Thank you to Subterranean Press and to NetGalley for accepting my request for an ARC for an honest review!

Content Warnings: this novella deals with the abuse of Indigenous women, in this setting Abukei women.

I was so happy to finally read a point of view that I agreed with (other than Lan). It's been an issue in most of the other Jade City books-- I think the genre isn't so much for me, and I've been curious about most of the other people who weren't pure No Peak/Mountain, and more bystanders in the turf wars and rivalries. Pulo is from a smaller clan, one that holds neutrality to a high value. They don't take sides in the conflict, and Pulo and his master are sought after by both clans for their quality of work in jadesetting.

Pulo, unconnected to the clan violence, yet swept up in intrigues all the same, seeks to find.a stolen moon blade before it's too late for his friend who stands accused of the theft. The Jade Setter of Janloon sets someone of a more everyday life, someone who though is impacted (as with all of Janloon) with Clan business, is not actively seeking their way in.
I liked the cameos that we saw of the main characters in the series, and I enjoyed them not taking up large sections of the novella. The Jade Setter of Janloon expands the world more, as well as helps show (to me) why some might feel closer to one of the clans than another, or how and why one might attempt to walk the thin line between-- back when it was still possible.

This was really great! I loved being immersed again in the world of Janloon, especially from the perspective of a "normal" person who doesn't have the power that the clan members do. This novella does stand alone in the sense that you'll still be able to understand it if you haven't read the main trilogy, but honestly I would recommend coming into it as a fan -- it makes the characters richer and the cameos so much more special.

This was delightful. A wonderful return to Janloon that I think everyone who has read The Green Bone Saga will enjoy. We get a new perspective from a neutral clan, and follow a jade setters apprentice in this novella. I think that's really all you should know going into it.

However, Lee's writing is as captivating as ever, and this was just so much fun to read, and helped ease my feelings of loss after finishing <i>Jade Legacy</i>.

Thank you so much to Subterranean Press for the advanced reading copy! All opinions are my own.

Fonda Lee simply does not miss. The Jade Setter of Janloon shows a different perspective of the Green Bone Saga world while retaining a lot of the great aspects of the original series. This review will contain no spoilers.

This prequel novella primarily follows Pulo, a jade setter's apprentice from a neutral clan, who helps his master to service the jade of high-profile clients from every clan. This story gets moving when a valuable item is stolen from the jade setting shop and our protagonist is tasked with retrieving the item.

Lee, as always, hit the mark with these characters after setting an incredibly high bar for character writing with the Kaul family of the original trilogy. While a novella doesn't allow for the lengthy development of characters, the characters in this book were enjoyable and understandable. I found myself seemingly irrationally invested in characters I haven't read much of.

The legwork in the worldbuilding was done in the original trilogy but Lee managed to add a couple more layers to this culture by showing it from this perspective. The stakes are high and the pacing is great.

Although this is a prequel story and you technically could start your Green Bone Saga experience here, I think you'll get more out of it coming in after reading other books in the series. Understanding the conflict between the clans, the political climate of Janloon, and general green bone culture add a lot to the story.

I highly recommend this story if you've read any of the other Green Bone Saga books and want to jump back in. The limited hardcover seems to be sold out from Subterranean Press but you can get an ebook version on April 30th. Happy reading!

Rating: 5/5

Gah Fonda Lee got me again. This novella takes place before the events of Jade City and we follow Pulo an apprentice to the renowned Jade Setter, Isin. After a precious item goes missing from the shop, we learn more about these two as they desperately try to solve this mystery before it’s too late. I thought this would be just a one off fun mystery but Fonda really uses this opportunity to to explore a side of Kekon we don’t really see in the main series. I really appreciated the themes Fonda Lee tackles in this novella, which ended solidifying the 5 star rating for me.

There was slow start so I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel, but by the end of it I felt so much for these new set of characters. Even though this story does center around a new cast, we still got to spend some time with familiar faces from the Green Bone Saga. Lastly, I would advise reading this after finishing Jade Legacy. Even though the novella occur before the events of JL, some things that weren’t revealed until JL about the world does get discussed in the novella briefly.

Pulo is a hard-working, honest apprentice whose life at the jade setter’s shop changes forever in an instant. An important jade object is stolen and Malla, the stone-eye girl who works in the shop, is unfairly blamed. Pulo must clear her name to save her and find the item before the shop closes forever in shame.

I was so excited to be approved for The Jade Setter of Janloon! After the heart pounding and epic finale of Jade Legacy, needless to say I had a massive book hangover. I was thrilled to return to Fonda Lee’s intricate world. The novella format gives Fonda Lee an excellent opportunity to delve into characters who never held center stage in the books, yet were integral pieces of the story.

Fonda Lee introduces new characters who I felt quickly invested in, despite the shorter time period to get to know them. Seeing cameos from well-loved characters from the Green Bone Saga was fantastic! It was really interesting to see them before the events of the books took place, while knowing what lies ahead for them. Janloon is one of my favorite places to spend time. Reading this novella felt simultaneously like coming home and peeking behind the stage curtain to see all of the backstage workers who make the main show possible.

The novella was a very satisfying and complete story. If you are a fan of the Green Bone Saga, then this novella is a must-read! The Jade Setter of Janloon is available on April 30, 2022. Thank you so much to Fonda Lee, Subterranean Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

It was such a relief reading this book after finishing Jade Legacy as it offered a fresh perspective of the world of the Green Bones Saga. I loved how we got to see more of the Kaul family from an outsider's eyes and examined a neutral clan, the Haedo Shield, that functioned differently than the bigger clans of No Peak and Mountain. Ms Fonda Lee really knew her world so well, and I really enjoyed the intricacy in politics and economics that were sheltered underneath both of these massive clans, how life was lived daily for the working class, and how the war between the No Peak and the Mountain Clans affected those living in poverty and outside their laws. I also enjoyed how Ms Lee also gave us new characters that are still flawed but strong in their own personal ways. This novella is such a unique supplemental addition to the series.

Thank you for Subterranean Press for sending me an e-arc of this novella.

Undoubtedly, the world of Greenbones is one of my all-time favorite fantasy settings. Returning to Kekon is always such a pleasure, because every time I know that I am in for a great treat, and The Jade Setter of Janloon was no exception. Fonda Lee has crafted an absolute marvel of a world and a story that’s cohesive and fun and an absolute delight to explore.
I don’t think I’ll be able to objectively review this novella. It’s a short and fairly simple mystery, but it’s also an immersive experience that reveals a less glamorous, grittier side of Kekon that isn’t directly involved with the greenbone clans, and thus, is rarely given much attention. I loved how Lee chose to expand her world through shedding light on social issues of Kekon and showing just how unprotected the people outside the clans and the greenbones are.
Though the new characters aren’t exactly as memorable as the original cast—which is to be expected—they’re likable enough for the reader to follow and root for them. I especially liked the old jade setter—a reserved, quiet master of his craft who simply tries his best to keep the balance in his small world, while also having suffered through a series of unfortunate events and fighting against them silently. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the narrator of the story—there were moments where the apprentice to the jade setter annoyed me a lot, but he was still relatable enough to be a good protagonist. I did not expect to have been so emotional from the cameos of the main characters of the saga. It was so jarring seeing them so young and still at the beginning of their vicious journey, I absolutely loved it.
The mystery aspect of this story was charming. Thrillers, admittedly, aren't my favorites to read, but I can appreciate the way it was done here.
This is a very small story. It feels personal, with stakes that are a lot lower than we’re used to, but it was a very fun ride. For everyone who loves this world, this will be an emotional journey, not because of the story itself, but what it represents and how it shows the characters we already know. I know Fonda Lee has said multiple times that she does not intend to return to Kekon any time soon on a scale as large as it has been, and reading this novella I couldn’t help but feel sad, because if she were to write a dozen other books set in this world, I’d read them all no questions asked. Lee is a master of her craft, and whether it's a 700-page tome that spans twenty years, or a 140-page novella that spans three days, she is able to create compelling characters, convey important themes, expand the world and entertain the reader. I’m sad to let Kekon go(or try to let it go), but at the same time I cannot wait to see what Fonda Lee does next.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of The Jade Setter of Janloon.

I received an arc of this book from netgalley. I really enjoyed this book it was wonderful to go back into the world of Janloon. I liked that we got to meet more people within the world.
The writing was easy to understand and it really tracked. However at points it got a little boring and slow but it was still wonderful and I recommend it for fans of the greenbone saga. It was especially nice to see old characters that were missed

I received an ARC of this book from Subterranean Press in exchange for an honest review.

The Green Bone Saga told the story of the Kauls and their struggle for power in the highest echelons of Kekonese society. In The Jade Setter of Janloon, Fonda Lee shows us life outside the halls of power, and brings a fresh take to a classic detective story. Jade Setter has many of the classic scenes we've come to expect from a Green Bone tale; duels, fancy cars with outrageous names, shady shine dealers, and the looming presence of Ayt Mada. However, our protagonist, Pulo, has more with fan-least-favorite Bero than any of the Kauls, trying to make a living in the shadow of the No Peak versus Mountain feud rather than shaping it. Fortunately, Pulo is much more likeable than Bero, allowing Lee to use him more effectively to show us the common man's impression of the mighty protagonists who dominated the Green Bone Saga. The contrast between Pulo's view of Kaul Hilo (minor spoiler, but you didn't really think no Kauls would appear on-stage, did you?) and the final image we readers have of him at the end of Jade Legacy is stark and underlines just how much he changed, as well as how different life is for a Green Bone without the protection of a clan. The mystery plot moves along briskly, exploring some familiar corners of Janloon while still holding some suspense and introducing new figures who might have been peripheral to the Kauls but have powers of life and death over the characters here. Lee captures her characters' moods brilliantly, from calm expertise to panic to youthful frustration with the world, and manages to sneak in some striking action sequences even in a story not focused on skilled combatants. Jade Setter feels tightly plotted without being abrupt, and even though I would be happy to spend more time in Kekon, its conclusion has the same satisfying finality as Jade Legacy; this story is over, even if there are still many more to be told.

5 out of 5 stars. A nice chaser now that the Green Bone Saga is over, and it made me regret not buying a physical copy when I had the chance!

How I love being back in Janloon!! Truly, I hope we get to come back in the future for more. Fonda packs all that we want into this prequel novella, a new perspective on Green Bone society, action, connections to the series and appearances by some of our most loved characters. Jade Setter follows Pulo, an apprentice to master jade setter Isin, as a very important item is brought in for repairs and then is stolen. A wonderful story and mystery with of course unexpected turns and hits to the feels. Thanks Fonda for another story in this amazing world.

Thanks to Subterranean Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

It is an absolute joy to be able to go back to Janloon post Jade Legacy ending. Fonda Lee has created a world so full and intoxicating that even following characters completely separate from her trilogy feels like a gift. I wouldn't recommend starting the Green Bone Saga here, but if you, like me, had a gaping hole in your heart after the third book, pick this up and come home for a while.

as someone who was a huge fan of the greenbone saga books, it was hard for me to contain how much joy i felt when i was notified of my approval for this arc.

the jade setter of janloon is a prequel novella which explores the world we have grown to know and love from the greenbone saga. it follows many of the original characters in the trilogy, as a crime is solved in order to appease ayt mada. it also gives some perspective into the world of kekon, and many of the socioeconomic issues that were not delved into in the main books. i think my favorite part of this were the cameos by hilo and lan; i had missed reading about them, and they are some of my favorite characters i had the pleasure of reading about last year.

ultimately, this was really solid for a prequel novella! while it did not have as much content concerning the kauls as i would have liked, i think anyone who read and enjoyed the original trilogy would have fun revising this world. i know i did!

thank you so much to net galley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

i missed the world of green bones so much, this was a great lil prequel novella to give me my jade fix. the book followed characters who worked in a jade setting shop and it was interesting to see janloon from the perspective of an average citizen w no real stake in clan politics and wars. it was kind of a happy medium between bero's rough street life and the kaul's who are practically royalty.

there was a bit of mystery, a bit of action, and i loved seeing the characters we came to love so much in a different time in their lives. it felt bittersweet to see them so young, having no idea what's in store for them in the future. if you enjoyed the green bone trilogy and are missing this world, this short story is perfect to pick up

I'm going to miss this world so much... Fonda lee please... create a bero spin-off for all I care, I just don't want it to end.

Some character appearances really made me squeal, and the new characters we follow were really interesting, Fonda lee has such a way of writing characters that are compelling in different ways, it's really easy to get invested in anyone's pov chapters. I love that this builds on the uglier sides of Kekon: the treatment of Abukei people, the clan politics and its implication on those Outside of the two major clans, corruption, etc. the main character that we follow is further down in ranks from the usual Kaul family members we follow and it's interesting seeing the disconnect between them sometimes, it's a really interesting perspective to follow. I just love how even with a smaller scaled story following a jade setter, f lee can still build on the world also call back to established characters from the gbs trilogy, just ugh chef kiss. I'm going to miss the green bone saga series so much what the hell...

[netgalley arc]

Having read the Green Bone Saga already, it feels so refreshing to enter Janloon again and become reacquainted with its customs and traditions. I’m always so impressed by the intricacies of the world that Lee creates in her novels. I especially love Lee’s ability to draw you into a complex and interesting character facing a moral quandary, like the characters in this novella. Even if you haven’t read her trilogy, this standalone short book holds up with a intricate world-building, exciting action, and compelling characters.

i love the green bone saga series so you can imagine how excited i was for this story. it was extremely fun to explore a different side of janloon and meet these new characters. although i felt like it dragged at times it wasn’t much of a problem for me. i liked pulo’s character, he was entertaining.
i will admit i did read this mostly for the cameos AND THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT! a young kaul hilo stealing the book as always. he will always be the star in my heart.

if you are a fan of jade city like me and you want to get an extra boost of content then this book is for you!

This is a novella set 2 years before the events of “Jade City”. As it’s set in the same world/city, you get to visit some of the characters you met in the Green Bone Saga. You don't have to have read the series before you go into this, but it certainly brings more to the novella if you have. Honestly I feel like the novella gave more to me after reading the series because it gave me more time with familiar characters and a familiar world. Like filling that nostalgic need. The entire novella is from one point of view and sort of showcases gang justice and the repercussions of greed. I really enjoyed this short story, it makes me want to reread the first book in the series all over again to see if I missed any of the characters mentioned in the novella. Really liked reading from a different gang’s perspective as well.

The Green Bone Saga is one of my favorite fantasy series, Jade Legacy being one of my favorite books, period. So when The Jade Setter of Janloon was announced, I was stoked.
I'll admit, the story put me off a little. It follows Pulo, apprentice of jade setter Isin, (a jade setter handles jade, making it into necklaces, rings, bracelets etc. for the green bones to wear) who gets roped into solving a crime when an important object is stolen from their shop. It introduces a brand new cast of characters, intertwining a pretty simple mystery with the complex geographical, political and social issues that Fonda Lee managed to write so well in the original trilogy. The characters quickly grew on me, Malla especially, and the quick cameos of familiar characters made me scream and want to rip my hair out.
While Jade Setter didn't particularly add anything new to the universe, it's a clear example of Lee's brilliant storytelling and a welcome entrance back into a world I'm so in love with.

This book was so fun! I love this world, I love Janloon. From very early on in my finding of this series I’ve wanted to know more about life in the city outside of big clan business, and this story did not disappoint. The character work in particular is great. Both new & old characters get their time to shine, even many of the ones that only show up for a short time feel very well-rounded. I liked that this gave us the chance to see how different types of people fit into Janloon, and the climate of the city we’ve spent so much time exploring in other books.

<spoiler>However, there was one character, in particular, I wish we’d seen slightly more of. I didn’t understand why they ended up where they did, they spent the entire story shrouded in mystery and I don’t feel that it was wrapped up in a way that was serviceable to them. I feel even a short scene between her and the protagonist would have changed how I feel about this. It’s a small thing but really impacted my feelings around the book’s ending. Relatedly, the way that certain aspects of the mystery were wrapped up felt very info-dumpy. We follow the protagonist going around town attempting to solve the mystery, but there’s very little he actually discovers for himself, most of it is kinda just explained near the end by another character which lessened the impact a bit IMO.<spoiler>

TLDR, a great fun mystery story, that really works well in the context of the greenbone world. But taken out of that context, the mystery itself could have been a bit stronger. Still very enjoyable despite this.

*arc review. Thanks to the publisher. Etc Etc