A Review of Fonda Lee’s Jade War (Orbit, 2019)

[lsobiesk]

Written by Stephen Hong Sohn

Edited by Lizzy Sobiesk

I read the second installment of Fonda Lee’s Green Bone saga—Jade War—as soon as I finished the first. The third installment unfortunately is still en route! But I digress —here is the marketing description: “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.”

 

These pithy descriptions don’t even mention a single character, which is interesting. Again, the anchor of this book is much like the last, with the focus on the Kauls and their attempts to retain power on Kekon, especially with respect to their rivals (the Mountain Clan and their leader Ayt). To keep up with the enemy clan, Shae has helped establish an international trade route for jade, while Helo continues to maintain whatever power he has on Kekon. Anden has been moved to what seems to be a kind of analogue for a European nation, which is called Espenia in this novel. I will be providing spoilers throughout this review, so look away unless you want to find out more about this particular plot. Much like the last novel, I found myself gravitating toward Shae’s and Anden’s plots the most. In this case, Shae is navigating a complicated romantic relationship with a Green Bone who has become a professor. Anden, who we discover is queer in the last novel, is also coming to terms with his sexuality in this novel, as he starts a relationship with the son of a Kekonese immigrant. While all of these relationships evolve, the battle between the clans continues to brew. Lee sets up this novel so a side character that opens up this text ends up becoming a major antagonist. This character leads readers up to the climax point, where Anden is used to try to take him down. Helo’s wife, Wen, wants to be a part of the action (and begs Shae to let her help the clan even though Shae knows that Helo wouldn’t allow it), because this antagonist had a part in killing her brother. Wen, Anden, and a fellow Green Bone from an Espenian clan are able to take the antagonist down, but Wen is seriously injured (with brain damage), while the Espenian Green Bone loses his life. The ending sees Helo try to get rid of Shae as his Weather Man, but they come to a sort of rapprochement, realizing that they need to work this out if they are to have any chance against Ayt. Indeed, it is revealed that this novel’s major antagonist was indirectly supported by Ayt, and Ayt continues to try to consolidate her power, not only through clan warfare and but also through political gamesmanship. Again, Lee shows her tremendous skill in toggling so many perspectives and plots. The shift to the international dynamics of the jade trade also provides extra texture to this fictional world. In this case, Lee definitely offers up instances of racial formation in the Espenian context, with Anden experiencing what it is like to be an immigrant. Again, texts like this one bring up the question of the utility of presenting racial formation in the high fantasy context. Ultimately, it is another thrilling story, one that certainly sets up what will likely be a cataclysmic conclusion.

 

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