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ghostnaps's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The first part of the book moves at a slow pace with some incidents between rival clans but otherwise focused on revealing the world and characters to the readers. The latter half picks up in pace as you follow the Kaul family entering into a war with the rival clan. The world building is thoughtfully done, showcasing the contribution of politics, history, and religion to the climate of the present day in the story. Each character is written with their own sense of morality and ideals; there is a lot more emphasis on some given the plot, so I’d love to see others enter the spotlight throughout the series. I’m excited to see how things continue to unfold in the next book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia
sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Turns out I'm a big fan of political intrigue because this was so interesting to me, despite a lot of it being rooted in the politics of the world and clan interactions.
It was slower paced at the start than some fantasies but I loved getting to know the characters, which are arguably the strongest part of this book, as well as the world and magic system. As the book progresses, we get more action, but the core of this book is rooted in the politics of the world, so this may not be for everyone but it was for me.
A deep and complex world, a fleshed-out magic system and an interesting and real cast of characters. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series!
It was slower paced at the start than some fantasies but I loved getting to know the characters, which are arguably the strongest part of this book, as well as the world and magic system. As the book progresses, we get more action, but the core of this book is rooted in the politics of the world, so this may not be for everyone but it was for me.
A deep and complex world, a fleshed-out magic system and an interesting and real cast of characters. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia
persephonefoxx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, and War
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Colonisation
crybabybea's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings. I enjoyed reading this and found enough things I liked to keep going, but it didn't quite meet the hype for me.
The plot, inspired by old-school kung fu and Chinese gangster movies, was fresh and interesting, but it didn't push the envelope or add anything new. There are high-stakes politics, with a couple of good twists at the end. The plot is fairly generic, with real-world elements changed to imaginative fantasy ones.
The world-building was well-done. I appreciated the author's focus on small details. The world follows a stereotypical Confucian blueprint of patriarchal values, filial piety, and honor. Since it's urban fantasy, there wasn't an overwhelming amount of new information to process, making it easy to grasp the setting and its culture. The focus on Kekon made the setting feel intimate and immersive, and the capital Janloon felt bustling and full of life. Again, it's urban fantasy, so don't expect sprawling Fellowship of the Ring adventures.
I liked the characters but wanted to see a bit more from them. Anden had the coolest characterization, with an interesting backstory that made his motivations feel complex. I would have liked more from the villain, who has an intriguing story. There is a serious lack of complexity when it comes to the female main characters, so I hope they are explored more in the next installments. I see potential in the characters and their relationships despite not fully connecting with them here.
The choice to use jade as a magic amplifier is a unique idea that fits well with the old-school kung fu themes. I liked that the magic had drawbacks and didn't feel overwhelmingly powerful. The idea of the magic being akin to an addiction that harms the body over time, while not being the adds depth to the story. The addition ofa street drug that counters the aftereffects of jade is interesting and makes it feel like we are watching the world progress. The magic system was definitely the best part of this book. It was easy to understand, fit well with the setting and premise, and wasn't overpowered.
The writing itself was okay. I liked the author's tendency toward simplicity, but explaining actions and emotions overtly rather than letting them unfold naturally was distracting. There were some hard-hitting lines but nothing that wowed me. The POV switching was well done and added a cinematic quality to the book that made the experience satisfying. It never felt confusing or unnecessary and didn't take away from the pacing.
Overall, pretty solid as the first in a trilogy. I expect the first book in a fantasy series to be a bit slower and less in-depth than the following books, and Jade City does its job well: setting up the world and characters, introducing action, and leaving things up in the air to make you want to continue the series.
The plot, inspired by old-school kung fu and Chinese gangster movies, was fresh and interesting, but it didn't push the envelope or add anything new. There are high-stakes politics, with a couple of good twists at the end. The plot is fairly generic, with real-world elements changed to imaginative fantasy ones.
The world-building was well-done. I appreciated the author's focus on small details. The world follows a stereotypical Confucian blueprint of patriarchal values, filial piety, and honor. Since it's urban fantasy, there wasn't an overwhelming amount of new information to process, making it easy to grasp the setting and its culture. The focus on Kekon made the setting feel intimate and immersive, and the capital Janloon felt bustling and full of life. Again, it's urban fantasy, so don't expect sprawling Fellowship of the Ring adventures.
I liked the characters but wanted to see a bit more from them. Anden had the coolest characterization, with an interesting backstory that made his motivations feel complex. I would have liked more from the villain, who has an intriguing story. There is a serious lack of complexity when it comes to the female main characters, so I hope they are explored more in the next installments. I see potential in the characters and their relationships despite not fully connecting with them here.
The choice to use jade as a magic amplifier is a unique idea that fits well with the old-school kung fu themes. I liked that the magic had drawbacks and didn't feel overwhelmingly powerful. The idea of the magic being akin to an addiction that harms the body over time, while not being the adds depth to the story. The addition of
The writing itself was okay. I liked the author's tendency toward simplicity, but explaining actions and emotions overtly rather than letting them unfold naturally was distracting. There were some hard-hitting lines but nothing that wowed me. The POV switching was well done and added a cinematic quality to the book that made the experience satisfying. It never felt confusing or unnecessary and didn't take away from the pacing.
Overall, pretty solid as the first in a trilogy. I expect the first book in a fantasy series to be a bit slower and less in-depth than the following books, and Jade City does its job well: setting up the world and characters, introducing action, and leaving things up in the air to make you want to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Torture, and Mass/school shootings
The plot heavily revolves around a street drug that is similar to amphetamines. The drug and its usage are described in detail, including the use of needles and the characters' feelings after usage. The magic system itself behaves like an addiction, if characters use too much jade or use jade for too long it causes a mental sickness that drives them to things like dementia or suicide. A minor character is shown in a flashback committing self-harm and suicide. A minor character is revealed to be pedophilic with a past of abusing children and there are no repercussions. Heavy usage of violence and guns, with a scene involving a planned mass shooting.jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I don't read a ton of adult fantasy; however, Jade City is such an interesting start to a fantasy series. It's not a favorite by any means, but I am very invested in what will happen next. Fonda Lee is phenomenal at world building. Every detail from the smallest to the biggest creates an atmosphere that is impossible not to be trapped in for a long time after putting the book down.
I liked getting glimpses at all three of the siblings, because they're all so different but trapped in this mafia like environment. Each of their personalities were distinct. Even the lesser(?) members of the Kaul and Ayt families were intriguing. Lee really captured the mafia/mob at each turn from the violent attacks to the political upheaval. I'm excited to find out what happens next for both families.
I liked getting glimpses at all three of the siblings, because they're all so different but trapped in this mafia like environment. Each of their personalities were distinct. Even the lesser(?) members of the Kaul and Ayt families were intriguing. Lee really captured the mafia/mob at each turn from the violent attacks to the political upheaval. I'm excited to find out what happens next for both families.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Suicide
mads_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Dementia, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bladebailey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- 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
In the sleek, urban heart of Kekon, two rival clans war using magically enhanced abilities in order to defend their territories, amass coveted Jade stones, and secure honor and power for their families and followers. The Kaul family, who heads up the No Peak clan, must fight to preserve their foothold in Janloon and beyond.
When everyone praises Jade City as a masterclass in epic fantasy, they certainly aren't kidding. Fonda Lee expertly weaves Janloon, Kekon, and the Kaul family into such exquisite detail that Jade City reads more like a historic nonfiction than pure fantasy. Every word has purpose, every constructed piece of culture, economy, organized crime system, city structure, family dynamics, characters you meet for a single sentence to the main characters of the entire book, and especially the combat sequences fly off of the page and into your mind like a field guide meeting an old kungfu flick. The incredibly flawed characters grapple with family life, their own magic, and mortality as the city escalates into open warfare between the No Peak and Mountain clans. I cannot wait to follow Hilo, Shae, Anden and the rest of Kekon in the next book, Jade War.
When everyone praises Jade City as a masterclass in epic fantasy, they certainly aren't kidding. Fonda Lee expertly weaves Janloon, Kekon, and the Kaul family into such exquisite detail that Jade City reads more like a historic nonfiction than pure fantasy. Every word has purpose, every constructed piece of culture, economy, organized crime system, city structure, family dynamics, characters you meet for a single sentence to the main characters of the entire book, and especially the combat sequences fly off of the page and into your mind like a field guide meeting an old kungfu flick. The incredibly flawed characters grapple with family life, their own magic, and mortality as the city escalates into open warfare between the No Peak and Mountain clans. I cannot wait to follow Hilo, Shae, Anden and the rest of Kekon in the next book, Jade War.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pedophilia
chrisb913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fonda Lee knocked it out of the park with this first book of the series. We follow the Kaul family who are the leaders of the No Peak clan in Janloon. Lee does a fantastic job mixing western mafia movie styles with asian inspired Yakuza gangs, a whole lot of martial arts, and a magic system that is incredibly unique and intriguing. The book follows the 3 siblings of the Kaul family, their "cousin" Anden, and the most hated character ever of Bero (read it to find out) as they try to survive life in Janloon as events surrounding them push everything head first into a gang war with the Mountain clan. The character development was splendid. The magic system was so well thought out and the world building was chef's kiss. This is a definite recommend for anyone that is a fan of the godfather series and I cannot wait for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Suicide
lissi_k's review against another edition
4.5
This is the first book in a long time that managed to make me feel the way I felt reading fantasy as a child. It has this feel of absoulte immersion into another world to it, while still satisfying the storytelling quality I look for now as an adult.
The worldbuilding is insane - at first it seems very straightforward, but throughout the story the author effortlessly weaves in more and more details that make you realise how deep it actually goes, and how every part of it is inextricably intertwined with the characters and the story at large.
All the characters are three-dimensional, morally grey and very human, and it is so interesting to follow their thoughts and actions. Every action always has far-reaching consequences, nothing exists in a vacuum.
Bonus points are the fight scenes, which are remarkably realistic both regarding what happens, and how the characters feel during.
The worldbuilding is insane - at first it seems very straightforward, but throughout the story the author effortlessly weaves in more and more details that make you realise how deep it actually goes, and how every part of it is inextricably intertwined with the characters and the story at large.
All the characters are three-dimensional, morally grey and very human, and it is so interesting to follow their thoughts and actions. Every action always has far-reaching consequences, nothing exists in a vacuum.
Bonus points are the fight scenes, which are remarkably realistic both regarding what happens, and how the characters feel during.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Murder
moosta2112's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Pedophilia