Let’s start with the good: the characters in this story shine. Each member of the Kaul family is distinct, complicated, and operating under immense pressure. I especially loved the way Lee develops the siblings' dynamics and how loyalty, ambition, and grief collide in sometimes unexpected ways. Hilo and Shae, in particular, are the kinds of characters who stay with you after the final page. You understand them even when you don’t agree with them, and that’s something I really value in storytelling.

The setting, too, is rich with detail. Janloon feels alive, pulsing with history, culture, and tension. Lee has clearly put in the work to build a world that feels both grounded and fantastical, with jade operating as a compelling magical and political resource. I loved how layered the magic system was as it’s more subtle than flashy, and that worked for me.

But where this book lost me a bit was in the pacing. For all the worldbuilding and character work that Lee nails, the plot meanders in ways that made it hard to stay fully engaged. Moments of intense drama are sometimes undercut by long stretches of slow movement, and I found myself drifting in and out of investment. It felt like the book was trying to do a bit too much at once, and as a result, some threads lost their urgency.

Overall, I can see the brilliance in Jade City, and I’d recommend it to readers who love political intrigue, morally complex families, and a slow-burn epic fantasy. But I also think you need to be in the mood for a book that takes its time getting where it’s going and doesn’t always feel like it knows the destination.