Ebony Gate: A Phoenix Hoard novel by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle
Emiko Soong belongs to one of the eight premier magical families of the world. But Emiko never needed any magic. Because she is the Blade of the Soong Clan. Or was. Until she’s drenched in blood in the middle of a market in China, surrounded by bodies and the scent of blood and human waste as a lethal perfume.
The Butcher of Beijing now lives a quiet life in San Francisco, importing antiques. But when a shinigami, a god of death itself, calls in a family blood debt, Emiko must recover the Ebony Gate that holds back the hungry ghosts of the Yomi underworld. Or forfeit her soul as the anchor.
What’s a retired assassin to do but save the City by the Bay from an army of the dead?
John Wick meets Warrior in Ebony Gate, a fast-paced entry into what promises to be a deliciously addictive series. Emiko is a hero you want to root for from page one, capable and strong with a compelling backstory. Ebony Gate centers Asian culture and diaspora experiences without apology, set against the backdrop of a rich and diverse San Francisco. Increasing conflict sparks across the book, drawing you in and keeping you reading as the plot twists and pulls toward the conclusion. As a series opener, it puts a satisfying ending to book one while leaving so many doors and windows open to expand the world and Emiko’s journey in additional books. One of my favorite pieces was the way magic worked in Ebony Gate. The human magic system is interesting and complex. It feels fresh and not like a rehash of something you’ve seen a thousand times. Though if the human magic is exciting, the way objects and places can have magic, too, is masterfully done. In so many ways, Ebony Gate is a love letter to San Francisco, a relatively young city full of opportunity that opens new futures for all her citizens. Anyone who knows the city well will enjoy the way Vee and Bebelle speak about her and use her as a character in her own right. All the stars!
Click here to purchase the hardcover or get it on Kindle.
If you’re heading to San Diego Comic-Con this week, you can meet the authors and get your book signed!
