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Quick answer: If you loved Jade City, read its sequels Jade War and Jade Legacy, then The Godfather, The Grace of Kings, The Poppy War and The Lies of Locke Lamora. All mix family loyalty, power struggles and violence in worlds where honour and crime tangle.
Fonda Lee's 2017 novel opens the Green Bone Saga, set on the island of Kekon, where families of warriors use magical jade to protect their clans and fight for control of the capital. It reads like a gangster epic crossed with martial-arts fantasy. The books below share its feuding families, clan politics and brutal choices.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jade War | Fonda Lee | Adult | the sequel |
| Jade Legacy | Fonda Lee | Adult | the finale |
| The Godfather | Mario Puzo | Adult | the gangster classic |
| The Grace of Kings | Ken Liu | Adult | silk-punk epic |
| The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | Adult | grimdark military fantasy |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
| The Traitor Baru Cormorant | Seth Dickinson | Adult | empire from within |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Adult | heist crew |
| Black Sun | Rebecca Roanhorse | Adult | pre-Columbian-inspired epic |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | gritty humour |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | brutal dystopia |
| A Game of Thrones | George R. R. Martin | Adult | political epic |
| Shogun | James Clavell | Adult | feudal Japan |
| The Alloy of Law | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | gunslinger fantasy |
| The Fifth Season | N. K. Jemisin | Adult | world-ending epic |
1. Jade War by Fonda Lee
The Kaul family fights on a global stage as foreign powers move in. Bigger, tenser and every bit as good.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee
The saga reaches its climax across a new generation. A satisfying and emotional ending.
Best for: the finale.
3. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The Corleone family fights to survive and hold power. The model for every crime-family epic since.
Best for: the gangster classic.
4. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Two friends overthrow an empire and then face each other. Inspired by Chinese history and rich in invention.
Best for: silk-punk epic.
5. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
An orphan wins a place at an elite military school and discovers shamanic power. Harsh and gripping.
Best for: grimdark military fantasy.
6. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A group of thieves in a fantasy city run elaborate cons. Witty and fast.
Best for: clever heists.
7. The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
A gifted accountant joins an empire to destroy it. Cold, clever and devastating.
Best for: empire from within.
8. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A criminal mastermind assembles a crew for an impossible job. Sharp, witty and layered.
Best for: heist crew.
9. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Rival powers move toward a solar eclipse in a city built on celestial order. Original and atmospheric.
Best for: pre-Columbian-inspired epic.
10. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A barbarian, a torturer and a vain officer are drawn into a conflict. Dark and funny.
Best for: gritty humour.
11. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner on Mars infiltrates the elite. Violent and fast.
Best for: brutal dystopia.
12. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Noble families fight for a throne in a brutal world. Intricate, dark and gripping.
Best for: political epic.
13. Shogun by James Clavell
An English pilot is stranded in Japan and caught in power struggles. Immersive and sweeping.
Best for: feudal Japan.
14. The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
A lawman returns to a city of gangsters and magic. Fast, funny and clever.
Best for: gunslinger fantasy.
15. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
A woman searches for her daughter in a world of constant disaster. Inventive and powerful.
Best for: world-ending epic.
How to Choose
For more of the saga, read Jade War and Jade Legacy. For classic crime-family drama choose The Godfather. For clan politics and war pick The Grace of Kings, The Poppy War or Shogun. For clever criminals try The Lies of Locke Lamora or Six of Crows. For grimmer political fantasy read The Traitor Baru Cormorant or A Game of Thrones. Jade City is violent, so pick lighter fantasy if you prefer a gentler tone. The Green Bone Saga is sometimes compared to Asian crime cinema, so readers who like those films may also enjoy martial-arts fiction and historical epics. The trilogy is complete, which makes it a safe series to start. Another tip is to pick by what you loved most. If it was the clan politics, read The Godfather and A Game of Thrones. If it was the martial-arts magic, try The Poppy War. If it was the clever plotting, The Lies of Locke Lamora and Six of Crows deliver. Audiobooks of the Green Bone Saga are well narrated, which helps with the large cast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jade City about?
Two powerful clans fight for control of a city whose fighters wield magical jade.
Who wrote it?
Fonda Lee.
When was it published?
2017.
Did it win awards?
It won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
How many books are in the series?
Three in the main trilogy, plus a related novella and stories.
Is it violent?
Yes, with fights and killings.
Is it like The Godfather?
Yes, in its family and clan structure, with magic added.
What should I read next?
Try Jade War.
Do I need to know Asian cinema to enjoy Jade City?
No. The book stands on its own as a fantasy and family drama.