The Green Bone Saga Trilogy Book Set by Fonda Lee

by Fonda Lee

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
​* World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, winner

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.

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. The Green Bone
Jade City
Jade War
Jade Legacy

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

1856 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Fonda Lee is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the epic Green Bone Saga, beginning with Jade City and continuing in Jade War and Jade Legacy. Her most recent work is the fantasy novella, Untethered Sky. She is also the author of the acclaimed science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo and Cross Fire.

Fonda is a winner of the Locus Award, a six-time winner of the Aurora Award (Canada’s national science fiction and fantasy award), and a multiple finalist for the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award. Her novels have garnered multiple starred reviews, been included on numerous state reading lists, named Junior Library Guild selections, and appeared on Best of Year lists from NPR, Barnes & Noble, Syfy Wire, and others. Jade City was named among the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time by Time Magazine and has been optioned for television development.

Fonda is a former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist who loves action movies and Eggs Benedict. Born and raised in Canada, she currently resides in Boston.

Reviews

[Danny Leybzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest complaint about these books is that I couldn't put them down and they consumed my life for the two weeks that I was reading them.

Seriously. It was a problem. I would wake up in the morning and sneak in a bit of reading before getting up. I'd read while eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'd procrastinate on my homework to read. I'd risk running late to appointments to read. I'd read before going to bed.

Honestly, it reminded me of when I was addicted to TV and would watch it on my phone every waking moment (brushing my teeth, walking around the house, doing the dishes, etc). But what's worse is that with this I could justify myself by saying "I'm not rotting my brain, I'm reading a book! It's good for me!"

More seriously, I can't explain why these books are so compelling. Maybe it's the semi-alt-history genre (I similarly loved the Traitor Baru Cormorant series), maybe the fact that I don't read a lot of intrigue/fantasy... Really, I'm not sure. But I loved this.

My own complain is that, as good as Lee is at writing "surprises", she doesn't seem to write in any "twists". This was a hard distinction for me to wrap my head around at first, let alone explain to people, but here's what I think it is. In The Green Bone Saga, things happen that you don't expect to happen (surprises), but at no point do you think that something is happening and then it turns out that something else was happening the whole time. For instance (with Harry Potter spoilers), the fact that Sirius Black isn't a bad guy in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a *twist*, whereas Sirius Black dying in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a *surprise*. This seems like the type of book that would benefit immensely from twists (which are prominent in the series that I was comparing this to while reading it: The Traitor Baru Cormorant) but they were notably absent.

Overall, highly recommend these books if you have either strong impulse control or two weeks with nothing important going on.

[Alex N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread the first two this break so I could read the third and boy... what a thrilling, fast-paced and wonderfully political series. Magic system rating: 8/10, drama 10/10

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The clan is my blood,and the Pillar is its master.On my honor,my life and my jade”

Where do I even start? These books left me awestruck.The saga is an Urban fantasy story set in Kekon,a small island ruled by rival greenbone clans.Kekon is home to a special magical stone called Jade, Greenbones are genetically inclined to handling this jade,giving them super human martial arts abilities.The largest and most dominant of all the gangs are the “No Peak” Clan lead by the Kaul family and the “Mountain” Clan led by the Ayts.These two clans control the majority of the country’s Jade.

We follow the Kaul siblings as they battle rival clans for honor and power in this Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis and I tell you this is one of the coolest fantasy books I’ve read, I can’t think of any book that can outdo these books when it comes to the action sequence. The fighting scenes were clearly written and explained,so vivid that you completely forget your surroundings.Just amazing I tell you!

The books just kept getting better and better,Jade war was better than Jade City,and Jade Legacy? I’m honestly still lost for words because that book had me at the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it.What makes these books different and completely engrossing is the fact that anything can happen and nothing is predictable.There’s something huge that happens in book 1 that had my jaw hanging and I kept asking myself “Can Fonda Lee do that? Is this for real?!” I was shaken😵‍💫 and I thought, “what happens now?” and she didn’t disappoint,she had my heart in her palm the whole time I was reading this honestly. Angsty but truly enjoyable, I loved it!

I started this trilogy thinking all I was getting was some high fantasy action sequence story filled with morally grey cutthroat characters and no room for emotional attachment, but ended the series feeling sick to my stomach after crying an unhealthy amount of times because I DID get emotionally attached 💀 and feeling so empty that it was over,that I would never read it for the first time again.🥹

It was amazing to watch these characters grow and develop from Jade City to Jade legacy.In the end, it really did feel like I had been with them their whole lives and it was sad to see this world come to an end,I’m so happy I found these books and I can’t wait to continue reading this author’s work.

Reading these books took me on such a tension filled emotional roller coaster,high stakes and all. I white knuckled my way through every page for fear that the safety of my favorite character/s was compromised 😦
but I’d do it all again because it was so worth it.The ending was bittersweet but I feel like everything worked out how it was supposed to.Honestly one of the best series I’ve read 🥹🙌🏽

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world building was pretty good in this book. I really liked the powers and how they are explained and how they work. It’s incredibly interesting to see the culture the author built into the countries in this book, specifically Kekon. Full of interesting traditions and events. It was very interesting to see a whole country holding to a certain way of life.

I really enjoyed the fights in these books. The cool power system is probably a big reason why.

I thought the character writing was so good. I now find myself wanting to be like a Pillar, Horn, or Weather Man. To have connections with people and be able to help them with just a few phone calls. Draw people to me and be a people person. A good manager and strong individual who stands on honour and strength. Willing to do what needs to be done. And a business savvy person that is relentless in the pursuit of success for themselves and those around them. I want to live a good life like Hilo for my own clan. Like all the characters, he was incredibly well written and I saw him change over time. I also always admired him and want to be like that to some degree. He was able to partially fill all three roles and I think he was very well rounded. Like everyone he made mistakes but he always put others first and protected his loved ones fiercely. Up until the end. A true family man

This book was a little too political for my taste. Though the stakes were high I was never too invested, almost as if they lost in one way it was just them losing the battle and not the war, they would be able to make up for it later on. That made it kind of easy to put it down. There was no central quick storyline that made me desperately want to know more. I was just watching the life of two powers intensely struggling over a lifetime. Which was interesting but it’s more suited to a documentary. It was more like that style I guess, especially the last book. I wish they had been more fast paced, around one central plot instead of dozens of tiny ones and more action packed.

When we read, we want to go through the struggles with the main characters then come out victorious with our happy ever after. But I guess that is the reality of life, you go through it and come out, have happy time, then struggle again, rinse and repeat.

I saw that someone said this is like a family drama inside a bigger political drama. At the end of the day, that’s true. And this rating is not as high because that’s just simply not my drama.

[Nguyet Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent every chapter holding my breath—Fonda Lee is an expert at torturing my emotions. The pace is relentless, with plot twists hitting like a furious spouse catching their partner with a mistress—just when you think you can relax, bam, you’re blindsided again. I’m not one for politics, but this book made me swallow it whole—strategies, power plays, trades, civil war, and foreign relations. The political maneuvering is intense, and watching the loyalty and trust in leadership unfold is as impressive as it is dangerous. It’s a masterclass in how power corrupts, tests, and reshapes entire nations. And the body count. Death, tears, and the rare smile are frequent companions. The character development is ruthless—either they grow stronger, more strategic, more cunning, or they’re wiped off the board. No one gets to stay the same in this world. Finishing this saga felt like a marathon—long and brutal. But no way could I sleep with thei constant question hanging over me: How long can the Kaul family survive? I had no choice but to bow to Fonda Lee’s brilliance and pick up the next book, even if it means more emotional whiplash. The ending. It’s the kind of bittersweet conclusion that spares you total despair but still reminds you nothing will ever be perfect. A long-standing family hatred ends, but the future is united, though far from idyllic. Fonda Lee, merciful as she is, stops just short of plunging us into a nightmare—but only just.

[connie c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely one of the best series I've ever read, and I still haven't found anything that compares. I revisit it every few months and loved it enough to buy the audiobooks too.

The worldbuilding, character development, and plotting are extraordinarily layered—everything feels deliberate and earned. Lee writes deeply flawed, human characters, but you understand exactly why they make the choices they do. Their motivations are so clear and compelling that even when they're in conflict, you're torn because everyone makes sense.

Reading this felt cinematic—I could see every scene playing out like a film. The emotional beats hit hard, and the twists genuinely wrecked me (in the best possible way). I envy anyone reading this for the first time.

When I finished Jade Legacy, I found myself grieving the end. I missed the Kaul family like they were real people I'd lost touch with. I didn't want to leave their world, and part of me still wonders how they're doing now.

[Jesse de Roover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 5 star series for me. I loved the magic system here having power from Jade makes you vulnerable and no one felt overpowered. This was very grounded where any one can get killed by a bomb, car crash, falling rubble, gun shots, knife wound, etc. I loved the family crime drama element and how the feuds and plotting played out over 3 books and decades of time. This story was so unique and I honestly felt speechless at times with how characters would get brutally murdered out of nowhere. This is one of those few series where I honestly thought any main character could die at any moment. This series stayed on my mind long after I finished it, and I know for a fact I will be coming back to this book trilogy in the near future.

[Leif Capener · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Green Bone Saga transcends genre. While it says fantasy, it feels like I am reading historical fiction. Other books may have me wishing I could travel to their worlds, but only Green Bone Saga has me thinking about how much flights to Kekon cost, only for me to remember it's fiction.

The slang and jargon says so much more about the culture of Kekon then any lore dump. Each member of the Kaul family has goals and desires that conflict, support, and intertwine with each other, so that any sense of progression with one character radiates and cascades to the other characters. Eventually, the plot builds so much inertia, that the Kaul's have to give their all, just to keep their heads above water from conflicts that can be traced to seemingly insignificant decisions earlier in the book.

I am constantly left daydreaming different What If's and Alternate Endings with very little need for speculation, because I've grown so intimate with the characters and world that I know exactly how things would go if things had gone slightly differently.

[Jacob Dipietro]

An excellent series with twists and turns that I often didn't see coming. It often had that chaotic feeling that anything can happen, not just for shock value, but events that majorly impact the story and lives of the characters. Events that happen in the first book are referenced and impact the last. The characters are flawed but feel real, and grow over the series. It's just well written and a good time.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gangster fantasy novel exploring the island country of Kekon with INCREDIBLE character development and relationships. Every decision each character made felt authentic to their personality and where they are in life. These character evolve over time in such a realistic way. These plot lines always felt fresh, and in the end of the day, character centric. Just, highly recommend.

[cherryyemilyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆ (whole series)

Ummm phenomenal series! This is fantasy, family, action, magic, fighting, like what more do you want?

Just so well done and such a dream to read once you get over the classic confusion of a new fantasy world.

[Alyssa M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t recommend this series enough! Definitely not for everyone and takes a lot patience with the slow start. But the world building is so amazing. There’s plenty of twists, heartbreak, and chaos. I would reread this series over and over.

[Benjamin Passafaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow start, but the world built is incredible and one of the best series I’ve read. I was really stuck after red rising and wasn’t sure about this at first, but i was so glad I stuck it out. 5:5 all day

[Steven M Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very solid series. Well written, good characterization, great world building. By the end of the series I could kind of predict what kind of things were going to happen but that's an incredibly minor quibble. One of the best reads I've had in the last decade.

[vanessa lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried when this was over, please write more Fonda!!

[Amna · Rating 5 out of 5]

best series everrr.
will miss my kaul family 💘

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such great characters, cried multiple times.

[Jacob Hubner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a satisfying series. The way Lee grows the scope of the battle between two gangs over the course of three books is a tremendous achievement.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite urban fantsay. Two thumbs up!

[Pedro Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Básicamente la yakuza en un "Vietnam" alternativo. Espectacular si te gusta el concepto de la mafia, los duelos de honor y la magia. De mis sagas favoritas sin duda

[Theo Kandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO SO SO GOOD LIKE DUMMMMMMMY GOOD

[Dr. Agraja Magesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional series!