Jade City THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD WINNER
Reviews
interesting plot, good representation of hong kong, cool characters. just couldn’t get behind some of their decisions
Never have I been so stressed reading a book, give me 10000 more pages
starts screaming and doesnt fucking stop
** spoiler alert ** *Review is for my personal log* 3.75* I enjoyed the book - it just took me a long time to read it because school took up ALL my time. I really enjoy plot line and character-driven books, which this book definitely exhibited. Maybe it was just the wrong "reading" time for this book but personally, the plot got just a *bit* repetitive with the violence but damn did a certain someone's death hit me like a TRUCK. JUST REALISED IT TOOK ME A MONTH TO READ THIS *sigh*
Loved it.
WOW,,,the world building is overwhelming in a positive way, almost had a headache bc there's so much happening but keeps me engaged, and the ending wtf don't tell me??? 😦💀
a really solid start to a series, this book definitely sets up everything well for expansion in future novels. however, it felt a little too exposition-dumpy to me at times, but in turn, i can see how fleshed out the characters and the interpersonal politics have been set up.
The Horn placed his hands on her shoulders, and pulled her close, and laid his cheek against hers. "Heaven help me, Shae," he whispered into her ear. "I'm going to kill them all.” i did NOT expect this book to be a whirlwind rollercoaster of emotions. in no way that i can ever do justice to the accurate review of Jade City because this was everything. as someone who has thought that fantasy is over for her, i was clearly proved wrong. the world building is rich and it would take a little bit time to get into it. (i was so confused initially) ALSO, i loved how it was a character driven fantasy, the focus was on enhancing the character development and i am all for it. my favourite characters so far are Hilo (he's so fine, i need him), Shae and Anden. it took me almost a month to read it and i should be embarrassed but the constant tug between squealing over Hilo and sobbing over the book ought to be a reasonable excuse. cannot wait to read the next books. “The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master. On my honor, my life, and my jade.” is etched in my brain now.
I do not appreciate books portraying marital rape as something sexy.
Ouch.
I'm scared to give this five stars but woah! this is the first fantasy book in awhile I was able to completely immerse myself in. The concept is so unique and interesting and despite never reading a mafia book before I loved this. I think Hilo is my problematic fave. I think Fonda lee is also insanely talented for this storyline I'm excited to start the next installment already.
You know when you know you're going to five star a book even when you're only halfway through... ... yeah well that was this book. This isn't a book about a "chosen one" or about a grand world-devastating event, it's about two clans fighting for superiority and family feuds. The magic-system is fantastic and used in just the right amount. I thoroughly look forward to the sequel!
will write a proper review once i gather all my thoughts but like i need compensation for the emotional damage this caused
Anden, I love u. Hilo, fuck u.
DNFed at 65% This was way too slow for me. The characters didn't feel fleshed out, I didn't care for any of them, the women were wrote as some kind of separate species (didn't pass the Bechdel test either, not a surprise there) and the MMC was quite literally just a brat. I didn't want to DNF this as it's been loved by so many, but I truly couldn't get myself to read another page. The 'heart-wrenching' moments had absolutely no impact on me either, so I wasn't interested in the plot or characters themselves and I didn't even feel emotionally impacted. Bleh!
** spoiler alert ** 5- I think Also kinda confused why Anden jumping into the fight to save Hilo wasn’t a violation of aisho, seems like it should be?
“He would’ve been proud of you, Anden,” she said matter-of-factly. “He was always proud of you.” I’m increasing my rating to 4.5 stars because that is what the kaul family deserves <3
This is one of those where it is not the novel, it is me. The book has great and very interesting world-building and it is very, very dense in terms of plot. If you are a reader who is seeking thrills, it would be perfect for you.
But for me, personally, I also need to feel investment in the characters in order to truly have my heart racing through the intense scenes. "Jade City" leaves little space to build up its characters which ends up making it a drudge to get through. It is commendable that the characters are very distinct - I could easily draw you up a character sheet for each one of the members of the main cast. But the characters still remain somewhat static throughout the novel, depreciating the value of the work put into coming up with them in the first place.
Surprisingly, the result of the combination of the dense plot and the lack of character depth is that the novel just feels too long.
Solid book, but not life-changing or particularly inventive. Despite being a mafia style storyline, it’s quite an easy and cozy read.
The world building is a bit complex but the relationships and plot are simple.
This is not the type of book I normally read. However, it has become one of my favorites. A unique magic system centered around a world where two clans are sitting at the top. It is a mafia and politics forward book with tons of action. The book was so well written. It didn’t spend chapters and chapters trying to world build. Instead it weaved in the world building while giving us thrill and suspense. Almost all the characters are very likable. I’m looking forward to continuing the green bone saga.
One of the best books I've read in a long time. Can't wait to start the second.
3.75
Highlights
Ayt's body remained motionless, but her head drew up in slow malevolence, neck lengthening like a rearing viper. Her aura burned with murderous intent. When she spoke, it was entirely without the practiced professionalism she'd shown earlier. It was like a sharp blade being drawn delicately across flesh. "How do you come up with such elaborate stories, Kaul Hiloshudon?”
this alone sent chills down my spine
She thought, Two strong-minded women in a man's world, if they do not quickly become allies, are destined to be incurable rivals. Going around Hilo was something Shae was accustomed to, but this, she knew, he would not forgive.
putting a pin in this.
“I despise it when my hand is forced,” the Pillar said, adjusting one of the coils of jade on her arm. “Ayt Yugontin brought me, a girl that should have died, out of a war orphanage and trained me to be the strongest Green Bone in the Mountain clan. Yet when he grew old, he couldn’t bring himself to name me his heir. He feared a backlash from the inner circle of men in the clan who would fault him for naming a woman his successor. The Spear of Kekon, who was never afraid to die fighting the Shotarians—he was afraid to name an adopted daughter to rule his precious clan.
“The man I call my father, the one to whom I owe everything—he forced my hand. Before his body was cold, I had to kill his closest comrades—Green Bones I valued and respected—for the position that should have been mine without question.
So not true, it was your choice and it was a bad one
It came as a result of going to piss alone.
A way to start a chapter
It’s better to think about today when tomorrow might not happen.
The clan was like a body: The Lantern Men were skin and muscles, the Fists and Luck bringers like heart and lungs, but the Pillar was the spine. There could be no weakness in the spine, or the body could not stand, it could not fight.
“Deitism, indeed all religion, made a complicated story out of truths that were simple but hard for people to accept.” Pg. 303
“Was it possible, Lan wondered, to be both a strong leader and a compassionate person, or were those two thỉngs opposing forces, pushing each other away?” Pg. 265
“Traditional Abukei folklore connected jade to the First Mother and the creation of the world. The Deitists believed it was a divine gift from the gods—the path to human salvation. Some foreign religions said it was an cvil substance from the devil, a belief the Shotarians had forcibly espoused during their decades of rule. Jade was imbued with so much myth and emotion, so much mystery and power, and yet, here it was--boring. Something to be dug up, cut up, moved, carved, polished, sold for profit.” Pg. 139
Feel this quote can be used towards many sacred i teams. Peyote is what came to mind for me first.
Yes, Lan thought, he could have challenged Eyni's lover—fought and killed him in the way any self-respecting Kekonese man would feel entitled. Perhaps it would have been a more fitting way for a Pillar to act. But it would have been pointless. An empty gesture. He wouldn't haye kept Eyni; she was already determined to go. All he could have done was trample out her happiness and make her hate him. And if you loved someone, truly loved them, shouldn't their happiness matter, even more than your honor? Pg. 37
Already got a lot of respect for this man 😤
"Nothing good's coming, when the dogs start disappearing from the streets." Pg. 6
Here we go!
Hilo draped his arms over Shae's shoulders and hugged her, then spoke into her ear. "I could still kill him for you." "Screw you, Hilo," she snapped. "I can kill my ex-boyfriends myself"