A review by hamohero
Ebony Gate by Julia Vee, Ken Bebelle

adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I wanted to like this book so baaadd. The overall concept was fascinating, Unfortunately,  i dont think this was the right medium for this story. I think it wouldve been better as a graphic novel. 

The text could've used a lot of editing down. The pace dragged in a lot of parts and I think there are too many moving subplots happening. The story takes  place over 2 to 3 days but it feels like it lasts a month. (
theres actually a sentence in the book where the main character says that it's only been a day since the beginning of the book and to her it felt like eons. So this is 300 pages in.
). Characters kept on repeating themselves and I wasn't emotionally pulled by our main characters thoughts or motivations. I didn't feel the tension that emiko was feeling. 

(Incoming long ass rant about everything I didn't like about this book).

 1. The world/magic system was actually very interesting  (secret society of Asians with elemental magic?? Hell yeah!). But the actual world building was lacking...the magic started to feel a little too plot convenient at the end (
i rolled my eyes when kamon was not affected by uncle jimmys talent and there was barely any explanation for that
). 

2. Speaking of lacking, I was just confused by the main character, emiko. It's from her pov so she kept on saying she was this jaded, edgy monster with trauma and wanted to divorce herself from her dishonorable past but tbh I did not believe her at all. Like if you really wanted a fresh start, why not move to a more rural area??  But instead you move to San francisco?? And live among your magic community where your (prominent) family can still have a hold of you???
And she mentions how much she loves sf but she doesnt really mention the actual characteristics of the city, only some parts of it like lotus lane and some stores. Idk i think thats why a lot of urban fantasies dont mesh with me cuz the author assumes you know what the cities are like.

Also I have no idea how old emiko is.  She repeatedly uses the phrases "[saved] my bacon"/"eat my boots" and she refers to other young adults as "kid", but I thought she was like 19 - 22 since shes so whiny all the time. She is constantly saying that she's no longer the Blade of Soong (aka the clans assassin) and lamenting the fact that she has no talent/magic. 

3. The other characters have more personality than our main character but also are kind of cartoonish. Especially the Tran twins. Fiona is this hyperfemme girl boss who emiko always has to take note of what she's wearing (usually high heels and something designer). Freddy is the stoner brother who is the "comic relief" and contributes phrases like 
"That is one seriously weird dude" and "whoa, man". 

4. The following lines that made me scrunch my face (light spoilers):
  • Heh. Gravity. It's a bitch.
  • Two more kunais flashed in the sunlight, hurtling toward me on a wave of sinus stinging acid. 
  • He looked at me and shock and made gestures behind the shinigami's back. I interpreted them as Freddy saying "Really dude? You didn't tell me about the death god?!"
  • "[Evil dude]! You have wrong the people of my city! I Am The Sentinel and I will have retribution!"
  • I can't believe I let this... bank teller get the drop on me.
  • The portal clenched like the death spasm of a corrupted heart.
( what does this even mean)

5. Unnecessary romance subplot with rich charming white boy whos interest is collecting asian objects and tanned furry ex who is actually super kind and caring. As if this story wasn't already overstuffed. 

I can probably go on and on but I'll stop or it'll actually be eons. I like the concept but if I wasn't so stuck on that, I'd probably would've dnfed it after 50 pages.