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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well. That was FUN! Enjoyed it just as much as I hoped I would.
THE WALLED CITY is a fascinating tale of hope, survival, and love. I adored the way Ryan Graudin wove three different character perspectives together to unveil the events of the story. The pacing was perfect and the world building and characterizations were handled masterfully.
So many recent dystopian YA books are either unoriginal or tend to fall short--this one did not. It was unique and totally exciting. Yes, this was certainly influenced by other popular dystopian reads (Maze Runner & Running Man in particular)--but it didn't feel like a carbon copy. The author was able to bring something new to a story we've encountered in one form or another before.
I was also fascinated to learn this was partially inspired by the real events of the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong.
Definitely worth a read!
Well. That was FUN! Enjoyed it just as much as I hoped I would.
THE WALLED CITY is a fascinating tale of hope, survival, and love. I adored the way Ryan Graudin wove three different character perspectives together to unveil the events of the story. The pacing was perfect and the world building and characterizations were handled masterfully.
So many recent dystopian YA books are either unoriginal or tend to fall short--this one did not. It was unique and totally exciting. Yes, this was certainly influenced by other popular dystopian reads (Maze Runner & Running Man in particular)--but it didn't feel like a carbon copy. The author was able to bring something new to a story we've encountered in one form or another before.
I was also fascinated to learn this was partially inspired by the real events of the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong.
Definitely worth a read!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Buku ini menggunakan sudut pandang orang ke-satu dari tiga tokoh yang berbeda; Dai, orang yang dapat pengasingan ke Walled City untuk menebus dosa. Jin Ling, penyelinap yang berusaha menyelamatkan kakaknya. Mei Yee, kakak Jin Ling yang berusaha keluar dari rumah Bordil milik Longwai.
Tiap karakter memiliki konfliknya masing-masing dan secara tak sengaja saling berkaitan di tengah-tengah kehidupan Walled City yang gelap, suram, dan jauh dari aturan hukum. Segala macam bentuk kegiatan kriminal bisa ditemukan di Walled City, memberikan kesan kengerian yang berhasil bikin ngilu dan merinding para pembaca. Tentang bagaimana luka dan darah yang didapat Jin Ling maupun Dai, juga kekhawatiran yang teramat sangat mencekik bagi seorang Mei Yee.
Overall segala bentuk perlawanan yang dilakukan para tokoh dijabarkan dengan detail, meskipun pada narasinya cukup banyak mengandung kiasan, tapi aku gak ada masalah sama sekali. Masih mudah untuk dicerna dan dinikmati. The Walled City sendiri di ambil berdasarkan lokasi nyata di Hongkong, tapi lokasi itu untuk sekarang sudah dihancurkan. Ini gak begitu penting sih, tapi di antara banyaknya karakter yang terlibat, aku paling suka dengan karakter Jin Ling!!! 👍🏻
Tiap karakter memiliki konfliknya masing-masing dan secara tak sengaja saling berkaitan di tengah-tengah kehidupan Walled City yang gelap, suram, dan jauh dari aturan hukum. Segala macam bentuk kegiatan kriminal bisa ditemukan di Walled City, memberikan kesan kengerian yang berhasil bikin ngilu dan merinding para pembaca. Tentang bagaimana luka dan darah yang didapat Jin Ling maupun Dai, juga kekhawatiran yang teramat sangat mencekik bagi seorang Mei Yee.
Overall segala bentuk perlawanan yang dilakukan para tokoh dijabarkan dengan detail, meskipun pada narasinya cukup banyak mengandung kiasan, tapi aku gak ada masalah sama sekali. Masih mudah untuk dicerna dan dinikmati. The Walled City sendiri di ambil berdasarkan lokasi nyata di Hongkong, tapi lokasi itu untuk sekarang sudah dihancurkan. Ini gak begitu penting sih, tapi di antara banyaknya karakter yang terlibat, aku paling suka dengan karakter Jin Ling!!! 👍🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder
updated may 20, 2018
I had this book on my shelf for the longest time, yet I hadn't ever read it. I decided to pick it up because my roommate suggested I read it based on the synopsis, and I definitely didn't enjoy it.
what i liked
what i didn't like
Though I didn't enjoy this book, I still think it's worth a read if you find the synopsis interesting.
I had this book on my shelf for the longest time, yet I hadn't ever read it. I decided to pick it up because my roommate suggested I read it based on the synopsis, and I definitely didn't enjoy it.
what i liked
- The world. This was probably the only thing I liked about the story. The world that it took place in, the Walled City, was incredibly interesting. After some research, I've found that it was based off a real place, which makes it even more twisted. Graudin did an excellent job with his world-building, and I definitely applaud him for that. It's made me want to read all of his other books.
what i didn't like
- The multiple POVs. It was hard to keep up with all the characters. Even when I could remember who the characters were, some of them had more interesting stories than others, which really led to a bumpy read. I feel like I didn't even like any of the characters that much.
- I found the book to be paced pretty slowly. There were some scenes that were really action-packed, yet others that didn't have much of anything at all.
- I felt like I had to force myself to read this book at times. I wish that wasn't true, but it was. I only finished it because I don't like DNFing books.
- There wasn't much of a plot. I felt like there really wasn't a lot going on most of the time, making it very dull.
Though I didn't enjoy this book, I still think it's worth a read if you find the synopsis interesting.
This book had been on my to-read pile for quite some time, and I’m glad I finally got to it - I really enjoyed it. The story follows 3 characters, set in a lawless walled city full of criminals and prostitutes and homeless kids – and inspired by a place that actually used to exist in China.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Ever read a book that was just 'you'? This was it for me. Beautiful writing, wonderful characters, gripping plot.
2.5 Stars. I really wanted to really like this book, but it was just ok. Unfortunately, this book put me in a reading slump. I had to start it about 3 times because every so many chapters I'd lose interest and realize I had no idea what was happening.
I was absolutely blown away by this book. I read an ARC of it a few months ago and am STILL thinking about it. A definite must-read!
3.5/5 I have mixed feelings about this book. I definitely enjoyed it. It was well written, and I greedily had a couple of late nights saying “ok, just one more chapter”. I think my biggest issue was that I wasn’t exactly sure of the “when” of the setting. At first I was assuming this was a dystopian-esque novel set in near-future China, but outside the wall the world was very current day normal. It wasn’t until the end of the book where I read an excerpt from the author about how the idea came from an actual walled city in China that was just forgotten and full of crime. I guess I just felt a sense of being lost while reading. I kept expecting an explanation of how this city came to be. I like to place in my head where the story belongs, and I wasn’t exactly sure where this should fit in.
Ok, a silly thing to nit-pick at, but I think if I had known about the real walled city going in it just would have sat better with me.
The story is told through the three main characters Dai, Jin and Mei Yee. At first I was worried that it would be a bit confusing. I’m terrible with names, often finishing a book and completely forgetting the protagonist’s name. With this book having Chinese characters I thought I would be doomed. But each chapter lists the character’s names and it was easy to follow along. I don’t think I once forgot who I was reading because each character had their own unique voice.
The Walled City is a very harsh world, and from page one you can easily visualize the squalor in the walls with it’s dark, small alleys and buildings so tall you can’t see the sky. Each of the three characters lives within the city, experiencing their own side of it. I quickly felt the biggest connection to Jin, the younger sister who willingly entered the city to try and save her sister who was sold into the slave trade. She was strong, tough, and someone you didn’t want to mess with.
Dai was a young man full of intrigue, who had some sort of dark past and a mission within the city. It was interesting trying to piece together his back story and figure out why he was in the city. Mei Yee was the least interesting of the three, as most of her chapters were about being trapped in a room and whether she dared to defy the master and break free.
There was a tiny bit of romance, that just didn’t exactly sit right with me. It seemed to come on a little too easily, but I have my own view of how I think that should have worked out in the end, but no spoilers. It definitely didn’t overwhelm the story which is always a plus.
A book full of action, this story touches on some horrible realities of things that are happening in our world today. I suggest reading the author’s note in the back of the book before reading, as it sheds some light on where the idea for the story came from. Overall it was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with some interesting characters.
I received a free copy of this book via netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review
Ok, a silly thing to nit-pick at, but I think if I had known about the real walled city going in it just would have sat better with me.
The story is told through the three main characters Dai, Jin and Mei Yee. At first I was worried that it would be a bit confusing. I’m terrible with names, often finishing a book and completely forgetting the protagonist’s name. With this book having Chinese characters I thought I would be doomed. But each chapter lists the character’s names and it was easy to follow along. I don’t think I once forgot who I was reading because each character had their own unique voice.
The Walled City is a very harsh world, and from page one you can easily visualize the squalor in the walls with it’s dark, small alleys and buildings so tall you can’t see the sky. Each of the three characters lives within the city, experiencing their own side of it. I quickly felt the biggest connection to Jin, the younger sister who willingly entered the city to try and save her sister who was sold into the slave trade. She was strong, tough, and someone you didn’t want to mess with.
Dai was a young man full of intrigue, who had some sort of dark past and a mission within the city. It was interesting trying to piece together his back story and figure out why he was in the city. Mei Yee was the least interesting of the three, as most of her chapters were about being trapped in a room and whether she dared to defy the master and break free.
There was a tiny bit of romance, that just didn’t exactly sit right with me. It seemed to come on a little too easily, but I have my own view of how I think that should have worked out in the end, but no spoilers. It definitely didn’t overwhelm the story which is always a plus.
A book full of action, this story touches on some horrible realities of things that are happening in our world today. I suggest reading the author’s note in the back of the book before reading, as it sheds some light on where the idea for the story came from. Overall it was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with some interesting characters.
I received a free copy of this book via netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review