Of Jade and Dragons: 1 (Fall of the Dragon, 1) Paperback – 20 Jun. 2024

I got this book for my 11 year old daughter (she is quite an advanced reader and so sometimes reads YA books).She found it interesting and unique, and she really liked the characters. She also said that she likes the language used throughout the book.However, she said that it took a while to get stuck into it, which is why I am knocking off a star.Overall, quite a good YA book.

WOW! I loved this book!Fantasy is not my usual genre but I read a lot of YA so I was drawn to this book by its stunning cover. Amber Chen’s YA fiction debut novel is an epic adventure that captivated me from start to finish. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down.I loved the main character of Aihui Ying who sets out for revenge when her father is murdered. Her quest leads her to the island of Fei and with help from Ye-yang, one of the High Commander’s sons, she infiltrates the Engineers Guild disguised as her younger brother. Can she find her father’s murderer before her deception is discovered?Amber Chen’s writing is vividly descriptive and she builds an incredibly atmospheric world brick by brick (or word by word) in the reader’s imagination. I was completely immersed in the story and felt as if I was walking alongside Ying with every step she took.Compelling, immersive and atmospheric, Of Jade and Dragons is a breathtaking novel. I am delighted to see that it’s the first in the Fall of the Dragon series and although it has an entirely satisfying conclusion, it left me eager to return to this fictional land. A highly recommended read and a well-deserved five stars.

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen is a fantasy inspired by Chinese myth. A young engineer called Aihui Ying disturbs an assassin sent to kill her father. Unable to prevent his death she can at least discover who his killer was, and perhaps avenge his murder. To do this, Ying must enroll in the prestigious Engineers Guild.The structure of the book is familiar. The engineers guild has a rigorous entrance exam, involving schooling and trials. Only the best will make it. On the plus side, failure doesn’t result in certain death. Women aren’t allowed in the academy so Ying must disguise herself as a man (making the book read very like She Who Became The Sun) If that wasn’t hard enough, she also has the side task of working out who in the city sent the assassins to kill her father.Ying discovers that her father had been tentatively working on new explosive devices to help in the war effort. Ying’s investigations draw her inexorably into the politics of the kingdom, as does the inevitable love interest.I wasn’t quite clear when embarking on this book whether it was a young adult novel. I suspect it isn’t envisaged as such, but there is no reason why that audience couldn't enjoy Of Jade and Dragons. This is not an adult romantasy novel. There’s some romance but it’s all very chaste.I enjoyed reading Ying’s exploits, in particular the novel’s setting, although in terms of characterization and plot little new ground is broken. I often felt that Ying’s secrets were never probed too much and she seemed to be able to come and go wherever she liked to a hard-to-credit degree. The novel’s conclusion was different from how I expected, in a good way. While a second novel is certainly possible, Of Jade and Dragons is a complete story in its own right.

This wasn’t quite the book I was expecting it to be but there was an interesting element of deception as Ying infiltrates the exclusive Engineering Guild as her brother in an attempt to find answers and exact revenge. Her sponsor, Ye-yang, has power in the city and is entangled in the politics, isolated from his ambitious brothers out of necessity as they all vie for the most coveted position of heir to their father’s growing empire. I found the Guild very interesting and the creations and work a cool part of the story. I also love it when female character say F the patriarchy and prove themselves in a “male” space. However it did feel overall quite slow and I don’t think the friendships were written in a way that made them feel significant in the story, more like were told they’re friends than seeing it and considering how much time Ying spent with those boys/men that would have been a nice addition to the story. I also wanted more from Ye-yang and Ying’s relationship - or maybe just more from Ye-yang. He obviously didn’t deserve Ying and their part of the story took a strange turn and I felt pretty cheated out what was setting itself up to be a great slow burn romance.Overall I wasn’t invested in the characters or the plot, and it didn’t hit the mark for me, but the concept was interesting and as the pieces came together there were definitely surprises!I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

I quite enjoyed this book and so did my 13 year old who read it separately on holiday. I got straight into it, but it did take my son a little while to warm to the story. However, he really enjoyed it fairly quickly after that and couldn't put it down.The story revolves around the main character, Aihui Ying, who infiltrates the Engineer’s Guild on a quest for revenge after her father is murdered by a masked assassin. The characters are well-developed, each with their own intriguing backstories, and the you're carried along on Aihui's quest at a good pace.There are plot twists and turns to keep you hooked and you find yourself wanting to read on, which is always a sign of a good story. While it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you’re not a regular YA fantasy reader, it’s definitely worth picking up if you enjoy a good adventure. We're quite looking forward to the next book in the series in our house and will definitely keep an eye out for it.

Got this for my daughter (16). She found it really hard to get in to the story at the start, there were a lot of big words and she struggled to follow what was happening. And then something clicked in to place and she's absolutely loving it now.I'll be reading it after her, and will undoubtedly be getting book 2.