Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match" where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It's our great pleasure to present Amber Chen!
Writes:
Hi everyone! I am a YA author that has just released my debut silkpunk fantasy duology, with Book 1 OF JADE AND DRAGONS and Book 2 THE BLOOD PHOENIX. Silkpunk is a term that was coined by the author Ken Liu for his Dandelion Dynasty series, to represent a “specific technology and literary aesthetic” that draws from the history and culture of East Asia and the Pacific islands. It is similar to steampunk in that it also encompasses the key themes of rebellion, anti-authoritarianism and a struggle for freedom, but it’s unique because the inspiration behind the technology is slightly different.
This duology follows the journey of Ying, a young, talented female engineer who aspires to follow in her father’s footsteps and join the prestigious Engineers Guild one day. However, all this is upended when her father is murdered, sending her on a quest to search for her father’s murderer (in Book 1) and then to deal with the aftermath of it all (in Book 2). In THE BLOOD PHOENIX, Ying is thrown back into the world of engineering when her home is devastated by a terrible attack from an infamous pirate crew, and she must work with her old friends and nemeses (including the boy that once broke her heart) in order to overcome this new threat that could tear apart everything she’s ever known.
About:
I am from sunny Singapore, although I have also spent several years basking in the gloominess of the UK. My favourite season is winter, even though I live in a city of perpetual summer, so you can be sure that I’ll be jet-setting to a place with snow at every possible opportunity. In my free time, I enjoy binging C/K-dramas and conjuring up new stories set in imaginary worlds. I am also a bubble tea addict and may have already exceeded my bubble tea quota for this lifetime.
What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match:
- Enjoys fantasies set in worlds that are very different from our own
- Loves strong female protagonists (with plenty of brains)
- Loves a whole lot of yearning
- Does not shy away from potentially sad endings
What to expect if we're compatible:
- Lots of adventure and plot twists that might make you scream or cry
- Pushing the limits of STEM
- Found family that you will absolutely love
OF JADE AND DRAGONS #2
The sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, a thrilling and epic silkpunk fantasy inspired by the legendary Qing dynasty. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Xiran Jay Zhao.
Two years after Ying leaves the Engineer’s Guild and the ghost of her father’s unjust death behind, life seems to regain a semblance of normalcy. But the winds of unrest continue to stir within the Nine Isles, and the aftermath of a horrific pirate attack by the mysterious Blood Phoenix fleet forces Ying back into the tense political world of the new High Commander, Ye-yang. And soon, Ying, Ye-yang and her former friends from the guild must work together to find a way to outsmart the cunning pirates who terrorise the straits—and the elusive mastermind who’s controlling them.
Meanwhile, Ying’s sister, Nian, now lives in the capital, awaiting the day she will finally marry the High Commander. While her relationship with Ye-yang remains distant, she finds company in her friendship with the fourteenth prince, Ye-kan, and discovers her unexpected affinity for governance and strategy. But the capital is more dangerous than she expects, and when a dark conspiracy arises, Nian and Ye-kan must unravel the mystery in time to prevent the High Command from collapsing from within.
New dangers arise at every moment, threatening to tear the Nine Isles apart. In order to sail through this storm, Ying and her loved ones must make difficult choices amidst terrible betrayals. With the world on the brink of destruction, will they find a way to defeat their enemies and survive? And will it be worth the cost?
Young Adult Fantasy [Penguin Young Readers Group, On Sale: June 17, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9780593622780 / eISBN: 9780593622797]
Amber Chen is a Singaporean Chinese author of SFF and contemporary fiction. She spends much of her free time living within Chinese fantasy novels and dramas, and also drinks one too many cups of bubble tea. One of her webnovels, The Cutting Edge, has been adapted for television. She is also the author of Of Jade and Dragons.
The Blood Phoenix, a thrilling silkpunk fantasy sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, is forthcoming from Penguin Teen in Summer 2025.
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