Jade City – good book

I'm currently reading Jade City by Fonda Lee, having picked it up in a 99p deal through my Kobo e-reader. I haven't written a book review since I was a kid and won't do so here but will say that it is one of the most complete contemporary/urban fantasy worlds I have been thrust into. The author has clearly put a lot of time into thinking about how the East Asian inspired society works.

A dig into the author's website suggests it's being made into a TV series too, so that's one to keep an eye out for! I'll reserve my final verdict on the novel until I finish it but I'd be surprised if the cheap hook into the series doesn't work and lead me to buy the others – besides, the e-books aren't available at the library anyway... although in simpler times I might have borrowed a physical book instead! It always feels good to find another author to add to my (admittedly small) watchlist.

The author's website description for Jade City:

FAMILY IS DUTY. MAGIC IS POWER. HONOR IS EVERYTHING.

Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for — and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.

Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon’s bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.

When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone — even foreigners — wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones — from their grandest patriarch to the lowliest motorcycle runner on the streets — and of Kekon itself.

Jade City begins an epic tale of family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of jade and blood.


Entry 79 of my participation in the “100 Days to Offload” challenge – find out more and join in!

2021-04-14 #100DaysToOffload #reading

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