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connorbookinit's review against another edition
3.0
[3.75 Stars]
My Spoiler Video Review:
https://youtu.be/8ZWFRvFf4fE
A good ending, but it wasn't as good as the first two in my opinion. It took me much longer to finish this than I had expected - 2.5 months, and I almost just resorted to spoiling myself and reading a summary. I'm glad I didn't, but I struggled through this one a bit.
My Spoiler Video Review:
https://youtu.be/8ZWFRvFf4fE
A good ending, but it wasn't as good as the first two in my opinion. It took me much longer to finish this than I had expected - 2.5 months, and I almost just resorted to spoiling myself and reading a summary. I'm glad I didn't, but I struggled through this one a bit.
jaina8851's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
I feel like I'm alone in thinking that the first book of this series is the best one. Don't get me wrong, I love all the books individually and together; this is one of my favorite ever series. But the pacing and narrative structure of the first one, in my opinion, is genuine perfection, and I found myself chasing the high a little bit in both of these sequels. I do absolutely adore the way everything comes together at the end of this book though. Even though this was a re-read for me, and I did kind of remember how the final climax plays out, it still had that feeling of "but how will this all resolve???" I did find Hoa's backstory a little harder to follow in audiobook format for some reason, I found myself less hooked in during those sections even though I very much wanted to hear about what happened and the origin of the stone eaters. All in all, I'm delighted to have re-read this series and I know it will not be the last time.
sarahwpotter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
5.0
spoonzaara's review against another edition
4.0
it was great but i also feel like i am just not smart enough for this book unfortunately
mysteriousnorse's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, I think this is where the Fantasy genre really started to get to me. Also, the stone eaters' story really just felt like a typical robot story, but with magic. As with earlier, I think Jemisin is a talented writer; this just wasn't for me.
Spoiler
The earth is actually alive, and we're its enemy? Really? Look, we're fucking up the environment, but the earth doesn't give a shit about us. I think it's a little arrogant to think it does. Every time "little enemy" got said I rolled my eyes. The anthropomorphism just went a little too far for me._fu's review against another edition
5.0
This installment seems to have very little action, except the crucial climax, of course, but has so much more richness and depth than the other two. Reading the acknowledgements makes it clear why. Beautiful, just beautiful.
bennylee's review against another edition
3.0
Second read (2021):
The Fifth Season: 4.5*
The Obelisk Gate: 3*
The Stone Sky: 2.5*
Series: 3*
The first book was so good, but the series went downhill from there.
——
First read (2018):
The Fifth Season: 4*
The Obelisk Gate: 3.5*
The Stone Sky: 2.5*
Series: 3*
Keep in mind: I was pretty burned out on the narrative style early on in the series. I continued because I loved the social commentary and anti-colonial feminist undertones — I found myself drawing parallels to America’s complicated history of race and difference.
Descriptions of the “Stillness” continued to be fantastic in The Stone Sky, but the amount of in-world knowledge needed to fully follow the story tumbled out of control. Although the final installment is the weakest link in the trilogy, I recommend giving it a go if enjoyed the first two — Particularly if you disagree with my grievances about the narrative style and had no trouble relating to the characters.
Most of what we get here is third person travel log. This is intermixed with the familiar, if tiring, second person narrative. Although fully explained now, something about the style jolted me out of the story just when it seemed Jemisin most sought my investment.
Things continued to happen to the characters but rarely did the author grant them individual agency. I noticed that most characters only doubled down on their belief systems; their motivations and moods unchanged by the challenges they faced.
As each character travelled, they dwelled on past decisions and agonized over future ones. The reader is bludgeoned with nuanced definitions of morality (already overly-represented by a fully nihilist cast). I found this depressing and, quite frankly, exhausting. I doubt that I am the only reader who grew desensitized to it all. Morality is defined culturally and within specific historical contexts. I get it; I’m on board. But as we trudged through the murky thoughts of the endlessly traumatized, I found myself unsurprised and emotionally distant.
While the first book surprised and intrigued me, this series wasn’t for me. Jemisin introduced us to a fantastically complex world in The Fifth Season but, no matter how high the stakes, I found I didn’t much care what happened.
The Fifth Season: 4.5*
The Obelisk Gate: 3*
The Stone Sky: 2.5*
Series: 3*
The first book was so good, but the series went downhill from there.
——
First read (2018):
The Fifth Season: 4*
The Obelisk Gate: 3.5*
The Stone Sky: 2.5*
Series: 3*
Keep in mind: I was pretty burned out on the narrative style early on in the series. I continued because I loved the social commentary and anti-colonial feminist undertones — I found myself drawing parallels to America’s complicated history of race and difference.
Descriptions of the “Stillness” continued to be fantastic in The Stone Sky, but the amount of in-world knowledge needed to fully follow the story tumbled out of control. Although the final installment is the weakest link in the trilogy, I recommend giving it a go if enjoyed the first two — Particularly if you disagree with my grievances about the narrative style and had no trouble relating to the characters.
Most of what we get here is third person travel log. This is intermixed with the familiar, if tiring, second person narrative. Although fully explained now, something about the style jolted me out of the story just when it seemed Jemisin most sought my investment.
Things continued to happen to the characters but rarely did the author grant them individual agency. I noticed that most characters only doubled down on their belief systems; their motivations and moods unchanged by the challenges they faced.
As each character travelled, they dwelled on past decisions and agonized over future ones. The reader is bludgeoned with nuanced definitions of morality (already overly-represented by a fully nihilist cast). I found this depressing and, quite frankly, exhausting. I doubt that I am the only reader who grew desensitized to it all. Morality is defined culturally and within specific historical contexts. I get it; I’m on board. But as we trudged through the murky thoughts of the endlessly traumatized, I found myself unsurprised and emotionally distant.
While the first book surprised and intrigued me, this series wasn’t for me. Jemisin introduced us to a fantastically complex world in The Fifth Season but, no matter how high the stakes, I found I didn’t much care what happened.
lerys's review against another edition
3.0
this was the best of the series and this isn’t the usual genre I read but it was good.
brookemahoski's review against another edition
5.0
This series was EVERYTHING. So unique and special. Probably my favorite writing style of anything I’ve read!