What an end to an epic story. This is truly the best fantasy series I have read in my life, and I genuinely believe that every fan of fantasy should give it a chance. There is so much suffering and tension, but also so much love, humor, loyalty and a deep sense of family. I could not put it down, and when I reached the final page I wanted to stay in Janloon a little longer, as if I were leaving behind a place and people I had grown to know.

“The Kauls have been battered by war and tragedy. They are plagued by resentments and old wounds as their adversaries are on the ascent and their country is riven by dangerous factions and foreign interference that could destroy the Green Bone way of life altogether. As a new generation arises, the clan’s growing empire is in danger of coming apart.”

Blurb

This volume expands the world even further than the last one, yet it never feels excessive or out of proportion. The No Peak clan grows, changes and adapts, but always in ways that remain grounded in the internal logic of the story. Throughout the entire trilogy, despite the clear fantasy framework, nothing ever felt completely over the top. The characters, their reactions, their flaws and their choices all felt painfully believable. That is one of the trilogy’s greatest strengths. You do not simply follow the protagonists, you live with them.

The amount I cared for these characters is something entirely new for me. I cried, laughed and hoped with them from beginning to end. The heartbreaking death of Ru, which felt so sudden and without purpose, shook me more than I expected. My burning hatred for Ayt Mada grew with every book, a testament to how brilliantly Fonda Lee wrote her. And the final scenes with Hilo, a character we have been following almost from page one, left me stunned. Watching his journey reach its conclusion after everything he had fought for was absolutely gut wrenching.

Fonda Lee writes with a clarity, intensity and elegance that is rare in modern fantasy. Her prose is sharp, emotional and cinematic. I sincerely hope she continues writing more novels, maybe even another long form series, because her storytelling feels like something special, something worth returning to again and again.

It feels almost impossible to capture the weight and brilliance of this final book, or of the entire Green Bone Saga, using simple words in a review. You have to read it yourself. You have to experience the emotional highs and lows, the betrayals, the victories, the tragedies and the incredible sense of belonging that threads through all three books.

I should stop here, because I am certainly no Fonda Lee, and I would only start repeating myself. Go buy the books, read them and then come back so we can talk about all of it together.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️