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Jade War

(The Green Bone Saga #2)

Fonda Lee (Goodreads Author)

4.45 · Rating details · 1,495 ratings · 326 reviews

In Jade War, the sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Jade City, the Kaul siblings battle rival clans for honor and control over an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.

On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers ...more

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Hardcover, 590 pages

Published July 23rd 2019 by Orbit

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· 1,495 ratings · 326 reviews

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Jul 13, 2019 Petrik rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Asian-inspired, Urban, & Gangster fantasy fans

Shelves: favorites, owned-physical-books, arcs-and-review-copies

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 buddy 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 both in love with and terrified by the events in Jade War. I find it equally satisfying and ...more

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Jul 11, 2019 Chaima ✨ شيماء rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-releases, lgbtqia-rep, fantasy, own-voices, adult, poc-rep

I thought books were for enjoyment, not emotional trauma

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Jul 12, 2019 Emma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasybookreview

Sixteen months have passed since the violent and tragic events of Jade City and the No Peak Clan are far from safe. But it’s not just the Clans at war. The outside world wants in. Jade is a commodity right at the top of everybody’s list and they’re willing to pay for it, in bundles of cash or oceans of blood. Trying to prevent foreign governments, criminal gangs, smugglers, street thugs and everyone in between from taking what doesn’t belong to them makes for interesting alliances, underhand Sixteen months have passed since the violent and tragic events of Jade City and the No Peak Clan are far from safe. But it’s not just the Clans at war. The outside world wants in. Jade is a commodity right at the top of everybody’s list and they’re willing to pay for it, in bundles of cash or oceans of blood. Trying to prevent foreign governments, criminal gangs, smugglers, street thugs and everyone in between from taking what doesn’t belong to them makes for interesting alliances, underhand politics, and more than a little bloodshed. No Peak can’t do it alone, but there’s only one other Clan who can help… And it doesn’t take years of Green Bone training to work out that inviting a snake like Ayt Mada in to your home means that you’re going to get bit. There are hard choices to be made. But the Kaul family will do what they must to protect each other, their jade, and their Clan. The stakes are nothing short of their lives.

It’s no understatement to say that Fonda Lee has improved on the first book in every way. While this is most evident in the characterisations, it applies equally to the world-building and plot. Everything is more vibrant, better realised. This feels like a whole new world. Accordingly, while Jade City offered some notion of what was outside of Kekon, this time the stage is truly international. And just like it says in the title, this is a WAR. One that will determine not only the future of the Clans, but Kekon and its place in the world heirarchy. It’s all about power and the deadly games people play to get it, or keep hold of it. The knives are out and nobody is safe.

Yet what gives this book an extra something is that it doesn’t lose sight of how all this political and military bargaining affects real people. From the plight of refugees created by proxy wars and used as bargain chips, to the trickle down persecution of Kekonese immigrants in Espenia, this is real life recreated. Proof, if needed, that Fonda Lee knows not only her world, but ours. Her characters show that in spades. Whatever you might want them to be, they are nothing more or less than themselves. Love them or loathe them, the author always gives us enough to understand them. To the eternal dismay of my buddy readers, I still don’t like Hilo. But I get him. And I can see how skilfully the author creates a reader's emotional investment in my own reaction to Anden, who I genuinely adore. The exploration of his sexuality, of what it means to be himself within his family, or as part of a Kekonese community in Janloon or Espenia is so relatable, so perfectly done that it actually made me somewhat aggrieved when I had to read other POVs. His role as something of an oppositional or questioning force allows a multifaceted exploration of the morality of the ideas and actions of the Kaul family and the Green Bone way of life. It rips away the glamour to reveal what’s hidden beneath- the suffering and loss and scrabbling in the dirt as life bleeds away…

For me, these improvements created something which I hardly felt in the first book: genuine tension. The last 20-30% of Jade War is all out, full-on, page turning fun. It’s made of bold choices, danger, and death. There’s blood and magic, surprises and satisfaction. Best of all, there are more than a few scenes that make you hold your breath, moments that could change the game for some of the players. Or end it. And if that’s not enough, there’s Bero. Ah, Bero. An annoyingly lucky character, and an increasing favourite, is turning into something close to comedy gold. He’s a nobody, a failure, a mistake, but he’s always right there at the turning points of the story. Even if Anden wins my favourite character award, it’s Bero who raises a smile as I wonder what trouble he’s going to get himself into next. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he ends up the Pillar of the reunited Clans…. Who the hell knows?? Whatever happens, we know he’ll do it badly and with a serious attitude to boot. I can’t wait.

At its heart Jade War is about the choices people make. It’s about personal morality and what happens when that clashes with the bonds of family and loyalty, it’s about acting under pressure and doing what needs to be done, it’s about trying to find the ‘right’ way forward even knowing there will be consequences. And trust me, there are.

ARC via Netgalley ...more

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Feb 11, 2020 James Lafayette Tivendale rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, freecopy

I received a review copy of Jade War in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Fonda Lee and Orbit Books for the opportunity.

Jade War continues the brilliantly addictive and engaging oriental urban fantasy gangster narrative that started with Jade City. The novel is a mixture of the finest elements seen in crime cinema such as the family loyalty and honour from Copolla’s The Godfather and the political unrest and uncomfortable moments of To’s Election series. Intertwine that with I received a review copy of Jade War in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Fonda Lee and Orbit Books for the opportunity.

Jade War continues the brilliantly addictive and engaging oriental urban fantasy gangster narrative that started with Jade City. The novel is a mixture of the finest elements seen in crime cinema such as the family loyalty and honour from Copolla’s The Godfather and the political unrest and uncomfortable moments of To’s Election series. Intertwine that with some John Woo inspired bullet ballet and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon-esque wire-fu and readers are in for an incredible experience.

“The men begged for their captors to kill them, but the Jo Sun clan handed the criminals over to No Peak as a sign of allegiance and good will to the Kaul family. They were not alone in their thinking; the other minor Green Bone Clans, the Janloon city police, and even the Mountain clan assisted or got out of the way – there was nothing to be gained from opposing Kaul Hilo’s rampage.”

In Jade War, we mostly follow the point of view perspectives of important members of the No Peak clan. The Pillar Hilo, his sister the Weather Man Shae, their cousin Anden who moves abroad to study, and Hilo’s wife the stone-eye Wen. Hilo is still my favourite character. The thirty-something leader of one of Janloon’s most powerful clans who is cunning, intelligent, sometimes intense, occasionally ruthless but completely family-focused. He’s changed from his days running the streets for the clan but he still shows elements of his merciless and stone-hearted former self when he has to. The other standout character here is Wen. It’s been a while since I completed Jade City but I can’t remember her being anywhere near as important and influential as she presents herself here. The characters are my favourite aspect of Jade War, especially when considering how some members of the ensemble have changed dramatically over the space of a couple of years.

Jade City was predominantly about the Clan War but this time there is also a war of nations, involving many countries such as Kekon, Espenia, Ygutan and Oortokon. With that going on in the background there is also the issue of all the nations wanting Jade – a powerful stone that gives the holder phenomenal powers – in some capacity which has led to a black market for the sought after gems. In addition, there is political turmoil, individuals that are only out for themselves and an uncertain and potentially insubstantial clan truce. There really is a lot going on here in Lee’s created world, It’s complex, impressive and engaging. It’s not all dark and drab action throughout. There are some lighter, lovely moments. These are mostly when dealing with scenes of family closeness and the romantic relationships that a couple of characters have. This entry also includes an LGBT storyline.

In similar fashion to Jade City before it, Jade War is strikingly original in its composition and presentation. It’s beautifully written with exceptional characters and a phenomenal storyline. There are intense set-pieces and action scenes such as shootouts and duels. There are some extremely emotional and tragic moments. Certain individuals may be hugging their children in one scene, then executing someone gangland-style in the next, and then crying about the death of a close friend a few scenes later. Jade War will take you through a complete plethora of emotions like only the best books do. The ending of this novel wraps all up nicely but leaves us with a few questions and doubts about the mental state of one of the main players.

Jade War is just as good as the first entry in The Green Bone Saga but I have a feeling that Lee is saving the best for the finale and that she’s going to end this trilogy with an almighty bang. I can’t wait. ...more

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Feb 26, 2018 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ marked it as to-read-not-released · review of another edition

I regularly wake up in the dead of night thinking about how this book is probably gonna destroy me in the best way possible, so I guess all's good ...more

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Jun 24, 2019 Hamad rated it really liked it

Shelves: paperbacks, arcs, 2019-reads, from-the-publisher

This review and other non-spoilery reviews can be found @The Book Prescription

Actual rating: 4.5 Stars

“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.”

Disclaimer: I received a finished proof of Jade War in exchange for an honest review and my participation in a blog tour.

Often times we as readers hear about the middle book syndrome and we have all experienced the second ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 TS Chan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, arc-review-copy

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

Jade War is a magnificent sequel that brilliantly showcases the immense potential of urban fantasy, without resorting to typical mythological elements.

The author mentioned in the acknowledgements about the "seemingly impossible task of following up the biggest, most ambitious novel" she's ever written with "an even bigger and more ambitious novel". If that's the case, Fonda Lee has then achieved the seemingly impossible as ...more

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Jul 03, 2019 CW (The Quiet Pond) ✨ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favourites, has-poc-rep, arc, has-lgbtqa-rep, diverse-shelf, forever-in-my-heart, urban-fantasy, 2019, 2019-favourites, year-of-the-asian-reading-2019

Many of you may know that Jade City is my favourite book of all time. And not just ‘one of my favourite books’ –Jade City is the favourite book. And now I find myself in the strange and unexpected position of finding a new favourite book of all time. I have loved Jade City so passionately for years that I never gave thought to the possibility that it would be dethroned so soon. It’s not often you read a book where the second book, the middle book of a trilogy no less, is undoubtedly better than ...more

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Sep 16, 2019 C.G. Drews added it

Shelves: epic-fantasy, adult, read-2019

I'm still so in awe of the depth and detail that's gone into this series. It kind of floors me and I respect Fonda Lee so much. I will say I preferred Jade City as it felt more emotional, plus there were street fights and more sibling bickering (I just! I like!) and I felt connected. Jade War was politics heavy which, while intense and clever, left me emotionally uninvolved. I adore the Kauls though and Auden is cemented as my favourite character. Hilo disappointed me (he's really rather ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Justine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-read, favourites-2019

A fantastic follow up to the extremely impressive Jade City.

Jade War keeps to the same standard of excellence set by its predecessor with complicated yet precise storytelling, deep worldbuilding, and fully realised characters. There were moments of shock and surprise, and given what Lee showed she was willing to do in Jade City, many turns in the story where I really wasn't sure what the outcome would be.

Yet again Lee shows that she is a writer to be reckoned with; one who improves upon her ...more

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Sep 19, 2019 ChopinFC rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, series

Jade War was an absolute home run, as the narrative surpasses the first book in almost every respect!

After following some intuition, and much curiosity from GR friends that recommended 'Jade City', I really enjoyed the 'urban-fantasy' , 'asian-gangster' inspired setting of the first book. At its end, so many threads were left bare and hanging, that I had to immediately get into Jade War.

Jade War was stunning in conception, characterization, world building and magic system!!!

It's fucking ...more

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Apr 23, 2019 Sarah Gailey rated it it was amazing

I don't usually write reviews but I have to. You guys. YOU GUYS.

THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE.

Fonda Lee shouldn't have been able to write a better book than Jade City because that isn't technically possible, but then somehow, incredibly: she DID??? This book is tense and lush and beautiful and violent and it completely wrecked me. I couldn't stop reading it. It features the best fight scene in the series so far, a fight scene that I had to read standing up because I was so adrenalized by it. The ...more

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Jul 12, 2019 Jenia rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC of this book from the publishing company Orbit in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is book 2 in the Green Bone Sage, so beware of spoilers for book 1.

Well, in short, I loved it!

Jade War picks up about a year after the events of the last book. While the No Peak Clan and the Mountain Clan are officially at peace, the truce remains exceedingly uneasy. Furthermore, a proxy war is brewing in a neighbouring country, and all the interested powers want jade to support their I received an ARC of this book from the publishing company Orbit in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is book 2 in the Green Bone Sage, so beware of spoilers for book 1.

Well, in short, I loved it!

Jade War picks up about a year after the events of the last book. While the No Peak Clan and the Mountain Clan are officially at peace, the truce remains exceedingly uneasy. Furthermore, a proxy war is brewing in a neighbouring country, and all the interested powers want jade to support their soldiers. Hilo and Shae must deal with pressure from outside and within, from governments and smugglers, from enemies and allies, if they want their clan to survive.

I think the best word to describe this sequel is bigger. The setting is expanded from one city in Kekon to include multiple other countries. The web of tensions are expanded from between two clans to include up-and-coming rogue jade users, jade smugglers, foreign governments, foreign gangsters, and immigrant communities. And the time period of the book is expanded from months to years. To be completely honest, I was a little overwhelmed at first. But eventually it clicks and when it does — oh wow. The scope just makes it feel so real, with the same messy complications and maneuvering as in our world.

Fortunately, the book is grounded by its strong characters, who are just as fun to follow as all the machinations. It continues to revolve primarily around the core of the No Peak clan: Hilo, Shae, Anden, and Wen. I loved the continued focus on family; the sisters-in-law relationship between Shae and Wen shone especially bright for me. However, what I find most fascinating is how easy it is to accept the clan’s worldview and forget that they are, well, fucking brutal gangsters. (Except for Anden, who’s a sweetheart even when he’s beating up some dude for insulting his honour.) It’s only when they stand in contrast to non-clan-involved characters that they slip from anti-hero to anti-villain. To be honest, if the whole saga ends in tragedy for them, no matter how much I adore them, I’d find it fitting.

For people who loved Jade City for its action, I have to say that Jade War felt a bit calmer in that respect. With the increase of politicking, there’s a corresponding decrease in crazy street brawls. For me though, there were definitely enough badass, brutal fights to quench my desire for blood -- uhh to satisfy me. And even when there’s no violence, there’s always the threat of it, and that keeps tensions high for a lot of the book — especially the last third. I think there was a point that I actually had to stand up and pace for a bit before I could continue!

One last thing I wanted to mention was how much I loved the main new setting outside of Kekon: an immigrant community in Espenia. The culture there is Kekonese-but-not, some parts exactly the same, some parts more traditional than that of the rapidly changing homeland, and some parts integrated Espenian. It’s truly Kekonese-Espenian, a “hyphenated culture”, and I think it’ll ring true for a lot of people who are or have been part of an immigrant community.

Altogether, Jade War is a wonderful book and a wonderful sequel. It retains what made people fall in love with the first book, while also expanding on almost every aspect. If you loved the first one — what’re you waiting for? ...more

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Sep 13, 2019 Kaitlin rated it really liked it

This book is a sequel so I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I have to say I am completely in love with where this gang-inspired asian fantasy series is going. Jade is a commodity and it's the cause of a lot of hate and rivalry. There's a lot of in-fighting and a lot of conflict every time.

In this particular one I enjoyed Shay (sp? I audiobooked), Anden, and the Pillar's wife as their stories fascinated me most and I think the ladies really owned :) The Mountain and No Peak ...more

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Aug 04, 2019 Allison Hurd rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fem-author, authors-of-color

Argh. I was so excited for this. The first was pitch perfect for me--an endearing mash up of mobsters, wuxia magic, gang wars and family drama. This felt more like a bunch of summaries from different points of view, a series of short stories that...don't really ever live up to the title.

CONTENT WARNING: (no actual spoilers, just a list of topics) (view spoiler)

Things to love:

-Shae, Wen, Cory, ...more

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Sep 13, 2019 Bradley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy, 2019-shelf

This book continues the modern equivalent of an Italian (mafia, old world, new world) and Japanese (isolated island with strategic resources) Urban Fantasy. It does it in wonderful style.

Where the first one felt very Godfather with magical Jade stones that can only be used by certain bloodlines except when a special drug is involved, this one picks up the pieces of the clan warfare and scatters them into the new world. Modern warfare takes on a particularly economic cast. Gaining contacts and ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 Nils | nilsreviewsit rated it it was amazing

“We have each other and maybe that’s the one thing our enemies don’t.” Hilo’s aura gave a dark pulse, like an angry sigh, but he didn’t move or open his eyes. Shae slumped back and closed her own eyes. “The clan is my blood and the Pillar is it’s master,” she whispered. “ I have a lot of regrets in life, but those oaths aren’t one of them.”
~
Jade War by Fonda Lee is the second book in the Green Bone saga, and it’s been one of my most anticipated reads since I read and completely gushed over the ...more

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Jul 30, 2019 Micperk rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What the hell, did I read the first book wrong? I wasn't a huge fan of the first book, I neither disliked or really enjoyed it. But THIS ONE was absolutely amazing, never a dull moment. I literally couldn't put this book down.....the characters, the story, the action, everything was perfect. If you're a fan of this series hurry up and buy this book. If you're on the fence like I was after reading the first one, trust me.. this one blows the first book out of the water. Anxiously waiting for book ...more

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Aug 16, 2019 Acqua rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: boring-li, fantasy, best-mcs, urban-f, db, adult, aoc, q, arc, qm

For something that took me more than a month to complete, this was surprisingly fun. It's just that the writing leaned into the aspect I didn't like in Jade City even more than in the first book - giving you far more details than you actually need to understand the story - and that's how we got a 600-page sequel that was at the same time far too long and far too short for what it was trying to do.

I'll try to explain what went wrong, which I can sum up as "I've never read a book in which the ...more

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Aug 13, 2019 Andrew rated it it was amazing

Such a fantastic follow-up.

I really loved Jade City and Jade War didn't disappoint. It's much bigger in scope and it allows the main players from the first book to grow in interesting ways.

I was particularly impressed by how cinematic the action in the first book was and every single fight scene in Jade War is just as gripping. What this book offers more of is the Weather Man's side of the clan. The business dealings, political intrigue and economic plotting are just as thrilling as the duels. I ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 Lata rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, poc-author, poc-actor, canlit, auth-f, x2019-read

Another excellent entry in an excellent series.
The No Peak and Mountain clans put complicated, long-running plans into place, while both Hilo and Shae grow into their roles of Pillar and Weather Man, while they send Anden to Espenia to learn the language, among other things. Both clans use economic and political means, and murder (always an option) in their fight for dominance over the other. (view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 05, 2019 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy-by-women, 2010s-sff-by-women, buddy-reads

The scope of the series expands in this volume, both in time and in physical scale. Children are born, the No Peak Clan extends its financial influence into Espenia, and jade smuggling becomes an international trade that No Peak tries to keep under its control, or to repress when interests outside the clan sidestep its influence.

This book took quite some time for me to read. A friend or two even wondered why it was taking so long! It ended up becoming much like a serial or soap opera as I read The scope of the series expands in this volume, both in time and in physical scale. Children are born, the No Peak Clan extends its financial influence into Espenia, and jade smuggling becomes an international trade that No Peak tries to keep under its control, or to repress when interests outside the clan sidestep its influence.

This book took quite some time for me to read. A friend or two even wondered why it was taking so long! It ended up becoming much like a serial or soap opera as I read along--palatable in short doses, somewhat exhausting beyond that. This slower pace kept on until about the 75% mark, and the rest went much faster.

Many of the riveting, personal-scale conflicts from the first book returned or were given more depth. Shae and Wen had excellent sequences in Jade War, including a couple that hit me to the heart. Anden's time in Espenia was great, too, and introduced some characters who I hope will carry over into the next book. Hilo went through some changes that will absolutely have repercussions later on. Themes of womanhood and familial obligation added weight to the ongoing drama.

Unfortunately, a lot of this volume was also spent setting up global situations and conflicts, and the next generation of Kauls. So many strategy and board meetings! So many babies! While mildly interesting in their own right, the exposition sequences also created a distance between myself and the book. An omniscient point of view isn't bad in itself, but too much detail of this kind can siphon the life out of it. While I'm not an editor who could point to exact chapters or scenes that bogged down Jade War's story, I definitely felt that sluggishness as a reader.

On the whole, this series seems like it will be a dynastic saga, with a new generation of Kauls inheriting the domestic conflicts of its progenitors, while also trying to find its place, survive, and thrive on a global stage. I preferred the more intimate scale of the first book--and the sequences in this book that hearkened back to it--and had only a mild interest in the rest.

There's a lot to like here, but if it had been quite a bit shorter it would have had a greater impact. As is, it had some extraordinarily good moments, though not enough to make me feel it lived up to the promise of Jade City. I'm still looking forward to the last volume, albeit with a lower level of hype-fueled expectation. Three and a half stars, rounded down. ...more

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Jul 23, 2019 mich rated it it was ok

Shelves: zzzzz, uf-or-paranormal, fantasy, will-read-next-one, disappointing, slow-start-worth-it, it-wasn-t-all-bad, romance-is-meh, best-family

Omg I feel like I’m breaking aisho or something right now. 2.5 stars

Look, no spoilers but I’m disappointed. Jade City was one of the small handful of books that I put on my favorites shelf last year. I was expecting to love this.

Too much learning still!

Second book sequels and I have a pretty good relationship. If I liked the first book in a trilogy, odds are that I’ll like the second book.

I mean, what’s not to like? The “hard part” is over right? Learning the multitude of character names, the ...more

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Aug 01, 2019 The Nerd Book Review rated it it was amazing

This one’s an easy 5+ for me and will join Jade City from last year on my favorite books of the year list. This book looks like it took me 2 weeks to read, which would be very unusual for me with a book I love but I’ve been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks and haven’t had a good block of time where I could read big chunks and this book was too good, as well as too intricate, for my usual tactic of reading anytime I have 5 minutes. I read the first 20% the day I started it and then the This one’s an easy 5+ for me and will join Jade City from last year on my favorite books of the year list. This book looks like it took me 2 weeks to read, which would be very unusual for me with a book I love but I’ve been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks and haven’t had a good block of time where I could read big chunks and this book was too good, as well as too intricate, for my usual tactic of reading anytime I have 5 minutes. I read the first 20% the day I started it and then the last 2 nights I’ve read 80% staying up past my bed time each night to finish it.

Jade City was a great book that introduced us to the Kaul family, a mafia like family on the island of Kekon who posess the genetic ability to manipulate a special type of jade that gives them superpowers. The No Peak Clan of the Kauls and their fierce rivals The Mountain fight it out on the streets of the capital city Janloon.
Jade War grows the world that Lee has built and much of it is spent in Espana, one of the two superpowers of this world, a country that has a military presence on the Island and is reminiscent of the United States or possibly a European power like Great Britain. We spend much more time with an adopted cousin named Anden who is sent to Espana as a way to deal with the fact that he won't wear jade anymore after he killed for the family during the end of the first book. Anden really comes into his own in this novel and he was a character I really enjoyed.
Shae is much more likeable to me in this novel because she has finally accepted her role in the clan as the Weather Man(financial leader). I have mentioned more than once that there is nothing I dislike more than the princess who doesn't want to marry the prince, thus causing a major war and much suffering for the peasant class, and that gave me a jaded (sorry couldn't help myself) view of Shae for much of book 1. Shae is given a world class education and perks that the average person could only dream of because of her family and now that she has accepted her role I thought she was a great character who I really felt for.
Hilo is a really great character who I have loved for both books and in this book he shows that he really has what it takes to be a Pillar of a clan. Hilo is a mixture of impulsive and utterly violent as well as a loyal and inspiring leader. Hilo is not someone that I would ever want to be on the bad side of because there's a good chance you'd end up dead in an unpleasant way but if he is on your side you know he will do whatever it takes to help you out. He's a great example of a character who truly exists in a moral grey area that is the hallmark of this current era in literature where we just don't have a true "chosen one" or "dark one".
Hilo's wife Wen is a character who really personifies duty and plays a bigger role in this book than she does in Jade City.
If you loved Jade City then you should love Jade War. There is probably less action in War than in City but the world has expanded and feels even more alive and the character building is just as good as City. ...more

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Aug 08, 2019 Skip rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, series-in-progress

In the first book of this trilogy, Fonda Lee focused on the battle between the two ruling clans of Kekon and the city of Janloon. In this amazing and lengthy sequel, the battle broadens to encompass the larger surrounding countries of Espenia and Ygutan and a nearby island, where jade smugglers thrive. Once again, the primary focus is on the No Peak clan leadership (the Kaul family): Hilo, Shae, Anden, Wen, Kehn and Tar, even the son of Hilo's brother and their battle with the Mountain clan, ...more

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Sep 01, 2019 Lindsay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Kekon enters a period of relative peace with the two great clans of No Peak and One Mountain having fought a bloody war to the point of stalemate. But war is far from over, both between the clans, and in the wider world. The mighty powers of Espenia and Ygutan are going into a proxy war (think Vietnam or Korea) and Kekon's jade is absolutely critical to both sides. Kekon is forced to stand in the wider world, and the clans to expand into it as well. Emery Anden serves his clan, not as a green ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Lily ☁️ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, tolino, book-series, asian-rep, poc-author, adult, yarc-2020

3 1/2 stars

So …exactly how much emotional damage am I about to suffer at the hands of this book?

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr |Bloglovin’ ...more

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Dec 18, 2019 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Just as good as the first book Jade City. This isn’t quite my normal fare in terms of reading , but it’s so well written, with strong characterisation and world building that I couldn’t put it down. It was fascinating reading about life I the No Peaks clan and how the Kekonese adapted to and morphed when in Espenia. The whole Green Bone Jade system with its unique code of honour is an original system of magic delivery! Recommended.

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Jul 23, 2019 c, (½ of readsrainbow) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, let-s-talk-diversity, magic-and-fantasy, adult-lit, morally-ambiguous-characters, favourite-characters, lgbt, non-white-characters, 5-stars, aoc-et-al

We women claw for every inch we gain in this world, and you’d worked too hard for your place on Ship Street to let it be taken from you.

On my blog.

Rep: East Asian inspired characters and setting, gay mc

CWs: violence, mentions of torture, drug abuse

Galley provided by publisher

Second books in a series can be tricky. So your readers are hooked (hopefully), now how do you up the ante and raise the stakes (especially if book 1 was as explosive and intense as Jade City). Well, friends, this book ...more

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Jul 29, 2019 Shaun Hutchinson added it

Great followup to Jade City.

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About Fonda Lee

Fonda Lee

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Fonda Lee is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels for adults and teens. Her fantasy trilogy, the Green Bone Saga, begins with Jade City, which won the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, was a finalist for the Nebula and Locus Awards, and was named a Best Book of 2017 by NPR, Barnes & Noble, Powell's Books, Syfy Wire, and the Verge. Her young adult science fiction novels, ...more

Other books in the series

The Green Bone Saga (3 books)

Books by Fonda Lee

I (28M) created a deepfake girlfriend and now my parents think we’re getting married

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Trivia About Jade War (The Gre...

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Quotes from Jade War

“Out of small resentments, spring great wars.” — 1 likes

“She understood that her value in the clan, her value to her family, to Hilo, and most of all, in her own mind, lay not in what she could accomplish herself — because a stone-eye was always something of a blank space amid the strong auras around them, a void where gazes and expectations slid off like oil — but in what she made possible for others. She was unable to wield jade herself, but as a White Rat for the Weather Man, she had taken jade to those who could and would use it for the clan’s gain. She had not borne the Pillar a son who could follow in the family’s footsteps, but she had ensured that Niko was brought back to be raised in his rightful place. 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.” — 1 likes

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