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Phoenix Hoard #1
Ebony Gate
Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle's Ebony Gate is a female John Wick story with dragon magic set in contemporary San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Emiko Soong belongs to one of the eight premier magical families of the world. But Emiko never needed any magic. Because she is the Blade of the Soong Clan. Or was. Until she’s drenched in blood in the middle of a market in China, surrounded by bodies and the scent of blood and human waste as a lethal perfume.
The Butcher of Beijing now lives a quiet life in San Francisco, importing antiques. But when a shinigami, a god of death itself, calls in a family blood debt, Emiko must recover the Ebony Gate that holds back the hungry ghosts of the Yomi underworld. Or forfeit her soul as the anchor.
What's a retired assassin to do but save the City by the Bay from an army of the dead?
Emiko Soong belongs to one of the eight premier magical families of the world. But Emiko never needed any magic. Because she is the Blade of the Soong Clan. Or was. Until she’s drenched in blood in the middle of a market in China, surrounded by bodies and the scent of blood and human waste as a lethal perfume.
The Butcher of Beijing now lives a quiet life in San Francisco, importing antiques. But when a shinigami, a god of death itself, calls in a family blood debt, Emiko must recover the Ebony Gate that holds back the hungry ghosts of the Yomi underworld. Or forfeit her soul as the anchor.
What's a retired assassin to do but save the City by the Bay from an army of the dead?
437 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2023
About the author
Julia Vee
21 books160 followersJulia is usually stuck in traffic in Silicon Valley. By day she is a trial lawyer. By night, she writes stories about heroes, monsters, and heroic monsters.
Also, eats a lot of dumplings.
Also, eats a lot of dumplings.
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July 27, 2023DNF - I was enjoying the beginning and then it just fizzled out for me. Love the cover of course.
You might like it so give it a try
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
You might like it so give it a try
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
June 5, 2023
This was a good story sandwiched between a slow start and drawn out ending.
Ebony Gate follows Emiko Soong, the retired Butcher of Beijing and daughter of one of the eight dragon clans, as she sets out to fulfill a blood debt called in by a shinigami.
The magic system in this book was fascinating, rich and layered but far from confusing. I really enjoyed the way different Asian cultures and folklore were incorporated to paint this whole hidden society in modern San Francisco.
The setup of Emiko’s past gripped me, but I would trim so much from the beginning. The exposition of her daily activities that went into unnecessary detail, the introduction to characters we never see again… it slowed it all down to an awkward pace I don’t really expect right out the gate.
Regarding pace, Emiko had a short deadline that kept the story contained to a couple days. I was expecting the action to move at breakneck speed but it just felt like time was slowing down at the MC’s convenience and by the end it seemed like minutes were being tacked on for the sake of the plot.
I liked Emiko. She was a strong character, with an intriguing past and interesting possibilities. However, the hints about her talent were getting a little too heavy handed for her to keep glossing over them. I didn’t like being that much ahead of the MC as a reader, especially in a first person narration.
I also liked Fiona and wasn’t a fan of the little jabs at her from Emiko. They felt unwarranted most of the time, and like trying to make her less likeable for the sake of making Kamon a romantic possibility.
All in all, this was very fun and I enjoyed it a lot more than I usually do urban fantasy. I’m excited to continue the series, meet Emiko’s mom(!!!) and uncover more of this vibrant world.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Ebony Gate follows Emiko Soong, the retired Butcher of Beijing and daughter of one of the eight dragon clans, as she sets out to fulfill a blood debt called in by a shinigami.
The magic system in this book was fascinating, rich and layered but far from confusing. I really enjoyed the way different Asian cultures and folklore were incorporated to paint this whole hidden society in modern San Francisco.
The setup of Emiko’s past gripped me, but I would trim so much from the beginning. The exposition of her daily activities that went into unnecessary detail, the introduction to characters we never see again… it slowed it all down to an awkward pace I don’t really expect right out the gate.
Regarding pace, Emiko had a short deadline that kept the story contained to a couple days. I was expecting the action to move at breakneck speed but it just felt like time was slowing down at the MC’s convenience and by the end it seemed like minutes were being tacked on for the sake of the plot.
I liked Emiko. She was a strong character, with an intriguing past and interesting possibilities. However, the hints about her talent were getting a little too heavy handed for her to keep glossing over them. I didn’t like being that much ahead of the MC as a reader, especially in a first person narration.
I also liked Fiona and wasn’t a fan of the little jabs at her from Emiko. They felt unwarranted most of the time, and like trying to make her less likeable for the sake of making Kamon a romantic possibility.
All in all, this was very fun and I enjoyed it a lot more than I usually do urban fantasy. I’m excited to continue the series, meet Emiko’s mom(!!!) and uncover more of this vibrant world.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 31, 2024
3.5 stars
Ebony Gate is an action-packed urban fantasy that weaves Chinese mythology into modern San Francisco. The world-building was fascinating and Emiko is an engaging main character. However, the pacing in this book is a mess, especially in the second half.
After fleeing from her role as the Blade of her prominent magical family, Emiko has found a new life in San Francisco. Burdened by actions in her past she is a bit of a lone wolf. Emiko is a snarky and engaging main character. She is knowledgeable about the world around her but has little personal experience with magic. I did find her motivations and behaviors a bit inconsistent. She repeatedly claims that she is trying to move beyond her reputation as the Butcher. And yet she is quick to lean into the notoriety the title brings her.
It was nice to see Emiko forced to trust other people after doing her best to keep people at a distance. There are quite a few entertaining side characters. However, the story doesn't always balance her relationship with different groups of people well. There are long periods where some characters are completely irrelevant and not even mentioned. Though the plot threads were mostly returned to, it left the story feeling a bit jumbled and disconnected at times.
I was really engaged with the frantic search for the Ebony Gate and I appreciated how it took the story across many different parts of the city. The audiobook helped me ignore many of the earlier pacing issues. However, the resolution of the plot is ridiculously drawn out. There are so many random obstacles that pop up right before Emiko is about to find the gate. They aren't even plot twists. In fact, the mystery of who stole the gate is barely even a mystery because Emiko suspects them immediately. The last quarter of the book is just filled with annoying delays that add little to the plot. I kept thinking the book was almost over and then I’d check Libby to see that there were HOURS left. This dragged-out conclusion killed my enjoyment of the book and left me desperate for it to finally wrap up. I blame a lot of the pacing issues on the decision to set a two-day time limit for the task. It creates tension but also feels unrealistic.
Ebony Gate is an excellent example of urban fantasy. I loved how the rich history of the clans intertwined with modern society. I am curious about the next books in the series but the flat conclusion of this opening installment was a disappointment.
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
Ebony Gate is an action-packed urban fantasy that weaves Chinese mythology into modern San Francisco. The world-building was fascinating and Emiko is an engaging main character. However, the pacing in this book is a mess, especially in the second half.
After fleeing from her role as the Blade of her prominent magical family, Emiko has found a new life in San Francisco. Burdened by actions in her past she is a bit of a lone wolf. Emiko is a snarky and engaging main character. She is knowledgeable about the world around her but has little personal experience with magic. I did find her motivations and behaviors a bit inconsistent. She repeatedly claims that she is trying to move beyond her reputation as the Butcher. And yet she is quick to lean into the notoriety the title brings her.
It was nice to see Emiko forced to trust other people after doing her best to keep people at a distance. There are quite a few entertaining side characters. However, the story doesn't always balance her relationship with different groups of people well. There are long periods where some characters are completely irrelevant and not even mentioned. Though the plot threads were mostly returned to, it left the story feeling a bit jumbled and disconnected at times.
I was really engaged with the frantic search for the Ebony Gate and I appreciated how it took the story across many different parts of the city. The audiobook helped me ignore many of the earlier pacing issues. However, the resolution of the plot is ridiculously drawn out. There are so many random obstacles that pop up right before Emiko is about to find the gate. They aren't even plot twists. In fact, the mystery of who stole the gate is barely even a mystery because Emiko suspects them immediately. The last quarter of the book is just filled with annoying delays that add little to the plot. I kept thinking the book was almost over and then I’d check Libby to see that there were HOURS left. This dragged-out conclusion killed my enjoyment of the book and left me desperate for it to finally wrap up. I blame a lot of the pacing issues on the decision to set a two-day time limit for the task. It creates tension but also feels unrealistic.
Ebony Gate is an excellent example of urban fantasy. I loved how the rich history of the clans intertwined with modern society. I am curious about the next books in the series but the flat conclusion of this opening installment was a disappointment.
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
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January 28, 2024Thank you to everyone that read, rated, and/or left reviews. I really appreciate that you gave Ebony Gate a chance.
I think every author has a book of their heart, and for me, this love letter to San Francisco with our magical diaspora character is it. Emiko is prickly and aloof, and sometimes she makes bad decisions. (Luckily she has her foo lio Bao, and makes some friends along the way to help rescue her immortal soul from the shinigami.)
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
I think every author has a book of their heart, and for me, this love letter to San Francisco with our magical diaspora character is it. Emiko is prickly and aloof, and sometimes she makes bad decisions. (Luckily she has her foo lio Bao, and makes some friends along the way to help rescue her immortal soul from the shinigami.)
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
July 11, 2023
Ahoy there me mateys! This was a hard book to wrap me noggin around. For one thing, I thought it was a standalone. It is, apparently, the first in the series with two other books currently listed. It felt like a book two. I felt like I was dumped into the world and was missing a ton of backstory and world building that I should already know. The buildup was meandering. There were lots of introduced side characters that were not explored at all. Also way too many descriptions of clothes, objects, etc. The book was better than okay but less than good.
The main character, Emiko, is given a quest with a tight deadline but the pacing and plot lead to very little suspense. Forty-eight hours seemed to take several weeks. Emiko is also in the dark about her own talents and, given the non-subtle hints everywhere, she should not be so obtuse. The cover-ups are blatant and the overall feeling when I finished was that the plot was a tease and rather dissatisfying. The ending was drawn out unnecessarily. And there is a love-triangle being set-up. It felt like this book could have used a lot of trimming.
That said, I did like Emiko and enjoyed her character overall. I also liked the death god. The magic was fun and I would like to see more of sentient San Francisco. And the foo lion was awesome and could have been used at lot more. I also loved the librarian and the library itself. I do want more answers about Emiko's talents and about her mother. I am not adverse to reading the next book. I just hope it has better editing. Arrrr!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review,
The main character, Emiko, is given a quest with a tight deadline but the pacing and plot lead to very little suspense. Forty-eight hours seemed to take several weeks. Emiko is also in the dark about her own talents and, given the non-subtle hints everywhere, she should not be so obtuse. The cover-ups are blatant and the overall feeling when I finished was that the plot was a tease and rather dissatisfying. The ending was drawn out unnecessarily. And there is a love-triangle being set-up. It felt like this book could have used a lot of trimming.
That said, I did like Emiko and enjoyed her character overall. I also liked the death god. The magic was fun and I would like to see more of sentient San Francisco. And the foo lion was awesome and could have been used at lot more. I also loved the librarian and the library itself. I do want more answers about Emiko's talents and about her mother. I am not adverse to reading the next book. I just hope it has better editing. Arrrr!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review,
March 3, 2023
I am so ready to embark on this new urban fantasy series! I especially love series where the cities they take place in feel like characters in their own right, and boy is this steeped in city magic as well as dragon magic. Throw in that the city in question is San Francisco, a city I love deeply, and I was already in for the ride.
Emiko's relationship with San Francisco, both as a city young in its magic vying for her to take up the mantle as its Sentinel, as well as a place for her to learn who she is without being at her clan's beck and call, is so central to the story and one of the things I absolutely love about this. This isn't just a book set in a city, this is a book that lives and breathes the city and its neighborhoods and its people, that reflects the old and new cultures, both of those tied to the clans and those outside.
The magic system itself is very interesting - eight (or nine, depending on your viewpoint) dragons were exiled from their Realm long ago, and their human descendants now live with various talents and magical artifacts in a tenuous balance. The system clearly has its roots in Chinese dragon mythology - meridians, qi, and auras are intrinsic pieces of being able to use talents, and different types of talents are recognized by the beasts of the cardinal directions - but sort of follows the flow of communities in diaspora. This leads to an interesting mix of cultures and threats - the shinigami and the titular Ebony Gate holding back Yomi are tied to Japanese myth rather than the dragons - but all of the mythical beings seem to be aware of each other and spheres of influence bleed into each other the same way that neighborhoods and families do.
The action scenes are great; it feels like the urban fantasy books I grew up loving, with a fresh, modern take. As Emiko tries to unravel who's behind this disturbance and why, more and more characters get involved, but it never feels crowded or overwhelming. Instead, each encounter has just the right amount of tension, even though the book takes place over what have to be the longest 48 hours ever. The side characters help with this, lending new voices and support to Emiko, as well as wonderful characters in their own right. I love the Tran twins so much, and I can't wait to see more of Emiko training Leanna.
My one quibble is that this very, very much feels like the setup of something bigger - Emiko's reason for being expelled from her training is clearly a coverup, and there are flashbacks to things we aren't meant to understand yet, all of which would be fine, but there are too many questions directly raised by the text and too few even hints at answers that it feels teasing in an unsatisfying way. I would've wanted to read more of Emiko's adventures even without the other handful of hooks about her past. That said, I'm definitely in for the next book.
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Emiko's relationship with San Francisco, both as a city young in its magic vying for her to take up the mantle as its Sentinel, as well as a place for her to learn who she is without being at her clan's beck and call, is so central to the story and one of the things I absolutely love about this. This isn't just a book set in a city, this is a book that lives and breathes the city and its neighborhoods and its people, that reflects the old and new cultures, both of those tied to the clans and those outside.
The magic system itself is very interesting - eight (or nine, depending on your viewpoint) dragons were exiled from their Realm long ago, and their human descendants now live with various talents and magical artifacts in a tenuous balance. The system clearly has its roots in Chinese dragon mythology - meridians, qi, and auras are intrinsic pieces of being able to use talents, and different types of talents are recognized by the beasts of the cardinal directions - but sort of follows the flow of communities in diaspora. This leads to an interesting mix of cultures and threats - the shinigami and the titular Ebony Gate holding back Yomi are tied to Japanese myth rather than the dragons - but all of the mythical beings seem to be aware of each other and spheres of influence bleed into each other the same way that neighborhoods and families do.
The action scenes are great; it feels like the urban fantasy books I grew up loving, with a fresh, modern take. As Emiko tries to unravel who's behind this disturbance and why, more and more characters get involved, but it never feels crowded or overwhelming. Instead, each encounter has just the right amount of tension, even though the book takes place over what have to be the longest 48 hours ever. The side characters help with this, lending new voices and support to Emiko, as well as wonderful characters in their own right. I love the Tran twins so much, and I can't wait to see more of Emiko training Leanna.
My one quibble is that this very, very much feels like the setup of something bigger - Emiko's reason for being expelled from her training is clearly a coverup, and there are flashbacks to things we aren't meant to understand yet, all of which would be fine, but there are too many questions directly raised by the text and too few even hints at answers that it feels teasing in an unsatisfying way. I would've wanted to read more of Emiko's adventures even without the other handful of hooks about her past. That said, I'm definitely in for the next book.
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this book! I am a huge fan of urban fantasy and am always looking for new books in the genre to try so I was excited to get started with this book. I thought that this was a very good start to a promising series and once I started reading, I did not want to stop. I found this book to be very exciting and I am so glad that I decided to give it a try.
Emiko is from a very powerful family but she is trying to live a quiet life importing antiques. She is known as the Butcher to many because she served as the Blade to the Soong clan. When a blood debt is called in, she is given the task of recovering the Ebony Gate and has her work cut out for her in this exciting tale. I couldn’t wait to see how she would accomplish everything in the time frame she had to work with. I thought that the world-building in this book was very well done and I was quite impressed by the colorful cast of characters, especially Emiko.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job with the story. I have had a lot of luck with this narrator in the past and thought that she did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. I loved the various voices that she used for the cast of characters and I thought that she was able to bring just enough excitement and emotion to her reading. I do believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was an incredibly unique and entertaining story featuring characters that were easy to cheer on. I cannot wait to see what adventures Emiko will face in the next installment.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Books.
I had a great time with this book! I am a huge fan of urban fantasy and am always looking for new books in the genre to try so I was excited to get started with this book. I thought that this was a very good start to a promising series and once I started reading, I did not want to stop. I found this book to be very exciting and I am so glad that I decided to give it a try.
Emiko is from a very powerful family but she is trying to live a quiet life importing antiques. She is known as the Butcher to many because she served as the Blade to the Soong clan. When a blood debt is called in, she is given the task of recovering the Ebony Gate and has her work cut out for her in this exciting tale. I couldn’t wait to see how she would accomplish everything in the time frame she had to work with. I thought that the world-building in this book was very well done and I was quite impressed by the colorful cast of characters, especially Emiko.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job with the story. I have had a lot of luck with this narrator in the past and thought that she did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. I loved the various voices that she used for the cast of characters and I thought that she was able to bring just enough excitement and emotion to her reading. I do believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was an incredibly unique and entertaining story featuring characters that were easy to cheer on. I cannot wait to see what adventures Emiko will face in the next installment.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Books.
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May 17, 2023
I wanted to enjoy this so much more than I did.
I enjoyed Emiko's character. She's like Kate Daniels in terms of sass and power and swordplay. I enjoyed the concept of the world created.
I just...did not enjoy the writing style. There was so much repetition and the use of filler words (nearly, almost) jumped out at me in a bad way, and I felt like a lot of the information was pounded into me instead of shown. Which is how a lot of first books in urban fantasies are. Plus the plot was messier than it needed to be, with lots of convenient moments where Emiko fell just short of the goal in order to draw out the plot, and the potential for a love triangle?
But this was an interesting first book in a new urban fantasy series, and I did enjoy it.
It was like Kate Daniels meets The City We Became with a dash of Jade City (in terms of powers, not plot or characterization or culture—and fewer extra-dimensional tentacles).
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review
I enjoyed Emiko's character. She's like Kate Daniels in terms of sass and power and swordplay. I enjoyed the concept of the world created.
I just...did not enjoy the writing style. There was so much repetition and the use of filler words (nearly, almost) jumped out at me in a bad way, and I felt like a lot of the information was pounded into me instead of shown. Which is how a lot of first books in urban fantasies are. Plus the plot was messier than it needed to be, with lots of convenient moments where Emiko fell just short of the goal in order to draw out the plot, and the potential for a love triangle?
But this was an interesting first book in a new urban fantasy series, and I did enjoy it.
It was like Kate Daniels meets The City We Became with a dash of Jade City (in terms of powers, not plot or characterization or culture—and fewer extra-dimensional tentacles).
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review
Shelved as 'arc-tbr'
April 20, 2023
Shelved as '2023'
June 17, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books
July 10, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up.
There were lots of cool ideas in this book. I saw another reviewer say that "This is a good story, sandwiched between a slow start and a drawn out ending," and I think they hit the nail on the head.
You follow Emiko, a former Blade of a Jia-ren clan and the Butcher of Beijing (we never find out how she earned this title, but nobody lets her forget that she is revered and hated for being the Butcher). She is now attempting to make a new start in San Francisco, but is foiled when a debt her mother owes drags her into doing the bidding of a death god. She has two days to help it do a seemingly impossible task.
This was a really interesting premise, and I was initially invested in Emiko's story and the magical world she inhabited. I liked some of the side characters and the multicultural aspect of San Francisco's Chinatown and little Tokyo.
For a story that focuses on events that supposedly span only two days, the pace was incredibly slow, and I often felt that there was no way all of these events were occurring within the implied time frame. There was a lot of needless detail in fight scenes that eventually went nowhere. Certain words and phrases were repeated often and didn't serve any purpose.
I do enjoy a story when the protagonist fails in order to learn and grow. This was sadly not one of them. Emiko blunders so many of her tasks (usually physical battles, which are meant to be her expertise), and only ever seems to succeed by fluke. It was frustrating, and I almost DNF'd this at the 80% mark.
In conclusion, I wish this had been put through another round or two of editing. The prose was meandering and the pacing off. Key plot points meant to be huge revelations were incredibly predictable and perhaps hinted at a bit too much. This disappointed me because there was so much in this book that could have potentially worked (cities imbuing their guardians with magic; magical, qi-based powers; a Foo lion charm animated to protect the wearer)!! But the execution felt clumsy and a chore to read. Sadly, this isn't one I'll recommend.
There were lots of cool ideas in this book. I saw another reviewer say that "This is a good story, sandwiched between a slow start and a drawn out ending," and I think they hit the nail on the head.
You follow Emiko, a former Blade of a Jia-ren clan and the Butcher of Beijing (we never find out how she earned this title, but nobody lets her forget that she is revered and hated for being the Butcher). She is now attempting to make a new start in San Francisco, but is foiled when a debt her mother owes drags her into doing the bidding of a death god. She has two days to help it do a seemingly impossible task.
This was a really interesting premise, and I was initially invested in Emiko's story and the magical world she inhabited. I liked some of the side characters and the multicultural aspect of San Francisco's Chinatown and little Tokyo.
For a story that focuses on events that supposedly span only two days, the pace was incredibly slow, and I often felt that there was no way all of these events were occurring within the implied time frame. There was a lot of needless detail in fight scenes that eventually went nowhere. Certain words and phrases were repeated often and didn't serve any purpose.
I do enjoy a story when the protagonist fails in order to learn and grow. This was sadly not one of them. Emiko blunders so many of her tasks (usually physical battles, which are meant to be her expertise), and only ever seems to succeed by fluke. It was frustrating, and I almost DNF'd this at the 80% mark.
In conclusion, I wish this had been put through another round or two of editing. The prose was meandering and the pacing off. Key plot points meant to be huge revelations were incredibly predictable and perhaps hinted at a bit too much. This disappointed me because there was so much in this book that could have potentially worked (cities imbuing their guardians with magic; magical, qi-based powers; a Foo lion charm animated to protect the wearer)!! But the execution felt clumsy and a chore to read. Sadly, this isn't one I'll recommend.
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 7, 2023I would like to thank Edelweiss and Tor for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
DNF: 30%
Absolutely no one is more disappointed than I am to DNF this ARC at 30%. I'm simply not connecting to the FMC, nor the writing style. I found the magical world to be very interesting, and the plot to retrieve the ebony gate seemed intriguing. But I am 100% not vibing with the writing and I am finding Emiko's characterization extremely frustrating. So, after reading over 100 pages or so, I believe I've put in enough to ascertain that this book is just not for me.
DNF: 30%
Absolutely no one is more disappointed than I am to DNF this ARC at 30%. I'm simply not connecting to the FMC, nor the writing style. I found the magical world to be very interesting, and the plot to retrieve the ebony gate seemed intriguing. But I am 100% not vibing with the writing and I am finding Emiko's characterization extremely frustrating. So, after reading over 100 pages or so, I believe I've put in enough to ascertain that this book is just not for me.
September 30, 2023
DNF
Slow start. I hear it gets better, but I guess I'll never know.
Slow start. I hear it gets better, but I guess I'll never know.
June 18, 2023
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review!
Emiko Soong retired from her life as the Blade of the Soong Clan, fleeing to San Francisco to trade antiques and kill the occasional monster. And then she's forced to fulfill a blood debt.
I really liked Ebony Gate and found it scratched a lot of the same itches that a good action movie or shonen series does, albeit more complex as Vee and Bebelle have given the story quite a bit of room to breathe. Emiko is a really excellent main character (I love a tired adult!) and I loved the magic and side characters, too. I thought Emiko's past was woven into the story well, and she had a strong narrative voice. Freddy and Fiona were very fun, and while I thought the villain was maybe a little less nuanced, I don't think the story overall is detracted from, and of the two John Wick movies I've seen, it's about what I had expected (I don't love putting a lot of stock on comps, but like, this one was such an easy sell for me).
I think the overall plot is interesting and sets the rest of the series up well, though the beginning takes a little bit to find its groove and the ending is a little bit drawn out. I think it's a bit less noticeable on audio as Natalie Naudus does an excellent job at bringing Emiko's voice to life and I'm quite used to slightly drawn out beginnings anyway. I do think it's a little difficult at times to wrap your head around the fact this is taking place over a couple of days, but I personally wasn't too bothered by this since I think this book is such a good time—the audiobook slotted into my normal "watch TV while cooking meals" routine quite well, as I found this hit a lot of the same beats.
Naudus' narration as always is excellent and every time I see her name on a production I am excited to hear her work.
In any case! I really enjoyed reading this and had a lot of fun doing so. I do feel primed to be a fan, but I think that Vee and Bebelle stuck the landing.
Emiko Soong retired from her life as the Blade of the Soong Clan, fleeing to San Francisco to trade antiques and kill the occasional monster. And then she's forced to fulfill a blood debt.
I really liked Ebony Gate and found it scratched a lot of the same itches that a good action movie or shonen series does, albeit more complex as Vee and Bebelle have given the story quite a bit of room to breathe. Emiko is a really excellent main character (I love a tired adult!) and I loved the magic and side characters, too. I thought Emiko's past was woven into the story well, and she had a strong narrative voice. Freddy and Fiona were very fun, and while I thought the villain was maybe a little less nuanced, I don't think the story overall is detracted from, and of the two John Wick movies I've seen, it's about what I had expected (I don't love putting a lot of stock on comps, but like, this one was such an easy sell for me).
I think the overall plot is interesting and sets the rest of the series up well, though the beginning takes a little bit to find its groove and the ending is a little bit drawn out. I think it's a bit less noticeable on audio as Natalie Naudus does an excellent job at bringing Emiko's voice to life and I'm quite used to slightly drawn out beginnings anyway. I do think it's a little difficult at times to wrap your head around the fact this is taking place over a couple of days, but I personally wasn't too bothered by this since I think this book is such a good time—the audiobook slotted into my normal "watch TV while cooking meals" routine quite well, as I found this hit a lot of the same beats.
Naudus' narration as always is excellent and every time I see her name on a production I am excited to hear her work.
In any case! I really enjoyed reading this and had a lot of fun doing so. I do feel primed to be a fan, but I think that Vee and Bebelle stuck the landing.
August 17, 2023
The publisher promotes 'Ebony Gate' as "a female John Wick story with dragon magic set in contemporary San Francisco’s Chinatown." which I should have taken as a warning. The John Wick movies look nice, they're packed with action scenes that escalate as the movie progresses and, after a fairly short time, they bore me because the violence is all there is to the plot.
'Ebony Gate' was more inventive and entertaining than the John Wick movies but the action was equally relentless and ultimately, equally uninteresting.
I enjoyed the combination of modern San Francisco with South East Asian magic systems.
I was fascinated by the idea of a diaspora of Lóng Jiārén, the descendants of the eight sons of the Dragon and heir to their powers, living amongst humans across the world in talent-based Clans, competing to increase their hoard of magical artefacts from their fractured home world. Discovering how Jiārén culture worked and how they used their Talents kept me curious and entertained.
The 'You have 48 hours to save San Franciso by finding and restoring the Ebony Gate that closes a portal to the underworld' was epic quest material.
Given all that, I'd expected to be writing a gushing review saying how much fun this was and how much I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Unfortunately, as the book got into its stride, I began to part company with it. I never got to the point where I wanted to set the book aside but I had a growing feeling that something was missing.
The storytelling felt mechanical. I was being moved from one display of magic to the next without gaining any momentum or engagement. I was reminded of that point I seem to reach in every Avengers movie where the CGI goes on for so long that I disengage from it emotionally even though I admire the quality of the production standards. I loved the magic and the fights but I couldn't get traction with the characters.
Emiko, our heroine, didn't work for me. She had a great traumatic backstory that was slowly and cleverly revealed. She had some witty lines and she gives great angst but I didn't believe in her. She's in her late twenties, she spent years as an enforcer for her Clan, using her blade to kill and maim without mercy and on a scale that eventually earned her the title of The Butcher of Beijing yet she often behaves in a way that suggests that in terms of judgement and emotional stability, she's stuck in late adolescence.
The ending of the book was also a little strange. I'd expected the climax to be the end of the battle that the whole book had been building up to. Instead, the final chapters were an attempt to re-establish some normalcy by having Emiko take her charismatic, already-save-my-life-once, knows-more-about-my-culture-than-a-human-should, not-my-boyfriend- honest, tall, fit, good looking billionaire to dinner with the only human couple she has any kind of relationship with. It seemed an odd decision unless it was meant to set up the next book. A pessimistic voice in my head was going, 'Please don't let there be a love triangle between Emiko, the not-my-boyfriend billionaire and the used-to-be-my-boyfriend Jiārén white tiger.'
So, 'Ebony Gate' kept me entertained but it also left me feeling slightly dissatisfied.
I'm going to wait to see a summary of the plot of the next book before I decide whether to continue with this trilogy.
'Ebony Gate' was more inventive and entertaining than the John Wick movies but the action was equally relentless and ultimately, equally uninteresting.
I enjoyed the combination of modern San Francisco with South East Asian magic systems.
I was fascinated by the idea of a diaspora of Lóng Jiārén, the descendants of the eight sons of the Dragon and heir to their powers, living amongst humans across the world in talent-based Clans, competing to increase their hoard of magical artefacts from their fractured home world. Discovering how Jiārén culture worked and how they used their Talents kept me curious and entertained.
The 'You have 48 hours to save San Franciso by finding and restoring the Ebony Gate that closes a portal to the underworld' was epic quest material.
Given all that, I'd expected to be writing a gushing review saying how much fun this was and how much I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Unfortunately, as the book got into its stride, I began to part company with it. I never got to the point where I wanted to set the book aside but I had a growing feeling that something was missing.
The storytelling felt mechanical. I was being moved from one display of magic to the next without gaining any momentum or engagement. I was reminded of that point I seem to reach in every Avengers movie where the CGI goes on for so long that I disengage from it emotionally even though I admire the quality of the production standards. I loved the magic and the fights but I couldn't get traction with the characters.
Emiko, our heroine, didn't work for me. She had a great traumatic backstory that was slowly and cleverly revealed. She had some witty lines and she gives great angst but I didn't believe in her. She's in her late twenties, she spent years as an enforcer for her Clan, using her blade to kill and maim without mercy and on a scale that eventually earned her the title of The Butcher of Beijing yet she often behaves in a way that suggests that in terms of judgement and emotional stability, she's stuck in late adolescence.
The ending of the book was also a little strange. I'd expected the climax to be the end of the battle that the whole book had been building up to. Instead, the final chapters were an attempt to re-establish some normalcy by having Emiko take her charismatic, already-save-my-life-once, knows-more-about-my-culture-than-a-human-should, not-my-boyfriend- honest, tall, fit, good looking billionaire to dinner with the only human couple she has any kind of relationship with. It seemed an odd decision unless it was meant to set up the next book. A pessimistic voice in my head was going, 'Please don't let there be a love triangle between Emiko, the not-my-boyfriend billionaire and the used-to-be-my-boyfriend Jiārén white tiger.'
So, 'Ebony Gate' kept me entertained but it also left me feeling slightly dissatisfied.
I'm going to wait to see a summary of the plot of the next book before I decide whether to continue with this trilogy.
July 6, 2023
I'm gonna start off this review by saying that Natalie Naudus is an awesome audiobook narrator, as always. Her ability to bring life to Asian-American FMCs (and the Asian-American experience in general) was one of the reasons why I requested this arc.
The novel was very creative. The setting, San Francisco, was a whole character in itself. I loved how it came alive through the FMC's actions and interactions with the numerous characters and places. I could feel myself actually being there along with the FMC.
The FMC, Emiko, was pretty badass. This is definitely NOT one of those novels where the MC says they're a badass, but there was nothing to show for it. Emiko was a knowledgeable expert when it came to her fighting skills and the novel was well done in that aspect. She also had enough flaws to make her a well-rounded character.
I also loved the overall atmosphere of the story. There was a mixture of East Asian folklore and mythology set in an American city, so it felt like an authentic lived experience. And as an Asian-American, I really appreciated it a lot. Representation seriously matters.
I think my issues with this novel is with its pacing and number of side characters. The pacing was so off throughout the novel. It started out really slow and couldn't seem to find its footing. The action scenes were fast-paced, but the scenes in between lagged. It was strange because the FMC's quest to find the Ebony Gate screamed "URGENT," but the pacing conveyed otherwise.
Also, there were a lot of side characters to keep track of. I did like Freddie and Fiona, and the shinigami was pretty cool. For being an ex, Kamon was actually a badass and a pretty decent guy. But the others fell by the wayside because there really wasn't much to distinguish them apart.
Hopefully, these issues are fixed in the next installment. I'd love to read more from Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, and NetGalley for this arc.
The novel was very creative. The setting, San Francisco, was a whole character in itself. I loved how it came alive through the FMC's actions and interactions with the numerous characters and places. I could feel myself actually being there along with the FMC.
The FMC, Emiko, was pretty badass. This is definitely NOT one of those novels where the MC says they're a badass, but there was nothing to show for it. Emiko was a knowledgeable expert when it came to her fighting skills and the novel was well done in that aspect. She also had enough flaws to make her a well-rounded character.
I also loved the overall atmosphere of the story. There was a mixture of East Asian folklore and mythology set in an American city, so it felt like an authentic lived experience. And as an Asian-American, I really appreciated it a lot. Representation seriously matters.
I think my issues with this novel is with its pacing and number of side characters. The pacing was so off throughout the novel. It started out really slow and couldn't seem to find its footing. The action scenes were fast-paced, but the scenes in between lagged. It was strange because the FMC's quest to find the Ebony Gate screamed "URGENT," but the pacing conveyed otherwise.
Also, there were a lot of side characters to keep track of. I did like Freddie and Fiona, and the shinigami was pretty cool. For being an ex, Kamon was actually a badass and a pretty decent guy. But the others fell by the wayside because there really wasn't much to distinguish them apart.
Hopefully, these issues are fixed in the next installment. I'd love to read more from Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, and NetGalley for this arc.
April 8, 2024
SFF Book Club April 2024 - Pure fun mix of John Wick, Dr. Strange, & Shang-chi! Go in for fun & not too serious and you'll have a blast!
July 7, 2023
Ebony Gate was kind of a disappointment writing wise. I thought the story was interesting and the magic system was really unique. I enjoyed that the plot took place over a few days, but the beginning and end of the book dragged on. Emiko was pretty badass and I liked her as a character quite a bit. The writing fell pretty flat, it felt a little juvenile and the dialogue became stilted and awkward at times. It was a fun read, but I wish the execution was a little tighter.
Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook ARC to review!
Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook ARC to review!
January 1, 2024
This is an urban fantasy tale set in contemporary San Francisco's Chinatown, blending ancient, bloodline magic and a female-driven narrative reminiscent of John Wick. It is exceptional and quite unlike anything I've read. I do highly recommend the audiobook.
Emiko, a member of a prominent magical family, was once known as the Blade of the Soong Clan and an assassin with unparalleled skill. After a traumatic event, she now leads a quiet life in San Francisco as an antique importer. However, when the god of death calls upon her to fulfill a family blood debt, she must retrieve the Ebony Gate, which holds back vengeful spirits from the underworld. Faced with the choice of saving the city from an army of the dead or risking her soul as the anchor, Emiko is drawn back into a world of danger and dark magic, forced to confront her past and use her lethal skills to protect her newfound home.
This was so freaking good. I love the inner voice of the protagonist; she's all snark. The characters and the world-building are what make this book wonderful.
Emiko, a member of a prominent magical family, was once known as the Blade of the Soong Clan and an assassin with unparalleled skill. After a traumatic event, she now leads a quiet life in San Francisco as an antique importer. However, when the god of death calls upon her to fulfill a family blood debt, she must retrieve the Ebony Gate, which holds back vengeful spirits from the underworld. Faced with the choice of saving the city from an army of the dead or risking her soul as the anchor, Emiko is drawn back into a world of danger and dark magic, forced to confront her past and use her lethal skills to protect her newfound home.
This was so freaking good. I love the inner voice of the protagonist; she's all snark. The characters and the world-building are what make this book wonderful.
November 23, 2023
3.5
Really engaging concept and writing. Loved the mc. But the pacing was really off and there were a lot of lose threads that bothered me.
Really engaging concept and writing. Loved the mc. But the pacing was really off and there were a lot of lose threads that bothered me.
October 29, 2023
Ebony Gate had incredible characters, a gripping plot, lots of mysteries, and dragon magic -- basically everything I could EVER want in a book. I listened to the audiobook and Natalie Naudus did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Ebony Gate was incredible from start to finish. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!
June 12, 2023
For decades San Francisco remained peaceful under the established truce but now the city is shifting and it’s hard to know which side, if any, to trust.
Tasked with upholding her familial blood debt, Emiko has two days to find the Ebony Gate and its anchor before her life is forfeited.
While fighting against the life she left behind as The Butcher of Beijing, Emiko has to learn to rely on new allies, old familial connections, and navigate Clan politics, something she is adamantly avoiding.
This story is really heavy on the world building, which makes sense considering it’s the first in the series. Readers will definitely have multiple chances to understand the clan history and magic system since it’s a bit complicated.
Overall, definitely worth the read and I’m excited for the second book!
ARC provided via NetGalley
Tasked with upholding her familial blood debt, Emiko has two days to find the Ebony Gate and its anchor before her life is forfeited.
While fighting against the life she left behind as The Butcher of Beijing, Emiko has to learn to rely on new allies, old familial connections, and navigate Clan politics, something she is adamantly avoiding.
This story is really heavy on the world building, which makes sense considering it’s the first in the series. Readers will definitely have multiple chances to understand the clan history and magic system since it’s a bit complicated.
Overall, definitely worth the read and I’m excited for the second book!
ARC provided via NetGalley
May 2, 2024
Thank you thank you thank you to Tor and Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle for giving me the greatest honor to read their book early in exchange for an honest review!
This book was an ENIGMA! I loved every moment of it. If you want a high Asian fantasy with complex characters and a unique magic system this is the series for you! The first installment of this series follows the POV of Emiko Soong. Emiko is a walking paradox, she is a no bullshit bad ass who is prickly but yet deeply emotional. Once the Blade of her clan, one of the eight most powerful clans, she fled her old live to start over in San Francisco. After a year of order and calmness, Emiko is called on to payback a favor to the Death God himself in place of her mother and brother. On this journey, she is made to confront old wounds and find out who she truly is and her mother has been hiding from her all along.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! So incredibly well written. Emiko had me in a chokehold and I love how prickly she is but yet she cares so much.
This book has:
-found family
-bad ass FMC
-unique magic system
-dragon lore
-unrequited love
-himbo kings aka Freddy
I highly recommend this book so much and I cannot wait for book two! This took me for a wild ride and was brilliant written. Asian fantasy is always my fave but this one has really captured my heart. The characters come alive on the page and you can truly feel them especially with Emiko’s description of everyone. I cannot wait to see where they go with this and to read the rest of Emiko’s journey.
This book was an ENIGMA! I loved every moment of it. If you want a high Asian fantasy with complex characters and a unique magic system this is the series for you! The first installment of this series follows the POV of Emiko Soong. Emiko is a walking paradox, she is a no bullshit bad ass who is prickly but yet deeply emotional. Once the Blade of her clan, one of the eight most powerful clans, she fled her old live to start over in San Francisco. After a year of order and calmness, Emiko is called on to payback a favor to the Death God himself in place of her mother and brother. On this journey, she is made to confront old wounds and find out who she truly is and her mother has been hiding from her all along.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! So incredibly well written. Emiko had me in a chokehold and I love how prickly she is but yet she cares so much.
This book has:
-found family
-bad ass FMC
-unique magic system
-dragon lore
-unrequited love
-himbo kings aka Freddy
I highly recommend this book so much and I cannot wait for book two! This took me for a wild ride and was brilliant written. Asian fantasy is always my fave but this one has really captured my heart. The characters come alive on the page and you can truly feel them especially with Emiko’s description of everyone. I cannot wait to see where they go with this and to read the rest of Emiko’s journey.
April 24, 2024
A fun read. Felt like the brothers sun but with magic.
September 11, 2023
Book Summary:
Emiko Soong was born into one of the eight magical families of the world. That said, her life has been anything but ordinary – even by their standards. She once walked the path of the Blade (of the Soong Clan). Now, she walks her own path in life.
Well, mostly. As it turns out, when a blood debt is called against her family, even Emiko can't ignore it. So now she must find the missing Ebony Gate anchor, or else ghosts will take over San Francisco. Hardly ideal.
My Review:
Okay, can somebody please explain to me why I didn't read Ebony Gate sooner? This book is AMAZING! No, seriously, if you're craving a solid urban fantasy series to dive into, this is the one. I promise.
Ebony Gate has been described as a female John Wick story with dragons. The former didn't catch/hold my attention, as I haven't seen the movies (don't kill me – I don't want to see what happens to the dog). However, the dragon's promise tempted me.
I am so glad I gave this series a try. It has a similar vibe to the Kate Daniels series (one of my all-time favorite series). Mostly because Emiko is also a badass and stubborn heroine. Admittedly, the comparison ends there because both series are incredibly unique in their own rights.
There's so much to love about this book: the world, the characters, the magical system, and the intrigue. Wait, did I say intrigue? You bet! Even in this first book of the series, you can tell that there's a lot Emiko is holding back. Likewise, I'm certain there's much about her family that she doesn't yet know. I can't wait to follow this series (Phoenix Hoard) and learn more.
Highlights:
Urban Fantasy
Dragons!
Kate Daniels vibes
Pitched as Female John Wick
Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Emiko Soong was born into one of the eight magical families of the world. That said, her life has been anything but ordinary – even by their standards. She once walked the path of the Blade (of the Soong Clan). Now, she walks her own path in life.
Well, mostly. As it turns out, when a blood debt is called against her family, even Emiko can't ignore it. So now she must find the missing Ebony Gate anchor, or else ghosts will take over San Francisco. Hardly ideal.
My Review:
Okay, can somebody please explain to me why I didn't read Ebony Gate sooner? This book is AMAZING! No, seriously, if you're craving a solid urban fantasy series to dive into, this is the one. I promise.
Ebony Gate has been described as a female John Wick story with dragons. The former didn't catch/hold my attention, as I haven't seen the movies (don't kill me – I don't want to see what happens to the dog). However, the dragon's promise tempted me.
I am so glad I gave this series a try. It has a similar vibe to the Kate Daniels series (one of my all-time favorite series). Mostly because Emiko is also a badass and stubborn heroine. Admittedly, the comparison ends there because both series are incredibly unique in their own rights.
There's so much to love about this book: the world, the characters, the magical system, and the intrigue. Wait, did I say intrigue? You bet! Even in this first book of the series, you can tell that there's a lot Emiko is holding back. Likewise, I'm certain there's much about her family that she doesn't yet know. I can't wait to follow this series (Phoenix Hoard) and learn more.
Highlights:
Urban Fantasy
Dragons!
Kate Daniels vibes
Pitched as Female John Wick
Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
September 15, 2023
If you're on the hunt for your next book with dynamic characters, full of action, sword swinging, family politics and an intriguing magic system, EBONY GATE is one for you.
The story follows Emiko Soong, the retired Butcher of Beijing, from one of the eight premier magical families of the world. While Emiko just wants to retire in peace, she finds herself being pulled back into family drama when an old blood debt is called in.
I enjoyed how the culture and love of San Francisco’s Chinatown was woven into the novel, it felt reminiscent of NK Jemisin’s ’The City We Became’. As I read I was continually impressed with how smoothly it was written for two separate authors coming together to write a novel that is not split up into different point of views. Although at times I did crave less on Emiko’s lack of talent and more understanding of the world as a whole, some key backstory felt missing but hopefully this is all to come in book two. But seeing how the whole book took place within 2 days, an awful lot happened and we met a bunch of great side characters, Fiona and Kamon in particular and was that a hint of romance to come?
As always I read along with the audiobook which was narrated by one of my favourites Natalie Naudus so I highly recommend audio lovers to check that out.
3.5⭐
... @musingsonliving
The story follows Emiko Soong, the retired Butcher of Beijing, from one of the eight premier magical families of the world. While Emiko just wants to retire in peace, she finds herself being pulled back into family drama when an old blood debt is called in.
I enjoyed how the culture and love of San Francisco’s Chinatown was woven into the novel, it felt reminiscent of NK Jemisin’s ’The City We Became’. As I read I was continually impressed with how smoothly it was written for two separate authors coming together to write a novel that is not split up into different point of views. Although at times I did crave less on Emiko’s lack of talent and more understanding of the world as a whole, some key backstory felt missing but hopefully this is all to come in book two. But seeing how the whole book took place within 2 days, an awful lot happened and we met a bunch of great side characters, Fiona and Kamon in particular and was that a hint of romance to come?
As always I read along with the audiobook which was narrated by one of my favourites Natalie Naudus so I highly recommend audio lovers to check that out.
3.5⭐
... @musingsonliving
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 18, 2023Thanks to NetGalley & Tor Books for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
DNF @ 5%
It’s possible I didn’t give Ebony Gate enough of a chance, but it’s been three days and every time I try to read, my eyes glaze over, and I immediately forget each sentence as I read it. Most of the reviews I’ve read speak to a slow start, which I could probably overcome, but they also promise a drawn-out ending, so I’m giving up on this one.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
DNF @ 5%
It’s possible I didn’t give Ebony Gate enough of a chance, but it’s been three days and every time I try to read, my eyes glaze over, and I immediately forget each sentence as I read it. Most of the reviews I’ve read speak to a slow start, which I could probably overcome, but they also promise a drawn-out ending, so I’m giving up on this one.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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July 12, 2023
2.5ish⭐️
The synopsis was promising unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The pacing and info dumping of the book was my main issue because it quickly became such a slog to get through. The overall plot was intriguing but the characters were very lackluster. Also, since there were so many characters, I couldn't really connect with them or even remember half of them and most of the time I found myself wondering when the book would pick up even 80% into it. The book definitely did a lot of setting up for future installments with the plot driven storyline but I prefer more character driven stories so that might just be a personal gripe of me. Anyway, thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc.
The synopsis was promising unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. The pacing and info dumping of the book was my main issue because it quickly became such a slog to get through. The overall plot was intriguing but the characters were very lackluster. Also, since there were so many characters, I couldn't really connect with them or even remember half of them and most of the time I found myself wondering when the book would pick up even 80% into it. The book definitely did a lot of setting up for future installments with the plot driven storyline but I prefer more character driven stories so that might just be a personal gripe of me. Anyway, thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc.
November 29, 2023
It's been a long time since I've read a proper urban fantasy--and for good reason, honestly; it was sooo saturated--but I was really excited about this one. I wasn't disappointed. Ebony Gate was a thrilling re-entry into the genre, built on interweaving East Asian mythologies and fresh take on the New-World-City-Gaining-Sentiance trope.
What really stuck out though was the complex, and gripping, main character, Emiko. With a heartbreaking and badass backstory dripping with enough detail that it could've supported a whole book, Emiko had a strong voice and a deep well of interiority from the first page. Throughout the story, as wild magic swirled around the rollercoaster of a plot, it was so easy and refreshing to fall back into her character and how she revolved around it all.
While the ending didn't give away much in the way of what the next book will entail--book 1 really feels like a standalone--I can't wait to return to her character and see where she goes next.
What really stuck out though was the complex, and gripping, main character, Emiko. With a heartbreaking and badass backstory dripping with enough detail that it could've supported a whole book, Emiko had a strong voice and a deep well of interiority from the first page. Throughout the story, as wild magic swirled around the rollercoaster of a plot, it was so easy and refreshing to fall back into her character and how she revolved around it all.
While the ending didn't give away much in the way of what the next book will entail--book 1 really feels like a standalone--I can't wait to return to her character and see where she goes next.
November 4, 2023
i was so excited for this, and i am so deeply disappointed in what it turned out to be. i probably should have kept a note of what was going on and what was bothering me whilst i was reading but i did not and so i can't really articulate all my issues with it.
i think my main issue is just that this story had so much potential and it fell flat at every corner. the characters bothered me, the romantic interest had no chemistry and was palpably irritating. the main character behaved childishly and strangely, although to my understanding she is a lot younger than i had assumed from the synopsis. i thought the worldbuilding was so fascinating, and in some other author's hands this book could have been such a hit for me.
i hate first person fantasy. it limits my enjoyment so severely. this is, obviously, a me issue. but i didn't understand a lot of the writing choices in other areas either. there are some very trope-y, cliché scenes which felt out of place. the writing is at times overly descriptive and at other times purposefully evasive, i can't tell if this was because the authors were trying to leave plot threads for later books in the series but, to me, it made the worldbuilding and plotting feel unpolished.
as all the other reviewers have said, the pacing of this is so weird and fucked up. it takes place over exactly forty-eight hours and is constantly reminding you of the time limits and the time in the day that it is and the amount of hours it takes emiko to do things, except it just doesn't work. as someone who has spent a lot of time in san francisco, there are drives that you simply can't make in twenty-five minutes, no matter how little traffic there is.
i also disliked how poorly the confrontations are written in this book. i think there are three or four occasions where emiko could have ended the conflict with any sense, but instead lets it slip through her fingers (to maintain the tension? and allow for two hundred more pages) which really does get frustrating after the first time to be honest.
i did like emiko as a concept, even if some of her decisions and thought processes were a bit asynchronous. it felt like she was being purposefully ignorant of certain comments hinting towards her backstory/some great reveal which wasn't actually in this novel but is extremely obvious from the get-go. there are multiple times where she is in conversations with people, wondering "what are they hinting at, what do they mean by that" etc. but she never vocalises any of this. again, i assume this is primarily to have a through thread to the next novel.
i didn't like how this ultimately feels like both a prequel, and a second book. it felt like a second book because we are dumped in with absolutely no context or explanation of terms that emiko uses, or lore and background of the clans, or any explanation of the power system, or the magical gates and objects, or the magical school, or even of some of the characters and their roles, which made me feel like i was missing something whilst i was reading this. maybe an appendix or a dramatis personae or both, would have really helped add some of that additional context that i felt like i had missed out on. it felt like a prequel because we didn't actually leave the novel with any extra context for the world or characters. it felt like emiko's origin story for her sentinelship. we never find out the actual details of the incident in beijing, or her background and training, or the full context for her mother's disappearance, or the reason behind her exit from magical school, or the actual nature of her magical powers. i don't think we would have needed to know everything, but it does feel a little like a don't know anything.
there was absolutely no true conclusion to the novel. it was an extended prologue to the next book. the only significant thing to come out of this 450 page book, in regards to plot movement and character development, is that emiko accepts her sentinelship. that's it. that's all.
i don't hate this, it's getting one star only because i was just so exciting for this, it had so much potential and so much fascinating background world building. i'm really disappointed. i think the authors might have lacked a clear plot structure or intention with this (and i definitely think it would have been better if it had been written in third person, because it would have allowed for a wider perspective, and more connection with the interesting but shallow side characters).
yeah, okay, rant over. i just wish this could have lived up to my expectations.
i think my main issue is just that this story had so much potential and it fell flat at every corner. the characters bothered me, the romantic interest had no chemistry and was palpably irritating. the main character behaved childishly and strangely, although to my understanding she is a lot younger than i had assumed from the synopsis. i thought the worldbuilding was so fascinating, and in some other author's hands this book could have been such a hit for me.
i hate first person fantasy. it limits my enjoyment so severely. this is, obviously, a me issue. but i didn't understand a lot of the writing choices in other areas either. there are some very trope-y, cliché scenes which felt out of place. the writing is at times overly descriptive and at other times purposefully evasive, i can't tell if this was because the authors were trying to leave plot threads for later books in the series but, to me, it made the worldbuilding and plotting feel unpolished.
as all the other reviewers have said, the pacing of this is so weird and fucked up. it takes place over exactly forty-eight hours and is constantly reminding you of the time limits and the time in the day that it is and the amount of hours it takes emiko to do things, except it just doesn't work. as someone who has spent a lot of time in san francisco, there are drives that you simply can't make in twenty-five minutes, no matter how little traffic there is.
i also disliked how poorly the confrontations are written in this book. i think there are three or four occasions where emiko could have ended the conflict with any sense, but instead lets it slip through her fingers (to maintain the tension? and allow for two hundred more pages) which really does get frustrating after the first time to be honest.
i did like emiko as a concept, even if some of her decisions and thought processes were a bit asynchronous. it felt like she was being purposefully ignorant of certain comments hinting towards her backstory/some great reveal which wasn't actually in this novel but is extremely obvious from the get-go. there are multiple times where she is in conversations with people, wondering "what are they hinting at, what do they mean by that" etc. but she never vocalises any of this. again, i assume this is primarily to have a through thread to the next novel.
i didn't like how this ultimately feels like both a prequel, and a second book. it felt like a second book because we are dumped in with absolutely no context or explanation of terms that emiko uses, or lore and background of the clans, or any explanation of the power system, or the magical gates and objects, or the magical school, or even of some of the characters and their roles, which made me feel like i was missing something whilst i was reading this. maybe an appendix or a dramatis personae or both, would have really helped add some of that additional context that i felt like i had missed out on. it felt like a prequel because we didn't actually leave the novel with any extra context for the world or characters. it felt like emiko's origin story for her sentinelship. we never find out the actual details of the incident in beijing, or her background and training, or the full context for her mother's disappearance, or the reason behind her exit from magical school, or the actual nature of her magical powers. i don't think we would have needed to know everything, but it does feel a little like a don't know anything.
there was absolutely no true conclusion to the novel. it was an extended prologue to the next book. the only significant thing to come out of this 450 page book, in regards to plot movement and character development, is that emiko accepts her sentinelship. that's it. that's all.
i don't hate this, it's getting one star only because i was just so exciting for this, it had so much potential and so much fascinating background world building. i'm really disappointed. i think the authors might have lacked a clear plot structure or intention with this (and i definitely think it would have been better if it had been written in third person, because it would have allowed for a wider perspective, and more connection with the interesting but shallow side characters).
yeah, okay, rant over. i just wish this could have lived up to my expectations.
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