Hilo is the Kaul’s fiery and magnetic second son, his lopsided smile belies the Horn’s sharp instinct for gang wars and bloodshed.

He is a measured and considerate leader, yet plagued by the fear that he lacks the ferocious intensity of his forefathers. Lan is the eldest, the current Pillar of the No Peak clan. Each of these characters are complex, and their interactions are layered with shared history and personal machination. These two clans rule Kekon from the shadows, their territory disputes and bloody battles for jade determines the fate of the nation.Īt the heart of this novel are the siblings of the Kaul family: Lan, Hilo, and Shae. Although the Kauls and Ayts won the war together, financial temptations in times of peace fractured their alliance and created two rival clans, No Peak and The Mountains. In those days, the Greenbones were strongly united by the One Mountain Clan, lead by the indomitable Kaul Sen and Ayt Yugotin. It’s this unique power that enabled Greenbone warriors to win Kekon’s independence from the Shotarian empire several decades ago.

The ability to harness the power of jade is a bloodright, exclusive to the Kekonese Greenbones. Jade is the lifeblood of the island nation of Kekon, the precious stone has the power to imbue its wearers with superhuman strength and speed. I found the book’s exploration of identity in a nation ruled by jade and blood immensely moving and powerful. However, what I loved most about Jade City is its carefully considered and provoking theme which ties jade to birthright, to power, to duty, and to family. The book sets the bar sky-high on numerous fronts, whether it’s attentive character development, sensory stimulating fight scenes, or cut-throat political trade wars. Jade City is a boldly ambitious and culturally distinctive urban fantasy, merging gangster drama with wuxia flair to create a complex story about family, honour, and national pride. Today I have both a book review and an author interview with Fonda Lee to share with you! You’ll find the interview at the end of the post, please check it out and give Fonda’s books some love! I read Jade City after a brief reading slump (thanks, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp!) and it was everything I needed to reignite my love for reading and losing myself in another world. Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review.

Jade city