egonz15 's review for:

Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee

4.5

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 This finale made me want to go back and bump my Jade City rating to a 4, because the payoff from Book 1 to Book 3 was incredible. Fonda Lee pulled off an ending that was both gut-wrenching and deeply satisfying. 

 

What kept this from being a 5 for me is the time jumps—this book covers a lot of ground quickly, and while it works for the scope of the story, part of me wishes there had been a Book 4 to really live in those moments. Even so, the progression of the characters was phenomenal. These people have flaws—understandable, human flaws—that make you want redemption for them, even when they mess up. And when we lose some of them… well, let’s just say there was a lot of crying. 

 

Despite the time skips, I couldn’t put this down. The emotional impact hit hard, the political maneuvering and personal stakes stayed sharp, and the ending felt earned. The Greenbone Saga as a whole blends crime drama, family loyalty, and moral complexity in a way I’ll be thinking about for a long time.