Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Jade War by Fonda Lee

11 reviews

tpasta's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The world building is incredible, somehow more captivating than the first book. However, the pacing was very slow. The events of the book span over 5 years and jump around to so many characters it was difficult to get invested into one of them. War is the essence of the book and I wish there had been a more compelling overarching plot. I found the first 30% and last 15% to be way too drawn out. Not sure if I will continue reading this trilogy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Colonisation

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Rape and Abortion

reddeddy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Confinement, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Trafficking, War, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Body horror, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Racism, Xenophobia, Abortion, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Homophobia, Misogyny, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Genocide, Toxic relationship, Rape, Deportation, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Cursing

Minor: Animal death, Biphobia, Body shaming, Self harm, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Outing, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Vomit, and Infertility

risaleel's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Death, and Addiction

Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, and Classism

Minor: Grief, Rape, Abortion, and Pregnancy

whatdoiknowjr's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

I love this series so far. If you have ever wondered what political intrigue would look like in an alternate world that is very much like our modern world, but where a handful of powerful clans control a substance that gives them superhuman powers related to their study and practice of martial arts, well, here you are!

Some aspects of this story play with the friction between the past, and the families that run society even when that command of society circumvents laws and local rulers, but at the same time, it also intersects with outside nations trying to force their way into the trade of a powerful resource and what needs to be done to resist or adapt to that outside pressure.

No character it this story escapes making hard moral decisions. There are assassinations, duels, criminal empires, and military contacts to deal with. But even some of the worst perpetrators are so human that it's hard to dislike them. I was extremely invested in everyone, even when I was looking at what they had just done and realizing what kind of repercussions have to be down the line for them.

Even the alienation between family members is well handled. Family members have strained relationships, but so far, there are very few times when that means that they cut each other off entirely, and you want them to repair their relationships even though you don't want them to get wrapped up in some of the worst of the family business. 

In between all of these, there are twists and turns, bullets, martial arts, and superpowers. Enough to keep things exciting and action-oriented, but not enough to overshadow the actual characters and the results of their decisions. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Addiction, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Abortion, Colonisation, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and War

bearystarry's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I think this was the perfect sequel to the first book.

Even though my favourite character died halfway through the first book

these characters are some of my favourites in everything I've ever read. Even when you're frustrated by them you love them. Shae's arc was Heartbreaking. I'm terrified (in the best way, if that's possible) to read the final book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Addiction, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Violence, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Colonisation, Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Death of parent, Cursing, Excrement, Death, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, and War

jessiereads98's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.75

While this one doesn’t hit quite as hard for me as Jade City did, it’s close. If I could give this like a 4.85 or 4.90 it would be more accurate. Fonda Lee continues and expands her masterful world building here by interweaving international cultures and politics with that of Kekon. The crafting of politics and international relations here is truly an impressive feat. Unfortunately with the new politics, settings, and characters we end up losing some time with Kekon and the Kauls. The time jumping around and pacing in this book just felt messier and more inconsistent to me than the first book. The pacing doesn’t seem to pick up to where it was in the first book until the last 150-200 pages when the separate threads laid out throughout the story start to come together. Overall a strong follow up to Jade City but does seem to suffer somewhat from the second book syndrome of largely setting things up for the third book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Violence, Xenophobia, Addiction, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Racism, Torture, Gore, and Gun violence

Minor: Confinement, Rape, Grief, Misogyny, Abortion, Colonisation, Cursing, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and War

sarah984's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

It's pretty rare to find a sequel - especially part 2 in a trilogy - that's as good as the original, but Jade War surpassed all of my expectations. It's got a broader scope this time: many scenes take place in other countries and the Kauls are contending with foreign militaries, expat communities and trade agreements on top of the clan war situation and general family drama. It was easy to romanticize what was going on in Jade City, but Jade War draws back that curtain a bit to show the darker side. The characters are fantastic and unfortunately all of their terrible decisions are absolutely consistent with what you'd expect them to do. I can't wait to read the third book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Addiction, Drug use, Medical content, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Torture, Abortion, Blood, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Homophobia, Suicide, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Excrement, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Vomit, and Animal death

jakepasseri's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

Amazing read, definitely better than the last one (if that is possible)! The only issue was with

the constant time jumps made it difficult to follow at times

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racial slurs, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gun violence, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Suicide, Murder, War, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Child abuse, and Colonisation

Minor: Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Self harm

just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.0

The second book in the sweeping and immersive "The Green Bone Saga" fantasy series. It's a chunky one, but so far it deeply remains worth it! 

 

Jade War picks up right where Jade City leaves us. There is a temporary lull in the No Peak vs Mountain Clan war for control over the island of Kekon. Though that moment of quiet is not destined to last for long. And the stakes get even higher here, as the war over jade expands to a national level. Both governments and local gangs in other countries are entering the fray, as far as access to jade and its powers and financial benefits go. The Kaul family is doing everything they can to gain advantage over the Mountain and maintain the sanctity of the way of the Green Bone both at home and abroad, making alliances and political moves and planning assassinations and more. 

 

The dual stars of the first novel, the details of the Kaul family dynamics and the world-building internal to Kekon, remain just as spectacular in this second book. The overall complexity of the Green Bone clan traditions and beliefs, as well as the nuances of the interactions and power struggles and social rules, are so impressive, and one of the major reasons these books pull you in with such strength. This book really does take you further too, not just relying on what was set up in the first one and sacrificing continued depth in favor of plot movement. Lee walks the fine line of detail and intrigue, moving into a more international setting, including a complicated amount of new enemies and alliances and deals and politics, but somehow still keeping things moving with a considerable amount of drama. And I loved that expansion into the larger world. It was great for moving forwards from what we learned in the first book about Green Bone culture and placing it in a wider context, allowing the reader who had (obviously) been set up to sympathize with them, to see some of the ways their (insular) traditions may have dangers/shortcomings in a wider context, but always with that understanding of the harmful aspects of foreign colonizers had brought in the past. Fascinating and incredibly applicable (and accurate) to real life. That context was one thing I had wanted more of in the first book, so I was really excited for it here. I was hoping for a bit more detail on the workings of the jade itself, and I feel like, while I have a better vibe for its role and how it enhances ability, we still don't have an explanation as to how/why it works that way. It may just be a world mystery that we have to accept at face vaule...and I feel better about that possibility after this book, if I'm being honest, so that's good. 

 

Relatedly, the further development of the Kaul family, and the No Peak vs Mountain conflict, mirrored that external expansion. Shae's efforts to get No Peak to look outside Kekon for advantages, and Ayt Mada's similar moves (if less obvious until key moments, as we aren't following her narrative perspective), allowed for great character growth for Hilo and Anden, and Wen to a certain extent (her cooperation with Shae is a wonderful addition - and a cool and positive spin on what is essentially her "disability"). Anden's time internationally helped him realize a lot about himself, with the space to do so, both personally and professionally (as far as his role in the No Peak clan and his use of jade). I enjoyed the glimpses into Shae's personal life as well, even if it was overall fairly tragic, but it gave her some really nice dimension and growth as well. And Hilo's maturing into a true leader, past violence and his role as the Horn, has been spectacular, though the things that make him Hilo, like his way with people (which is just the kind of character trait I love in a fantasy MC) and family loyalty and emotions, are still central to his being. It's a really authentic character path and I'm truly enjoying reading it. Final character comment...we have been following Breo all over the place for two books now and I am dying to finally know what role he is going to play (other than representing another, "normal person," point of view) that makes it that important to know his whole story. 

 

Y'all, so much happened in this book. There was a lot of "slower" setting up a lot of alliances and greater world politics in this one that were super intriguing. And it was interspersed with quite a bit of harsh decision-making and violence (how Hilo deals with Enyi, Doru’s death, THE duel, abortion, what happens to Mudt and Maro and Kehn, and so much more). Honestly, it was both steadily paced and nonstop action, and I am loving the “new beginnings” sort of ending...clearly there is much more to come, but also a lot has been resolved or come out in the open or been reset/reframed, and I feel the build for the finale with great anticipation. While I totally have no idea where the last book is going to take/leave us, I am so invested in and intrigued to find out. 

 

“Out of small resentments, spring great wars.” 

 

“…the possibility of death was like the weather - you could make attempts to predict it, but you would likely be wrong, and no one would change their most important plans due to threat of rain.” 

 

“…he felt no great relief or happiness - only the sort of heaviness that comes from wanting something for so long that the final achievement of it is a loss - because the waiting is over and the waiting has become too much a part of oneself to let go of easily.” 

 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, War, Colonisation, and Death

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

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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