Scan barcode
lethalx_x's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
lilacfield's review against another edition
i honestly just lost motivation to read it 😭 and now it’s been so long since i picked it up i don’t really remember what happened last time i picked it up. i’ll come back to this book one day it’s pretty good
kasvi_mavani's review against another edition
3.0
Okay so this is definitely a set-up book. You know, a book that's sole purpose is to be a prologue to the actual jaw-dropping, 5-star, scrumdiddlyumptious book that follows it.
The Kaul family, one of the two major crime families in Kekon, the only place in the world that produces and distributes jade. The Kauls, known as Green Bones, possess jade and can harness heightened superhuman abilities. As tensions rise between another Green Bone family, the Kauls are thrown into war, determining the future of Kekon.
The book's short chapters were a blessing, especially in a fantasy novel. They made the reading experience less intimidating and more manageable. The pacing of the story is spot on, and the clever use of mini cliffhangers at the end of each chapter keeps you eager to read more. The writing style is approachable and straightforward, making it easy to delve into this new world and its unique magic system. The initial world-building is commendable, as it avoids the common pitfall of being too heavy-handed in its exposition.
However, I did face some issues that dampened my enjoyment. The most significant problem was my difficulty in connecting with the characters. I couldn't bring myself to care deeply about their fates, which left a certain emotional void in the story. I also noticed some gaps in the world-building. While the fundamentals were well-established, crucial elements, like the importance of money in a story about crime families, only surfaced towards the end. Considering the central role money plays in this world, this felt like a missed opportunity. The story also ventured outside the city, but it didn't explore or contrast cultural differences as effectively as I hoped.
Despite these drawbacks, I can see the potential for improvement in the next book. This first installment has laid a solid foundation for the series, introducing readers to the characters, the world, the plot, and the magic system. I'm genuinely looking forward to the next installment, hopeful that these issues will be addressed and the story will reach its full potential.
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐
The Kaul family, one of the two major crime families in Kekon, the only place in the world that produces and distributes jade. The Kauls, known as Green Bones, possess jade and can harness heightened superhuman abilities. As tensions rise between another Green Bone family, the Kauls are thrown into war, determining the future of Kekon.
The book's short chapters were a blessing, especially in a fantasy novel. They made the reading experience less intimidating and more manageable. The pacing of the story is spot on, and the clever use of mini cliffhangers at the end of each chapter keeps you eager to read more. The writing style is approachable and straightforward, making it easy to delve into this new world and its unique magic system. The initial world-building is commendable, as it avoids the common pitfall of being too heavy-handed in its exposition.
However, I did face some issues that dampened my enjoyment. The most significant problem was my difficulty in connecting with the characters. I couldn't bring myself to care deeply about their fates, which left a certain emotional void in the story. I also noticed some gaps in the world-building. While the fundamentals were well-established, crucial elements, like the importance of money in a story about crime families, only surfaced towards the end. Considering the central role money plays in this world, this felt like a missed opportunity. The story also ventured outside the city, but it didn't explore or contrast cultural differences as effectively as I hoped.
Despite these drawbacks, I can see the potential for improvement in the next book. This first installment has laid a solid foundation for the series, introducing readers to the characters, the world, the plot, and the magic system. I'm genuinely looking forward to the next installment, hopeful that these issues will be addressed and the story will reach its full potential.
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐
booksamongstfriends's review against another edition
4.0
Reading "Jade City" feels like playing a game of Jenga from start to finish. The initial process of unboxing and laying out every single piece mirrors the first 30% to 40% of the book. Fonda Lee immerses you in a richly detailed world with phenomenal world-building. As all the pieces fall into place, you become familiar with the characters and gain a deeper understanding of the unfolding events.
Once the game begins, you start to understand the characters' frustrations, their families' deep roots, and the intricate lineage. Lee’s exploration of Jade and SN1, and the themes of addiction and greed, especially through Lan and Bero’s characters, are masterfully done. The book delves into loyalty, duty, power, and honor, and how one can get lost in them. Shea’s decision to step away from her family highlights the risks of distancing oneself from deep-rooted familial ties, the dangers of loyalty, and how difficult it is to really escape family.
As the game progresses, risks are taken, pieces are removed, and inevitably, things begin to fall. Characters die, there is loss, and grief ensues—not just in death but in the realization that not everyone is cut out for this life. Lessons are learned, and choices are made, some expected and some surprising. After everything collapses, just like in Jenga, the pieces must be put back together for the story to continue, leading us into the next book.
I look forward to reading the sequel, as this book ends with the pieces set, ready for more moves and risks in the jade war. Which I know will be off the chain! It’s akin to a Jenga game where the tower is left precariously balanced on one piece. The characters are deeply enticing, each displaying a compelling duality—violent yet compassionate, driven yet withdrawn. They are so vividly human that you can't help but care about each one, even if you don’t always support their decisions. You understand why they make the choices they do because you understand the characters themselves.
Once the game begins, you start to understand the characters' frustrations, their families' deep roots, and the intricate lineage. Lee’s exploration of Jade and SN1, and the themes of addiction and greed, especially through Lan and Bero’s characters, are masterfully done. The book delves into loyalty, duty, power, and honor, and how one can get lost in them. Shea’s decision to step away from her family highlights the risks of distancing oneself from deep-rooted familial ties, the dangers of loyalty, and how difficult it is to really escape family.
As the game progresses, risks are taken, pieces are removed, and inevitably, things begin to fall. Characters die, there is loss, and grief ensues—not just in death but in the realization that not everyone is cut out for this life. Lessons are learned, and choices are made, some expected and some surprising. After everything collapses, just like in Jenga, the pieces must be put back together for the story to continue, leading us into the next book.
I look forward to reading the sequel, as this book ends with the pieces set, ready for more moves and risks in the jade war. Which I know will be off the chain! It’s akin to a Jenga game where the tower is left precariously balanced on one piece. The characters are deeply enticing, each displaying a compelling duality—violent yet compassionate, driven yet withdrawn. They are so vividly human that you can't help but care about each one, even if you don’t always support their decisions. You understand why they make the choices they do because you understand the characters themselves.
shannonleigh93's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
beckeal's review against another edition
4.0
Dang. Wrote a lengthy review and the app crashed when I hit save. This is political to the virtual exclusion of everything else. Character, action, and plot are limited to only what propels the political deroulement. Which isn’t enough for me.
.
That said, it’s not trying to be anything else, and I can recognize that it’s a really good version of what it is. Which is why I’m giving it 4 stars even though my personal interest in it makes it feel like more of a 3 star to me.
.
If you love nothin’ better than lengthy explanations of a world’s historical and social landscape, peppered with characters entirely focused on their own feelings about their personal political power, this is the book for you.
.
That said, it’s not trying to be anything else, and I can recognize that it’s a really good version of what it is. Which is why I’m giving it 4 stars even though my personal interest in it makes it feel like more of a 3 star to me.
.
If you love nothin’ better than lengthy explanations of a world’s historical and social landscape, peppered with characters entirely focused on their own feelings about their personal political power, this is the book for you.
meganahouse's review against another edition
it just wasn’t the right time for me. i wasn’t immediately sucked in and didn’t really feel like a mob fantasy; might try again later!
csevet's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hreeeed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I love this book so much, so much so that I finished reading it in two days. The plot and the pace were really good and consistent throughout the book. It made me not want to put it down and keep reading to find out what happens next. More than that though, I grew attached to the characters was on rollercoaster of emotions alongside them and their journey through the challenges they faced. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my reading experience and can’t wait to read the next instalment.