And if you’ve read Jade Tiger, by Jenn Reese, you’d realize how appropriate that saying is. I’ve had the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of Jade Tiger, a book that lies off-center of my usual genre choices, but which I am very happy to have had the chance to read. Jade Tiger is an interesting mix of martial arts, romance, and supernatural fiction.
The Plot: Shan Westfall has spent the last fifteen years of her life seeking out the five mystical jade animals that once belonged to a secret society of female martial artists (which included her now-dead mother). Now she has a lead on one of the missing animals that might lead her to the rest. But she’s not the only one hunting them down. The man responsible for destroying the Jade Circle is still out there, and he will stop at nothing to achieve ultimate power for himself. Sounds fun, eh?
So, important things first. The romance. I don’t tend to go for romance books much in my genre selections, so when this element started to make itself obvious pretty early on, I wondered if it would distract from my enjoyment of the main story. Fortunately, while Reese introduces it in with the “love-at-first-sight” way, it fits with both the fast-paced nature of the story, plus she includes a logical reason for the attraction that mostly silenced my inner cynic. So it flowed along with the rest of events and provided a nice counter-balance to all the bone breaking and skull crackin’.
The fight scenes themselves, of which there are plenty, are direct and strong. I’d make a crack about “not pulling any punches” here, but then I’m afraid someone would show up at my doorstep with a bat and some rope. But it doesn’t. Reese has an obvious history in martial arts and uses that to make her fight scenes feel real, even when her fighters are doing things that might make an Olympic athlete choke (don’t forget the supernatural element here. Be ready to suspend disbelief.). Having been heavily involved in martial studies myself, I saw a lot of familiar moves and terms throughout and could imagine the sequences of moves pretty well. Some people might be less aware of how the details fit together, but for the most part the scenes rush you along and are clear enough that you shouldn’t have any big issues following them.
Themes are pretty overt here. There’s a huge emphasis on the need for balance in one’s life, as the Jade Circle once protected that ultimate balance with the five animals each representing a different aspect of life one could embody. There’s also a lot of discussion about gender roles, with several men being the main villains here. Fortunately, not all men are created evil in this story, nor are the women put across as perfect–everyone makes mistakes–but it’s definitely a perspective both sides come from often enough, which makes the conflict as much emotional and psychological as physical.
I did feel the motivation for one character’s nasty actions came across a bit weak, but aside from that, most of the characters, even the minor ones, have solid presences and backgrounds that make them feel alive, even if bruised and bleeding.
Jade Tiger is just shy of 250 pages, and you’ll plow through it within a night or two, depending on your reading speed. There’s no real room for twisty subplots, lots of fluffy description or lengthy internal debates. But that does fit the POV character’s nature, and you see through her eyes the whole way through, so it’s natural and understandable that with such a personal mission, Shan wouldn’t let herself be distracted by anything.
The writing is crisp and strong, and I like how Reese makes some character interactions feel like internal fights just as much as the actual slap-me-down scenes. Lots of old relationships pop up throughout the story on both sides, and it’s fun to see those complicate matters more than they already are. This is a great story with lots of bold energy driving it forward. I’m thankful for the chance to have dabbled outside my usual genre picks, and am looking forward to her next work.
Don’t miss the chance to check out Reese’s website as well. You can find an excerpt of Jade Tiger there, if you want a taste test. Plus, she’s written quite a bit of short fiction, and has a 12-part series, Tales of the Chinese Zodiac, available for free, which are incredibly imaginative and fun. Dig in, folks!
I see that smile.
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