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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 don't read a ton of adult fantasy; however, Jade City is such an interesting start to a fantasy series. It's not a favorite by any means, but I am very invested in what will happen next. Fonda Lee is phenomenal at world building. Every detail from the smallest to the biggest creates an atmosphere that is impossible not to be trapped in for a long time after putting the book down.
I liked getting glimpses at all three of the siblings, because they're all so different but trapped in this mafia like environment. Each of their personalities were distinct. Even the lesser(?) members of the Kaul and Ayt families were intriguing. Lee really captured the mafia/mob at each turn from the violent attacks to the political upheaval. I'm excited to find out what happens next for both families.
I liked getting glimpses at all three of the siblings, because they're all so different but trapped in this mafia like environment. Each of their personalities were distinct. Even the lesser(?) members of the Kaul and Ayt families were intriguing. Lee really captured the mafia/mob at each turn from the violent attacks to the political upheaval. I'm excited to find out what happens next for both families.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicide
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
dark
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
I enjoyed this modern fantasy take on gangster warfare. Lee has built an interesting post-war Asian world complete with territory disputes, magic and foreign powers interfering. Layers and layers of betrayal and plot twists. The audiobook is excellent, too!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
this was good, but it didnt grab me or suck me in. will continue the series but if book 2 flops then idk if ill finish it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Fonda Lee creates an immersive world in which the politics, religion, and details of daily life are beautifully fleshed out. Each character feels completely unique in their wants, desires, and flaws which perfectly sets up each conflict within the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Addiction
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Blood
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book has pacing issues, it feels simultaneously short and long, and that didn’t work for me. the time passage in this book was supposedly over months, but it felt like everything was happening on successive days which made the pacing of the novel fucked in my head.
i don’t care about any character except anden, and lan when he was alive. i’m not a fan of hilo and shae feels like she has some internalized misogyny to work through even though she’s a woman with power. like this quote?
“Two strong-minded women in a man’s world, if they do not wuickly become allies, are destined to be incurable rivals.” (pg 373)
misogyny coded, i’m sorry. i also felt like doru was made a pedophile solely to make him unlikable, i don’t feel there was any reason otherwise to make him so. it felt kind of out of place and unnecessary.
there was some infodumping, but i thought the way it was worked into the story was clever so i didn’t mind it. there was also some weird indigenous stereotyping that came out of nowhere about the Abukei being drunks, gamblers, and whatever “whor[ing] away their earnings” is as a noun?? not needed. come on.
this book honestly reminds me of that one pride and prejudice review that goes like:
“just a bunch of people going to each other’s houses”
the action scenes were a lot more prevelant than some low reviews made it out to be, but i still felt like this book tried too hard to be political. but fonda lee is so good at writing action scenes, i really enjoyed them!!
i don’t care about any character except anden, and lan when he was alive. i’m not a fan of hilo and shae feels like she has some internalized misogyny to work through even though she’s a woman with power. like this quote?
“Two strong-minded women in a man’s world, if they do not wuickly become allies, are destined to be incurable rivals.” (pg 373)
misogyny coded, i’m sorry. i also felt like doru was made a pedophile solely to make him unlikable, i don’t feel there was any reason otherwise to make him so. it felt kind of out of place and unnecessary.
there was some infodumping, but i thought the way it was worked into the story was clever so i didn’t mind it. there was also some weird indigenous stereotyping that came out of nowhere about the Abukei being drunks, gamblers, and whatever “whor[ing] away their earnings” is as a noun?? not needed. come on.
this book honestly reminds me of that one pride and prejudice review that goes like:
“just a bunch of people going to each other’s houses”
the action scenes were a lot more prevelant than some low reviews made it out to be, but i still felt like this book tried too hard to be political. but fonda lee is so good at writing action scenes, i really enjoyed them!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Drug use
adventurous
challenging
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
In the sleek, urban heart of Kekon, two rival clans war using magically enhanced abilities in order to defend their territories, amass coveted Jade stones, and secure honor and power for their families and followers. The Kaul family, who heads up the No Peak clan, must fight to preserve their foothold in Janloon and beyond.
When everyone praises Jade City as a masterclass in epic fantasy, they certainly aren't kidding. Fonda Lee expertly weaves Janloon, Kekon, and the Kaul family into such exquisite detail that Jade City reads more like a historic nonfiction than pure fantasy. Every word has purpose, every constructed piece of culture, economy, organized crime system, city structure, family dynamics, characters you meet for a single sentence to the main characters of the entire book, and especially the combat sequences fly off of the page and into your mind like a field guide meeting an old kungfu flick. The incredibly flawed characters grapple with family life, their own magic, and mortality as the city escalates into open warfare between the No Peak and Mountain clans. I cannot wait to follow Hilo, Shae, Anden and the rest of Kekon in the next book, Jade War.
When everyone praises Jade City as a masterclass in epic fantasy, they certainly aren't kidding. Fonda Lee expertly weaves Janloon, Kekon, and the Kaul family into such exquisite detail that Jade City reads more like a historic nonfiction than pure fantasy. Every word has purpose, every constructed piece of culture, economy, organized crime system, city structure, family dynamics, characters you meet for a single sentence to the main characters of the entire book, and especially the combat sequences fly off of the page and into your mind like a field guide meeting an old kungfu flick. The incredibly flawed characters grapple with family life, their own magic, and mortality as the city escalates into open warfare between the No Peak and Mountain clans. I cannot wait to follow Hilo, Shae, Anden and the rest of Kekon in the next book, Jade War.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pedophilia
adventurous
dark
sad
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: Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Dementia
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content
dark
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
It’s hard to believe this was Fonda Lee’s adult fantasy debut, because this was such a well-done and intricate story. This has been on my TBR for awhile - I’ve been waiting for just the right time to take the plunge into the series, and I’m so glad I did. It is a detailed urban fantasy in a society where possession of jade stones grants power and status to the wearers. The story focuses on two warring clans who are from high status families in what is essentially a mafia/gangster organization. I am astounded at how flawlessly Lee weaves a story with so many characters that ties together so effortlessly. Each character is infinitely complex, and this is a great study on developing morally gray characters. While each character takes part in brutal acts throughout the story, there are unexpected moments of tenderness and kindness. This was such an excellent start to the series and I can’t wait to continue with the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence
Moderate: Drug use