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A review by mikarala
Jade City by Fonda Lee
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Maybe I shouldn't find these characters loveable? The main POV characters are all members of the Kaul family, which is essentially a cartel that controls the most powerful resource in this fantasy world: jade. In accordance with their cultural values, the Kauls are all violent and extremely concerned with their own power and status. However, I think the narrative does an excellent job of justifying this within the universe. While the violent way of life may seem out of place with this modern fantasy setting, the world-building explains the Greenbone warrior way of viewing retribution, honour, and protection.
Basically, the Kaul family controls the No Peak clan, one of the two prominent clans in the city of Janloon, the capital of Kekon. The clans are basically cartels than manage the production and distribution of the magical resource of jade, which supplies those who can use it with superhuman abilities. Maintaining control over the clan, we see early on, is not an enviable position. The eldest Kaul sibling, Lan, is struggling after taking over from his legendary grandfather. The way the narrative presents Lan's struggles to live with dignity and honour while being constantly found wanting was incredibly compelling to me, and I felt so much empathy towards the difficulty Lan faces in the position. Matters are not helped by the fact that his younger sister, Shae, is eschewing the Greenbone way of life by refusing to wear any jade, in the process basically disrespecting their family tradition, and his younger brother and right-hand man, Hilo, is a hothead intent on escalating tensions with the only clan more powerful than the No Paek's: the Mountain clan. These conflicting agendas, alongside some suspicious changes to the status quo on the streets of Janloon, make for an incredibly tense and exciting read.
I also just think the world-building is absolutely masterful. Something I really appreciated was that Fonda Lee resists the urge to exposition-dump on every newly introduced aspect of the world, respecting the reader can understand what's going on even if some of the details aren't revealed until later on. She gives you the perfect amount to understand what's going on in each scene, without it ever hampering the action and flow of the narrative. For instance, early on someone wishes as a formality that the old Kaul Sen will live for 300 years. It's not until hundreds of pages later that you get the backstory that this saying originates with the religion of Kekon island (which, itself, is so well entangled with the resource of jade), as there is a mythological Greenbone warrior who lived for 300 years after discovering how to harness the power of jade. It's small things like this that work together to create a fantasy world that feels so vibrant and well-realized and holisitic that you can't help but be immersed in it.
Also, how refreshing to have a modern-ish Asian fantasy setting! Taking inspiration from various Asian metropolises (imo, particularly Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei/Taiwan), this universe is so distinctive and stylized.
And, like I said, I loved the characters, despite the fact that they aren't necessarily good guys. I already mentioned Lan, but Shae's somewhat renegade position made for a fascinating perspective on the benefits and drawbacks of jade usage. I appreciated her underlying conflicting feelings about what it means to be an independent woman in this male-dominated world. Hilo was volatile, but I fell in love anyways because of how whole-heartedly he does everything. He gives his all to those he loves, and expects the same in return. Anden, who I haven't mentioned yet, is their adoptive younger, mixed-race brother/cousin, whose imposter syndrome regarding being a member of the powerful Kaul family is so relable and honestly endearing. Overall, I just couldn't help but root for them.
Do yourself a favour and read this book.
Basically, the Kaul family controls the No Peak clan, one of the two prominent clans in the city of Janloon, the capital of Kekon. The clans are basically cartels than manage the production and distribution of the magical resource of jade, which supplies those who can use it with superhuman abilities. Maintaining control over the clan, we see early on, is not an enviable position. The eldest Kaul sibling, Lan, is struggling after taking over from his legendary grandfather. The way the narrative presents Lan's struggles to live with dignity and honour while being constantly found wanting was incredibly compelling to me, and I felt so much empathy towards the difficulty Lan faces in the position. Matters are not helped by the fact that his younger sister, Shae, is eschewing the Greenbone way of life by refusing to wear any jade, in the process basically disrespecting their family tradition, and his younger brother and right-hand man, Hilo, is a hothead intent on escalating tensions with the only clan more powerful than the No Paek's: the Mountain clan. These conflicting agendas, alongside some suspicious changes to the status quo on the streets of Janloon, make for an incredibly tense and exciting read.
I also just think the world-building is absolutely masterful. Something I really appreciated was that Fonda Lee resists the urge to exposition-dump on every newly introduced aspect of the world, respecting the reader can understand what's going on even if some of the details aren't revealed until later on. She gives you the perfect amount to understand what's going on in each scene, without it ever hampering the action and flow of the narrative. For instance, early on someone wishes as a formality that the old Kaul Sen will live for 300 years. It's not until hundreds of pages later that you get the backstory that this saying originates with the religion of Kekon island (which, itself, is so well entangled with the resource of jade), as there is a mythological Greenbone warrior who lived for 300 years after discovering how to harness the power of jade. It's small things like this that work together to create a fantasy world that feels so vibrant and well-realized and holisitic that you can't help but be immersed in it.
Also, how refreshing to have a modern-ish Asian fantasy setting! Taking inspiration from various Asian metropolises (imo, particularly Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei/Taiwan), this universe is so distinctive and stylized.
And, like I said, I loved the characters, despite the fact that they aren't necessarily good guys. I already mentioned Lan, but Shae's somewhat renegade position made for a fascinating perspective on the benefits and drawbacks of jade usage. I appreciated her underlying conflicting feelings about what it means to be an independent woman in this male-dominated world. Hilo was volatile, but I fell in love anyways because of how whole-heartedly he does everything. He gives his all to those he loves, and expects the same in return. Anden, who I haven't mentioned yet, is their adoptive younger, mixed-race brother/cousin, whose imposter syndrome regarding being a member of the powerful Kaul family is so relable and honestly endearing. Overall, I just couldn't help but root for them.
Do yourself a favour and read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual harassment