Spoiler-free
I don't even know where to begin with this one. This book broke me. I'm exhausted! I made the rookie mistake of reading the last 8 or so chapters before bed, which led to me finishing it at 2:30 a.m., bawling my eyes out. I was a mess, and I really didn't expect to be. I guess I should've known, given how increasingly invested I was becoming in the story and, more importantly, the characters. It's been a hot sec since anything has had this level of emotional impact on me.
Looking back at this series as a whole, it's actually insane how many epic standout moments there are. Fonda Lee can write a climax like no one else. It's had me on the edge of my seat on numerous occasions, and I'm just sad that it's now all over.
Given the lengthy timeline of the series, the character growth is just mind-blowing. You really see them in depth throughout all stages of their lives, and I think that's why this final book was so emotionally impactful.
This series will stay with me for a long, long time, and I already can't wait to reread it in the future. I will probably check out the audiobooks.
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 - 5 Stars
On to spoiler chat!
SPOILER CHAT BELOW
Right, so that bombing was fucking nuts! I remember reading it on the train and getting so pissed off by some guy watching a stupid Jimmy Carr stand-up show on his phone whilst I was clenching my butt like no tomorrow! I honestly had no idea what was happening, and it just kept getting crazier. The fact that Shae and Anden were forced to save Ayt Mada, only then to find out that Hilo was, in fact, alive, so there was this awkward standoff by the front door.... WILD! This scene perfectly encapsulates how the narrative and strategy of both clans are constantly changing at a moment's notice
I have so much respect for Ayt Mada. Yeah, she's kinda horrible and does horrendous things, but everyone does in this book. Heck, Hilo murdered Niko's mother. Ayt Mada's entire arc in the series is just really impressive. I wasn't expecting her to survive this long. The same goes to say for Hilo. Fair play to both of them. GG WP.
Wen broke my heart. Seeing her so helpless in her new physical state was so soul-crushing. But then, when she announced that she would become the Pillarman, I could've screamed! Finally getting the appreciation she deserves! She was such a complex character from start to finish. Her relationship with Hilo was so complicated and felt so raw and real because of it.
Anden is probably the character that I related to the most. The way he kinda just does what he wants regardless of family expectations, whilst simultaneously helping the family in his own unique way, was impressive. I wasn't a huge fan of his new boyfriend, though. He seemed like a red flag, but I guess we didn't have too much time to get to know him. He was kinda just appeared after a time jump, and I was like, "Oh okay, good for you, Anden."
Shae... my god, what a genius. The dynamic between Shae and Ayt Mada was really engaging. They had an intense rivalry but also everlasting respect. They were attempting to kill each other, but also saving each other. Hating each other but also admiring each other. Crazy. Any chat between just the two of them was so insightful.
So, we watched the kids grow up in this book, and that was fun! It also felt important to witness them age, as it added an extra layer to the themes of generational expectations that this series holds very close to its core. The Kaul children were all unique characters and interesting additions to the family, but I just wish we had more time to get to know them properly. Dare I say it? There should've been a 4th book to really flesh out the children's characters. I do understand why this wasn't strictly necessary. The heart of the story is between the older generation. The rivalry of Hilo and AytMada. I feel like the introduction of the children's lives was just to enable us to envision what the future of Kekon would look like. (But I'm greedy and want more content)
Now Hilo... I never, in a million years, expected to cry at his death. The whole series, I was expecting him to die, yet it still came as such a shock. It all happened so fast. I was honestly initially disappointed by the climax of this story, but I should've known that Ayt Mada would've had one last trick up her sleeve, and my damn did she go for it. Hilo has never been my absolute favourite character, but I have always appreciated him for how he holds the family together. I think that this is ultimately why his death hit me so hard, because I know that the impact this would have on the entire family is monumentous. Hasn't Wen been through enough? It wasn't until this point that I fully understood the extent to which I had formed emotional attachments to these characters, and by that point, it was already too late. I guess that's how it normally goes in life.
Oh, also, Bero's storyline over the course of the series was really engaging to me. I loved seeing little snippets from a non-clan perspective. The realisation that he had survived this long, not because he had the luck of the gods, but because he was a nobody. Bruh.... that was so cleverly done. I was gagged.
So yeah. It's over. I can't help but wonder how this series would be in an adaptation. The first two books I could see working very well. But then, with all the time jumps in Jade Legacy, it throws a spanner in the works. I would much prefer it if Fonda Lee does a sequel trilogy sometime instead. Although her new cyberpunk samurai book coming out does sound pretty badass, so I'll take anything I can get!
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