Fantasy books can often be stuffed with POV characters–it’s an easy way to jump around the story and give the reader a sense of progress. I especially liked a fifth POV from a character that is unrelated to the clan that gives us a completely different take on what’s happening in Janloon.

JADE CITY benefits from its structure as well, with two POVs from people in the heart of the clan (Lan & Hilo) and two from people with close connections but who share an outsider’s perspective (Shae & a young cousin, Anden). JADE CITY is an elegantly crafted tale of family and loyalty, with a well-thought out magic system and compelling characters that make it a must-read What happens to those who have ‘jade immunity’ or are particularly sensitive to jade? What happens when foreign powers want to create the same effects for their soldiers? I’m looking forward to the release of JADE WAR to see how Lee traces these questions through to her second book.

Additionally, Lee has clearly contemplated the repercussions of something as powerful as jade would spread through society. It also makes for intense action sequences that go beyond the typical mafia threats of guns and knives. Jade, worn or embedded in the body of warriors, is an elegantly simple way to give people superhuman powers. Lan doesn’t have the personality to be a wartime Pillar, but with the help of his younger brother Hilo, the clan’s Horn, and Lan’s sister Shae, the family will try to protect Janloon and their clan, whatever the cost. “Shine”, a drug that can allow even those without the training or genetics to use jade, disrupts the delicate balance of power on the island and the Mountain moves aggressively against No Peak. Naturally, jade is the key to power in Janloon and the No Peak clan and its rival, the Mountain, exist in a mutally beneficial detente, controlling jade production and patrolling the city with their jade-wearing Green Bone Warriors.

Only those with extensive training (and good genes) can handle wearing jade without descending into madness. Jade has always been valuable in our world, but in Lee’s it can give you superpowers… or it can kill you. As the head of No Peak, Lan controls half of the jade production on the island of Kekon and controls half of the city of Janloon. If there’s increasing unrest in the streets… well, that’s nothing that Lan, the Pillar of the No Peak clan, can’t handle. If there’s a black market jade carver that’s been murdered, that happens. In the city of Janloon, everything is fine. I was interested to see if it lived up to the buzz and I am happy to report that it did. JADE CITY by Fonda Lee has been nominated (and won) a number of awards in the past year.

Jade city fonda lee