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A review by lexroze
Jade City by Fonda Lee
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book touches on themes of complicated family dynamics, and Greed and Power.
Can even the most well intentioned leaders be corrupted by money and power?
How much are you willing to risk for the reputation of your family?
How much are you willing to overlook for the sake of preserving family ties?
The only thing stopping me from giving the full 5 stars is because it felt like the book didn't commit to a full character study. Maybe Lee or their editor was concerned about the length but I much would have preferred the book be 200-300 pages longer in order to get both plot and character development to drive the story. I'd like to think that the average fantasy reader would also agree as we are accustomed to longer books, but then again I have seen reviews calling this an intro to fantasy. So having a smaller page count would appeal to most readers who are new to fantasy.
Overall I personally thoroughly enjoyed this one. The setting and themes reminded me of The Legend of Korra one of my favorite pieces of media. The characters are complicated and each one can feel relatable at times. Being that it is a first book I still have some little loose threads I am hoping will be tied up in the next book, but in conclusion the plot was like a gangster/mafia family drama, and I ate up every bit.
Honestly the writing is what kept me so engaged. Fonda Lee has a way of describing places, sounds, colors, and textures that make my poetic heart happy. Her writing is detailed but not dense which is a hard line to toe.
Can even the most well intentioned leaders be corrupted by money and power?
How much are you willing to risk for the reputation of your family?
How much are you willing to overlook for the sake of preserving family ties?
The only thing stopping me from giving the full 5 stars is because it felt like the book didn't commit to a full character study. Maybe Lee or their editor was concerned about the length but I much would have preferred the book be 200-300 pages longer in order to get both plot and character development to drive the story. I'd like to think that the average fantasy reader would also agree as we are accustomed to longer books, but then again I have seen reviews calling this an intro to fantasy. So having a smaller page count would appeal to most readers who are new to fantasy.
Overall I personally thoroughly enjoyed this one. The setting and themes reminded me of The Legend of Korra one of my favorite pieces of media. The characters are complicated and each one can feel relatable at times. Being that it is a first book I still have some little loose threads I am hoping will be tied up in the next book, but in conclusion the plot was like a gangster/mafia family drama, and I ate up every bit.
Honestly the writing is what kept me so engaged. Fonda Lee has a way of describing places, sounds, colors, and textures that make my poetic heart happy. Her writing is detailed but not dense which is a hard line to toe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Self harm, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis