CREATIVITY IN DIVERSITY + JADE WAR BY FONDA LEE!
Monday, July 22, 2019
" The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is its master. On my honor, my life, and my jade."
In what seems of to be a
congested population of fantasy stories following a certain commercial recipe,
I found a book series that gave me a breath of fresh air. Today, I am pleased
to talk about Fonda Lee’s Jade War. The 2nd book in the Green Bone Saga.
When I received an email from Ms. Shealea regarding a book tour opportunity to read and review this book, I was intrigued. When I saw what the Green Bone Saga was about, that the characters are asian, and the story is embedded with asian themes, I was sold! And after reading this book I realized that signing up in this book tour is probably one of the best decisions I ever made in my book blogging venture.
When I received an email from Ms. Shealea regarding a book tour opportunity to read and review this book, I was intrigued. When I saw what the Green Bone Saga was about, that the characters are asian, and the story is embedded with asian themes, I was sold! And after reading this book I realized that signing up in this book tour is probably one of the best decisions I ever made in my book blogging venture.
Jade War picks up right after the events of Jade City. In this book the tension between No Peak Clan and One Mountain Society continues to rise. The drama between the Kauls simmers with the growth of Hilo as the pillar man and Shae as the weather man. Moreover, the political and economic conflict in Kekon triggers enemies, and new alliances between the clans local and overseas
If I could summarize this whole
review in three words it would be: gripping,
thrilling, and amazing! I had so much fun reading this book. From beginning to
end, I was just hooked into the world of green bones. My head became a warzone
of conflicting thoughts and theories as I was reading through it. It was just a
blast reading this one. I personally spent a week flipping through the
pages of the book. I obviously took my time and enjoyed every second I spent with
it.
Jade City is great book. Don’t
get me wrong. It’s a solid skeleton for this trilogy. But, I personally think
that Fonda Lee outdid herself with Jade War. Probably, because of the events
that happened in Jade City, every single decision or move that the characters
did in Jade War had so much gravity. I legitimately felt anxious whenever
Hilo-jen or Shae-jen decided on something or acted on a matter because I knew
that whatever decision they’ll make, the ramifications of it by the end would
be huge not only to their family, and the no peak clan but also to the well-being
of Kekon itself.
I was emotionally invested in
these characters. One thing that Fonda did well is characterization. From main
characters like Hilo-jen to supporting ones like Papi-jen or from protaginst
like Wen to the villains like Ayt Mada, I felt empathetic. She created such
lush and vibrant characters who never felt two dimensional.
Okay, let’s briefly talk about
some of the characters that stood out for me in this book!
Hilo-jen was fantastic! I grew to
love him here. He became a responsible leader without losing his infamous grit.
I loved seeing him as the pillar. I loved seeing him as a family man and I love
seeing him as Wen’s brother. Hilo-jen had to grow up and suddenly take the
responsibilities as the pillar and he surely didn’t disappoint.
Sure, he is still the impulsive person that he is and he makes mistakes along
the way but he doesn’t close his mind from his family’s advice. He’s also very
very charismatic.
Shae-jen. Oh sister slapped!!! In
this book she showed the world her true inner green. She’s a green bone who
doesn’t take shit. I just loved how we saw her many sides from being a wise
weather man, a fierce green bone fighter, a woman, and a Kaul daughter.
Wen has continued to make my love
for her greater and greater with each book that passes. She’s an understanding
and intelligent woman. She knows her responsibilities and tries to help the
clan whenever she can. She devotes herself to loving and caring her family
without sacrificing her ambitions. I love her!!
Anden. This boy!!!! I love his
arc in Jade War. Let’s just say he did some travelling and self discovery and I
WAS THERE FOR IT. I can’t wait for him to reach his full potential!
Jade War also did a great job
giving us a great economic and political perspective in terms of running a
country like Kekon. It tied perfectly
with the Clan’s motives and schemes making it interesting and not boring!
I am not the biggest fan of heavy
fight scenes. It’s a reason why I refrain from watching action films. I expected
this to have lots of those but I
actually think it has fewer action scenes compared to Jade City. However, when
the book gives you an action sequence, better be prepared. Less is more! There
were scattered fighting sequences here and there throughout the book and whenever
I am reading those parts, I always see myself at the edge of my seat. I always
feel thrilled and engrossed with what I’m reading. This rarely happens because
like I said, I’m not the biggest fan of brawls and fighting but Fonda wrote
them so well!
I am so glad that asian authors like Fonda Lee is able to produce such an amazing story. Our current media is
bombarded with caucacity albeit the efforts of including diversity. Sometimes I
feel like films, books or shows add people of color in their narrative for the
sake of “representation” and that’s not okay. We need to create more stories
like Jade War that weaves epic storytelling with grounded and beautiful local mythology.
We need to introduce more asian/ poc main characters for people to look up
to. We need to supports works like this that promotes cultural diversity!
The asian culture is so vibrant
and authentic that I feel like it’s not enough to be seen because it deserves
to be in the spotlight.
If you made it until the end of this
messy and emotion filled review of Jade War, congratulations! I fell in love
with the world and its characters so deeply. It’s not even out in the
bookstores but I’m already anticipating for the third one. If you have the
resources, buy this book! Support Fonda Lee and her works 😊.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Jade War
Author: Fonda Lee
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publication date: 23 July 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
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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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fonda Lee writes science fiction and fantasy for adults and teens. She is the author of the Green Bone Saga, beginning with Jade City (Orbit), which won the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, was nominated for the Nebula Award and the Locus Award, and was named a Best Book of 2017 by NPR, Barnes & Noble, Syfy Wire, and others. The second book in the Green Bone Saga, Jade War, releases in the summer of 2019. Fonda’s young adult science fiction novels Zeroboxer (Flux), Exo and Cross Fire (Scholastic), have garnered numerous accolades including being named Junior Library Guild Selection, Andre Norton Award finalist, Oregon Book Award finalist, Oregon Spirit Book Award winner, and YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. In 2018, Fonda gained the distinction of winning the Aurora Award, Canada’s national science fiction and fantasy award, twice in the same year for Best Novel and Best Young Adult Novel.
Fonda wrote her first novel, about a dragon on a quest for a magic pendant, in fifth grade during the long bus ride to and from school each day. Many years later, she cast her high school classmates as characters in her second novel, a pulpy superhero saga co-written with a friend by passing a graphing calculator back and forth during biology class. Fortunately, both of these experiments are lost to the world forever.
Fonda is a former corporate strategist who has worked for or advised a number of Fortune 500 companies. She holds black belts in karate and kung fu, goes mad for smart action movies (think The Matrix, Inception, and Minority Report) and is an Eggs Benedict enthusiast. Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, she currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
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ABOUT THE #JADEWARTOUR!
Many thanks to Shealea and Caffeine Tours for hosting and picking me out of almost 100 bloggers to participate in this tour! Today is only the beginning of more exciting posts of bloggers!
Follow the tour here!
LET'S TALK!
You can talk/ gust with me about your theories, and reactions on Jade War! I also posted more pictures of the book in my bookstagram !!
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