Reviews

Jade War by Fonda Lee

revriah's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

slb05's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.5

katem1002's review against another edition

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adventurous dark

4.5

desolation73's review

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4.0

Im still giving this four out of five because I think it matches the first book Jade City and raises the stakes but it might be a bit of a marmite book for fantasy readers because its like an Asian inspired godfather book and your either gonna find that innovative and different and it appeals to you because of that or you might find it a bit overated. Im divided shes a good writer but at times I lost interest and felt a bit jaded myself and at times it was invigorating. But I did read it after finishing my challenge so I was perhaps a bit slower than usual and during christmas and to be fair im invested enough to read Jade Legacy early next year and find out how it ends so it's not that bad a book.

creatingchristopher's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

lareads36's review against another edition

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2.75

Jade War by Fonda Lee
Part 2 in the Green Bone Saga

3⭐

This is a popular trilogy and it's technically considered fantasy because there is a magic element of Jade as well as all fictional countries, languages, people. And that is the end of the fantasy. Overall a mid tier book, I won't finish the series. While I like the running clans, I was not invested in the main characters at all.

For those who like low fantasy, magical realism, higher elements of fiction instead of fantasy, this is the series for you. For me it was lacking the level of escapism I look for in science fiction fantasy genres. Strong writing carried the book. 

In the technical sense, this is a fantasy book, but it is more so a post-world war Asian based fiction that takes a dive into mob. Families Aunt the production selling and usage of a magical stone called Jade. If you like criminal drama, family mobster at the time of the early 1900s technology, this is a great book. Think Yakuza clash with Peaky Blinders. 
 
I really like how well she's capturing the familial duties, the careful precipice at which this samurai-like culture meets modern Japan. 

She loves the word Frisson like SJM loves the word predatory. Just kidding, no one like a word as much as SJM loves predatory. 


tommo6226's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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

4.0

lorelrea's review against another edition

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4.0

Lee is a genius. I picked this up immediately after Jade City and FLEW through it. The only reason I didn’t rate this higher is because the middle dragged a bit for me. I’m not sure why, just the pacing felt off and it was like nothing was happening for the middle chunk of this book. BUT THEN THE ENDING?!?!

The last book in this series will end me, I’m sure of it. 

elyssac3's review

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5.0

Wow.

beja87's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

5.0