Jade City
by Fonda Lee
Book 1 of the The Green Bone Saga series
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Jade City by Fonda Lee launches the Green Bone Saga, blending family loyalty, organised crime, and magical jade in a modern-inspired fantasy where power, honour, and legacy collide.
Jade City by Fonda Lee is the first novel in The Green Bone Saga, a critically acclaimed epic fantasy series that blends family drama, political intrigue, and organised crime within a richly imagined modern-inspired world. Set in the island nation of Kekon, the story centres on powerful clans whose authority is built on jade — a mystical substance that grants enhanced strength, speed, and abilities to those trained to wield it.
At the heart of the novel is the Kaul family, leaders of the No Peak Clan, who must navigate shifting alliances, internal rivalries, and an escalating conflict with their long-standing enemies, the Mountain Clan. As tensions rise, the struggle for control of jade threatens not only the balance of power in Kekon but the future of the Kaul legacy itself.
Unlike traditional medieval fantasy, Jade City presents a setting inspired by East Asian culture and 20th-century urban life, combining clan warfare with politics, economics, and media influence. Fonda Lee explores themes of family loyalty, generational conflict, cultural identity, and the cost of power, grounding the story’s magical elements in deeply human motivations.
The novel excels in its character-driven storytelling. Each member of the Kaul family brings a distinct perspective, from hardened warriors and reluctant leaders to those caught between tradition and change. The magic system is tightly controlled and dangerous, reinforcing the idea that power always comes with consequences.
Jade City features prominent fantasy tropes such as found family, crime syndicates, rival factions, political power struggles, magical substances, and morally complex characters. Its blend of urban fantasy sensibilities and epic stakes has earned widespread praise, making it a standout entry in modern fantasy literature.
Perfect for readers who enjoy gritty realism, layered world-building, and stories where loyalty and ambition are constantly at odds, Jade City sets the stage for an unforgettable saga.
Publication Details:
| Number of Pages | 528 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0356510514 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0356510514 |
| Published Date |
Other books in the The Green Bone Saga series
Jade is magic. Jade is power. Jade is war. Lee's World Fantasy Award-winning saga: The Godfather meets martial arts in an Asian-inspired metropolis where clan families battle for honor, jade, and survival. Time 100 Best. Translated into 15 languages.
About Fonda Lee
World Fantasy Award-winning author of the epic Green Bone Saga. Former corporate strategist turned black belt martial artist and master storyteller. Winner of the Locus Award, six-time Aurora Award winner, Hugo and Nebula finalist.