Just kidding. It’s officially called Untethered Sky, but I love that she called it Murderbird in a tweet during her launch week. We were already big fans of Fonda Lee here at our Sixth Moon Press because Jade City was a comp for Ebony Gate. It was with much delight that I saw she was releasing a fantasy novella and that was a one-click pre-order for me! She has such a gift for world building and she packed so much of it into this perfect novella.
From World Fantasy Award-winning author Fonda Lee comes Untethered Sky, an epic fantasy fable about the pursuit of obsession at all costs.
A Most Anticipated in 2023 Pick for Polygon | Book Riot | Paste Magazine
Ester’s family was torn apart when a manticore killed her mother and baby brother, leaving her with nothing but her father’s painful silence and a single, overwhelming need to kill the monsters that took her family.
Ester’s path leads her to the King’s Royal Mews, where the giant rocs of legend are flown to hunt manticores by their brave and dedicated ruhkers. Paired with a fledgling roc named Zahra, Ester finds purpose and acclaim by devoting herself to a calling that demands absolute sacrifice and a creature that will never return her love. The terrifying partnership between woman and roc leads Ester not only on the empire’s most dangerous manticore hunt, but on a journey of perseverance and acceptance.
Highly recommend this, especially if you just have an afternoon to yourself and want to immerse yourself into an intense and nuanced revenge arc.
But wait, if you haven’t read Jade City yet, you are in for a treat because it’s a complete trilogy (with a novella on the way) and with intense family drama and a rich magic system:
In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.
*Named one of TIME‘s Top 100 Fantasy Books Of All Time
* World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, winner
Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for — and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.
Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon’s bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.
When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone — even foreigners — wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones — and of Kekon itself.
Praise for Jade City:
“An epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you’ll forget you’re reading a book.” –Ken Liu, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author
“A beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!” –Ann Leckie, Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author
“An instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats.” —NPR