Scan barcode
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
4.75
what. a. trip. jade war does things bigger and is more complex, layered and - an uneasy feat - emotionally brutal than its already great predecessor. its violence, heartbreak, and scheming are further elevated by the nuanced exploration of its themes.
lee delves even deeper into the world of her story by expanding its scope through looking beyond kekon and examining all the intricacies and complex interconnected politics + history of the world she's created. the worldbuilding is starkly vivid, each country and their relationships w/ one another so distinct, realistic, and infuriatingly and familiarly mirrors our world.
the kauls continue to go through a whole lotta shit; there's a lot of ups and downs here but they do their best. never have i ever seen such a strong, complex fictional family and felt so much for their plight. there are certain points in the novel that just made me stop and go, "bruh this shit rly just went there." what i also rly appreciate is how they arent perfect at all; sometimes one can see their decisions' terrible consequences from a mile away, though theyre understandable and even inevitable.
the politicking and scheming, as always, continue to be one of the best things abt this series. idk if it's bc of lee's corporate strategist background, but the diplomatic, furtive, subtle ways the characters talk and act are enjoyably interesting, all imbued w/ an undercurrent msg or tension. i feel smarter reading abt how the characters talk and think lol.
what i most enjoy abt this book, however, is the nuanced, complex exploration of its themes that are hugely relevant in the real world not just on a personal, individual level but also historically and politically, esp how infuriating yts are, how countries and ppl arent black-and-white, diasporas, and how national sentiment borne from traumatic history can get entangled in more immediate, complicated current int'l relations and priorities. lee explores them all w/ gusto and a deft hand, offering persuasive arguments for both sides yet never talking down to the reader. also, reading this in 2022 feels like the book prophesized a lottt of things.
my only major caveat w/ the novel is how a lot of the kauls' scheming amounts to too little - like, all that for nothing compared to the mountain? nevertheless, this is an engrossing, dark, violent, complex, thrilling, and emotionally brutal book, one of a few that can easily make me scream, spooked, tear up, and stressed, and whose sequel i cant wait to devour.
lee delves even deeper into the world of her story by expanding its scope through looking beyond kekon and examining all the intricacies and complex interconnected politics + history of the world she's created. the worldbuilding is starkly vivid, each country and their relationships w/ one another so distinct, realistic, and infuriatingly and familiarly mirrors our world.
the kauls continue to go through a whole lotta shit; there's a lot of ups and downs here but they do their best. never have i ever seen such a strong, complex fictional family and felt so much for their plight. there are certain points in the novel that just made me stop and go, "bruh this shit rly just went there." what i also rly appreciate is how they arent perfect at all; sometimes one can see their decisions' terrible consequences from a mile away, though theyre understandable and even inevitable.
the politicking and scheming, as always, continue to be one of the best things abt this series. idk if it's bc of lee's corporate strategist background, but the diplomatic, furtive, subtle ways the characters talk and act are enjoyably interesting, all imbued w/ an undercurrent msg or tension. i feel smarter reading abt how the characters talk and think lol.
what i most enjoy abt this book, however, is the nuanced, complex exploration of its themes that are hugely relevant in the real world not just on a personal, individual level but also historically and politically, esp how infuriating yts are, how countries and ppl arent black-and-white, diasporas, and how national sentiment borne from traumatic history can get entangled in more immediate, complicated current int'l relations and priorities. lee explores them all w/ gusto and a deft hand, offering persuasive arguments for both sides yet never talking down to the reader. also, reading this in 2022 feels like the book prophesized a lottt of things.
my only major caveat w/ the novel is how a lot of the kauls' scheming amounts to too little - like, all that for nothing compared to the mountain? nevertheless, this is an engrossing, dark, violent, complex, thrilling, and emotionally brutal book, one of a few that can easily make me scream, spooked, tear up, and stressed, and whose sequel i cant wait to devour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Xenophobia
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and War
horizonous's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Abortion, Addiction, Kidnapping, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Homophobia
◦ Death = Brother, Grandparentmaira_h's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
I didn't think it was possible to feel this way again about a book; that sort of giddy feeling after reading a particularly mind-blowing book. But I did– feel that way, that is. That ending was crazy explosive. I was at the edge of my seat all throughout that thrilling ending to this second installment.
The Kauls are really growing on me. The first book, for some reason, I didn't know what to feel yet about these characters. But this book made me adore them each in their own way. They were not perfect characters, mind you, but the were distinct individuals nonetheless. Fonda Lee did a really great job capturing their unique personalities, even the massive cast of side characters. I feel like the characters in this series will be those that will stay with me for a long time.
Going into this, I knew to expect a lot of politics involved. This second book was still politically heavy, but with that anticipation, I was not struggling at all to go through this book. The pacing felt a lot faster than the first book.
Also, I want to applaud the emotional maturity with which every conversation, every action was written. I was blown away by that emotional awareness, by the details to each action and consequences. Fonda Lee's writing style is impressive for this.
5 stars and a new favourite!
The Kauls are really growing on me. The first book, for some reason, I didn't know what to feel yet about these characters. But this book made me adore them each in their own way. They were not perfect characters, mind you, but the were distinct individuals nonetheless. Fonda Lee did a really great job capturing their unique personalities, even the massive cast of side characters. I feel like the characters in this series will be those that will stay with me for a long time.
Going into this, I knew to expect a lot of politics involved. This second book was still politically heavy, but with that anticipation, I was not struggling at all to go through this book. The pacing felt a lot faster than the first book.
Also, I want to applaud the emotional maturity with which every conversation, every action was written. I was blown away by that emotional awareness, by the details to each action and consequences. Fonda Lee's writing style is impressive for this.
5 stars and a new favourite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: War, Xenophobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Abortion, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Injury/Injury detail
doodeedoda's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Abortion, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Homophobia
Minor: Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Vomit, Biphobia, and Blood
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, War, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Torture, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Misogyny, Abortion, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Ableism, Sexism, Suicide, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Animal death, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Infidelity, and Rape
thuto's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Suicide, Misogyny, Drug use, Death of parent, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence
an_idiot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Sexual content, War, and Violence
Minor: Abortion
miak2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
One thing he knew for certain was that stalemates and compromises always broke down. Lasting peace came from unequivocal victory. p. 120
Genuinely the best series I've ever read, and I'm only two thirds of the way through. I wish I could give this more than five stars - Fonda Lee deserves the highest praise in the world.
Jade War took all that was fantastic about Jade City and elevated it to an extreme. The stakes, the family drama, the worldbuilding. Absolutely phenomenal. Middle book syndrome who?
The first book is a relatively contained story, focusing on the street war between the two major clans of Kekon. In contrast, this book was seeped in politics, manipulation and subterfuge. Not only were the stakes raised for those involved in the clan war, but for the world as a whole - as the book zoomed out to look at international politics, and similar turf wars taking place in other countries (all of which affected Kekon in very realistic and terrifying ways). The politics were complex, in the way that real-world politics are, but I could pretty easily follow what was happening and how its effects rippled out to the Kaul family. This touched on corruption and anti-foreigner sentiments, on framing things to influence public perception. Everything that you know and hate about real world politics were here, but done in such a powerful way that I couldn't help but feel immersed. And the final chapters set up a new thread that will likely escalate this even further.
Which leads me to the worldbuilding. Oh my GOD. Similarly, this book stepped it up a notch. First we got insight to Kekonese culture, history, values, and traditions. Here, we got insight into the countries surrounding Kekon. Not just their own culture and ways, but their attitudes towards the Kekonese (and vice versa). We got to see how different Green Bones navigated foreign places, and were perceived there as well. Particularly impactful was Anden's time in Espenia, where he felt trapped between two parts of his identity, but grew to love his new home, which was also caught between Kekon and Espenia.
Lastly, Jade War introduced a bunch of new characters, but still managed to flesh them out with backstories and motivations (and, in turn, make me have strong feelings about almost all of them). The family dynamics were, as always, such a strong focal point in this book. And I'm excited to see where the next one takes us, as several new Kaul family members were introduced. Maybe my one criticism is that I wasn't as invested in some of the new romantic relationships, but they were still well-done all the same.
All in all, though, this was an absolute masterpiece of the book. I tend to love books that make the 'enemy' not only threatening, but understandable as well, and I firmly believe that Lee could have written this entire series from the perspective of Ayt Madashi and the Mountain Clan and I'd be just as hooked. (Which feels like a betrayal to write, since I feel so emotionally bonded to the Kaul family). But mad props to Fonda Lee, that's no easy task! Equally impressive is the fact that I pulled my head out of this book and genuinely had to recalibrate myself into remembering that these are not real places or real people. I'm almost scared to start the next book, because I know how much is at stake and I know I'll lose people I love, but that won't stop me anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Torture
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Rape
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
In 'Jade War,' Fonda Lee continues the saga of the Kaul family as we deal with fallout from what happened in 'Jade City' and see how the political machinations, family dynamics, and the future of the clans continue to weave together.
The middle books in a series tend to not be as strong as the first or final installments but that is not true with 'Jade War.' Lee elevates the pieces that she introduced us to in 'Jade City' and the more time we spend with these characters, the further we get pulled into their lives. I won't touch on any specifics since this is the second book but I will say that we continue to follow the Kaul family and those involved with the different clans. There are high points and even more devastating low points.
I think the two parts of this story that are the strongest are the complex characters and the political machinations. Each of the characters are deeply flawed but Lee portrays them as so deeply human that it's hard not to care for them. I especially find Hilo a fascinating character. He may be my favorite character in the series but his flaws come out at many points of this book. There is a decision that he makes in this book that I absolutely did not agree with but Lee made me understand it and it didn't harm my care for him.
The twists and turns of this story are more dynamic and emotional than in the first book. I can't even begin to imagine what will happen in 'Jade Legacy' but I am sure that it will be a rollercoaster. I both cannot wait to pick up the final book and also want to put it off so that I always have more of these characters to return to.
The middle books in a series tend to not be as strong as the first or final installments but that is not true with 'Jade War.' Lee elevates the pieces that she introduced us to in 'Jade City' and the more time we spend with these characters, the further we get pulled into their lives. I won't touch on any specifics since this is the second book but I will say that we continue to follow the Kaul family and those involved with the different clans. There are high points and even more devastating low points.
I think the two parts of this story that are the strongest are the complex characters and the political machinations. Each of the characters are deeply flawed but Lee portrays them as so deeply human that it's hard not to care for them. I especially find Hilo a fascinating character. He may be my favorite character in the series but his flaws come out at many points of this book. There is a decision that he makes in this book that I absolutely did not agree with but Lee made me understand it and it didn't harm my care for him.
The twists and turns of this story are more dynamic and emotional than in the first book. I can't even begin to imagine what will happen in 'Jade Legacy' but I am sure that it will be a rollercoaster. I both cannot wait to pick up the final book and also want to put it off so that I always have more of these characters to return to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Torture, Suicide, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Homophobia, and Abortion
btrz7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence