Review of "The Jade Setter of Janloon" by Fonda Lee

I received an ARC of this book from Subterranean Press in exchange for an honest review.

The Green Bone Saga told the story of the Kauls and their struggle for power in the highest echelons of Kekonese society. In The Jade Setter of Janloon, Fonda Lee shows us life outside the halls of power, and brings a fresh take to a classic detective story. Jade Setter has many of the classic scenes we've come to expect from a Green Bone tale; duels, fancy cars with outrageous names, shady shine dealers, and the looming presence of Ayt Mada. However, our protagonist, Pulo, has more with fan-least-favorite Bero than any of the Kauls, trying to make a living in the shadow of the No Peak versus Mountain feud rather than shaping it. Fortunately, Pulo is much more likeable than Bero, allowing Lee to use him more effectively to show us the common man's impression of the mighty protagonists who dominated the Green Bone Saga. The contrast between Pulo's view of Kaul Hilo (minor spoiler, but you didn't really think no Kauls would appear on-stage, did you?) and the final image we readers have of him at the end of Jade Legacy is stark and underlines just how much he changed, as well as how different life is for a Green Bone without the protection of a clan. The mystery plot moves along briskly, exploring some familiar corners of Janloon while still holding some suspense and introducing new figures who might have been peripheral to the Kauls but have powers of life and death over the characters here. Lee captures her characters' moods brilliantly, from calm expertise to panic to youthful frustration with the world, and manages to sneak in some striking action sequences even in a story not focused on skilled combatants. Jade Setter feels tightly plotted without being abrupt, and even though I would be happy to spend more time in Kekon, its conclusion has the same satisfying finality as Jade Legacy; this story is over, even if there are still many more to be told.

5 out of 5 stars. A nice chaser now that the Green Bone Saga is over, and it made me regret not buying a physical copy when I had the chance!

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