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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I finished Jade City, but I won’t be continuing the series. Honestly, I found it boring. I kept zoning out of the storyline, especially on audio. The constant perspective changes were jarring; it often took me a few lines to figure out whose head I was in, which broke immersion every time.
The magic system is a great concept, jade as a source of power is intriguing, but it felt like the book leaned too heavily on that one cool idea without doing enough to make the characters come alive. I didn’t believe in them, didn’t root for anyone, and never felt connected to their journeys.
Some readers call this a character-driven book, but I disagree. To me it lacked both compelling character arcs and a strong plot. The story plodded along, and while there were a few well-written action scenes scattered in, they couldn’t carry the weight of an otherwise flat narrative.
It’s clear why this series has fan, the worldbuilding and premise have potential, but for me, it never clicked.