Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee

Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee
The Green Bone Saga #3
Published by Orbit on November 30, 2021
Age Group & Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher

Jade, the mysterious and magical substance once exclusive to the Green Bone warriors of Kekon, is now known and coveted throughout the world. Everyone wants access to the supernatural abilities it provides, from traditional forces such as governments, mercenaries, and criminal kingpins, to modern players, including doctors, athletes, and movie studios. 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.

The Kauls have been battered by war and tragedy. They 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 that could destroy the Green Bone way of life altogether. As a new generation arises, the clan’s growing empire is in danger of coming apart.

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.

A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.

I’ve put off reviewing Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee for so long because I’m still trying to wrap my head around the sheer masterpiece of this book, but I think at the rate I’m going, I’ll never actually write the review itself.

Jade Legacy is the final book in Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga, and it is one hell of a book, beginning approximately one year after Jade War and covering the course of nearly twenty years. That’s a lot of ground to cover, and I’m usually wary of books that span so many years because there’s so much that could go completely wrong, like going way too fast in pacing and missing chunks of information. It was completely worth it, even though time does move extremely fast (after all, it’s two decades) and there are some parts that I wish there were more of, but I think that really comes to how much I’ve grown to love this series and don’t really want it to end.

It was an absolute joy to see everything come together throughout the course of the series and get to see the characters grow over the years. With the time Lee covers throughout the Green Bone Saga, we really get to see the different generations of Kekon and the legacy they each leave behind for the next generation of jade warriors. Much of the series focus is on the second generation with Hilo, Shae, Ayt Mada, etc. where we see the impact their parents left behind.

The beauty of covering so much time gives us not only a glimpse into the impact of their leadership in the upcoming generation, but also in their growth as characters over the years. I got to see all the little moments and big moments, the wins and losses, the emotional punches in each scene of the books and in each of the characters’ interactions with each other and the consequences of each of their decisions. As much as I found Bero a pain in the ass and Ayt Mada an annoying thorn, I still enjoyed seeing their growth just as much as I did with Shae, Hilo, Wen, Anden, and everyone else.

Honestly, I’m not sure the same powerful impact of Lee’s writing could’ve been depicted as well as it did if the books covered a shorter time. The exploration of family and found family, the power play between clans and the impact it has on others, the evolution of leadership as jade becomes more accessible – there’s just so much to unpack that I don’t even think this review does it the proper justice. (I mean, I’ve already sat on this review for like a month anyway.) The world-building, the character development, and the plot were perfect, and the Green Bone Saga will surely leave a legacy in Fantasy years from now.