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A review by mikazuki17
Jade City by Fonda Lee
3.0
“Sometimes, Andy, the people you think you can count on, they let you down in a bad way, and that’s hard to take. But for the most part, you give a man something to live up to, you tell him he can be more than he is now, more than other people think he’ll ever be, and he’ll try his godsdamned best to make it true.”
I really tried to like this book but I just can’t. I feel so disconnected from the story and I thought it was because of the slow pacing but then I realized that drug-war, politics, and mafia-like clan story, doesn’t really interest me.
I struggled with understanding the Jade magic because it wasn’t really explained, or maybe I’m just used to a magic system with detailed explanations. The magic has potential but maybe the author just doesn’t want to focus on the Jade magic but on the clan revenge story instead.
The characters and their struggles aren’t relatable (for me). Anden, the character I like the most, didn’t even show up that much in the book. I would have loved to read more about his struggles and school life and understand the magic through him.
I also agree with Anden's decision not to join the Green Bones in the end. Even if they're his family, he knows that having jade will have a terrible effect on him.
“Expectations are a funny thing,” Wen said. “When you’re born with them, you resent them, fight against them. When you’ve never been given any, you feel the lack of them your whole life.”
I really tried to like this book but I just can’t. I feel so disconnected from the story and I thought it was because of the slow pacing but then I realized that drug-war, politics, and mafia-like clan story, doesn’t really interest me.
I struggled with understanding the Jade magic because it wasn’t really explained, or maybe I’m just used to a magic system with detailed explanations. The magic has potential but maybe the author just doesn’t want to focus on the Jade magic but on the clan revenge story instead.
The characters and their struggles aren’t relatable (for me). Anden, the character I like the most, didn’t even show up that much in the book. I would have loved to read more about his struggles and school life and understand the magic through him.
Spoiler
It really frustrated me when Lan started using Shine (an illegal drug) and died accidentally because of it. Plus Anden tried to tell Shae to lookout for Lan but she didn’t listen, they could have prevented his death. And Hilo seemed to know that the Shine contributed to Lan’s death when Anden wanted to tell him but he chose to ignore it and went to war with the other clan to blame them. I know that there wouldn’t be a story if all of that didn’t happen but it’s just frustrating.I also agree with Anden's decision not to join the Green Bones in the end. Even if they're his family, he knows that having jade will have a terrible effect on him.
“Expectations are a funny thing,” Wen said. “When you’re born with them, you resent them, fight against them. When you’ve never been given any, you feel the lack of them your whole life.”