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dr_evan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
odin45mp's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it. I loved it less than the first two in the series, but I think that I may be to blame here as I read the first two thirds of the novel over the period of a month, then binged the rest. I binged both of the first two books in about five days each start to finish.
This is where and how it all ends. The pull towards the beginning or end of the world has brought us all here. We unlock several answers about the world and about Essun as well as the stone eaters. We also see a powerful and gripping depiction of motherhood and mother/daughter and parent/child relationships between several of the characters in this book. Seriously good.
I don’t know how to talk about this book without spoilers, so please go read the first two. If you enjoy them you will enjoy this one. If you didn’t, then why are you reading the third book in a series? The language is deliberate and carefully chosen to convey the tone and view of the viewpoint narrator. This is an example of good wordsmithing. I will also say that the ending was emotionally impactful for me.
Is this worthy of a Hugo and giving N.K. Jemisin a Hugo hat trick? We’ll see come August. I still have two novels left to read on the short list but this is definitely in the running for me. It is a very strong field this year.
This is where and how it all ends. The pull towards the beginning or end of the world has brought us all here. We unlock several answers about the world and about Essun as well as the stone eaters. We also see a powerful and gripping depiction of motherhood and mother/daughter and parent/child relationships between several of the characters in this book. Seriously good.
I don’t know how to talk about this book without spoilers, so please go read the first two. If you enjoy them you will enjoy this one. If you didn’t, then why are you reading the third book in a series? The language is deliberate and carefully chosen to convey the tone and view of the viewpoint narrator. This is an example of good wordsmithing. I will also say that the ending was emotionally impactful for me.
Is this worthy of a Hugo and giving N.K. Jemisin a Hugo hat trick? We’ll see come August. I still have two novels left to read on the short list but this is definitely in the running for me. It is a very strong field this year.
kmartbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
N.K. Jemisin is probably my favorite author of all time. This final installment delves deeper into the richly constructed world, following the intertwined fates of Essun and Nassun as they grapple with the potential rebirth or ultimate destruction of their world.
The heart of the story is the complex mother-daughter relationship between Essun and Nassun and how their past experiences inform all of their choices and perceptions. Jemisin’s characters are extraordinarily complex. Essun and Nassun’s journeys are deeply personal yet resonate on a universal level, reflecting themes of trauma and survival. Their motivations and internal conflicts are portrayed with nuance, making their eventual confrontation both inevitable and heartbreaking. I also feel like Jemisin just writes how things are rather than how she feels about them morally. Bad things happened and all we can do is to try to do better next time. Part of this perception is that there is very little time to actually experience these emotions. The world is rapidly hurtling towards possible oblivion and no one has time to process anything. We, as the readers, get to feel these hard-hitting emotions very briefly and hold on to them while the characters are pulled forward by necessity. I still cried SEVERAL times throughout this story; happy and sad tears.
The lore of the world continues to fascinate, even if I don't always understand what's going on. The Syl anagist sections, initially seeming a bit detached from the main story, eventually coalesce into a revelation that ties the entire trilogy together. These parts, while much MUCH slower, are essential for understanding the broader context of the series’ events. But they real boring at first, ya'll. I struggled with them, especially because they're about characters that we don't really know or care about compared to the current story.
Alabaster’s absence is keenly felt throughout the book. His presence loomed large in the first two books, and his absence adds a poignant note to Essun’s journey. I love the journal entries SO MUCH. His influence, however, is still very much a part of the story, guiding Essun’s decisions and giving Nassun some background into her mother as person rather than just a caretaker.
The trilogy’s strength lies not just in its plot but in Jemisin’s lyrical writing and how she plays with her craft. The book tackles issues of systemic oppression, environmental collapse, and the cyclical nature of history with a deft touch, making it both a gripping narrative and a thought-provoking read. She is a MASTERFUL writer and uses second person to great effect in this story.
In conclusion, The Stone Sky solidifies The Broken Earth trilogy as one of the most outstanding achievements in modern fantasy. N.K. Jemisin’s ability to weave intricate world-building with deeply human characters and compelling social commentary is unparalleled. This final book delivers a satisfying and emotionally charged conclusion. It’s a top-tier trilogy that deserves all its accolades and stands as a testament to Jemisin’s phenomenal storytelling prowess.
The heart of the story is the complex mother-daughter relationship between Essun and Nassun and how their past experiences inform all of their choices and perceptions. Jemisin’s characters are extraordinarily complex. Essun and Nassun’s journeys are deeply personal yet resonate on a universal level, reflecting themes of trauma and survival. Their motivations and internal conflicts are portrayed with nuance, making their eventual confrontation both inevitable and heartbreaking. I also feel like Jemisin just writes how things are rather than how she feels about them morally. Bad things happened and all we can do is to try to do better next time. Part of this perception is that there is very little time to actually experience these emotions. The world is rapidly hurtling towards possible oblivion and no one has time to process anything. We, as the readers, get to feel these hard-hitting emotions very briefly and hold on to them while the characters are pulled forward by necessity. I still cried SEVERAL times throughout this story; happy and sad tears.
The lore of the world continues to fascinate, even if I don't always understand what's going on. The Syl anagist sections, initially seeming a bit detached from the main story, eventually coalesce into a revelation that ties the entire trilogy together. These parts, while much MUCH slower, are essential for understanding the broader context of the series’ events. But they real boring at first, ya'll. I struggled with them, especially because they're about characters that we don't really know or care about compared to the current story.
Alabaster’s absence is keenly felt throughout the book. His presence loomed large in the first two books, and his absence adds a poignant note to Essun’s journey. I love the journal entries SO MUCH. His influence, however, is still very much a part of the story, guiding Essun’s decisions and giving Nassun some background into her mother as person rather than just a caretaker.
The trilogy’s strength lies not just in its plot but in Jemisin’s lyrical writing and how she plays with her craft. The book tackles issues of systemic oppression, environmental collapse, and the cyclical nature of history with a deft touch, making it both a gripping narrative and a thought-provoking read. She is a MASTERFUL writer and uses second person to great effect in this story.
In conclusion, The Stone Sky solidifies The Broken Earth trilogy as one of the most outstanding achievements in modern fantasy. N.K. Jemisin’s ability to weave intricate world-building with deeply human characters and compelling social commentary is unparalleled. This final book delivers a satisfying and emotionally charged conclusion. It’s a top-tier trilogy that deserves all its accolades and stands as a testament to Jemisin’s phenomenal storytelling prowess.
keevahh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mariamp1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marisareads82's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
marshmallso's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alopezbarro's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
nukehavoc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mickeyjaytee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A brilliant conclusion to the trilogy. My mind was blown and I don’t say that lightly. Rarely has an author kept me glued to the pages and so thoroughly engrossed.
Strangely, about halfway through book 2 I found myself… not enjoying certain parts. I thought to myself, would I recommend a reread? My answer was no. Now however, I definitely would.
The end was great yet, I still had this feeling of wanting more out of it… I can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s just me.
⭐️Highly recommended, a cut above the rest hands down. This kind of quality read is very rare and only a few authors can be placed in this category⭐️
Strangely, about halfway through book 2 I found myself… not enjoying certain parts. I thought to myself, would I recommend a reread? My answer was no. Now however, I definitely would.
The end was great yet, I still had this feeling of wanting more out of it… I can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s just me.
⭐️Highly recommended, a cut above the rest hands down. This kind of quality read is very rare and only a few authors can be placed in this category⭐️