Jade City

Fonda Lee

62 pages 2-hour read

Fonda Lee

Jade City

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Lan is the young Pillar of the No Peak Clan and the eldest sibling in the Kaul family. Burdened by the responsibility of protecting his clan's businesses amidst rising tension, he struggles with severe insomnia and anxiety about living up to his grandfather's historical legacy. He acts as a diplomat, constantly working to balance the competing advice of his top lieutenants while projecting unshakeable strength to the criminal underworld and legitimate politicians.

Key Relationships

Brother of Hilo

Brother of Shae

Grandson of Kaul Sen

Adoptive Cousin of Anden

Advised by Doru

Rival of Ayt Mada

Political Ally of Chancellor Son

Hilo is the Horn of the No Peak Clan, actively commanding the organization's street enforcers and soldiers. He acts as a blunt, aggressive foil to his more diplomatic older brother Lan. He adheres strictly to the old traditions of the Green Bone honor code but possesses an intensely reactive temper.

Key Relationships

Brother of Lan

Brother of Shae

Grandson of Kaul Sen

Adoptive Cousin of Anden

Romantic Partner of Wen

Commander of Maik Tar

Protector of Mr. Une

Shae is the lone sister in the Kaul family. She recently returned from studying abroad in Espenia, where she attempted to forge a normal life away from the criminal violence of Kekon. She refuses to wear jade or participate in clan business, a personal decision that generates significant friction with her traditionalist relatives.

Key Relationships

Sister of Lan

Sister of Hilo

Granddaughter of Kaul Sen

Adoptive Cousin of Anden

Neighbor of Caun

Anden is a dedicated student at the Kaul Dushuron Academy and the adopted cousin of the Kaul siblings. Haunted by his mother's deadly susceptibility to the Itches, he worries constantly about his own psychological ability to handle the magical properties of jade. Despite his half-Kekonese heritage and intense personal fears, he possesses exceptional physical talent.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Cousin of Lan

Adoptive Cousin of Hilo

Adoptive Cousin of Shae

Classmate of Lott

Captive of Gont Asch

Ayt Mada is the Pillar of the Mountain Clan. She is an ambitious and highly strategic executive who consolidated power swiftly after the death of her adopted father. Unconstrained by the rigid traditions that bind the Kaul family, she continually tests No Peak's boundaries and searches for modern avenues to expand her clan's wealth internationally.

Key Relationships

Commander of Gont Asch

Rival of Lan

Recruiter of Anden

Kaul Sen is the aging patriarch of the Kaul family and the former Pillar of No Peak. Known historically as the Torch of Kekon, he led a successful rebellion against colonial powers decades ago. His declining jade tolerance and fading physical memory make him difficult to manage, and he frequently criticizes his grandchildren for failing to uphold his strict standards.

Key Relationships

Grandfather of Lan

Grandfather of Hilo

Grandfather of Shae

Former Commander of Doru

Supporting Characters

Doru is the Weather Man of the No Peak Clan, responsible for overseeing the organization's business investments and strategic planning. He previously served under Kaul Sen, a historical connection he leverages to maintain influence. He routinely advocates for pragmatic cooperation with the rival Mountain Clan, offering advice that frequently frustrates the younger leadership.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Lan

Former Subordinate of Kaul Sen

Former Teacher of Shae

Bero is a young, deeply ambitious thief who works in the service industry while seeking a shortcut to power. He desperately wants the social status and physical abilities associated with wearing jade. Because he lacks the wealth and family connections necessary for proper academy training, he turns to the criminal underworld to fulfill his desires.

Key Relationships

Accomplice of Sampa

Employee of Mudt

Wen is a stone-eye, meaning she possesses a genetic trait that renders her completely immune to the physical and magical effects of jade. She comes from a disgraced family background but maintains a steady, grounding presence in Hilo's chaotic life. She is highly perceptive regarding clan politics and wishes to be actively useful to No Peak despite her lack of magical abilities.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Hilo

Sister of Maik Tar

Sister of Maik Kehn

Friend of Shae

Maik Tar is a dedicated No Peak warrior and one of Hilo's most trusted Fists. He comes from a lower-ranking family with a difficult social reputation, but he continually proves his loyalty and combat prowess on the streets of Janloon.

Key Relationships

Subordinate of Hilo

Brother of Wen

Brother of Maik Kehn

Maik Kehn is a No Peak enforcer who works closely alongside his brother Tar and their commander Hilo. He handles frontline clan disputes and enforces protection protocols in contested districts.

Key Relationships

Brother of Maik Tar

Brother of Wen

Subordinate of Hilo

Gont Asch serves as the Horn of the rival Mountain Clan. As a seasoned military commander, he oversees the Mountain's Fists and Fingers, executing Ayt Mada's will with ruthless efficiency. He strictly enforces clan boundaries and actively searches for weaknesses in No Peak's defenses.

Key Relationships

Subordinate of Ayt Mada

Captor of Anden

Sampa is an ethnically Abukei youth who works as a courier and petty thief in Janloon. Because his indigenous heritage makes him immune to the effects of jade, he can handle the magical stones without giving off an identifying aura, making him useful for smuggling operations.

Key Relationships

Accomplice of Bero

Mudt is a black market dealer specializing in stolen jade and the illegal, highly addictive drug SN1. He operates entirely outside the official clan structures, catering to independent criminals and supplying contraband to those willing to pay.

Key Relationships

Employer of Bero

Chancellor Son is the highest-ranking politician in the Kekon government. Although the government ostensibly remains neutral and separate from the violent clans, Son actively relies on No Peak for protection and operates as one of their high-profile Lantern Men.

Key Relationships

Political Ally of Lan

Lott is a student at the Kaul Dushuron Academy. He frequently voices open criticism regarding No Peak's leadership decisions and political missteps, creating awkward social friction with the Kaul family members attending the school.

Key Relationships

Classmate of Anden

Mr. Une is the proprietor of the Twice Lucky restaurant, a popular establishment in Janloon. He relies completely on the No Peak Clan to protect his business from rival factions, extortion, and street violence.

Key Relationships

Protected by Hilo

Caun is a college-aged civilian who lives in the same apartment building as Shae. He presents himself as an ordinary, polite neighbor going about his daily routine in Janloon.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Shae