*I received a physical, digital, and audio copy from the authors, b2Weird Bookclub and Tor Books via NetGalley. All reviews are my own.
Welcome back to the Phoenix Horde, folks! I have been dying to get my hands on this sequel! I was very excited when I got the promo package from the authors Ken Bebelle and Julia Vee, which came with some awesome stickers, sword bookmarks, and, of course, the Blood Jade beauty herself. Ebony Gate had me throwing books out of the way to add to my shelves, so you know where Blood Jade is going, right? My favorite Asian Halle Berry assassin is back! This review will have some Ebony Gate spoilers, so you have been warned! I don't even know why you're in here if you haven't read Book 1 in the first place. Go now! Shoo!
"Emiko Soong, newly minted Sentinel of San Francisco, just can't catch a break. Just after she becomes the guardian for a sentient city, a murder strikes close to home. Called by the city and one of the most powerful clans to investigate, she traces the killer whose scent signature bears a haunting similarity to her mother’s talent.
The trail will lead her back to Tokyo where the thread she pulls threatens to unravel her whole world and bring dark family secrets to light.
Meanwhile, the General rises in the East and Emiko must fight the hidden enemies of his growing army who are amped up on Blood Jade, while keeping her promises to her brother Tatsuya as he prepares for his tourney.
Her duties as Sentinel and her loyalties collide when she must choose between hiding her deepest shame or stopping the General’s relentless march."
Blood Jade takes place a week after the events in Ebony Gate are over. Emiko defeated Uncle Jimmy and his subordinates, gained new friends/allies with the Tran family through Freddy and Fiona, fulfilled her request with the Shinigami, kept her soul intact, and finally accepted the city's call to become a Sentinal. It was a hell of a week for Emiko, and her job isn't done yet. Now, there are old Gods and shadow assassins after her, and she needs to travel back home to Tokyo to find the source of it all.
The way the book began, I thought we would get a story of Emiko fighting Old World Gods. It would make sense since she just had a run-in with a Death God. But as the story progressed, I didn't see any other ancient deities drag their way in Emiko's path. Instead, the story shifted toward multiple assassination attempts on the Soong and Tran family, and it was up to Emiko to find out who and why. From reading Ebony Gate, I learned that there is no reason Bebelle and Vee would randomly mention a big boss god for nothing. I wonder if that was set up for what to look out for in Book 3.
Once I got past that, I was in tune with how this story would turn out. Emiko gets hired by Fiona to find out who killed her beloved bodyguard. While doing so, Emiko also discovers that the Soong family is also on the kill list. The hunt takes her back to her hometown in Tokyo, where the real games begin. I loved traveling with Emiko to her familial grounds. We finally got to see what she left behind in the physical and emotional sense. In Book 1, we only know the surface level of Emiko's being. Now that we're back in Tokyo, we see what shaped Emiko into who she is. She didn't have a hoard gift for the longest time, so she worked twice as hard to still be something useful to the family. Watching the weave work of her family history gave Emiko's character a chance to open up and see the real her. We can all relate to this journey of self-discovery and growth, making Emiko's character even more compelling.
Overall, I rated this book 4-stars. I don't want to give too much away because this book was unbelievably good. You have to experience it. The action scenes are still immaculate. We're fighting shadow assassins now. I'm trying to see what those KitKats are about. New powers emerge in the Soong clan that can elevate or shun the family out of the hoard realm. Adam is still hanging in there while Tiger ex-boyfriend is still lingering in the fray. We meet the ever-calculating Daddy Soong, cocky idiot little brother Tatsuya, and finally, the Mutha!!! Baby this book is everything, and there is still more to uncover whenever Book 3 releases. Hand me a sword; I'm chopping down whoever to ensure I'm in the first round of Arcs! I can't wait for the next book, and I'm sure you can't either!
Blood Jade debuts July 16, 2024
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