A review by thereadingrambler
Speaking Bones by Ken Liu

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• 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

How to describe the conclusion to this series? This is one of the most creative and innovative fantasy series I've read in a very long time. Ken Liu tackles such a huge range of subjects with so much nuance and grace that the reader can quickly move between loving and hating the same character. Giving even an overview of the book is difficult because the plot is so sprawling. This is not to say that Liu does not have masterful control over the plot and the characters, but that his narrative style and approach are so expansive and finely wrought that he can include dozens of intersecting, large and small, narratives to create an intricate, comprehensive, and expansive world and narrative. 

Conclusions are hard, but Liu pulls this one off very well. I will say that I think The Veiled Throne is a more philosophically complex novel.

Although I know the cooking competition is controversial and divisive, I think it is brilliant to show had people can carry on even when there are great evils being perpetuated and also how cultures become blended. These themes are continued in this book in lovely ways.

I was ultimately satisfied with every way the book ended; I was crying over multiple characters and delighted in watching the villains meet their ends.

Cutanrovo's death was particularly satisfying.

I have not read what other fans of the series have thought about the end of the war and the fate of

Xana and the Ukyu

, but I imagine some people are not happy about it. I think for the same reasons that people don't like

the cooking competition from The Veiled Throne

. Both go against what people expect from an epic fantasy series, particularly one with so much warfare. That is Liu's point, though: that the stories we've been telling ourselves and believing are perhaps not ideal. I found myself resisting Jia's plotting and scheming even though her plan did work and most likely saved tens of thousands of lives—but it was cold and cruel, which she acknowledged herself. 

Ultimately, this is an immensely satisfying conclusion to a complex, messy, nuanced, and beautiful book series. The characters are so alive and believable, the narrative voice is always so apt for the scene, and the language is perfectly melded with the content. Not enough people read this (highly acclaimed and awarded) series. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves epic fantasy, particularly if you want to explore, twist, and bend the genre to reach new heights.