Scan barcode
inles_inlet's review against another edition
Graphic: Misogyny
daydream_e's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Violence, Drug use, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: War, Suicide attempt, Chronic illness, Xenophobia, Racism, Colonisation, Sexism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Dementia, Death of parent, Suicide, and Gore
Minor: Homophobia
Racism, xenophobia, war, and colonization are within the context of a fictional country with obvious real world analogues, but not one-to-one with real life events. Mental illness and drug use/addiction are also within the context of a fictional drug. Violence and injury is often very explicit - think hard R rated action movie - but not dwelled on excessively. Grief is a major theme throughout the book for many characters BIG SPOILER:greebkit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Otherwise the actions, mistakes, observations, etc of the characters seem to naturally evolve and really worked for me. The ending actually won me over after I was ready to just finish the book and move on. Without giving anything away, the ending seemed both to develop naturally without being out of place or a cliffhanger. You could read this and never read the follow ups. However, it is also not a pre-packaged "happily ever after" ending so it fits the fantasy realism of the book very well, in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading the follow-up book, but I am not in a hurry to read it.
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment
There is a scene early on meant to depict the close, trusting relationship between two characters that is just borderline creepy. There is a continuing theme of misogyny against women in power positions that for me contributed to the realism of the setting, but could be taxing if you are sick of that reality. There is a brief mention of the discovery of a previously trusted character using his position to harass an underage girl including the discovery of a pornography stash that has underage teenage girls. I actually thought the reactions to this discovery in the book were well done and show how dismissing this like it was nothing really affected the family involved, the life of the granddaughter and why she was ready to run as far as possible from her family. Obviously, if it is triggering, you can skip it, but considering the context and that it is kept brief, I think it is there to contribute to the story not to be a jarring instance of shock value or sexualized in any way.emmacartlidge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Violence, War, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Misogyny and Sexual content
bibliomania_express's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Torture, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Ableism, Grief, Drug abuse, Dementia, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Colonisation, Pedophilia, Classism, Homophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
heather667's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Body horror, Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, War, Addiction, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Drug use, Sexism, Death of parent, Dementia, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia, Murder, and Body shaming
Minor: Homophobia
leanne_miron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My main appreciation for this series as a whole, which I was able to digest more—while actually reading— upon reread, is how relevant the framing of perspective is to the narrative. The characters are so compelling (not to be mistaken with likable, heroic, or defendable), yet if this were another series, we could have easily been led by any of the other ‘antagonistic’ perspectives and feel just as compelled/ conflicted/ like their actions may be justifiable. It’s entirely plausible that I could have devoured this same plot framed as the story of an antihero—and that would have been the story of one of my most despised characters (a hatred which I can admit is probably more than a little irrational, seeing as it probably could be recontextualized without changing much about the character’s qualities. In this story, though, I legitimately had to brace myself every time we switched to that perspective). Even the aggravating development of protagonists felt motivated and human in their consistencies and inconsistencies. It’s hard to entirely love* or hate any character (*WITH ONE EXCEPTION. One beloved character). There’s a recurring motif of characters regarding each other with begrudging admiration, and I think that summarizes how I felt towards characters (cough, ****, cough) even in the midst of being appalled at certain actions. Really fascinating point for me to be so consumed by in a book that’s more plot-driven than what I typically gravitate toward. Characters are what make books for me, but I don’t need likable or lovable or even agreeable characters; I need interesting characters, and this series certainly delivers.
I will now attempt* to resist the impulse to immediately dive into Jade War (*specifically not an oath).
(((Also, the fact that I not only felt compelled to try, but actually delivered on writing out my thoughts in some semblance of organization? Unprecedented.)))
Graphic: Violence, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Medical content, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual harassment, Dementia, and Pedophilia
ellenelly's review against another edition
- 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
at first i was a little scared to start a new fantasy series but i am so glad i got through the fear and started it! i was instantly hooked. it’s an asian inspired urban fantasy, so of course, i was going to enjoy the book.
Graphic: Misogyny, Death, War, Drug use, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Dementia and Death of parent
takarakei's review against another edition
- 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
- Warring mafia/mob families
- Political intrigue to the max
- Kung fu/martial arts inspired
- Complex lovable characters
- Multiple POV
I struggled in parts of this book because of the amount of political intrigue related to the clans/families was a lot and I'm not really interested in mafias in general. But those parts were also the typical sorts of things I figure you'd find in books about a mob family and being used as a kind of structure/base (I haven't read any others, so I personally don't have anything to compare it to besides The Sopranos). However the things that make this book unique, mainly the jade and THE CHARACTERS which are all so complex and interesting, were thoroughly enjoyable. I found myself towards the end really getting invested because I loved these characters so much.
Since this is the first book in a series it did feel like it was a lot of set up for the subsequent books, but I am interested to keep reading and see where things go from here.
Also I drew a lot of parallels between this book and The Poppy War, even though they are VERY different series. But interestingly the first books were published a year apart, so I wonder if Fonda Lee and R.F. Kuang have any similar influences.
3/5 🌶️ (there is explicit sex but it’s very sporadic)
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death, Drug use, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Addiction, and Dementia
Minor: Colonisation, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Animal death
jessiereads98's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Dementia, Addiction, Drug use, and Gore
Minor: Physical abuse, Ableism, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Gun violence, Alcohol, Grief, Racism, Sexism, War, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders