Reviews

Piąta Pora Roku by N.K. Jemisin

isaacanator's review against another edition

4.0

Lots of thoughts on this one, here is the abridged version:
I did not like the beginning. I was looking for something comforting and familiar, and what I got was a second person, slow, stylized character dump. However, it grew on me. It takes all the fantasy tropes I know and love and twists them into something new and exciting. Very cool. Not my favorite though, but I understand why it's good.

pipsy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

4.75

glavo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

fbroom's review against another edition

4.0

The Stillness is a world where Seasons happen. Seasons are drastic events that threaten the human existence. The world went though many Seasons throughout the history. The Sanze empire has survived for centuries at this point. Oregenes are a special kind of humans that can stop or start earthquakes using the earth/ground with the heat/temperature from their surroundings. The Sanze empire through the Fulcrum trains some of these oregenes and control them through their special Guardians. Oregenes that aren’t trained or failed training are hunted and killed. Guardians control Oregenes. Oregenes are referred to as “roggas” by stills, a derogatory term. The stills are referred as “stillheads” by the oregenes, also a derogatory term.

Comms are communities/settlements and Commless are people without a Comm. Yumenes is a large city/comm in the Sanze empire. The Fulcrum is inside Yumenes. Lorists are these who study stonelore. Equatorials are people from Comms surrounding the equator. Because of the good weather. Equatorials are rich and politically powerful. Geomests are scientists who study stone. Stone eaters eat stones. They are not humans. There are also seven common use caste: the Breeders who are responsible for brining new children in the world, Knappers a small tool crafter, Innovators who are creative people, Resistants: can survive Seasons, have patience, Strongbacks: are strong physically and are used for heavy labor and Leadership.

Interesting Aspects:
* The relationship dynamic between the Oregene and the Guardian. Although we don’t know how guardians work and why they are powerful, this situation is still very real. Getting brainwashed to submit and be controlled by this unknown force is so real. This happens in real life a lot. A lot of us are just afraid.

* The fact that she has this potential and raw talent but not interested in cultivating it or working on it for something good. She just ignores her potential and tries to live an ordinary life instead. This also happens in real life a lot. How many people do you know with so much talent but won’t live up to their talent?

* How the oregenes are hated because there is “some story” of how they made Father Earth angry by killing his only son or doing some sort of bad thing. They don’t even have the story right but still we are all brainwashed to think these specific people are harmful.

[More to be added]

edignan's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

madzsmiled's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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

5.0

Fifth Season was part apocalypse, part fantasy world, unlike anything I've ever read before. I love the richness of the Stillness - from the different races, languages, and societies within the continent. While this book is just an introduction to this world, Jemisin does such an amazing job integrating both rich character work and world building. I didn't feel like I needed to use the glossary in the back - her context clues helped translate the Stillness. I adore her writing, and cannot recommend her work enough. Cannot wait to jump into the next one!

I was delighted when I found out that Damaya, Syenite, and Essun were one in the same. It added so many layers to her characters, and the reveal happened so naturally. 

mlsups's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25

claratwentyone's review against another edition

adventurous sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I understand why- but if the beginning hadn’t been so freaking slow this would have been an easy 5 star book. The world building: immaculate. The plot: amazing. The characters: deep and fascinating. Some of the topics we‘re a bit hard and worth the trigger warning. 

pagebent's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

nicolejones911's review against another edition

4.0

3.75