"Jade City" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Allison]

I have been dying to read this book, I'm so glad it won the fantasy runner up poll! Well? What do you think??

Please remember to hold onto thoughts on specific plot points, character development and anything else spoilery for the full spoiler thread opening on the 7th.

[Oleksandr]

I've read it a few months ago, so while no spoilers thread is on, only my impressions:

an interesting setting, not exactly likable characters and some problems in general in rooting for the mob.

[Phillip]

This was an awesome book. Equal parts of The Godfather with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

[Silvana]

I might necropost since I have already scheduled this one for a BR in another group on January 1st before it won the poll here. Also looking forward to read it following the World Fantasy Award it received.

[Trike]

I was hooked from the get-go.

It probably didn’t hurt that as a teenager I worked in a restaurant very similar to that setting alongside a group of new immigrants from North Korea. Of course, their primary goal at the time was buying a cool car and deciding on their “American” name. (Mostly versions of Bruce Lee. Jackie Chan wasn’t famous in the US yet in 1982.)

[Lowell]

I also read it a few months ago, so sans-spoilers I'll share my thoughts;

Phillip wrote: "This was an awesome book. Equal parts of The Godfather with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

I think you're right, and that there's a strong Puzo influence here. But, I think it's hard to approach the perfection that is the Godfather. Then again, I haven't read that book in 15 years, so I could be looking at it with rose-tinted glasses. Structurally, there's some definite parallels, but there are also some very, VERY big differences.

I enjoyed it enough that I'll give Jade War a read later. But...

[edited per mod request]

[Allison]

Lowell, I think maybe some of this is best held onto since it doesn't seem very first impressiony! Could you maybe edit the last para a bit so people don't have an expectation of that portion? Thanks, I can't wait to talk about what this means!!

[M.L.]

I liked the very beginning but my interest lessened and by chapter four I didn't feel compelled to keep reading. Maybe it's the old-fashioned gangster-mob feel. I'm not sure. Or could be the setting. It seemed as if it was going to be needlessly drawn out and familiar.

[Lowell]

Allison wrote: "Lowell, I think maybe some of this is best held onto since it doesn't seem very first impressiony! Could you maybe edit the last para a bit?"

Done. Sorry about that - I didn't feel it was overly spoilery, but better safe than sorry.

[Allison]

Please do be careful about things related to story structure! We play super paranoid in the first impressions thread so as not to ruin the experience for the more spoiler phobic.

[Michael]

I'm 25% into the book and so far I'm a bit disappointed at how unimportant the fantasy element if the story is. It seems like it could be totally removed with little or no impact on the story.

[Oleksandr]

Michael wrote: "I'm 25% into the book and so far I'm a bit disappointed at how unimportant the fantasy element if the story is."

Yes, it is relatively fantasy light, but it is hard to make a recognizable setting if you assume ubiquitous magic.

[Shawn]

Only several chapters in, but it is engaging so far. I'm listening to the audiobook and Andrew Kishino does an excellent job. The snippet of erotica in chapter 5 was unexpected.

[Beth]

I'm another who read this a few months ago. It was a surprise favorite of 2018. Other than that my thoughts about it are probably better suited for the "finished" thread, so I'll see y'all there in a few days. :)

[Allison]

Thanks everyone for working with me on keeping this thread vague ^^

I'm 2 chapters in, so my opinion is very much still forming, but so far I'm enjoying it. Feels like it'll be a "gritty" sort of high fantasy take on urban fantasy, all of which I often enjoy very much individually.

[Ariana]

I am also really enjoying this. I just read something else that was billed as "fantasy" with no fantastical elements whatsoever, so even the light fantasy in this one has felt fun.

[Meagan]

Allison wrote: "Thanks everyone for working with me on keeping this thread vague ^^

I'm 2 chapters in, so my opinion is very much still forming, but so far I'm enjoying it. Feels like it'll be a "gritty" sort of ..."

These were my exact thoughts! This was one of my fave reads of 2018. It also made it onto my "all time" faves list as well. I can not wait for the release of the sequel! I also read this a few months ago, so I will wait until the full discussion thread to discuss my thoughts. But I was thoroughly impressed with this book!

[Christopher]

Not sure on this one yet... seems to be taking awhile to set the scene.

[Christopher]

Trying to place the world setting’s technology level and right now I’m guessing somewhere between the 1950-1980? No cell phones, but there are cars with automatic windows.

[Oleksandr]

Christopher wrote: "Trying to place the world setting’s technology level and right now I’m guessing somewhere between the 1950-1980? No cell phones, but there are cars with automatic windows."

1965-1975 - vinyl players, color TV set in a developing country

[Lowell]

Oleksandr wrote: "Christopher wrote: "Trying to place the world setting’s technology level and right now I’m guessing somewhere between the 1950-1980? No cell phones, but there are cars with automatic windows."

196..."

That was about my overall impression, but american as I am, I hadn't really pegged the developing country part. That's the part that makes the "inconsistencies" I was feeling make sense.

[M.L.]

My early (up to chapter three) impression was a cross between Hong Kong and San Francisco, hills, water, urban. The water temperature would make it closer to Hong Kong (view spoiler)[since they dove for jade; they would freeze diving in SF (hide spoiler)].

[Tizzy]

I read this a few months ago for another group, and my recommendation is to stick with it. It starts really slow, but the story is more of a slow burn. It's very easy to get lost at first, but as it goes on you start learning more about the world and its characters, until you grow to really care about what's going on.

I felt it was definitely worth reading, once I decided to read on even when I was getting kinda lost. It was well worth it. An uncommon kind of fantasy, with a very much character-driven story.

I wrote a full, spoiler-free review back when I read it. Feel free to look at it if you're on the fence.

[Meredith]

Finally started this last night. I am enjoying the world and I liked the way the story started out, a fun introduction to the book's culture and the fantasy element.

[Gabi]

I'm 5 chapters in and I have a bit of a problem staying with the story. So far it didn't grip me.

[Allison]

This book was designed for me, I think. Or maybe it's just the right time. Anyways, I am 50% in and still loving the slow unfolding of the conflict in the story.

(Gabi, you're also reading Way of Kings. Way of Kings and 5th Season are so good that other things around them just aren't as interesting haha!)

[Christopher]

38% in and enjoying it although the only character I’m really rooting for at this point is Shae (and to a lesser extent Lan)

[Gabi]

I'm further in and now it is catching on. I simply should not distract myself with other reads ( No idea how ppl manage this). But it reads over 90 % like a non-SFF clan story.

[Phillip]

I loved this book MORE for the gangster elements. Take away the fantasy, and I still would have eagerly read it.

[Beth]

Take away the fantasy, and I would never have read it. So Phillip and I balance each other out. ;)

I'm glad you stuck with it, Gabi! It was similar for me, took about 2/3 of the book before I was sunk in. But after that you couldn't tear me away.

[Anna]

This is one of those cases where I should've done my usual going into the book pretty blind. The more I read people's comments about this being more a slowly unfolding ganster story than actual fantasy, the less I feel like starting it. Beth's comment gives me a little hope, it seems like you loved this even though you're not a gangster fan?

I'm also pretty burned out from my November reading project, which is why I'm not feeling starting something new that might not be to my taste. I don't want to start it only to feel like I shouldn't have. I do want to read it in December though, because it's the only 2018 SFFBC book I haven't read.

[Beth]

Anna wrote: "Beth's comment gives me a little hope, it seems like you loved this even though you're not a gangster fan?"

Yes! And "not a gangster fan" is a huge understatement.

[Marije]

I started today and I am on 7% now... it’s a slow-starter I think and I am kinda struggling with the names; the many names and abbreviations. At times I am thinking “who was he again?”
I like the theme and the story so far though...
Hopefully I can really dive in tomorrow and the read will become easier.

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

I am about 40% in and although the start hooked me fairly well, I am forcing myself to read it at this point which (obviously) isn't a good sign.

[Wen]

I am in chapter two. I guess it's still early but I don't really enjoy it so far...It's sad.

[Paul]

I'm struggling to start this one, and hoping for more magic than gangster than the comments suggest

[Patricia]

Love the book. Love the gangster theme and the magical jade theme. Has all the elements that are interesting to me. I love The Godfather and Bruce Lee. And Bobs your uncle!

[Anna]

I've read four chapters and I couldn't tell you anything about what I've read. I read the first two chapters twice, and I have no idea who anyone is or what the hell I'm reading. The writing feels like someone is throwing darts at me, I'm exhausted after reading just one page. I'll keep going, but I'm facing a very real possibility of having to DNF this if I don't start absorbing some of it soon. I could of course read the whole thing without taking anything in, but that's not really the point, is it.

I didn't post just to be negative, I'm hoping someone will tell me that chapter five or six is amazing and then from then on it's smooth sailing. Anyone?

[Gabi]

@Anna: I got into the book around chapter 6. So perhaps try two more.

[Anna]

Thanks, I won't lose hope yet then!

[Anna]

Just an update to say that I started chapter six, and within two pages I feel like this is the start of a book, not a flying mess of annoying stabby things. I'm hopeful again.

[Victoria]

I’m arriving late to the party, again, and started this yesterday.
Anna I totally get your inicial feeling, I also had to re read a few paragraphs after feeling it gave me too much too compressed, I attributed it to my tiredness. Let’s see,

[Tom]

I started this recently as well. The audio version was a bit difficult to follow along at first but I think I'm beginning to figure out who is who after a couple days.

[Victoria]

Ok, it has gripped me. The fact that many of you are saying the fantasy side is secondary to the gangster / godfather side is actually encouraging. Great pick! I'm glad I started with it.

[Allison]

Yay! I hope you both enjoy it through the end!

[Anthony]

Just finished chapter 4 and I’m enjoying it. It’s the first book I’ve read in a while that has a sense of playfulness in it, and I’m welcoming that.

I’m on vacation and it’s a dreary rainy day today so I’ll be staying in and reading a lot. Looking forward to diving further in.

[Jemppu]

Phillip wrote: "This was an awesome book. Equal parts of The Godfather with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Now, if this isn't a persuasive description.

Anthony wrote: ...I’m on vacation and it’s a dreary rainy day today so I’ll be staying in and reading a lot. Looking forward to diving further in. ..."

Just want to comment on how pleasantly cozy this sounds. Hopefully none pre-existing plans got ruined by this, and you're still having good time there.

[Sylvie Helen]

I'm about a quarter of the way through this and I honestly don't know if I can be bothered to finish it... It's not a bad book by any means, there's nothing I object to I'm just not particularly excited to keep going.
I'm going to try and get through a bit more tonight but if I don't want to pick it up again on my train tomorrow I think I'm probably DNF-ing it.

[Tom]

I find this book to be an interesting mashup of The Godfather, Game of Thrones and Shōgun, set in a fictional version of contemporary Hon Kong. Considering how I feel about all of those books, I should be thrilled about this one but the most I can bring myself to say is that it is interesting.

[Ken]

Chapter 51. New Year's Eve. Hmm... :)