You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book 1 was absolutely fantastic, Book 2 let me down, I was hoping that this book would pick it all back up and end on a high note. Imagine my disappointment when it let me down even further.
This was a failure of a third book where the author obviously had a lot of fun world-building that she just kept doing that down to the finale. Too many new concepts introduced too late in the story. The characters spent so much time exploring and discovering the world that their goals and the plot itself fell on the wayside throughout most of the book. The climax came on too late and was so brief it was barely a blip in the runtime. The conclusion also fell so flat to me. I guess the overt message was something along the lines of "humans must set aside differences and cooperate to create a better world" but this was so flimsy and the book barely supports this in text.
What else? It over-describes and was unevenly paced, there are paragraphs I can miss and it wouldn't change the reading experience one bit. Jemisin tries to explain many things "scientifically" but it was not believable at all. For reference, I've read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy that plays with and stretches the limits of science without making it seem like the author was talking out of their ass about it so I know it can be done. The ending was rushed and unsatisfying.
I was never the biggest Essun fan but this book was just a character assassinationeven literally lmao. She was such a terrible mother and while I accept and even support that most women are more than just mothers when they have children, in this case it feels like she straight up abandons her 10 year old daughter until the very last moment. Abandons her to be raised by the man who abused Essun herself as a child even. And I'm supposed to feel bad for her? I also hated how pregnancy was used as a way to up the stakes. Uncreative, regressive even.
That being said, the relationship between Nessun and Schaffa was so weird and uncomfortable for me. I just straight up did not enjoy reading any of it. She's known the man for one year.
The thing I hated the most was the choice tomake Father Earth a sentient being, an angry and vengeful sentient being at that. It makes it too human, it’s unimaginative characterization, it cheapens the conclusion. You think humans can do ANYTHING to prevent THE EARTH ITSELF from killing us if it wants to? The arrogance was too much for me.
Overall it was a slog to get through, <b>it wasn't fun.</b> I'm glad it's over.
This was a failure of a third book where the author obviously had a lot of fun world-building that she just kept doing that down to the finale. Too many new concepts introduced too late in the story. The characters spent so much time exploring and discovering the world that their goals and the plot itself fell on the wayside throughout most of the book. The climax came on too late and was so brief it was barely a blip in the runtime. The conclusion also fell so flat to me. I guess the overt message was something along the lines of "humans must set aside differences and cooperate to create a better world" but this was so flimsy and the book barely supports this in text.
What else? It over-describes and was unevenly paced, there are paragraphs I can miss and it wouldn't change the reading experience one bit. Jemisin tries to explain many things "scientifically" but it was not believable at all. For reference, I've read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy that plays with and stretches the limits of science without making it seem like the author was talking out of their ass about it so I know it can be done. The ending was rushed and unsatisfying.
I was never the biggest Essun fan but this book was just a character assassination
That being said, the relationship between Nessun and Schaffa was so weird and uncomfortable for me. I just straight up did not enjoy reading any of it. She's known the man for one year.
The thing I hated the most was the choice to
Overall it was a slog to get through, <b>it wasn't fun.</b> I'm glad it's over.
reflective
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
Now I will never understand Motherhood since Im a gay man but what I can understand is the act of taking on hardships that came your way and make sure that your survive and still be you and prioritizing your needs will never bea bad thing. This book encapsulates that idea and some others as well and is what I love from the wholw trilogy as well. Essun the Woman that you are, I hope that I can have your strength and perseverance someday.
??? I feel like a lot of this series I just had to accept that I didn’t understand what was happening. Perhaps reading instead of audio would have been better. Story was unique and intriguing. I didn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t understand Nassun’s motivation. I didn’t comprehend all the races (species?) conflicts. More importantly, I don’t care that I don’t understand
Series started well and fizzed out for me
Series started well and fizzed out for me
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok this was my favorite book of the trilogy. I have to admit that I did not know or understand what was happening for like 25% of the book. The writing was sometimes confusing or maybe I am simply dumb. But I still loved it
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy