Customer Comments

Jade City read like a grimdark retelling of The Godfather, but with kungfu. I know that sounds borderline ridiculous, but Lee does such a fantastic job of playing with genres here - her blending of epic fantasy with urban fantasy and gritty gangster flicks with action-packed kungfu films is masterful and comes together to make a one of the most unique novels I read in 2017. She also spares no expense when it comes to world-building, lovingly crafting Kekon into a city with a pulse and grit, and populates it with characters who are flawed and dynamic. I found myself caring so deeply for the Kauls of the No Peak clan and their city that I'm already itching for the sequel.

An Unkindness of Ghosts explores one of my favorite subgenres of fiction - doomed generation ships. The HSS Matilda forms an interesting microcosm that is eerily similar to both the antebellum South and modern America, deeply analyzing classism, oppression, brutality, and how people find ways to grow and bolster one another even when others seek to repress them. It manages to tell a story that is achingly poignant, investing its cast with such humanity that they come to life on the page in some of the most beautiful and most tragic ways - these are characters that will stick with you long after you've closed the page.

Deeply atmospheric, Under the Pendulum Sun manages to capture the feel of gothic classic such as Jane Eyre, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Mill in the Floss. Arcadia itself is enchanting but menacing and I admire the authors ability to create an intricate fantasy world without ever leaving the confines of Gethsemane. The isolation and desolation of the characters is palpable, each page feeling more and more claustrophobic as the pair becomes more deeply entrenched in the mystery and corruption of the fae. With themes of doubt, taboo, and sin, this book is an uncomfortable and enthralling read best saved for a cold October night.

I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I enjoyed New Moon, but still a great installment in the series. The plot was still brutal and intriguing, though I don't think the pace was quite as unrelenting and compelling as New Moon. That said, I think that the ending was even better than New Moon’s - I absolutely love where the moon is right now drama-wise, though it's breaking my heart to see my moon torn apart like this. Also, we stopped following some major characters from the first book who made the story incredibly dynamic and glamorous like Rafa and Carlinho who I missed. Paring down the list of characters allowed those remaining to be better developed, however - I especially enjoyed seeing an additional layer to Lucasinho who came off quite flat in the first book and the addition of Alexia Corta holds some promise for the next book, but I wish some of the old guard was still around. The world-building was brilliant, which I expected given how well done it was in the first book - I love how the author made the effort to craft the moon and a culture that responds to things like low gravity, what can or can't be grown there, etc. I also like the Brazilian elements of the world that come from the Cortas - while I don't think it is quite as good as a native Brazilian could do, you can tell the author put in the effort to research Brazil and try and reflect that culture on his moon. All in all, the author creates a compelling story and a world I'd give anything for a visit.