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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
By the end of this book, the story was actually really nice and I enjoyed it overall. I am a sucker for Asian mythology and culture stories, and this didn't disappoint in that regard.
However, for an adult marketed book, the writing was painful to get through. I understand the reason was to highlight the ignorance and childish nature of the main character, but reading "ta-tas", "piss-fart", and "rotted turd eggs" over and over made getting though this story rather slow. The language actually broke the connection to the book each time, so getting through this story took much longer than it should have. It wasn't until the end when the main character has some development and the language changed that the story really sucked me in.
Am I glad I read it? Yes. Am I also curious what happens next with our characters (if there is a next)? Yes. But can I strongly recommend this book to others, not necessarily.
By the end of this book, the story was actually really nice and I enjoyed it overall. I am a sucker for Asian mythology and culture stories, and this didn't disappoint in that regard.
However, for an adult marketed book, the writing was painful to get through. I understand the reason was to highlight the ignorance and childish nature of the main character, but reading "ta-tas", "piss-fart", and "rotted turd eggs" over and over made getting though this story rather slow. The language actually broke the connection to the book each time, so getting through this story took much longer than it should have. It wasn't until the end when the main character has some development and the language changed that the story really sucked me in.
Am I glad I read it? Yes. Am I also curious what happens next with our characters (if there is a next)? Yes. But can I strongly recommend this book to others, not necessarily.
This book was fine. Really cool concept kinda of lacking at certain parts.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
I received this as part of my FairyLoot subscription.
"Shanghai Immortal" is the first in a new fantasy series that follows Lady Jing. Jing was sold to the King of Hell when she was a child and is half-vampire and half-hulijing fox-spirit. She has spent the last ninety years as the king's ward and has tried to keep her explosive temper in check. One day, Jing learns that the courtiers are plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, so she decides to embark on a mission to finally prove herself. With the help from an unsuspecting mortal, Jing must travel through both Hell and mortal Shanghai.
This was a fast-paced fantasy with an unrefined protagonist. Jing has a great deal to learn, but I loved seeing her grow and evolve throughout the course of the book, and most importantly, she did it at her own pace. I also loved seeing her grow to understand more about herself and her own place in her world.
This novel is rife with Chinese mythology which was really fun to read about. I cannot attest to its accuracy, but I can say that I enjoyed the vibrancy of the story.
Although I enjoyed this book and the story, I did not think it was particularly memorable. I enjoyed it while I read it, but I have not thought much about it since finishing.
I might continue in this series, but I am not entirely sure where the story will go from here.
"Shanghai Immortal" is the first in a new fantasy series that follows Lady Jing. Jing was sold to the King of Hell when she was a child and is half-vampire and half-hulijing fox-spirit. She has spent the last ninety years as the king's ward and has tried to keep her explosive temper in check. One day, Jing learns that the courtiers are plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, so she decides to embark on a mission to finally prove herself. With the help from an unsuspecting mortal, Jing must travel through both Hell and mortal Shanghai.
This was a fast-paced fantasy with an unrefined protagonist. Jing has a great deal to learn, but I loved seeing her grow and evolve throughout the course of the book, and most importantly, she did it at her own pace. I also loved seeing her grow to understand more about herself and her own place in her world.
This novel is rife with Chinese mythology which was really fun to read about. I cannot attest to its accuracy, but I can say that I enjoyed the vibrancy of the story.
Although I enjoyed this book and the story, I did not think it was particularly memorable. I enjoyed it while I read it, but I have not thought much about it since finishing.
I might continue in this series, but I am not entirely sure where the story will go from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
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
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy.
This book had so much promise but it was ultimately let down by an immature main character and poor writing. The protagonist, Lady Jing, is supposed to be almost 100, but she acts like a child, complaining constantly, and using terms like "piss fart", "turds", "tatas" for breasts. I can see what the author was trying to do - give her a spiky and uncouth personality and create a unique lexicon for the world. But it just didn't work. The constant repetition of these terms throughout the story only served to frustrate me, as the reader, and make Jing seem infantile.
Sadly, I also didn't feel a sense of connection with any of the characters and there wasn't really any chemistry between Jing and Mr Lee? The world building was the book's redeeming quality. I enjoyed the descriptions of Shanghai as well and the contrast with the human world in colour, architecture, and clothes. A couple of good fight scenes also kept me entertained. On the whole, though, I'd hoped for so much more from this.
This book had so much promise but it was ultimately let down by an immature main character and poor writing. The protagonist, Lady Jing, is supposed to be almost 100, but she acts like a child, complaining constantly, and using terms like "piss fart", "turds", "tatas" for breasts. I can see what the author was trying to do - give her a spiky and uncouth personality and create a unique lexicon for the world. But it just didn't work. The constant repetition of these terms throughout the story only served to frustrate me, as the reader, and make Jing seem infantile.
Sadly, I also didn't feel a sense of connection with any of the characters and there wasn't really any chemistry between Jing and Mr Lee? The world building was the book's redeeming quality. I enjoyed the descriptions of Shanghai as well and the contrast with the human world in colour, architecture, and clothes. A couple of good fight scenes also kept me entertained. On the whole, though, I'd hoped for so much more from this.
Best character development I've read. So well written.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Non basta far dire due parolacce alla protagonista per scrivere un personaggio irriverente.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you want to live in the head of a 100 year old woman who has the maturity of a 10 year old boy who has just learned the word "piss" for an entire book then go ahead. Such a joke this was marketed as an adult novel, attempts at humour were beyond juvenile and other elements were incredibly bland. The bar for publication seems to be getting lower and lower.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
The first half of this book is a slog, the main character is crude and childish and unlovable but then it becomes an interesting romp through yang Shanghai. Strangely modern language was jarring, but ultimately I enjoyed the world and the friendships that developed. Felt very cinematic.