Review - Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan

 

 

Title: Jade Fire Gold

Author: June C.L. Tan

Pages: 464

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release date: 12th October 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Girls of Paper and Fire meets The Tiger at Midnight in June CL Tan’s stunning debut, inspired by Chinese mythology, with rich magic and an epic slow-burn romance.

In an empire on the brink of war . . .

Ahn is no one, with no past and no family.

Altan is a lost heir, his future stolen away as a child.

When they meet, Altan sees in Ahn a path to reclaiming the throne. Ahn sees a way to finally unlock her past and understand her arcane magical abilities.

But they may have to pay a far deadlier price than either could have imagined.

Ferocious action, shadowy intrigue, and a captivating romance collide in June CL Tan’s debut, a stunning homage to the Xianxia novel with a tender, beating heart, perfect for fans of The Bone Witch and We Hunt the Flame.

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton*

Ahn has few memories of her past, and no family except for the kind elderly woman who took Ahn in and raised Ahn as if she were her own granddaughter.

Altan is the true heir to the throne, his life destroyed when his father, the Emperor, was murdered. Now, Altan seeks revenge and will do whatever it takes to regain the throne.

When Ahn and Altan cross paths, Ahn learns that she has a magic that could save her people or destroy everything.

Will Altan retake the throne?

Can Ahn learn to control her abilities and use them for good?

Going into this book, I have to admit that I wasn't expecting to love it or be blown away, as YA fantasies have been a bit samey for me recently. However, while it was the case that this didn't exceed my quite low expectations, there were elements that I did like.

Ahn and Altan were both likeable and relatable at times, but there were side characters that stood out to me more.

The setting was interesting, as was the lore/mythology and the concept of the expanding desert.

The plot was enjoyable overall, but also quite average as I wasn't gripped or overly invested in what happened, and nothing particularly shocked me. I was actually a little confused at the beginning, but that was partly my fault as I had misunderstood/presumed something that wasn't in the plot.

I felt that the book didn't need to be as long as it was, as it did drag a little.

The writing style was easy to follow.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but I wasn't expecting it to be a new favourite.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.