Where to Start with Amber Chen
If you are diving into Amber Chen’s worlds, the best place to begin is with her chart-topping debut duology, Fall of the Dragon. This series established her signature "silkpunk" style—a subgenre of speculative fiction that blends historical Chinese aesthetics and mythology with retro-futuristic technology and engineering.
Here is the recommended reading path for Amber Chen's novels:
- Of Jade and Dragons (2024) – Start here. This is the first book in the Fall of the Dragon duology and provides the essential introduction to her Qing Dynasty-inspired world.
- The Blood Phoenix (2025) – Read this second. It concludes the Fall of the Dragon duology directly following the events of the first book.
What to Read Next
Once you have finished the main duology, you can explore her other works depending on your interests:
- An Auction of Souls (Scheduled for October 21, 2026) – This book launches a brand-new YA fantasy duology centering on a legendary Chinese auction house that guards the gateway to hell.
- The Cutting Edge (Webnovel) – If you want a complete change of pace, this contemporary romance webnovel follows celebrity hairstylists in showbiz and was adapted into a Singaporean TV miniseries.
- "Hugging the Buddha's Feet" (2023) – A standalone short story featured in the anthology Wilted Pages: An Anthology of Dark Academia, exploring a dark fantasy twist on historical imperial examinations in Confucian China.
Fall of the Dragon Duology (In-Depth)
The Fall of the Dragon duology is set in a vibrant, Qing-inspired empire where steam-powered mechanical constructs exist alongside ancient myths. The narrative follows Aihui Ying, an ambitious eighteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming an engineer. When her father is murdered, she disguises herself as a boy to infiltrate the male-only Engineers Guild, seeking both his killer and her own independence.
1. Of Jade and Dragons (2024)
As the first entry, this novel establishes Ying's journey into the Guild, her rivalry with fellow apprentices, and her complex alliance with a high-ranking royal prince. It features extensive details on engineering, clockwork mechanisms, and political intrigue.
2. The Blood Phoenix (2025)
The sequel picks up where the first book's cliffhanger left off, bringing Ying's quest for justice and her struggles against the empire's power structures to a definitive conclusion.
Upcoming Series: House of Dreams
Amber Chen's next major project is a young adult fantasy duology starting with An Auction of Souls. Set to release in late 2026, the story focuses on Meng Lingxi, a young woman who helps run her grandmother's legendary auction house, Meng Wu. When her grandmother goes missing, Lingxi discovers that the auction house is built upon the gateway to the underworld, forcing her to team up with the guardians of hell to save her family and protect the mortal realm.
Practical Reader Advice & Continuity
Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind before you start reading Amber Chen's work:
- No Reading Order Conflicts: Because the Fall of the Dragon books are a tightly plotted, chronological duology, you must read them in order. The Blood Phoenix cannot be read as a standalone.
- Standalones and Webnovels: The Cutting Edge and the short story "Hugging the Buddha's Feet" are completely separate from her fantasy books and can be read at any time.
- Themes to Expect: Chen regularly incorporates her own background in biochemistry and screenwriting into her stories. Expect highly cinematic scenes, fast pacing, and heroines who excel in STEM-adjacent disciplines like engineering.