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I can definitely see the comparisons saying this is a Mulan inspired retelling, and the female lead STEM setting was a fantastic driver for it. The combination of science and steampunk embedded in a Chinese setting was really unique. There's a lot of details about the Chinese royal family, and the lineage of the different princes and the High Commander was also well fleshed out.

Aihui Ying, who poses as her younger brother in order to infiltrate the Engineers Guild and earn a place as the first female engineer, is determined, sassy and follows in her father's footsteps with her engineering intelligence. I liked her as a main character, although some of the romance with one of the princes, Ye-Yang, felt a bit contrived and emotionless.

As a debut, the concept for Of Jade and Dragons feels strong, but much of the book falls into the trap of telling rather than showing. The world building and finer details feels rather simplified, including the competition based element in for the guild apprentices. I read an ARC of the book, and found that there were several inconsistencies, with things that are mentioned once and then skipped over. The ending also feels rather out of left field, with limited build up as well.

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.