A review by rnbhargava
Jade War by Fonda Lee

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I absolutely loved this second book. Its main minor drawback is the cast with point of view chapters being perhaps a bit too large. That said, I was thrilled by the twists and turns, both in terms of action and character based ones. It really plays with the emotions masterfully. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Xenophobia, Gore, Blood, Sexual content, and Car accident

There is drug use in relation to the power abilities central to the story, there’s an abortion. There’s an early death of grandparent rather than parent. Misogyny is present with the intent to “protect” those without abilities yet that “weakness” is based on a cultural fallacy. There’s a relationship between two male characters that does become sexual. There’s varying attitudes around it, one of which is dismissing it as a phase. There are also plenty of relationship betrayals of varying levels. There is also one major action carried out by a main character that could be thought of as unforgivable and monstrous that leaves a specific child in his care.