A review by mcstressy
Jade City by Fonda Lee

adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

LIKED:

  • I find the politics built of this country and this world very fascinating. There's a very obvious metaphor here with Jade and hard drugs (it's not bad that it's obvious by any means), but there's also correlation with blood diamonds and the costs that mining and classism have on certain countries and national relations. I found all of that really intriguing as I was reading and I'm excited to learn more as the series progresses. 
  • The caste system of the clans was also really interesting, even just in regards to naming (Pillar, Weather Man, etc.). Politicking within politicking and the different dynamics of the clans, etc. I ate it up. 
  • I think this book's interweaving of POVs (blessedly 3rd person) is really masterful. The flow and placement of each of the chapters kind of broke my brain looking at it from a writing craft perspective. 
  • Shae rules. Shae is queen. Shae is my favorite character. 
  • Anden's storyline and character arc is also fascinating and I'm so looking forward to see how his story continues to develop. 
  • My absolute favorite part of this world was learning how different Green Bones decorate themselves with Jade. Ayt's spiraling arm bands? Sick. Hilo's embedded jade in his collarbone? Rad as hell. They added layers to the character that I just found so much fun to devour

LOATHED:

  • This book is too long. I love a long book. But this book could have been closer to 400 or 450 and that would have been a bit less burdensome. I'm, uh, worried about the third book because...woof that's a big book. 
  • I'm a bit disappointed in the character arc for Hilo, BUT I'm expecting he's being set up for some pretty important shit in the next book or two, so I'm not too annoyed. 
  • I hate this Grandad. I hate him. I know I should be so it's not a detriment to the book, but goddamn I hate that man. 
  • The description for this book (eg., the blurb on the inner cover) makes it seem like Shine is going to be a way bigger part of this story. All in all, it's quite minor actually? I'm not a huge fan of reading about drug use in books, so I'm not really complaining, but I did find the plot points involving Shine to actually be quite interesting. 
  • This is really silly but the map of Kekon is not my favorite. It looks like a fetus. 
  • This, again, not about the book. But WHY is this a book I see recommended time and time again to people who have read ACoTAR and are looking for their next fantasy read?? This is not high fantasy. It is urban fantasy and it is very different and people expecting a high fantasy romantasy are going to leave this reading experience very disappointed - which isn't fair to them or this book! I've never read ACoTar or any SJM books, but to my understanding, this may be an okay route from Crescent City if anything? But woof. Book influencers. Take a breath. 

LONGED FOR:

  • More jade lore. I liked the interludes well enough, but I really wanted to know more about the development of jade and honestly more about the export of it economically because I'm a loser who would find that fascinating.
  • More descriptions of how people wear their jade. Just more. It's so telling. I love it. 
  • Not so big a book if possible (I know, I just asked for more words with the first two. I'm an enigma).


Will I read the next one? : Yep Yep. Doing another buddy read with my sisters for Jade War.

 
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