jupiterjazz's review against another edition
3.0
This first installment in The Green Bone Saga was a fairly interesting, albeit unimpressive read.
It mostly consist of a family drama set in an urban fantasy world, wherein two clans find themselves in the midst of a burgeoning turf war.
It touches on themes such as loyalty, honor and tradition, the struggle to find your own place/voice in and for your family.
The worldbuilding here is rather interesting, with fantasy elements at the same time on the forefront of the story yet not prominent in the world depicted; wielded by the few it's imbued in many aspects of this society, with hints of its geopolitical impact presented in this volume. My only problem here is that the city in itself felt a bit basic, especially since this first book is solely focused on this "Jade City". It could have used more intricate layers in order to make the city feel as intriguing as its main characters.
The characters felt rather complex yet I never really connected with any of them. But here it probably has to do with the audiobook and the poor performance it offers; there was close to no emotional impact delivered and every character sounded mostly the same, like angsty teenagers.
Which leads me to believe that my enjoyment of the book was severely hampered by the audiobook and a proper (re-)read might change my opinion.
On to book two.
It mostly consist of a family drama set in an urban fantasy world, wherein two clans find themselves in the midst of a burgeoning turf war.
It touches on themes such as loyalty, honor and tradition, the struggle to find your own place/voice in and for your family.
The worldbuilding here is rather interesting, with fantasy elements at the same time on the forefront of the story yet not prominent in the world depicted; wielded by the few it's imbued in many aspects of this society, with hints of its geopolitical impact presented in this volume. My only problem here is that the city in itself felt a bit basic, especially since this first book is solely focused on this "Jade City". It could have used more intricate layers in order to make the city feel as intriguing as its main characters.
The characters felt rather complex yet I never really connected with any of them. But here it probably has to do with the audiobook and the poor performance it offers; there was close to no emotional impact delivered and every character sounded mostly the same, like angsty teenagers.
Which leads me to believe that my enjoyment of the book was severely hampered by the audiobook and a proper (re-)read might change my opinion.
On to book two.
kennedydy's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
4.5
it just kept getting better and better as it went on
kayla_kamldecker's review against another edition
This book was DRY. The part I read was all info dump and a bit of plot with little character building. I simply couldn't get into the world, nor care about the characters. I've heard from other people that it gets better later in the book, but I just couldn't bring myself to read that far.
Also, I was disappointed that this book was marketed as fantasy when it was basically an urban gang war with a tiny bit of magic mentioned once in a while in the background.
Also, I was disappointed that this book was marketed as fantasy when it was basically an urban gang war with a tiny bit of magic mentioned once in a while in the background.
enbyglitch's review against another edition
5.0
What a blast! Lee expertly matches the drama of 'The Godfather' while introducing a perfectly tailored magic system and setting.
Jade reminds me a lot of the physical power granted to Mistborn in Brandon Sanderson's books, with the addition of social influence and standing attached. It works incredibly well in a genre where characters already rise and fall based on their personalities and associations.
The characters and plot were great (Barrow's story remains a lower point right now, but I imagine Lee knows where she's going with him). Loved some gay characters and some brilliant women in the spotlight.
Such an inspiring blend of genre, magic, and culture! Can't wait to see where it goes next.
Jade reminds me a lot of the physical power granted to Mistborn in Brandon Sanderson's books, with the addition of social influence and standing attached. It works incredibly well in a genre where characters already rise and fall based on their personalities and associations.
The characters and plot were great (Barrow's story remains a lower point right now, but I imagine Lee knows where she's going with him). Loved some gay characters and some brilliant women in the spotlight.
Such an inspiring blend of genre, magic, and culture! Can't wait to see where it goes next.
bookedbyruqs's review against another edition
4.0
Jade City is the first book in The Green Bone Saga, and it is also Fonda Lee’s adult fantasy debut. Jade City is a brilliantly imagined urban high fantasy. Jade City is set in a world where jade confers great strength and power to those who can wield it—without risking madness or a lethal propensity to the Itches.
More than a quarter of a century before, the island nation of Kekon was freed from the imperial thrall of the Shotarians. Ever since, the jade-wielding warriors of No Peak and Mountain—the two largest clans in Kekon’s capital city—have worked together in their complex webs of favor and obligation, indulging the unending performance of glad-handing and compromise. But the candle of their fragile, flexible alliance is burning at both ends and lighting their way to irreversible violence. The Kekonese had thought the war was in the past, but it seems it refuses to remain there.
With foreign powers setting their sights on the Kekonese jade and the illegal trade of a dangerous drug that allows Non-Kekonese to wear jade ballooning, the peace between the clans has become like a damaged cargo rope, unraveling with the speed of a new-lit fire down to a single thread. And soon, it will snap.
**
Jade City is a book that bursts with ideas, and from the outset, Lee goes to painstaking work to establish a comprehensible, fully-lived in world to make sure it all makes sense. The magic is thoroughly explained and compellingly explored, as is the social hierarchy. I also relished the stories of abandoned gods, mythical jade warriors and horrific monsters that are threaded through the entirety of Jade City, making the world's scope even more expansive, even when the story only focuses on a handful of individuals. The resulting narrative is as accessible an experience as going to the movies: vivid, immediate, and unforgettable.
Alongside the richness of Lee’s world, there’s the tremendous depth of character. The author's ambitious tapestry includes corruption, treason, vengeance, honor, regret, forbidding love, and sexuality. It’s a killer story about a family steeped in tragedy and power, affronting painful choices while occupying a city that seems intent on swallowing them whole.
It did take me a while before I was fully engaged with the narrative. If you’re reading the book for the first time, and at first you feel the same as I did, be patient. Trust me, it’s worth it. The first 31% of the book was the calm before the storm. Once the story went past the first interlude, the storm of blood and tension compelled me to continue reading non-stop. I immensely enjoyed reading Jade City. It was a fantastic read; the themes of honor, loyalty, wealth, power, greed, and family took the center stage in the narrative, and I can’t get enough of them.
Jade City has an immersive world-building that’s so distinct in the current fantasy market. Accompanied by a terrific combination of magic and martial arts, Lee’s engaging prose shine; the pacing and momentum building was constantly wonderful. And most importantly, Lee’s characterizations and dialogues were excellent.
Fonda Lee’s characterizations were so masterful, and to think this is only the first book of the trilogy. Lan, Hilo, Shae, and Anden are the four main characters, and they’re all flawed, realistic, and easily relatable. Honestly, it’s not just the main characters, ALL the characters felt extremely well-written. During my time of reading Jade City, I didn’t realize when it occurred, but I was so immersed with the book that my perception of reality felt clouded; I forgot I was reading a book. Seriously, the characterizations and prose were that good; everything just clicked with me. Lee did an outstanding job in utilizing her characters to show the importance of honor. The character’s determination to put their family at the top of their priority—setting aside their differences—was admirable. Plus, I have to say that the interactions and relationships that the main characters have with each other were glowing brilliantly. Empathizing characters to care for will always be my utmost priority in my reading experience, and the characterizations in Jade City were simply stupendous.
Fonda Lee channeled palpable tensions into the deadly political machinations, the descent into the bloody conflicts, the typhoon of battles, and the dynamic interactions between characters; they were a sheer joy to read. With Jade City, Fonda Lee has created an adult fantasy debut that is up there with in quality and magnificence.
Spoilery thoughts:
The first 100 or so pages were so hard to get into because of all the terminology and world building, the magic systems etc. We are introduced to so much names of characters so fast that I was so confused. It was too much too fast. It was so dense. This book literally needs a glossary. It wasn’t until Kaul lan died that things started to pick up pace.
Lan
Kaul Lan’s heart had no talent for violence. Ever since the mantle of clan Pillar (leader) had been passed to him from his legendary but ailing grandfather, Lan has been trying to keep the rusty, ramshackle machine that is No Peak grinding along. But he had been burdened for so long, and bereft of that state of rage and resentment everyone else expected him to cultivate as the clan’s Pillar. I love how Lan always tried to be a gentle and patient leader, even when his enemies suffered no such compunction, even when his softness was always taken for weakness. Lan was the furthest thing from weak, and as the novel acutely illustrates, it takes great strength to be shown the grimmest face of the world and still choose to meet its gaze with kindness. Lan literally dies not even half way through the book. Not going to lie I actually really liked him. He was such a good older brother and pillar of the clan. It was surprising that he died via drowning.
Bero
Bero is literally a little shit. His so delusional but I guess that’s what happens when u get addicted to jade. He needs to go.
Hilo
I love Hilo. He is my fav character so far. Hilo is Lan's opposite in every way. Hilo is imperious, enraged, and in some abhorrent way, alive. His blood sings with violence and he possesses such will for vengeance. But for all Hilo's unbridled temper, there is something almost vulnerable about him. Hilo radiates the flinching fragility of people who carry the worst kinds of aches, and it's manifestly apparent in the way he lashes out at his little sister when she leaves her family behind for an Espenian military officer, because he felt abandoned and lonely and instead of admitting it, he draped his words in venom and hung tightly to the iron in his pride just so he’d feel like he’d gotten his bearings again. And it's that softness, which is often denied and sublimated in favor of dogged anger, that endeared Hilo to me.
He is so strong and emotional and brave. He is like hard on the outside but soft on the inside. He has a heart beneath all the crap he went through. His so funny as well and I loved his sense of humour. He will literally do anything for the people he loves. His loyal to the end
Shae
I also loved Shae’s character. How she’d taken a risk to rise above the destiny carved out for her by the men in her life. She cast off her jade and went to Espenia where she was just another faceless figure, not the heir to a legendary warrior who liberated his country, or even a jade-wielding soldier who knew five dozen ways to kill with a lover’s intimacy. When Shae comes back, it's like coming to a place that had been home but isn't anymore, like trying to fit back into a skin already shed. I really admired her loyalty, how her love for her family keeps reaching new incandescences, chasing away all trace of grudges and grievances.
She is such a smart, strong, powerful women. Her character and story how she left the clan because she fell in love and wanted a normal life in addition to studying the degree of her dreams. She had to go against her family because her family didn’t support her and just wanted her to be another figurehead in the clan. Like honestly her past and what she went through. MUCH RESPECT.
Alt Madashi
Ayt Madashi is a very compelling villain. I actually really liked her. She’s such a good villain. It amazing how the author can make u feel for her too because of everything she had to do and deal with in the past to get to where she is. LIKE RESPECT, GIRL BOSS ENERGY. She is so RUTHLESS AND SMART AND I LOW KEY LOVE IT. She’s brutal, cunning and very tactical. She’s a very good pillar!!!
Wen
Wen, Hilo’s lover, is also granted equal footing in the story. As a jade-immune stone-eye, Wen has suffered the toll of the insidious belief that stone-eyes carry a curse in their blood. It didn’t help that her family was disgraced despite the fact that Hilo has recruited her two brothers as his First and Second Fists, or that Hilo himself is constantly tormented over her safety and often tries to keep the face of the world and its violence curtained from her. But Wen isn’t the type to yield to whoever tries to push her into surrender, and I have a feeling she’s going to play an even more enormous role in the next installment.
I actually liked Wen too. I loved how the feud between the Maikes and the Kauls were resolved via hilo. He made the Mail brothers his top fists and then later on when Hilo became pillar he promoted one to horn and the other luck bringer. I loved how hilo was in love with wen and how they got married etc. I only wish we got to see more of wen being in love with hilo because I felt like hilo was the one who was more in love then she was. I loved how Wen was trying to help the Clan.
- I hate doru. OMG when Granda gave doru jade so he can escape
- How doru raped that girl and was molessing her cause he had power and it happened over a period of time. Like how was that allowed??? How did the Granda torch let that be???? Granda telling SHAE IT WAS FINE CAUSE IT WASN'T TO YOU
- That Granda low key needs to die. His literally useless and makes everyone feel inadequate and like shit.
- The letter that doru sent shae???
- Omg the final scene where Anden was at graduation and refused his jade. Like I was so angry but honestly I understand why he did it. Especially with his past and what happened to his mum. Him crying in the hospital as his mother screamed to death broke my heart. I love how Anden was thinking of the big picture and stood up to himself and said NO. That was so brave of him and took guts. I only wish hilo was more supportive. It’s so difficult but I understand where both sides are coming from. I can’t wait to see Andens growth. He is the boss of channelling. He has the potential to be so powerful. I mean that final epic scene with Gont Ashe like he actually killed him via channeling. And when he was at the academy he killed all those rats in like 5 secs without even touching them.
- Also that final scene where bero was at Lans grave and is planning to get all of Lans jade since he was buried with it !!!! He better notttt or I will lose it.
If you want intensity and action, it doesn’t fall short either. It’s action-packed without forgetting the complex characters dynamics to back up the intensity and vivid imagery to keep you on your toes and feel like you never want to let these characters go.
The addition of Jade as the main fantasy element that this world revolves on was the perfect cherry on top. It almost felt like the Jade just made them a little more super human and made the fight scenes/perceptions make a lot more sense. It truly has everything you want in a fantasy action novel from character dynamics that sweep you up to Jade-enhanced fight scenes that leave you gasping. My mind felt so alive. I absolutely loved the fact that we still see them bond over both trivial things like having dinner to major power-changing dynamics like you know… planning a siege.
↣ Highly recommended if you enjoy brutal, action-packed urban fantasy that have intensity levels turned on high at almost every chapter and perfectly balanced character-driven and plot-driven stories. Especially, if you like morally questionable characters full of scheming and betrayal that still leaves you wanting to always cheer them on. ↢
the things people do for power…. I have been shaken to my core.
Gripping and audaciously inventive, Jade City wraps enough up to satisfy but clearly sets the stage for so much more. I’m very much looking forward to reading the sequel!
More than a quarter of a century before, the island nation of Kekon was freed from the imperial thrall of the Shotarians. Ever since, the jade-wielding warriors of No Peak and Mountain—the two largest clans in Kekon’s capital city—have worked together in their complex webs of favor and obligation, indulging the unending performance of glad-handing and compromise. But the candle of their fragile, flexible alliance is burning at both ends and lighting their way to irreversible violence. The Kekonese had thought the war was in the past, but it seems it refuses to remain there.
With foreign powers setting their sights on the Kekonese jade and the illegal trade of a dangerous drug that allows Non-Kekonese to wear jade ballooning, the peace between the clans has become like a damaged cargo rope, unraveling with the speed of a new-lit fire down to a single thread. And soon, it will snap.
**
Jade City is a book that bursts with ideas, and from the outset, Lee goes to painstaking work to establish a comprehensible, fully-lived in world to make sure it all makes sense. The magic is thoroughly explained and compellingly explored, as is the social hierarchy. I also relished the stories of abandoned gods, mythical jade warriors and horrific monsters that are threaded through the entirety of Jade City, making the world's scope even more expansive, even when the story only focuses on a handful of individuals. The resulting narrative is as accessible an experience as going to the movies: vivid, immediate, and unforgettable.
Alongside the richness of Lee’s world, there’s the tremendous depth of character. The author's ambitious tapestry includes corruption, treason, vengeance, honor, regret, forbidding love, and sexuality. It’s a killer story about a family steeped in tragedy and power, affronting painful choices while occupying a city that seems intent on swallowing them whole.
It did take me a while before I was fully engaged with the narrative. If you’re reading the book for the first time, and at first you feel the same as I did, be patient. Trust me, it’s worth it. The first 31% of the book was the calm before the storm. Once the story went past the first interlude, the storm of blood and tension compelled me to continue reading non-stop. I immensely enjoyed reading Jade City. It was a fantastic read; the themes of honor, loyalty, wealth, power, greed, and family took the center stage in the narrative, and I can’t get enough of them.
Jade City has an immersive world-building that’s so distinct in the current fantasy market. Accompanied by a terrific combination of magic and martial arts, Lee’s engaging prose shine; the pacing and momentum building was constantly wonderful. And most importantly, Lee’s characterizations and dialogues were excellent.
Fonda Lee’s characterizations were so masterful, and to think this is only the first book of the trilogy. Lan, Hilo, Shae, and Anden are the four main characters, and they’re all flawed, realistic, and easily relatable. Honestly, it’s not just the main characters, ALL the characters felt extremely well-written. During my time of reading Jade City, I didn’t realize when it occurred, but I was so immersed with the book that my perception of reality felt clouded; I forgot I was reading a book. Seriously, the characterizations and prose were that good; everything just clicked with me. Lee did an outstanding job in utilizing her characters to show the importance of honor. The character’s determination to put their family at the top of their priority—setting aside their differences—was admirable. Plus, I have to say that the interactions and relationships that the main characters have with each other were glowing brilliantly. Empathizing characters to care for will always be my utmost priority in my reading experience, and the characterizations in Jade City were simply stupendous.
Fonda Lee channeled palpable tensions into the deadly political machinations, the descent into the bloody conflicts, the typhoon of battles, and the dynamic interactions between characters; they were a sheer joy to read. With Jade City, Fonda Lee has created an adult fantasy debut that is up there with in quality and magnificence.
Spoilery thoughts:
The first 100 or so pages were so hard to get into because of all the terminology and world building, the magic systems etc. We are introduced to so much names of characters so fast that I was so confused. It was too much too fast. It was so dense. This book literally needs a glossary. It wasn’t until Kaul lan died that things started to pick up pace.
Lan
Kaul Lan’s heart had no talent for violence. Ever since the mantle of clan Pillar (leader) had been passed to him from his legendary but ailing grandfather, Lan has been trying to keep the rusty, ramshackle machine that is No Peak grinding along. But he had been burdened for so long, and bereft of that state of rage and resentment everyone else expected him to cultivate as the clan’s Pillar. I love how Lan always tried to be a gentle and patient leader, even when his enemies suffered no such compunction, even when his softness was always taken for weakness. Lan was the furthest thing from weak, and as the novel acutely illustrates, it takes great strength to be shown the grimmest face of the world and still choose to meet its gaze with kindness. Lan literally dies not even half way through the book. Not going to lie I actually really liked him. He was such a good older brother and pillar of the clan. It was surprising that he died via drowning.
Bero
Bero is literally a little shit. His so delusional but I guess that’s what happens when u get addicted to jade. He needs to go.
Hilo
I love Hilo. He is my fav character so far. Hilo is Lan's opposite in every way. Hilo is imperious, enraged, and in some abhorrent way, alive. His blood sings with violence and he possesses such will for vengeance. But for all Hilo's unbridled temper, there is something almost vulnerable about him. Hilo radiates the flinching fragility of people who carry the worst kinds of aches, and it's manifestly apparent in the way he lashes out at his little sister when she leaves her family behind for an Espenian military officer, because he felt abandoned and lonely and instead of admitting it, he draped his words in venom and hung tightly to the iron in his pride just so he’d feel like he’d gotten his bearings again. And it's that softness, which is often denied and sublimated in favor of dogged anger, that endeared Hilo to me.
He is so strong and emotional and brave. He is like hard on the outside but soft on the inside. He has a heart beneath all the crap he went through. His so funny as well and I loved his sense of humour. He will literally do anything for the people he loves. His loyal to the end
Shae
I also loved Shae’s character. How she’d taken a risk to rise above the destiny carved out for her by the men in her life. She cast off her jade and went to Espenia where she was just another faceless figure, not the heir to a legendary warrior who liberated his country, or even a jade-wielding soldier who knew five dozen ways to kill with a lover’s intimacy. When Shae comes back, it's like coming to a place that had been home but isn't anymore, like trying to fit back into a skin already shed. I really admired her loyalty, how her love for her family keeps reaching new incandescences, chasing away all trace of grudges and grievances.
She is such a smart, strong, powerful women. Her character and story how she left the clan because she fell in love and wanted a normal life in addition to studying the degree of her dreams. She had to go against her family because her family didn’t support her and just wanted her to be another figurehead in the clan. Like honestly her past and what she went through. MUCH RESPECT.
Alt Madashi
Ayt Madashi is a very compelling villain. I actually really liked her. She’s such a good villain. It amazing how the author can make u feel for her too because of everything she had to do and deal with in the past to get to where she is. LIKE RESPECT, GIRL BOSS ENERGY. She is so RUTHLESS AND SMART AND I LOW KEY LOVE IT. She’s brutal, cunning and very tactical. She’s a very good pillar!!!
Wen
Wen, Hilo’s lover, is also granted equal footing in the story. As a jade-immune stone-eye, Wen has suffered the toll of the insidious belief that stone-eyes carry a curse in their blood. It didn’t help that her family was disgraced despite the fact that Hilo has recruited her two brothers as his First and Second Fists, or that Hilo himself is constantly tormented over her safety and often tries to keep the face of the world and its violence curtained from her. But Wen isn’t the type to yield to whoever tries to push her into surrender, and I have a feeling she’s going to play an even more enormous role in the next installment.
I actually liked Wen too. I loved how the feud between the Maikes and the Kauls were resolved via hilo. He made the Mail brothers his top fists and then later on when Hilo became pillar he promoted one to horn and the other luck bringer. I loved how hilo was in love with wen and how they got married etc. I only wish we got to see more of wen being in love with hilo because I felt like hilo was the one who was more in love then she was. I loved how Wen was trying to help the Clan.
- I hate doru. OMG when Granda gave doru jade so he can escape
- How doru raped that girl and was molessing her cause he had power and it happened over a period of time. Like how was that allowed??? How did the Granda torch let that be???? Granda telling SHAE IT WAS FINE CAUSE IT WASN'T TO YOU
- That Granda low key needs to die. His literally useless and makes everyone feel inadequate and like shit.
- The letter that doru sent shae???
- Omg the final scene where Anden was at graduation and refused his jade. Like I was so angry but honestly I understand why he did it. Especially with his past and what happened to his mum. Him crying in the hospital as his mother screamed to death broke my heart. I love how Anden was thinking of the big picture and stood up to himself and said NO. That was so brave of him and took guts. I only wish hilo was more supportive. It’s so difficult but I understand where both sides are coming from. I can’t wait to see Andens growth. He is the boss of channelling. He has the potential to be so powerful. I mean that final epic scene with Gont Ashe like he actually killed him via channeling. And when he was at the academy he killed all those rats in like 5 secs without even touching them.
- Also that final scene where bero was at Lans grave and is planning to get all of Lans jade since he was buried with it !!!! He better notttt or I will lose it.
If you want intensity and action, it doesn’t fall short either. It’s action-packed without forgetting the complex characters dynamics to back up the intensity and vivid imagery to keep you on your toes and feel like you never want to let these characters go.
The addition of Jade as the main fantasy element that this world revolves on was the perfect cherry on top. It almost felt like the Jade just made them a little more super human and made the fight scenes/perceptions make a lot more sense. It truly has everything you want in a fantasy action novel from character dynamics that sweep you up to Jade-enhanced fight scenes that leave you gasping. My mind felt so alive. I absolutely loved the fact that we still see them bond over both trivial things like having dinner to major power-changing dynamics like you know… planning a siege.
↣ Highly recommended if you enjoy brutal, action-packed urban fantasy that have intensity levels turned on high at almost every chapter and perfectly balanced character-driven and plot-driven stories. Especially, if you like morally questionable characters full of scheming and betrayal that still leaves you wanting to always cheer them on. ↢
the things people do for power…. I have been shaken to my core.
Gripping and audaciously inventive, Jade City wraps enough up to satisfy but clearly sets the stage for so much more. I’m very much looking forward to reading the sequel!
aderobert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sir_dagonet's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
megfredericks's review against another edition
3.0
This book has some great ideas and I was really excited to see where it was going— unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. I love fantasy, but prefer when it’s character driven and the characters here seem to fall flat. The main driver of the plot is the actions of the opposing clan, and the main characters simply react to that. I also found the magic system super interesting, but it was completely underutilized in the writing.
This book does not contain a complete story. I suppose that makes sense for a series, but i wanted a bit more out of the ending here. In the last 50 pages I was thinking “how will this all be wrapped up soon??” and the answer turned out to be “it won’t.” That said, I have hope these issues may be improved in the sequel. This story and these characters have so much potential, I’d be interested to see what else the author does with it.
This book does not contain a complete story. I suppose that makes sense for a series, but i wanted a bit more out of the ending here. In the last 50 pages I was thinking “how will this all be wrapped up soon??” and the answer turned out to be “it won’t.” That said, I have hope these issues may be improved in the sequel. This story and these characters have so much potential, I’d be interested to see what else the author does with it.