be better off buried. A great introduction to xianxia.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I enjoyed reading this book. The story was interesting, the plot kept me intrigued. There were things throughout the book that I questioned, and I liked that it kept me questioning until the end when everything was revealed. Some things I had guessed correctly while others I had not. The characters were three dimensional. I think the best part of this book is the world building. Theres so much, everything is so detailed, and it really pulls you in. Things are easy to envision, and the world is so large. Chen didn't just give you small areas where the story takes place, she gave a whole world with goods and bads.
In the beginning Lingxi gave this tough energy, and seemed older than she actually is. She gave an I can do anything attitude. I enjoyed that she was kind of one track minded about money. I dont see many greedy, willing to swindle people to get what they want, doesnt care about anyone else type of characters. I feel like she lost that throughout the story, and I wish she hadn't. I like that in the end she questions how this adventure has made her soft, I think the self awareness is good. You see a bit of her beginning attitude in the gambling den, but otherwise I feel like she loses some of it throughout the story.
I really enjoyed Yan Jun. I like the obvious-ness of him being the lover boy from 200 years ago but not acknowledging it. I think his attachment to Lingxi was well timed, it wasnt an instant attachment, it took time for him to build ip love and care for her, and you can see it in the way he slowly protects her more and more throughout the story. However, I feel like in general we didnt get much of the characters actually getting to know eachother. With all of the world building and having so many things to do, there wasnt time to show them bonding. We got a few moments, that were quickly interrupted as you do in stories, but I feel like there could have been more showing of them bonding and getting to know eachother and coming to care for eachother, even if it made the book longer. I feel like Yan Shan got pushed to the side and forgotten a lot. I feel like she should have been a more important character and been involved in the story more. I think she got left out a lot, and I hope that we get more of her in the sequel. I feel that shes just as important as Yan Jun, but wasn't seen that way.
My biggest problem with this book was the writing. While Chen wrote wonderful characters and built lush landscapes, the writing read kind of juvenile in a lot of places, more like someone's first novel rather than someone who's written other books that succeeded so well. I havent read her other books, so I cant really compare, so maybe its just her writing style. I struggled with following along sometimes. Something would happen and then it would jump to something else and leave me questioning, or things would have to be assumed to make the story make sense. For example, at one point Lingxi is away from the group, and it says that Yan Jun comes over to talk to her, and then the next dialogue line is from Zhanfeng, even though there was no indication of him coming onto the scene, so to speak. I still have questions about things, and even with there being a sequel I feel like theyre answers that I should already have. There are things that I still dont fully understand. It makes me feel like theres writing that missing. I also feel like the ending was a bit rushed. The explanation of how the battle ended came in what was basically a flashback, says Lingxi "later learned." It makes me feel like the author was running out of time to write a full ending or something, and ended up just kind of summing it all up.
While I definitely had some complaints about this book, which brought it to a 4 star read for me, I still throughly enjoyed reading it. I liked the character growth, the world was beautiful. I liked how thick the plot was, how there were three challenges inside an overall challenge, I think it lent so much to the world building. I enjoyed the little twists and surprises towards the end, it was a good blend of things that were easily assumed because of hints throught the story and things that were a bit of a shock. I'm excited for book two!
I enjoyed reading this book. The story was interesting, the plot kept me intrigued. There were things throughout the book that I questioned, and I liked that it kept me questioning until the end when everything was revealed. Some things I had guessed correctly while others I had not. The characters were three dimensional. I think the best part of this book is the world building. Theres so much, everything is so detailed, and it really pulls you in. Things are easy to envision, and the world is so large. Chen didn't just give you small areas where the story takes place, she gave a whole world with goods and bads.
In the beginning Lingxi gave this tough energy, and seemed older than she actually is. She gave an I can do anything attitude. I enjoyed that she was kind of one track minded about money. I dont see many greedy, willing to swindle people to get what they want, doesnt care about anyone else type of characters. I feel like she lost that throughout the story, and I wish she hadn't. I like that in the end she questions how this adventure has made her soft, I think the self awareness is good. You see a bit of her beginning attitude in the gambling den, but otherwise I feel like she loses some of it throughout the story.
I really enjoyed Yan Jun. I like the obvious-ness of him being the lover boy from 200 years ago but not acknowledging it. I think his attachment to Lingxi was well timed, it wasnt an instant attachment, it took time for him to build ip love and care for her, and you can see it in the way he slowly protects her more and more throughout the story. However, I feel like in general we didnt get much of the characters actually getting to know eachother. With all of the world building and having so many things to do, there wasnt time to show them bonding. We got a few moments, that were quickly interrupted as you do in stories, but I feel like there could have been more showing of them bonding and getting to know eachother and coming to care for eachother, even if it made the book longer. I feel like Yan Shan got pushed to the side and forgotten a lot. I feel like she should have been a more important character and been involved in the story more. I think she got left out a lot, and I hope that we get more of her in the sequel. I feel that shes just as important as Yan Jun, but wasn't seen that way.
My biggest problem with this book was the writing. While Chen wrote wonderful characters and built lush landscapes, the writing read kind of juvenile in a lot of places, more like someone's first novel rather than someone who's written other books that succeeded so well. I havent read her other books, so I cant really compare, so maybe its just her writing style. I struggled with following along sometimes. Something would happen and then it would jump to something else and leave me questioning, or things would have to be assumed to make the story make sense. For example, at one point Lingxi is away from the group, and it says that Yan Jun comes over to talk to her, and then the next dialogue line is from Zhanfeng, even though there was no indication of him coming onto the scene, so to speak. I still have questions about things, and even with there being a sequel I feel like theyre answers that I should already have. There are things that I still dont fully understand. It makes me feel like theres writing that missing. I also feel like the ending was a bit rushed. The explanation of how the battle ended came in what was basically a flashback, says Lingxi "later learned." It makes me feel like the author was running out of time to write a full ending or something, and ended up just kind of summing it all up.
While I definitely had some complaints about this book, which brought it to a 4 star read for me, I still throughly enjoyed reading it. I liked the character growth, the world was beautiful. I liked how thick the plot was, how there were three challenges inside an overall challenge, I think it lent so much to the world building. I enjoyed the little twists and surprises towards the end, it was a good blend of things that were easily assumed because of hints throught the story and things that were a bit of a shock. I'm excited for book two!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2026
And when I thought I knew what the ending was bringing, Amber Chen looked me dead in the eyes and said “not exactly.” What an intriguing story. This is the first book I’ve read that’s genuinely rooted in Chinese mythology, and it was quite the introduction.
I loved how the core of the world was built around reincarnation and the passage of souls into their new life. It was written in a way that felt somewhat new to me, or at least different from what I’m used to, and I found myself wanting to know more the deeper I got into it.
A lot of times I forgot how old the protagonist actually was, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. She’s only 17, but she’s already carrying the weight of running the auction house entirely on her own, and that responsibility ages her in a way that comes through clearly on the page. You see her being young in the moments where she makes questionable decisions or spirals over fears that don’t fully hold up under scrutiny, but you also see her go tough and steady when the situation calls for it, shaped by the life she’s had to live and the thick skin she’s had to grow while keeping the auction house afloat.
Something else that stood out was how fast paced the book is. I’m used to stories that give themselves more room to breathe between the big moments, and that space just isn’t really present here. We’re constantly moving from one quest into the next almost as soon as the last one wraps up.
That same quality ended up being the thing that held the book back for me too. I found it hard to connect deeply with the characters, specifically because the pacing left so little room for the moments that build that connection. We’d get a glimpse into something important from Lingxi’s past, only for the story to barely let it land before pulling us into the next crisis. That pattern repeated enough times throughout the book that I started questioning whether sacrificing those quieter moments was actually worth the trade-off.
When I dwelled on this same fact, I started to suspect it came down to who the book is written for. The pacing and the way it avoids dwelling on interiority or backstory reads like a choice made with a younger audience in mind, and if that’s the intent, it makes sense. A story that doesn’t ask its reader to sit with heavy emotional beats for long stretches is easier to stay hooked on if you’re a younger reader who doesn’t necessarily want that. Had this been marketed toward adults, I think I would have needed more from the world building and the emotional pacing to be fully satisfied.
On the subject of world building, I also think a glossary would have gone a long way. Terms like “qi” come up often throughout the book, and having concepts like that explained early on would have saved me the trouble of pausing to look them up. That’s likely a personal quirk more than an objective flaw, since my unfamiliarity with Chinese mythology is exactly what made the world feel fresh to me in the first place, but I don’t think it’s fair to assume every reader walks in with that context already. If not a glossary, a quick note early in the story, even just a line or two the first time an unfamiliar concept appears, would have made the experience smoother without taking anything away from how original the world felt.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fast paced YA with a strong foundation in Chinese mythology, this is right up your alley.
I loved how the core of the world was built around reincarnation and the passage of souls into their new life. It was written in a way that felt somewhat new to me, or at least different from what I’m used to, and I found myself wanting to know more the deeper I got into it.
A lot of times I forgot how old the protagonist actually was, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. She’s only 17, but she’s already carrying the weight of running the auction house entirely on her own, and that responsibility ages her in a way that comes through clearly on the page. You see her being young in the moments where she makes questionable decisions or spirals over fears that don’t fully hold up under scrutiny, but you also see her go tough and steady when the situation calls for it, shaped by the life she’s had to live and the thick skin she’s had to grow while keeping the auction house afloat.
Something else that stood out was how fast paced the book is. I’m used to stories that give themselves more room to breathe between the big moments, and that space just isn’t really present here. We’re constantly moving from one quest into the next almost as soon as the last one wraps up.
That same quality ended up being the thing that held the book back for me too. I found it hard to connect deeply with the characters, specifically because the pacing left so little room for the moments that build that connection. We’d get a glimpse into something important from Lingxi’s past, only for the story to barely let it land before pulling us into the next crisis. That pattern repeated enough times throughout the book that I started questioning whether sacrificing those quieter moments was actually worth the trade-off.
When I dwelled on this same fact, I started to suspect it came down to who the book is written for. The pacing and the way it avoids dwelling on interiority or backstory reads like a choice made with a younger audience in mind, and if that’s the intent, it makes sense. A story that doesn’t ask its reader to sit with heavy emotional beats for long stretches is easier to stay hooked on if you’re a younger reader who doesn’t necessarily want that. Had this been marketed toward adults, I think I would have needed more from the world building and the emotional pacing to be fully satisfied.
On the subject of world building, I also think a glossary would have gone a long way. Terms like “qi” come up often throughout the book, and having concepts like that explained early on would have saved me the trouble of pausing to look them up. That’s likely a personal quirk more than an objective flaw, since my unfamiliarity with Chinese mythology is exactly what made the world feel fresh to me in the first place, but I don’t think it’s fair to assume every reader walks in with that context already. If not a glossary, a quick note early in the story, even just a line or two the first time an unfamiliar concept appears, would have made the experience smoother without taking anything away from how original the world felt.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fast paced YA with a strong foundation in Chinese mythology, this is right up your alley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You know what I really should have paid more attention to the title.
I just didn't realise the soul that would be auctioned off would be mine when I started this.
and honestly? Chen can keep it. Feels like a very worth trade.
An Auction of Souls follows Lingxi (fun fact, I have an electronic reader that kept pronouncing this Lindsey, and I was so confused about why there was such a western name just randomly thrown in 🤣 🤣 🤣, I never claimed to be smart.) Lingxi works at a renowned auction house under the often very critical eye of her grandmother, the auction house specialises in incredible and remarkable artefacts with equally incredible and remarkable price points. When her grandmother goes missing after a stranger appears at the auctionhouse doors in the dead of night, Lingxi will go on an adventure with the guardians of the literal hell the auctionhouse stands over (and I thought my neighbours were bad.) Accompanied by the interesting (and I don't just mean personality-wise) Yan Shan and Yan Jun, Lingxi will go on a quest to save her grandmother and if she has to, the world.
AAOS is an absolutely wild ride, and its like Chen read my specific review on Of Jade and Dragons and said, "yeah makes sense Millie, hold my beer." This improved enormously on every complaint I had about Chen's previous work, and might well have cemented her place as my favourite YA fantasy writer. Because this was absolutely STUNNING. Never once did this read as YA, the characters are 3d, humerous and this is so chock full of emotional beats that had my heartstrings playing like an orchestra.
Lingxi is everything I want from an FMC. She's intelligent and not necessarily likeable at first, but in a way that really works for the book. She's a brilliant blend of ruthless and constantly thinking ten steps ahead, but her humanity especially in terms of her family and grandma makes her brilliantly grounded. Her companions, Yan Shun and Yan Jun, particularly the latter, are familiar archetypes with really fun twists especially in how they go from kinda unwilling heroes to full-blown world savers.
I won't spoil it but if you're a fan of slowburn... yeah just wait for it.
Chen's prose is super lush but it never feels like it trips up over itself. She has a real talent for writing action, but what I loved most about the (plentiful) action in AAOS is that its often as much as a battle of wits as an actual battle. Trying to pick apart how Lingxi is going to get herself out of trouble in matches with literal royalty, hell's denizens and more was half the fun of my reading experience. Chen wasn't afraid to let the character's fail, stumble and shoot themselves in the foot either.
As I've mentioned the emotional beats are so well done and so well earned, especially for YA. I also don't know a tonne about Chinese mythology, but from the standpoint of someone who eats fantasy like seagulls eat chips... This was delectably fantastical.
This has a bit of everything for anyone who loves good, lush fantasy. Highly recommend.
I just didn't realise the soul that would be auctioned off would be mine when I started this.
and honestly? Chen can keep it. Feels like a very worth trade.
An Auction of Souls follows Lingxi (fun fact, I have an electronic reader that kept pronouncing this Lindsey, and I was so confused about why there was such a western name just randomly thrown in 🤣 🤣 🤣, I never claimed to be smart.) Lingxi works at a renowned auction house under the often very critical eye of her grandmother, the auction house specialises in incredible and remarkable artefacts with equally incredible and remarkable price points. When her grandmother goes missing after a stranger appears at the auctionhouse doors in the dead of night, Lingxi will go on an adventure with the guardians of the literal hell the auctionhouse stands over (and I thought my neighbours were bad.) Accompanied by the interesting (and I don't just mean personality-wise) Yan Shan and Yan Jun, Lingxi will go on a quest to save her grandmother and if she has to, the world.
AAOS is an absolutely wild ride, and its like Chen read my specific review on Of Jade and Dragons and said, "yeah makes sense Millie, hold my beer." This improved enormously on every complaint I had about Chen's previous work, and might well have cemented her place as my favourite YA fantasy writer. Because this was absolutely STUNNING. Never once did this read as YA, the characters are 3d, humerous and this is so chock full of emotional beats that had my heartstrings playing like an orchestra.
Lingxi is everything I want from an FMC. She's intelligent and not necessarily likeable at first, but in a way that really works for the book. She's a brilliant blend of ruthless and constantly thinking ten steps ahead, but her humanity especially in terms of her family and grandma makes her brilliantly grounded. Her companions, Yan Shun and Yan Jun, particularly the latter, are familiar archetypes with really fun twists especially in how they go from kinda unwilling heroes to full-blown world savers.
I won't spoil it but if you're a fan of slowburn... yeah just wait for it.
Chen's prose is super lush but it never feels like it trips up over itself. She has a real talent for writing action, but what I loved most about the (plentiful) action in AAOS is that its often as much as a battle of wits as an actual battle. Trying to pick apart how Lingxi is going to get herself out of trouble in matches with literal royalty, hell's denizens and more was half the fun of my reading experience. Chen wasn't afraid to let the character's fail, stumble and shoot themselves in the foot either.
As I've mentioned the emotional beats are so well done and so well earned, especially for YA. I also don't know a tonne about Chinese mythology, but from the standpoint of someone who eats fantasy like seagulls eat chips... This was delectably fantastical.
This has a bit of everything for anyone who loves good, lush fantasy. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!
this was so freaking good yo!!! i just had to request for thid book after loving of jade and dragons a while back and this did not disappoint!! it's everything i love in chinese historical xianxia in book form and i absolutely cannot wait for book two.
and also. that freaking gorgeous cover that deserves high praise!!
let's start with the plot because oh boy what starts as a quest to find her popo with the help of hell guardian yan jun and yan shan (which ngl i thought was just gna be an epic fetch quest) turned out to be so much bigger. i love how the mirror pointing them to different object to find slowly laid the clues of lingxi's past life out for us to solve alongside her. and somehow the plot was even bigger than just the past life loves story i thought it was going to be. the heavenly court, hell and demons politics was sick too.
spoilers for this para!! we all know just like yan jun was prince jun, meng lingxi was 100% princess xinya, but for her to once be a god turned demon after prince jun was killed and subsequently razed half of the heavenly court with fire?? her soul split but yan luo and meng po (popo TT) to keep it all from happening again..... i did not see the liu-shu being sha-ye plot twist but oh my god!! his appearance gave me literal chills.
of course meng lingxi is such a badass fmc. rarely do we see an fmc not just driven by the will to survive, but simply to be rich with pots of gold and live in meng wu with popo forever. i thought the gambling rocks scene in the void was just pure brilliance, meng lingxi at her finest. and her learning to care is really the simplest, but most impact arc. and the fact that you can both love and resent your family being represented through her, popo and liu-shu.....
i'm so glad the author didn't break out the ol' love triangle which had me worried there for a moment in the middle but i'm so happy yan jun is clearly endgame and is not actually a horse, just a figurehead for the horse. i absolutely loved the slowburn hatred/annoyance to love going on. their arguing and his reluctantly saving her while she unknowingly endears him to her spunk throughout their journey seriously got me. the tension!!!
"she had once thought it intimidating. thought him intimidating. now he had somehow become her sturdiest anchor in the midst of this turbulent storm, a reliable shoulder to lean on— and it was as if she had known him for a long, long time."
"restoring your soul is not going to change who you are. you will always be meng lingxi." the way he just knows her.
and simply: "i believe in you."
gawddd i hope that they meet again somehow, all of them.
this was so freaking good yo!!! i just had to request for thid book after loving of jade and dragons a while back and this did not disappoint!! it's everything i love in chinese historical xianxia in book form and i absolutely cannot wait for book two.
and also. that freaking gorgeous cover that deserves high praise!!
let's start with the plot because oh boy what starts as a quest to find her popo with the help of hell guardian yan jun and yan shan (which ngl i thought was just gna be an epic fetch quest) turned out to be so much bigger. i love how the mirror pointing them to different object to find slowly laid the clues of lingxi's past life out for us to solve alongside her. and somehow the plot was even bigger than just the past life loves story i thought it was going to be. the heavenly court, hell and demons politics was sick too.
spoilers for this para!! we all know just like yan jun was prince jun, meng lingxi was 100% princess xinya, but for her to once be a god turned demon after prince jun was killed and subsequently razed half of the heavenly court with fire?? her soul split but yan luo and meng po (popo TT) to keep it all from happening again..... i did not see the liu-shu being sha-ye plot twist but oh my god!! his appearance gave me literal chills.
of course meng lingxi is such a badass fmc. rarely do we see an fmc not just driven by the will to survive, but simply to be rich with pots of gold and live in meng wu with popo forever. i thought the gambling rocks scene in the void was just pure brilliance, meng lingxi at her finest. and her learning to care is really the simplest, but most impact arc. and the fact that you can both love and resent your family being represented through her, popo and liu-shu.....
i'm so glad the author didn't break out the ol' love triangle which had me worried there for a moment in the middle but i'm so happy yan jun is clearly endgame and is not actually a horse, just a figurehead for the horse. i absolutely loved the slowburn hatred/annoyance to love going on. their arguing and his reluctantly saving her while she unknowingly endears him to her spunk throughout their journey seriously got me. the tension!!!
"she had once thought it intimidating. thought him intimidating. now he had somehow become her sturdiest anchor in the midst of this turbulent storm, a reliable shoulder to lean on— and it was as if she had known him for a long, long time."
"restoring your soul is not going to change who you are. you will always be meng lingxi." the way he just knows her.
and simply: "i believe in you."
gawddd i hope that they meet again somehow, all of them.
October 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Ms. Chen for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
This was a Xianxia C Drama in book form, over and out. Many, of not all, of the classic elements: immortals, cultivation, spirit cores and qi, Yujian (flying swords/sword flying), alchemy, talismans, hidden identities, trials in the mortal world, you name it, it was probably represented here. To be completely honest if I hadn't watched so many C Dramas I don't know if the elements would have resonated so strongly (I felt like I was greeting an old friend every time I recognized another plot point or device), but, I do think the author did a great job of creating a cohesive story that a reader could understand pretty well without background exposure or knowledge.
Meng Lingxi is the auctioneer of Meng Wu, an auction house specializing in very rare, very valuable, and very exclusive items. Her grandmother, Meng Po, has long since ceded authority over the auction house to Lingxi and spends all her time brewing potions in the basement. After the most recent auction Lingxi awakens to find her grandmother missing and the two guardians of Hell, Yan Jun and Yan Shan, at her doorstep. The three of them team up to go on a quest to discover Meng Po's whereabouts, along with Liu Shu, Lingxi's human-who-was-turned-into-a-crow familiar/friend/sidekick. All the classic Xianxia quest plot points are hit and the reader is slowly presented with clues. Any frequent Xianxia watcher will pretty much be able to guess where the story is heading - I'm not much of a literary mystery solver, and my guess was almost completely correct - but it is a very enjoyable journey nonetheless. The author in her notes mentions that if anyone wants to option her book for tv adaptation she'd be interested and already has a cast in mind - I would *LOVE* to know who she has in mind for Lingxi, Yan Jun, Zhangfeng, and Liu Shu. I also think that this book would make a GREAT drama and would definitely watch. If I could have nitpicked anything I would have made the Zhangfeng situation a little clearer. But I really can't quibble too much with it.
4.25 stars. Really enjoyed and VERY MUCH looking forward to book #2. I want to see whom, if anyone, Lingxi decides to trust. I vote for Bixia! PS: full marks to whomever designed the cover, it's absolutely gorgeous.
This was a Xianxia C Drama in book form, over and out. Many, of not all, of the classic elements: immortals, cultivation, spirit cores and qi, Yujian (flying swords/sword flying), alchemy, talismans, hidden identities, trials in the mortal world, you name it, it was probably represented here. To be completely honest if I hadn't watched so many C Dramas I don't know if the elements would have resonated so strongly (I felt like I was greeting an old friend every time I recognized another plot point or device), but, I do think the author did a great job of creating a cohesive story that a reader could understand pretty well without background exposure or knowledge.
Meng Lingxi is the auctioneer of Meng Wu, an auction house specializing in very rare, very valuable, and very exclusive items. Her grandmother, Meng Po, has long since ceded authority over the auction house to Lingxi and spends all her time brewing potions in the basement. After the most recent auction Lingxi awakens to find her grandmother missing and the two guardians of Hell, Yan Jun and Yan Shan, at her doorstep. The three of them team up to go on a quest to discover Meng Po's whereabouts, along with Liu Shu, Lingxi's human-who-was-turned-into-a-crow familiar/friend/sidekick. All the classic Xianxia quest plot points are hit and the reader is slowly presented with clues. Any frequent Xianxia watcher will pretty much be able to guess where the story is heading - I'm not much of a literary mystery solver, and my guess was almost completely correct - but it is a very enjoyable journey nonetheless. The author in her notes mentions that if anyone wants to option her book for tv adaptation she'd be interested and already has a cast in mind - I would *LOVE* to know who she has in mind for Lingxi, Yan Jun, Zhangfeng, and Liu Shu. I also think that this book would make a GREAT drama and would definitely watch. If I could have nitpicked anything I would have made the Zhangfeng situation a little clearer. But I really can't quibble too much with it.
4.25 stars. Really enjoyed and VERY MUCH looking forward to book #2. I want to see whom, if anyone, Lingxi decides to trust. I vote for Bixia! PS: full marks to whomever designed the cover, it's absolutely gorgeous.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5⭐
(+):
- Functionally I liked the concept of the auctions and the auction houses and how they bookended the story. I could honestly have done with wayyy more about auction houses than the rest of the story.
- The mythological elements and what differentiated gods and demons and reincarnated characters and the frailty of each type of denomination was pretty interesting.
- I love this cover. It really captured my interested and I just love looking at the different pieces.
- It’s a pretty evocative title and light spoilers, but it’s somewhat interesting how little or late it reflects anything in the story.
(-):
- Fundamentally I just got really aggravated at how much of this story was just a fetch quest. Sooo much of this book was just finding these macguffins for this mirror.
- I don’t really care about any of the characters. And I especially did not care about the romance.
- I think this book is far more lower YA than I was expecting going in (and probably others). That’s not a bad thing, but I think it would have made more sense for the characters to be a few years younger in general.
- When I was feeling underwhelmed in the first third of this book, I read a few reviews to see how other folks were feeling to determine whether or not to continue, and a few people commented about how impactful the ending was and how twisty and surprising it all felt. I cannot say that I felt those sentiments. Everything that happened in the last act of the book was pretty telegraphed throughout the middle of the story and I ended the story just feeling overall “eh”. There was maybe one thing that I thought added an interesting layer, that I won’t spoil, and a few questions that remained unanswered, but I did not leave this story affected..
Will I read the next one? : I don’t think so. Even with the answers that I still don’t have, I don’t imagine I’ll hold onto the questions for this story long enough to invest the time.
*Thank you to Viking & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
Similar Books :
- 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea' by Axie Oh
- 'Dominion' by Jean Kwok (adult)
- 'Legend of the White Snake' by Sher Lee
- 'Deathly Fates' by Tesla Tsai
(+):
- Functionally I liked the concept of the auctions and the auction houses and how they bookended the story. I could honestly have done with wayyy more about auction houses than the rest of the story.
- The mythological elements and what differentiated gods and demons and reincarnated characters and the frailty of each type of denomination was pretty interesting.
- I love this cover. It really captured my interested and I just love looking at the different pieces.
- It’s a pretty evocative title and light spoilers, but it’s somewhat interesting how little or late it reflects anything in the story.
(-):
- Fundamentally I just got really aggravated at how much of this story was just a fetch quest. Sooo much of this book was just finding these macguffins for this mirror.
- I don’t really care about any of the characters. And I especially did not care about the romance.
- I think this book is far more lower YA than I was expecting going in (and probably others). That’s not a bad thing, but I think it would have made more sense for the characters to be a few years younger in general.
- When I was feeling underwhelmed in the first third of this book, I read a few reviews to see how other folks were feeling to determine whether or not to continue, and a few people commented about how impactful the ending was and how twisty and surprising it all felt. I cannot say that I felt those sentiments. Everything that happened in the last act of the book was pretty telegraphed throughout the middle of the story and I ended the story just feeling overall “eh”. There was maybe one thing that I thought added an interesting layer, that I won’t spoil, and a few questions that remained unanswered, but I did not leave this story affected..
Will I read the next one? : I don’t think so. Even with the answers that I still don’t have, I don’t imagine I’ll hold onto the questions for this story long enough to invest the time.
*Thank you to Viking & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
Similar Books :
- 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea' by Axie Oh
- 'Dominion' by Jean Kwok (adult)
- 'Legend of the White Snake' by Sher Lee
- 'Deathly Fates' by Tesla Tsai
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had quite a fun time reading this book. That was my first Amber Chen's book and my first contact with her world building and it did not disappoint. The cover is stunning, so I wish to also give the flowers to the illustrator and designer, cause they've done an AMAZING job!
The premise of this book is very unique, and even tho I had a great time reading it, I also have some points to make. Most of the time I did forgot what age the character was and had the impression of her being 13-14 more than 17yo. She was raised in an action house along with a creepy old lady and a crow, and honestly, I'm not one to make statements on behavior, but it did gave me the ick sometimes by the way she was constantly picking fights and criticizing everything on the way of the aventure in the start of the book. I do understand the author was plotting some sort of enemies/rivals to something else between her and the demon boy, however, for a girl that was running an auction house mostly by herself and had so much wit by the start, she did showed up very childish later, in an annoying "I like to be the one right" kinda of way. Honestly that took me off by the start of the book and made me a little hesitant on continuing or DNFing.
However, the world building is just SO COOL! As a Danmei girlie, whom from time to time likes to watch some Chinese fantasy novels, I felt so excited with a lot of the elements in the book. I mean, traveling on top of a sword is top #1 coolest things ever! Amber was really clever with her creations, and the stories and "trials" they went through to find old Popo were really fun!
Overall this is a very nice fantasy, the world building is simple and consistent and even tho the plot is kinda of predictable most of the time, I can give it a break since is a Young Adult fantasy. This is the perfect book for you to pick up when you need a fun light fantasy and can probably help you through a reading slump.
Looking forward to dive deeper in Amber Chen's universe!
I had quite a fun time reading this book. That was my first Amber Chen's book and my first contact with her world building and it did not disappoint. The cover is stunning, so I wish to also give the flowers to the illustrator and designer, cause they've done an AMAZING job!
The premise of this book is very unique, and even tho I had a great time reading it, I also have some points to make. Most of the time I did forgot what age the character was and had the impression of her being 13-14 more than 17yo. She was raised in an action house along with a creepy old lady and a crow, and honestly, I'm not one to make statements on behavior, but it did gave me the ick sometimes by the way she was constantly picking fights and criticizing everything on the way of the aventure in the start of the book. I do understand the author was plotting some sort of enemies/rivals to something else between her and the demon boy, however, for a girl that was running an auction house mostly by herself and had so much wit by the start, she did showed up very childish later, in an annoying "I like to be the one right" kinda of way. Honestly that took me off by the start of the book and made me a little hesitant on continuing or DNFing.
However, the world building is just SO COOL! As a Danmei girlie, whom from time to time likes to watch some Chinese fantasy novels, I felt so excited with a lot of the elements in the book. I mean, traveling on top of a sword is top #1 coolest things ever! Amber was really clever with her creations, and the stories and "trials" they went through to find old Popo were really fun!
Overall this is a very nice fantasy, the world building is simple and consistent and even tho the plot is kinda of predictable most of the time, I can give it a break since is a Young Adult fantasy. This is the perfect book for you to pick up when you need a fun light fantasy and can probably help you through a reading slump.
Looking forward to dive deeper in Amber Chen's universe!
Did Not Finish
October 9, 2026DNF'd at 25%
The gorgeous cover initially drew me to this novel; then I read the premise and was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
I had a difficult time connecting with the worldbuilding and magic system. There were some interesting ideas, but I found parts of the fantasy elements underdeveloped and harder to grasp than I expected. Rather than drawing me into the world, I often felt confused and like an outsider looking in. I'm someone who prefers more grounded and rigid magic systems, though I can see some people really vibing with this.
The plot never fully hooked me, and I think that has to do with the characters. The MC's grandma goes missing very quickly; we had a small, singular scene of the two of them interacting, so the stakes never felt high. The MC was also very unlikable to me. In the first chapter, she refuses to let the prince (who, might I add, is a child) win the auction for medicine for his dying mother despite the fact that he was the highest bidder and promised to bring even more money the next day. The reason? She wanted all the money then and there. That lack of humanity instantly soured me on her and made it extremely difficult for me to root for her. I know that she probably changes as the story progresses, but I couldn't get myself to invest more time in this novel to find out.
That said, I can still see this finding its audience. The writing has a younger YA feel that may work especially well for readers who are newer to fantasy or who enjoy lighter, more accessible adventures. Unfortunately, I tend to gravitate toward older YA with stronger character focus and more immediate emotional investment, so this simply wasn't a match for my personal reading tastes.
While I ultimately chose to DNF, I wish the author and this book continued success with readers who connect more strongly with its style and story. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The gorgeous cover initially drew me to this novel; then I read the premise and was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
I had a difficult time connecting with the worldbuilding and magic system. There were some interesting ideas, but I found parts of the fantasy elements underdeveloped and harder to grasp than I expected. Rather than drawing me into the world, I often felt confused and like an outsider looking in. I'm someone who prefers more grounded and rigid magic systems, though I can see some people really vibing with this.
The plot never fully hooked me, and I think that has to do with the characters. The MC's grandma goes missing very quickly; we had a small, singular scene of the two of them interacting, so the stakes never felt high. The MC was also very unlikable to me. In the first chapter, she refuses to let the prince (who, might I add, is a child) win the auction for medicine for his dying mother despite the fact that he was the highest bidder and promised to bring even more money the next day. The reason? She wanted all the money then and there. That lack of humanity instantly soured me on her and made it extremely difficult for me to root for her. I know that she probably changes as the story progresses, but I couldn't get myself to invest more time in this novel to find out.
That said, I can still see this finding its audience. The writing has a younger YA feel that may work especially well for readers who are newer to fantasy or who enjoy lighter, more accessible adventures. Unfortunately, I tend to gravitate toward older YA with stronger character focus and more immediate emotional investment, so this simply wasn't a match for my personal reading tastes.
While I ultimately chose to DNF, I wish the author and this book continued success with readers who connect more strongly with its style and story. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Something about this book is not clicking. WE are following a young girl who has been abandoned by her grandmother that is the keeper of the door to the world of the dead. She meets two underlings from the king of hell who say her grandmother has gone missing. Unrested souls are gathering around their auction house and they need to find the grandmother. The three go one a journey that unlocks all 3’s past lives that are intrinsically tied to one another.
Now heres my issue, the main characters are written to be around 17-20 but they act like they are around 14-16. They are either very sheltered or have trouble putting away their imagination and accepting reality. Our FL says she runs the auction house but we only see one scene of that. She is talking to her bird friend and is just the person on stage selling the stuff. There is very little that portrays her as more adult then child. The more we go on our journey and she discovers her past life, the more childish she becomes. Her flirting with the horse spirit is… idk juvenile.
After getting to the end of the book, while I knew it was going to be a series, it felt.... lazy. The massive build up of the characters and the plot feel flat because we as the readers are left waiting until the author can continue the story. I didnt need some massive fight sequence, we needed resolution and honestly got a half figured out one that was taunted the entire time. While I loved the use of the history and fairy tales, the rich story falls off mostly from the main character's lack of actual story time in the auction house and more juvenile actions. I think I might read the second book to have a conclusion to the story, but it probably wont rate higher then this. All in all, its a very middle of the road story that while has some beautiful and interesting passages, it also has several weak points that are hard to ignore.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this early.
Now heres my issue, the main characters are written to be around 17-20 but they act like they are around 14-16. They are either very sheltered or have trouble putting away their imagination and accepting reality. Our FL says she runs the auction house but we only see one scene of that. She is talking to her bird friend and is just the person on stage selling the stuff. There is very little that portrays her as more adult then child. The more we go on our journey and she discovers her past life, the more childish she becomes. Her flirting with the horse spirit is… idk juvenile.
After getting to the end of the book, while I knew it was going to be a series, it felt.... lazy. The massive build up of the characters and the plot feel flat because we as the readers are left waiting until the author can continue the story. I didnt need some massive fight sequence, we needed resolution and honestly got a half figured out one that was taunted the entire time. While I loved the use of the history and fairy tales, the rich story falls off mostly from the main character's lack of actual story time in the auction house and more juvenile actions. I think I might read the second book to have a conclusion to the story, but it probably wont rate higher then this. All in all, its a very middle of the road story that while has some beautiful and interesting passages, it also has several weak points that are hard to ignore.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Viking Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.
Meng Lingxi's journey to save her grandmother alongside two hell guardians, a crow, and a Rulin disciple was filled with banter, demons, ghosts, dragons, and much more! I had such a fun time traveling through the realms and kingdoms with our little group. Lingxi was so clever and witty, and I appreciated how the group's dynamics changed throughout the journey.
The world building and pacing were fantastic. Chen's descriptions brought each scene and character to life, and the action kept me hooked. The subtle romance was super sweet; it was the perfect amount for this story. I loved how everything came together at the end.
My only critique is that Lingxi sometimes felt a little inconsistent. For example, . Even so, I still thought she was a very interesting character with complex feelings on her upbringing. I liked the nuance around .
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I know teen me would have as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in the duology! If you're looking for an Asian mythology inspired YA fantasy with lots of action, An Auction of Souls won't disappoint!
Meng Lingxi's journey to save her grandmother alongside two hell guardians, a crow, and a Rulin disciple was filled with banter, demons, ghosts, dragons, and much more! I had such a fun time traveling through the realms and kingdoms with our little group. Lingxi was so clever and witty, and I appreciated how the group's dynamics changed throughout the journey.
The world building and pacing were fantastic. Chen's descriptions brought each scene and character to life, and the action kept me hooked. The subtle romance was super sweet; it was the perfect amount for this story. I loved how everything came together at the end.
My only critique is that Lingxi sometimes felt a little inconsistent. For example, . Even so, I still thought she was a very interesting character with complex feelings on her upbringing. I liked the nuance around .
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I know teen me would have as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in the duology! If you're looking for an Asian mythology inspired YA fantasy with lots of action, An Auction of Souls won't disappoint!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews