A Scattering of Jades
#5443.58 adjusted 3.91 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Complete 2002 Reading commitment Low Alexander C. Irvine Last reviewed 2026-09-04
Overview
A Scattering of Jades is a standalone historical dark-fantasy novel set in an alternate 19th-century America. An orphaned girl survives the Great New York Fire of 1835 only to be raised as an intended sacrifice to an Aztec goddess; a runaway slave and folk musician who crosses her path becomes entangled in the plot to save her, against a backdrop that includes P.T. Barnum's American Museum. Alexander C. Irvine's 2002 debut novel blends real 19th-century American history and folklore, including period ballads and street life, with Mesoamerican myth transplanted into a distinctly American gothic setting, and was praised on release for the depth of its historical research.
Historical fantasy, Dark fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
A Scattering of Jades (2002) core · 3.58 (161 ratings)
Quick answers
- How many books are in A Scattering of Jades? A Scattering of Jades's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is A Scattering of Jades finished? Complete (2002).
- How much reading does A Scattering of Jades take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book).
- How is A Scattering of Jades ranked? #544 in this site's official ranking, based on 161 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #544?
Ranked #544 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.58 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (161 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.24 behind #543, The Raven and Eagle.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.45.
- A single standalone novel: ranked on that one book alone.
Why explore this universe?
Modestly rated · 1 book · Complete · 161 ratings · Ranks #544 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment historical fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.58 across 161 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Admit A Scattering of Jades (Alexander C. Irvine) accepted 2026-09-04
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
Last reviewed: 2026-09-04
Rule: Core Canon = the single novel A Scattering of Jades (2002); no series or Expanded material exists.