Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

Title: Of Jade and Dragons

Author: Amber Chen

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Fall of the Dragons # 1

Hardcover, 480 pages 

Publication: June 18, 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for a honest review.
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Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune.

Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own.

The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?

MY THOUGHTS

Of Jade and Dragons was promoted as a Mulan retelling with a dash of Dystopian Steampunk. However, the only similarity to Mulan was when our heroine, Ying disguises herself as her older brother to be admitted to the Engineering Guild Trials; one to fulfill her father's legacy and secondly to find his murderer.

The world building was a little hard to understand. Of course, there's a hierarchy within the Kingdoms as well as the Engineering Guild. But there were too many characters with similar names, that left me confused most of the time.

Readers were told that only heirs of the aristocratic were allowed admittance into the prestigious guild. But thanks to happenstance Ying crosses path with a young prince who was able to nominate anyone and bypass registrations, earning her a one-way ticket into the trials. Now Ying's job is to find out why the assassin wanted Ying father's journal, stay alive, and pass the trials. 

Sadly, I didn't find myself connecting with Ying or the love interest, Prince Yang. Ying was supposed to be a prodigy, daughter of the most famous engineer the guild has ever seen, and yet she caused problems wherever she went. Also, the Mulan similarity and the aspect I loved the most was the hidden identiy and disguise trope but unfortunately, that fell to the way side and must've been pretty terrible to be discovered early on in barely chapter 4. 

Ying's relationship with the prince felt very two-dimensional and unbelievable. The two barely knew each other and perhaps spent less than a handful of times together. It was such a short amount of time that it was impossible that they felt as they did. At least, in my opinion. There was no chemistry, no spark, nada. The only saving grace were Ying's friends. One of the most memorable scenes and the best, actually, was during the second trial of hearts. Ying abandoned logic and risked everything to save her friends' lives. 

I thought the overall writing was just okay but most importantly it was easy to read. Nothing fancy or complicated. The pacing of the book was quite slow, which made getting into the book hard. It wasn't until I was 60% into the book that I felt more invested in the story. But the action and payoff didn't truly come until we were near the end, the last three chapters of the book. To be honest, if this wasn't a review book that I asked to read, I probably would've DNF it earlier on. 

In the end, Of Jade and Dragons didn't live up to my expectations or synopsis. I feel like within the last couple of years, there's been a ton of Asian-inspired Fantasy and Of Jade and Dragons just doesn't stand out in all that. The market has become so saturated and I'm here still trying to find that one book that stands out from all the rest. The one that has the spark. With that said, would I recommend Of Jade and Dragons? Sadly, no. And I will not be continuing with this series.

Strange Unearthly Things by Kelly Creagh

Title: Strange Unearthly Things

Author: Kelly Creagh

Genre: YA, Gothic Romance, Paranormal

Series: N/A

Hardcover, 368 pages 

Publication: August 22, 2023 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
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Eighteen-year-old Jane Reye is a psychic artist. She draws what she sees, and what she sees are spirits and the supernatural. Growing up orphaned, she's now of legal age and can no longer return to the girls' school she's called home for most of her life. Lost and alone after the death of her lifelong friend, she receives an invitation to partake in a study at the English manor Fairfax Hall: an investigation of the property that requires her specific area of expertise. Upon arrival, Jane understands this will be no ordinary study when she meets Elias Thornfield, the elusive proprietor of the estate, a boy her age, roguishly handsome, who dons a mysterious eye patch. During the study it becomes clear that something is amiss--something having to do with Elias and the spiritual activity taking place around the manor. Turning to her art to unravel the mystery, Jane is shocked to find that her talents--and her growing affection for Elias--could be the key to saving him from a horrible fate.

 

MY THOUGHTS

Now that Fall has arrived and spooky season is upon us, Strange Unearthly Things is the perfect book to kick-off the season. This book had me at Gothic Romance. But also a Jane Eyre retelling?! Say less and sign me right up! In Strange Unearthly Things, Jane, who recently aged out of the system had no idea what to do next nor where to go. But thanks to her psychic specialty in drawing what others don’t see, spirits, Jane is offered a high paying assignment at Fairfax Hall Manor to rid of its unwanted guest. Upon her arrival she discovers there’s more going on at the manor and with its owner Elias Thornfield than was previouslyd disclosed. Danger and death lurks in the shadows and the only one that can save Elias and the others is Jane.

I am quite fond of the classics and I unfortunately haven’t found many retelling or re-imaginings living up to its inspirations. However, Cregah takes the beloved Jane Eyre down a whole new route incorporating the paranormal. And if you know me, I’m a sucker for all things paranormal. For readers 

familiar with the story of Jane Eyre will surely be smitten to see the author’s use of dialogue from the original story. I absolutely loved the Gothic setting. But sometimes it was jarring with Elias being all prim and proper, the setting and vernacular of the psychic guests were all 21st century. I wasn’t expecting that and it honestly took a bit to get use to since it clashed when they interacted with Elias. 

I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn’t a straight ghost story. Halfway through the book Jane made a horrifying discovery that changed everything. While many reviewers didn’t like this turn of event, I found it fascinating. I should warn readers now that the ending is somewhat a HEA, but it's probably not one they’d expect or want. Not like the original Jane Eyre. And for that I am glad. I like seeing author put their own spin on the story and make it something similar yet unique. My favorite character in the entire book was Giovanni, his smart and funny quips was endless amusement that kept the story from getting too bleak.

All in all, Strange Unearthly Things was enjoyable. Like I said, my favorite character was Giovanni and I sadly wasn’t as attached to Jane and Elias like I hoped. Oddly, I wanted to know more about Elias and Thea’s backstory and wouldn’t mind if the author wrote a prequel on the events leading up to Elias's predicament. Now that’s a story I’d love to read. I still recommend this book and think it’s the perfect book to get into the spooky season Gothic vibes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall

Title: These Fleeting Shadows

Author: Kate Alice Marshall

Genre: Paranormal YA

Series: N/A

Hardcover, 336 pages 

Publication: August 9, 2022 by Viking Books for Young Readers

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for honest review.
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Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since. So when her grandfather dies, she's shocked to learn that he has left everything—the house, the grounds, and the money—to her. The inheritance comes with one condition: she must stay on the grounds of Harrow for one full year, or she'll be left with nothing.

There is more at stake than money. For as long as she can remember, Harrow has haunted Helen's dreams—and now those dreams have become a waking nightmare. Helen knows that if she is going to survive the year, she needs to uncover the secrets of Harrow. Why is the house built like a labyrinth? What is digging the holes that appear in the woods each night?And why does the house itself seem to be making her sick?

With each twisted revelation, Helen questions what she knows about Harrow, her family, and even herself. She no longer wonders if she wants to leave…but if she can.

 MY THOUGHTS

It’s October, you know what that means…Spooky Season! These Fleeting Shadows fit the bill perfectly and checked off all the boxes in what I was looking for. Gothic Victorian manor, Check. Mysterious deaths, Check. Spirits and Spectorals? Check. Witches, Check. Morally gray characters....or just straight-up unhinged? Check.

These Fleeting Shadows was pitched as a cross between Haunting of Hill House and Knives Out, which was a pretty accurate description in my opinion. Our main protagonist, Helen, grew up with only her mother and knows nothing of her mother’s family or past; until they’re called home after the patriarch of the family passes away. Meeting your relatives for the first time may be awkward and strange but what’s more discerning was the fact that Helen’s grandfather left the estate and millions of dollars to Helen. But the caveat is that she must reside at Harrowstone for the duration of one-year. Helen, tired of moving, her mother struggling and finding out why she’s afflicted with blackouts and visions agrees to the term only to later discover that her family didn’t disclose everything about Harrowstone and that the binding agreement may lead to her prosperity or death.

I was captivated within the first few chapters. The setting was perfect, an ancestral home and the family that resides there; steeped in secrets and mystery. Readers follow along with Helen, the Harrow Witch and her cousins Cecilia and Desmond as they uncover Harrow and Leopold’s secrets. I loved Marshall’s description of Harrowstone, a labyrinth home built on sacred grounds, where each room and floor were purposely crafted for occultism or numerology reasons. Where right is left and up is down with ‘secret’ rooms and stairways hidden in plain sight. Add to the creep factor was that people weren’t allowed to go out past twilight and all rooms were locked because monsters roam the halls.

My only criticism for These Fleeting Shadows was the pacing was a bit slow. The middle section felt like it was dragging with not much happening. However, I thought the characters were three-dimensional, very developed and the writing well done. I also appreciated learning about the history of the family, ancestors through the journal style. It was both mysterious and suspenseful as Helen and Desmond decoded the entries piece by piece culminating in a terrifying revelation that I didn't see coming! I love when things aren’t predictable and I get genuinely surprised, they’re my favorite kind.

Overall, I enjoyed These Fleeting Shadows, it was a quick spooky read. This is my first KAM novel and it surely won’t be my last. I highly recommended These Fleeting Shadows for anyone looking for a quick, not too scary read.