If you are anything like me you have heard excellent things about this series for years and are likely wondering if it lives up to the hype. I am happy to say that this Jade City met and exceeded my expectations. Jade City tells the story of two rival clans in a large city who are in a contest over the control of Jade, the only source of magic in the world. If you are a fan mafia stories in any other medium Jade City will take the classic tropes in a new, unique direction. As you follow the Kaul family throughout this story you will fall in love with a unique and dynamic cast of characters an eastern inspired setting with a thematic, interesting source of magic.
This Book in Three Sentences:
Jade City follows the grandchildren of the war hero Kaul Senungtun, the Torch of Kekon, as they lead the powerfun No Peak Clan Kaul Sen founded. Kaul Lan and his younger brother Kaul Helo struggle to lead the clan forwards while facing rising aggression from their once ally, the Mountain Clan. Kaul Shae returns home after finishing her university program abroad while Emery Anden, adopted member of the Kaul family, is approaching graduation into the ranks of the Green Bone Warriors but both are unsure of their place in the clan going forwards.
Is Jade City worth your time to read? Almost certainly. I think this story will have something of interest for almost anyone who is a fan of the fantasy genre as a whole. If
Jade as Magic and Power
The Setting
On Kekon only one gemstone has the ability to drive men mad with power and greed. Only jade has the ability to turn those with the right ancestry into superhuman warriors. Jade is synonymous with the power and might of Kekon as a nation is found in its Green Bone Warriors. Only decades ago Kekon was under the control of foreign colonizers, but a ruthless guerilla war paired with the advantages that jade provides allowed the Kekon Greenbones to prevail and liberate the nation. Now, Kekon is controlled from behind the scenes by two major clans who rose to prominence during the war, the No Peak and Mountain Clans.
The main characters in this series are the grandchildren of the most prominent war hero from the liberation, Kaul Sen, “The Torch of Kekon”, after he has retired and left the clan in their care. You follow the Kaul family as they manage rising tensions with the Mountain Clan. The clans and city setting within the story feel vibrant and real with deep history and rich characters that feel like they life within the world that Fonda Lee has constructed.
That was what these thieves didn’t understand—jade alone didn’t make you a Green Bone. Blood and training and clan made you a jade warrior; that’s how it had always been.
Jade conveys physical power, enhanced perception, and defensive abilities to its wielders at the cost of potential addiction and insanity if too much jade is carried at a time. The culture of Kekon is influenced by jade in interesting and unique ways. My favorite expression of jade culturally is found within the religion of Kekon. The religious penitents spend hours at a time meditating with massive amounts of jade followed by crippling withdrawals as they leave their shift to rest. Something about followers sitting in the presence of a dangerous amount of jade that warps their perceptions knowing they will face horrible withdrawals day after day feels so very real and alive to me, I love how the religion was expressed in this book.
Favorite Characters
Kaul Lanshinwan “Lan”
Lan is the Pillar (leader) of the No Peak Clan, one of the two largest clans within the city. You follow Lan as he leads the clan after the retirement of his grandfather and watch how he treats the people all around him with care and compassion.
Was it possible, Lan wondered, to be both a strong leader and a compassionate person, or were those two things opposing forces, pushing each other away?
Kaul Hiloshudon “Helo”
Lan is a great character, but Helo is without a doubt my favorite. Helo is the “Horn” of the No Peak Clan meaning that he is responsible for the militaristic arm of the clan responsible for protecting the clans allies and territory. Helo is the most interesting contrast between loveable and scary as hell as he dispassionately administers the clans justice and inspires the clans warriors. Helo is one of my favorite examples of someone who earns loyalty rather than expecting it.
Any old horse will run when it’s whipped, but only fast enough to avoid the whipping,” Hilo said. “Racehorses, though, they run because they look at the horse on their left, they look at the one on their right, and they think, No way am I second to these fuckers.
Helo scares me, he inspires me, and I can’t wait to read more with him.
Kaul Shaelinsan “Shae”
Kaul Shae begins the story as an outcast from the Kaul family after she left with her western, foreign love interest to attend a western school. Shae returns to Kekon after finishing her schooling with with the intention of leaving the Green Bone life behind. Shae grapples with the deeply conflicting feelings she she has for her family and clan after spending years away. I found myself always excited to start a Shae point of view chapter and that I only got more invested as the story progressed.
Screw you, Hilo,” she snapped. “I can kill my ex-boyfriends myself.”
So, Should I read ?
Do you like Mafia stories? Is the Godfather a movie you just can’t stop talking about? Do you just enjoy good books? Give this one a try.
