Jade Fire Gold

by June C. Tan, Natalie Naudus (Read by), Kevin Shen (Read by)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A young peasant with ancient magic and an exiled prince hellbent on revenge join forces in this sweeping fantasy debut rooted in Chinese mythology. With atmospheric world-building and non-stop action, Jade Fire Gold is perfect for fans of We Hunt the Flame and Girls of Paper and Fire.

Girls of Paper and Fire meets A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in June CL Tan’s stunning debut, where ferocious action, shadowy intrigue, rich magic, and a captivating slow-burn romance collide.

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 lethal magical abilities.

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

A stunning homage to the Xianxia novel with dangerous magic, fast-paced action, and a delightful  romance, Jade Fire Gold isn’t one to miss!  

“An addictive story that is impossible to put down."   —Swati Teerdhala, author of The Tiger at Midnight series

"Adventure at its finest. A beautifully rendered story that honors the great wuxia epics.” —Joan He, author of Descendant of the Crane and The Ones We're Meant to Find

“An epic adventure!” —Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of Spin the Dawn and So This Is Love

“Epic in every sense of the word, beautiful as it is sweeping." —Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798200744411
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 5.67(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

June C. Tan writes science fiction and fantasy inspired by her childhood in multicultural Singapore, where she was raised on a diet of classic books and wuxia movies, caffeine, and congee. When she is not writing, she can be found wandering the streets of New York City in search of everyday mysteries and miracles. Jade Fire Gold is her first novel, and you can find her at JuneCLTan.com.

Natalie Naudus is a Taiwanese American actor who started out as an opera singer, with a master of music from the University of North Texas. She has a passion for stories and characters, and her language training has allowed her to develop a skill for accents and convincing foreign language dialogue. She excels at unique character voices and passionate storytelling. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/20/2021

In Tan’s thrilling debut, an homage to Xianxia novels, 16-year-old orphan Ahn has nothing but a murky past and a secret: she is a magic-wielding Tiensai, a hunted people whose powers are said to be the cause of the land’s transition into desert. The rightful heir to the corrupt Shi empire, 18-year-old Altan was betrayed by the royal family and left for dead; now, he seeks the Life Stealer to further his agenda. When fate brings the two together, they discover that Ahn’s magic is the key to their desires: Ahn, to unravel her past, and Altan, to get revenge. As they journey to seek a legendary sword in the hopes of expelling the dark magic that has corrupted the land, the two earn each other’s trust, which slowly becomes something more. Effective worldbuilding and vivid imagery suck the reader in to Tan’s high-fantasy, Chinese folklore–inspired world written from two perspectives. A strong cast of supporting characters—including a closeted emperor, a mysterious priest, and a queer spy couple—rounds out a book rooted in themes of power and imperialism. A glossary details places, cultural terminologies, and more. Ages 13–up. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"An epic adventure! Ahn and Altan steal off the pages with their delicious banter, and into readers' hearts with their resilience and courage."

Elizabeth Lim

"A spectacularly crafted world. Jade Fire Gold breathes new air into old mythology, bringing an utterly fresh lens to a classic story. With gripping storytelling that depicts a perilous adventure, June CL Tan has brightened up YA fantasy." 

Chloe Gong

"Epic in every sense of the word, Jade Fire Gold is a fantasy as beautiful as it is sweeping. June CL Tan's world sings with magic on each page, populated with characters readers will cheer and cry for in equal measure." 

Roseanne A. Brown

"From sweeping deserts to thrashing seas, JADE FIRE GOLD is adventure at its finest. Yet in between its pages you’ll also find a tender spirit and beautifully rendered story that honors the great wuxia epics. Jin Yong would be proud."

Joan He

"A rich fantasy world and complex, intricately drawn characters makes JADE FIRE GOLD an addictive story that is impossible to put down. June CL Tan is a stunning new debut and one to watch." 

Swati Teerdhala

"Brutal and beautiful, June Tan's debut is a force. JADE FIRE GOLD was a gripping adventure I couldn't put down.” 

Hafsah Faizal

"An epic adventure! Ahn and Altan steal off the pages with their delicious banter, and into readers' hearts with their resilience and courage." %COMM_CONTRIB%Elizabeth Lim

★ 2021-08-16
Two teens discover their intertwined destinies as war returns to the land.

Sixteen-year-old Ahn lives with her grandmother in a small village that’s disappearing into the ever expanding desert. She can’t remember much of her past, before she was found alone in town as a child of 6 and adopted by her Ama; all she can do is focus on their survival by pilfering food—and keeping her secret hidden. Ahn is a Tiensai, those possessing strong spiritual powers who can use magic and are hunted mercilessly by cruel, fanatical Diyeh priests. As the Shi Empire goes into mourning for the deceased emperor and the threat of another war looms, Ahn discovers a dark side to her magic. She also meets enigmatic, 18-year-old Altan, the rightful heir, who is seeking the mythical Life Stealer in order to bring back peace and prosperity. The worldbuilding is rich and layered, mixing Chinese culture and mythology with martial arts and fantastical magic. The depiction of the impact of war, as shown by the Shi Empire’s colonialism, power imbalances with neighboring civilizations, and effect on families and communities, is nuanced and balanced with discussions of strong leadership, national pride, and service. The smoldering romance takes place against the backdrop of themes of duality and complementarity in nature, trauma and revenge, self-sacrifice, truth in history, and the fight for a better future.

A magic-filled debut that will leave readers eager for more from this author. (glossary, notes about the fantasy world) (Fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews