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charrlee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"Let's start with the end of the world, why don't we? Get it over with and move on to more interesting things."
N. K. Jemisin has created a work that is engaging, intelligent, heartbreaking, and perhaps, above all else, raw. As a reader, I never considered myself a huge fan of consuming science fiction because I never really felt like I had any rights over a genre that is so dominantly white. In these fictional realities that are often set far into a distant future, I never got the privilege of seeing myself in these futures -- that is, of course, until I found Jemisin's work. In her book, I discovered everything that science fiction should be, and it is not your standard magic or space laser. Science fiction is freedom of imagination, the bending of reality, the questioning of power sources, and an exploration of the "what ifs" that are in every world. And of course, we love to see novels where characters can be unapologetically black.
Right away, you can tell that the world building is nothing short of phenomenal. Also, if you're a fan of books with maps, you're in luck friends. Jemisin is world building done right - you don't get all the answers up front. Yes, there is the context of the continent you are on, but there is also speculative history embedded through bits of stonelore throughout the novel. Nothing is given fully upfront, you are as much of a learner as any character in the novel. The invitation of mystery and the elation of speculation entices you further into the world Jemisin has worked so hard to craft. The scaling of the book -- macro to micro history and systems -- is so seamlessly woven into the text. Alongside the characters, you are also learning new information about a world that is brimming with unknowns. There are so many teasers present, and let me just say, some of my favorite pages were the interludes.
What I am most excited to rave about is the writing style of the book. I LOVE a book that is non-linear in storytelling, and Jemisin does just that. The perspective of characters shifts throughout the chapters, and at each point the perspective is also taking place at an entirely different time. While this might be a turn off for some, I urge you to bear with it even if you are not a fan of non linear stories, because it just works so well for the set up; if nothing else, stay for the character reveals if you haven't managed to piece it together during the read. Additionally, Jemisin toys with the idea of how the perspectives are delivered throughout the novel. Out of the three main character perspectives (Damaya, Syenite, and Essun), two are told in limited third person and one uses second person perspective. Now, it has been a minute since I've read a book that properly uses the second person perspective, and my mind was blown away with how well the second perspective works with what Jemisin is achieving. You are Essun, and Essun is you; understanding this throws the idea of agency, identity, and subject versus object into a realm of subversion. I personally don't include spoilers in my reviews (I would get to carried away in my reivews), but I swear that the way identity and perspective is explored in this novel is truly unique; I've never experienced a read quite like it.
Of course, it isn't a SciFi review if I don't get technical about the element x(s) in the Fifth Season. The story is set in a world that is ironically called The Stillness. The Earth is constantly impacted by earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis (you know, all the fun environmental disasters!) that can only be quelled by orogenes; people who can connect to and seismically control the Earth. Despite the importance of the orogenes in maintaining the world, they are oppressed slaves under the Fulcrum. Due to misguided fears and lack of understanding, the stills (people who don't have the power of orogeny) are convinced that orogenes are dangerous and must be controlled at all times. The ability of orogeny is innate for those who possess the power, making them persecuted by the stills who are trying to stabilize the world by ensuring fewer unexpected elements. I want to be clear: this book is phenomenal in the way it addresses systematic oppression (who has power and/versus who controls it?), but it is also very graphic in the methods that are used in maintaining this power structure. There is genuinely so much to discuss on the topic alone, that I almost feel like I am doing a disservice by not attaching an essay on everything the novel touches on.
In a bonus round of everything else I loved about the book:
*The characterization/lore around Father Earth
*The way land is discussed/the conversations that can be centered around land/nature
*Construction of alternative societies (that are in opposition to the Fulcrum)
*One of the BEST representations of a polyamorous relationship (it genuinely brought me so much joy)
*Found families and finding people who unconditionally accept you
*The visibility of characters - there is someone for everyone
*The way Jemisin interrogates racism and prejudices
Lastly, one of my favorite quotes in the book (though I have many)
"But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the planetary scale. The number of things that they do not notice are literally astronomical."
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Torture, Slavery, and Genocide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Body horror, Cannibalism, and Child death
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Cursing, Child abuse, Child death, Animal death, Xenophobia, Vomit, Violence, Medical trauma, Death, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Blood
emeraldrina's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cannibalism, Cursing, Excrement, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Vomit
delphinaris's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Bullying, Animal death, Alcohol, Infertility, Infidelity, Child death, Abandonment, Cannibalism, Xenophobia, War, Vomit, Violence, Transphobia, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Slavery, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Colonisation, Classism, Confinement, and Child abuse
This book is majorly fucked up; especially the scenes in the Fulcrum. Read at your own risk.talasterism's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Pedophilia
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Child death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, Slavery, Stalking, Animal death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Torture, and War
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Cannibalism
kemrick19's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Child death, Torture, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore, Ableism, Classism, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, War, Cursing, Transphobia, Pregnancy, Vomit, Pedophilia, and Sexism
coffeepotoo's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Murder, Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Pedophilia
heckgoshdang's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Genocide
Moderate: Colonisation, Cannibalism, Gore, Sexual content, Transphobia, Medical content, Racial slurs, Classism, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, Racism, Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
cheye13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
There was a consistently morose tone and happy moments were few and far between, which I found trying at times. But overal an excellent book that I would recommend widely. Can't wait to see where the rest of the story goes.
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Child abuse, Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Torture
Minor: Pedophilia, Trafficking, Homophobia, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Slavery