Jade City by Fonda Lee — book slip

Jade City is Fonda Lee's World Fantasy Award-winning urban fantasy set in the Asian-inspired island nation of Kekon.

The story centers on the Kaul family, leaders of the No Peak clan, one of the two dominant crime syndicates in the bustling city of Janloon.

These clans control the mining and trade of magical jade, a substance that grants enhanced abilities to those with the proper training and genetic predisposition.

The Kaul siblings—Lan, the Pillar; Hilo, the Horn; and Shae, who has returned from abroad—navigate complex family dynamics and escalating tensions with their rival, the Mountain clan.

The emergence of a new drug, SN1 or "shine," which allows even untrained individuals to harness jade's power, threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of power and plunges the clans into open conflict.

Lee's immersive world-building and intricate character relationships draw readers into a narrative reminiscent of The Godfather, infused with elements of magic and martial arts.

⚠️ Content note: Graphic violence, explicit sexual content, and themes of addiction.