Reviews

I enjoyed this trilogy very much. I wish there had been more dialogue and less internal narration at some points, but the story was well told and interesting.

The first book in this trilogy was one of the most amazing works of fiction I've ever read. I couldn't stop talking about it and recommending it to people. I even convinced my wife, who rarely reads fiction, to read it, but she couldn't get past chapter two. So, obviously, these books aren't for everyone. I'll say this: If you think the first few chapters of Book 1 are good, then you'll enjoy the entire trilogy; if you struggle with the first few chapters, stop reading and find a new book because the storytelling style doesn't change.

Books 2 and 3 were also good, though I think the best book in the trilogy was the first book. I think I had become used to Jemisin's style after the first book, so the style of writing didn't seem as--pardon the pun--earth shattering as Book 1.

The climax of the trilogy--the penultimate chapter of Book 3--was one of the better final scenes I've read in a fantasy/speculative fiction novel in quite some time. Exciting, terrifying, and moving.

Highly recommended.

classy4116's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

ashleyjgp's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

3.75

hirsutenewt's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

The trilogy starts strong and gets worse throughout. Initially the different perspectives colour lots of different types of life in the world and work well to world build smoothly but end up feeling samey or unnecessary.

The reveal in book 1 that Damaya is Syenite worked for me but it was strange that the reveal that Syenite is Essun is dragged out in the back half and is "revealed" several chapters after it becomes obvious. Essun not getting to her husband sucks! It's the emotional core of the first book and then the plot pauses until the last few chapters of book 3. I found this very unsatisfying and it made the ending feel rushed. The second and third books feel meandering and like they could have been condensed down into one book (or even into a single long book with the first). Specially I would cut all the pre shattering chapters from book 3 because I think they take away from the pacing and add little context that can't be gleaned from other chapters. Castrima never elevated itself out of diversion plot point for me so I would also cut much of that. The no longer being alone beat for Essun that it enables never really landed for me compared to the reunion with Nassun so it felt it it took away focus right to the end.

Slightly seperatly I don't like the way trans people are written here. The trans boy character's role is to be sexually assaulted and then disappear. The trans woman is a character at least but her story contradicts the world building we get around trans acceptance by her being kicked out by her family. She also gets detransitioned by the apocalypse and there's a bizzarely out of place line in the second book about her jawline. Just gives me vibes of trans characters written by cis author who is liberal and finds trans experiences interesting/important to explore. Generally I want transness in genre fiction to be explored through the contrast of how they experience life due to tech/magic/culture and real trans people's experience. This is not that and feels ham fisted.

espeletia's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? No

5.0

sleepycritter's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I’m not a fan. I read the entire series, only because I was sucked in by the interesting plot, and wanted to see it through to the end. That’s where I give the writer some credit. The plot was engaging and the world that the writer created was unique enough, as far as my limited experience with dystopian, sci-if, fantasy is aware of. What immediately jumped out at me was the atrocious writing itself. I’m specifically referring to either improper English, or a style with little sophistication. Since our literacy comprehension is absorbed through reading, which then manifests itself intuitively in our language and writing, it makes me shudder in alarm for younger generations being exposed to such writing. I just can’t reconcile with the reality that these books won multiple Hugo Awards? I’m just not feeling it. Because the writing style was of such a concern to me, I conscientiously made an effort to read various writings by Abraham Lincoln at the same time as reading this series, in an effort to inoculate myself with a high level of eloquence with the written word.

To give context, the book I read immediately before was; ‘Circe,’ by Madeline Miller. The book I read immediately after was; (Pulitzer Prize winner) ‘Lonesome Dove,’ by Larry McMurty. Both of these beautifully written books, with soulful characters, are 5 stars reads for me, and as such, only served to heighten the flaws of the ‘Broken Earth’ series even further. N.K. Jemisin’s characters have such little depth, especially given that she had the opportunity to developed these characters over the course of THREE books. In comparison, Miller and McMurty were able to accomplish this feat better in just three pages. I don’t mind an unlikable character one bit if they are well written. Scarlett O’Hara, from Gone with the Wind, just jumped into my head. So, this isn’t the problem. A good author gives their characters personality through context, and honestly, N.K. Jemisin’s characters seemed a bit dry, robotic and difficult to get emotionally invested in. She told us a little about the characters, but she never really shows us who they are, through cleverly imbued context.

mdegge's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Stunning all around. Will return to read again

More...