This book was so fun! I love this world, I love Janloon. From very early on in my finding of this series I’ve wanted to know more about life in the city outside of big clan business, and this story did not disappoint. The character work in particular is great. Both new & old characters get their time to shine, even many of the ones that only show up for a short time feel very well-rounded. I liked that this gave us the chance to see how different types of people fit into Janloon, and the climate of the city we’ve spent so much time exploring in other books.

<spoiler>However, there was one character, in particular, I wish we’d seen slightly more of. I didn’t understand why they ended up where they did, they spent the entire story shrouded in mystery and I don’t feel that it was wrapped up in a way that was serviceable to them. I feel even a short scene between her and the protagonist would have changed how I feel about this. It’s a small thing but really impacted my feelings around the book’s ending. Relatedly, the way that certain aspects of the mystery were wrapped up felt very info-dumpy. We follow the protagonist going around town attempting to solve the mystery, but there’s very little he actually discovers for himself, most of it is kinda just explained near the end by another character which lessened the impact a bit IMO.<spoiler>

TLDR, a great fun mystery story, that really works well in the context of the greenbone world. But taken out of that context, the mystery itself could have been a bit stronger. Still very enjoyable despite this.

*arc review. Thanks to the publisher. Etc Etc

I adore The Green Bone Saga so much; it is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time and even though I finished the series last year, I have not stopped thinking about it. This short novella was the perfect path to take a step back into Janloon and look at the world in a different way than the main series. I loved seeing some beloved characters make cameos in the story. For such a short novella, I thought the story was developed really well.

I'm going to end this review by saying one thing: Kaul Lan <3

Very good story. It's about jade setter and his apprentice and we also get to see some familiar faces throughout the story. This short story focuses on smaller clans and also features Abukei characters and expands the already known world.

yeah so it's definitely safe to say i've very much terribly missed reading about the world of the green bones in kekon and might have gotten a bit emotional seeing characters again that i already know and love. being the short novella it is, it positively lived up to what i expected of action, crime and clan affairs. it was so sentimental to me to be back in janloon again and see some specific characters from the main trilogy appear along with seeing different parts of the clan business, particularly with neutral clans ideology taking center stage. kaul family and the siblings my forever family, i just love them so much. the jade setting branch of jade business was interesting and how people have to come to terms with their position in constantly having to undo hard work often with duels and ending in resetting jade to different owners. and also how isin, this neutral clan jade owner deals with working with both the large rivaling clans of no peak and mountain. the jade setter of janloon is a well done structured story implementing so many different clan and political aspects that fans of the green bone saga will certainly enjoy as they return to janloon in this novella!

It's always such a pleasure to get back into this world Lee has created no matter how short it is. I love being able to revisit the world and seeing familiar faces again after the trilogy wrapped up. But what I love about The Jade Setter of Janloon is the introduction of the new characters and their lives. I love how through these new characters we were able to expand and explore more of the Green Bone World especially when I thought we've already know everything there is to know, there's always more to see.

it was so good to be back into this world of jade and clans that i dearly missed. this novella has an interesting story of its own, one that provides wonderful insights into the green bone world. fonda lee's talent is incredible as always.

yeah so it's definitely safe to say i've very much terribly missed reading about the world of the green bones in kekon. for a novella, it lived up to what i expected of action, crime and clan affairs. it was so sentimental to me to be back in janloon again and see some specific characters from the main trilogy appear along with seeing different parts of the clan business, particularly with neutral clans ideology taking center stage. the jade setting branch of jade business was interesting and how people have to come to terms with their position in constantly having to undo hard work often with duels and ending in resetting jade to different owners. and also how isin, this neutral clan jade owner deals with working with both the large rivaling clans of no peak and mountain. the jade setter of janloon is a well done structured story implementing so many different clan and political aspects that fans of the green bone saga will certainly enjoy as they return to janloon in this novella!

Fonda Lee’s writing is utterly enthralling. The world she has created is so wonderfully alive and so easy to picture. I can almost feel it!

I loved this novella. I wasn’t a huge fan of the main character, but I think that’s shows Lee’s talent - she can make unlikeable characters enjoyable. I can really feel for them and get wrapped up in their minds.

This world and the Greenbone Saga as a whole is so masterfully written that I think it will stick with me for years to come.

janloon will forever be one of my favorite fantasy settings ever and this novella further cemented that. loved the glimpse we get into the less glamorous, simpler, darker side of the city with main characters who aren't clan warriors. i also appreciate the somewhat different perspective we're given on the green bone clans through the eyes of an ordinary citizen. and of course, loved seeing cameos of old, beloved characters again.

fonda lee's worldbuilding remains as immaculate as always. really enjoyed this story!

thank you nettgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

the jade settler of janloon is about how after ayt mada sent a special moon blade, gifted to her by her father, to be mended, it ends up being stolen and the characters try to uncover what happened in order for the jade settler and his apprentices to avoid punishment. if you like learning about side characters that are in the same universe as the rest of the gbs characters but of little importance, you’ll probably like this. as usual hilo carried but it was overall just not for me. i did like reading about how he, tar, and kehn worked together as fists as well as the lan and mada appearances.

4 stars *may change

Starting off 2022 with Fonda Lee teasing her characters before all the events that ruined their lives (and mine) in later books. What a start to the year. Definitely freaked a little when hilo and lan showed up. I have a far greater appreciation for the world she’s created with every work of hers I read. The political systems are so interesting to read about even when I don’t really care for government-heavy fantasies. Love ha

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy

A very well written novella set in the world of the Green Bone Saga. It follows a likeable character who is put through troubles to create an engaging story which did not disappoint. I very much enjoyed seeing some of the familiar characters from the original trilogy. Even though the action is set before the timeline of Jade City, I can assume that the knowledge of the trilogy greatly enhances the reading experience but it can be read as a standalone too (but it won't be my recommended procedure).

This was my first time reading Fonda Lee, and will have to check our more. This story was great. Great characters, and great pacing. This was a great introduction, and will need to pick up the Green Boon saga now. #TheJadeSetterofJanloon #NetGalley

so so good!

fonda lee is an amazing writer and i will definitely eat up anything she publishes, but the gbs has such a hold on me that i devoured this short story. i loved seeing hilo and mada again. i definitely miss them so much lmao. the novella had an interesting plot and i quite enjoyed reading it. i didn't like the MC that much at first, but after a couple chapters i ended up really liking him.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

It was very nice to be back in the world of the Green Bone Saga. This novella gave a little more insight into the clans, and the politics of it all. Fonda Lee's style of writing was all over these pages and she executed what she meant to.

Drove me a bit insane for a bit. Seeing the main characters again and being in the world again was a welcome experience. I liked how this gave a somewhat different perspective on the clans. It was good! Gave me the buzz, even if short.

incredible, as expected. what can i say? i love the world Fonda Lee has created; everything is set in this world so excellently.

i didn't like the main character at first and i thought him rude and dumb, but i warmed up to him after a few chapters! trust Fonda Lee to make these characters feel like real people. i enjoyed seeing the main characters from the series again, i ate up every description and detail about them; i miss them so much. perhaps i am biased, but the short story gave what it was supposed to give! i'd read anything Fonda Lee writes that is set in this world.