Reviews with content warning for Death - Jade City

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Jade City by Fonda Lee

247 reviews

bbooks23's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I honestly expected to like this more than I did. My interest went from 80% to 60% after my semi favorite character was abruptly killed off. It was action packed one moment and then boring the next. I would've liked to have read the POV of the Pillar of the Mountain clan, just to see what she was thinking and planning. But overall I couldn't seem to develop any deep attachments to any of the characters (besides Anden) and was relieved once the book was finally over. I can see why so many people enjoyed this book but I'm not intrigued enough to continue the series.

Content Warnings

dodie_sullivan's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

bookishdiya's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

justjo's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

Haven't read a book that made me really feel the character's emotions as much as this one: the insecurities, doubt, grief, pride, fear was pallpable. The characters really drive the first half of the story, and it's so easy to fall in love with each of them despite their flaws. Especially for a multiple POV narrative, it was written in a way that you know and feel for the characters throughout.

The women characters had very compelling storylines and I cannot wait to see how they develop in the next book! Shae in particular was a cool perspective with her extremely conflicted feelings, and seeing her self image vs her family's perspective, and briefly how the Espenians viewed her. No one was straightforward/simplistic and all were allowed room for their own complex emotions and values as they navigated society around them.

For better or worse, you can tell by the end that the characters still have a lot of story left, especially some of the more peripheral characters like Wen. I thought it was for the better, easily leading into the next book. Halfway through, the plot starts picking up more and really starts moving, sometimes rushing character development to keep going.

Framing jade (and by extension this world's magic) as a potentially addictive substance was super interesting, and added very interesting world building. Seeing a magic system that was so intrinsic to local and world politics and economics really brought depth to the world as well. Overall everything felt well developed enough for the story, and still has room to grow as the series continues.

Content Warnings

griffinthief's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

hailstorm3812's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I enjoyed this. I really got attached to Hilo and his journey but really like all the characters. It did feel like there was a lot of set up but that is to be expected in the first of a fantasy trilogy. Can't wait for the payoff.

Content Warnings

jja_b's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

World building was great! I can easily picture this on a big screen. And I adored most of the characters, but I did struggle to continue at times. I would say the main reason was because I didn’t particularly care for Hilo or his chapters. I thoroughly enjoyed the last 15% of the book so I pushed my rating up a star.

Content Warnings

wilful_wisp's review

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

laguerrelewis's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

This book has a bit of a slow start, I won’t lie, but the character work and worldbuilding that’s established in the first 100 pages is an investment paid back in full with interest and gratuity—this is a story you feel like you are living in and a world that you could reach out and touch. It was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, twists and turns, and I can’t wait to see these characters and this setting in the next installment!

Content Warnings

vampirical_pirate's review against another edition

3.75

dark tense

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

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