Rating: 5/5
*Spoiler warning toward the end of this review
To briefly describe this novel, this is the story of No Peak’s legacy. A modern gangster-fantasy epic set in an Asian-inspired world. The heart of the saga is a clan fighting for survival. However, this book focuses on how the next generation is affected by the actions of their predecessors and ultimately how they intend to live going forward.
This book feels as if it’s a snowball rolling down a hill. It begins slowly but with every passing moment, it gains momentum and purpose. Lee uses small events to ultimately lead the audience to its climax.
Jade Legacy is jam-packed with themes throughout. Themes of loss, tragedy, persistence, love, inspiration, and sacrifice are prudent in this novel. Inspiration and sacrifice in particular are prevalent.
Inspiring is an accurate description of this novel. Not only is Jade Legacy inspiring because of the scope of time in which it takes place but also because of the sacrifices the original generation make for their successors. They sacrifice, time, money, resources, and the lives of others including loved ones for their children to live in a better world. The lengths that each character is willing to go to succeed for their clan and its Pillar are shocking. However, Fonda Lee is so great at fleshing out the purpose of the actions of each character that you understand why they make certain decisions. I know this might be an obvious observation but Lee’s writing style truly defines the success of this conclusion and the entire saga. This trilogy and specifically Jade Legacy work because of her ability to connect the audience with each character.
Ultimately, for Jade Legacy to finish spectacularly the way it did Fonda Lee was forced to make a choice. She decided to tell this final part of the story over decades. It was the perfect way to conclude this trilogy. This is easily one of the most satisfying conclusions to a trilogy ever written.
I have two recommendations for this book. For those who are yet to start the Green Bone saga please do so soon, you won’t regret it. For those who are in the process of reading Jade City or Jade War continue the journey through to Jade Legacy. This is an ending you don’t want to miss.
*BIG spoilers from here on:
I apologize for the spoilers. I just have so many feelings toward this book that I needed to talk about it. In particular, I harbor feelings toward Ru’s death. I truly didn’t see it coming.
“Bero had seen many terrible things in his life, but what happened next would never leave his memory.”
Losing Ru at least for me hit the hardest without question. It wasn’t even that I felt regret for Ru deciding to stand up for himself. I felt devastated for Hilo, the amount of loss he’s had to suffer throughout his life is unfathomable. He had already had to bury so many brothers and now he’d have to bury a son.
“I wish he hadn’t dueled. If only he’d been a coward, just once.”
I think as an audience member this is the point where you break down and start crying. Heartbreaking is an understatement to describe this moment. Lee makes you feel the pain and suffering of the Kaul family from this loss particularly.
Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end. However, I do wish there was more to this story.
An unquestioningly phenomenal series overall.
P.S. To the people who claim this trilogy is overhyped or overrated I couldn’t disagree with you more.
Here is the link to the link to purchase the paperback:
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