Following up the conclusion of the Greenbone Saga, this novella was a nice return to the world of the Kekonese clans. While so much shorter than the typical series installment Lee has sent readers' way, The Jade Setter of Janloon still manages to pack a punch, and impart a message upon readers about the unseen people in the world of green bones. I couldn't help but want for a little more from the story, but that could just be because I'm used to Lee having 500+ pages of world-building and slow-building plot mechanics. All the same, this novella carries the essence of showing multiple sides of the story, humanizes its characters in honest and vulnerable ways, and getting me invested--all things I loved.

4.5 Stars

CWs: Anti-Indigenous sentiments (challenged); descriptions of drug use/addiction; graphic descriptions of blood, injury, and death; vomit; references to missing Indigenous women and human trafficking

Two things right off the bat. First of all, Fonda Lee has made it abundantly clearly that she doesn’t care about any of our feelings, and I respect that. Secondly, I was super into this. Quite honestly, if Fonda Lee wants to spend the next five years just writing novellas within this established world, I would happily read every single one.

The Jade Setter of Janloon takes all the best parts of the Green Bone Saga and makes it even more genre by adding a twisted mystery element to it. The main trilogy is all about action, politics, and family dynamics, and while this novella certainly encompasses all of that, it also plot that’s much more direct. Part of that is, obviously, because it’s a standalone and it has to be self-contained. But it’s also refreshing because we don’t really get to see any straight-up-and-down murder mysteries in the series, so it's giving us something new using that established society and magic system.

Fonda Lee had me fully invested before the end of chapter one, as she always does. There’s gritty action, there’s political intrigue as this previously-neutral apprentice finds himself in the middle of these two powerful clans, and there’s a sense of desperation that comes from scrambling to solve this case at any cost. It’s pretty intense for a novella, and I think it does a great job of creating an urgent but also satisfying character arc propelled by moral dilemmas and injustice. Because it's a murder-mystery, there's also a sense of gratification that comes with all the puzzle pieces masterfully fall into place at the end.

Additionally, there are some cameos from the Green Bone saga for readers to "enjoy," and they make you feel exactly as you would expect!

My one critique, besides a little bit of convenience at the end, is that there is a female character at the center of this story who is the prime suspect, and I wish that she was a little more involved, because she ends up feeling like a chess piece. That sort of ties into a similar critique of the main trilogy I often see, in that the series definitely showcases female characters—and especially powerful female characters—but they don’t always seem to shine as brightly as the male characters do, and they're also vastly outnumbered by them. That critique is incredibly valid, and that same pattern definitely translates over to this story in which the sole female character is essentially rendered powerless.

So I do wish that had played out differently, but overall I still think this is an incredibly worthwhile addition to the Green Bone Saga. While it's not "essential" to the main trilogy, in terms of plot, it still does a great job of widening the world the the history of the series overall. If you're a fan of the series, you'll most likely enjoy this and you won't want to miss it!

The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee


I can’t believe I waited this long to jump on the Fonda Lee bandwagon! I’ve been hearing about Fonda Lee and the Green Bone Saga for years - her books keep showing up on recommended lists and best of the year lists, but somehow I never got around to finding the time to read them. But when I saw a book by her from Subterranean Press on NetGalley, I thought I should request it to try it out. It was wonderful! Her characters are so well drawn, and her world building is wonderful! Even though this was a short book, I felt like it was a real place and well defined. The only note that clanged to me was when a character who was not a warrior ended up killing someone in a fight, and his emotional response to this did not seem to fit with what I had thought of who the character was up to that point. But maybe that’s just me. In any event, I loved this book and an putting all three Green Bone Saga books high up on my TBR pile. Thanks for the eARC in exchange for this honest review.

I will admit I couldn't really get into this at first but stuck to it in hope for some cameos. It was a quick and easy read.

Thank you netgally for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you loved the Green Bone Saga, then I think you'd love this. But if you didn't enjoy it, then it's one to skip. The reason for this is that while I did like reading the novella, it really didn't bring anything new in my understanding of the world and the main series.

The Jade Setter of Janloon did, however, underline Fonda Lee's strengths: grounded and unique worldbuilding, visceral action scenes, and fleshed out characters. it gives a different glance at the world, and will perhaps deepen one's appreciation for it.

I don't regret reading this one bit, and considering the hefty price, I'm thankful to have been able to read an ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up to a 4.

For me Fonda Lee can do no wrong. In a world run by Jade Fonda answers the question of who makes the jade jewelry our core cast is so proud of and what is his life like? The green bone universe is without a doubt one of my favorite fantasy settings of all time and with this novella we get a look into the less glamorous lives of the ordinary citizens of Janloon as well as a harrowing but necessary discuss regarding the hardships the indigenous population of Kekon experience in a society ruled by green bone prejudice. I enjoyed this a great deal and the cameos from some of my favorite characters made me smile.

It was so lovely being back in Janloon again. Jade City is my favorite series of all time, so I knew going into this that I was going to love it. It follows Pulo, an apprentice of a renowned jade-setter, and after a unbelievably valuable item goes missing, Pulo is thrown into the world of Green Bones and his master's secrets from his past life. This takes place 2 years prior to the events in Jade City, so there were brief appearances of Ayt Madashi and Kaul Lan, which was so heartwarming to see. Definitely read this if you liked Jade City!

“I’m only a humble jade setter, but I’m content with the last thing I was able to fix.”
ARC provided by the publisher Subterranean Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Jade Setter of Janloon is the perfect introduction to The Green Bone Saga for new readers and the perfect bite sized flex of Fonda Lee’s masterful writing..

It is no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Fonda Lee’s masterpiece trilogy The Green Bone Saga. The trilogy has a special place on my shelf and in my heart as one of my favorite series of all time. The conclusion of the epic trilogy released back in November 2021. Since then Fonda has teased a novella set in the same universe as the trilogy to be released by Subterranean Press as a limited edition book. This announcement got me really excited and I am happy to be able to snag a copy for my collection. Readers who are interested to read the book but didn’t manage to get a copy of the physical book can read the book by buying the ebook. The cover illustration for the novella is done by the talented artist Charis Loke. As you can see the illustration is insanely beautiful and intricate. The jade carvings of well known characters : Hilo, Lan, Ayt Mada, and Gont Asch caught my eye immediately.

The Jade Setter of Janloon is set in the growing and rapidly changing city of Janloon on the island of Kekon. The home of notorious green bone warriors and the origin of jade. For centuries jade has become a symbol of the Kekonese people especially the honoured green bone warriors as a show of status, power, and respect. Behind every stud of jade on a green bone’s ear, the necklaces, bracelets, studded belts, and many other accessories decked out by a warrior are the craftsman such as Pulo Oritono. Pulo is an ambitious apprentice of a famous jade setter in Kekon that has big dreams of opening his own jade setting business and leaving his master. All those dreams come to a halt when a thief stole one of the most prized weapon from the shop. With limited time, his life, and the lives of the people he loves on the line it is up to him to find weapon before it is too late.

Fonda Lee’s world has enamoured me since I read the first book of The Green Bone Saga and that world has organically expanded and grown to be one of the best fantasy worlds that I have ever visited in my reading journey. The world building in this short novella is more focused and less expansive but it still takes readers around for a ride around Janloon. I can confirm that readers that have not read The Green Bone Saga trilogy can definitely read this novella without prior knowledge. The experience of knowing the world of The Green Bone Saga comes with the novelty that never wears off and only becomes more stronger the longer you stay in Lee’s world. As someone that has read the trilogy seeing some of the notable characters make an appearance never fails to make me tear up. To new readers that will jump into this story with new eyes and meet these characters will be treated to an introduction that will surely leave an impression that will make them want to start the trilogy.

In this novella Fonda Lee’s signature style of concise and descriptive writing is as sharp as ever and yet there are certain notes in this novella that are different from the trilogy. There is a certain noir and murder-mystery undertone to it that I find exciting as it enhances the premise of the story. The main characters of The Jade Setter of Janloon also has a strong presence and is fully fleshed out in this 140+ pages long novella which takes a tremendous skill to do. Fonda Lee’s writing is addictive and fast paced that immerses you deep into the story that readers can easily get invested in every aspect of the story. For returning readers if you are expecting a lot of action there aren’t many but Fonda Lee has effectively spread out the action scenes to a few that will definitely leave a strong impression. The amazing thing about this novella is that Fonda manages to flesh out Janloon and the current political landscape of that time within the novella. The structure of the hierarchy of clans and the people that tied to the big clans are just as intricate as it is in the novel. Trust me The Jade Setter of Janloon is like a bite sized version of the epic world that Fonda Lee has created that is a perfect introduction to The Green Bone Saga.

The core main characters that are involved in the overarching plot are all well written and fleshed out. This isn’t something new about Fonda Lee for returning readers but for new readers that aren’t familiar with Fonda Lee’s book this is just the tip of the iceberg. Fonda Lee’s ability in writing characters, for me, is top tier S class. Lee can make readers care about all characters even the side characters that makes an appearance for a short period of time.

"Bright lights distracted from darkness, while money and success flowed through the gutters toward the cunning and the ruthless. Jade was not the only thing that was gained at the expense of lives."

Final thoughts, The Jade Setter of Janloon is a good bite sized piece of The Green Bone Saga that can be a good starter for new readers to familiarize with Fonda Lee’s writing and pacing. I definitely highly recommend for readers to read this novella first to experience the world of The Green Bone Saga for the first time or revisit it again because I’m sure for returning readers that have read the whole trilogy would want to see their favorite characters one last time.

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

Thanks to NetGalley & Subterranean Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This novella follows the events prior to Fonda Lee's Green Bone Saga books (go check them out!) and focuses on a small apprentice working with a renowned master who receives a new job involving a blade from the head of one of the clans--if he screws it up, it means certain death. Until the blade goes missing. Now, it's up to the apprentice to unravel the mystery and familiar characters from the books appear...

A wonderful continuation to the awesome world Fonda Lee built in her Green Bone Saga series! I really enjoyed seeing familiar characters and the new ones were interesting-especially the protagonist as he unravels the mystery behind his master's life. I hope Fonda Lee will write more stories set in her brilliantly rich universe!

If you know anything about me, you know how much I adore the Green Bone Saga. While Jade Legacy was exceptional, and the perfect ending to the series, I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to the series just yet. So when I came across this, I couldn’t resist requesting it. Thankfully, I got an ARC and was able to immerse myself in this gorgeous series again.

After the action-packed and intense trilogy, this novella was a way to slide right back into Kekon and the Green Bone clans, with a whole new cast of characters. It takes place two years before Jade City, and it gave me the opportunity to see the world through different eyes. While the trilogy focuses on the warriors of the clans and the people closest to them, this book is a lot more laid back, centering on Pulo Oritono, an apprentice to a master jade setter.

The shop isn’t linked to either of the major clans, and does impartial work for all of them. Since it provides a valuable service and the best quality work, the shop is well-known and treated benevolently by all clans. They don’t get involved in clan business and don’t take sides. However, when a shocking theft occurs, the lives of all three employees are turned upside down.

At first, I was just enjoying the atmosphere of the story, which felt like returning to an old favorite place that I haven’t been to in a while. But once the theft happened, the story picked up the pace and sent Pulo on the hunt to find the missing jade and save everyone from retribution. As I made my way through the story, I couldn’t help but get a little thrill at seeing Hilo and Lan before their lives became so hectic and dangerous.

It’s a short read, and I flew through it in about an hour and a half. This is the kind of book that can be read in a single sitting, although stupid responsibilities and my body’s need for sleep prevented me from doing that. If you’re already a fan of the Green Bone Saga, this is a perfect little fix to bring you back to Janloon and see some of your favorite characters. Even if you haven’t read any of these books yet, this is a good place to start, providing a little insight into what to expect, although the main books tell a much grander, action-packed, and quick moving story. However, this was a really enjoyable read and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t express how it felt to reenter Janloon. Certain character cameos were just — exquisite.

A fast-paced novella featuring a disillusioned jade setting apprentice and the theft of an irreplaceable moon blade, this is another installation of Lee doing what she does best — keeping the stakes high while maintaining focus on character and relationships.

Would literally read anything related to the Green Bone Saga so I might be biased, but this is a journey worth taking.

4.5/5

I admittedly found this a bit boring at first, I was just excited to once again see cameos from my favorite characters (LAN MY BABY I ALMOST TEARED UP). But then by the end I was shocked to realize that I actually wanted to read more about Pulo. This was overall a very fun read! I just expected more if I'm being honest.

Undoubtedly I would read anything Fonda Lee writes. I love the green bone universe so much, it is always a pleasure to come back to it, especially when discovering new elements of it.

I enjoyed how this novella explored life outside the clans just as much as I enjoyed seeing my favorite green bones back. It was also very interesting to see them from the point of view of an outsider (no, Bero doesn't count).

The main protagonist was a little underwhelming for me but the book made up for it by the expansion of the worldbuilding but also the interesting mystery plot itself!

I am once again amazed by Fonda Lee's incredible talent!

What a fun read. I'll do a full review on my blog (alligatorsandaneurysms.wordpress.com) for the release in April, but I just want to give a quick gush here.

'Jade Setter' is pretty short, and quickly paced for a Green Bone book. Indeed it's very much it's own kind of story for all that it takes place in the Green Bone universe. That being said, readers will thrill to see some familiar faces and delight at the experience of a great cast of new characters.

But even if I had never read a Green Bone book before I think I would still have rated this book just as highly. Each member of the cast has a complicated relationship to each other and the world around them, and it was amazing to see how this seemingly ho-hum group just gets more and more interesting with every chapter.

Really enjoyed this one! Highly recommend to anyone (Senior Fists and new Fingers alike). Great read!

Hmm. It isn't bad, I just don't know how much noirs are for me (granted I've only read two but still). I also didn't completely mesh with Pulo as a protagonist either.

Also, if you're hoping to see Lan, we only get a glimpse of him and then he's gone again 😔

What a treat to be back in this world for a little bit! It had a little bit of a slow start, but had completely won me over by the end. This is a peak into one of the small, minor clans in Janloon and it was fascinating to see a different angle.

In the first half of the book I found myself wishing very hard to see some of the characters I loved from the Green Bone Saga books. Then halfway through some of them show up. Is that a spoiler? I would have liked to know if that was going to happen. It made the story fun and drew on some of that investment that the series had built up already.

I definitely recommend reading this after reading the main trilogy. You *could* read it first, but there is no benefit to that that I can see. It definitely rides some of the nostalgia that fans will have from the trilogy.

This story has so much heart and is everything we've grown to love from the trilogy. The new characters are interesting, sympathetic....and if you can believe it...the world of the Green Bone Saga gets even more fleshed out. This was a really solid, satisfying read.

Sexual violence? Yes, but it is past tense and off page. Other content warnings? Drug use, murder, torture.

Thank you to Subterranean Press for approving my NetGalley request in exchange for an honest review!

The Jade Setter of Janloon might be the last entry in the Green Bone Saga for a while or maybe even the final one so I am really glad they approved an arc for me to check out. So in Janloon jade thievery is regarded in the same light as murder is so I think this novella felt like a murder mystery set in this world.

I really liked the main perspective in this novella, Pulo, since in the main books you mostly see things through the eyes of Hilo and Shae so you saw the clans as almost a necessary part of the way of life in Janloon, but in this one it shows how the clans can harm its own citizens just as much as it can help.

It’s hilarious that I still haven’t read Jade War or Legacy yet despite loving Jade City. I guess it was such an intense experience that picking up the sequel makes me all kinds of anxious. But hopefully I’ll finish the trilogy soon. In the meantime, I found myself in a bad mood today and decided to cheer myself up by picking up this prequel and it was definitely the right decision.

The writing is very engaging right from the beginning and it was interesting to get to know the perspective of someone who is not a Green Bone but works with setting it. The author describes jade setting like an art form and I enjoyed picturing it in my head. And in such a short book, the author also manages to include robbery, murder, corruption and revenge and I have to commend her for creating such a compelling narrative while also feeling satisfied with its length. It ofcourse moves at a fast pace but that is to be expected, and it helps that the narrative takes place in the duration of a couple of days.

Pulo is an interesting character because he is a good person and somewhat idealistic but also easy to judge when it comes to other people, without knowing their whole situation. He does have his heart in the right place though and I admired him for standing up for his mentor and friend in very dangerous situations. Isin is his mentor and the owner of the Jade setting shop, a mysterious person who keeps things close to his chest and is very unassuming and unambitious despite being a master crafter. Malla is competent at her job but quiet and doesn’t draw too much attention to herself. These three characters’ dynamics and their relationship with each other is explored very well. But the little cameos of familiar characters from the Green Bone sage were definitely a highlight for me, especially one which made me quite emotional.

I don’t know if the author intends to write more stories in this world but this is definitely a fun addition to the series. It is entertaining, has some unique characters, unexpected plot twists, still maintains the gritty nature of the trilogy, and gives us a small glimpse into how some of our favorite characters of GBS came to be who they are. And ultimately, this is amazing fan service.

It’s always fun to see an author get to return to a universe they’ve just finished - in this case, Fonda Lee returning to Janloon, and focusing on the older generation that we just barely saw in the original Jade War, and getting to expand on a seemingly small jade setter’s apprentice into a life spanning grudge involving the two biggest clans in Janloon, more about Shine, and abuse of the Abukei. Great novella, great crime story, and always fun to see Lee get to play around more in this universe.

The Jade Setter of Janloon is a fantastic addition to the Green Bone Saga and will be a great read for any fans looking for extra content. This fun, mysterious, and fast-paced novella drew me in and had me engaged from the first page. I usually struggle with the shortness of novellas, but this one was perfectly paced. I found the new cast of characters to be endearing and had a blast following their journey. I also loved the cameos from some of my favorite characters from the rest of the series and I will take any Hilo content I can get my hands on.