Jade City

by Fonda Lee

Overview

In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis. 

*Named one of TIME's Top 100 Fantasy Books Of All Time
​* World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, winner

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 -- and of Kekon itself.

Praise for Jade City: 

"An epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you'll forget you're reading a book." --Ken Liu, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author

"A beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!" --Ann Leckie, Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author

"An instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats." --NPR

The Green Bone Saga
Jade City
Jade War
Jade Legacy

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316440868
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Series:	Green Bone Saga Series , #1
Pages:	512
Sales rank:	40,401
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Fonda Lee is the author of the epic fantasy Green Bone Saga, consisting of Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy. Her other work includes the science fiction novels Zeroboxer and Exo, and the fantasy novella, Untethered Sky. Lee is a winner of the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award, the Aurora Award, as well as a multiple finalist for the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award. The Green Bone Saga has been translated into multiple languages and named to TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Lee is a former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist residing in the Pacific Northwest. 

Editorial Reviews

09/11/2017
In this intrigue-packed adventure, first in a trilogy set in an Asia-inspired, alternate-world modern city (and the first book for adults from YA author Lee), warring clans battle for control of their island nation and the jade that empowers them to perform superhuman feats. For decades, the Green Bone warriors of the No Peak and Mountain clans have maintained a delicate peace, hewing to a rigid code of honor as they control Janloon’s neighborhoods and industries. But ambition, treachery, and the rise of a new generation of leaders lead to open conflict between the factions. The members of No Peak must wage war on all fronts, including political and economic, but the real battle is in the streets, where their jade-enhanced champions fight to the death. As this ambitious and complex story unfolds, Lee (Exo) skillfully juggles a huge cast. Her action scenes are flashy, brutal, and cinematic, while the family dynamics hold their own weight and significance. This is an engaging blend of crime drama and Asian martial arts film tropes. At times, the modern elements—cars, televisions, guns—feel out of place in such a strongly envisioned world, but this remains an intense, satisfying experience. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Stylish and action-packed, full of ambitious families and guilt-ridden loves, Jade City is an epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you'll forget you're reading a book."—Ken Liu, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards

"Jade City has it all: a beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!"—Ann Leckie, author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award winning novel Ancillary Justice

"Lee's astute worldbuilding raises the stakes for her vivid and tautly-described action scenes." —Scott Lynch, New York Times-bestselling author of The Lies of Locke Lamora

"Lee draws on her Chinese heritage, passion for gangster stories, and strong writing to launch a Godfather-inspired fantasy series that mixes bold martial-arts action and vivid worldbuilding. The result is terrific."—Library Journal (Pick of the Month, starred review)

"As this ambitious and complex story unfolds, Lee (Exo) skillfully juggles a huge cast. Her action scenes are flashy, brutal, and cinematic, while the family dynamics hold their own weight and significance. This is an engaging blend of crime drama and Asian martial arts film tropes.... an intense, satisfying experience."—Publishers Weekly

"Compelling characters and intricate worldbuilding.... I want to spend more time in Kekon."—Hank Green

"Intricate, fast-moving, and brazen, Jade City elevates the fantasy crime novel to something really special. A sharp and insightful new voice."—Elizabeth Bear, winner of the Hugo and Locus Awards

"With a powerful family of complex characters -- including my favorite, Kaul Shaelinsan -- Jade City beckons readers to secret family meetings and public battles between warring clans. With magical jade at stake, winning the battle for control of a city has never been more important, or more dangerous. Fonda Lee's first adult novel is a fast-hitting, tantalizing, sometimes unsettling, and always insightful book with a wealth of power at its core. A modern-day epic."—Fran Wilde, award-winning author of Updraft, Cloudbound, and Horizon

"Jade City is an instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats."—NPR

"Lee has a supreme talent for world-building.... Jade City is a fierce, energetic and stylish story that will keep you engrossed from start to end."—Culturefly

"How does a book make me giddy and heartbroken at the same time? Jade City delivers intrigue, family drama, and martial arts magic that feels absolutely real."—Mary Robinette Kowal

"Fast cars, brilliant characters, and gangster kung-fu! Swift, intricate, and vicious as a talon knife, Fonda Lee's Jade City will pull you into a world of deft intrigue, hard choices, and bloody loyalty. Lee's written the postcolonial Godfather hiding under the surface of the Avatar: the Last Airbender universe -- and it's a fantastic read."—Max Gladstone, Hugo Award-nominated author of the Craft Sequence

"An atmospheric, gritty noir tale of family loyalties, martial arts and power struggles in a city that feels so real it becomes a character in its own right. Jade City is epic drama writ large."—Aliette de Bodard, winner of the Nebula, Locus, and British Science Fiction Awards

"If you like extremely tense political maneuvering and intrigue, you will love Jade City. Fonda Lee is the new Mario Puzo; Jade City has officially dethroned The Godfather."—Sarah Gailey, Hugo and Campbell Award finalist

"Well-formed characters and impeccable world building."—Booklist

"An absolutely blistering read. The characters are perfectly three dimensional. The plot is thrilling and the action sequences are damn near perfect.... I cannot recommend Jade City highly enough."—The Eloquent Page

"Dynamic fight scenes and vibrant world-building bring to life this sharp, memorable story of a family caught up in a ferocious gang war."—Kate Elliott

"I'm going to have to read Jade City again, slowly, to fully take in all the Cool Stuff, because the story dragged me through by the scruff of the neck. What a ride! I love this book."—Steven Brust

"A sweeping saga of ambition, loyalty, and family in a gritty, densely-imagined island city. Fonda Lee explores the tension between what is owed to family, country, and yourself in a high-stakes, high-octane game of power and control."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Calibri; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of Ironskin

"Exquisite writing, explosive fighting -- Jade City is as rich and deadly as the Green Bones warriors who stalk its pages. I tore through this book like bullets through a fine restaurant in hotly disputed territory."—Heidi Heilig

"An ambitious statement.... Unforgettable."—Book Page

"Jade City is an addictive read with intense martial arts action and high-stakes character drama. I'll never look at jade the same way again."—Beth Cato, author of Breath of Earth and The Clockwork Dagger

"Propulsive plot.... A world that will be hard to forget."—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

"The magic system is outstanding.... Lee's writing is truly exceptional.... An absolute pleasure to read."—The Fantasy Hive

"An intriguing confluence of history, culture, and biology.... It'll be interesting to see what course Lee charts next."—Kirkus

From the Publisher

★ 10/15/2017
For centuries, the Green Bone warriors defended the island of Kekon from foreign invasion by using jade to enhance their physical and mental abilities. But now the peace is disintegrating as rival families compete to control Janloon, the capital city. Heading the No Peak clan are the Kauls. Eldest son Lan leads as Pillar, but he struggles with health issues and his grandfather's efforts to seize control; sister Shae gave up her jade when she chose another path, but she has reluctantly been brought back into the family; youngest brother Hilo wields power as the Horn but is burdened by family issues. Yet as the Mountain clan, led by the notorious Ayt family, moves onto No Peak's territory, and the Kauls try to stop their inevitable slide into clan war, the siblings discover much more is wrong beneath the surface tensions. VERDICT Making her adult fiction debut, YA author Lee (Zeroboxer) draws on her Chinese heritage, passion for gangster stories, and strong writing to launch a Godfather-inspired fantasy series that mixes bold martial-arts action and vivid worldbuilding. The result is terrific. [Previewed in Marlene Harris's "Galaxy Quests" sf/fantasy preview, LJ 4/15/17.]—KC

Library Journal

03/01/2018
Janloon, a city susceptible to typhoons, is better known throughout the modern world as Jade City because of how members of clan fiefdoms depend on the power of jade to give their bodies heightened senses and strength. Lan, the eldest Kaul brother, leads the No Peak clan, assisted by his fear-inducing 27-year-old brother. The Green Bone brothers are wary when their scorned younger sister returns home from a two-year exile, but they need her aid when the clan is attacked by Jade City's rival mafialike family. Shine, an illegal drug that allows all citizens to become empowered by jade, infiltrates the city, and all of the Kaul family members, including the youngest adopted brother still attending the Green Bone training academy, join forces to save their people. Lee, best known for the debut YA science fiction/mixed martial arts novel Zeroboxer, makes her adult debut here. The juxtaposition of modern technology (subways and television) against the ancient social structure of clans in an Asian-inspired city sets this fantasy apart. VERDICT Revenge killings will draw action readers, and the powerful and flawed relationship dynamics between the Kaul siblings will keep teens enthralled. Perfect for epic fantasy fans.—Sarah Hill, Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL

School Library Journal

2017-10-11
Two clans fueled by the magical power of jade battle for control of an analog of mid-20th-century Hong Kong.Clan soldiers have a specific genetic affinity for jade not shared by most outsiders, which grants them strength and shielding, among other magical powers. Kaul Sen, the former Pillar (head) of the No Peak clan, has retired, and the new Pillar, Kaul Lan, doesn't quite inspire the fear and loyalty garnered by his legendary grandfather or his late war hero father. His younger brother, Kaul Hilo, is an effective Horn (chief enforcer), but he's also rash and impulsive. Sensing weakness in her rival, Ayt Madashi, the ruthless Pillar of the Mountain clan, begins a campaign to destroy No Peak and take total control of the island nation of Kekon. The setting suggests that this crime-thriller/fantasy might find inspiration in history and fiction about the triads, and perhaps it does, but it also clearly leans heavily on elements drawn from The Godfather. Some examples (beyond the general plot of crime families battling for supremacy): an adoptive member of the Kaul family is kidnapped by the Mountain to serve as intermediary; the Mountain wants to sell drugs and initially seeks No Peak's help with the business; the character of Hilo bears some similarity to Sonny Corleone, while the third Kaul grandchild, Shae, traces part of the path of Michael Corleone (she's spent years outside the clan pursuing her own interests but her loyalties drag her back when tragedy strikes). Despite those beats, Lee's (Exo, 2017, etc.) novel has its own story to tell; an intriguing confluence of history, culture, and biology shapes both the characters and their fates.The open-ended nature of the ending suggests that the clan war is not yet over; it'll be interesting to see what course Lee charts next.

Kirkus Reviews

Narrator Andrew Kishino delivers powerful character interpretations in a story that features an Asian organization similar to the Mafia. In the modern yet ancient city of Jenloon, war between No Peak and the Mountain, the two most important family clans, seems imminent. Soon, a terrible and unfortunate event will bring even more tension to the fragile situation. Both clans compete for the control of jade, which gives them special powers of perception and strength. Kishino delivers this tale of sacrifice, family, and violence as a perfectly woven tapestry in which well-drawn charismatic characters fight for their lives, honor, and social power. The listener will be blown away. E.D. 2019 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile

Narrator Andrew Kishino delivers powerful character interpretations in a story that features an Asian organization similar to the Mafia. In the modern yet ancient city of Jenloon, war between No Peak and the Mountain, the two most important family clans, seems imminent. Soon, a terrible and unfortunate event will bring even more tension to the fragile situation. Both clans compete for the control of jade, which gives them special powers of perception and strength. Kishino delivers this tale of sacrifice, family, and violence as a perfectly woven tapestry in which well-drawn charismatic characters fight for their lives, honor, and social power. The listener will be blown away. E.D. 2019 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile