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keefonanley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Sexual content
cg07's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
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
5.0
Incredible and intense. Jemisin writes in a sprawling (yet tightly connected) way, such that every piece feels so purposeful. I've never read a book quite like it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Cannibalism, Gore, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
trent_hortin's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
elisalasater's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, War, and Slavery
kri13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Genocide, Racism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Child death
alfarmer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Amazing. Devastating. Incredible from start to finish. All of the characters were lovable and flawed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Colonisation, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Animal death, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization
kwthor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Trafficking, Murder, Torture, Death, Cursing, Child abuse, Violence, Slavery, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Child death
linhsreadinghour's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
I’m so conflicted with how I feel about this book 🤣 I think I liked it but I wouldn’t rate it 5 stars because I found it to be so so slow until about 60% where it picked up for me. I was so so confused at the start but I still found myself wanting to read on?? The writing was dense and the POVs didn’t start to make sense until something was revealed later on, in which others may had already picked up on. The writer trusts the reader to make their deductions along with the characters but I think I’m not smart enough for this book so I was confused and wished the answer to some deductions were laid out clearly for me in some way - but this is personal preference and not a criticism of the book. Themes of race, morality, identity, indoctrination and the extent one achieves their goals, were explored.
Unique fantasy world and magic system with intriguing writing and structure. I’m just glad I’ve read it cause it was on my shelf for so long and everyone raves about it.
Unique fantasy world and magic system with intriguing writing and structure. I’m just glad I’ve read it cause it was on my shelf for so long and everyone raves about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, and Sexual content
mikariah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
It's pretty good.
Okay, but for real, I'm not light with my five-star ratings. I've wondered for a while what I would even consider to be five stars because it isn't 'flawlessness' (nothing is) and it isn't 'perfection' (because that doesn't exist) and it can't just be because it made me cry (even if this book did, a lot).
It has to be a uniquely perfect blend of all of these imperfect things, and it has to tell something that matters, and it has to leave me different than before. And it has to have something else, too. An indefinable something, but nonetheless a quality Fifth Season possesses.
Maybe these secret things are simply gay wizards that break the world and dealing with the long-term effects of child abuse.
Okay, but for real, I'm not light with my five-star ratings. I've wondered for a while what I would even consider to be five stars because it isn't 'flawlessness' (nothing is) and it isn't 'perfection' (because that doesn't exist) and it can't just be because it made me cry (even if this book did, a lot).
It has to be a uniquely perfect blend of all of these imperfect things, and it has to tell something that matters, and it has to leave me different than before. And it has to have something else, too. An indefinable something, but nonetheless a quality Fifth Season possesses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual content
gtorian22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
This 5 star read makes me want to change a lot of my previous 5 stars to 4. There is just something about this book that changed something about me. I cannot explain it, but the hype for this book is legit. I will admit I was confused and lost for a good portion of the story, I loved the story but I had no idea what was happening....until I understood it all. The characters are all so unique and interesting, the setting is expansive and gorgeous it's own way. This book is P U R E fantasy where the more modern romance tropes are removed. Some of the more shocking moments (check the CW's) are not used for pure shock value, they add understanding to the character and why they are who they are. This book is written in 2nd person and that was so new to me, but from the start Jemisin makes the characters feel so real and planted in their world that is it easy to slip into the shoes of Essun and travel the world with her. It's triumphant and devastating at the same time and I want more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Child death, Child abuse, and Violence