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lauraborkpower's review against another edition
3.0
Even though this book didn't blow me away, it's a pleasure to read this kind of YA novel--it's a realistic and serious story that sets themes of family, love, and human trafficking against a backdrop of a fictionalized version of the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong (which was demolished in the early '90s). Two of the three main characters are girls, and there's not a vampire fang, dragon wing, or magic potion in sight, which is so refreshing.
The characters are interesting and fairly well developed. The plot is quick moving and the action is violent. I'd have liked more descriptive details about the city itself at the very start of the story. There was some, but I wanted even more to set the scene. I wanted to get the grit, the smells, the damp of the city surrounding me from the get-go.
Graudin's author's note about what she took from Kowloon's history and what she fictionalized was interesting, though I'd preferred to have it at the beginning instead of the end of the book. And if I had to do it over, I'd have read a hard copy instead of listening to the audiobook. The book has three narrators--one for each of the three main first-person characters (a well chosen and well executed narrative choice)--and while each did his/her own parts well, they each occasionally had to do the dialogue for other characters, and this was frequently awkward.
The characters are interesting and fairly well developed. The plot is quick moving and the action is violent. I'd have liked more descriptive details about the city itself at the very start of the story. There was some, but I wanted even more to set the scene. I wanted to get the grit, the smells, the damp of the city surrounding me from the get-go.
Graudin's author's note about what she took from Kowloon's history and what she fictionalized was interesting, though I'd preferred to have it at the beginning instead of the end of the book. And if I had to do it over, I'd have read a hard copy instead of listening to the audiobook. The book has three narrators--one for each of the three main first-person characters (a well chosen and well executed narrative choice)--and while each did his/her own parts well, they each occasionally had to do the dialogue for other characters, and this was frequently awkward.
cleothegreat's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 60%. It was an interesting premise, I'll give it that. For the first 100 pages is was intriguing and well thought out until it just wasn't. I mean, it's not as if the book is absolute rubbish but it was slow and tedious at times. I kept on having to remind myself to pick it back up over and over again. Life is too short to spend reading on books you're not interested in.
The characters did not merit any warmth from me. It was hard to get invested in their stories and something about it just felt like the author was trying to be too...dark? Edgy? Is edgy even an appropriate term when we're dealing with child abuse, drugs and prostitution? Possibly not. Regardless, if you have the time to sit around and read an achingly slow book with cardboard characters, please feel free. This book just didn't make the cut in my case
The characters did not merit any warmth from me. It was hard to get invested in their stories and something about it just felt like the author was trying to be too...dark? Edgy? Is edgy even an appropriate term when we're dealing with child abuse, drugs and prostitution? Possibly not. Regardless, if you have the time to sit around and read an achingly slow book with cardboard characters, please feel free. This book just didn't make the cut in my case
saigealiya's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book was just absolutely positively fantastic. The writing was beautiful and all of the characters made me feel something. This is one of my new favorite books. I can't believe how amazing this was.
booktallie's review against another edition
3.0
The Walled City had a brilliant and extraordinary plot. The tagline, "There are three rules to the Walled City. Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife. Right now, my life depends completely on the first. Run, run, run", is what got my attention and made me want to read the book that much more.
Told from three different perspectives it follows a girl, Jin, disguising herself as a boy in order to find her lost sister, Mei Yee, the lost sister that was sold to a brother by her own father, and Jin, the boy who is trying to redeem himself. They are in a place known The Walled City, a filthy, dirty, and dangerous world. I really liked how different each character was even though I am not the biggest fan of multiple POVs.
I have to admit though… the book slightly bored me. There wasn't enough romance (more like the book hinted the romance but really didn’t show it) and character depth was quite bland, they explained their situations but I could not feel the feeling behind the stories. I know all three have it tough, but I felt that an emotional connection between the reader and the characters was lacking, and at time non-exist. I do love how Graudin created this Chinese inspired dystopian world after hearing about the real walled city. I'm all for diverse cultural characters and settings. I wish we got to know more people outside of these three, for example hearing Kuan’s story would have been interesting being a small gang leader. I also love the gender bender theme in The Walled City, with Jin disguising herself as a guy, but I wish Graudin played more with the idea, used it to better the book. It just seemed as a convenient placement in the book to allow Jin to search for her sister and keep herself out of a bad situation; I wish it had more of a purpose.
The action scenes though, especially the fight, were fantastic, especially Jin and her quick thinking and smart execution. I really did like Jin and wished she led the show. I would look forward to her chapters as opposed to Mei Yee… who I somehow didn't really like or care for. One thing to note is that Graudin painted a harsh world, but it was very realistic. I dislike how sometimes YA books gloss horrific events and situations in our world and I appreciated Graudin for not shying away from giving us as realistic of a picture as possible. I did end up liking The Walled City; I just wish I liked it more. My emotional disconnection with the characters was the main reason why I didn't enjoy it. So if you think you could connect with these characters, then I suggest you pick up The Walled City.
Told from three different perspectives it follows a girl, Jin, disguising herself as a boy in order to find her lost sister, Mei Yee, the lost sister that was sold to a brother by her own father, and Jin, the boy who is trying to redeem himself. They are in a place known The Walled City, a filthy, dirty, and dangerous world. I really liked how different each character was even though I am not the biggest fan of multiple POVs.
I have to admit though… the book slightly bored me. There wasn't enough romance (more like the book hinted the romance but really didn’t show it) and character depth was quite bland, they explained their situations but I could not feel the feeling behind the stories. I know all three have it tough, but I felt that an emotional connection between the reader and the characters was lacking, and at time non-exist. I do love how Graudin created this Chinese inspired dystopian world after hearing about the real walled city. I'm all for diverse cultural characters and settings. I wish we got to know more people outside of these three, for example hearing Kuan’s story would have been interesting being a small gang leader. I also love the gender bender theme in The Walled City, with Jin disguising herself as a guy, but I wish Graudin played more with the idea, used it to better the book. It just seemed as a convenient placement in the book to allow Jin to search for her sister and keep herself out of a bad situation; I wish it had more of a purpose.
The action scenes though, especially the fight, were fantastic, especially Jin and her quick thinking and smart execution. I really did like Jin and wished she led the show. I would look forward to her chapters as opposed to Mei Yee… who I somehow didn't really like or care for. One thing to note is that Graudin painted a harsh world, but it was very realistic. I dislike how sometimes YA books gloss horrific events and situations in our world and I appreciated Graudin for not shying away from giving us as realistic of a picture as possible. I did end up liking The Walled City; I just wish I liked it more. My emotional disconnection with the characters was the main reason why I didn't enjoy it. So if you think you could connect with these characters, then I suggest you pick up The Walled City.
iyaa's review against another edition
5.0
"I look at Chma and my two girls. I take in the fires of the sky. Fresh colors to mark a new year. A new day—day one of the rest of my life.
Our lives.
Let's get started."
4.5 stars
The walled city is real.
A real, unreal city.
This was such an amazing and well written book. It took me to a place so dark and surreal that I could not stop reading, hooked to what might happen next. My nails were a victim of this book and I was deeply impressed and moved by this. I loved all the characters, and who knew I'd be so invested in a cat?
The walled city takes readers to a world so dark and gruesome, with no peace and tranquility. It gives readers something new to look forward to, something captivating and tragic. This was truly an amazing work by [a:Ryan Graudin|5228256|Ryan Graudin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480517006p2/5228256.jpg].
Our lives.
Let's get started."
4.5 stars
The walled city is real.
A real, unreal city.
This was such an amazing and well written book. It took me to a place so dark and surreal that I could not stop reading, hooked to what might happen next. My nails were a victim of this book and I was deeply impressed and moved by this. I loved all the characters, and who knew I'd be so invested in a cat?
The walled city takes readers to a world so dark and gruesome, with no peace and tranquility. It gives readers something new to look forward to, something captivating and tragic. This was truly an amazing work by [a:Ryan Graudin|5228256|Ryan Graudin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1480517006p2/5228256.jpg].
votesforwomen's review against another edition
3.0
Man. Ryan Graudin's books are brutal. Tough and brutal. I just wish this one hadn't had quite so much negative content. 3.5 stars
writethruchaos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
2.0
shiggythefiggy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5