Jade City by Fonda Lee
- alwayswandering
- Jan 1
- 3 min read
The story unfolds in Kekon, a nation that recently gained independence after a war reminiscent of World War II. Now, Kekon is ruled by warring clans descended from settlers who displaced the Indigenous Abukei people. The two most powerful factions are the Mountain Clan, led by the Ayt family, and the No Peak Clan, headed by the Kaul family. Each clan’s leadership consists of three roles: the Pillar, who oversees the entire clan; the Horn, who commands the Fists and Fingers (the clan's enforcers); and the Weather Man, responsible for the clan's business dealings.
Kekon holds unique global importance as the only source of jade, a mineral that grants magical abilities to trained wielders of mixed Kekonese and Abukei heritage, collectively known as Green Bones.
The novel begins in Janloon, Kekon’s bustling capital, at the Twice Lucky Restaurant—a No Peak establishment. Two young thieves, Bero and Sampa, plot to steal jade from a drunken Green Bone. The heist goes awry when Hilo, the No Peak Horn, and his trusted Fists apprehend the boys. They bring the thieves to Hilo’s older brother, Lan, the Pillar of No Peak. Under interrogation, Sampa reveals the existence of a new black-market jade cutter, hinting at rising tensions with the rival Mountain Clan.
Lan releases the boys but is troubled by the escalating situation. He consults his grandfather, Kaul Sen, the former Pillar, who criticizes Lan’s leadership. Lan struggles to balance the opposing advice of his fiery Horn, Hilo, and his manipulative Weather Man, Doru. The tension worsens with the return of Lan’s sister, Shae, who left Kekon to attend college in Espenia with her foreign boyfriend, forsaking Green Bone traditions. Though Kaul Sen forgives Shae and welcomes her home, she insists on living independently, rejecting both her family’s wealth and her jade.
Hilo visits Anden, the Kaul family’s adopted ward, at the prestigious Kaul Dushuron Academy. Though Anden is a talented Green Bone, he suffers from the “Itches,” a deadly jade side effect, leaving him uncertain about his future. Hilo warns Anden of the brewing conflict with Mountain.
During Boat Day, a national celebration, Anden accidentally trespasses into Mountain territory and clashes with students from a rival school. The fight is broken up by Gont Asch, the Mountain Horn, who introduces Anden to Ayt Mada, the Mountain Pillar. She offers Anden a job and reveals plans to sell jade and the drug SN1, or "shine," internationally. SN1 allows non-Kekonese to wield jade by suppressing its harmful effects. Ayt Mada encourages Anden to sway Lan toward an alliance, but Lan refuses.
Meanwhile, Bero, craving more jade and vengeance against No Peak, immerses himself in Janloon’s criminal underworld. Lan tasks Shae with investigating jade mining records, suspecting Doru of collusion with Mountain to illegally sell jade abroad. Shae discovers evidence of Mountain’s violations and Doru’s betrayal. On her return, Mountain agents attempt to assassinate Hilo, but fail. No Peak retaliates, demanding retribution and territory. Ayt Mada concedes but allows a captured Mountain assassin, Gam, to challenge Lan to a duel. Lan defeats Gam but sustains injuries that exacerbate his jade imbalance, leading him to rely on SN1 to cope.
Bero, armed with a submachine gun from a mysterious Mountain ally, stalks Lan. One night, Lan overdoses on SN1, weakening his jade-enhanced abilities. When Bero attacks, Lan defends himself but collapses from the drug’s effects, falling into the harbor and drowning.
Lan’s death devastates the Kaul family. Hilo becomes Pillar, Shae takes up the role of Weather Man, and they vow revenge against Mountain. Shae consolidates power in No Peak while Hilo, undermining her strategy, exposes Mountain’s illegal activities through the torture of a jade cutter. Ayt Mada, seeking unity, proposes an alliance with Shae against Hilo. Shae refuses, solidifying her loyalty to her brother despite their precarious position.
Desperate for funds, Shae uses Hilo’s fiancée, Wen, to smuggle jade to Espenia, providing crucial resources. Yet Mountain’s superior strength threatens No Peak’s survival. As defeat looms, Gont Asch offers Hilo a choice: surrender or die in a duel, sparing his family and clan. Hilo accepts and prepares for a last stand.
On New Year’s Day, Hilo defeats several opponents but is overwhelmed. At the critical moment, he calls on Anden, who secretly takes jade from Hilo. Empowered, Anden freezes Gont Asch, allowing Hilo to deliver the killing blow. Anden’s skill shifts the war’s tide, restoring No Peak’s territory and honor. Yet Anden, horrified by his joy in killing, rejects jade entirely, prompting an angered Hilo to exile him.
As the Kaul family rebuilds, they brace for Mountain’s next move. Meanwhile, Bero desecrates Lan’s grave, claiming jade he believes is his due for killing the Pillar.
The novel concludes with tension thick in the air, setting the stage for another inevitable clash between No Peak and Mountain.
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