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A review by violetlunablossom
Jade War by Fonda Lee
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While I don't love Jade War as much as I love Jade City, I find it just as enjoyable. There's definitely a bigger emphasis on politics in this book and that's understandable, since there was a whole clan war in the last one. Some political chapters really had me invested in them while the others were a little hard to get through. The political scenes between Hilo and Ayt are easily the best parts of the book and I got so excited when I realized that they were going to go at it.
The family element is much stronger in Jade War and any chapter that had Hilo being with his family were sweet and a nice break from all the tense politics. Speaking of Hilo, I felt as if his character took a much darker tone this book and there's this one scene that had me in shock because I couldn't believe what he did. His actions throughout the story are frustrating yet understandable and I don't know where I stand with my feelings about him now. Shae, on the other hand, was put through the wringer. She was beat down and never given the chance to stand yet by the end of the book, I felt satisfied with where her character was. I felt like I really got to know her more and I applaud Fonda Lee for adding Shae's religious beliefs to her story line.
Even though Anden had only a few chapters, I loved every single one of them. It was nice seeing him become more and more confident with himself and by the end, I felt as if his character was the most developed out of everyone. Also shout out to Wen for not only being an amazing wife, sister-in-law, and mother, but a woman who's made a place for herself in a family where she pales in comparison in skill.
The last ten chapters of this book had me on the edge of my seat and I demand that Fonda Lee pays me for all the emotional damages that she inflicted upon me.
The family element is much stronger in Jade War and any chapter that had Hilo being with his family were sweet and a nice break from all the tense politics. Speaking of Hilo, I felt as if his character took a much darker tone this book and there's this one scene that had me in shock because I couldn't believe what he did. His actions throughout the story are frustrating yet understandable and I don't know where I stand with my feelings about him now. Shae, on the other hand, was put through the wringer. She was beat down and never given the chance to stand yet by the end of the book, I felt satisfied with where her character was. I felt like I really got to know her more and I applaud Fonda Lee for adding Shae's religious beliefs to her story line.
Even though Anden had only a few chapters, I loved every single one of them. It was nice seeing him become more and more confident with himself and by the end, I felt as if his character was the most developed out of everyone. Also shout out to Wen for not only being an amazing wife, sister-in-law, and mother, but a woman who's made a place for herself in a family where she pales in comparison in skill.
The last ten chapters of this book had me on the edge of my seat and I demand that Fonda Lee pays me for all the emotional damages that she inflicted upon me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Drug use, and Violence
Moderate: Blood