Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Jade War by Fonda Lee

17 reviews

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

---

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

matoyak's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.0

A significant drop in quality from book one. The author's not great at writing romance, and this one really focuses on that a lot. The politics are interesting, and the family drama stays mostly good. Characterization is lacking, and important stuff is brushed over very quickly during timeskips off-screen. I have heard good things of book 3, so here's hoping the series recovers.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, and Torture

maelikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

New favourite series

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Cursing, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Abortion, Blood, and War

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 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Xenophobia, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Abortion, Drug use, Grief, and Misogyny

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.

---

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

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.” 

 

 

---

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

szuum's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, and Drug use

Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Sexism, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Abortion

Minor: Rape, War, and Homophobia

cognitivedisaster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.75

This is tied as the best read of the year along with Dune

Take everything good about Jade War, and triple it. The characters are amazing. The world is amazing. The plot is amazing. The intrigue is amazing. The character relationships are better than any book I've ever read.

The main characters went from not greatpeople to fucking monsters. Even with their horrible actions, their self-justification makes it even more twisted. Even when you hate them though, you'll still root for them and cry for them*

The world is somehow even better than the last book, with a new country, and with it, new perspectives on how the main charcters affect the world

If Jade War was the godfather in a fantasy setting, this is the godfather 2 in a fantasy setting (especially with the arc of <Shae>)

*except for <Hilo>. Fuck that guy

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, War, and Car accident

Minor: Rape, Hate crime, and Alcohol

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, Grandparent