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adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An absolute masterpiece. Fonda Lee has crafted amazing characters in an incredible world. Truly the world building here is masterful. She weaves the narratives of characters together flawlessly, revealing important details or moments at the exact right time. The action scenes grab you and pull you to the edge of your seat. I can not wait to read the rest of this trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Dementia
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm extremely emotionally attached to all of the main characters and am a little terrified to read the next two books, not gonna lie. I think the characterizations and descriptions are so well done... ugh. I love it.
I cried multiple times at Lan's death and how people mourned him afterward as well. Oof. Honestly stunning emotional writing in that sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Pedophilia
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Xenophobia, Medical content
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia
adventurous
dark
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, War
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Torture, Xenophobia, Death of parent
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book burst onto the scene when it was first published and sounded so good. But I just wasn't able to get around to reading it right away. And then the second book was published and I figured at that point, I'd just wait and let this series be a binge read when all three were out (which, yes, was already almost a year ago, but I'm working on it!). Anyways, the time seems to finally have arrived. And I think I made the right choice, because after speeding through this first installation, I am feeling like this trilogy is the perfect candidate for a binge read situation.
The island nation of Kekon is controlled by two syndicates, Mountain Clan and No Peak Clan, who control the supply of a rare and magical jade that is only found in Kekon. These "Green Bone" clans train warriors skilled in wielding jade and using the almost superhuman abilities it provides wearers. Years ago, the Green Bones were all united in driving out a colonizing force from Kekon, but since then, their split has led to a country of warring loyalties among the non-jaded ruling parties and the common tribute-paying business people alike. The No Peak clan is led by the Kaul family who, despite some simmering internal discontent, band together when the tension between Mountain and No Peak results in the beginning of a clan war that destabilizes Kekon and threatens the future of both Green Bones and the country as a whole.
Well, as I already said, this first installation of the Green Bone Saga was infinitely binge-worthy. You drop right into the excitement and drama from the very beginning and it continues at a nonstop pace from there. Lee does an excellent job of balancing character background with plot development and I was honestly just swept away every time I picked up this book. For such a thick tome, it took me a surprisingly short time to read becasue it was just that immersive and page-turning. One of the biggest praises of this novel that I remember reading was that the world-building was exquisite. And I completely agree. It has that perfect mix of being grounded in the "real" world, whether historical or contemporary, to be compellingly familiar (post-colonial feels abound), but with magical additions and slightly altered names/stories that are make it different enough to be an escape (like Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy, Kuang's Poppy War series, and Pike's Lost Queen books). It felt super real - very impressive.
To go into a bit more detail about why this was just a super awesome and fun read, I first want to mention the syndicate/gang vibes. This is like, traditional Godfather-style "the actual power on the streets and in the country" type stuff. The Mountain and No Peak clans have intergenerational disputes and power struggles and they play out in graphic and fully dimensional detail. There are spectacular fight scenes, enhanced by the powers that jade-bearing gives the warriors, in addition to blood-thirtsy tactics, lots of scheming and maneuvering, betrayal and unexpected decisions, and the nuanced familial and brotherhood dynamics of clan life alongside and in contrast with the strict regulations of jade-wearing and rules of battle/conflict. It was fascinating and perfectly complex. There is also, as I mentioned, a bit of actual social observation made (as all good fantasy does), in regards to classism, addiction and anti-colonialism, that adds some depth but, at least for now, is not overly central or explored. The one thing I do wish is that I had a slightly better grasp of how the jade-based magic worked. Like, I understand the more of it you have, the more power you get. And, somehow, it seems to enhance basic human abilities, like making one stronger/faster. But there were a few other uses, mostly the way it was used against Lan towards the beginning, and then the way Anden uses it towards the end, that I felt were a bit vague. It's a baseline part of the world-building, so I do wish I'd gotten a better grasp of it here towards the beginning of the saga, but I am holding hope for more explanation to come the further into the series I get.
The Kaul family that takes the central place, character-wise, was so well written. Kaul Lan, the oldest and politically-minded brother who feels he has a lot of legacy to live up to in his new role at the head of the clan (but is eminently up to the task). Kaul Hilo, the hot-headed and combat-minded brother, who leads the enforcement arm of the clan. Shea, their sister who, while favored growing up by their grandfather (and "retired" clan leader) for her shrewdness capability, is a bit on the outs from the rest of the family after studying abroad and forgoeign wearing her jade for the past few years. And Anden, the Kaul's adopted brother, who is about to graduate from Academy with quite a bit of jade-wielding promise and a deep sense of indebtedness to the family for taking him in. These four primary voices interact with each other and the rest of the supporting cast and plot with fully dimensional, and very human (with the flaws as clear as their strengths) characterization. The side characters were just as fantastically written, like grandfather Kaul's advisor Doru, Hilo's girlfriend Wen, and the leaders of the Mountain clan, and I'm looking forward to getting more of them (for good and bad) in the rest of the series.
I was so entertained by this book. This is the reason the fantasy is one of my favorite/comfort genres - the mix of entertainment and escapism it provides when done well is unmatched. I disappeared into the Green Bone world every time I picked this novel up and that's everything I hope for in a book like this. What a rock solid start to a martial-arts, gang-wars inspired urban fantasy series. I can't wait to read the next!
“Was it possible […] to be both a strong leader and a compassionate person, or were those two things opposing forces, pushing each other away?”
“Mutual survival was the basis of brotherhood and loyalty, even of love.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Colonisation
Minor: Kidnapping
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The most important thing that I need to convey in this review is that while this is a slow book, it is really incredible to read. Typically, I would quickly lose interest in a book that primarily focuses on political intrigue. Not the case with Jade City. Despite each chapter taking somewhere around 30 minutes to read, I was still so hooked by what was taking place that I didn’t want to put it down. I was constantly thinking about it when I wasn't reading it, wondering what would happen next. So, if the size of the book or the intense content is frightening to you, I say give it a try anyway. You might be pleasantly surprised like I was!
There is a lot to follow in this book and I worried about losing track of the many characters or their importance to the story. Sometimes, there are full chapters that are told from the perspective of a side character. Initially, I was confused by this. Why would there be a heavy focus on such random, seemingly unimportant people? But I'm glad I didn't give up on trying to understand what was happening. Every single chapter makes a difference. Every single character furthers the story, no matter how small their role is.
I'm currently under the assumption that the only reason I don't fully understand the jade magic is because this was only the first book and it's meant to come into play later on. However, I would have liked just a little more explanation of that and even the way the shine drug affected those who used it. There were moments that helped me understand bits and pieces, but certain deaths left me reeling because I had no clue what the true cause was.
The political intrigue was what, shockingly, kept my attention the most. I was fascinated by the gang war and what was happening on either side to induce further violence and panic. The ranks of the Green Bones was also really interesting to me and the almost "heirarchy" within each group was equally intriguing. I even enjoyed the chapters with the lore behind the Green Bones and why certain people fell into certain roles - even down to how they approached death or destruction.
While I definitely believe this is the kind of book to read only when you're in the mood for a "thinker," I highly recommend it. I greatly look forward to seeing what comes next!
There is a lot to follow in this book and I worried about losing track of the many characters or their importance to the story. Sometimes, there are full chapters that are told from the perspective of a side character. Initially, I was confused by this. Why would there be a heavy focus on such random, seemingly unimportant people? But I'm glad I didn't give up on trying to understand what was happening. Every single chapter makes a difference. Every single character furthers the story, no matter how small their role is.
I'm currently under the assumption that the only reason I don't fully understand the jade magic is because this was only the first book and it's meant to come into play later on. However, I would have liked just a little more explanation of that and even the way the shine drug affected those who used it. There were moments that helped me understand bits and pieces, but certain deaths left me reeling because I had no clue what the true cause was.
The political intrigue was what, shockingly, kept my attention the most. I was fascinated by the gang war and what was happening on either side to induce further violence and panic. The ranks of the Green Bones was also really interesting to me and the almost "heirarchy" within each group was equally intriguing. I even enjoyed the chapters with the lore behind the Green Bones and why certain people fell into certain roles - even down to how they approached death or destruction.
While I definitely believe this is the kind of book to read only when you're in the mood for a "thinker," I highly recommend it. I greatly look forward to seeing what comes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War