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skatie8's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and War
bobbyeight's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Sexual content, Gun violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Sexual violence
lejones1785's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
I had a tough time with this book, and I was really looking forward to reading it. It seemed like a lot of space in the story is just filler. Jade this, jade that, jade is worth ruining a city for. The characters are so smart, the characters have inner turmoil, on and on without much real substance. The main scenes in the book are over in a matter of moments, so there wasn't really any payoff for the filler material. It felt like this book was just for world and character building, so maybe the second book has more story?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Violence, War, Addiction, Blood, Murder, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, and Death
dreadspawn's review
adventurous
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Gore, War, Gun violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Grief, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Body horror
lemonsforyu's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, and Murder
lissi_k's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book in a long time that managed to make me feel the way I felt reading fantasy as a child. It has this feel of absoulte immersion into another world to it, while still satisfying the storytelling quality I look for now as an adult.
The worldbuilding is insane - at first it seems very straightforward, but throughout the story the author effortlessly weaves in more and more details that make you realise how deep it actually goes, and how every part of it is inextricably intertwined with the characters and the story at large.
All the characters are three-dimensional, morally grey and very human, and it is so interesting to follow their thoughts and actions. Every action always has far-reaching consequences, nothing exists in a vacuum. Bonus points are the fight scenes, which are remarkably realistic both regarding what happens, and how the characters feel during.
I have read several reviews that it is not well written, which may be because the language is not very flowery. However, it is very evocative and emotional. I found the writing to be very elegant and pretty. (I read it in the German translation though, so maybe I just had an extremely talented translator.)
The worldbuilding is insane - at first it seems very straightforward, but throughout the story the author effortlessly weaves in more and more details that make you realise how deep it actually goes, and how every part of it is inextricably intertwined with the characters and the story at large.
All the characters are three-dimensional, morally grey and very human, and it is so interesting to follow their thoughts and actions. Every action always has far-reaching consequences, nothing exists in a vacuum. Bonus points are the fight scenes, which are remarkably realistic both regarding what happens, and how the characters feel during.
I have read several reviews that it is not well written, which may be because the language is not very flowery. However, it is very evocative and emotional. I found the writing to be very elegant and pretty. (I read it in the German translation though, so maybe I just had an extremely talented translator.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
moosta2112's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Addiction, Suicide, and Drug use
Minor: Pedophilia
knockoutbooks's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Five-star read! I enjoyed every part of this book.
Summary
Jade City centers around the Kaul family, which sits at the head of the No Peak clan on the Hong Kong inspired island of Kekon.
Kekon is ruled by two clans, similar to mafia families, that worked together to take back their country from the colonizing Shotarians a generation before this book begins. The Mountain and No Peak have always tolerated each other, but tension mounts after the death of the head of The Mountain and the hostile take over of its’ new leader, called a Pillar, Ayt Mada.
The Kaul family consists of the former Pillar Kaul Sen, his successor Kaul Lan, the clan Horn or the leader of their military force Kaul Hilo, their sister Kaul Shae and their adopted youngest brother/cousin Emery Anden.
These two clans begin a war over the control of the country’s jade supply, a stone thought to be given to the Kekonese by the gods, that grants them abilities far beyond that of mortal people.
Thoughts
Despite the brutal nature of a mafia based story, I really fell in love with the Kaul family and the No Peak clan. This book was so well paced and balanced between character defining moments, political maneuvers and action scenes that reminded me of classic Chinese mafia films.
There really was no “low point” in this book. Each moment built on the one before so seamlessly that I completely devoured this and couldn’t put it down.
The ending tied things up with the Kauls very nicely, while still setting the stage for the next book and next set of challenges for No Peak.
Looking forward to reading Jade War soon!
Summary
Jade City centers around the Kaul family, which sits at the head of the No Peak clan on the Hong Kong inspired island of Kekon.
Kekon is ruled by two clans, similar to mafia families, that worked together to take back their country from the colonizing Shotarians a generation before this book begins. The Mountain and No Peak have always tolerated each other, but tension mounts after the death of the head of The Mountain and the hostile take over of its’ new leader, called a Pillar, Ayt Mada.
The Kaul family consists of the former Pillar Kaul Sen, his successor Kaul Lan, the clan Horn or the leader of their military force Kaul Hilo, their sister Kaul Shae and their adopted youngest brother/cousin Emery Anden.
These two clans begin a war over the control of the country’s jade supply, a stone thought to be given to the Kekonese by the gods, that grants them abilities far beyond that of mortal people.
Thoughts
Despite the brutal nature of a mafia based story, I really fell in love with the Kaul family and the No Peak clan. This book was so well paced and balanced between character defining moments, political maneuvers and action scenes that reminded me of classic Chinese mafia films.
There really was no “low point” in this book. Each moment built on the one before so seamlessly that I completely devoured this and couldn’t put it down.
The ending tied things up with the Kauls very nicely, while still setting the stage for the next book and next set of challenges for No Peak.
Looking forward to reading Jade War soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
ashleykhoffman's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This is not a book I would have picked up from just reading the description, but it got recommended to me over and over, so I gave it a try. I liked it so much more than I expected to! I think it was a little too political for my taste. (In real life I'm very political, but I use reading as an escape. Even though these politics were different than current world stuff, it was still capitalism and drug-centric so it hit too close to the mark for me.) I really liked the nuanced characters and that the antagonists were fleshed out to the point where I could understand their side too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Drug use and Addiction
Minor: Dementia
dajul73's review
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and War
Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Alcohol