Scan barcode
ananthousflorist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Genocide, and Death
bezarue's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
While I still think the first book is my favourite, I still think this finale deserved all the accolades it received. I found Nassun a lot less irritating in this one, possibly because she was in it less, and the final showdown with Essun hurt my heart. Did not enjoy being teased with the possibility of Alabaster and that never coming to fruition, and I kind of wanted Tonkee, Hjarka & Danel to have a bit more relevance in that final bit but other than that don't really have any notes. N K Jemisin has created a masterful exploration of systemic racism and generational trauma within a sci-fi/fantasy plot that keeps you hooked the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Genocide and Grief
Minor: Gore and Pregnancy
alfarmer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
I don’t know what to say. This series was incredible. And devastating. And full of love and loss. I didn’t think I could love and hate every character in a story. Their flaws and reactions and lived experiences were expertly portrayed and I am not sure I will ever experience such whole characters again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Gore, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
I’m still letting this one settle over me, so all I’ll say for now is:
This was my least favorite of the three (though still FANTASTIC) due to the pacing? Maybe it was just my own headspace, but I found the Syl Anagast chapters to be very long and a bit boring. Objectively, it was all interesting, but I probably would have enjoyed them more if it wasn’t the last book.
The ending felt anticlimactic, but I think that was my own brain wishing so badly for a beautiful embrace, apologies, and happily ever after. I am stricken by the palpable distance that remains between Nassun and Essun to the end, and by how NK Jemison wrote this while grieving the loss of her own mother.
pain pain pain pain
This was my least favorite of the three (though still FANTASTIC) due to the pacing? Maybe it was just my own headspace, but I found the Syl Anagast chapters to be very long and a bit boring. Objectively, it was all interesting, but I probably would have enjoyed them more if it wasn’t the last book.
The ending felt anticlimactic, but I think that was my own brain wishing so badly for a beautiful embrace, apologies, and happily ever after. I am stricken by the palpable distance that remains between Nassun and Essun to the end, and by how NK Jemison wrote this while grieving the loss of her own mother.
pain pain pain pain
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
crybabybea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
N.K. Jemisin, your freaking mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Medical content
sarasreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
Wow, I can't believe I've finished this trilogy. What a ride it was! I feel like I've gone through something with these characters. Every step of this journey was masterful.
I was so happy to finally get some answers in this one, and that we start getting them right from the beginning. The way Jemisin seamlessly blends multiple genres, POVs, and timelines was just so good. And the stakes just kept raising and raising while still being at its core (ba-dum-bum) an intimate mother-daughter story.
The trilogy as a whole explores so many systemic problems from our own past and present that are mainly caused by those with power who continually chose their own interests over what's right. It's incredibly complex in its ideas, scope, and characters. Every character is layered, which just draws you in even deeper.
I got all the answers I wanted, and the ending was really satisfying to me. The first book might still be my favorite in the trilogy (that twist still has my jaw on the floor!), but the entire series is amazing. I can't wait to read more from this author!
I was so happy to finally get some answers in this one, and that we start getting them right from the beginning. The way Jemisin seamlessly blends multiple genres, POVs, and timelines was just so good. And the stakes just kept raising and raising while still being at its core (ba-dum-bum) an intimate mother-daughter story.
The trilogy as a whole explores so many systemic problems from our own past and present that are mainly caused by those with power who continually chose their own interests over what's right. It's incredibly complex in its ideas, scope, and characters. Every character is layered, which just draws you in even deeper.
I got all the answers I wanted, and the ending was really satisfying to me. The first book might still be my favorite in the trilogy (that twist still has my jaw on the floor!), but the entire series is amazing. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Death, Body horror, Torture, Abandonment, Racism, Slavery, and Genocide
shlymiller's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Grief, Terminal illness, and Medical trauma
nilssjoberg's review
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Confinement, Child abuse, and Cannibalism
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
A masterful conclusion to the trilogy, giving explanations for so many of the questions set up in the first two books. I found one of the viewpoints a lot more confusing than the others, and felt it was less well woven-in than the previous books. However, the ending was satisfying in its (what I felt anyway) inevitability, with the full circle moments and overall narrative framing device . I think some of the best literature holds a mirror up to the world it is written in, humanising and allowing us to empathise better with others - this trilogy certainly does that, and I think this book is the most on the nose in this sense. I'm sad to be leaving this world behind, but will almost certainly reread in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death, Violence, Genocide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Child death
Minor: Pregnancy, Cannibalism, and Sexual content
abijmieds's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
I rarely give a final book 5 stars, but this book wrapped up the trilogy in such a memorable and satisfying way. You have to pay attention through the final third, but it really pays off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Child abuse, Colonisation, and Death
Moderate: Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Grief, Murder, Child abuse, Violence, War, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness