He is hands down the best morally grey character ever written. Honestly, I’m not sure he’s not a villain at this point. The two Kaul siblings became a formidable duo during Jade War, and I am so excited to see where they go in the next book. Her attachment to Espenian culture also allowed her to balance out Hilo’s traditional beliefs as they mapped out a future for No Peak. I never expected her to go from rejecting her Jade to fully accepting her duties. I thought this conflict was extremely realistic for her character. During the climax of Jade City, she finally accepted her place as the weatherman of No Peak, but she still struggled to fully accept the Green Bone lifestyle. Shae’s development was also fantastic in Jade War.

His decisions were complicated by the Green Bone lifestyle and the clan war, but they were also easily relatable for anyone who’s faced major life decisions with family pressure.

I loved how Lee portrayed his struggle between wanting to please Hilo and Shae but also wanting them to respect his right to choose his own life. I also related to his resentment for people trying to decide for him for “his own good”. As a college student also struggling to decide what to do with my future, it was easy to relate to Anded’s struggles. After turning away from life as a Green Bone he faced the wrath of Hilo and a future that, for better or worse, was no longer mapped out for him. Jade War really allowed the characters to shine as they navigated the tangle of politics and tension left by the climax of Jade City.Īnden was, of course, as sweet as ever. How far are they willing to go, and who will they become in order to win the clan war? Characters Hilo and Shae are forced to balance between upholding Green Bone values and snatching any advantage that could put them ahead of the Mountain. Under the surface, both clans conspire with foreign powers and local politicians in order to gain any advantage over the other. The No-Peak and the Mountain clans have ceased fighting, but no one is ignorant enough to mistake the silence for peace. Jade War takes the explosive conclusion of Jade City and turns it into a simmering tension that threatens to snap at any moment.

Jade War by Fonda Lee