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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I put this book down two years, and I am not interested in picking it up and reading it.
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
*I received an egalley from Netgalley & Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know exactly why I love this book as much as I do. There were so many different aspects that felt new and original to me, and I guess that ultimately wins me over in the end.
The Walled City is a lawless city. Full of drunkards, gangs, and brothels. Orphans and murderers share the same name. Thieves are in abundance. And for Jin Ling, there's no way out, not without her sister with her.
For Jin, there are only three rules, displayed on the cover: Run Fast, Trust No One, Always Carry Your Knife. These rules have let Jin survive inside The Walled City for the last few years, while she looks for her sister. No such luck so far. Then she meets Dai, with his secrets and mysterious, but with a possible chance of finally finding her sister. That is, unless time runs out first.
The world building. The character development. It was all really amazing. Marvelously done plot. The intensity of everything that's happening, and all the secrets that get mixed up and unravelled as the story continues, is executed to perfection.
Even the three narratives are done well. I'm not a huge fan of multiple narratives, since they can be poorly executed, but these were done perfectly, with me never losing track of whose perspective I was currently reading.
Also, major points for Asian characters and story, and the photos of the original city at the end. All in all, a spectacular book that will keep you on your toes as you race toward the end.
I don't know exactly why I love this book as much as I do. There were so many different aspects that felt new and original to me, and I guess that ultimately wins me over in the end.
The Walled City is a lawless city. Full of drunkards, gangs, and brothels. Orphans and murderers share the same name. Thieves are in abundance. And for Jin Ling, there's no way out, not without her sister with her.
For Jin, there are only three rules, displayed on the cover: Run Fast, Trust No One, Always Carry Your Knife. These rules have let Jin survive inside The Walled City for the last few years, while she looks for her sister. No such luck so far. Then she meets Dai, with his secrets and mysterious, but with a possible chance of finally finding her sister. That is, unless time runs out first.
The world building. The character development. It was all really amazing. Marvelously done plot. The intensity of everything that's happening, and all the secrets that get mixed up and unravelled as the story continues, is executed to perfection.
Even the three narratives are done well. I'm not a huge fan of multiple narratives, since they can be poorly executed, but these were done perfectly, with me never losing track of whose perspective I was currently reading.
Also, major points for Asian characters and story, and the photos of the original city at the end. All in all, a spectacular book that will keep you on your toes as you race toward the end.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Actual rating: 4.5/5.0
This was a great read. It was intriguing.
But along the way I had a small difficulty to go on smoothly just the way I read other books. And before posting this review I read another review below, and I realized maybe it is the METAPHORS. I also noticed how this was written, it's not as smooth - maybe because of the figurative expressions popping out here and there. And in a dystopian novel, figurative languages were used in a different manner.
But then, I decided to finish it. Why? I decided to check the last few pages, and I saw the image of the actual walled city. And the eagerness to take a glimpse of the life inside of that city took over.
When I saw the images, I immediately thought of the children, and the innocents cramped in those stacked and connected blocks of infrastructures. I thought of how society could produce such results. How our actions, and decisions of the majority could taint a life producing something as THIS.
Overall, it is worth it. Perfectly portrays the reality we are in, minus the figurative speech.
This was a great read. It was intriguing.
But along the way I had a small difficulty to go on smoothly just the way I read other books. And before posting this review I read another review below, and I realized maybe it is the METAPHORS. I also noticed how this was written, it's not as smooth - maybe because of the figurative expressions popping out here and there. And in a dystopian novel, figurative languages were used in a different manner.
But then, I decided to finish it. Why? I decided to check the last few pages, and I saw the image of the actual walled city. And the eagerness to take a glimpse of the life inside of that city took over.
When I saw the images, I immediately thought of the children, and the innocents cramped in those stacked and connected blocks of infrastructures. I thought of how society could produce such results. How our actions, and decisions of the majority could taint a life producing something as THIS.
Overall, it is worth it. Perfectly portrays the reality we are in, minus the figurative speech.
Graded By: Mandy W.
Cover Story: Gets the Job Done
BFF Charm: Bertie Bott's Every Flavour
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: She Says, He Says, She Says in a Race Against Time
Bonus Factors: Kowloon Walled City, Mulan
Relationship Status: Partners in Crime
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Gets the Job Done
BFF Charm: Bertie Bott's Every Flavour
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: She Says, He Says, She Says in a Race Against Time
Bonus Factors: Kowloon Walled City, Mulan
Relationship Status: Partners in Crime
Read the full book report here.
Kind of slow in the beginning but it picks up pretty fast and the ending is just very satisfying. It is based off of a real Walled City in China, which I think is pretty cool. This was a pretty good standalone book. I do recommend others to read it and see how they like it for themselves.
I really loved this book ut was well written . I really liked it how it was based on real life facts. The only thing i HATED was Mei Yee i found her really annoying her personality was really annoying and so was the ambassador. All in all though it was a good book
This is one of the most entertaining books I've read in ages. The pacing is absolutely perfect, keeping you flipping pages without even meaning to.
Really just everything was on point in this book. I think my only complaint is that I got wayyyyy too emotionally attached to a cat in the middle of a dystopian novel.
Really just everything was on point in this book. I think my only complaint is that I got wayyyyy too emotionally attached to a cat in the middle of a dystopian novel.
Well, I don't agree with a lot of reviews out there for this book. It's not perfect, but there are very few books that can claim that label. So:
1) The imagery isn't annoying or overbearing. But it *is* all of the same theme - food that is meaningful in China, images that are meaningful in China - none of which seem random at the moment. Also, there are some references to "purple prose" that aren't well-supported. Purple Prose is one very fast way to make me drop a book like bad habit, and it just isn't here. So, I gotta be honest: I don't understand peoples' issue with it.
2) The pacing is not slow. It's not lightning fast, by any means, but let's look at the setting here: If the plot had moved any faster than it did, the book would have seemed exceptionally false.
The Walled City is tough, gritty, sometimes difficult to read. But I enjoyed it.
An even 4 stars.
1) The imagery isn't annoying or overbearing. But it *is* all of the same theme - food that is meaningful in China, images that are meaningful in China - none of which seem random at the moment. Also, there are some references to "purple prose" that aren't well-supported. Purple Prose is one very fast way to make me drop a book like bad habit, and it just isn't here. So, I gotta be honest: I don't understand peoples' issue with it.
2) The pacing is not slow. It's not lightning fast, by any means, but let's look at the setting here:
Spoiler
A slum city, where orphans are dealing with slum lords, where drug use and violence run rampant, and where young girls are held captive in brothels.The Walled City is tough, gritty, sometimes difficult to read. But I enjoyed it.
An even 4 stars.