The Walled City by Ryan Graudin

The Walled City
Written by Ryan Graudin
Survival, Contemporary
Published November 11th 2014
320 Pages
Thank you to Hachette Australia
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Disguised as a boy, Jin Ling searches for her missing sister, Mei Yee, who was sold into the brothels of the Walled City. It's a cut throat world of gangs, drug dealers and warlords and every day is a struggle to survive. Jin Ling relies on her speed and cunning but how long will her luck hold? When a mysterious boy, Dai, requests her help with a dangerous mission Jin Ling's inclined to say no, this is a world where no one can be trusted, but the mission offers her a vital chance to see inside the brothel where her sister may be being held.

Jin Ling and Dai join forces, but will either of them survive the mission? Is Mei Yee still alive? And how will any of them ever escape the stifling city walls?

With a fantasy setting inspired by Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong, Ryan's novel has a rich authenticity and an intense atmosphere, and its pace will enthrall the reader from the very first page.
It's the city of crime, vagrants, drug dealers, prostitution and no place for a fourteen year old girl. Jin has posed as a boy and fights for survival each day on the mean streets of the Walled City of Hak Nam for the past two years. She's been searching for her sister Mei Yee, who was sold by her own father into a prostitution ring within the walls, a place so merciless than even sunlight doesn't dare enter. The city is run by a group simply known as the Brotherhood, where even Kuen and his street gang know not to tread. To survive, Jin steals what meager possessions she has and her latest acquisition leads to being a drug runner for the Brotherhood.

Dai needs access to the inner sanctum of the crime syndicate and seeing Jin navigate the streets, he knows Jin is his only way out.
There are three rules of survival in the Walled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife.
Together Jin and Dai form a tentative partnership, infiltrating the brotherhood. Jin believes that her sister is being kept within the brothel and this may be her only chance to free her from a life of prostitution. Dai is harbouring his own secret, and needs proof of the Brotherhood's crimes in order to return home, outside of the seedy walled city. But when Dai discovers the Brotherhood's most prized possession behind a pane of glass, his mission becomes less about saving his own life and freeing the girl who has stolen his heart.

The Brotherhood and their leader Longwai, Kuen's street gang and fighting each day for survival will take it's toll on the unlikely partnership, and no one will escape without blood on their hands.

My Thoughts


The Walled City was absolutely phenomenal. Based on the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, where from the fifties until the seventies was run by the Triads that ran prostitution, drug and gambling rings. Now demolished, Hak Nam is the ghost of a city that thrived on crime, where the streets and alleyways were dark and it's inhabitants struggled to survive.

Courtesy of Google Images
The storyline follows three different points of view. Fourteen year old Jin who has hacked off her hair and poses as a boy, the alternative being a young girl sold into prostitution. She's lived on the streets with only a tarpaulin for shelter, a rotting blanket soaked with rodent urine, and mangy cat Chma are her only possessions. The day her father sold her sister to the Reapers, Jin left home at only twelve and has been searching the brothels within Hak Nam to find her. The brothel owned by Longwai of the Brotherhood is now her only hope of finding her sister alive. She's determined, tenacious and courageous, traits rarely seen within the walls.

Dai doesn't belong within the walls. He's an educated and well dressed young man that is searching for his own freedom. Banish by his father, his only chance at escape is to infiltrate the Brotherhood and obtain proof of their crime syndicate. He makes Jin an offer she can't refuse, access to the brothel where she believes her sister is being kept and the two begin working in a drug runner partnership for Longwai.

She's the girl that is fortunate enough to have the only window to the outside, but Mei Yee knows there's no escape. Kept to exclusively service the Ambassador, sold by her father into a meager existence. She's seen what her Master does to girls who escape, injected with Heroin to ensure their addiction keeps them loyal. But when a young man knocks at her window, promising the chance to escape in exchange for information on the Brotherhood, this may be Mei Yee's only chance at freedom and finding the sister she left behind.

The Walled City is a raw and emotional contemporary, rather than dystopian. A fictional storyline set amongst the seedy lanes of a very real city that was once the underbelly of organised crime. From the very first chapter, I was enthralled and emotionally invested in Jin's plight. The depth of not only the characters, but the imagined streets of Hak Nam are simply breathtaking. Ryan Graudin is a sensational author that has created a diverse and vivid storyline that will captivate readers and leave them wanting more.

Simply immaculate.
Thank you to the publisher who provided this book in exchange for an honest review.

22 comments

  1. It does give an impression of it being dystopia. I never realized that this book was based on a city that once upon a time, existed. I'm more inclined to read this now, knowing that it's not really dystopian.

    Great review!

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    1. I assumed it was a dystopian too, until I reached the authors note at the end. I hadn't seen the full synopsis on Goodreads that said it was based on a real city. I can only imagine how true to life the storyline really is though based on Googling.

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  2. I'm going to read this really soon, and honestly, I had no idea this book was set in a city that actually existed. I'm so much more eager to read this now. I thought this was more dystopian than any other genre but seems I'm wrong. Anyhow, I'm expecting this to be a truly interesting read. A great review as always!

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    1. It would probably have been classed as dystopian, if not for the city being real. It's been torn down now, which is also mentioned in the book. It was just brilliant. After finishing, I became obsessed with Googling the city and the history behind it.

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  3. I'm so glad this review was so positive! Now I'm even more desperate to get my hands on this!

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    1. You'll absolutely love this one Mawa. It's brilliantly written and incredibly diverse. Can't wait to see what you think of it. Fingers crossed you come across a copy soon!

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  4. A near five star? Gah, this one sounds super promising! You know I love a bit of organised crime so how could I resist this one. I keep hearing it described as a dystopia but I'm so glad to have read your review, Kelly! It's good to know that this one is a tad more raw and emotional, especially considering the themes that it tackles. I love how diverse this one is and it definitely stands out. I may have to check it out in the near future. Thank you for the fantastic review, Kelly! <33 x

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    1. Definitely grab a copy Jess, you'll absolutely love this one. The setting is frightening, but the characters are so well developed and the storyline incredibly intense. I'm an instant fan.

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  5. Noooo I should've requested this, I so regret this! This sounds so good! I think I was just misled by the fact that it was a dystopian? But it doesn't seem like it should be right? Anyways, I'm glad you loved the book! Lovely review KELLY! <3

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    1. Ooh, was it available on Netgalley? You should have! I thought it was a dystopian too, as some had shelved it on Goodreads as such. But the city was very much real, and the storyline based upon the original Walled City. It's a fine line though, but for me it read as a thriller contemporary knowing the history behind the inspiration. You'll have to add it to your summer reading list. Well worth it.

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  6. I heard nothing but good things about this one. I didn't expect all that based on the cover! I have to read it soon, this review just makes me so excited. Great review, Kelly! I'm so glad you loved it!! <3

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    1. Thanks Paula.

      I expected a dystopian to be honest, but what I got was an incredible and gripping contemporary in a life imitating art type scenario. It completely blew me away. I loved the diversity of having characters other than the typical Caucasian beautiful and wealthy characters. Perfect example of the brilliance of the new and upcoming authors.

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  7. When I read all about Kowloon's Walled City and found out this book was based on that corrupt world, I found this completely fascinating! I'm glad you warned us about it being more about a contemporary than a dystopian, because that's totally what it sounded like at first. I love all the diversity you described here too! Lovely review Kelly!

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    1. Thanks Jeann.

      As soon as I finished, even before writing up somewhat of a review, I was Googling all about the city. It's mind blowing. These people lived in squalor, where sunlight didn't reach the depths of the laneways and resources were scarce. The author has done a phenomenal job of recreating the fascinating but frightening world. You'll be blown away by this one Jeann. Guarantee it.

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  8. I agree 100% with your review, Kelly. It definitely was a phenomenal story - and to those worried that it's just another dystopian, fear not! It really isn't. Lovely review, Kells! c:

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    1. Thanks poppet. I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. It was absolutely phenomenal wasn't it.

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  9. Looks like all the hype and marketing was worth it! I'll have to check out this book ASAP. It sounds like something I'd absolutely adore. Thank you for sharing Kelly! :D

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    1. Laura, it definitely lives up to the hype. It's so dark and unique. The Walled City is terrifying. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to live under the rule of the Triads in what was basically a lawless compound. I can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  10. Okay, so I don't know why, but when this book started popping up around the blogosphere, I immediately wrote it off. I never read a review and I didn't even read the synopsis. It doesn't have a bad cover, but I just had this feeling that it wasn't for me at all. I have no idea why. However, after reading your wonderful review, it sounds right up my alley - especially as it's based on Kowloon's Walled City - I'm all for reading about that sort of stuff. Definitely adding to my TBR now, thanks Kel. :)

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    1. I'm so glad you've read my review then, you would have missed out on what is a spectacular read. It's not only the characters, but the world building as well. It's been one of my absolutely favourites this year. I can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  11. There is probably something wrong with me since even though I've had this one on my kindle for a while, I still haven't picked it up. I've heard so many good things about it yet I still haven't picked it up... I think I know what my next next read should be... :P

    I just feel like I am going to love it.. :)

    Lovely review, Kelly bear <333

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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    1. YOU WILL!

      I get excited and tend to yell. But you'll absolutely love it. I can almost guarantee it!

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