Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!
JADE CITY
Series: The Green Bone Saga #1
Source: Audible
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: December 7, 2024
Summary:
Family is duty. Magic is power. Honor is everything.
Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for - and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.
Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.
When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone - even foreigners - wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones - from their grandest patriarch to the lowliest motorcycle runner on the streets - and of Kekon itself.
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Content Warning: graphic violence, gore, murder, assassination, organized crime, gang warfare, drug use, addiction, death of a parent, death of family members, mentions of suicide, sexual content, classism, systemic oppression, interrogation scenes, ableist language, references to war, trauma
I’ve been meaning to dive into Jade City by Fonda Lee for a while, especially since so many readers I trust have sung its praises. And while I can absolutely see why this book has carved out such a strong place in the epic fantasy world, I came away with a mix of admiration and frustration.
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.
Are you going to pick this one up?
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