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A review by weird_but_fucking_beautiful
Jade City by Fonda Lee
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
This book is a thoroughly entertaining urban fantasy of The Godfather on steroids with a distinctive Asian flair.
Jade City by Fonda Lee is set in the city of Janloon and is the story of the Kaul family. The Kauls of the No Peak clan along with the Mountain clan control the vast majority of jade, which is coveted due to its magical properties that enhances one’s physical and mental abilities. When events spiral out of control, the clans go to war with one another often with dire consequences.
I was enthralled from the start with the complexities of the characters and the detailed world building. Janloon comes alive through Ms. Lee’s deft pen and flowing prose. The Kaul family is well fleshed out. I felt a real connection to them as if their successes and failures were mine as well. My favorite character is Anden, who was adopted by the Kauls at a young age. He is by far the most complex of the characters and is portrayed so brilliantly as he navigates the complexities of being a teenager. When circumstances cause him great remorse, his anger causes dire circumstances that leads him to question his power.
“All he knew now was that remorse had a natural limit. After a certain amount of time, it finished eating a person hollow and had to alchemize into anger that could be turned outward lest it consume its host entirely.”
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime family books or movies with a twist of Jackie Chan fighting. I felt that there was a temporary lag in the narrative about 3/4 of the way through, but quickly recovers. Overall solid read that sets up nicely for the sequel. 4 1/2 stars.
Jade City by Fonda Lee is set in the city of Janloon and is the story of the Kaul family. The Kauls of the No Peak clan along with the Mountain clan control the vast majority of jade, which is coveted due to its magical properties that enhances one’s physical and mental abilities. When events spiral out of control, the clans go to war with one another often with dire consequences.
I was enthralled from the start with the complexities of the characters and the detailed world building. Janloon comes alive through Ms. Lee’s deft pen and flowing prose. The Kaul family is well fleshed out. I felt a real connection to them as if their successes and failures were mine as well. My favorite character is Anden, who was adopted by the Kauls at a young age. He is by far the most complex of the characters and is portrayed so brilliantly as he navigates the complexities of being a teenager. When circumstances cause him great remorse, his anger causes dire circumstances that leads him to question his power.
“All he knew now was that remorse had a natural limit. After a certain amount of time, it finished eating a person hollow and had to alchemize into anger that could be turned outward lest it consume its host entirely.”
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime family books or movies with a twist of Jackie Chan fighting. I felt that there was a temporary lag in the narrative about 3/4 of the way through, but quickly recovers. Overall solid read that sets up nicely for the sequel. 4 1/2 stars.