Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan (review)

Sixteen-year-old Ahn has hidden her magic in order not to be captured by the Diyeh priesthood; she’s been raised by her ama, an adoptive parent who accepted her in spite of her power. Altan is the eighteen-year-old real heir to the Shi Empire, thought to be dead and out for revenge for the deaths of his family. Part of Altan’s plan is to find the Life Stealer, a legendary magic user who can consume life forces, and when Ahn is revealed to be that very Life Stealer, the two team up: if Ahn can get the White Jade Sword that only the Life Stealer is drawn to, she can restore balance to the world, if she doesn’t destroy it first. This novel, a self-described tribute to xianxia and wuxia, effectively builds a complex and intriguing world based on Chinese mythology. Unfortunately, Altan and Ahn’s dual narrative voices are indistinct and unchanging, and there’s a lot of contrivance in the secret heirs, sudden familial revelations, and star-crossed romance between two people that might have to kill one another. Those who love larger-than-life stakes and a fair amount of melodrama, however, may find that and more here.