What Fonda Lee achieved with Jade Legacy is nothing short of extraordinary. The novel spans a very long time, tracing both the changes in the Kauls and the changes to Janloon and its geopolitical concerns. Lee's background as a corporate strategist and her meticulous research both pay off in spades her. The parallels between her fictional scenarios and the real-world jostling of China, Taiwan / Singapore / Hong Kong, SEA, America, etc lend a valued edge of social commentary to this ambitious family drama (I definitely wriggled, as an Asian-American reader who saw the criticism embedded in how she portrayed the Espenians and the Kekonese-Espenians). I also want to shout out this novel's action sequences, which were tighter and more elegantly plotted than in its predecessors and show just how much Lee has grown since the first novel in the trilogy.  

But of course what truly grounds this story is the family drama centered around the well-realized Kauls. Hilo, Shae, Anden pass through so much grief and growth that made it impossible for me to hold back tears of pride and sadness by the end - and in this novel, they're joined by the younger generation (Niko, Ru, Jaya) who made the most of their limited screentime to attach themselves to my heart. I love the sense that this family exists after the pages end, we were simply lucky enough to observe their dramatic turning point. Anchored, of course, by the indominable Kaul Hilo, who will linger with me for a very long time, in all his forms - the seductive, hotheaded himbo of a Horn; the vengeful grim young Pillar; the wise and grief stricken father who was nonetheless all of his past selves combine. 

Far do your enemies flee, Kaul-jen, and may the gods shine favor on No Peak. 

(And Fonda Lee, for sharing the tales of this family with us)