In Jade War, the sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Jade City, the Kaul siblings battle rival clans for honor and control over an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.
On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years.
Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.
Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival - and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon.
Jade War is the second book of the Green Bone Saga, an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.
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“We women claw for every inch we gain in this world...”
To preface, I didn't much care about book 1. I read Jade City about a year ago. It was slow-paced, and I was bored with it in the first half. I've read a lot of fantasy books, but this one is so different from what I was used to, so I needed a bit of time to adjust my brain to comprehend what I was reading. There were a lot of characters to track, a lot of happenings in a world brand new to me, so I was going back to the map every so often. The political aspect and magic system were overwhelming. It all took a little time to get used to. With that said, even though I didn't thoroughly vibe with book 1, the story was interesting enough to get me hooked and want to read the second book.
Jade War is a huge improvement and is such a gripping novel compared to its predecessor. Now that I am already familiar with the whos and whats and wheres of this world, I had much more fun reading through the lives of the Kauls. I was much more invested in the characters, both new and old. I was more engrossed in the messy politics and the different goings of the clans and gangs. This as a TV series would slap. Truly, this book has a very unique world that sets it apart from other fantasy stories I've read.
“No matter where you go, others will try to define you. Unless you define yourself.”
So many things happened, and I have bonded more with the characters. So much so that this book sent me on so many waves of emotions. I'm so glad I persisted through this series. And what made it more enjoyable for me was reading this with an audiobook. Listening to a narrator made the experience so much better. I am so pleased I was able to borrow it on Libby.
I'm excited to read Jade Legacy. I hope my Libby hold will come thru soon. Haha! I know it's early to declare this but I'm saying it anyway - this is a phenomenal series - and I am very happy to have picked it up. This was super worth the time.
Jade War - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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