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eheidenreich's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
crownlullaby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
literatureaesthetic's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
feel like i grew grey hairs reading this, fonda lee did not let upp
elisesol's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
4.25
Yeah I’m fully invested in the Kauls now
aliosaurus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Well this was intense. Darker than the first. Quite slow at times (namely the political discussions) but overall very good. I feel like book 3 is going to be very depressing and crush me, but I'm still here for the ride!
timinbc's review against another edition
5.0
It's not entirely my favourite kind of story, but for what it is it gets the five.
It fits its intended slot perfectly, it's meticulously executed through both volumes, and it was easy to read from a flow point of view. The reader won't always be happy at what happens, but by now reader knew to expect that.
It's brilliantly a fantasy Godfather, but never feels as if it's too close to that. The level of fantasy is carefully managed, as are the violence, the death toll, the occasional happiness, and many more things.
The political framework is tedious at times, but so carefully worked out to explain everyone's motivations that we just have to allow it. I admit I skimmed occasionally.
There's a character for everyone to like or dislike, and they disagree in credible ways. Some are noble, some aren't.
And best of all, Lee slowly but inexorably builds the feeling that a Green Bone is perhaps not the thing to be if you are looking for a long happy life. But she also shows us that for them it's at least a framework to live in, and maybe some of the other frameworks aren't very safe or happy either.
This will win awards too, and deserve them.
OK, that's it. I'm off to the gym, because I figure volume 3 will be out in about 10 months and I want to be strong enough to lift it.
It fits its intended slot perfectly, it's meticulously executed through both volumes, and it was easy to read from a flow point of view. The reader won't always be happy at what happens, but by now reader knew to expect that.
It's brilliantly a fantasy Godfather, but never feels as if it's too close to that. The level of fantasy is carefully managed, as are the violence, the death toll, the occasional happiness, and many more things.
The political framework is tedious at times, but so carefully worked out to explain everyone's motivations that we just have to allow it. I admit I skimmed occasionally.
There's a character for everyone to like or dislike, and they disagree in credible ways. Some are noble, some aren't.
And best of all, Lee slowly but inexorably builds the feeling that a Green Bone is perhaps not the thing to be if you are looking for a long happy life. But she also shows us that for them it's at least a framework to live in, and maybe some of the other frameworks aren't very safe or happy either.
This will win awards too, and deserve them.
OK, that's it. I'm off to the gym, because I figure volume 3 will be out in about 10 months and I want to be strong enough to lift it.
sebsbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
TITLE Jade War
AUTHOR Fonda Lee
Genre Fantasy
---
Emotional Impact 8.5
Characters 9.25
Plot 8
Worldbuilding / Magic System 8
Dialogue / Prose 8.25
Official Rating 8.41
Goodreads Rating 4
Date Started 1/22/2024
Date Finished 1/25/2024
NOTES Improvement on the first, love that Fonda Lee expands the scope and we get to explore outside of Janloon but somehow the story cuts even deeper for our main characters
AUTHOR Fonda Lee
Genre Fantasy
---
Emotional Impact 8.5
Characters 9.25
Plot 8
Worldbuilding / Magic System 8
Dialogue / Prose 8.25
Official Rating 8.41
Goodreads Rating 4
Date Started 1/22/2024
Date Finished 1/25/2024
NOTES Improvement on the first, love that Fonda Lee expands the scope and we get to explore outside of Janloon but somehow the story cuts even deeper for our main characters
michellewalsh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
amenon07's review against another edition
4.0
Lee’s background as a corporate strategist definitely shows in Jade War - I found certain parts (especially from Shae’s POV) of the novel to be unnecessarily lengthy paragraphs about the politics of the world. While I understand that it bolsters the world-building especially within the context of the greater war, I think I was just slightly disappointed because I wanted more on the characters and less on Espenian-Ygutan relations (great, I sound like Hilo now). Staggering these portions of the book between the action-packed scenes was also a jarring experience for my brain as I’d come to an action scene and my brain would be on high alert, but then I would have to slow down considerably to understand all of Shae’s monologues and musings, or follow along with a dozen different diplomatic meetings.
However, that’s a minor issue (and more of a me problem) and the rest of this book was fantastic. Shae and Anden’s character development was especially satisfying to read, and the plot was complex and so well done. Threw all the plans I had for the weekend out the window and finished this book in under 24 hours.
However, that’s a minor issue (and more of a me problem) and the rest of this book was fantastic. Shae and Anden’s character development was especially satisfying to read, and the plot was complex and so well done. Threw all the plans I had for the weekend out the window and finished this book in under 24 hours.