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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.
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
mikarala's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Book 2 was not as engrossing as the first installment in the series. Whereas the first book takes place over the course of several months and largely sticks to the location of Janloon city as the main setting, the scope of this book is much larger. It seems to take place over the course of 4 years or so, and introduces overseas locations to take the story to a more global scale. It's clear one of Lee's main focuses with this book was to expound upon the geopolitical aspects of the Green Bone saga, presumably setting up a lot of action to come in the third book.
However, this expansion sometimes came at the expense of the story, in my opinion. In particular, there were sections in the middle of the story where I kept noticing chapters would end with a sort of cliff-hanger, big problem for the POV character, then we would move on to the next character, and by the time we came back, the problem had mostly resolved itself. There was often a bit too much exposition at the start of chapters to explain everything that had changed with the characters since the last time we had seen them.
Pacing issues aside, I do think this book is really well-plotted. As with the first installment, Lee does a great job of introducing conflicts and developing the motivations of different characters so that these elements converge in a very satisfying and believable way at the climax. While the middle may have felt a bit more meandering and you had to work a bit harder as a reader to get to that point, when it came it was a great culmination of the various elements of the story.
On top of that, I just really enjoy the characters in this series. They aren't typical heroes and arguably their intentions aren't really altruistic, but I think Lee does a great job of making you root for them anyways. They are flawed, but compellingly believable. I think this comese down to the great job Lee does with world-building and establishing the cultural norms of Kekon, so that even despite the extremely foreign ethical code the characters operate with, the reader can easily understand their motivations.
So, while I didn't love this as much as book 1, I am still very excited to start the final book in the trilogy. This series really has some of the best world-building I've ever encountered in a fantasy series, and it's backstopped by interesting characters and very tightly written plots.
However, this expansion sometimes came at the expense of the story, in my opinion. In particular, there were sections in the middle of the story where I kept noticing chapters would end with a sort of cliff-hanger, big problem for the POV character, then we would move on to the next character, and by the time we came back, the problem had mostly resolved itself. There was often a bit too much exposition at the start of chapters to explain everything that had changed with the characters since the last time we had seen them.
Pacing issues aside, I do think this book is really well-plotted. As with the first installment, Lee does a great job of introducing conflicts and developing the motivations of different characters so that these elements converge in a very satisfying and believable way at the climax. While the middle may have felt a bit more meandering and you had to work a bit harder as a reader to get to that point, when it came it was a great culmination of the various elements of the story.
On top of that, I just really enjoy the characters in this series. They aren't typical heroes and arguably their intentions aren't really altruistic, but I think Lee does a great job of making you root for them anyways. They are flawed, but compellingly believable. I think this comese down to the great job Lee does with world-building and establishing the cultural norms of Kekon, so that even despite the extremely foreign ethical code the characters operate with, the reader can easily understand their motivations.
So, while I didn't love this as much as book 1, I am still very excited to start the final book in the trilogy. This series really has some of the best world-building I've ever encountered in a fantasy series, and it's backstopped by interesting characters and very tightly written plots.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Car accident and Abortion
jg93'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, and Abortion
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Sequels are hard to review so here's just a bullet list of thoughts:
-I found this addictive to read like the first book and couldn't put it down whenever I picked it up
-however the first half was a slog
-I support both Shae and Ayt Mada because I support women's wrongs, they can be criminals if they want
-I like that Wen got a bigger role!
-the world building expanded nicely by showing us what Espenia is like
-there were a lot of couples in this book which helped with the themes of loyalty to the clan, family, and/or nation and how to deal with those when they conflict. Though I didn't "ship" any of the couples that wasn't the point of the book
-this also dealt with a cycle of violence as characters continually got revenge, fucked around, and found out
-I found this addictive to read like the first book and couldn't put it down whenever I picked it up
-however the first half was a slog
-I support both Shae and Ayt Mada because I support women's wrongs, they can be criminals if they want
-I like that Wen got a bigger role!
-the world building expanded nicely by showing us what Espenia is like
-there were a lot of couples in this book which helped with the themes of loyalty to the clan, family, and/or nation and how to deal with those when they conflict. Though I didn't "ship" any of the couples that wasn't the point of the book
-this also dealt with a cycle of violence as characters continually got revenge, fucked around, and found out
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Xenophobia, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Abortion, Drug use, Grief, and Misogyny
takarakei's review against another edition
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
4.5
When I first started this series I really knew nothing going in except kung-fu inspired jade magic and mafioso type families (based on a talk I saw Fonda at). About halfway through this second book in the series I realized that (at least so far) these books are really a mastery of political intrigue and strategy. Honestly, now I am marveling at how much Fonda must have researched and understood about the way power-struggles often work in relation to a global chess board. The continued character development (especially of Hilo) throughout the course of this book is fantastically done. I am SO intrigued (and a bit scared for my own well being) to see how the final third book will pan out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Death, and Murder
Moderate: War, Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Drug use, Grief, Torture, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Slavery, and Police brutality
Rape (off page, in non descriptive detail) Animal cruelty - like book 1 a lot of derogatory language involving animals, cock-fighting (not extremely explicit) and 'testing' magic on mice.frootlupo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
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: Grief, Murder, Drug abuse, Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abortion, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, and War
kmolson29'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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
karina_dreamsinwords's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I’m blown away with how much I love this series so far! Fonda Lee’s writing is so fluid and engrossing that the subtle time jumps throughout the story is effortless.
The political intrigue is so compelling that you cannot help being sucked into the world. I cried a few times throughout this one but what’s new. Plus the spicy scenes? Never saw this one in particular coming but damn 🔥
I’m nervous, scared and excited for the last book in this series because I know it’s going to break me in some way. I feel so attached to these characters & I feel something big is on the horizon.
Take care of my babies Miss Fonda. Please 🥹🥲
The political intrigue is so compelling that you cannot help being sucked into the world. I cried a few times throughout this one but what’s new. Plus the spicy scenes? Never saw this one in particular coming but damn 🔥
I’m nervous, scared and excited for the last book in this series because I know it’s going to break me in some way. I feel so attached to these characters & I feel something big is on the horizon.
Take care of my babies Miss Fonda. Please 🥹🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Abortion
Minor: Pedophilia
wordsofclover's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Abortion and Rape