Wow. Just wow. I am a big mood reader, and I’ve found that I have a tendency to savor my favorite series by putting off finishing them. Don’t ask me why, I know it doesn’t make much sense. But when I finished Fonda Lee’s magnum opus of a generational fantasy crime drama, I had to sit for a moment and process. Days later, I genuinely miss these characters and this world. It wasn’t a world I would want to live in (I’d rather live to a ripe old age here in reality), yet it still felt like home.
Let’s talk about it.
Oh, standard spoiler disclaimer – this is the final book in a trilogy. If you haven’t read them yet, hop over to these reviews of Jade City and Jade War first. If you don’t mind mild spoilers, carry on.
The Basics
Title: Jade Legacy (Green Bone Saga #3)
Author: Fonda Lee
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Literature, Family Saga
Published: Orbit, 2021
(Mostly) Spoiler-Free Summary
The hot war between the No Peak and the Mountain green bone clans has settled into a simmering rivalry. Hilo and Ayt Mada still plan to destroy one another, but they realize they cannot do so in one sweeping attack; the clans are too evenly matched. So, in Jade Legacy, we follow decades of drama as the rivals scheme and fight and maneuver to position themselves to deal the fatal blow when the other shows any sign of weakness. Hilo and Shae know that any miscalculation will spell their family’s doom.
If Jade City focuses on the young No Peak leaders’ reaction to unprecedented challenges and Jade War is the story of bioenergetic jade spreading around the world and the clans’ ill-fated fight to stop this globalization, Jade Legacy tells of the story of the clans’ evolution in an increasingly interconnected global world. They cannot be content to remain in Kekon, they must firmly stamp their influence around the world if they are to survive.
Meanwhile, at home in Janloon, a generation of clan war gives rise to an unexpected third player: The ‘terrorist’ Clanless Future Movement. These mostly jadeless activists struggle to throw off the shackles of a world dominated by jade-driven violence. And you know wherever people fight against the clan structure, our flawed but seemingly fate-touched antihero Bero is right in the mix.
The emotional heart of Legacy is the story of an aging Shae and Hilo as they gradually pass the clan to their children. The new generation includes a war orphan raised by his uncle, a ‘disabled’ heir who cannot use jade but is possibly the most passionate about the clan’s role in society, a young woman determined to become the first female war leader in clan history, and a gentle soul too soft for the bloody world of jade warriors. You had better believe these personalities clash with their parents who have given their whole lives to the No-Peak clan.
Lee pulls no punches as every character is buffeted by relentless winds of change and misfortune. I laughed, I cried, I covered my mouth and said “Oh no….” Jade Legacy is a strong finish to an excellent series, worthy of the high standard set by Jade City.
Why This Book Is For You
Jade Legacy is, for my money, the most perfect collection of full-circle moments I have ever read. Character development and dramatic irony drip from every page as promises are fulfilled and broken and the sins of generations past are visited on the next. There are no perfect characters in Janloon, only flawed people making the best decisions they can under impossible conditions. There is far less raw violence in this book compared to the first two, but nevertheless the excellently crafted character arcs kept the pages turning throughout this epic 700-page monster.
I have strong nostalgia for the books I loved in my youth. Narnia. Tolkien. Redwall. Ted Dekker thrillers. A handful of non-fiction books have impacted me deeply. However, I can now officially say that The Green Bone Saga is my favorite nonfiction series, hands-down. Do yourself a favor and give it a chance.
Where Can You Find More?
As always, I would encourage you to check out the author’s backlist straight from the source. The Green Bone Saga is popular enough to have drawn a fan wiki, so that’s fun. You know how to buy books.
Happy reading, folks.
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