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rebeccajost'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
graceert'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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Racial slurs, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
laguerrelewis'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: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape, Suicide attempt, and War
blakethebookeater's review against another edition
- 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
We follow Essun, Damaya, and Syenite as they navigate being orogenes in a world that hates them. Orogenes are people who can control and manipulate the energy of the Earth (think an earth bender but WAY more versatile and way more dangerous). The people of the Stillness are terrified of them and straight up murder them most of the time. Some, like Damaya and Synenite are sent to the Fulcrum to study their powers.
Essun’s story is the crux of this book though, as she comes home to find her son murdered and her daughter taken by her husband. She tried to teach her children to hide their orogeny, but children can’t always control their abilities. So she sets off to find her daughter and the man responsible for taking away what she loved most.
All three POV characters are interesting and compelling in their own right (Synenite’s was my personal favorite) and the way they thematically build upon one another is astonishing.
As for prose, Essun’s POVs are narrated in 2nd person, which can feel strange but I thought it added a unique perspective to the narrative because it is so intentional and I have to believe Jemisin will have a payoff for it later down the line.
I have to say that it might be confusing for reader who haven’t read a lot of hard sci-fi/fantasy before and it took me about 100 pages before everything clicked into place for me. Jemisin doesn’t exposit about her world, just throws you in and you start to pick up clues from context, and although that may be off-putting for some people, give it some time and you’ll fall in love with the story.
This is a propulsive, character-driven novel that deserved every single award it won. I cannot wait to continue my adventures into the Stillness and more of what N. K. Jemisin has to offer because she is a one-of-a-kind writer.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Cannibalism and Suicide attempt