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challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
I wanted to like this book way more than I did and I just didn't.
I wish I had read a review that said "this Godfather-esqe story", because then I would have been prepared for how politically based boring it was. This was 612 pages of politics, I read it all and the question still remains, "why should I care?". I don't know which side to root for because I just simply didn't care.
I really enjoyed the magic system and the martial arts/hand to hand combat scenes that were described.
I'm giving this 3 stars out of 5, I didn't really like it very much.
I wish I had read a review that said "this Godfather-esqe story", because then I would have been prepared for how politically based boring it was. This was 612 pages of politics, I read it all and the question still remains, "why should I care?". I don't know which side to root for because I just simply didn't care.
I really enjoyed the magic system and the martial arts/hand to hand combat scenes that were described.
I'm giving this 3 stars out of 5, I didn't really like it very much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Colonisation, Classism
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I feel conflicted about my thoughts on the book now that I’m done.. The pacing was both slow and fast at the same time (as in, exceptionally slow with the politics, but equally fast when there was actual action happening.) I have to confess that politics like this, pertaining to the clans, was not at all interesting to me.
As other reviews have stated, the strong point of the book is character interaction; I just feel that it was unfortunately drowned out by political plot that felt like trudging through mud for me.
Last 100 pages were the best part of the book for me, but that also means the previous ~400 pages seemed like a blur, not too memorable and feeling like the plot there could’ve been condensed.
I do think I’m interested in finding out what happened to the characters in the next two novels, but since this book took me so long to get through, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series.
As other reviews have stated, the strong point of the book is character interaction; I just feel that it was unfortunately drowned out by political plot that felt like trudging through mud for me.
Last 100 pages were the best part of the book for me, but that also means the previous ~400 pages seemed like a blur, not too memorable and feeling like the plot there could’ve been condensed.
I do think I’m interested in finding out what happened to the characters in the next two novels, but since this book took me so long to get through, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness
adventurous
tense
medium-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
By the end, I loved it. It took me a long time to get through the political stuff, but I really enjoyed it. Lots of clan politics, crime boss stuff. Very interesting and the cultures are fleshed out really well - I LOVE Fonda Lee's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Blood
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Murder
Minor: Homophobia
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
an incredible start to the series! the world building, the politics, the plot, and the characters were impeccably crafted. I love the Kaul family so much 💚 but I am extremely worried for what the next two books will bring them. I know Fonda Lee will destroy my heart but I’m excited for it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Pedophilia
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Drug use, Grief
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me about 200 pages to get excited about this book, but I’m glad I stuck with it! I thought there were a few too many POV characters at first and found certain details like the passage of time difficult to track. But the world building is fantastic, and the foundation Lee laid for the next two books is so strong. Plus there were a few twists that took me completely by surprise (and despair… this author does not pull punches and I’m genuinely scared to see what happens to some of these characters in the next book). I’m excited for the rest of the trilogy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, War
Moderate: Pedophilia, Kidnapping
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
I didn’t mean to reread this in full, this quickly, right now; it wasn’t the plan; I don’t know how this happened. Just as addictive and compulsively readable as first read (and I’m a little concerned/ impressed at how closely my reading experience resembled my first read in how consumed I was, despite knowing everything that happens and without really picking up on deeper narratives, which I usually enjoy about rereads. I wasn’t shocked or surprised, yet I was somehow still as engrossed and on-edge). I really enjoyed reflecting on the distinct characterizations of the cast, but even that was mostly reinforcing what I tracked on first read. The obvious difference is the context of having definitive insight into their trajectories, having read the entire trilogy, but I think my thoughts and responses were still pretty congruent.
My main appreciation for this series as a whole, which I was able to digest more—while actually reading— upon reread, is how relevant the framing of perspective is to the narrative. The characters are so compelling (not to be mistaken with likable, heroic, or defendable), yet if this were another series, we could have easily been led by any of the other ‘antagonistic’ perspectives and feel just as compelled/ conflicted/ like their actions may be justifiable. It’s entirely plausible that I could have devoured this same plot framed as the story of an antihero—and that would have been the story of one of my most despised characters (a hatred which I can admit is probably more than a little irrational, seeing as it probably could be recontextualized without changing much about the character’s qualities. In this story, though, I legitimately had to brace myself every time we switched to that perspective). Even the aggravating development of protagonists felt motivated and human in their consistencies and inconsistencies. It’s hard to entirely love* or hate any character (*WITH ONE EXCEPTION. One beloved character). There’s a recurring motif of characters regarding each other with begrudging admiration, and I think that summarizes how I felt towards characters (cough, ****, cough) even in the midst of being appalled at certain actions. Really fascinating point for me to be so consumed by in a book that’s more plot-driven than what I typically gravitate toward. Characters are what make books for me, but I don’t need likable or lovable or even agreeable characters; I need interesting characters, and this series certainly delivers.
I will now attempt* to resist the impulse to immediately dive into Jade War (*specifically not an oath).
(((Also, the fact that I not only felt compelled to try, but actually delivered on writing out my thoughts in some semblance of organization? Unprecedented.)))
My main appreciation for this series as a whole, which I was able to digest more—while actually reading— upon reread, is how relevant the framing of perspective is to the narrative. The characters are so compelling (not to be mistaken with likable, heroic, or defendable), yet if this were another series, we could have easily been led by any of the other ‘antagonistic’ perspectives and feel just as compelled/ conflicted/ like their actions may be justifiable. It’s entirely plausible that I could have devoured this same plot framed as the story of an antihero—and that would have been the story of one of my most despised characters (a hatred which I can admit is probably more than a little irrational, seeing as it probably could be recontextualized without changing much about the character’s qualities. In this story, though, I legitimately had to brace myself every time we switched to that perspective). Even the aggravating development of protagonists felt motivated and human in their consistencies and inconsistencies. It’s hard to entirely love* or hate any character (*WITH ONE EXCEPTION. One beloved character). There’s a recurring motif of characters regarding each other with begrudging admiration, and I think that summarizes how I felt towards characters (cough, ****, cough) even in the midst of being appalled at certain actions. Really fascinating point for me to be so consumed by in a book that’s more plot-driven than what I typically gravitate toward. Characters are what make books for me, but I don’t need likable or lovable or even agreeable characters; I need interesting characters, and this series certainly delivers.
I will now attempt* to resist the impulse to immediately dive into Jade War (*specifically not an oath).
(((Also, the fact that I not only felt compelled to try, but actually delivered on writing out my thoughts in some semblance of organization? Unprecedented.)))
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Xenophobia, Medical content
Minor: Pedophilia, Dementia, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt