maddiefisherreads's review against another edition
5.0
This series taught me that some stories are truly their best at the end. This final installment was so potent and emotionally charged. After all the years we've seen unfold with these characters, it's so special and satisfying to see their conclusion.
The world has completely expanded from Jade City. These characters have aged, and the rivalry with the mountain clan has ebbed and flowed over the years. So as a reader, I found myself desperate to understand, what was it all for? What have the characters learned? Do the Kahls deserve their power, and is there still a place in the world for them as society has developed and progressed? Is the clan still relevant? Are the dangers worth it? Was all the sacrifice warranted? Are these violent, murderous, ambitious, ruthless characters honorable?
The evidence of a masterpiece is sowing all these questions and doubts in the reader subtly, and then answering them all in one final scene that had me weeping. I had no words. It was perfect.
The world has completely expanded from Jade City. These characters have aged, and the rivalry with the mountain clan has ebbed and flowed over the years. So as a reader, I found myself desperate to understand, what was it all for? What have the characters learned? Do the Kahls deserve their power, and is there still a place in the world for them as society has developed and progressed? Is the clan still relevant? Are the dangers worth it? Was all the sacrifice warranted? Are these violent, murderous, ambitious, ruthless characters honorable?
The evidence of a masterpiece is sowing all these questions and doubts in the reader subtly, and then answering them all in one final scene that had me weeping. I had no words. It was perfect.
tobirobit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
superlillative's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have always enjoyed Lee’s ability to deliver incredibly compelling characters and this book really highlighted that strength. The situations the characters are placed in are often resolved in ways where sometimes even I as a reader felt a strange sense of national pride in being privy to the complex life of green bones.
As I have mentioned in previous reviews for Jade War, the intersectionality on social norms continues to play a large role in developing the world. With much more international pressures, there is a continuation to defy colonialism while also raising new concerns about classism and privilege on the domestic front. Another aspect I enjoyed was watching how the world progressed technologically in the background, and it never took time away from characters or the plot.
I do wish time jumps had been used in the previous book. The time jumps were a little refreshing, knowing that all these intense moments still happened over years and allowed characters to grow and change, whether for better or for worse. Again, the simplicity of Jade as a source of power, in addition to the developed hierarchy of the clan system, really allow for more nuance in character decisions and actions without losing the adrenaline of fist fights, car chases, and violent schemes. However, there was a lot going on in the book so I do think some of the side characters did not have as much of an opportunity to develop their reasoning but that also would have taken away from the plot too much. Overall I’m satisfied with how things played out.
I was first conflicted at how Bero was handled as I knew he would eventually come in contact with Niko, but the way Niko handled things felt so much like Lan that I felt more okay with the decisions made.
Another character I was surprised about was Ru. His impulsivity as a child really played him up as Hilo’s son, but the way he grew up to champion stigma and privilege in his own way made me love him more and take much more emotional damage when he died. Well played, Lee, well played.
<\spoiler>
As I have mentioned in previous reviews for Jade War, the intersectionality on social norms continues to play a large role in developing the world. With much more international pressures, there is a continuation to defy colonialism while also raising new concerns about classism and privilege on the domestic front. Another aspect I enjoyed was watching how the world progressed technologically in the background, and it never took time away from characters or the plot.
I do wish time jumps had been used in the previous book. The time jumps were a little refreshing, knowing that all these intense moments still happened over years and allowed characters to grow and change, whether for better or for worse. Again, the simplicity of Jade as a source of power, in addition to the developed hierarchy of the clan system, really allow for more nuance in character decisions and actions without losing the adrenaline of fist fights, car chases, and violent schemes. However, there was a lot going on in the book so I do think some of the side characters did not have as much of an opportunity to develop their reasoning but that also would have taken away from the plot too much. Overall I’m satisfied with how things played out.
Spoiler
I was first conflicted at how Bero was handled as I knew he would eventually come in contact with Niko, but the way Niko handled things felt so much like Lan that I felt more okay with the decisions made.
Another character I was surprised about was Ru. His impulsivity as a child really played him up as Hilo’s son, but the way he grew up to champion stigma and privilege in his own way made me love him more and take much more emotional damage when he died. Well played, Lee, well played.
<\spoiler>
baccou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readmorewithjess's review against another edition
5.0
The Green Bone Saga is a fantasy series unlike any other. While Jade City may have had a slow start, after reading Jade War, and certainly after finishing Jade Legacy, this series has been solidified as one of my favorite series I have read to date. The strength of Fonda Lee’s writing lies in her world-building, her plot development, and her character development.
Starting with character development—each character, no matter how small their role, feels vivid and real. Over the course of the three books, Lee writes from the perspective of more than a dozen different characters, and she doesn’t fail to give them each a distinct personality and voice. The Green Bone Saga is largely about family, and we watch as our main characters struggle with what it means to be a Kaul and a Green Bone of No Peak. Hilo has without a doubt become one of my favorite characters of all time. We see how he has grown throughout the series, overcoming challenges facing the family and internal conflicts with his clashing ideals.
The world-building in The Green Bone Saga is gritty and paints a realistic picture of a world similar to our own. The second and third books in this series are complex looks at what it means to be a small nation with a highly valuable resource. The Republic of Espenia will do anything to get its hands on jade, including lying, manipulating, and outright inciting violence that will allow them to swoop in and claim interference. ROE is beginning to rely on jade to create their own superpowered army while vocally villainizing Kekonese culture and practices relating to jade. At the same time, we get to see what it’s like to be a normal jadeless person in a magical society. This is an aspect of fantasy writing that we don’t often get to see.
What really solidifies Fonda Lee as an author with incredible talent in my mind is the way in which the plot unfolds in Jade Legacy. In this final installment of the series, the timeline spans twenty years. In many books, a time-jump can make everything feel disjointed and ruins the natural flow of the story. However, in Jade Legacy, the numerous time-jumps only help to unfold the plot into a massive, sweeping tale of epic proportions. The war between the Green Bone clans as well as the rising tensions with foreign nations cannot be solved in the typical short time span of many novels, but by allowing the story to take place over many years, there is a natural progression to how the conflicts become resolved. It also allows for more opportunities to develop the characters in a way that is believable. Hilo, along with many of the characters, are stubborn and deeply grounded in their beliefs, so it only makes sense that changes to their ideals and resolves would be a long, arduous process. (Not to mention the many opportunities that this time allows to create unending agony for fellow readers as we are forced to watch the suffering of our favorite characters.)
The Green Bone Saga is a series that will live in my mind for a long time. There is probably a lot that I’ve forgotten to mention here that make these books great, so all I will say is this: do yourself a favor and read what will undoubtedly be known as one of the best fantasy series of our time. You won’t regret it.
Starting with character development—each character, no matter how small their role, feels vivid and real. Over the course of the three books, Lee writes from the perspective of more than a dozen different characters, and she doesn’t fail to give them each a distinct personality and voice. The Green Bone Saga is largely about family, and we watch as our main characters struggle with what it means to be a Kaul and a Green Bone of No Peak. Hilo has without a doubt become one of my favorite characters of all time. We see how he has grown throughout the series, overcoming challenges facing the family and internal conflicts with his clashing ideals.
The world-building in The Green Bone Saga is gritty and paints a realistic picture of a world similar to our own. The second and third books in this series are complex looks at what it means to be a small nation with a highly valuable resource. The Republic of Espenia will do anything to get its hands on jade, including lying, manipulating, and outright inciting violence that will allow them to swoop in and claim interference. ROE is beginning to rely on jade to create their own superpowered army while vocally villainizing Kekonese culture and practices relating to jade. At the same time, we get to see what it’s like to be a normal jadeless person in a magical society. This is an aspect of fantasy writing that we don’t often get to see.
What really solidifies Fonda Lee as an author with incredible talent in my mind is the way in which the plot unfolds in Jade Legacy. In this final installment of the series, the timeline spans twenty years. In many books, a time-jump can make everything feel disjointed and ruins the natural flow of the story. However, in Jade Legacy, the numerous time-jumps only help to unfold the plot into a massive, sweeping tale of epic proportions. The war between the Green Bone clans as well as the rising tensions with foreign nations cannot be solved in the typical short time span of many novels, but by allowing the story to take place over many years, there is a natural progression to how the conflicts become resolved. It also allows for more opportunities to develop the characters in a way that is believable. Hilo, along with many of the characters, are stubborn and deeply grounded in their beliefs, so it only makes sense that changes to their ideals and resolves would be a long, arduous process. (Not to mention the many opportunities that this time allows to create unending agony for fellow readers as we are forced to watch the suffering of our favorite characters.)
The Green Bone Saga is a series that will live in my mind for a long time. There is probably a lot that I’ve forgotten to mention here that make these books great, so all I will say is this: do yourself a favor and read what will undoubtedly be known as one of the best fantasy series of our time. You won’t regret it.
levi_mayo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trhodes2319's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jham19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
praptipaul's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0