True to its name, the final book in the GBS is a sweeping tale spanning more than twenty years chronicling the key events starting from the aftermath of Jade War. Fonda once again anchors us in the roots of this trilogy: family and clan politics. And we get ample doses of both. Though Anden, Wen, and Hilo showed immense development in the 2nd book, their characterizations plateau in Jade Legacy. Shae, whom I found lacking in book 2, gets an even lesser development or an arc here.

The spotlight in Jade Legacy is instead split among a larger cast, most notably the next generation Kauls. We get enough characterization to grasp the motivations and personalities of Niko, Ru, and Jaya, but I wish we had more page-time dedicated to fleshing out the intergenerational dynamics between them and Hilo-Shae-Wen.

Politics has been a central cog to this machine and Fonda spends a lot of time in setting the stage before letting it all unfold. Poetic justice is never overrated, and the way Fonda delivers her justice for certain key antagonists like Bero and Ayt Mada deserves a special mention.

The clan is my blood, and the Pillar is my master. The GBS is a series that I won't forget for a good long time to come. It has firmly cemented itself over the course of its three books as the best written speculative fantasy in my recent memory. To those who say otherwise, I offer you a clean blade.