This is an engaging fantasy set in Tang dynasty China. If you like dragons and following an underdog in their quest to be valued, then this story is for you. There were some elements that I could tell were inspired by other fantasy dragon stories, but the combination of elements is unique. I could hardly put this book down once I started it and can't wait for the next book in the series! Follow Jin, the first ever female dragonrider, as she tries to fit into her new environment and prove to herself and those around her that she is worthy of the honor she stole.

I loved this book - easy to read, I fell straight into the story (I had read the prequel [[Night of the Black Dragon]] previously, so was familiar with both the setting and the main character). The story of a young female Dragon-rider in the Tang China era when there was a female Empress in a male dominated world.

I love the main character, Jin - she was smart, resourceful, independent even when she has much to learn. Rayshan is also a great rounded character - young, learning, inquisitive while also drawing on a wealth of hereditary knowledge. There's a support cast of varied characters, from the Royal Empress, to the studious fellow student rider, to the evil machinations of the Empress's rival. A good mix and balance - the bad guy makes sense - there's a reason for him to be as he is (political interests and stereotypical viewing of other people - his gender and class views).

I shall look forward eagerly to the next in the series. *I received an Early reviewer copy of the book from Librarything.* ( )

Dragon Class is the first book in the Riders of Jade and Fire historical fantasy series. Jin is a thief trying to survive in Tang China. When her gang tries to steal a valuable treasure she becomes bonded to a newly hatched dragon. JIn is given the choice to become a slave in the mines or to train with her dragon to join the Dragon Class, the empire’s elite dragon force.

Her dragon is a rare and powerful Jade dragon, so she has to overcome not only the resistance to her existence as the first female dragon rider but also the fear of the Empress's court of an unpredictable Jade dragon.

Dragon Class takes place in the court of the Tang dynasty Empress Wu Zetian, one of the most fascinating historical figures in ancient China. In this alternate history fantasy world, the Chinese Empire has created a partnership with the Queen of the Dragons to acquire dragon eggs. Hatchling dragons have been traditionally bonded with young men from noble Chinese families. Jin, being a lowly female thief, breaks this tradition causing much consternation and conflict.

I enjoyed learning about the different kinds of dragons and their magic. The way the dragon riders work with their dragons reminded me a bit of Pokemon and their trainers, which was entertaining. I also very much enjoyed the court intrigue and politics in the well researched background of Tang Dynasty China. Jin had to find her way with the other dragon class students as well as the Empress’s court, many of whom were not happy about her existence. There were some hints of future romance and gathering danger which will be explored in future books in the series. Some violent content, but nothing unsuitable for Teen or YA readers. ( )

This was an interesting blend of history and fantasy. Some of the characters were based on real-life people such as Empress Wu, and it was different to see how the author worked real history into an obviously fictional story. It was nice to see that the author included some information about the story choices she made at the end of the book, which helped clear up some of the background information.

I liked Jin and her more unconventional upbringing. As I was reading through the book, I kept thinking that it reminded me a bit of Mulan except with dragons and without Jin having to hide that she was female. However, she was still a woman trying to take her place in a man's world, she ends up having to save the empress, and there is a bit of love. Maybe the parallels were intentional or maybe they weren't.

I look forward to seeing if the future installments of this series dives a little bit deeper into the dragons themselves, exploring several of the more interesting concepts that popped up throughout the course of the book such as blood bonding, the Firesong, and others. ( )

For LibraryThing Read for a Review.

In short if your looking for what you read in the summary : you'll probably be ok maybe even enjoy it, but if your looking for books that are dragon and people centric like books by Mercedes Lacky, Jane Yolen, Anne McCaffrey or Patricia C Wrede then I don't recommend this one. Keep reding if you do not mind spoilers or want to see if you found the same things annoying as I did.

: I was so disappointed in this book, since I finished it I have been trying to articulate the reasons I struggled to complete reading it. I won the book and chose to read it without checking the summary or any reviews. It's true I'm level 50+ so I've read alot of dragon themed books, so I find myself rating them against the previous books I've read and ones I enjoyed vs ones I haven't.

I didn't like the world building - it never felt immersive more like a YA book with general info, but the culture and political intrigue was very adult, the mystery aspects felt to drawn-out in the suspense.

After I finished the book I read the summary and the author facts- I realized that some of the things I was missing and some of the suspense was reveled in the summary - its also possible that the reason I felt the writing was disjoined was because looking back it felt more like a TV show than a novel.

If your looking for a dragon book They are only in the book about 15% - and Rayshan is hatched from the egg with adult like conversation abelites with dragon history learned from inside the shell and an ability to learn dragon stuff from the entering a mediation state called the dragon song but it is not really used but maybe 3 times.
You never see any dragon talk from other dragons/rider perspectives, only brief writing of the care and feeding.

It is 80% about the people, the political intrigue and the wrongness of having a woman where she has no right to be. A lot of history and current stuff about Jin and Prince Tai. And other people.. ( )