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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: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Slavery, Transphobia, Trafficking, and Cannibalism
galacticvampire's review against another edition
5.0
"Stupid, stupid woman. Death was always here. Death is you."
I was enamoured by the concept of The Fifth Season from the first time I heard about it years ago, added to overall praise for the series, I was coming with high expectations.
And it delivered. Everything and more.
The execution not only lives up to the concept, but surpasses it. The suspense isn't there to pull the rug from under your feet in a gotcha moment, it's carefully crafted into the story, where the reveals are satisfying and spark the need for more, even when you caught what the foreshadowing was trying to tell you.
The world is so rich and complex that the initial struggle to follow what was going on (including the recurrent second person pov) has an immense pay-off. The feeling of wonder didn't leave me for a second.
I'm very much on the transition from YA to Adult Fantasy, so the very real darkness and grittiness surrounding everything was unexpected, but I couldn't have picked a better book to make me fall in love with the genre.
This is a story about Pain. This is a story about Grief. This is a story about enduring them and surviving them, because you have no other option.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Colonisation
icewindgale's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Slavery and Torture
audino'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
zaharya's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
The characterisation is brilliant! The world building is very unique, and delivered very well as it gradually expanded.
Definitely darker than I initially expected — I went in knowing basically nothing about it, so that’s not very difficult — but not in a way that felt like it was just for shock.
The writing itself is extremely good, and the second person POV is an interesting change from the usual third or first person — which are also included though.
Definitely picking up the second one right away.
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content and Cannibalism
leahb88'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 abuse, Child death, Death, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury
abmochapman'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Slavery and Cannibalism
moonlitreading_'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
The Fifth Season seemed hella intimidating before I started it, and it still kind of is after reading it because it’s a book with so much complexity to it. All the new words, places, and terms were really confusing at first so I became best friends with the glossary lol. This book has three POVs and one of them is in the second person which was uncommon, if not, new for me to read. It was an interesting experience to read in the second person and I found that I didn’t mind it. I liked Jemisin’s writing and her world-building was immaculate.
How the Orogenes used their abilities fascinated me and it just proved that they’re really powerful. Essun, Syenite, and Damaya are the main characters of the book and I love when the connection between the three of them revealed itself.
I loved the representations this book gave. The majority of the characters were people of color. There’s also LGBTQIA+ representation in the book. There were gay, bi/pan, and trans characters and a poly relationship.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Cannibalism
katievallin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
buffy87'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
3.5
Content: complicated, I needed to take notes. Multilayered, you learn as you go what's happening, a fantasy with heavy science element, very long intro but I enjoy the MC.
Asexual: two explicit sex scenes, casual mention of sex, not a lot of physical intimacy
Recc: higher literacy levels, HS+ but some jr high kids could read it if advanced,
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism