Jade War (The Green Bone Saga, #2)

by Fonda Lee

You Green Bones put such importance on your honor, but if you won’t extend courtesy to others, you’ll be left behind in the world.

what little pride I have, I am used to swallowing. That’s how it is when you start off with nothing in life and learn never to take anything for granted.”

“People are born selfish; babies are the most selfish creatures, even though they’re helpless and wouldn’t survive a day on their own. Growing up and losing that selfishness—that’s what civilization is, that’s what sets us above beasts.

Social progress, Kekonese-style, Shae mused. Equal opportunity to die by the blade.

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.

If you want to lead, you can’t wait for everyone to line up behind you.”

Anden had been indoctrinated since childhood with the idea that for Green Bones, the possibility of death was like the weather—you could make attempts to predict it, but you would likely be wrong, and no one would change their most important plans due to threat of rain.

Now, however, he felt no great relief or happiness—only the sort of heaviness that comes from wanting something for so long that the final achievement of it is a loss—because the waiting is over and the waiting has become too much a part of oneself to let go of easily.