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vasha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Vomit, Trafficking, and Colonisation
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Cannibalism
cozyteareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I saw this book recommended a few places and I finally got around to reading it. I had a bit of trouble getting into it at first, but once I finally did, I sped through it. The twists and reveals are super interesting and incredible. I can’t wait to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Gore
Minor: Transphobia, Vomit, and Cannibalism
smillas_tales's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
5.0
I’ve been procrastinating this book for forever, and I am so happy I finally got my shit together and read it, cause it was SO GOOD!
This is the first installment in an adult high fantasy/sci-fi trilogy, set in a world where natural catastrophes ravage the land, and society is build around survival. Some people, known as orogenes, have the ability to control the earth, and they’re used as weapons or killed for this ability.
I know this synopsis is incredibly vague, but I need you to trust me on this one! I can’t really say more without spoiling anything, as the story is told from multiple POVs and on multiple timelines that all interconnect in the most marvelous way!
This book also has probably the best world building I’ve EVER read! Jemisin has constructed a world where every aspect of society (from people’s names, to societal hierarchies, to politics) is influenced by the natural catastrophes, and it’s truly genius how well crafted it is!
The story is confusing at first, especially with one POV being told using a 2nd person narrator, but everything comes together beautifully. I predicted most of the reveals, but I didn’t mind at all, cause it was so satisfying to follow along as every facet and element coalesced, forming the bigger picture! The plot isn’t super fast paced, but every piece is moved into place, so I’m prepared for the plot to really get going in the sequel!
I also absolutely loved Jemisin’s characters! They have to make horrible, heartbreaking decisions as they’re faced with terrible odds, and are trying to survive both the people and forces intent on killing them. More than just being amazingly complex characters, they’re also super diverse! The book is full of queer representation, including trans, nonbinary, gay and polyamorous rep, not to mention an almost exclusively POC cast of characters.
I can’t praise this highly enough, so if it sounds even remotely like something you’d enjoy, I definitely recommend giving it a chance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Transphobia and Cannibalism
gladduck's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Transphobia, Vomit, and Colonisation
corriejn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
A masterfully woven set of storylines. I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content and Transphobia
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: bullying, violence, child abuse/child sexual abuse, murder of a child, torture, slavery, cannibalism, descriptions of blood and corpses, mass murder, compulsory breeding, transphobia, caste system
"But each of us is just another weapon, to them. Just another useful monster, just another fucking rogga."
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison is a science fiction? Fantasy? Both? Either way, this book was amazing. I'm not gonna lie, it was a slow start until I starting putting it together. I'm slow on the uptake sometimes.
In the world of The Stillness there is a fifth Season, basically the apocalypse due to massive earthquakes or super vulcano eruptions. Because if this, the society has adapted to disaster preparedness. I found it interesting that in this world, Earth is referred to as Father Earth rather than the more commonly know Mother Earth. Father Earth is characterized as evil and vengeful and hopes humanity is eventually destroyed. They say Father Earth hates the Orogenes for taking his only son. But no one knows what that means.
Orogenes (or rogga-slur) are people born with the ability to manipulate the earth; controlling earthquakes and volcano eruptions. In this world they are oppressed and used for their abilities and killed with impunity. We follow one such person and learn of the horrors she witness and the lengths she took to get away from it.
This book was incredible and intricate and delightfully original. I loved the MC, curmudgeonly as she sometimes was. The stuff about the Obelisks are fascinating and I can't wait to learn more next book. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers. Great rep in this book! We have trans rep, gay rep, bi rep, and polyamory rep! Jemison is just incredible. Also, my new favorite cuss is Earth's flaming farts!
"But each of us is just another weapon, to them. Just another useful monster, just another fucking rogga."
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison is a science fiction? Fantasy? Both? Either way, this book was amazing. I'm not gonna lie, it was a slow start until I starting putting it together. I'm slow on the uptake sometimes.
In the world of The Stillness there is a fifth Season, basically the apocalypse due to massive earthquakes or super vulcano eruptions. Because if this, the society has adapted to disaster preparedness. I found it interesting that in this world, Earth is referred to as Father Earth rather than the more commonly know Mother Earth. Father Earth is characterized as evil and vengeful and hopes humanity is eventually destroyed. They say Father Earth hates the Orogenes for taking his only son. But no one knows what that means.
Orogenes (or rogga-slur) are people born with the ability to manipulate the earth; controlling earthquakes and volcano eruptions. In this world they are oppressed and used for their abilities and killed with impunity. We follow one such person and learn of the horrors she witness and the lengths she took to get away from it.
This book was incredible and intricate and delightfully original. I loved the MC, curmudgeonly as she sometimes was. The stuff about the Obelisks are fascinating and I can't wait to learn more next book. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoilers. Great rep in this book! We have trans rep, gay rep, bi rep, and polyamory rep! Jemison is just incredible. Also, my new favorite cuss is Earth's flaming farts!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Slavery, and Cannibalism
sexual abuse of a child, compulsory breeding, caste system, mass murdertakarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
Reread + Audiobook (narrator was fantastic).
It's been long enough since I first read this that I had forgotten most of the plot and so it almost felt like reading it for the first time. The world building is superior and unique. Characters are very interesting and well developed. Loved the multiple POVs. One POV is in second person which takes some getting used to, but I did get used to it. Jemisin is really a master at storytelling! There are so many parallels you can draw from this story to our real world...
Don't forget there's a glossary and historical timeline (spoiler free) in the back of the book!! super helpful.
The big twist I had also somehow forgotten (but then figured it out while reading again). I forgot it ends on a cliffhanger!!
It's been long enough since I first read this that I had forgotten most of the plot and so it almost felt like reading it for the first time. The world building is superior and unique. Characters are very interesting and well developed. Loved the multiple POVs. One POV is in second person which takes some getting used to, but I did get used to it. Jemisin is really a master at storytelling! There are so many parallels you can draw from this story to our real world...
Don't forget there's a glossary and historical timeline (spoiler free) in the back of the book!! super helpful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Transphobia
Women in this world are often used as breeders, so there is a lot ofnodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Racial slurs, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
helen_coats's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Transphobia, Violence, and Abandonment
halcyonkathryn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Gore, Transphobia, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury