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just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
szuum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, and Abortion
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and War
cognitivedisaster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Take everything good about Jade War, and triple it. The characters are amazing. The world is amazing. The plot is amazing. The intrigue is amazing. The character relationships are better than any book I've ever read.
The main characters went from not greatpeople to fucking monsters. Even with their horrible actions, their self-justification makes it even more twisted. Even when you hate them though, you'll still root for them and cry for them*
The world is somehow even better than the last book, with a new country, and with it, new perspectives on how the main charcters affect the world
If Jade War was the godfather in a fantasy setting, this is the godfather 2 in a fantasy setting (especially with the arc of <Shae>)
*except for <Hilo>. Fuck that guy
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, Car accident, and War
Minor: Hate crime, Rape, and Alcohol
laguerrelewis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
lee delves even deeper into the world of her story by expanding its scope through looking beyond kekon and examining all the intricacies and complex interconnected politics + history of the world she's created. the worldbuilding is starkly vivid, each country and their relationships w/ one another so distinct, realistic, and infuriatingly and familiarly mirrors our world.
the kauls continue to go through a whole lotta shit; there's a lot of ups and downs here but they do their best. never have i ever seen such a strong, complex fictional family and felt so much for their plight. there are certain points in the novel that just made me stop and go, "bruh this shit rly just went there." what i also rly appreciate is how they arent perfect at all; sometimes one can see their decisions' terrible consequences from a mile away, though theyre understandable and even inevitable.
the politicking and scheming, as always, continue to be one of the best things abt this series. idk if it's bc of lee's corporate strategist background, but the diplomatic, furtive, subtle ways the characters talk and act are enjoyably interesting, all imbued w/ an undercurrent msg or tension. i feel smarter reading abt how the characters talk and think lol.
what i most enjoy abt this book, however, is the nuanced, complex exploration of its themes that are hugely relevant in the real world not just on a personal, individual level but also historically and politically, esp how infuriating yts are, how countries and ppl arent black-and-white, diasporas, and how national sentiment borne from traumatic history can get entangled in more immediate, complicated current int'l relations and priorities. lee explores them all w/ gusto and a deft hand, offering persuasive arguments for both sides yet never talking down to the reader. also, reading this in 2022 feels like the book prophesized a lottt of things.
my only major caveat w/ the novel is how a lot of the kauls' scheming amounts to too little - like, all that for nothing compared to the mountain? nevertheless, this is an engrossing, dark, violent, complex, thrilling, and emotionally brutal book, one of a few that can easily make me scream, spooked, tear up, and stressed, and whose sequel i cant wait to devour.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, and War
horizonous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Xenophobia, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Abortion
◦ Death = Brother, Grandparentmaira_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Kauls are really growing on me. The first book, for some reason, I didn't know what to feel yet about these characters. But this book made me adore them each in their own way. They were not perfect characters, mind you, but the were distinct individuals nonetheless. Fonda Lee did a really great job capturing their unique personalities, even the massive cast of side characters. I feel like the characters in this series will be those that will stay with me for a long time.
Going into this, I knew to expect a lot of politics involved. This second book was still politically heavy, but with that anticipation, I was not struggling at all to go through this book. The pacing felt a lot faster than the first book.
Also, I want to applaud the emotional maturity with which every conversation, every action was written. I was blown away by that emotional awareness, by the details to each action and consequences. Fonda Lee's writing style is impressive for this.
5 stars and a new favourite!
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Hate crime, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
doodeedoda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abortion, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Biphobia, Cursing, Infidelity, Blood, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Excrement, and Vomit
thuto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual violence