Jade City
by Fonda Lee
Author's Description:
“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 -- and of Kekon itself.”
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 -- and of Kekon itself.”
My Review - Rating - 9/10
If you want to know what this book is about, I can tell you in four words: "The Godfather" with magic. While the plot is far more complex and interesting than what I can boil it down to for a one-paragraph review, the overall premise is that two rival clans that are the main forces on the island will end up in a war over the island’s future, and will use any advantage they can to beat the other. That doesn’t do the book justice, but it’s the best I can do without spoilers. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy, because it’s great. There’s more politics than fighting, but there is still a significant amount of fighting, both duels and all-out battles. But I think that the areas in which the author excels are in creating great characters that you care about and complex politics that are still easy to follow. Overall, this is an interesting, well-paced book that you should pick up and give a read.
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