“You picked a path that you can’t turn away from. You have to follow it all the way now, or I’ll push you off.” -Hilo⁠
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Jade War is book two in the Green Bone Saga. You know those adult fantasy trilogies where the middle book is just filler and setup for the big finale in the last book? Well this isn’t that. Just when I thought Fonda Lee would chill a bit in this one, she makes it clear from the beginning that she didn’t come to play with us. Jade War was, in my opinion, even better than Jade City (Book 1). Lee is not afraid to kill some characters and then introduce us to some new ones. I love that in this installment we spend more time in Espenia, which is a place we’d heard of in book one but now we have a much more clear picture on the culture there.⁠
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It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway….Hilo is still bae. However, there were definitely some breakout characters for me in this one. For sure Anden because he’s getting older and having to make some tough decisions in regards to the clan. I like that we got more of Ayt Mada in this installment and all I have to say is...she’s a bad bitch. I may not like her but I have no choice but to respect her moves. Wen is a lot more gangsta than I thought and I am impressed. ⁠
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So many times reading this I was shocked. I’ve already accepted that I will never be able to predict where this saga goes and will have to just enjoy the ride. I also love that we continue to know what has happened to every single character that has been introduced to us. There is not one single plot hole and that is APPRECIATED. ⁠
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Needless to say, I IMMEDIATELY picked up my copy of Jade Legacy because I have to know what happens next.⁠
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Even if fantasy isn't your thing, you'd love it because it's just a good story. Completely action-packed and with so many characters to love and hate.

Jade War expands on everything that made Jade City great. It contains a sprawling cast of rich and complex characters making unpredictable and difficult decisions in the name of survival. It holds a mirror to our own society’s history. It’s a wildly entertaining gangster saga where Eastern and Western cultures clash over the control of sacred, deadly, and powerful weapons. And it’s a generational family drama of succession, wealth, love, loss, and sacrifice.

What is the Jade War? The island of Kekon consists of mostly isolationists, but when their allied Espenians and rival Ygutanians become embroiled in an offshore war, the No Peak and Mountain clans have no choice but to take sides as the black market and international business trade begins to affect their bottom lines. This war is also an opportune time for jade smuggling, organized crime, and new business expansion to prosper, so Hilo, Shae, Anden, Wen and the rest of the Kaul family are constantly surrounded by new challenges that threaten their freedom and culture. Throughout it all, family politics remain front and center, as the cast clashes with the violent criminal underworld, outside political agendas, and of course, each other.

One of my favorite aspects of this story, and there were many, was how Lee kept me on my toes about how I felt about certain characters. I was rooting for certain people, until I wasn’t. My attitude changed several times over about whether I wanted certain cast members to succeed. Some scenes left such a sour feeling in my stomach that I didn’t think there was a way back from, until I found myself on their side again. It was a neat trick, manipulating my emotions so well. No character, however tangential, felt wooden or one-dimensional. There was depth and nuance and questionable morality written for almost everyone.

If you’re a fan of Mario Puzo, City of God, or epic fantasy gangster chronicles, The Green Bone Saga is not to be missed.

I read this shortly after finishing Jade City, so everything from book 1 was fresh in my mind and I was super hyped. Sequels, especially the second in a trilogy, are hard to nail because they need to live up to–if not exceed–the first book while also building toward the next/final book. Jade War definitely exceeded my expectations.

As you probably know, Jade City was a character-driven book, so character development was crucial to the success of Jade War. Jade War absolutely delivered on that front. It was amazing to see how Hilo and Shae grew into their roles as Pillar and Weatherman, respectively, as well as how Anden found a place for himself outside of the traditional Green Bone mold. I was also happy to follow Wen’s arc since it had been foreshadowed that she would play a bigger part in the No Peak Clan’s activities for a while. All of the characters were tested in how they dealt with increasingly difficult situations and decisions. That leads me to my next topic.

The geographical scope of Jade War is bigger than that of Jade City, and the worldbuilding is expanded upon. The Green Bones have to deal with more than just inter-clan conflict, they also have to handle threats and opportunities from outside forces on multiple fronts. I was especially thrilled to see a diasporic Kekonese community portrayed in Jade War, and I think the intricacies of those diasporic experiences were done well. We mostly view them through the eyes of Anden, who is studying abroad in Espenia and hosted by a Keko-Espenian family. Although he feels it is not the same as Kekon, he comes to respect and immerse himself in this community.

Jade War is an extremely complex story with many different characters with varied agendas, but Lee juggles these aspects so well. From geopolitical machinations to international trade to black market dealings to interpersonal conflicts, all of these pieces inform one another and fit together so well that I’m impressed and frankly, envious.

Last but not least, I have to say that this book contains some of the best action scenes that I’ve ever read. I was on the edge of my seat for so many of them because I was internally freaking out over what might happen next. I have rarely been so stressed out by a fictional scene, but these were so well-written my stomach was churning with anxiety and I could physically feel my body warming up from the emotional impact. If you’re reading Jade War, you’re in for a rollercoaster ride beyond compare.

So much happens in Jade War and yet there is foreshadowing for still more to come. I think I might die waiting for the final installment of this trilogy.

Jade War // by Fonda Lee

My feelings about Jade War very much mirror those I had about Jade City. While this once again leaves me with a middle ground rating, I think it shows that Fonda Lee is consistent in her storytelling so if you loved book 1, I very much predict that you would love book 2 as well. There are definitely some things that I really enjoyed in this one. One of my favorites was seeing how the rest of the world is affected by and handles jade, which made Anden's experiences a very interesting storyline to follow. Hilo was probably my favorite character to follow because he was so unpredictable in one sense but at the same time also so true to his feelings and character. Shay continued to be the center of political intrigue but it was good to see some serious action mixed in there that added to her character a lot. Bero was still the little sh starter of course and while I personally disliked his POV the most, I can't deny that he still had a serious effect on certain events of his country.

While there are definitely some really good parts to this story, just like with book 1, I still struggled with staying engaged multiple times throughout the book though and felt rather bored with it here and there. It's really a 3.5 rating for me but since I had to step away from the book several times to take a break before continuing, I ended up rounding down rather than up. But since there are so many die-hard fans of this series to more than balance out my rating, do take my opinion with a grain of salt, please. ;)

Thank you for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unlike the other titles on this list Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga is set in a more modern world, where submachine guns and magic are equally dangerous. Kekonese jade allows those who wear it to unlock amazing enhanced abilities—but without training, a jade addict quickly burns out. The Kekonese who wear Jade are divided into clans, which operate like organized crime families, giving the series a mixed fantasy, crime, and noir feel that stretches across over 1800 pages and three novels, the final of which, Jade Legacy, hits bookshelves on November 30, 2021.

If you have not read this series yet.. please go pick up book one (Jade City) right now! This series is just getting better and better. Am I terrified to jump into the last book? YES! It’s such an emotional roller coaster but I’m so glad to be on it. I finished this a couple weeks ago and just had to sit with it a bit. I apologize if my review is all over the place but this book was quite the experience.

I think that Fonda Lee stepped up to the plate and made a sequel that was better than the first, in my opinion. There is so much going on in this book that you will devour it quickly. With that being said, sometimes the pacing is a bit slow. There are times that I can’t put it down and times that I have a harder time hanging in. It could have been all the extra outside politics that were explored.

The plot in this book expands to add more threats from beyond their borders. For a chunk of this book, there’s a lot of focus on that. You think that maybe the clans might have put a hold on their grievances but do they really? While there’s more going on, there’s a lot of things that will break your heart. I’m not kidding. It can get intense and dark in some places. I don’t think it hinders the story at all but makes it much more impactful. There are moments in this book that I STILL think about.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book was all the amazing characters. Not only do we have our MC’s but we have so many additions and they have big moments in this book. I think that Lee does a brilliant job making you just quickly attach to them all. Most of them have such great growth and development in this book. Many times it’s black and white when it comes to the characters. Things definitely start to go down a greyer path for several of them. There are characters in the first book that didn’t have much importance but make huge impacts in this one. I think we learned quickly in book Jade City, NO ONE is safe. I mean it… no one. Fonda Lee is not scared to go there and destroy you. She’s perfected writing powerful and flawed characters.

There were so many moments in this book that I didn’t see coming. The action scenes are fantastic and well-written. There are so many moving pieces that you don’t see the whole picture until it’s unfolded right in front of you. You get the same reactions as the characters do and that’s refreshing. Many times there are things I didn’t think twice about and then come back to just blow you away later. I love it when authors can do this without everything being extremely predictable. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of predictabilities in this series but not as many as you would think.

Overall, I love how immersive and surprising this book was. A lot of times sequels don’t outdo their predecessor but this one is an exception. There were several surprises and shocking moments. Many times my husband had to ask me what was going on because I would gasp or want to throw the book. This is different than your typical fantasy and it might be what intrigues me so much. Fonda Lee is an amazing writer and I cannot wait to read the conclusion to this series. Okay, I’m terrified to read it because I think it’s going to break me. Regardless, it’s going to be an amazing ride.

Thank you to Orbit for providing me a copy of this e-book for review!

ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely amazing; Jade War was a brilliantly compelling sequel filled with skillfully-written characterizations and tension-packed action scenes.

I read this novel with four other readers of different ethnicities—TS, Emma, Jenia, and Nils—living in different parts of the world, and all of us pretty much agreed that we were in love with—and terrified by—the events in Jade War. It’s satisfying and astonishing that Lee was able to successfully create a sequel as good as this. Jade War topped all the stunning quality in Jade City, which has won many readers’ hearts and the World Fantasy Award trophy last year. But Fonda Lee did it spectacularly. Again, Jade War was unbelievably better than the first book. The fantasy genre needs more urban high fantasy as refreshing and great as this series.

The story in Jade War takes place sixteen months after the end of Jade City. The official blurb on Goodreads and Amazon did a wonderful job of explaining the premise without spoiling any of the main events; read those if you want to know more about the general plot. Jade War took every factor of importance firmly established in the first book into account and Lee expanded upon them deftly. On my first read, Jade City took a bit of time—around 100 pages—for me to become comfortable and attached with; Jade War flowed naturally with no dull moments from the first page until the last. All scenes in this novel just felt necessary and crucial; the plot points that I loved from the first book—such as a deadly clan war, engaging dialogues, and now, international politics, too—not only existed but were improved further. Jade War also follows in the footsteps of the first book by making sure that the main themes of love, family, honor, and duty were evident in the narrative. Fiercer, more ambitious, and bigger in scope, the events that occurred in Jade City subtly enhanced the looming tension hanging around behind the shadows of the characters. Lee gradually and continuously escalates the stakes that the characters encounter; the last 150 pages of the book comprised an unputdownable finale that can frankly be described as every single shit hitting the tornado.

“People are born selfish; babies are the most selfish creatures, even though they’re helpless and wouldn’t survive a day on their own. Growing up and losing that selfishness—that’s what civilization is, that’s what sets us above beasts. If someone harms my brother, they harm me—that’s what our clan oaths are about. Those men weren’t your enemies—they were our enemies.”

Recently, I’ve been having a bad streak of luck in reading SFF books; many of them do have awesome action scenes and original world-building, but they miss one feature that matters most to me, stupendous characterizations. I’ve written more than 300 reviews now, and I’ve repeated this so many times already, but I simply can’t enjoy a book if I don’t feel invested with the characters. Fortunately, Lee belongs in a type of storyteller that prioritizes her characters and characterizations. Since the first book, I felt truly invested in the characters’ journeys; it’s crystal clear that Lee understands and knows her characters incredibly well. For example, we know it’s inevitable that Hilo, being in his position, would have to do some questionable actions, and my god, he did. Even then, I was still able to understand why he did these things, and the good side of him that genuinely cares about his family compelled me to care further about him.

“The clan was not just people and jade and money. It was an idea, a legacy that connected the pats with the present and the future. The family’s strength was a promise.”

Every character’s actions in Jade War always have weight and comprehensible motivation behind them. Lee has created an exceptionally well-written cast of characters that’s so bloody compelling, complex, tangibly realistic, and easy to get attached to. There wasn’t a single moment where the characters felt like they behaved outside of their personalities, and the internal conflicts they had were all valid and empathizing. These are the kind of things that, in my opinion, separate the good and the great SFF authors from each other and Lee definitely belongs in the latter group. I also need to mention that within the cast of characters, the female characters—Shae and Wen—of this series were hands down some of the best female characters I’ve ever read in fantasy.

“If you’re not sure you’re in love, then you’re not.”

This, of course, doesn’t mean that characterizations were the only great thing Jade War; Lee’s tremendous actions and intricate world-building are back and strong as ever, too. They go hand in hand; the characters and the terrific characterizations served to improve the sense of danger and immersion behind the battle scenes and fully-realized world-building. Jade War doesn’t take place solely in Kekkon, one look at the maps in this book, and you will immediately realize this is a much larger and ambitious sequel compared to its predecessor. The inclusion of Shotar and Espenia, to name a few, made the series more complex than before, and yet, it’s still impressively accessible.

“Out of small resentments, spring great wars.”

Lee once again astounded me with her fantastic blend of martial arts and jade magic; the clan wars provoked by each faction led to ignitions of violence that’s doubly gripping and memorable. The action sequences were utterly stylish and breathtaking. I have to give a round of applause to the duel featured in this installment; it was pulse-pounding, full of energy, menace, and ominous atmosphere. The crescent slash left by the clean moon blades detonated a frightening quality of explosion that quickened the beating of my heart. I mean it, the duel scene and the climax sequences exhibited in this installment were brimming with vivid imagery and perceptible intensity. Take the last battle in Jade City, and increase that threefold, then you will have a notion of the crushing strength poured into the global jade war. I honestly can’t wait to read how Lee will improve her cinematic set pieces in the next—the last—installment of the series.

“All that mortals could do was accept the lot they were given, and yet still fight to better their own fate and that of their loved ones.”

I’m gratified and impressed by the gangster fantasy series I’ve read this year; Priest of Lies by Peter McLean is included in one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and now Jade War joins the list as well. Jade War is urban epic fantasy at its best, and Lee has cemented The Green Bone Saga as one of my favorite ongoing series with a groundbreaking impact. Do not miss reading this incredible book and series at all costs. The No Peak Clan awaits your enlistment in the Jade War. If you haven’t read Jade City, what are you waiting for? On my honor, my life, and my jade, this is a magnificent example of urban high fantasy of the highest tier. The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master; let the gods recognize me as a clan loyalist who has stamped Jade War as one of the best books published in 2019.

Official release date: July 25th, 2019 (UK) and July 23rd, 2019 (US)

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

If you read my review of Jade City, then you will know how head over heels in love I am with the Green Bone Saga. High fantasy, family politics, and magical jade? How could I not be in love? And Jade War did not disappoint in the least. Reading Jade War is like re-discovering your favorites. No matter how long it's been since you read Jade City, opening Jade War is an emotional experience. If you're fresh off the twists, turns, and cliffs from the first, or it's been some time for you, it's a thrill to become re-immersed in the Green Bone Saga world. It's intoxicating. The power, the vulnerability, of jade. The cost is extracts, the rush, the way it pulls us in. In Jade War, we are treated to a more international scope as the Kaul family face enemies from beyond and within their borders.

There's an intensity to every part of Jade War. Whether it be in the fast paced action scenes, the adrenaline coursing through your veins as your favorites enter danger, or even in the quiet introspection in the aftermath. Shae's past comes back to haunt her and she begins to ask herself what she will end up giving up for her family? All while Hilo leadership capabilities and family is tested more than ever before. And Anden as he experiences what it is like to be an Outsider. These three only brush the surface as Lee introduces other characters who grow to become major players.

Jade War is the sequel to the spectacular Jade City. The Kaul family are still locked in a triangle choke as they attempt to seize control over the supply of jade and the capital city of Kekon. Having been pushed into leadership as a result of what happened in the first book , Hilo is now the leader of the No Peak Clan. By his side is his sister Shae, the Weather Man of the Clan.

Jade allows users to enhance their abilities which is why it’s one of the most sought out resources within Kekon. As a result of this, the resource has also caught the attention of foreign governments and criminals who wish to use variants of the resource known SN1. What this drug does is that it enables anyone to enhance their abilities. Normally only those with specific genes known as “Green Bones” can wield jade but now others are finding ways to make use of the resource.

The Kaul’s must therefore decide which of these individuals to form alliances with in order to keep growing the clan and stay one step ahead of the Mountain Clan. Unlikely alliances will form, enemies will come out of the shadows, and vengeance will be served cold to their rivals. The most important thing right now for the clan is to survive!

Fonda Lee delivers another great installment in the Green Bone Saga. I really enjoyed Jade City but Jade War takes the Greenbone Saga to another level. The book shifts from situations occurring in Kekon to outside of the country as we see how Anden is getting on in Espenia. The Kaul family also realize that if they wish to expand further they may have to start working with the Espenian’s in order to grow. This is very daunting for them as the Kaul’s don’t trust outsiders.

On top of that, the No Peak Clan must deal with the reparations of their encounter with the Mountain Clan in the previous book. The No Peak Clan managed to keep the Mountain Clan at bay but that won’t stop them trying to claw power from the Kaul’s. There is this major encounter between Shae and the leader of th Mountain Clan Ayt which blew me away!

When considering the characters, we again follow the story from the POV of members of the Kaul family. Hilo the Pillar, his sister Shae the Weather, Hilo’s wife Wen, and Anden their cousin. Since becoming leader of the No Peak Clan, Hilo has definitely matured. Although he is still ruthless in the name of his family and clan, Hilo begins to see the bigger picture when it comes to his clans survival. Shae is another fantastic character who having not wanted to be part of clan activities in the first book is now much more hands on. She must also try to balance her love life along with the work she does with the clan. This has a huge impact on her personal and love life.

Anden is still a character that I haven’t become attached to. I don’t know why but I just don’t care about him enough to be emotionally invested. But it was interesting seeing him to adapt to life in Espenia. The fact that he left Kekon to avoid clan activities only to find himself doing clan stuff in Espenia was pretty ironic lol. Hilo’s wife Wen was a really interesting addition to the story. Seeing things from her POV as she navigates being the Pillars wife was really interesting. I loved the development of her close relationship with Shae as certain situations in their lives bring them closer.

In terms of the writing itself, I will admit it was difficult at certain pointsm Some of the dialogue was long winded and just slowed down things for me. I did skim past a few lines when it got a bit too full for me because i just wanted to get to the point of things. This was an issue I had with Jade City and it continued in the second book for me. There are also a lot more political elements which I do love but again this slowed the pace down for me. The positives are that it was still a very intense read and the stakes are even hire this time around. The action sequences were also tantalizing which wasn’t a surprise considering how action packed Jade City was. The one scene where Shae fights Ayt Mada was *chefs kiss*.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and it was definitely a great read. The pacing however was really slow at points when things could’ve sped up. This didn’t annoy me but made me lose patience at times. Still I am excited to read Jade Legacy and see how this great trilogy concludes 😊

I feel like I’m going to rehash a lot from my previous review of the first book, Jade City, yet the second volume, Jade War, adhered to the same rich narrative, but on a grander scale. If you’re not familiar with the series, it is, in a nutshell, a mafia story set in a world with magical gems called “Jade”, which allow its wearer to accomplish incredible feats. It’s basically “The Godfather” by Mario Puzzo (or the popular movies) meets fantasy/martial arts. I loved the first book, and the second one didn’t disappoint. It felt very much like one big narrative versus two isolated stories.

The story builds up on the first book by exploring further characters that were introduced in the first, extends the regions that are part of the world and adds more conflict between the clans, the government and (my favorite) the members of the family of the No Peak clan. It feels like we experience these events as if they were part of a recent storyline part of our history.

Where Fonda shines is truly in her approach to immerse us in this world, where a myriad of gang rivalries, supporting characters, areas and political organizations all get involved in the major conflict in between the clans. She paints a thorough and beautiful canvas. It’s as if in Jade City she penciled and painted the big strokes, in Jade War added the details to express shadows, depth and in the last book Jade Legacy (which I have yet to read) she’ll add the colors so we can experience a full cycle of the Kekonese families in the Green bone saga series.

I simply can’t say more without revealing elements of the story which I strongly suggest you explore on your own as this second book, Jade War, is as good, if not better, because of its broadened exploration beyond the first book. And like I said and remain steady in my description of this series, if you’re a fan of Urban fantasy deeply set into a world of crime, gangsters and Jade-powered martial arts, Jade War and the remaining book (or all of them if you’ve yet to read the series) will fall right into your TBR. Take Mario Puzzo, a dab of Jet Li and sprinkle it with magic and you’ll get exactly what this book is about. I am excited to complete the Jade journey through the last book of the trilogy.

I loved Jade City, and this book just took it to the next level. I was so invested from beginning to end, and afterwards I could not stop thinking about this book.

“Out of small resentments, spring great wars.”
Trigger Warning : substance abuse, decapitation, gore, death, violence, sex, live burial

Jade War is the sequel in which characters and the world developed together in a race where modernity and traditions clash. “I swear on my honor, my life, and my jade.”

Starting the month of April I was dreading whether I could read Jade War with all of the stress I’m experiencing from many facets of my life. Alas I did manage to pick it up! The Green Bone Saga is one of my top favorite series. The first book, Jade City, left such a big impression on me that I was so excited when I finally got my hands on the audiobook on Libby. Jumping back into the world of Green Bones with it’s variety of customs, cultures, politics, and world dynamics is a comforting feeling. Though that comforting feeling quickly turned into terror the deeper I got into the book. When I thought Fonda Lee already pushed the envelope far enough in Jade City, she pushed it way further in this sequel. Because of this I can declare early on in my review that Jade War will make it into my list of second book syndrome destroyers. Dare I say that Lee sets the bar even higher than its predecessor.

Jade War is the explosive sequel to an already amazing first book of The Green Bone Saga series, Jade City, by Fonda Lee. A story that revolves around the Kaul family, the core of the No Peak clan, one of the most influential clans on the island of Kekon. As the growing tensions between the two rivaling clans of Kekon, No Peak and the Mountain, threatens the peaceful life of the innocent citizens another war brews in outside of the island. And this time the two clans have to out maneuver each other to gain political influence and expand their clan business outside of their small island. While in Jade City the story focused more on the internal clan relations and the clan war, in this sequel Lee sheds light on the broader side of things. The groundbreaking foundations that is built in the first book is sky rocketed to it’s highest point in stakes and emotional scarring. Let’s say I experienced all the emotions that a human can feel in a lifetime while reading this book.

“Janloon wore its savagery on its sleeve; it was a proud Fist among nations, it did not hide what it was. Janloon was honest.”

The main focus in Jade War is the many facets of the war that is threatening the peace in Kekon and its people. From the war that is happening near the borders of Kekon between two countries resulting in the growing tension and pressure for the Kekonese government to maintain a neutral stance. To the violent clan war on the streets of Janloon between No Peak and the Mountain creating more opportunities for foreign or underground threats to establish illegal business’ under the noses of the two clans. Jade is a hot commodity in these times of war resulting for the focus to shift to international relations and territorial expansion. Since the demand in jade is more prominent than ever it creates a slow burning chaotic environment that is organically realized. These chaotic environment can be identified in the emerging foreign underground parties that tries to get their piece in the jade trade. The Kaul family takes center stage in this complex debacle revolving around jade all the while trying to defend their existence and fight off the external threats that want to see their clan destroyed. When you think the Mountain is the only enemy threatening their existence, the No Peak clan is on the hit list of a lot more people now.

Lee doesn’t hold back at all in this sequel, with each flip of the page it is anxiety inducing and will surely keep you at the edge of your seat the whole time. Though the action sequences in this sequel isn’t as prominent as Jade City, Lee will treat you to an onslaught war machinations that is offensive in ways that doesn’t dirty ones hands with blood and gore. These machinations takes the form of shady alliances and business deals, manipulation, smear campaigns, bribery, proxy wars, and many more. That is not all, this natural struggle in the politic and economic landscape also leaves an impact on the people in war torn countries or poor countries with corrupt governments or just people searching for a better future, as seen in the refugees. With the ever growing and advancing world the Kekonese must adapt to the change. There is an ever growing interest and ever evolving culture regarding jade in foreign countries. The knowledge of the existence of green bones are highly stereotypical outside of Kekon. These views of the green bone culture and the romanticization of jade adds fuel to the jade black market impacting the distribution of jade that was once highly regulated and exclusive to military or governmental affairs. The drug SN1 also makes it easier for non Kekonese people to hone powers of jade. And of course like the war on drugs in real life smugglers will do everything to get the drugs or jade into the market. All of this is present in the world that Fonda Lee has created, it is a sophisticated ecosystem of jade in which any decisions or any move made is like a continuous ripple effect. Solidifying Jade War as one of the books that I would like to label as a book with not just superb character development but also mind boggling world development.

“Change is inevitable, Kaul-jen; the only question is whether if we control its direction or become victims of a landslide.”

The main event of the Green Bone Saga is it’s characters, centered around one green bone family and head of the No Peak clan, the Kaul family. There is a plethora of character raging from the dominating green bone clans, lantern men, politicians from all sides of the world, the smuggles and dealers, street thugs and so on. The Kauls spearheads the story as it shows how the No Peak adapts to the evolving world with all its machinations. The story is mostly told from the perspective of the three main members of the Kaul family : Hilo, Shae, and Anden. Though occasionally Lee would gives us a glimpse from other members of No Peak such as : Wen, Tar, Ken, and so on, though their appearances are like bite sized cameos. But! One character gave one of the best inner monologues and showed the most impactful growth, Kaul Maik Wenruxian. Wen is a mother, wife to the pillar of No Peak, an entrepreneur, a sister, and so many things. Lee hinted about her ambitions and drive in Jade City, in this book she is a force to be reckoned with. Behind every powerful man there is a powerful woman and that woman is Wen!

“… She could never be a Green Bone herself, as much as she felt she was one at heart, but she could think like a Green Bone. She was an enabler, an aide, a hidden weapon, and that was worth something. Perhaps a great deal.“

Hilo is finally embracing his role as Pillar of the clan, warming up to his new responsibilities and duty to maintain a good relationship with everyone as the Pillar. Even though Hilo is somewhat reluctant at most, he acknowledges that he is the only choice and he will see through all the clan affairs. As a character Hilo is a loose cannon, a sleeping tiger, and down right unpredictable. Lee’s talent as a writer in keeping readers guessing lies with Kaul Hiloshudon. Hilo’s intimidating presence and menacing aura bleeds out of the page. When I first met Hilo in Jade City that aura resonated from his position as Horn but now it has matured, to a more reserved and calculating character like a snake recoiling preparing to strike. There are some actions done by Hilo that is still reminiscent of the Horn-Hilo, when his rage and unbending personality comes to surface from his Pillar exterior. Some of the highlights from Hilo is seeing him become a dad. As a character that is brutal and violent at times Hilo showed his soft side towards his family. It is refreshing seeing these happy interactions between the pillar and the future of No Peak.

“You have to go where your enemies are,” Hilo said. “And then further.”

A character that has shown their strengths and vulnerability in the Green Bone Saga since day one is Kaul Shaelinsan. The weatherman and voice of reason of No Peak. Shae is one of those characters that goes through the revolving door of tragedy multiple times. This time it is no different. Shae’s struggle as a woman in a male dominated world after she took on the role of Weatherman is inspiring. The expectations and stakes for a woman to assume an important role in a clan is higher compared to a man. For a woman many will expect them to be weak and complacent, Shae proved all of the people that doubted her wrong. As a woman I resonated with her more compared to Hilo and Anden. Shae’s development as character in Jade War is heart achingly important to her character. She went through grief, betrayal, death, and public shaming by standing her ground as Weatherman putting the clan as priority before herself. It surprised me that Shae has the guts to assert her position and take a more violent approach to turn the tides of a dire situation. There is an uplifting moment shared between Shae and Wen. I will not go into detail because spoilers, of course. I can only hope for her happiness in the third book because oh boy! She deserves it.

“The clan is my blood and the Pillar is its master,” she whispered. “I have a lot of regrets in life, but those oaths aren’t one of them.”

Emery Anden the true main character of Jade City and future of the No Peak clan. Anden’s development since the events of the previous book takes the angsty route. He is clearly traumatized and scared of the violent side of being a green bone. These traumas only became more prominent after the ending of Jade City that Anden decides to eliminate jade from his life. For a young adult that has trained and dedicated his life to the jade arts, growing up in a green bone family with a future in the clan that is ready to welcome him and closing the door to this life doesn’t make sense to a green bone. And to this I say, Anden is young and he has lots of opportunities to figure out his life. Anden’s overarching coming of age story and his self discovery journey is vital to his development as a whole.

I will not go into detail about his development because it is littered with spoilers left and right. All I can say is that Anden’s perspective gives insight to the world outside of Kekon from the eyes of a Kekonese born boy hinting at the future of green bones and the evolution of the world. It is also a perspective that will open your eyes to refresh readers mindset about green bones as a whole. This made me realize while reading Jade City I have romanticized the green bone lifestyle because the story is mostly told from the Kaul’s perspective, a green bone’s perspective. Fonda Lee gave us insight to other green bones in different parts of the world through Anden. It is entertaining seeing this contrast in lifestyle and how these differences in views while maintaining the same culture from Kekon is parallel for immigrants that grew up far away from their ancestral lands. This made me think about the debate with myself about being a Chinese-Indonesian or any readers that come from immigrant families.

“Green isn’t easily rubbed away.”

Final thoughts, this is a very long review for one of the best sequels I’ve read in 2021. Jade War contained all that is great from Jade City and built upon it a continuation of a story that easily blast the expectations from it’s predecessor to dust. It is very rare for a sequel to be more intimidating than the first book, the world building is organically savage and unforgiving, the absolutely perfect ecosystem for a set of equally amazing characters. Not only that the characters themselves maintained a powerful presence in propelling the story forward, the world itself also played a part in displaying the growth of the Kekonese society and the world surrounding it. I think this review is already long enough and expressed all of my feelings about Jade War. If you stumbled upon this review and is interested in reading The Green Bone Saga, please check my review for Jade City, below.

I highly recommend for everyone to read this amazing series, it is the best book to segway that can peak your interest to adult fantasy. It is the right amount of world building and a simple magic system to follow. To top it all of is the amazing characterization (if my long essay isn’t convincing enough). Please do yourself justice and read this series.

“The clan was not just people and jade and money. It was an idea, a legacy that connected the past with the present and the future. The family’s strength was a promise.”

This second volume of Fonda Lee's great Green Bone saga picks up where Jade City left off but then expands the narrative from the city of Janloon to other countries in the region that have their own gangs and smugglers of jade. The conflict between the Mountain and No Peak clans of Janloon reaches a crisis point even while negotiations and gangland raids occupy the No Peak leaders Shae and Hilo, on several other fronts. I found the pacing slower and somewhat less compelling than the first volume, but Lee is working at a very high level of writing so that is a minor criticism. The characters, especially Anden and Wen, come into their own while all the major characters, always so well drawn, deepen their involvement with each other and face ever more critical decisions about surviving a much broader gang war. This is great fiction writing, not just great SFF.

I really loved the first book in this series but it was a bit slower than I was hoping and I gave it four stars as a result. Jade War though? This book was a JAW DROPPER. I was so invested from the beginning to the end.

I can't stress enough how much I adored all of the strong female representation in this book. Yes, I have a crush on Hilo, but the POVs that made me the happiest and the ones I was most invested in were women.

The end of this book had me honestly so so stressed and I'm dying to read the next book. This series might be the death of me but I love it so much.

No doubt about it, Fonda Lee has created a sweeping epic with the Green Bone Saga. But why have the Abukei been so underwritten? It remains the same in this second book; they are mentioned I believe, at least three times, but only as it amounts to them in roles of servitude, mine workers and as the indigenous peoples of Kekon. I want more of them and for them. Is it possible they have chosen this way of life or were they relegated when the Green Bones rose to power?

Lee has taken us beyond the borders of Kekon as war looms between Shotar and Oortoko (being backed by Ygutan). Alliances are being made, strengthened and dissolved; loose ends are being tied up; and new gangs and crews are being introduced. There is familial friction and dynamics, political maneuverings, information exchange, trade and economic agreements, black market chicanery, romantic encounters and crippling losses.

What makes this such a good series is how effortlessly Lee is able to weave these new movers and shakers into her already established world. It makes the reader aware that the world is actually larger than Kekon, but is very much tethered to it because of JADE. I appreciated viewing the different ways of life and business as conducted by the Espenians, the Bosses and the Barukans on the Uwiwa Islands. Hopefully, Shotar and Ygutan will also get to play a greater role in the next book.

As for the Mountain clan, I would love to get a few chapters from the perspective of Ayt Madashi, from the impressions and interactions we get a glimpse of, she is quite ruthless and formidable. In their never-ending struggle of hobbling each other, in the hopes of becoming the only clan standing, it is quite obvious that while No Peak prefers to attack financial and physical assets, the Mountain, under the leadership of Ayt, prefer the more insidious approach, destroying No Peak by striking at their reputation.

There is more to come in the upcoming Jade Legacy, but I want more about the Abukei, what happened that led to them being in the positions they now occupy; why is that only certain Kekonese are able to utilize the abilities conveyed by jade; why is there the need for stone eyes and the inert Abukei? Either a prequel needs to be written to introduce and explain the true history and evolution of Kekon or I will be left loving this series but also dissatisfied.

And one frustrating thing, at least to me, I got real tired of reading of the superiority of the Green Bones. How far would they fall without jade?

Jade War begins a year and some past the events of Jade City. Outside threats to both Kekon and the whole Green Bone clan system necessitated a truce, and the conflict between the No Peak and Mountain clans has been subsumed into something of a cold war. Hot-headed Hilo has become Pillar of No Peak, and Shae his reluctant Weatherman.

Jade War very much expands our understanding of the larger geo-politics. Like the spice mélange in Dune, the magical Jade is a resource that combines the attributes of both fossil fuels and drugs: the martial applications are enormous, as is the potential for abuse. As Kekon is the only place this resource is available, that puts an incredible amount of both foreign and domestic pressure to bear on what look like faltering traditional Kekonese systems for managing and containing the effects of Jade, not just on individuals, but also society and the environment.

With Anden's exile to Espenia, we begin to see the conflict between traditional Kekon and the Kekonese diaspora. He regularly gets into trouble assuming societal checks and systems that simply do not exist out in the larger world. Indeed, much of the jockeying and posturing between the clans feels very provincial to the point of self-destructive. Shae is one of the few characters in leadership who has experience living outside of Kekon, which often gives her a more nuanced understanding of the clans' tenuous position, not just the No Peak clan, but the entire clan system. Whether she'll be able to steer the clan through the turbulent times ahead is still very much an open question.

Because of the broader view, and the cessation of overt hostilities between No Peak and Mountain, Jade War feels a lot less active and immediate than Jade City (somewhat ironically, given the name). I enjoy the increasing texture and complexity in the world, but I imagine some readers may become impatient. All in all, an excellent continuation of the Green Bone Saga, one that avoids many of the pitfalls of the middle book in a trilogy. Very much looking forward to the final installment.

Summary
Barely keeping their heads above water in a vicious war among the Green Bones that control the use of jade on Kekon, No Peak clan relies on family to survive. But with all the wrong people in all the wrong jobs, and circumstances bring in more and more foreign influence, things just keep getting worse.
Review

I’ve never been a fan of the Godfather movies (let alone the books). Maybe that explains my reaction to this series. While the first book, Jade City, was essentially political, this second volume focuses more on the smaller scale family relationships of the protagonists. But while it’s more intimate, it’s still just a mafia book with a fancy coating. I’m just not that interested in mobsters, and that’s what these characters are – people who abuse others just to maintain the special status they think they deserve. (Though despite their status, the clan leaders seem to spend a lot of time on tasks better suited for lower-ranked clan members, and not because they’re humble.)

The book is well written, and to her credit, Lee does at times acknowledge the protagonists’ character flaws, but most of the time, we’re asked to empathize with people who, to my view, were pretty reprehensible – brutal, violent, corrupt, self-centered. The fact that their rivals are slightly worse didn’t make up for it. I just didn’t find the combination very interesting. If you like gangster stories with a touch of fantasy, this might be right up your alley. For me, and despite the very competent prose, it was a struggle to finish – and at that, it took substantial willpower and a determination to power through to the end.

This sequel takes place soon after the events in Jade City, and it reads as a pretty seamless continuation. For me, hopeful for a change, that made things worse. I also still, two books in, didn’t understand why opponents of Green Bones didn’t just bring in guns and shoot them all.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

The second book plays so well off of everything set up by the first, expanding the world and the stories of the characters. Fonda Lee blows it out of the water writing a series that makes me think what if Bruce Lee played Sonny in the Godfather, truly a wild ride from beginning to end.

Jade War is the highly anticipated sequel to Jade City. I am in absolute awe of Fonda Lee and the masterpiece she has produced. She was able to seamlessly blend elements of epic fantasy and urban fantasy (two of my fave genres!) And make something unique and refreshing A SECOND TIME. That's right. This sequel was FIRE!

Alongside this warring society we have the production of a drug called Shine that were introduced to in Jade War's predecessor which is supposed to give users the chance to wield Jade, much like those within the Green Bone families. As Jade is such a powerful weapon (it enhances your senses and greatly increases your power etc. but take a toll on the wearer even if they are a Green Bone) it's highly desirable, but being unable to wield it is a problem that this new drug may solve for many..

The politics in this series are also easy to understand but unpredictable, which is ideal. They're not as complex as something George R.R. Martin would write, but they're not as basic as "these two countries are at war, here's a story about some characters who are involved" which leads me to say, Lee is an amazing writer! I know I made a lot of jokes about magical gangsters, but this was a serious story (not a humorous parody) that is on par with so many great fantasy novels. I just really loved that aspect of the world.

The ongoing conflict between the No Peak and Mountain clans is the core of the story Fonda Lee is telling first with Jade City and now with Jade War, but the heart of the novel is the interplay within the Kaul family of the No Peak clan. The dynamic between Hilo and Shae as siblings and also Pillar with his Weather Man is painfully and perfectly drawn out. It is nearly impossible to not reference The Godfather (either Puzo's novel or Coppola's film) when discussing Jade War because Lee's novel has that feel of family and crime tinged with legitimacy and vengeance and hints of what it looks like from the wider world. It's not a one to one match and comparisons between characters are facile at best.

Jade War fulfills the promise of Jade City and then raises the bar once again. The novel expands beyond the island of Kekon and Fonda Lee's rich description makes brings each new location alive with the smell and feel of the city and Kekonese in exile. The world and the novel is so much bigger, and once again Fonda Lee has delivered a spectacular novel.