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Cover of Jade City by Fonda LeeJade City
Modern · Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

Jade City

by Fonda Lee
2016 · 540 pages · Fiction
70.8Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick · Lifetime bestseller
≈ 14 hours to read · about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. Mined, traded, stolen and killed for, it gives honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family magical abilities. When a new drug lets anyone use jade, the Kauls are drawn into a violent clan war for control of the city.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Nebula Award finalist. It's often described as The Godfather with magic and kung fu.

You'll love it if you liked

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The GodfatherMario Puzo

Good to know

It's the first of the Green Bone Saga. It's violent and full of family drama.

By the numbers

70.8Must-Read Score
  • Readers63 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics24 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller38 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Nebula Award finalist (2017)

Reads as

Gripping, Adventurous, Epic

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is Jade City worth reading?

Yes. It was a Nebula Award finalist. It ranks #1,201 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.8 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Jade City about?

Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. Mined, traded, stolen and killed for, it gives honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family magical abilities. When a new drug lets anyone use jade, the Kauls are drawn into a violent clan war for control of the city.

How long does it take to read Jade City?

About 14 hours (540 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Jade City?

If you liked it, try The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang or The Godfather by Mario Puzo.