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kell_xavi's review against another edition
5.0
The wholly original fantasy series starts with a novel of three narratives that link to tell a partial recent history and present of a world where natural disasters coupled with magics of earth and stone shape the lives of all who live there. In one segment, the story has a form similar to the walled village and desperate journey of Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower; in one, a young girl begins training in an oppressive arcane academic; in the third, two bitter strangers begin a quest that enriches and reveals more than anticipated.
Very good writing, complex and engrossing parallel plot lines, unique characters, interesting politics and world-building. I'll reserve judgment otherwise until I've read the rest of the series.
Very good writing, complex and engrossing parallel plot lines, unique characters, interesting politics and world-building. I'll reserve judgment otherwise until I've read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Child death, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Classism and Bullying
Minor: Cannibalism
biobeetle's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Torture, Slavery, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Abandonment, Bullying, and Death
amsswim's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Anyone looking for a Hugo winning fantasy? THis was my first read by this author, but I really like her writing style. Full of details and feeling, I really felt my heart aches for what the characters go through. The plot and setting start a bit abstract, but in a way that pulled me in entirely. I'm not usually a series girl, or I haven't been in years, but maybe this will get me back into it. I have 2 more after this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Toxic friendship, Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Child abuse, and Slavery
Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
Minor: Vomit
wordpuncher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Bullying, Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Animal death, and Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse and War
cherub__'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a fantastically enjoyable read, and the world building has the potential to be top-notch! The second-person POV is an interesting technique and comes with many dangers, but for the most part Jemisin handles it with ease. The in-world politics have the potential to be fascinating, but for now (hopefully!) the intrigue is left to hints and passing mentions. I'm very hopeful this book is the first in a truly excellent series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content
charrlee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
"Let's start with the end of the world, why don't we? Get it over with and move on to more interesting things."
N. K. Jemisin has created a work that is engaging, intelligent, heartbreaking, and perhaps, above all else, raw. As a reader, I never considered myself a huge fan of consuming science fiction because I never really felt like I had any rights over a genre that is so dominantly white. In these fictional realities that are often set far into a distant future, I never got the privilege of seeing myself in these futures -- that is, of course, until I found Jemisin's work. In her book, I discovered everything that science fiction should be, and it is not your standard magic or space laser. Science fiction is freedom of imagination, the bending of reality, the questioning of power sources, and an exploration of the "what ifs" that are in every world. And of course, we love to see novels where characters can be unapologetically black.
Right away, you can tell that the world building is nothing short of phenomenal. Also, if you're a fan of books with maps, you're in luck friends. Jemisin is world building done right - you don't get all the answers up front. Yes, there is the context of the continent you are on, but there is also speculative history embedded through bits of stonelore throughout the novel. Nothing is given fully upfront, you are as much of a learner as any character in the novel. The invitation of mystery and the elation of speculation entices you further into the world Jemisin has worked so hard to craft. The scaling of the book -- macro to micro history and systems -- is so seamlessly woven into the text. Alongside the characters, you are also learning new information about a world that is brimming with unknowns. There are so many teasers present, and let me just say, some of my favorite pages were the interludes.
What I am most excited to rave about is the writing style of the book. I LOVE a book that is non-linear in storytelling, and Jemisin does just that. The perspective of characters shifts throughout the chapters, and at each point the perspective is also taking place at an entirely different time. While this might be a turn off for some, I urge you to bear with it even if you are not a fan of non linear stories, because it just works so well for the set up; if nothing else, stay for the character reveals if you haven't managed to piece it together during the read. Additionally, Jemisin toys with the idea of how the perspectives are delivered throughout the novel. Out of the three main character perspectives (Damaya, Syenite, and Essun), two are told in limited third person and one uses second person perspective. Now, it has been a minute since I've read a book that properly uses the second person perspective, and my mind was blown away with how well the second perspective works with what Jemisin is achieving. You are Essun, and Essun is you; understanding this throws the idea of agency, identity, and subject versus object into a realm of subversion. I personally don't include spoilers in my reviews (I would get to carried away in my reivews), but I swear that the way identity and perspective is explored in this novel is truly unique; I've never experienced a read quite like it.
Of course, it isn't a SciFi review if I don't get technical about the element x(s) in the Fifth Season. The story is set in a world that is ironically called The Stillness. The Earth is constantly impacted by earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis (you know, all the fun environmental disasters!) that can only be quelled by orogenes; people who can connect to and seismically control the Earth. Despite the importance of the orogenes in maintaining the world, they are oppressed slaves under the Fulcrum. Due to misguided fears and lack of understanding, the stills (people who don't have the power of orogeny) are convinced that orogenes are dangerous and must be controlled at all times. The ability of orogeny is innate for those who possess the power, making them persecuted by the stills who are trying to stabilize the world by ensuring fewer unexpected elements. I want to be clear: this book is phenomenal in the way it addresses systematic oppression (who has power and/versus who controls it?), but it is also very graphic in the methods that are used in maintaining this power structure. There is genuinely so much to discuss on the topic alone, that I almost feel like I am doing a disservice by not attaching an essay on everything the novel touches on.
In a bonus round of everything else I loved about the book:
*The characterization/lore around Father Earth
*The way land is discussed/the conversations that can be centered around land/nature
*Construction of alternative societies (that are in opposition to the Fulcrum)
*One of the BEST representations of a polyamorous relationship (it genuinely brought me so much joy)
*Found families and finding people who unconditionally accept you
*The visibility of characters - there is someone for everyone
*The way Jemisin interrogates racism and prejudices
Lastly, one of my favorite quotes in the book (though I have many)
"But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the planetary scale. The number of things that they do not notice are literally astronomical."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Torture, Slavery, and Genocide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Body horror, Cannibalism, and Child death
sproutedpages's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Slavery, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Torture, Murder, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Child abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Blood, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia, Stalking, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, and Ableism
atomicrobin's review
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Murder, and Gaslighting
thirdeyeangel23's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
N. K. Jemisin had me on the edge of my seat from page one. There’s very little I can say that won’t give away major spoilers, so if you love anything fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian I think this is a must read. The characters draw you in and twist at your heart immediately. There is action, betrayal, and a lot of heartache, but also the potential for so much more. I’m planning to immediately devour book 2!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Slavery, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Abandonment, and Confinement
Minor: Rape
halanthir's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence