Jade War is one of the strongest sequels I’ve read so far – ever! It was more explosive, bigger in scope. It will hit you right where it was supposed to and then some. I never thought I could love this series so much more. I was prepared to read Jade War regardless of anything because I already became too invested to even stop – but Fonda Lee delivered and have given us more that what we asked for. This book is an absolute gift – for fantasy readers and readers in general – and more people should know about it.

A powerful, well written and engrossing book!
I missed the first instalment so it came as a surprise but I'm more than happy I was approved to read this ARC as I discovered a great author.
Everything is excellent: the well developed cast of characters, the plot that keeps you hooked, the atmosphere.
I will surely read the first book in this series and look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Feedback
So I was expecting a lot from this book because of how amazing the first book was. I was not wrong! Fonda Lee did such an amazing holding the same intensity as the first one. I was immediately drawn back into the land of Janloon and all of the politics. It's funny, because usually I don't like a politics in my book usually but this is one in obsessed with. I am so invested in the Kaul family and just want them to succeed after loosing so much. There were so many twists and moments that just made me physically stop because I wasn't expecting it. Lee showcases her writing again by creating fantastic scenes that just flow together. Even without action and just scenes where there is just planning, I never felt bored. The only issue I had with the book is I have no idea how much time had passed. I had a little bit of issue with the timeline, I have no idea how much I'm had passed because all of the sudden the story would jump 3 months. However, this did not effect my enjoyment of the book at all.

These characters. I just want to hug them all.... Except Bero - I want to put him. Hilo is still the best characters. After being thrust into the Pillar position after Lan's deathin the previous book, Hilo is still trying to figure things out. Hilo, Shae, Kehn, and Tar are all coming into their perspective position and I love seeing them progress. Still dealing with the Mountain Clan, the No Peak Clan had to really use their wits because everything had to be in secret. Anden goes to Espenia and I loved following him. He decided wearing Jade and it's coming into his own being without it. He at least thought he was only good as a Green Bone but I liked seeing what else Anden could accomplish. There were some more surprised with the characters and it was definitely caused by heart to race. These characters, I just can't wait to see what else they can do and how they handle the events that are about to happen.

Final Thoughts
Overall, Jade War by Fonda Lee was an amazing second installment. The plot was just as intense and surprising as the first book. I love that I never knew what to expect and witness the plot unfold. The characters progressed even more than I thought would happen in a second book. Each one has such an important role in this story and I need them all. I highly recommend this series for anyone who is looking a fantastic and fast paced adult fantasy novel. It really is amazing.

What a ride this book has been, even if sometimes there was not so much tension, I couldn't wait to read it till the end, and now I feel a Green Bone too! We keep on following the steps of Hilo a the Pillar and Shae als Weather Man of the No peak Clan. Anden has a different life and so does some of our old friends and enemies, in the same time the world around them is changing and they have to adapt to survive, plus Ayt of the Mountain is not giving up on whispering their names.....Looking forward for the last installment!

Che giostra questo libro, anche se a volte c'erano dei cali di tensione, non riuscivo a smettere di leggerlo e ora anche io mi sento un green bone! Continuiamo a seguire i passi di Hilo come Pillar e Shae come Weather Man del clan No peak. Anden ha una sua vita in Espenia e anche altri tra i nostri amici e nemici continuano a tramare, inoltre le guerre nel mondo intorno a loro li spingono a diversificare i loro investimenti mentre Ayt, chiaramente, non smette di sussurrare i loro nomi....Non vedo l'ora di leggere l'ultimo volume della serie!

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Fonda Lee doesn’t know the word SOPHOMORE SLUMP because she created one of the best and elevated sequels of the century. No joke. If you think Jade City is so amazing wait for Jade War to slap all your high expectations because dang son, the pedestal you put Jade City on ain’t high enough.
Do you crave for well-written action scenes? Like the ones where you can actually see the whole scene playing out before your eyes while forgetting the fact that you ARE reading??? Man, well this book is for you!
Every fight scene may it be a minor brawl or a full fcking warzone, Fonda Lee knows all the tricks and unconventional turns! Reading about these parts dragged my heart to exhilaration and fear. IT’S JUST SO GOOD.
Politics! I mean, I’m not that well versed when it comes comprehending much of the scheming parts but Fonda laid it out so well where there is zero boredom present in these parts. Not only that, but she wrote it fluently and easily for my poor brain cells. It’s easily one of my favorite parts because it sets up a believable world-building and logical conflicts. It’s utterly perfect.
I also love how Jade War provided a new lens on diaspora, parenthood, and the struggles of constricting gender roles. It had provided a lot of social commentaries since Jade City and it doesn’t fail to add more learnings on different topics that needed to be talked about!
Powerful Women on the spotlight! Not gonna divulge more, you just have to read it for yourself to see how FCKING AMAZING AND EMPOWERING IT IS TO READ ABOUT WOMEN WHO WIELD POWER IN ALL ITS FACETS.
WELL FLESHED OUT CHARACTERS THAT MAKES ME ALL GOOEY. I am a sucker for character-driven books compared to plot-driven ones but Jade War managed to blend these two elements efficiently! My poor heart is aching with love for this book.
In conclusion, I love this book and I can’t say anything anymore other than READ THIS!

I really enjoyed Jade City, the first book in this series, so was excited to read the sequel. It didn’t disappoint. On the whole, it maintained and deepened the aspects that made book one both enjoyable and impressive, while introducing some positive new elements. It's a properly epic read.

Once again, we’re in the city of Janloon on the island of Kekon. It’s a fantasy world with a strong Chinese influence (at a guess, I’d say specifically a Hong Kong influence, though I’m not 100% sure I’m correct). It’s a unique and well-developed setting, with aspects that feel realistic and others that feel more fantastical, as well as some factors that make it feel quite modern and others that skew more historical. The central conceit is that Kekon is ran by clans of “Green Bones” who can use jade to achieve great mental and physical feats. They use a mixture of business, politics, patronage and violence to maintain control. Our heroes (though at times, some of them feel more like antiheroes) are the Kaul family, the leaders of one of the most powerful and prestigious clans, No Peak. They use all the means at their disposal to increase their control of the city and battle the rival Mountain Clan, while also dealing with family dramas and the impact of modernity and the wider world on their traditional ways.

All of the above is true of both books and in both cases, the depth of the author’s imagination and world-building is impressive. I appreciated it more this time around though, as with book one, there was a lot of backstory and unfamiliar terms to get to grips with, along with a large cast. This time, I was able to get more quickly and thoroughly immersed in the world. Similarly, while I liked the main characters previously, they felt more developed here, and I felt a much stronger emotional connection to them.

This instalment is also notable for the way it branches out from being purely focussed on Janloon and Kekon. There are several brief trips to other countries, and an entire plot strand set in Espenia, which seems to roughly equate to Europe. Even though the original setting remained the most compelling place to read about, it was satisfying to get this wider view. The more domestic, Kaul family-focussed plots were also taking place against the backdrop of a war between Espenia and yet another country, Ygutan. I’ve got to admit, this war plot confused me a bit, and I didn’t feel as interested in it as I did in the multitude of other storylines.

In the last book, several key characters died by the end. At first, I missed them here, but the remaining ones quickly picked up the slack. Be warned however: there are several more deaths, along with other catastrophes. I like my books to be dark and my heroes/main characters to not have too much plot armour, but there were some aspects towards the end that I found unduly depressing, particularly in combination with each other. I think I’d have enjoyed the book a little more with just one or two fewer tragedies heaped on the poor Kauls.

Overall though, this is an ambitious book that manages to deliver and that improves on its strong predecessor.

Second books in a series can be tricky. So your readers are hooked (hopefully), now how do you up the ante and raise the stakes (especially if book 1 was as explosive and intense as Jade City). Well, friends, this book right here is how you do it.

Jade War opens up pretty much where Jade City left off. An uneasy ceasefire between the clans and a number of people dead. But the plot doesn’t dwell on this for long. Jade City was pretty much exclusively centered on Kekon and Janloon. Jade War takes these characters and forces them out of this comfort zone. We get to see more of the world that the Green Bones live in and interact with, and that’s what I love about this book.

Another thing I love, and what drives the whole book for me? The characters and their relationships. I definitely brought this up in my review of Jade City, but, despite all the action this series does have, it feels very much a character-driven series to me. And the characters are probably among my favourites of any book I’ve read ever, they’re that good. (They will also leave you in tears though, so go into this book with a lot of chocolate and tissues to hand, for your own sake.)

There was one tiny thing I didn’t like so much, I have to admit, which is that, for whatever reason, the world is written to be slightly homophobic. In that being gay is viewed the same way as being a stone-eye (unlucky, possible ostracisation). This is almost introduced just so the narrative can go but none of the Kauls feel this way, which, great, but there is no point to this little piece of worldbuilding otherwise. It felt wholly unnecessary. (But it was also over after two pages and never again brought up so. There was that.)

So I guess now all I can do is wait for book 3 and the subsequent heartbreak.

This is easily the best new sequel I've read this year and i very much doubt anything will be able to knock it off the top spot.
This is such a rich and vibrant universe that sucks me in every time i pick up the book. The plot is fantastic with interesting family dynamics and epic political drama and as usual, Fonda Lee has excelled at writing these characters, they felt tangible and real and i was fully invested in their story. This sequel introduces new characters and immense new settings and does it excellently.

Jade War was tense, compelling and unlike anything i've ever read before.
5/5

Fonda Lee’s Jade City was a startling combination of 1970s kung fu movies and organised crime tales in an urban fantasy setting. It was a brave genre mash up that worked tremendously mainly due to Lee’s control of her narrative and the creation of flawed, sometimes heroic characters situated within a propulsive plot in a well realised world. When that book ended there was no doubt that there was more to come but the question was, could Lee produce a sequel that was worthy of its predecessor? The answer is an unequivocal yes. Jade War not only forwards the many plot strands left hanging at the end of Jade City but has plenty of great action and shocking character development moments while significantly broadening Lee’s world.
Jade War, as with Jade City before it, focusses on the trials and tribulations of the Kaul family who run the No Peak clan on the island of Kekon. The clans get their power through control of biogenic jade, a substance found only on Kekon and that gives its wearer powers but has plenty of nasty side effects. Kekonese can acclimatise themselves while others need a specific drug to be able to manage it and control its effects. When the book opens, the No Peak’s war with the Mountain clan has ground to a bit of a stalemate despite the fact that the Kaul’s are still reeling after the death of their leader. International tensions are threatening to spill over into Kekon and both foreign wars and the need to deal with illegal jade smuggling forces the two clans to work together even while secretly continuing to scheme to bring each other down.
There is a long list of characters and plenty to try and remember from Jade City but Lee somehow manages to slip familiar readers back into the story with minimal exposition. Once again, the majority of point of view chapters follow members of the Kaul family – Hilo, leader of the No Peak Clan, sister Shae, his right hand who has taken over the critical role of Weather Man of the Clan, Kaul’s wife Wen, and the clan’s adoptee Anden now in exile in distant Espenia due to events in the previous book. Other shorter point of view sections round out the propulsive plot.
Lee excels in Jade War in piling up multiple layers of politics and scheming. For each character there is a personal, family, clan, national and international dimension to everything they do. Violence is around every corner and minor actions and stray words all have consequences. But Lee manages to stay true to each of these characters, showing their growth under sometimes extreme pressure and letting surprises grow organically from character. And she does this within a complex, well realised world of distinct actors with competing objectives.
Jade War is the perfect second book for this trilogy. It keeps its characters front and centre while significantly expanding the world in which they operate. There is plenty of well described, cinematic action and twists to keep the pages turning. But at the same time Lee does not shy away from dealing with deeper questions of honour, family, commitment, sexuality, belonging and racism. It’s a surprise that no one has optioned these books for a premium TV yet. But in the meantime, readers will just have to wait for book three. It cannot come soon enough.

Well, in short, I loved it!

Jade War picks up about a year after the events of the last book. While the No Peak Clan and the Mountain Clan are officially at peace, the truce remains exceedingly uneasy. Furthermore, a proxy war is brewing in a neighbouring country, and all the interested powers want jade to support their soldiers. Hilo and Shae must deal with pressure from outside and within, from governments and smugglers, from enemies and allies, if they want their clan to survive.

I think the best word to describe this sequel is bigger. The setting is expanded from one city in Kekon to include multiple other countries. The web of tensions are expanded from between two clans to include up-and-coming rogue jade users, jade smugglers, foreign governments, foreign gangsters, and immigrant communities. And the time period of the book is expanded from months to years. To be completely honest, I was a little overwhelmed at first. But eventually it clicks and when it does — oh wow. The scope just makes it feel so real, with the same messy complications and maneuvering as in our world.

Fortunately, the book is grounded by its strong characters, who are just as fun to follow as all the machinations. It continues to revolve primarily around the core of the No Peak clan: Hilo, Shae, Anden, and Wen. I loved the continued focus on family; the sisters-in-law relationship between Shae and Wen shone especially bright for me. However, what I find most fascinating is how easy it is to accept the clan’s worldview and forget that they are, well, fucking brutal gangsters. (Except for Anden, who’s a sweetheart even when he’s beating up some dude for insulting his honour.) It’s only when they stand in contrast to non-clan-involved characters that they slip from anti-hero to anti-villain. To be honest, if the whole saga ends in tragedy for them, no matter how much I adore them, I’d find it fitting.

For people who loved Jade City for its action, I have to say that Jade War felt a bit calmer in that respect. With the increase of politicking, there’s a corresponding decrease in crazy street brawls. For me though, there were definitely enough badass, brutal fights to quench my desire for blood to satisfy me. And even when there’s no violence, there’s always the threat of it, and that keeps tensions high for a lot of the book — especially the last third. I think there was a point that I actually had to stand up and pace for a bit before I could continue!

One last thing I wanted to mention was how much I loved the main new setting outside of Kekon: an immigrant community in Espenia. The culture there is Kekonese-but-not, some parts exactly the same, some parts more traditional than that of the rapidly changing homeland, and some parts integrated Espenian. It’s truly Kekonese-Espenian, a “hyphenated culture”, and I think it’ll ring true for a lot of people who are or have been part of an immigrant community.

Altogether, Jade War is a wonderful book and a wonderful sequel. It retains what made people fall in love with the first book, while also expanding on almost every aspect. If you loved the first one — what’re you waiting for?

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the e-arc

If you guys haven't read Jade City, read it so you can read this- and if you've already read Jade City, then be ready for this stunning sequel.

This was one of my most anticipated novels of the year, and I so happy to say this is just as good, if not better, than its predecessor. The characters develop in new and exciting ways, the plot had my heart in my mouth, and the creative world expanded to new territory. I teared up, I was <i> in </i> this story and completely invested. Thank you Fonda Lee for writing what is quickly becoming one of my favourite series. I just can't wait for the next one!


Characters

Fonda Lee has a way of writing characters that makes them feel like real, whole people.

While I loved the characters in the first book, learning more about them in the sequel only led to me becoming more attached (or more hateful towards the villains) in this addition. I have a particular fondness for Anden and Wen (I had liked Wen in the first book but hadn't expected her to to become a favourite).

What makes these characters so engaging is that they're not wholly heroic. While we do route for our leads, they can make decisions we as readers don't agree with- but make sense for the people Lee has set them up to be. You could argue they're morally grey, but in truth this book isn't afraid to take risks with its characters, to make the hard decisions to push the story.


Plot

There are a few levels to this plot, but instead of overwhelming, it makes the novel more realistic, all the elements of the novel building up to the ending conflict.

I'm not a big fan of action personally, but Lee made all conflict feel so intimate, and made me sucked into more action-packed scenes than I normally would be, making them feel like pivotal character moments. There's genuine consequences in this novel, and my heart was in my mouth every time the characters were in danger, because I believed in the possibility of their deaths.

Jade War is a magnificient sequel that brilliantly showcases the immense potential of urban fantasy, without resorting to typical mythological elements.

The author mentioned in the acknowledgements about the “seemingly impossible task of following up the biggest, most ambitious novel” she’s ever written with “an even bigger and more ambitious novel”. If that’s the case, Fonda Lee has then achieved the seemingly impossible as the second novel in The Green Bone Saga excelled over the first in every possible way. From the plotting to the worldbuilding to the characters, every component worked so well in the sequel that it gave me sheer joy reading Jade War.

In the first book, Jade City, the narrative was centred mainly on the feuding two most powerful clans of Kekon and the setting focussed within the city of Janloon. Since then, we’ve heard of the larger countries and continents outside of Kekon, such as Espenia and Ygutan but it was merely spoken of by the characters. As all good sequels should, this novel expands the worldbuilding by bringing the reader to the further shores of Espenia, to the city of Port Massy – the world’s largest trade centre – where the use or ownership of jade by civilians is illegal, a stark contrast to the culture amongst the Kekonese. The city settings of both Janloon and Port Massy are also equally incongruous. Janloon (which already sounded so much like Kowloon) is redolent of everything that is Hong Kong, while Port Massy evokes New York City.

Against this evocative backdrop, the story of the Kaul family was brought to life with masterful characterisation. Hilo, Shae, Anden, Wen, Kehn and Tar – all so lovingly crafted that they feel so alive and so real. Every single one of these characters is convincingly portrayed, through their thoughts, emotions and actions. There were so much growth and development in each one of these characters that it was so satisfying to read. Hilo has even become one of my favourite fictional male characters. He inspired the same feeling I got while reading about Kaladin from The Stormlight Archive, which is saying A LOT given that the latter is my all-time favourite. He still has that smouldering yet disarming demeanour, a dangerous edge and violent tendency, but he is unfailingly protective of his family and loved ones. And he will do whatever it takes, no matter the cost, to keep his family safe and his clan together. His is the type of leadership that inspires undying loyalty as he takes the pain to interact with everyone personally. In my opinion, he also has the most compelling character arc in the trilogy to date, followed very closely by Anden, Wen and Shae. Speaking of Wen and Shae, these two female characters couldn’t be more different in terms of their jade abilities, but both are equally smart, competent and courageous. Wen, especially, simply amazes me with her bravery. She has so much heart and fierce compassion.

Having the benefit of growing up watching HK gangster movies enhanced my experience of reading these books. The scenes easily translated into vivid images in my head, especially when aided by the cinematic quality of Fonda Lee’s writing. Together with the well-conceived plot and superb pacing of the narrative, Jade War was exceedingly engrossing. The last quarter of the book ratchets up the intensity even further as the subplots unravelled into the proverbial shit hits the fan. There were many great highlights in this novel, from the badass fight/action scenes (again, so reminiscent of Mistborn, especially of the later era) to the poignant and heartbreaking, and a shockingly contentious one; like prime-time drama skillfully rendered in prose form.

I adore stories which have such strong emphasis and powerful takes on familial love, clans and honour codes, and this trilogy has it in spades. Adding in the magically endowed kungfu abilities, and more crucially, compelling characterisation, Jade War was easily one of my favourites and best urban fantasy books I’ve ever read. I think even non-fantasy readers can appreciate this trilogy, especially for fans of gangster stories like The Godfather. The Green Bones can simply be viewed as super soldiers, albeit with more power than strength, speed and ability; you know, like deflecting bullets, and snapping spines or stopping hearts with just the right touch. I seriously and wholeheartedly recommend The Green Bone Saga.

ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit—in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely amazing; Jade War was a brilliantly compelling sequel filled with skillfully-written characterizations and tension-packed action scenes.

I buddy read this novel with four other readers of different ethnicities—TS, Emma, Jenia, and Nils—living in different parts of the world and all of us pretty much agreed that we were both in love with and terrified by the events in Jade War. I find it equally satisfying and astonishing that Lee was able to create a sequel that outshone the stunning quality found in Jade City, which won many readers’ hearts and the World Fantasy Award trophy last year. But Fonda Lee did it spectacularly; Jade War was unbelievably better than the first book. The fantasy genre needs more urban fantasy as refreshing and great as this series.

The story in Jade War takes place sixteen months after the end of Jade City. The official blurb on Goodreads and Amazon did a wonderful job of explaining the premise without spoiling any of the main events; read those if you want to know more about the general plot. Jade War took every factor of importance firmly established in the first book into account and expanded upon them deftly. Jade City took a bit of time—around 100 pages—for me to become comfortable and attached; Jade War flowed naturally with no dull moments from the first page until the last. All scene was necessary and crucial, and the plot points that I loved from the first book—such as a deadly clan war, engaging dialogues, and now, international politics too—not only existed but were improved further. Jade War also follows in the footsteps of the first book by making sure that the main themes of love, family, honor, and duty were evident in the narrative. Fiercer, more ambitious, and bigger in scope; the events that occurred in the first book subtly enhanced the looming tension hanging around behind the shadows of the characters. Lee gradually and continuously escalates the stakes that the characters encounter and the last 150 pages of the book comprised an unputdownable finale that can frankly be described as every single shit hitting the tornado.

“People are born selfish; babies are the most selfish creatures, even though they’re helpless and wouldn’t survive a day on their own. Growing up and losing that selfishness—that’s what civilization is, that’s what sets us above beasts. If someone harms my brother, they harm me—that’s what our clan oaths are about. Those men weren’t your enemies—they were our enemies.”

I don’t know why, but recently I’ve been having quite a bad luck in reading SFF books; it seems that majority of them have awesome actions and original world-building but lack the one feature that matters the most to me: stupendous characterizations. I’ve written more than 300 reviews and I’ve repeated this so many times already, but I simply can’t enjoy a book if I don’t care about the characters. Fortunately, Lee is the type of storyteller that prioritizes her characters and characterizations. I felt truly invested in the characters’ journeys. It was crystal clear that Lee understands and knows her characters really well. Let’s take Hilo for example. Being in his position, it was inevitable that he would have to do some bad stuff and my god he did. Even then, I was still able to understand why he did these things, and the good side of him that genuinely cares about his family compelled me to care about him.

“The clan was not just people and jade and money. It was an idea, a legacy that connected the pats with the present and the future. The family’s strength was a promise.”

Every character’s actions always had weight and comprehensible motivation behind them. Lee has created an exceptionally well-written cast of characters that’s so bloody compelling, complex, tangibly realistic, and easy to get attached to. There wasn’t a single moment where the characters felt like they behaved outside of their personalities, and the internal conflicts they had were all valid and empathizing. These are the kind of things that, in my opinion, separate the good and the great SFF authors from each other and Lee definitely belongs in the latter group. I also need to mention that within the cast of characters, the female characters—Shae and Wen—of this series were hands down some of the best female characters I’ve ever read in fantasy.

“If you’re not sure you’re in love, then you’re not.”

This doesn’t mean that I’m saying that Jade War was only good in characterizations but lacking in tremendous actions and intricate world-building. On the contrary, the existence of the characters and the terrific characterizations served to improve the sense of danger and immersion behind the battles and the fully-realized world-building. Jade War doesn’t take place solely in Kekkon; one look at the maps in this book and you will immediately realize that this is a much larger and ambitious sequel compared to its predecessor. The inclusion of Shotar and Espenia, to name a few, made the series more complex and yet still easily accessible.

“Out of small resentments, spring great wars.”

Lee once again astounded me with her fantastic blend of martial arts and jade magic. The clan wars provoked by each faction led to ignitions of violence that’s doubly gripping and memorable. The action sequences were utterly stylish and breathtaking. I have to give a round of applause to the duel featured in this installment; it was pulse-pounding, full of energy, menace, and ominous atmosphere. The crescent slash left by the clean moon blades detonated a frightening quality that quickened the beating of my heart. I mean it, the duel scene exhibited in this installment and the climax sequences were brimming with vivid imagery and perceptible intensity. Take the last battle in Jade City, increase that threefold and you have a notion of the crushing strength poured into the global jade war. I honestly can’t wait to read how Lee will improve from her cinematic set pieces in the next—and maybe the last—installment of the series.

“All that mortals could do was accept the lot they were given, and yet still fight to better their own fate and that of their loved ones.”

I’m gratified and impressed by the gangster fantasy I’ve read this year; Priest of Lies by Peter McLean is included in one of my favorite reads of the year so far and now Jade War joins the list. Jade War is urban fantasy at its best and Lee has cemented The Green Bone Saga as one of my favorite ongoing series with a groundbreaking impact. Do not miss reading this incredible book at all costs; The No Peak Clan awaits your enlistment in the Jade War. If you haven’t read Jade City yet, what are you waiting for? On my honor, my life, and my jade, this is a magnificent example of urban fantasy of the highest tier. The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master; let the gods recognize me as a clan loyalist who has stamped Jade War as one of the best book published in 2019.

Official release date: July 25th, 2019 (UK) and July 23rd, 2019 (US)

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions

I barely survived through this book. One thing's for sure: my heart wasn't prepared for Jade War. There were some moments where my poor heart would just stop beating altogether and there were times when it couldn't help but gallop faster than a fugitive running for his life. THIS BOOK HAS SOME SERIOUS DEADLY MAGIC. I didn't finish it unscathed.

Content/trigger warnings: graphic violence, death, mentions of pedophilia, mentions of rape, abortion, drug use, racism

• It's a hundred times more intense than Jade City

If Jade City was wildfire, Jade War was forged from the fires of hell. In this sequel, the stakes are higher and there are more powerful forces at play. With a foreign war raging on the background and jade smugglers wreaking havoc in Kekon, things are bound to get messier. Oh and the Kauls still have no chill by the way. My heart leapt right out of my chest and I screamed about a thousand times while reading this book. It's a miracle I'm still breathing tbh.

• ‎The Kaul family is a disaster and you'll love them for it

I have conveyed my love for the whole Kaul family in my *Jade City review* and now I'm going to do that again. Yes, the Kauls are still walking disasters but they have changed and developed a lot. The character development in this book is off the charts if I may say.

Even though Hilo is still more of a blood-before-reason kind of guy, he has matured a lot as a Pillar of No Peak. He's still out for blood but at least he's paying attention to paperwork now. I'm also here for his dog metaphors. They're unnervingly on point.

I'm still trash for my queens Shae and Wen. Shae is a force to be reckoned with and I really admire her wit. My respect for her increased a hundred times while reading this book.

Oh and I'm going to say this now: KAUL MAIK WEN IS MY PILLAR. She's a stone-eye but she's greener than most Green Bones. She's stronger than my house's foundation and my most trusted two front teeth. I pledge my life and my *jade* limbs to her.

I also thought that my love for Anden Emery has reached its maximum level but it just keeps on increasing and increasing. Anden's life in Espenia struck a chord within me. I'm going to college next month and I realized that my experience would be quite similar from his once I start studying. The city that I'm moving to doesn't have Green Bones but I'm actually going to learn how to be independent when I go to college, away from the family that has sheltered me for 18 years. Of course, Anden's experience is a far cry from my future college life but these minor similarities made me connect with Anden even more. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

There are also new additions to the Kaul family in this book and I'm sure you'll love them all. I've already sworn to protect them with my life.

• ‎All the scheming is pure genius

Clan politics is a huge part of this book. No Peak and the Mountain are still playing the long game of undermining each other and even though this clan war gives me heart attacks, I'm not complaining because it's written brilliantly. In Jade War, there's not much open battle between the two clans but they're still scheming and strategizing. Aside from clan politics, Kekon's relationship with its neighboring countries like Espenia was shown in an elaborate way. Any reader can feel the tension between the Kekonese government + the clans and the Espenian government which is really powerful in itself.

You know those scenes in movies where this genius character plays chess all by himself? I can actually imagine Fonda Lee doing just that while plotting her books. Everything here is pure genius.

• ‎The world-building is richer than Bill Gates

This book shows the stark contrast between Kekon and other countries, especially Espenia. I also love how Fonda Lee inserts bits and pieces of Kekon's history and mythology in between chapters

• ‎Fonda Lee is a destroyer of hearts

It drives me crazy how Fonda Lee gradually builds up this tension so you know that something big is going to happen eventually but at the first instance you lower your guard, THAT'S when she swoops in and drops a bomb that will blow you to pieces.

I have come to the party late I am afraid because I haven’t read the first book (which is a big mistake I will correct soonest) I loved this book, thrilling, exciting, funny, sad and tale told really well, an absolute must read