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takarakei'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
This is quite possibly the best series end book I've read. Fonda is a true master of political intrigue and character development. I was sobbing. I am in awe. It's worth every one of the 700 pages.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Blood, Kidnapping, Racism, Suicide, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Genocide, and Pedophilia
mikarala'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
4.5
What I can say is this series has been the first fantasy series I've fallen in love with since I was in middle school. I think the world-building is truly second to none, and the concept and delivery of these books feels refreshingly different to me. The phrase "brought to life" is somewhat overused as a descriptor for writing, in my opinion, but I truly felt it with this series. I found the world and characters incredibly believable. The way Lee writes her characters, the strengths and weaknesses each possess feel like two sides of the same coin in a way that feels very natural, and I believe contributes to their overall credibility and realism. The fact that, despite the evolution and growth of every character throughout the roughly 25-30 year span during which this series is set, these characters retain their believability, is a testament to Lee's ability to create lifelike characters.
I will say the extended time period for the trilogy was something that frustrated me at times. There is an incredible amount of political and corporate intrigue within this series, but so much of it is more...hinted at, rather than fully-explored. I think this trilogy easily could have been a longer series if Lee chose to delve into those aspects more fully. I respect that she didn't want to slow the pacing and action too much, but so many impactful plot details being sidenotes throughout the series made it somewhat difficult to keep track of things at times, in my opinion. Or maybe I just wasn't paying close enough attention.
Anyways, despite the occasional frustration, it's a choice that paid off in the end, in my opinion. This extended time period contributes to the epic scale of the story, and allows Lee to give her characters truly fitting and satisfying endings that I don't think would have been so impactful if Lee hadn't shown how the characters and grown and evolved throughout 30 years of their lives.
Also, I just want to say again how much I love the characters. Hilo honestly might be my favourite fictional character ever. I love how dramatic, vindictive, and ruthless he can be, while simultaneously having a huge heart and always putting his family before himself. His growth from a bloodthirsty loose cannon in the first novel to a ruthlessly pragmatic and respectable patriach was such an amazing character journey. I also loved seeing Anden go from insecure teenager to a highly competent and reliable adult. Wen's and Shae's female perspectives within such a male-dominated society added a huge amount of depth to the story, and I enjoyed how Lee portrayed both as having their own strengths and capabilities that contributed to the war effort, while also allowing them to maintain their femininity. And even though his character arc was mostly limited to this final installment, I found Niko's journey to be very eventful and was very fascinated by his portrayal.
I'm so glad I was able to spend time with these characters, and I truly loved this series. Amazing work by Fonda Lee.
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
bookish_afrolatina'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Medical trauma, Murder, Medical content, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Addiction, Confinement, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Drug abuse
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Abortion
cardanrry's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Medical content, Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
theespressoedition'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Blood, Violence, Gore, War, and Torture
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Grief
underthejunipertree'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
Fonda Lee has cemented her series as one of the cornerstones of modern fantasy with her cast of characters who are so richly realized (I FEEL LIKE I KNOW THEM AS PEOPLE), incredible political machinations fitting for a gangster epic, and razor-sharp writing with a grittiness I found gripping. This series will be one I'll be thinking about for a very long time-- and will be keeping on my bookshelf FOR ALL TIME.
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
leanne_miron'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Death, Murder, Violence, Chronic illness, Blood, and Gun violence
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Medical content
Minor: Suicide, Rape, and Homophobia
bookishwondergoth'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
Well, 2022 was the year I finally read the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee, and—having now come out the other side of 'Jade Legacy' with my heart relatively in tact—I'm happy to report it was one of the most thrilling, satisfying, ambitious, epic and unique fantasy stories I've ever read in my entire life. It's not really a trilogy so much as one enormous book split into three parts, and I think that's worth bearing in mind if you find yourself slogging a bit through some of the info-dumps in 'Jade City'. A contemporary-feeling high urban fantasy that encompasses literally ✨decades✨ of time across multiple generations around an entire fictional globe, featuring a myriad of cultures, customs and creeds... Cor blimy, Fonda Lee doesn't like doing things by halves, does she?! From the gang-ridden streets of 'Jade City' all the way up to the geopolitical family melodrama of 'Jade Legacy', the Green Bone Saga had me by the throat even days after finishing. I fear it still does. Reader, I've left my heart in Janloon.
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Child death, Racism, Suicide, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Sexism, Animal death, Torture, and Infidelity
jakepasseri'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: Medical content, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, War, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm and Cultural appropriation
thereisnotry54's review against another edition
- 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, War, and Violence
Moderate: Child death and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use