Reviews

I did not think I would like a gangster book but jade city definitely proved me wrong. The magic system was not as detailed as I like, and my favorite character died half way through but overall it was a great read. The writing is also great and you can't help but root for most of the characters (Bero, when I see you).

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4.0

4.5 stars.

Spoilers:

It gave 70s settings with the cars and technology and the Jade abilities that are demonstrated were so well done.

I loved Lan and his goal of being a peacetime pillar. Slow to anger and when he was angry it was felt. Lan carries the burden of being the eldest and trying to continue running his clan to the best of his ability. But his gentle nature made a lot of people doubt him as pillar to the clan. But Lan was not weak at all, far from it as were shown how he still gave his kindness to a world that wanted nothing more then to snuff it out,

Hilo, is the opposite of Lan in every way. Where Lan is patient and calm, Hilo is a burst of energy and rage. The horn of the clan. Yet underneath all that is someone who cares deeply for those he hold dear to his heart. He hurts and it manifests as angers and lashing out which makes for a great horn in the eyes of others. He’s able to connect with people and inspire loyalty in a way even Lan can not. Hilo is always ready to fight.

Both brothers grew on me at different points and in not gonna lie I was cherished by Lan’s death. His death was just a string of bad luck and ill timing that was anticlimactic but also realistic. It set off Hilo and Shae and sent no peak into war. I’m not going to lie while the others I enjoyed I was hoping to see how Lan would handle things as pillar. But seeing Hilo step up in such a big way was also beautiful yet tragic.

Shae grew on me much slower than her brothers. The youngest child and a female she felt like she had to prove that she was just as good if not better then he brothers. She took a risk and left the clan to explore the world and it opened her eyes to how different things were outside of the clans. She retuned home not wearing Jade and slowly acknowledged to herself why she left and what she hoped to achieve. She had such a different perspective to life outside of the clans and it was refreshing to see her admit where she went wrong, that she had some regrets but also no regrets because she wouldn’t be her without those experiences. She threw her Jade on once Lan was killed and transformed into the new weatherman while Hilo went from Horn to Pillar of the clan. They both had to learn and adapt to their new roles. And throughout all these changes there was the lingering air of sadness, small reminders of Lan and how he wasn’t there anymore.

Andy is the baby cousin to the Kuals, with a tragic backstory and high expectations for him from the clan. Andy is super sensitive to Jade and worries he’ll go out like his mother,
; driven mad with the itches, and doped up on shine like his cousin Lan. Andy works with Hilo to make a huge turn in the war for Theo clan but it also makes him realize if he continues on he’ll end up dead. So he refuses to wear his Jade and it shocked me but at the same time was seen coming a mile away.

Ayt is a well written villain. She’s not some femme fatal but an ordinary looking woman who was ruthless and unyielding in what she wanted.

Wen is more than Hilo’s lover and wife. She’s stone eye (considered bad luck) and sister to the Maik brothers (Hilo’s horn and Pillarman). We see how the whole family (despite being outcasts even though they are close to Hilo) are loyal and cunning in their own ways.

Bero can go slip on knife and stay dead for all I care. I’ve never hated a character as much as him. I do have to give him props though for always finding opportunities.

There’s way more to say about the characters and the story but for now I’ll leave it here and start the next book.