Jade City by Fonda Lee

Jade City

Fonda Lee, Andrew Kishino, Orbit

Orbit · Print & ebook · September 9, 2025

A Fantasy pick for readers exploring Jade City.

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Who it’s for
If you’re circling Jade City, this is the sideways doorway in.
Genres
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy Adventure, Epic Fantasy
Published
Orbit, September 9, 2025

About this book

In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis. *Named one of TIME's Top 100 Fantasy Books Of All Time* Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for—and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.

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Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation. When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone—even foreigners—wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones—and of Kekon itself. Praise for Jade City: "An epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you'll forget you're reading a book." —Ken Liu, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author "A beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!" —Ann Leckie, Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author "An instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats." —NPR The Green Bone Saga Jade City Jade War Jade Legacy

Why It Clicks

If you’re circling Jade City, this is the sideways doorway in.

Come here for

  • Classroom-adjacent discovery
  • serious edge with an immersive pull

Expect

  • fantasy with a thrillerish hum
  • a sustained, class-ready read

Where it sits

Urban Fantasy78%
Fantasy Adventure33%
Epic Fantasy32%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Epic Fantasy
  • Fantasy Adventure
  • Crime Fiction
  • Sibling Stories
Show all 5 publisher categories
  • Asian American Fiction
Authors
Fonda Lee, Andrew Kishino, Orbit
Publisher
Orbit
Published
September 9, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
Epic Fantasy