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josefinemartensson's review
- 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
This book was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of book that I will never forget.
What Fonda achieved with this trilogy is astonishing and unforgettable. Fonda created a world with people that will stick with me for a long time. Reading and experiencing the Kaul family's lives over the span of 20+ years, seeing their flaws and strengths bring them together, was truly inspiring. This trilogy changed the standard settings for fantasies to come.
The greatest thing about The GreenBone Saga is its characters. Hilo is probably one of the most complex characters ever written. From the way, he's harsh and brutal to kind and loving. He had one of the best character arcs in the series. Anden started out as a side character for me but had my entire heart and soul by the end of the series. Amazing to see him finding not only who he was as a person but also stepping up and taking his role in the clan. Shae, my girl. Throughout all the darkness and evil she still remained kind and mercifully which, in this world was impressive. All the characters shined in this finale. It was a different kind of emotion seeing the new generation of greenbones grow up and take on roles in the clans. The dynamic between the parents and kids really shined.
The world-building is the second most incredible thing about this trilogy. I was truly impressed and touched by the way Kekon fought for their island. Fought for what was their legacy as they faced threats from outside forces but also from within the island itself. The jade itself was the star of the show. Fonda Lee did not just show us how people with access to jade treated and handled the privileged that comes with being jade warriors, but also the jade-less people and how they were affected by the clan wars and the jade.
The Greenbone Saga is for those who love to read about complex characters that make equally bad and good choices in life. That loves family dynamics and relations. That loves politics with scheming and plotting. That loves action and fighting scenes.
The Greenbone Saga is for those who wish to find a series with characters that will make you love them, care for them and defend them for better-or-worse
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
just_one_more_paige's review
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jakepasseri's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm and Cultural appropriation
thereisnotry54's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
like its predecessors, jade legacy drips w/ swagger and filled w/ violence, strategem and emotional impact, feeling both intimate and epic w/ the focus on the kauls against the backdrop of greater outside forces. as always, lee pulls no-holds-barred in this book, cunningly plotting the story while also handling and balancing more story threads, characters, and settings than ever, where things can change dramatically w/ just a sentence (a masterful example of show-not-tell, rly). it's big in scope and ever more complex as many existing characters grow and new ones develop.
it's always an extreme experience being w/ the kauls; there are great triumphs but also terrible, heartbreaking losses (**** U WERE SO CLOSEEEE BARELY 30 PGS LEFT DAMMIT). we see them here w/ changing relationship dynamics, truth-searching, and growing into their own identities. reading this book, i feel aged right along them, filled w/ nostalgia, regret, and cautious optimism still.
the previously mentioned balancing act, however, is also my one main issue w/ the novel: the frequent timeskips can be confusing and sometimes seem unnecessary, and the existence of so many characters and story threads means many of them arent fully explored, w/ a few seemingly abandoned or forgotten halfway through. certain events/actions, for example, couldve happened in the same month or yr as the previous chapter, but somehow it just has to be like 2 or 4 yrs later, which i dont understand why.
the time gaps, while it might be necessary, also mean that there are - obviously - gaps in the story, but readers arent filled in on what happen during the interim yrs, and there def isnt enough time and space for lee to explain either even if she wanted to since it occurs so often; so now we're left w/ 2 chapters that happen like 5 yrs apart but it seems like not much has changed at all. moreover, some characters - like cam for example - initially expected to be more prominent over time are relegated to the background and their relations to the kauls arent mentioned much at all.
even so, it's undeniable that this is a tightly plotted gangster family saga brimming w/ tension, high stakes, violence, cunning, and emotional impact. it's been a rollercoaster of a (figuratively 25-yr) trip w/ the kauls, and the green bone saga is def one of the best series ive ever read.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, and Suicide
laguerrelewis's review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia
maira_h's review against another edition
- 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
I can't remember the last I cried so hard– with snot and tissues and everything– while reading a book. I can't remember the last time I stayed up late to finish reading. Not gonna lie, this book and its characters will stay with me for a long, long time.
The plot and its execution was close to perfection. Every action had its consequences. Everything was deliberate. Not to mention, the world building was honestly incredible. To be able to create a universe that is similar to our urban world with its different countries and politics is impressive, honestly. The author's intelligence in business and politics shone bright throughout the book, in my opinion. And I want to watch her action scenes on a television screen someday. I don't know if an adaptation can do this series justice, though.
One thing I would have wanted is probably a much longer epilogue of some sort. I wanted more time with the characters, especially Niko and Jaya. To be honest, since the first page, it already felt like the beginning of the end. So, me asking to add more to this 700++ pages book is honestly pushing it. 😂
I honestly would love to discuss this book with someone. To just talk about the characters and their individual developments, mostly. Because the characters made this series. If we didn't have them, if we had an unmemorable cast of characters with just the plot and the politics, it would be extremely dull.
Probably the best ending to a series I've read in a long, long time.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, and War
Minor: Addiction and Medical content
doodeedoda's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Dementia
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
an_idiot's review
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Rape