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girlreading's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A poignant story of passion, love, the nuances within individual diaspora experiences and what it means to use your voice and actions to take a stand for what you believe in.
Whilst the romance itself didn’t do a lot for me, I though K.X. Song did a brilliant job with Phoenix and Kai’s characters and their individual beliefs and battles (both internal and external). I thought the sociological and political explorations throughout this book was really interesting, so much so that I kind of wish this hadn’t been a romance, as it fell somewhat flat in comparison and at times took away from the poignancy of Kai and Phoenix’s relationship to the protests, movements and their relationship to Hong Kong itself. That being said, this was an overall compelling read and one I’d happily recommend.
Whilst the romance itself didn’t do a lot for me, I though K.X. Song did a brilliant job with Phoenix and Kai’s characters and their individual beliefs and battles (both internal and external). I thought the sociological and political explorations throughout this book was really interesting, so much so that I kind of wish this hadn’t been a romance, as it fell somewhat flat in comparison and at times took away from the poignancy of Kai and Phoenix’s relationship to the protests, movements and their relationship to Hong Kong itself. That being said, this was an overall compelling read and one I’d happily recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
warlocksarecool21's review
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An Echo in the City is a reflective story about two teens caught up in the 2019 Hong Kong protests. My favorite part of this book was the writing style. It was lyrical and pensive and allowed for such hauntingly beautiful descriptions of the character’s inner conflicts and the events of the protests. This prose definitely stood out in Kai’s chapters, and really fleshed out his character and motivations. I really enjoyed his development, how he felt trapped in the beginning to obey his father and become a police officer, but struggled with his own humanity about the protests. I thought Phoenix’s character lacked depth compared to Kai, but she had good moments. I was ambivalent about Kai and Phoenix’s relationship, I just felt that it was a little superficial, but I did enjoy the fleeting aspect of it, how they were two strangers on opposing paths that happened upon each other at a point in time. I also appreciated the perspective of the transience of protests and political movements and the complexity that surrounds them. While I wish there was more development for Phoenix and some of the other side characters, I appreciated the nuance of this story and think it is an impactful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs
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