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Jade Fire Gold
Dans un empire au bord de la guerre...
Ahn n'est personne, elle n'a ni passé ni famille.
Altan est un héritier perdu, qui s'est vu voler son avenir alors qu'il était encore enfant.
Lorsqu'ils se rencontrent, chacun voit en l'autre un moyen de reprendre en main son destin : pour Altan, Ahn pourrait le mener à reconquérir son trône. Quant à Ahn, elle détient peut-être enfin un moyen de percer les secrets de son passé et de comprendre ses redoutables pouvoirs magiques.
Mais le prix qu'ils auront à payer pourrait être bien plus sanglant qu'ils ne l'imaginaient.
Dans son premier roman, hommage au genre du Xianxia chinois, June CL Tan mêle avec brio une action féroce, une sombre intrigue, une magie foisonnante et une histoire d'amour captivante.
« Épique dans tous les sens du terme, d'une beauté qui vous emporte. » Roseanne A. Brown, autrice à succès du New York Times du Chant des Sans-Repos.
« L'aventure à son paroxysme. Une histoire magnifiquement restituée qui honore les grandes épopées de sabre chinois. » Joan He, autrice de Ceux qu'il nous faut retrouver.
« Beau et brutal, le premier roman de June CL Tan est un exploit. Jade Fire Gold était une aventure passionnante que je n'ai pas pu lâcher. » Hafsah Faizal, autrice à succès du New York Times de We Hunt the Flame
Ahn n'est personne, elle n'a ni passé ni famille.
Altan est un héritier perdu, qui s'est vu voler son avenir alors qu'il était encore enfant.
Lorsqu'ils se rencontrent, chacun voit en l'autre un moyen de reprendre en main son destin : pour Altan, Ahn pourrait le mener à reconquérir son trône. Quant à Ahn, elle détient peut-être enfin un moyen de percer les secrets de son passé et de comprendre ses redoutables pouvoirs magiques.
Mais le prix qu'ils auront à payer pourrait être bien plus sanglant qu'ils ne l'imaginaient.
Dans son premier roman, hommage au genre du Xianxia chinois, June CL Tan mêle avec brio une action féroce, une sombre intrigue, une magie foisonnante et une histoire d'amour captivante.
« Épique dans tous les sens du terme, d'une beauté qui vous emporte. » Roseanne A. Brown, autrice à succès du New York Times du Chant des Sans-Repos.
« L'aventure à son paroxysme. Une histoire magnifiquement restituée qui honore les grandes épopées de sabre chinois. » Joan He, autrice de Ceux qu'il nous faut retrouver.
« Beau et brutal, le premier roman de June CL Tan est un exploit. Jade Fire Gold était une aventure passionnante que je n'ai pas pu lâcher. » Hafsah Faizal, autrice à succès du New York Times de We Hunt the Flame
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
559 people are currently reading
46129 people want to read
About the author
June C.L. Tan
6 books967 followersJune CL Tan is the critically acclaimed and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Darker By Four duology and Jade Fire Gold. Her Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection books have garnered multiple starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and BCCB, and she was also one of PW’s Flying Starts in 2021. A Singaporean raised on a diet of teh tarik, classic books, and wuxia movies, she enjoys telling stories that draw on both the traditional and modern to create something fresh to the eye, but familiar to the heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,465 reviews
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April 20, 2022excuse me did this just mention Avatar: The Last Airbender in the same breath as "girl teams up with exiled prince"??????? be still my Zutara heart
HI HELLO THAT COVER HAS STOLEN MY HEART I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP
HI HELLO THAT COVER HAS STOLEN MY HEART I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP
November 5, 2021
i had a lot of fun with this one! is it the most original book out there? no, probably not. but fans of reliable fantasy tropes should enjoy this. i know i did.
i really appreciate how this introduced me to xianxia. ive read books in the genre before, but i had no idea that chinese fantasy stories inspired by chinese mythology, medicine, and martial arts had a name. this isnt as graphic or severe as ‘the poppy war,’ but there are a lot of elements in this that kept reminding me of that.
i also liked that the ahn and altan were able to stand well on their own and had their own interesting journeys, but i thought they especially lit up the page when they were together. the side characters also provide amazing support and are very likeable, so much so that i wanted more of them and wished this has been written with more than two POVs.
overall, a very exciting debut and, although theres nothing to confirm this, the epilogue definitely suggests a sequel is coming. so i will be keeping my eyes open for that!
↠ 3.5 stars
i really appreciate how this introduced me to xianxia. ive read books in the genre before, but i had no idea that chinese fantasy stories inspired by chinese mythology, medicine, and martial arts had a name. this isnt as graphic or severe as ‘the poppy war,’ but there are a lot of elements in this that kept reminding me of that.
i also liked that the ahn and altan were able to stand well on their own and had their own interesting journeys, but i thought they especially lit up the page when they were together. the side characters also provide amazing support and are very likeable, so much so that i wanted more of them and wished this has been written with more than two POVs.
overall, a very exciting debut and, although theres nothing to confirm this, the epilogue definitely suggests a sequel is coming. so i will be keeping my eyes open for that!
↠ 3.5 stars
August 1, 2021
if I don’t like this I Swear this is going to be my villain origin story
update: well….. this aged poorly
rtc
update: well….. this aged poorly
rtc
// buddy read with rain!!!
September 30, 2021
JADE FIRE GOLD is a story born from the confluence of culture and diaspora nostalgia. Much of it is driven by my own experience and inner struggle with traditional beliefs in Chinese culture and Confucian tenets such as filial piety, honor, sacrificing for the greater good vs having a healthy sense of individualism. The story is also heavily influenced by tropes and elements found in wuxia (martial arts heroes) and xianxia (immortal heroes) stories/films/television shows, and the cultural mythology I grew up with in Singapore.
As someone who was raised in a former colony, I also wanted to explore the genesis of what we call “history”: how it may be twisted by colonizers and victors and how it could be rewritten to suit the purpose of oppressors and those in power. But at the core of this story is the concept of family and all its joys and burdens and expectations, and about finding one's place in the world and striking a balance between an individual sense of self, and the weight of familial legacy and obligation.
The story also deals with the discussion and repercussions of war, and while none are particularly graphic, please note the content warnings below.
CONTENT WARNINGS
self-harm (gouging/eye horror; non-graphic)
child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting)
parent death (implied and off-page)
character deaths
mentions and descriptions of fantasy/magical violence (blood, war, political violence)
mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia
alcohol consumption
*this list will be updated as necessary
Preorder campaign details + form to claim your swag
HERE.
Have a look at some character art!
For updates, follow me on twitter and instagram (@junescribbles) or sign up for my newsletter.
As someone who was raised in a former colony, I also wanted to explore the genesis of what we call “history”: how it may be twisted by colonizers and victors and how it could be rewritten to suit the purpose of oppressors and those in power. But at the core of this story is the concept of family and all its joys and burdens and expectations, and about finding one's place in the world and striking a balance between an individual sense of self, and the weight of familial legacy and obligation.
The story also deals with the discussion and repercussions of war, and while none are particularly graphic, please note the content warnings below.
CONTENT WARNINGS
self-harm (gouging/eye horror; non-graphic)
child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting)
parent death (implied and off-page)
character deaths
mentions and descriptions of fantasy/magical violence (blood, war, political violence)
mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia
alcohol consumption
*this list will be updated as necessary
Preorder campaign details + form to claim your swag
HERE.
Have a look at some character art!
For updates, follow me on twitter and instagram (@junescribbles) or sign up for my newsletter.
December 16, 2021
I’m so torn on this one. Started off great, couldn’t put it down, and then it lost me around the halfway mark completely. It had bits and pieces that encouraged me to power through, but there were many instances where I felt very okay with the idea of DNF-ing.
Additionally the romance aspect of the book didn’t make a ton of sense to me and felt unnecessary. The pacing was weird and didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me to have a firm belief in any of it.
Great concept for the storyline with an (unfortunately) disappointing execution.
Additionally the romance aspect of the book didn’t make a ton of sense to me and felt unnecessary. The pacing was weird and didn’t feel fleshed out enough for me to have a firm belief in any of it.
Great concept for the storyline with an (unfortunately) disappointing execution.
November 29, 2021
If you like:
- Avatar the Last Airbender (specifically zutara)
- "I have to kill you" trope
- chosen one trope
- elemental magic
- Chinese mythology
- slowburn romance
- betrayal & never knowing who you can trust
then you need to pick up this book!
Jade Fire Gold was one of my most anticipated debuts of the year, and it lived up to all of my expectations.
This book is absolutely addictive. The pacing is fast, with constant action and intrigue, and fantastic twists.
You never quite know who to trust, but despite that, I still became obsessed with almost every single character in this book. Seriously, the characters are just so good. Even the villains.
Altan and Ahn are going on my list of favorite protagonists (especially Altan because "angstyoblivious prince who wants revenge" is in fact my favorite type of fictional character). And the side characters? I love them all so much. I would read a book about any of them (please give me more books so I can read more about them)
Also, how am I supposed to move on after that ending???
5/5 stars.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC!
- Avatar the Last Airbender (specifically zutara)
- "I have to kill you" trope
- chosen one trope
- elemental magic
- Chinese mythology
- slowburn romance
- betrayal & never knowing who you can trust
then you need to pick up this book!
Jade Fire Gold was one of my most anticipated debuts of the year, and it lived up to all of my expectations.
This book is absolutely addictive. The pacing is fast, with constant action and intrigue, and fantastic twists.
You never quite know who to trust, but despite that, I still became obsessed with almost every single character in this book. Seriously, the characters are just so good. Even the villains.
Altan and Ahn are going on my list of favorite protagonists (especially Altan because "angsty
Also, how am I supposed to move on after that ending???
5/5 stars.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC!
December 19, 2025
4.5 Stars
Well, yay!! I loved this one …. which means I’ll probably not like the second one or a reread of this one later as is my normal lately 🤨
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Well, yay!! I loved this one …. which means I’ll probably not like the second one or a reread of this one later as is my normal lately 🤨
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 7, 2021
cws: list provided by author here
rep: chinese-coded cast + world, f/f side relationship, mlm minor character
i might have enjoyed this more if i went in with lower expectations but oh well.
the premise is really intriguing: a peasant girl with ancient magic and a lost prince trying to reclaim his throne meet and upturn a world on the brink of war. unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to the mark for me.
first a few positives: the writing was pretty good for a debut YA author and made for an easy read. i liked the worldbuilding too, i think it had a lot of potential and the occasional inserts of chinese folklore were cool to see.
my major issues with this book are the characters, the plot/pacing and the romance. i didn't care for the main characters at all - they just felt so generic and needed more depth. ahn was a bit too passive for me, it felt like she was just going along with the flow of things instead of driving the action forward herself. altan mostly bored me to be honest, his internal conflict regarding the life stealer didn't ring true to me and felt like angst just for the sake of it. the side characters were interesting, especially leiye and tang wei, but we simply didn't see enough of them.
the romance was super frustrating to read - it was way too rushed and poorly developed. ahn and altan genuinely had no chemistry and their connection left me cold.
the pacing was also fairly uneven - especially in the last 15%. what was supposed to be the most exciting part of the novel was hindered by frequent time jumps that made no sense to me. the climax itself was weak and resolved too quickly, i think the action should have been drawn out more.
overall, it's a pretty basic, formulaic YA fantasy which isn't necessarily a bad thing! i do think this will be an enjoyable read for a lot of people, particularly those who are new to the fantasy/xianxia genre. unfortunately, i think i'm too jaded for these kinds of stories now.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
rep: chinese-coded cast + world, f/f side relationship, mlm minor character
i might have enjoyed this more if i went in with lower expectations but oh well.
the premise is really intriguing: a peasant girl with ancient magic and a lost prince trying to reclaim his throne meet and upturn a world on the brink of war. unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to the mark for me.
first a few positives: the writing was pretty good for a debut YA author and made for an easy read. i liked the worldbuilding too, i think it had a lot of potential and the occasional inserts of chinese folklore were cool to see.
my major issues with this book are the characters, the plot/pacing and the romance. i didn't care for the main characters at all - they just felt so generic and needed more depth. ahn was a bit too passive for me, it felt like she was just going along with the flow of things instead of driving the action forward herself. altan mostly bored me to be honest, his internal conflict regarding the life stealer didn't ring true to me and felt like angst just for the sake of it. the side characters were interesting, especially leiye and tang wei, but we simply didn't see enough of them.
the romance was super frustrating to read - it was way too rushed and poorly developed. ahn and altan genuinely had no chemistry and their connection left me cold.
the pacing was also fairly uneven - especially in the last 15%. what was supposed to be the most exciting part of the novel was hindered by frequent time jumps that made no sense to me. the climax itself was weak and resolved too quickly, i think the action should have been drawn out more.
overall, it's a pretty basic, formulaic YA fantasy which isn't necessarily a bad thing! i do think this will be an enjoyable read for a lot of people, particularly those who are new to the fantasy/xianxia genre. unfortunately, i think i'm too jaded for these kinds of stories now.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2019
a sweeping epic with so much heart and drool-worthy characters. in one word? this book is scrumptious
November 18, 2021
edit(062121): 3.5 rounded up. i am finally stable enough to objectively rate this book.
—
Jade Fire Gold is nothing short of being wonderful. This is everything I wanted wrapped in a single book.
For a fantasy book, this was honestly easy to read while being lyrical at the same time. Tan did a wonderful job putting into words the adventures of these characters and their portrayals. The start of the book felt hazy as most fantasy books are but you can easily grasp what is going on at the 20% mark. It made me engage more with what is happening in the book. The plot was honestly good, kept me wanting to unveil further until the final twist.
The main protagonist, Ahn, is a peasant girl who would do anything to protect her grandmother. Reading the way her character grew from being an oblivious girl to being someone who holds onto her power was such a roller-coaster ride. She was such a likable character. There were times her decisions were questionable but the fact that she is only sixteen can excuse those. Altan, on the other hand, is an exiled prince out for vengeance. The resemblance between him and Zuko (from ATLA) is uncanny. Both have gone through a lot in order to get what is rightfully theirs. There were times Ahn and Altan’s morality was tested, and I liked that they anchor each other during those times. Even the side characters—Tang Wei, Linxi, Leiye, and Tai Shun—were likeable. Each of them was important in the story as their paths tangled with the protagonists. Their relationship as a whole could further develop into becoming a found family.
There is one shortcoming: the climax was weak. There’s a lot of black-out scenes and time jumps that I didn’t feel the full impact of the final action. I was used to reading detailed actions in fantasy, hence, this part in the book was a letdown.
Objectively, I should be rating this 4 stars but the characters made up for the flaws in this. Readers will easily fall in love with these imperfect characters who would do everything for the people they love. There’s a lot of potential in them that would be interesting to further explore on the next books.
Lastly, how can June Cl Tan expect me to sit still after that ending?
—
Jade Fire Gold is nothing short of being wonderful. This is everything I wanted wrapped in a single book.
For a fantasy book, this was honestly easy to read while being lyrical at the same time. Tan did a wonderful job putting into words the adventures of these characters and their portrayals. The start of the book felt hazy as most fantasy books are but you can easily grasp what is going on at the 20% mark. It made me engage more with what is happening in the book. The plot was honestly good, kept me wanting to unveil further until the final twist.
The main protagonist, Ahn, is a peasant girl who would do anything to protect her grandmother. Reading the way her character grew from being an oblivious girl to being someone who holds onto her power was such a roller-coaster ride. She was such a likable character. There were times her decisions were questionable but the fact that she is only sixteen can excuse those. Altan, on the other hand, is an exiled prince out for vengeance. The resemblance between him and Zuko (from ATLA) is uncanny. Both have gone through a lot in order to get what is rightfully theirs. There were times Ahn and Altan’s morality was tested, and I liked that they anchor each other during those times. Even the side characters—Tang Wei, Linxi, Leiye, and Tai Shun—were likeable. Each of them was important in the story as their paths tangled with the protagonists. Their relationship as a whole could further develop into becoming a found family.
There is one shortcoming: the climax was weak. There’s a lot of black-out scenes and time jumps that I didn’t feel the full impact of the final action. I was used to reading detailed actions in fantasy, hence, this part in the book was a letdown.
Objectively, I should be rating this 4 stars but the characters made up for the flaws in this. Readers will easily fall in love with these imperfect characters who would do everything for the people they love. There’s a lot of potential in them that would be interesting to further explore on the next books.
Lastly, how can June Cl Tan expect me to sit still after that ending?
July 13, 2021
i was never really into m/f romances anyway, short rtc
May 17, 2022
Yes I deleted my review. Because I am tired. But chopsticks in hair ? Need I say more ?
October 18, 2021
i had low expectations when i started reading and suffice to say it lived up to that.
the pitch is stunning, atla being one of my favourite shows, i was excited to see 'what if katara were the dark avatar & zuko was hunting her down in an empire on the brink of war?’ but the execution is done poorly.
—it starts off really well, i liked the character motivations introduced initially and the easy pacing in the first 1/3 or half of the book
—the writing is fairly simple to follow and the worldbuilding inspired by chinese myth/folklore is imbedded pretty well. the descriptions of the different settings and locations were spot on
—i love the side characters, tang wei, tai shun, leiye, and the relationships they have between themselves and the protagonists.
—then the pacing starts to stumble and i lose interest in both ahn and altan because their thoughts seem to feel repetitive and i couldn't care less. i wouldn't have minded if the book went on a little longer if it meant giving a satisfying climax to the buildup rather than finishing it all off in a couple chapters. is it a standalone? or a series? especially with the ending, i'm confused here.
—the so called romance felt very bland, no tension no angst of supposedly being "enemies" so yeah
—i also didn't feel the urgency of a country being at war with others?? the political intrigue was just dumped and not handled with depth
overall, jade fire gold can be an interesting and enjoyable debut ya fantasy, if you're looking for a simple one but its simply not for me.
thank you harper collins and netgalley for the arc!
the pitch is stunning, atla being one of my favourite shows, i was excited to see 'what if katara were the dark avatar & zuko was hunting her down in an empire on the brink of war?’ but the execution is done poorly.
—it starts off really well, i liked the character motivations introduced initially and the easy pacing in the first 1/3 or half of the book
—the writing is fairly simple to follow and the worldbuilding inspired by chinese myth/folklore is imbedded pretty well. the descriptions of the different settings and locations were spot on
—i love the side characters, tang wei, tai shun, leiye, and the relationships they have between themselves and the protagonists.
—then the pacing starts to stumble and i lose interest in both ahn and altan because their thoughts seem to feel repetitive and i couldn't care less. i wouldn't have minded if the book went on a little longer if it meant giving a satisfying climax to the buildup rather than finishing it all off in a couple chapters. is it a standalone? or a series? especially with the ending, i'm confused here.
—the so called romance felt very bland, no tension no angst of supposedly being "enemies" so yeah
—i also didn't feel the urgency of a country being at war with others?? the political intrigue was just dumped and not handled with depth
overall, jade fire gold can be an interesting and enjoyable debut ya fantasy, if you're looking for a simple one but its simply not for me.
thank you harper collins and netgalley for the arc!
January 17, 2022
Stunning. Ferocious. Captivating. With an adventure full of secrets and against a rich backdrop of magic, these characters grapple with their family legacies while finding balance amidst an approaching and ongoing chaos.
A peasant girl with power she doesn't wish to explore. A lost heir hell-bent on reclaiming his throne. A tenuous alliance established on shaken trusts, haunted pasts, and romantic sparks. Ahn is an orphan with a dangerous secret: she can wield magic; Altan is an exiled prince with a painful past: his family had been betrayed. Ahn needs medicines to save her adopted grandmother in the midst of desert that's fruit of a cursed land, and Altan needs the 'lifestealer' to atone his ancestors' deeds and take back what's rightfully his. When their fates collide, a journey commences where the past unravels and vengeance rains.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this fantasy paints a stunning world that holds scars and meditates on themes of war and oppression while xianxia influences shine through the thrilling action and elemental magic. Brave commentary on diluted history and political desperation, along with sentimental undertones of shared destinies and the burden of being a chosen one, pull in the reader. As the two young, broken yet hopeful characters begin to search for a legendary sword that may rid the land off its dark magic, a slow-burning romance blossoms against emotional barriers. With a diverse supporting cast that delights and tests loyalties, this strong debut chases the prosperity of peace and proves how one can trade anything for love—jade, fire, and gold.
Jade Fire Gold is a debut young adult fantasy that borrows xianxia elements and is inspired by Chinese mythology.
A peasant girl with power she doesn't wish to explore. A lost heir hell-bent on reclaiming his throne. A tenuous alliance established on shaken trusts, haunted pasts, and romantic sparks. Ahn is an orphan with a dangerous secret: she can wield magic; Altan is an exiled prince with a painful past: his family had been betrayed. Ahn needs medicines to save her adopted grandmother in the midst of desert that's fruit of a cursed land, and Altan needs the 'lifestealer' to atone his ancestors' deeds and take back what's rightfully his. When their fates collide, a journey commences where the past unravels and vengeance rains.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this fantasy paints a stunning world that holds scars and meditates on themes of war and oppression while xianxia influences shine through the thrilling action and elemental magic. Brave commentary on diluted history and political desperation, along with sentimental undertones of shared destinies and the burden of being a chosen one, pull in the reader. As the two young, broken yet hopeful characters begin to search for a legendary sword that may rid the land off its dark magic, a slow-burning romance blossoms against emotional barriers. With a diverse supporting cast that delights and tests loyalties, this strong debut chases the prosperity of peace and proves how one can trade anything for love—jade, fire, and gold.
—if you wish to support: blog | ko-fi | twitter
January 30, 2022
A marvelous debut!
Anh is basically Aang and Katara wrapped up into one.
Altan is Zuko, but a bit less impactful.
Tai Shun is a traditional flower boy Wuxia/Xianxia prince.
Was this book perfect? No. But was it fun? Yes!
Fans of Avatar the Last Airbender and Chinese fantasy will likely enjoy this new yet familiar tale.
That epilogue though? Wtf, I could’ve done without that. For many reasons. But the main one being that no second book as been confirmed so we’re just left wondering at this point 😅
*Detailed review to come?*
Anh is basically Aang and Katara wrapped up into one.
Altan is Zuko, but a bit less impactful.
Tai Shun is a traditional flower boy Wuxia/Xianxia prince.
Was this book perfect? No. But was it fun? Yes!
Fans of Avatar the Last Airbender and Chinese fantasy will likely enjoy this new yet familiar tale.
That epilogue though? Wtf, I could’ve done without that. For many reasons. But the main one being that no second book as been confirmed so we’re just left wondering at this point 😅
*Detailed review to come?*
August 15, 2021
I wanted so badly to love this but, unfortunately, Jade Fire Gold missed its mark for me.
- Follows Ahn, a girl of a village in the fringes who may possess an extraordinary power, and Altan, a boy and lost heir to the throne, hellbent on getting revenge. The story follows the two in alternating perspectives as their destinies collide and intertwine with one another.
- The first third of this book is so good and I had such high hopes - there were so many intriguing worldbuilding ideas (magic in the land being tied to the Mandate of Heaven philosophy! YES!), the character arcs are strong and their motivations set them on a great course for the story. The story was poised to take risk and traverse to unchartered territory, but then, the story... just didn't.
- The story moved away from the original and interesting things, and fell back on clichés and a focus on the romantic tension and conflict between Ahn and Altan.
- The book didn't work for me because the story hinges a lot on the dynamic between Ahn and Altan - and unfortunately the dynamic fell really flat for me and failed to engage me.
- I'm really sad this didn't work for me. I think the writing is great, so I'm interested to read whatever Tan writes next, but unfortunately Jade Fire Gold was not for me.
Content warning: can be found here.
I received a digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
- Follows Ahn, a girl of a village in the fringes who may possess an extraordinary power, and Altan, a boy and lost heir to the throne, hellbent on getting revenge. The story follows the two in alternating perspectives as their destinies collide and intertwine with one another.
- The first third of this book is so good and I had such high hopes - there were so many intriguing worldbuilding ideas (magic in the land being tied to the Mandate of Heaven philosophy! YES!), the character arcs are strong and their motivations set them on a great course for the story. The story was poised to take risk and traverse to unchartered territory, but then, the story... just didn't.
- The story moved away from the original and interesting things, and fell back on clichés and a focus on the romantic tension and conflict between Ahn and Altan.
- The book didn't work for me because the story hinges a lot on the dynamic between Ahn and Altan - and unfortunately the dynamic fell really flat for me and failed to engage me.
- I'm really sad this didn't work for me. I think the writing is great, so I'm interested to read whatever Tan writes next, but unfortunately Jade Fire Gold was not for me.
Content warning: can be found here.
I received a digital advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2022
I was extremely excited to read Jade Fire Gold as I’d heard the main relationship had Zutara vibes (Zuko and Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender) and after finally watching ATLA this past summer I wanted more of them. However, I am sorry to say that Jade Fire Gold has disappointed me. It had an amazing premise and so much potential but ultimately fell flat.
I was originally going to give this book three stars as I did mostly enjoy my time reading this but honestly, as I sit down to write this review, I am struggling to think of things I actually liked about this novel.
To begin with, the characters felt bland and one dimensional. Both as individuals and also their relationship. Due to this, I just did not care about them and considering that their relationship had been this book’s main selling point to me, this was a major let down. I felt that they lacked personality and vividness and that their motivations were unconvincing. It felt like they were just going through the motions; there was nothing real or tangible about them. As they weren’t fleshed out enough as individuals, there was no chemistry between them. I kept waiting for the romance and pining to appear but it just didn't and then suddenly they’re being teased for their feelings for each other and getting all coy about it? Without ever giving any indication in their narrative that there were romantic feelings there? It all felt forced.
The plot similarly fell flat. It was predictable and at times boring. Jade Fire Gold uses common story archetypes: the lost heir returning for their rightful crown and a peasant discovering they have powerful magic and being taken to the palace / hunted for it. And I felt that the story didn’t do anything new or exciting with these tropes. Additionally, I found the writing jarring at times as something would be written so strangely that it jolted me out of the story. Also, what was that epilogue? It felt so random and unnecessary.
To speak of the book’s positives, I really enjoyed the Chinese influences on the story. I felt that this added something new and vibrant to this classic story. I’d have liked to know more about the world building and magic system so that we could explore more of this influence. Furthermore, the first third or so of this book had a lot of potential and I liked where it was going. I liked the characters’ first meeting and the tension there and learning about the world. However, this all unfortunately fell apart. I also liked the themes of history being written by the victors and atoning for the sins of one’s ancestors. I would have liked to see them explored further and in more depth to make them more impactful.
Overall, Jade Fire Gold had a lot of promise but just couldn’t stick the landing. Nothing felt developed or fleshed out enough, the plot was basic and the romance that sold me on this book nonexistent. I am so disappointed by this book.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley*
I was originally going to give this book three stars as I did mostly enjoy my time reading this but honestly, as I sit down to write this review, I am struggling to think of things I actually liked about this novel.
To begin with, the characters felt bland and one dimensional. Both as individuals and also their relationship. Due to this, I just did not care about them and considering that their relationship had been this book’s main selling point to me, this was a major let down. I felt that they lacked personality and vividness and that their motivations were unconvincing. It felt like they were just going through the motions; there was nothing real or tangible about them. As they weren’t fleshed out enough as individuals, there was no chemistry between them. I kept waiting for the romance and pining to appear but it just didn't and then suddenly they’re being teased for their feelings for each other and getting all coy about it? Without ever giving any indication in their narrative that there were romantic feelings there? It all felt forced.
The plot similarly fell flat. It was predictable and at times boring. Jade Fire Gold uses common story archetypes: the lost heir returning for their rightful crown and a peasant discovering they have powerful magic and being taken to the palace / hunted for it. And I felt that the story didn’t do anything new or exciting with these tropes. Additionally, I found the writing jarring at times as something would be written so strangely that it jolted me out of the story. Also, what was that epilogue? It felt so random and unnecessary.
To speak of the book’s positives, I really enjoyed the Chinese influences on the story. I felt that this added something new and vibrant to this classic story. I’d have liked to know more about the world building and magic system so that we could explore more of this influence. Furthermore, the first third or so of this book had a lot of potential and I liked where it was going. I liked the characters’ first meeting and the tension there and learning about the world. However, this all unfortunately fell apart. I also liked the themes of history being written by the victors and atoning for the sins of one’s ancestors. I would have liked to see them explored further and in more depth to make them more impactful.
Overall, Jade Fire Gold had a lot of promise but just couldn’t stick the landing. Nothing felt developed or fleshed out enough, the plot was basic and the romance that sold me on this book nonexistent. I am so disappointed by this book.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley*
Want to read
July 6, 2021I’m ngl getting ARCs in the middle of my reading slumps stresses me out a little bit but since they’re my anticipated releases, I NEED to make time before october 😭
*Thank you to the publisher —Hodder Books— for sending me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
———————
update 2: WE HAVE A COVER!! and its BEAUTIFUL!!
update: we have a pub date (Oct 21 2021) T_T
did you say dark katara teaming up with zuko?? inspired by east asian mythology?? and I have to wait a whole year for it??
excuse me, i need some space to breath
*Thank you to the publisher —Hodder Books— for sending me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
———————
update 2: WE HAVE A COVER!! and its BEAUTIFUL!!
update: we have a pub date (Oct 21 2021) T_T
did you say dark katara teaming up with zuko?? inspired by east asian mythology?? and I have to wait a whole year for it??
excuse me, i need some space to breath
October 3, 2021
2.5★
jade fire gold promises an unforgettable adventure weaving together elements of forbidden magic, enemies-to-lovers zutara-style romance, and enchanting chinese folklore.
once again, a disappointing new highly anticipated release :/
this book was barely enjoyable until the ending at the 80% mark or so, and even then it didn't deliver like it should've. i didn't care for the characters; they felt generic and surface-level, almost forced to fit in the vessel that the author portrayed for them—if that makes sense. we spend most of the book building up for the plot, in painfully dragging pace, for conflicts that felt irrelevant and detached. and they get resolved in a less than satisfying way, which left me feeling deflated. this could be because of my indifference to the characters and the unconvincing stakes, but i also find the execution of the grand pitches that were made for this book very poor.
however, i enjoyed the writing and the world-building laced with chinese folklore. (i have seen ownvoices reviewers comment on the rep, but i can't speak on that myself.)
content warning: self-harm (gouging, eye horror; non-graphic), child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting), parent death (implied, off-page), character deaths, mentions and descriptions of fantasy/magical violence (blood, war, political violence), mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, alcohol consumption. — as listed by the author here.
— thank you to harper collins for providing me with the digital arc via netgalley and edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
jade fire gold promises an unforgettable adventure weaving together elements of forbidden magic, enemies-to-lovers zutara-style romance, and enchanting chinese folklore.
once again, a disappointing new highly anticipated release :/
this book was barely enjoyable until the ending at the 80% mark or so, and even then it didn't deliver like it should've. i didn't care for the characters; they felt generic and surface-level, almost forced to fit in the vessel that the author portrayed for them—if that makes sense. we spend most of the book building up for the plot, in painfully dragging pace, for conflicts that felt irrelevant and detached. and they get resolved in a less than satisfying way, which left me feeling deflated. this could be because of my indifference to the characters and the unconvincing stakes, but i also find the execution of the grand pitches that were made for this book very poor.
however, i enjoyed the writing and the world-building laced with chinese folklore. (i have seen ownvoices reviewers comment on the rep, but i can't speak on that myself.)
content warning: self-harm (gouging, eye horror; non-graphic), child abuse (physical, verbal, emotional manipulation/gaslighting), parent death (implied, off-page), character deaths, mentions and descriptions of fantasy/magical violence (blood, war, political violence), mentions and descriptions of physical symptoms that might be triggering to those with emetophobia, alcohol consumption. — as listed by the author here.
— thank you to harper collins for providing me with the digital arc via netgalley and edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2023
All my best regards to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with this e-ARC of this book.
If this trend of my-most-anticipated-releases-are-all-disappointing continues, I will never read a new release again
What is this book about?
Ahn, a girl living with her sick grandmother is a desert village has no future. Poor, she must steal to pay for Ama's medicine. She is also hiding a secret of which she is a Tiensai - people who dark magic hunted by the empire's priests. One day, a shocking event finally revealed her true destiny.
Altan, the lost heir to the throne whose family was murdered. He built up his plan to take back what is rightfully his - the throne and seek revenge on the emperor's murderer. When Altan met Ahn, he saw his chance to seek vengeance.
My thoughts:
I shall forever rest in the hole of disappointment. This book didn't live up to a single ounce of my expectations. I didn't like anything until the 70% mark of the book. The different parts seem disconnected to one another. The plot-building dragged way too long for such simple conflicts. The supposed "tension" between Ahn and Altan doesn't build up until it appeared out of nowhere. It fell flat and irrelevant
However, there are also positive points in this book. I love the world building and the magic system. The writing is very gorgeous and lyrical. Like I said, I am not attached to Ahn and Altan, but that ending absolutely wrecked me and ultimately elevates this book to a 2.25/5 instead of a 1.5/5.
Overall, this was a huge deception for me, however I am quite interested in what June C.L. Tan has to offer next
Check out the author's gorgeous web page dedicated to this book https://www.junecltan.com/jadefiregold
------------------------------------------
Pre-reading thoughts
If this turns out to be disappointing it would be the end of me.
Find me on Instagram @shardsofdeadlove
If this trend of my-most-anticipated-releases-are-all-disappointing continues, I will never read a new release again
What is this book about?
Ahn, a girl living with her sick grandmother is a desert village has no future. Poor, she must steal to pay for Ama's medicine. She is also hiding a secret of which she is a Tiensai - people who dark magic hunted by the empire's priests. One day, a shocking event finally revealed her true destiny.
Altan, the lost heir to the throne whose family was murdered. He built up his plan to take back what is rightfully his - the throne and seek revenge on the emperor's murderer. When Altan met Ahn, he saw his chance to seek vengeance.
My thoughts:
I shall forever rest in the hole of disappointment. This book didn't live up to a single ounce of my expectations. I didn't like anything until the 70% mark of the book. The different parts seem disconnected to one another. The plot-building dragged way too long for such simple conflicts. The supposed "tension" between Ahn and Altan doesn't build up until it appeared out of nowhere. It fell flat and irrelevant
However, there are also positive points in this book. I love the world building and the magic system. The writing is very gorgeous and lyrical. Like I said, I am not attached to Ahn and Altan, but that ending absolutely wrecked me and ultimately elevates this book to a 2.25/5 instead of a 1.5/5.
Overall, this was a huge deception for me, however I am quite interested in what June C.L. Tan has to offer next
Check out the author's gorgeous web page dedicated to this book https://www.junecltan.com/jadefiregold
------------------------------------------
Pre-reading thoughts
If this turns out to be disappointing it would be the end of me.
Find me on Instagram @shardsofdeadlove
July 20, 2025
Jade Fire Gold was mostly a fun ride. I liked the writing a lot, which I can't say for the other books I've read recently. Here, the side-charactes felt important and distinct even if we didn't get too much time with them, and the dialogues sounded natural; Tan writes action and tension just as competently as humorous scenes and lighthearted dialogue. It's a YA fantasy but surprisingly good at handling more complex themes of war, different political/religious factions, poverty, etc.
All the characters are morally grey - or maybe it's better to say they're realistic and not divided into morally superior good guys and irredeemable villains. Though, there's still a line between what's perceived as done out of necessity and what is cruel. The main character, Ahn, is probably one of the more "pure" characters in the book, and even she has to make many morally taxing decisions.
I have to admit I didn't like Altan's POV at first because it has so many info-dumps (about the world and its magic system) and is too on the nose with his sad backstory. The dynamic between him and Ahn becomes really fun around halfway through the story, though, and I appreciated that, even when they're both obviously infatuated, Ahn makes it a point to tell her grandma that she doesn’t know him well enough, and couldn't say whether she really trusts him.
I've seen the main characters compared to Zuko and Katara, so I went into this expecting an exiled prince who gets a redemption arc, but that's not really the case here. I do see some similarities to atla (the vibes and uncle Iroh), but I wouldn't compare these two characters in particular - except maybe visually.
The one thing that truly disappointed me, however, was the ending. The story became pretty convoluted with all the twists and turns leading up to the ending, but I was still there for it until a certain thing happened.* It also strongly hints at a sequel even though the story feels completed, and I'm not sure I'm interested in reading more about these characters.
Spoilery mini rant:
*I'm always a bit disappointed when authors don't let their main characters die after a scene in which they really should have died. It's totally understandable to not want to kill them off, and it might even be received negatively by some of the readers, but I still wish more authors (expecially fantasy authors) were brave enough to take the plunge. In Jade Fire Gold, I felt it was a huge missed opportunity. The setup for it was there, and I believe the author could have executed it well had she decided to go through with it.
All the characters are morally grey - or maybe it's better to say they're realistic and not divided into morally superior good guys and irredeemable villains. Though, there's still a line between what's perceived as done out of necessity and what is cruel. The main character, Ahn, is probably one of the more "pure" characters in the book, and even she has to make many morally taxing decisions.
I have to admit I didn't like Altan's POV at first because it has so many info-dumps (about the world and its magic system) and is too on the nose with his sad backstory. The dynamic between him and Ahn becomes really fun around halfway through the story, though, and I appreciated that, even when they're both obviously infatuated, Ahn makes it a point to tell her grandma that she doesn’t know him well enough, and couldn't say whether she really trusts him.
I've seen the main characters compared to Zuko and Katara, so I went into this expecting an exiled prince who gets a redemption arc, but that's not really the case here. I do see some similarities to atla (the vibes and uncle Iroh), but I wouldn't compare these two characters in particular - except maybe visually.
The one thing that truly disappointed me, however, was the ending. The story became pretty convoluted with all the twists and turns leading up to the ending, but I was still there for it until a certain thing happened.* It also strongly hints at a sequel even though the story feels completed, and I'm not sure I'm interested in reading more about these characters.
Spoilery mini rant:
*I'm always a bit disappointed when authors don't let their main characters die after a scene in which they really should have died. It's totally understandable to not want to kill them off, and it might even be received negatively by some of the readers, but I still wish more authors (expecially fantasy authors) were brave enough to take the plunge. In Jade Fire Gold, I felt it was a huge missed opportunity. The setup for it was there, and I believe the author could have executed it well had she decided to go through with it.
September 16, 2021
On my blog.
Rep: Chinese coded cast & setting, sapphic side characters, achillean side character
CWs: implied torture, violence, blood, gore, death of a parent
Galley provided by publisher
Jade Fire Gold was, above all, a fun read. In the past couple of years, or so, I’ve struggled to get along with YA fantasy, finding it alternatively with not enough worldbuilding, or dragging too much in the middle section. I didn’t have either of those issues here.
The story follows two narratives: Altan, the rightful heir to the throne, alone and, honestly, somewhat bitter, looking to get revenge on the family members who wronged him (and also searching for a way to avoid death at the hands of his foe), and Ahn, struggling with money to look after her grandmother and fearful of her life in an empire that doesn’t look kindly on magic. Their paths cross and, for the avoidance of spoilers, Things Happen.
Firstly, what I liked about this book was the fact that there’s a lot of action, but at the same time, there’s sufficient worldbuilding that you don’t feel like everything’s left to the imagination. And it’s all woven together effectively in the narrative. Okay, so maybe I did, from time to time, want the worldbuilding to go a bit more in depth, but that was, overall, well-judged and well-integrated into the story. There weren’t massive and pointless info-dumps. And the action meant that it was a fun read.
It helps, too, that the characters were great. Altan feels at the start a little like he might turn out to be broody and mean, especially to Ahn, and overly focused on vengeance over all else, but it was all put together in such a way that I didn’t really mind it. Mostly because there was some definite character development happening (and also, I suppose, that his narrative isn’t self-loathing). And it’s offset by Ahn, who has to be among my favourite YA protagonists. She’s just a lot of fun to read about, and her journey and development is the best in the book.
I think the reason I gave this 4 stars, not 5, is because, sometimes, the plot seems quite coincidental. Things happen just when they need to, they find out what they have to at the right points. I mean, to an extent, that has to happen in books, sure, but it was a little… heavy-handed, I suppose (in the nicest way possible, because that doesn’t sound a nice way of saying it, I realise). I think the other part of that is that this is a debut. Of course it’s not going to be perfect off the bat. But there’s so much to like in Jade Fire Gold and I cannot wait to see what June Tan does next.
Although I would, if possible, prefer it to be a sequel to this, after that ending. Please, June?
Rep: Chinese coded cast & setting, sapphic side characters, achillean side character
CWs: implied torture, violence, blood, gore, death of a parent
Galley provided by publisher
Jade Fire Gold was, above all, a fun read. In the past couple of years, or so, I’ve struggled to get along with YA fantasy, finding it alternatively with not enough worldbuilding, or dragging too much in the middle section. I didn’t have either of those issues here.
The story follows two narratives: Altan, the rightful heir to the throne, alone and, honestly, somewhat bitter, looking to get revenge on the family members who wronged him (and also searching for a way to avoid death at the hands of his foe), and Ahn, struggling with money to look after her grandmother and fearful of her life in an empire that doesn’t look kindly on magic. Their paths cross and, for the avoidance of spoilers, Things Happen.
Firstly, what I liked about this book was the fact that there’s a lot of action, but at the same time, there’s sufficient worldbuilding that you don’t feel like everything’s left to the imagination. And it’s all woven together effectively in the narrative. Okay, so maybe I did, from time to time, want the worldbuilding to go a bit more in depth, but that was, overall, well-judged and well-integrated into the story. There weren’t massive and pointless info-dumps. And the action meant that it was a fun read.
It helps, too, that the characters were great. Altan feels at the start a little like he might turn out to be broody and mean, especially to Ahn, and overly focused on vengeance over all else, but it was all put together in such a way that I didn’t really mind it. Mostly because there was some definite character development happening (and also, I suppose, that his narrative isn’t self-loathing). And it’s offset by Ahn, who has to be among my favourite YA protagonists. She’s just a lot of fun to read about, and her journey and development is the best in the book.
I think the reason I gave this 4 stars, not 5, is because, sometimes, the plot seems quite coincidental. Things happen just when they need to, they find out what they have to at the right points. I mean, to an extent, that has to happen in books, sure, but it was a little… heavy-handed, I suppose (in the nicest way possible, because that doesn’t sound a nice way of saying it, I realise). I think the other part of that is that this is a debut. Of course it’s not going to be perfect off the bat. But there’s so much to like in Jade Fire Gold and I cannot wait to see what June Tan does next.
Although I would, if possible, prefer it to be a sequel to this, after that ending. Please, June?
October 14, 2021
ok i may be inherently biased because jade fire gold is by a singaporean author but !!! it was dramatic, it was atmospheric and the chinese mythology !!!
Read my full review of Jade Fire Gold here!
Thank you to Caffeine Tours for providing me an ARC of Jade Fire Gold for a sincere review as part of a blog tour!
3.5 stars // RTC
Read my full review of Jade Fire Gold here!
Thank you to Caffeine Tours for providing me an ARC of Jade Fire Gold for a sincere review as part of a blog tour!
3.5 stars // RTC
November 3, 2021
An excellent debut! I loved the characters and plot, I just didn’t feel completely engaged in the story. The setting is described beautifully— the premise of the story is what initially drew me to it.
October 7, 2021
Jade Fire Gold was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and it did alright. I was expecting a bit more from it, but I'm not disappointed.
I liked almost all the characters, main and side. They were fun to follow, and the author did a good job making each of them distinct.
Ahn and Altan were adorable together, I shipped them from their very first meeting. This is how you write slow burn.
The pacing was good, up until the final third (which was supposed to be the most exciting). It slowed down, and the random time jumps increased.
The jumps didn't make it confusing, but it did feel incomplete. Sort of how, when you're writing something and you didn't plan a scene out fully so you just do a time skip to move on, with the intention of going back and adding more before the final draft...yeah, that's missing.
The story would've benefited from more details in those parts, but it's not bad as is. It's easy to follow, and I liked the writing style too.
All together, it's a decent debut. I don't have overly strong feelings about it, or much to say, but I might reread it in the future.
3.5 stars
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I liked almost all the characters, main and side. They were fun to follow, and the author did a good job making each of them distinct.
Ahn and Altan were adorable together, I shipped them from their very first meeting. This is how you write slow burn.
The pacing was good, up until the final third (which was supposed to be the most exciting). It slowed down, and the random time jumps increased.
The jumps didn't make it confusing, but it did feel incomplete. Sort of how, when you're writing something and you didn't plan a scene out fully so you just do a time skip to move on, with the intention of going back and adding more before the final draft...yeah, that's missing.
The story would've benefited from more details in those parts, but it's not bad as is. It's easy to follow, and I liked the writing style too.
All together, it's a decent debut. I don't have overly strong feelings about it, or much to say, but I might reread it in the future.
3.5 stars
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
February 23, 2022
Ahn is a young girl with no memory of her past. She spends her days stealing enough to scrape by and keeping her magic hidden from the government. Altan is the lost heir, thought to be dead after the rest of his family perished in a coup to steal the throne. After coming together, Ahn has a chance to discover her past and how her abilities shaped it while Altan has a chance to right his past and reclaim his empire.
I’m not entirely sure if Jade Fire Gold is a novel or the beginning of a series. The epilogue makes it seem like there will be more books, but it appears to be a novel wherever else I look. I feel like this is a significant thing to note as I believe a disservice was done by not turning this into a duology. There’s so much wasted potential – every single element could have been expanded on.
The plot was outrageously predictable, nothing more than an amalgamation of every trope seen in fantasy. Not one twist surprised me. There were a noticeable number of summarizations and time jumps throughout and the story would have benefitted from extending certain events. Many enormous accomplishments seemed to come very easily to our main characters, and it didn’t sit well with me.
The character motivations introduced were well done and I could emphasize with both Altan and Ahn. What I was missing was more about each of the side characters: Leiye, Tai Shun, Lingxi, and Tang Wei. We only get each of them in little snippets and I found myself constantly wanting more. All the characters could have been fleshed out further.
The romance between Altan and Ahn was okay – not super compelling but not unbelievable – except it seemed to develop quite quickly. At one point, their numerous lengthy nighttime talks are referenced, and I could only recall once when that happened. Also, Ahn had more chemistry with Leiye in my opinion so that made the romance even weirder to read.
The world, while interesting, was pretty standard. Countries are at war, magic is forbidden, a dark curse is destroying the land, etcetera, etcetera. The political machinations were dumped in our lap and had no depth to them, so I didn’t feel the urgency of the country being at war. The magic system was typical, minus the powers of the Life Stealer which I found really fascinating.
The pacing was very erratic. It felt like nothing was happening and too many things were happening at the same time, which I know makes no sense. Each chapter seemed like a summarization that retained its dialogue and there was a large section in the middle that was so dull I almost quit several times.
All of these negatives aside, I am open to checking out Tan’s future publications as I enjoyed the writing style and it made for an effortless read.
I’m not entirely sure if Jade Fire Gold is a novel or the beginning of a series. The epilogue makes it seem like there will be more books, but it appears to be a novel wherever else I look. I feel like this is a significant thing to note as I believe a disservice was done by not turning this into a duology. There’s so much wasted potential – every single element could have been expanded on.
The plot was outrageously predictable, nothing more than an amalgamation of every trope seen in fantasy. Not one twist surprised me. There were a noticeable number of summarizations and time jumps throughout and the story would have benefitted from extending certain events. Many enormous accomplishments seemed to come very easily to our main characters, and it didn’t sit well with me.
The character motivations introduced were well done and I could emphasize with both Altan and Ahn. What I was missing was more about each of the side characters: Leiye, Tai Shun, Lingxi, and Tang Wei. We only get each of them in little snippets and I found myself constantly wanting more. All the characters could have been fleshed out further.
The romance between Altan and Ahn was okay – not super compelling but not unbelievable – except it seemed to develop quite quickly. At one point, their numerous lengthy nighttime talks are referenced, and I could only recall once when that happened. Also, Ahn had more chemistry with Leiye in my opinion so that made the romance even weirder to read.
The world, while interesting, was pretty standard. Countries are at war, magic is forbidden, a dark curse is destroying the land, etcetera, etcetera. The political machinations were dumped in our lap and had no depth to them, so I didn’t feel the urgency of the country being at war. The magic system was typical, minus the powers of the Life Stealer which I found really fascinating.
The pacing was very erratic. It felt like nothing was happening and too many things were happening at the same time, which I know makes no sense. Each chapter seemed like a summarization that retained its dialogue and there was a large section in the middle that was so dull I almost quit several times.
All of these negatives aside, I am open to checking out Tan’s future publications as I enjoyed the writing style and it made for an effortless read.
October 6, 2021
4.5 stars
"You may not be able to change the past, but with each action, you can change the future."
Imagine if Aang from ATLA was a girl and had a slowburn romance with Zuko. That is this book.
Well, no, this book is so much more than the romance. The romance, being slowburn, takes a backseat to the plot for 50% of the book, which I appreciated. I found myself constantly wondering which character's I could trust, who was telling the truth, and that it always the most fun when reading a fantasy book.
June C.L. Tan has a BEAUTIFUL writing style. Her words flowed freely on the page and I devoured them easily. I found myself constantly highlighting quotes as I read because of how lyrical they were.
Her world building was exquisite and I had no trouble following along with any of the kingdom politics or magical lore. The Chinese mythology was seamlessly built into this high fantasy and it was fun picking up on stories I had read about as a kid. Also, this book has elemental magic. ELEMENTAL MAGIC. That is my favourite type of magic system to read about and it almost always signals that I will love the book.
Our characters start off on separate paths but slowly find their way to one another as they are bound by the red string of fate. They will either be each other's salvation or damnation, and it is up to them to decide how they will forge their path.
I will admit, I did prefer Ahn's POV more to Altan's, but that is just because it took a little too long for Altan to look past his revenge plot and realise that there is more to life. Ahn, on the other hand, was open to learning about the world and making her own decisions based on what was in front of her. She started off as a girl who had nothing and was terrified of her own magic, and turned into a woman determined to save the world no matter the cost. Her journey was amazing to follow and I was so proud.
This book DOES have a cliffhanger epilogue and the publishers only bought book 1 from the author... fingers crossed that they end up acquiring book 2 because I am terrified to learn what happens next. June C.L. Tan is an author I cannot wait to read more from.
I read an ARC from Harper Teen.
"You may not be able to change the past, but with each action, you can change the future."
Imagine if Aang from ATLA was a girl and had a slowburn romance with Zuko. That is this book.
Well, no, this book is so much more than the romance. The romance, being slowburn, takes a backseat to the plot for 50% of the book, which I appreciated. I found myself constantly wondering which character's I could trust, who was telling the truth, and that it always the most fun when reading a fantasy book.
June C.L. Tan has a BEAUTIFUL writing style. Her words flowed freely on the page and I devoured them easily. I found myself constantly highlighting quotes as I read because of how lyrical they were.
Her world building was exquisite and I had no trouble following along with any of the kingdom politics or magical lore. The Chinese mythology was seamlessly built into this high fantasy and it was fun picking up on stories I had read about as a kid. Also, this book has elemental magic. ELEMENTAL MAGIC. That is my favourite type of magic system to read about and it almost always signals that I will love the book.
Our characters start off on separate paths but slowly find their way to one another as they are bound by the red string of fate. They will either be each other's salvation or damnation, and it is up to them to decide how they will forge their path.
I will admit, I did prefer Ahn's POV more to Altan's, but that is just because it took a little too long for Altan to look past his revenge plot and realise that there is more to life. Ahn, on the other hand, was open to learning about the world and making her own decisions based on what was in front of her. She started off as a girl who had nothing and was terrified of her own magic, and turned into a woman determined to save the world no matter the cost. Her journey was amazing to follow and I was so proud.
This book DOES have a cliffhanger epilogue and the publishers only bought book 1 from the author... fingers crossed that they end up acquiring book 2 because I am terrified to learn what happens next. June C.L. Tan is an author I cannot wait to read more from.
I read an ARC from Harper Teen.
December 28, 2021
3.25☆ — jade fire gold was genuinely so much fun to read being a quick paced, rather easy to follow fantasy with wonderful prose in its lore and perspectives' dialogue that i was able to binge within a day. chapters in, i was immediately fond of our two mains ahn and altan with their backstories of what they had gone through traumatically and their strengths in persevering through a world that is against them. though this novel did have flaws with the varying speed the plot was moving at and with ahn and altan's dynamic being underdeveloped and definitely rushed in terms of romantic feelings, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the overall story, its adventures and the amusing banter between the mains. the plot twists and foundation of the world were pretty well done though i wish readers had more in depth view of how the magic system works. shoutout to tang wei, linxi, leiye, and tai shun those characters definitely brought more to the table contrasting ahn and altan and provided an entertaining found family dynamic i adored. didn't quite live up to the concept of zuko meets dark katara, but would still highly recommend this to anyone in need of a brisk straightforward fantasy read with elements of east asian lore and magic. june really played with my emotions in the last few chapters, despite the ending being wrapped up quite quickly, i'm very much looking forward in hopes of this book being picked up for a series, especially after one part of the ending wow, and seeing more of these characters develop and what adventures they'll have in store for them!
October 4, 2021
edit: lowering a star bc the more it sits in my brain, the more i don't like it
what if katara were the dark avatar and zuko was hunting her down?
this pitch instantly sold me! i expected it to be amazing since the concept of the story appealed to me, but it turned out to be a pretty rudimentary YA fantasy. it's not bad, i think i just set my expectations too high. the writing was unremarkable, but forgivable because this is a debut novel after all. i expected the story to be intriguing and the characters to be compelling. but everything seems simple and average to me. like yes, it has plot, characters, magic, a little romantic tension... it's a book! a really alright book, though initially it can be slow and predictable tbh— it's still an overall decent debut novel, just not as great as i thought would be.
what if katara were the dark avatar and zuko was hunting her down?
this pitch instantly sold me! i expected it to be amazing since the concept of the story appealed to me, but it turned out to be a pretty rudimentary YA fantasy. it's not bad, i think i just set my expectations too high. the writing was unremarkable, but forgivable because this is a debut novel after all. i expected the story to be intriguing and the characters to be compelling. but everything seems simple and average to me. like yes, it has plot, characters, magic, a little romantic tension... it's a book! a really alright book, though initially it can be slow and predictable tbh— it's still an overall decent debut novel, just not as great as i thought would be.
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