Scan barcode
mattdavenport's review against another edition
4.0
8.2/10 - Great
The second entry in the Green Bone Sage definitely upped it's game even from a pretty good opening installment. Anden's storyline seemed like the most prominent to me, with Hilo and Shae trading POVs to a roughly similar amount. The events take place over the span of ~5 years, which is something I haven't really seen in a fantasy book before. It made the story a bit more episodic at times than I'm used to, but I actually found myself enjoying it; it allowed the characters, world, and geo-political conflict to evolve sensically but radically from beginning to end. After having a bit of an emotional downturn halfway through Book 1, I think the decisions made then have paid off, as I've become more emotionally invested in a much broader array of characters who have been forced to grow in new ways. The climax to the book was really well done, and I was tearing through the last 60 or so pages. Overall, this was definitely a well-above average fantasy book for a good fantasy series, that I could see having a fantastic ending if it's GoodReads rating is anything to go by.
The second entry in the Green Bone Sage definitely upped it's game even from a pretty good opening installment. Anden's storyline seemed like the most prominent to me, with Hilo and Shae trading POVs to a roughly similar amount. The events take place over the span of ~5 years, which is something I haven't really seen in a fantasy book before. It made the story a bit more episodic at times than I'm used to, but I actually found myself enjoying it; it allowed the characters, world, and geo-political conflict to evolve sensically but radically from beginning to end. After having a bit of an emotional downturn halfway through Book 1, I think the decisions made then have paid off, as I've become more emotionally invested in a much broader array of characters who have been forced to grow in new ways. The climax to the book was really well done, and I was tearing through the last 60 or so pages. Overall, this was definitely a well-above average fantasy book for a good fantasy series, that I could see having a fantastic ending if it's GoodReads rating is anything to go by.
rybann's review against another edition
5.0
I loved EVERY minute of this - constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat and honestly a bit stressed. Could not put it down.
I am such a Hilo sympathizer - no one could ever convince me not to love him. I don’t blame Hilo at all for what he did to Shae because that was bound to boil over and what she did was so wrong (and Wen) and honestly fuck Shae - I felt bad for her but she has such tunnel vision and lack of regard for the people around her. I used to think Wen was really cool and now I think she’s incredibly selfish and insecure, even though she said she was acting with her family in mind. All in all, the world building in this series is phenomenal and the characters’ lives feel so tangible. It’s rare that books having me audibly gasping because it’s utterly shocking. So, so well done.
I am such a Hilo sympathizer - no one could ever convince me not to love him. I don’t blame Hilo at all for what he did to Shae because that was bound to boil over and what she did was so wrong (and Wen) and honestly fuck Shae - I felt bad for her but she has such tunnel vision and lack of regard for the people around her. I used to think Wen was really cool and now I think she’s incredibly selfish and insecure, even though she said she was acting with her family in mind. All in all, the world building in this series is phenomenal and the characters’ lives feel so tangible. It’s rare that books having me audibly gasping because it’s utterly shocking. So, so well done.
tholden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Not as strong as the first in the series but well told and thoroughly enjoyable.
hintofsalt's review against another edition
5.0
This book had me talking to it multiple times. A thrilling read that really sucked me in, chewed me up, and spit me out. Ready for #3!!
smokepowder's review against another edition
5.0
Jade War manages to take what was already a very good first book and improve on it in most every way. For me, the biggest thing holding back Jade City was how many characters were in the periphery, considered to be important, but didn’t really have any time to shine. Not the case here. Fonda Lee is a master of characterization, and spreading that out past the more limited number of perspectives in the prior book only served as a great improvement. Plus, the story, and characters given focus in Jade City we’re developed excellently. I probably won’t get into details all the much, but this was a great time, and has me excited to get back to Janloon soon, even if I’m worried that in the next entry it will be too dark to see green. Also Wen is the best character and anyone who disagrees is just wrong.
ronanbossard's review against another edition
Too bleak, stopped caring. Grey Vs grey morality is one thing, but only black is a jump too far.
kweennikkole's review against another edition
4.0
This book was amazing. It was captivating and interesting. I loved it. One thing didn't like was the time skips that happened frequently throughout this book. Something would happen and suddenly it would be 3 years later. This made it super hard to keep up with what was going on and even harder to grow with the characters as they were always rapidly changing in age.
acolly's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this second installment in the Jade series. Lee has pacing down to a science. This sequel had more political content than the first, or maybe it was just that the political plots involved outside countries as opposed to being set in just Kekon. This really added to the world building that Lee is so good at.
I found Anden’s storyline to be my least favourite. His is the type of character I would normally enjoy reading about, but I found his personality to be completely bland so it was hard for me to like him or care about him at all. He is such an integral character to the climax of the story, in both the first and second novels, and yet…bland as sand. I liked his love interest Cory, so at least there was that.
I loved the storylines that Shae was involved in, even though I felt it was a stretch that she wouldn’t have been able to perceive when Doru kills himself…just saying.
I loved the storyline of Hilo going to Stepenland to take Niko; it read like a movie script and it was fun and exciting to read.
Looking forward to the third installment!
I found Anden’s storyline to be my least favourite. His is the type of character I would normally enjoy reading about, but I found his personality to be completely bland so it was hard for me to like him or care about him at all. He is such an integral character to the climax of the story, in both the first and second novels, and yet…bland as sand. I liked his love interest Cory, so at least there was that.
I loved the storylines that Shae was involved in, even though I felt it was a stretch that she wouldn’t have been able to perceive when Doru kills himself…just saying.
I loved the storyline of Hilo going to Stepenland to take Niko; it read like a movie script and it was fun and exciting to read.
Looking forward to the third installment!