Cover Image: Jade Legacy

Jade Legacy

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience. Note: I ended up purchasing a final copy to read in the future.

Was this review helpful?

it took me way too long to pick up this finale but my god. they weren't kidding. this is such a stunning ending to this saga.

i never anticipated loving this story as much as i did (probably because i've never seen the godfather and mob stories aren't usually my vibe) but now at the end of this series i know it'll stick with me for a long time. there's a little something for everyone - magic, violence, family, romance, sex, politics - it's such a wide, sweeping tale and i am in awe of how many years this book in particular spans. it was such a gift to see my favorite characters age. i think a lot of fantasy nowadays happens over such a short span of time that it's more challenging to notice real character arcs and evolutions, but with a book series that spans 20-30 years you can really see characters change. and with such a large cast there's no shortage of evolutions and call-backs.

my favorite part of this series will always be the characters. i think fonda lee did an incredible job crafting such a unique and beautiful family and even if all of them make questionable choices, i think each of them holds a little piece of my heart. it was really magical getting to see our OGs (shae, hilo and anden) grow up, but i really really enjoyed getting to see the younger generation come of age. niko and ru and jaia all felt so fleshed out and i loved seeing them follow in the footsteps of their family.

kinda obsessed with how niko just outright didn't give a fuck about barrow (barro?) when he confessed to lan's murder because i was waiting for that moment for (metaphorically) yEARS and it almost felt more powerful for niko to brush him aside. i felt that way about a lot of the final moments - especially how ayt mada's character arc came to a close. i think a lot of those characters got the ending they deserved and fonda lee did such an incredible job subverting the typical tropes. i loved anden and ayt mada's last moments together because of that especially.

also can we have a round of applause just for the twists alone? i swear every few chapters i was screaming because some unexpected drama played out and i kept freaking out at work because it was so crazy! like murders and long lost family members and secret meetings and so much more! it really kept me on my toes and i absolutely loved how unexpected it all was.

for me though, this book will always be about ru and hilo. when ru died it punched me in the gut because dAMN. and to watch hilo (and everyone else) go through that, but especially when hilo kept putting his time and money into things that ru would have done...i can't think about it too hard or i'll start crying again...but it was just so delicate and beautiful and it shows the whole theme of this series and this world which is - sometimes the world isn't fair but at least we have our family. wHEW.

needless to say, i fucking lost it when hilo got shot. i had a hard enough time early on in the book with the bombing but when we got to the end...i can't say i'm surprised because it's a wonder he survived as long as he did but my god it broke me. i can't explain why i love that man so much but he was heart of that series and that family and to see how the clan and his family reacted to his passing...fuck man. i cried. it just makes you appreciate the people you have and grief stories get me so much now. it's like once you lose one person, you feel it for ever loss after that. doesn't matter the situation, grief is grief and it amplifies your own personal grief. and it's beautiful. it sucks, but god it's beautiful. even just reading about jaia missing her goodbye by 2 hours...a similar situation happened in my family when my grandma passed and having to relive the feeling of telling someone that they missed Death by such a small margin...it hurts. it's brutal. but that's how it goes.

anyway, all that to say...fuck man. i feel like i lived three lifetimes and i don't know how i'm supposed to go on with my life knowing the kauls are living their happily ever after somewhere. i'm so sad but i'm also at peace. this was an excellent finale and i'm so satisfied.

Was this review helpful?

This was the perfect conclusion to the green bone saga! Fonda Lee can do no wrong. Don’t know how I’ll ever recover from this series and characters but in the mean time I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her future works!

Was this review helpful?

This installment and its perfect execution and conclusion have solidified the Green Bone Saga as my favorite series of all time.

Was this review helpful?

Rating : 5 out of 5
Blurbs :
Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides. As the struggle over the control of jade grows ever larger and more deadly, the Kaul family, and the ancient ways of the Kekonese Green Bones, will never be the same.

Battered by war and tragedy, the Kauls are plagued by resentments and old wounds as their adversaries are on the ascent and their country is riven by dangerous factions and foreign interference. The clan must discern allies from enemies, set aside bloody rivalries, and make terrible sacrifices . . . but even the unbreakable bonds of blood and loyalty may not be enough to ensure the survival of the Green Bone clans and the nation they are sworn to protect.

Thoughts :
A new favorite! No words needed! It's such a wonderful time reading this trilogy! Thanks Netgalley for the early copy!

Was this review helpful?

Fonda Lee is a master of her craft. A book that includes such a sprawling cast of characters and spans over twenty years should not be so enthralling, and yet, this absolutely was. The overarching plots of war and clan politics were so well done, as the Kaul family struggles to maintain control over their position. Amidst that, there were so many memorable character moments (positive at times and absolutely horrific at others) that made me feel everything from rage to adoration, and even the members of the new generation are extremely memorable. Ultimately this was such a satisfying conclusion to an already impressive series!

Was this review helpful?

No one writes Urban Fantasy like Fonda Lee does and Jade Legacy is just further proof of that. Spanning three books, several generations and years in between, Lee concludes the incredible The Green Bone saga with Jade Legacy. By this point, every reader who has read the first two books are already invested and attached to each character, their agendas, and what will become of them by the end of the series... and wow, does Lee pack an intense (yet hopeful) ending for them all. No one (whether it be the reader or the characters on the pages) is safe, tears will be shed, boxes of tissues will be used, and only the ringing of a long applause will be heard for Fonda Lee's ingenuity when this book is finished. So incredible honored and happy to have been along for the ride the past several years, what an exciting one it was. I cannot wait to see what else Fonda Lee has in store for us in the future.

Was this review helpful?

This was honestly the best book I've ever read. It was such an amazing finish to a magnificent trilogy! Fonda Lee has done it again!

Was this review helpful?

```
Wow, this book was packed with so much action and excitement! Lee really did a great job of bringing together all the different elements from the series into one book. It was amazing to see how she brought back even the smallest details that we thought were long forgotten. The character development was on point too - we got to learn so much more about the characters we already knew and love, and we got to meet some new ones too!

I have to say, after reading this book, Hilo has become one of my all-time favorite characters. He can be a little frustrating at times, but his honesty and determination really won me over. He's not afraid to make mistakes and learn from them, and he always tries to do what's right (even if it's not what everyone else thinks is right).

While the majority of this book is full of non-stop action and intrigue (there's still some political stuff for those who love that), there was a brief moment towards the end where things slowed down a bit. It felt a little out of place, but don't worry - the series definitely ends with a bang! Overall, this was an excellent conclusion to the series and I'm so glad I stuck with it. This book really made it all worth it!

```

Was this review helpful?

I'm so glad my love for this series only grew as the books progressed. Jade City was good, but lacked any personal connection or emotion for me. But as I moved through War and Legacy, my attachment grew and grew. Lee's writing style is SUPERB. Absolutely phenomenal. She whisks you away, steals you right from your home, and pulls you into her story. Her world building and plot line are so expertly planned out. The characterization and growth throughout the whole series is heart-wrenching. I loved it. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.

Was this review helpful?

Jade Legacy, the enthralling conclusion to Fonda Lee's Green Bone Saga, is a remarkable feat of storytelling, made available as an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. Lee's world-building is vivid and immersive, creating an unforgettable backdrop for the narrative.

The book delves deep into themes of family, loyalty, and power struggles, presenting a rich and thought-provoking plot that keeps the reader engaged. The characters are complex and well-developed, showcasing the author's ability to create a wide range of distinct and relatable personalities.

Although the pacing occasionally falters, this minor issue does not detract from the overall satisfaction of the story. Jade Legacy is a rewarding and fitting conclusion to an extraordinary series, and is highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy.

4.5/5, but for NG, bumping to 5!

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book, it just wasn't for me. Fonda Lee has fantastic writing but I couldn't get into the story as I could in the others.

Was this review helpful?

With this series closer, I know Fonda's Green Bone Saga has made it onto some "best fantasy of all time" lists, but for me, this series is simply one of the best I've ever read, period. I took my time with Jade Legacy, wanting to savor it, and I'm so glad the book was long enough to allow me to do that. :) I am not much of a re-reader, but this world of the No Peak clan is one I'll certainly want to return to again.
Readers who enjoy thoughtful, logical world-building in their fantasy books (along with action and family drama) should especially appreciate Fonda's work.
The audiobook narration for this series, done by Andrew Kishino, is also excellent.
NetGalley provided an e-book arc of Jade Legacy for review purposes (thanks!).

Was this review helpful?

Jade Legacy is the best conclusion I have ever read in my entire life.

I don't think that people who didn't love the first two books will magically fall in love with this series because of this finale but good god the people who have invested time and effort and love into the Kaul family will go through a journey in this novel that will result in unspeakable pain. I cannot wait to see what Lee writes next.

Was this review helpful?

5 stars

Fonda Lee, I demand compensation for all the therapy I need. That was amazing but dear gods did I CRY.

Was this review helpful?

Sadly, this finale didn't work for me. I knew going into Jade Legacy was going to span multiple decades, but I didn't realize how much I would not enjoy that. The entire book felt very far removed from the characters. It is focused on the big picture of Kekon and other countries around it. We lost the day to day with the Paul family and the No Peak clan. I even feel like the issues between the No Peak and Mountain clans didn't seem to happen much and when they did, we moved on too fast. Something important would happen, and then the next chapter we've moved six years forward. We saw, somewhat, the next generation grow up, but again from a distance. We didn't get to know them that well. I felt this series could have been extended to 4 or 5 books. That would have given Fonda time to flesh out the politics and introduce us to the new generation of Kauls. I wish I loved this but I didn't.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the first two books in this series and was sorely disappointed upon finishing the conclusion to the trilogy. I know some people were shocked by the twists but I found them predictable and like they were done for shock value versus adding anything to the story. I still enjoyed finding out what happened to my favorite characters, even if I don't necessarily agree with their endings.

Was this review helpful?

The Kauls continue to try to manage their clan and maintain power as the foremost Green Bone Clan in Kekon. But the world continues to change and as Jade becomes more accessible to those not of the right blood type, maintaining access and power become harder, both at home against the Mountain clan and the government, as well as outside of Kekon in foreign countries.

This is an extremely well executed trilogy finale. As with the second book, there are big time jumps, but as this is the end of the story it makes sense as the youngest generation grows up and the needs of the clan clearly seem to change, and yet stay the same. It was a joy to spend time with some of the beloved early characters who grow into their complicated adulthood. Definitely a satisfying end to epic story. I'm not fond of gangster dramas, which is what this is essentially, but overall enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbitbooks for the advanced ecopy of this books!!

Was this review helpful?

I'm so sad that this series is over. I have enjoyed reading this series and about the Kaul family. Fonda Lee did a wonderful job with this story.

This last book was a little different from the other two in that it spans a lot more time compared to the other two books, but it was still well-written and I enjoyed the story. There were a few heartbreaks while reading, but it only enhanced the story.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fantastic finishing novel. There were several points in this novel where I quite literally screamed out loud (looking at you, o' bombing scene). But, I felt satisfied with this conclusion. The way that Fonda Lee was able to cover thirty plus years in this novel was outstanding. She has such a craft and I cannot wait to see what else arises from her brilliant mind.

Was this review helpful?