Hello, everyone! Today I’m excited to be reviewing The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee, a new, standalone Green Bone Saga novella set prior to the trilogy of books previously released. This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2022, and I was happy to get the chance to read and review it early!

Fonda Lee returns to the world of the Green Bone Saga with a new standalone novella.

The rapidly changing city of Janloon is ruled by jade, the rare and ancient substance that enhances the abilities and status of the trained Green Bone warriors who run the island’s powerful clans.

Pulo Oritono is not one of those warriors. He’s simply an apprentice jade setter with dreams of securing clan patronage and establishing a successful business. His hopes are dashed, however, when a priceless jade weapon is stolen from the shop where he works.

Now, Pulo has three days to hunt down the thief, find the jade, and return it to its rightful owner if he wants to save his future prospects, the people he cares about, and his very life. The desperate mission will lead Pulo to old vendettas, vast corruption, and questions about everything and everyone he thought he knew.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for providing a copy of the book. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

Fonda Lee did it again! I was instantly transported back to Janloon, and I loved every second of it. The detective plot was fast-paced and kept my interest, and I liked how it incorporated many of the elements of Janloon society introduced in the main series in a different way. In many ways, it showed how out of touch the events of the main series were from the day to day lives of people outside the Kaul family. However, it also illustrated the interdependence between the clans and their people and how they interact and impact each others’ lives, for better or worse. As always with Lee’s work, I almost instantly felt connected to the new characters, and each of them had clear arcs and interesting growth. I also loved all the cameos SO MUCH!!! One of them made me tear up because it made me think about how different all the lives of the saga’s main characters could have been if one event hadn’t happened in Jade City. All that being said, I don’t really recommend this be the first Green Bone Saga book someone reads. It worked surprisingly well on its own, but I think it would be best enjoyed by at least reading Jade City first. Obviously, I loved it, though. So, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!