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storykeeper_saga 's review for:
Jade City
by Fonda Lee
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Genuinely, Jade City is a great book. The characters are brutal, intelligent, emotional, and fascinating. The story kept me on the edge of my seat. There's some decisions Fonda Lee made I don't agree with, her dropping that a prominent side character was a predator in a random chapter in an effort to make him unforgivable was very cheap. The world itself felt rich and full of life even when the characters were surrounded by death. I wish some of her foreshadowing had been a little more drawn out and that we had more time with prominent female characters outside of Shae. Yet, the characters are richly written. Especially the antagonist. It was not an easy read at times, but was interesting with every turn of the page. I wish we got a little more explanation of the magic system, yet I also understand why we didn't. My few issues are overshadowed by brilliant writing and a fascinating storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia