Jade War

By: Fonda Lee

Narrated by: Andrew Kishino

Length: 24 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 they alone have possessed for hundreds of years.

Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.

Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival - and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon. 

Jade War is the second book of the Green Bone Saga, an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.

The Green Bone Saga:

1. Jade City
2. Jade War

©2019 Fonda Lee (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Socks the Sophomore Slump Right in the Jaw

Spoiler-Free Review:

"Jade City" was one of my favorite fantasies of recent years. "Jade War" is the rare second book in a trilogy that tops the first book. The second book finds the characters reeling from the events at the end of the first book. We watch them struggle with what leadership means. Everyone makes decisions that are understandable and human, even if massive miscalculations.

The women characters are not exempt either. There is no monolithic patriarchy that serves as a straw man enemy to these characters. They are each others' enemies, and they pass the Bechdel test in the most meaningful way. Though the plot is largely driven by the decisions of the complex female characters, and they are undeniably strong female characters, these are people who wear no plot armor and who are not immune from mistakes. Several scenes were particularly gripping because I sensed that the author was willing to let the characters suffer the consequences of their decisions. I cringed at some of their stumbles, even while I cheered the courage behind their decisions. I noted that none of the female characters really regretted their decisions. What I as a reader called mistakes, they called the hard decisions that come with leadership.

I also particularly appreciated the geopolitical complexities. Real world politics are rarely about the relationships between just two countries. There is always a third, fourth, or fifth country whose agendas complicate things. "Jade War" did a terrific job of building out the world in this aspect. It also managed to explore international relations with what I assume is the analog of a European power without casting the whole story as a simplistic colonization story, and deftly avoiding catering to the "White gaze."

The prose was refreshingly straightforward, unshowy, and no-nonsense and thus captured the sense of drive and purpose behind the characters.

In short, this is one of the freshest, most compelling fantasies of recent years.

Engaging story and Perfect Performance

The amazing story of Jade City is made even better in Jade War. Fonda Lee has created something masterful in this story. The characters are engaging and multifaceted. The setting is expanded upon dynamically in this book over Jade City, and the stakes have definitely risen. Andrew Kishino tells the story beautifully and brings so much vivid life to it. Once you start, you won't be able to stop!

Doesn't live up to expectations but..

The first book in series introduced us to a mix of mystical Kung Fu super hero action mixed with various mafia style tropes. It had epic ideas and scope. Sequel spends more time world building and not really paying off on ideas from first. Like the world, like the concepts, like the characters. Sequel should raise stakes not mark time. if you liked the first one this is one you'll want to read this one but it falls short of the first. basically you don't get to raise expectations with the first book and coast in the second book.

One of the best series I've read

I grew up on fantasy and on martial arts films. This series is the perfect blend of them and the narrator is superb. Can't wait for more!

another slam dunk 🏀

Great story character work and worldbuilding by Fonda Lee. Can't wait for book 3 this year

Sort of a cookie cutter story

while well-written the story to me was predictable and went along the same storyline as the original book with very little growth in the characters or in the story itself it seemed to go down a long hallway plenty of doors that could have been opened but remain shut overall I think this author has some promise but I don't think I am encouraged to read anything further in this Saga

Great work

I love this story. it keeps me on the edge and it a deeply captivating world

It starts to go downhill...

This book was very slow. It takes a lot of time dealing with the fallout of the finale of the last book and thus takes a long time setting up the next. Ayt Mada just seemed too good at everything that it tested my suspension of disbelief. I also don't care for explicit sex scenes in my audiobooks as I listen to them in public places, like walking the dog, at the grocery store or on the way to work. In none of those places do I want to think about sex in that level of detail.

Superb

Even better than the first and my favorite book I've read this year...so far. This series keeps getting better.

Strongly Liked

It took a while for me to finish it. But I enjoyed the end.