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A review by grundjim
Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wow this book is leagues ahead of the first two. I feel like the first half of this book had more character development than the prior two combined. I really enjoyed how this book spanned nearly two decades and the pacing was much better. I especially liked the side characters (Lote, Rue, Nico)
My main critique is the character of Ayt Mada. First, the climax of the book seemed sort of rushed as the problem is introduced and resolved within ~100 pages (understanding that the solution was based on a lot of buildup). Second, The book consistently portrays her as acting in the best interests of the country as a whole which makes sense until the final scene. If she was successful in the assassination it is doubtful she would reclaim her spot as pillar due to her unpopularity and the country as a whole would suffer as there would certainly be direct war between the clans. She even acknowledges this to Shae but a paragraph earlier says she always acted in the interest of the country (??). I don't have a problem with flawed/unreliable narrators, but this just seems too inconsistent for a character that is supposedly one of the most cunning in the series.
My main critique is the character of Ayt Mada. First, the climax of the book seemed sort of rushed as the problem is introduced and resolved within ~100 pages (understanding that the solution was based on a lot of buildup). Second, The book consistently portrays her as acting in the best interests of the country as a whole which makes sense until the final scene. If she was successful in the assassination it is doubtful she would reclaim her spot as pillar due to her unpopularity and the country as a whole would suffer as there would certainly be direct war between the clans. She even acknowledges this to Shae but a paragraph earlier says she always acted in the interest of the country (??). I don't have a problem with flawed/unreliable narrators, but this just seems too inconsistent for a character that is supposedly one of the most cunning in the series.