You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
theinquisitxor's Reviews (804)
This book is SO GOOD. Possibly the best book I’ve read so far this year. This series is excellent and I can’t wait for the final book in September
I get the hype. I've seen this book all over booktube, and heard the rave reviews. A Godfather-esque story set in a fantastical modern day Asian world, where Jade is the most powerful substance out there, and two clans compete over control of the substance and nation. I was really intrigued by this premise, and the setting is not your average fantasy setting. This book was a bit of a breathe of fresh air from your average fantasy book. But it was also packed full of events, characters, world building and lore that made the story really shine.
Despite all that happens in this book I never felt confused, and Fonda Lee does a good job at not giving too much exposition and gradually reveals things to the reader without making it confusing. Actually- this entire story is very masterfully crafted and there are only a couple other writers that I've read I can think of that are on this level.
It's not secret world-building is usually my favorite part of a book. And this book spares no expense at it. While this entire story is mostly concentrated to a single city, in a small island part of a much larger world, the world-building never felt lacking. I do hope the other books include a map of the larger world. And I hope there will be more traveling to other countries. I felt like this first book sets up for the possibility of more traveling and exploration of the surrounding countries. The politics of this book are so focused to one specific area, but the larger issues and problems effect the whole world-- it would be interesting to explore this as a consequence in later books.
The characters: Lan, Hilo and Shae are three siblings that make up the younger generation of their clan, the No Peaks. They are the three main characters, plus their adoptive-ish cousin, Andy. While the characters are so well realized and developed, I personally never felt super connected to them and I don't think I cared about them as much as most other readers. This is totally just a personal thing and not necessarily a fault of the author. Of the characters, Shae was by far my favorite. Their rival clan, The Mountain was also really intriguing and I wish we got a bit more about them. Their leader, is also a character I would like to learn more about.
Overall, I think this book deserves the hype and awards it has been getting. I'm not sure if I'm going to jump to the second book immediately, but I would like to read it in the next couple months. I'm a little flummoxed by what to rate it. On a technical aspect this is a 5/5 stars. On a personal enjoyment, it is more like a 4/5. I'm going to stick to this with a 4 or 4.5/5 stars, but my opinion of this book might change with time.
Despite all that happens in this book I never felt confused, and Fonda Lee does a good job at not giving too much exposition and gradually reveals things to the reader without making it confusing. Actually- this entire story is very masterfully crafted and there are only a couple other writers that I've read I can think of that are on this level.
It's not secret world-building is usually my favorite part of a book. And this book spares no expense at it. While this entire story is mostly concentrated to a single city, in a small island part of a much larger world, the world-building never felt lacking. I do hope the other books include a map of the larger world. And I hope there will be more traveling to other countries. I felt like this first book sets up for the possibility of more traveling and exploration of the surrounding countries. The politics of this book are so focused to one specific area, but the larger issues and problems effect the whole world-- it would be interesting to explore this as a consequence in later books.
The characters: Lan, Hilo and Shae are three siblings that make up the younger generation of their clan, the No Peaks. They are the three main characters, plus their adoptive-ish cousin, Andy. While the characters are so well realized and developed, I personally never felt super connected to them and I don't think I cared about them as much as most other readers. This is totally just a personal thing and not necessarily a fault of the author. Of the characters, Shae was by far my favorite. Their rival clan, The Mountain was also really intriguing and I wish we got a bit more about them. Their leader, is also a character I would like to learn more about.
Overall, I think this book deserves the hype and awards it has been getting. I'm not sure if I'm going to jump to the second book immediately, but I would like to read it in the next couple months. I'm a little flummoxed by what to rate it. On a technical aspect this is a 5/5 stars. On a personal enjoyment, it is more like a 4/5. I'm going to stick to this with a 4 or 4.5/5 stars, but my opinion of this book might change with time.
First read: 2018
Reread: June 2020
I enjoyed this just as much as the first time I read it, and I have the second one right next to me ready to start!
Reread: June 2020
I enjoyed this just as much as the first time I read it, and I have the second one right next to me ready to start!
A really cute Pride and Prejudice/ Persuasion retelling set in academia! I really liked the characters and the book addressed some of the rising concerns within the university system, it also blended in modern tech well. Bonus points for this book being dedicated to one of my English professors!
Like the title suggests, this is a Changeling story, or rather a story about a baby that is swapped out with a changeling. Sounds like a typical fairy tale, right? However, this is set in modern day NYC with characters who are just as addicted to their phones and social media as we are. It is also about predators, life and a rare book dealer. But it's still a fairy tale. There are withes, trolls, magic and myths. The whole story and setting seems to be based on (primarily) European myths and fairy tales. The novel reminded me a bit of American Gods and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Considering that I adore both those books, I enjoyed what Victor LaValle did with this.
I really enjoyed reading this, as it keeps you guessing, changing your mind and re-thinking the situation all the time. It is very atmospheric and presents a world that is at one part very realistic, and another completely fantastical. Technically this book is in the horror genre, but I don't personally see it as horror, more just (urban) fantasy that contains some dark stuff. I definitely think this book is underrepresented, and it will probably join many recs I give in the future because of that. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and the novel contains many of my favorite themes in the genre.
I really enjoyed reading this, as it keeps you guessing, changing your mind and re-thinking the situation all the time. It is very atmospheric and presents a world that is at one part very realistic, and another completely fantastical. Technically this book is in the horror genre, but I don't personally see it as horror, more just (urban) fantasy that contains some dark stuff. I definitely think this book is underrepresented, and it will probably join many recs I give in the future because of that. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and the novel contains many of my favorite themes in the genre.
3.5/4ish Stars
This is an important book. It may be about a group of people and events of almost 100 years ago, but the topics and nature explored in the book hasn’t really changed at all.
This is the story of Japanese women who traveled to California in the beginning of the 20th Century to become strangers wives, and hopefully live a better life. Little did they know that who they were told would be their husband was completely wrong, and the lifestyle they lived was usually harsh and unforgiving. It’s a story of rape, abuse, work, discrimination, children and eventually the Japanese Internment Camps during WWII.
Discussing this in class made me appreciate the story more than just reading it on my own. It’s well written, and parts are difficult to read due to the content. However the narrative style got a little old and repetitive for me by the end. This is a part of history that tends to get glossed over and not given much time, but it still belongs in some of America’s darkest times.
I don’t really want to bring in politics onto this platform, but I couldn’t help comparing the events and stereotypes examined in this novel to what is happening today, but with a different ethnic group. Even though the events of this novel happened a long time ago, it’s a story of human nature and the repetitive quality of our histories. And above all it’s a story about women and the hardships they have faced.
This is an important book. It may be about a group of people and events of almost 100 years ago, but the topics and nature explored in the book hasn’t really changed at all.
This is the story of Japanese women who traveled to California in the beginning of the 20th Century to become strangers wives, and hopefully live a better life. Little did they know that who they were told would be their husband was completely wrong, and the lifestyle they lived was usually harsh and unforgiving. It’s a story of rape, abuse, work, discrimination, children and eventually the Japanese Internment Camps during WWII.
Discussing this in class made me appreciate the story more than just reading it on my own. It’s well written, and parts are difficult to read due to the content. However the narrative style got a little old and repetitive for me by the end. This is a part of history that tends to get glossed over and not given much time, but it still belongs in some of America’s darkest times.
I don’t really want to bring in politics onto this platform, but I couldn’t help comparing the events and stereotypes examined in this novel to what is happening today, but with a different ethnic group. Even though the events of this novel happened a long time ago, it’s a story of human nature and the repetitive quality of our histories. And above all it’s a story about women and the hardships they have faced.