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dwellordream's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape
redthistle's review
- 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
The book is split up into different povs, two of which are told through third person narrative and one which is told through second person narrative. I'd never read a book before that used second person and it was really cool. At first it felt strange, but it didn't take long for the second person chapters to feel very natural and for me to stop noticing that it even was. NK Jemisin is an amazing and talented writer and in this book weaves an interesting, complex, and captivating world together with rich characters.
One thing I will mention is that I felt that this book was rather heavy. Throughout reading and after I finished I felt very contemplative and at times sad or disturbed by events which occurred and ways in which the society functioned. This was intentional as the book it set in an apocalyptic world.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit
hanarama's review
- 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
- Slow, organic world building
- Thorough character examinations
- Surprising reveals
The Bad:
- Sad, at times the story feels very hopeless.
You Might Like this if You Like:
- Creative fantasy worlds and magic systems
- Character-driven narratives
- Slowly revealed twists/mysteries
The Broken Earth Trilogy has been on my tbr for a long time, and now I'm kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. N. K. Jemisin is a master in storytelling and world building.
In a world that has ended more times than can be remembered, human society has become adept at picking up the pieces. The Fifth Season explores the lives of three orogens, people with the ability to manipulate kinetic energy and influence the tectonic activity of the earth. They are also widely regarded as dangerous and volatile, able to bring about the end of the world with a shrug.
Damaya is a young girl, a newly discovered orogen. She works to survive her training and to prove herself as smart and talented.
Syenite, is a skilled orogen, paired with a new mentor. She chaffs against the establishment and her off-putting new teacher.
And Essun, a grieving mother searching for her daughter and the man that killed her son.
Through them, Jemisin introduces us to a tumultuous world that threatens to break people down at every turn. It's hostile, but magical and breathtaking. And the stories of the main characters reveal how drive, love, and personal strength can alter the laws of nature.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Slavery
cerilouisereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Vomit
troisha's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, Confinement, Gore, Medical content, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Rape, and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy
pt_princessery's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Moderate: Child death, Gore, and Violence
waterlilyreads's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Gore
kidcorvus's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
That being said, I had a lot of trouble, particularly near the start of the novel, with the narrative style. It felt almost condescending at times, and I was a bit confused by who the target audience is -- the voice seemed to be intended for younger teens, but there is heavy content that doesn't feel all that appropriate for most 13 year olds (as one can see from the looooong list of trigger warnings). The style did settle in eventually, though, seeming to figure itself out. There were still a couple of issues with pacing, with characters often coming to realizations a page or two later than me (despite it being written as if it was a Big Reveal to both the character and the reader), or figured something out that I hadn't yet, without quite fully explaining the realization (which was never too much of a problem since I pieced them together after a page or so, but did make me feel as though I was lagging behind).
I found that some of the heavy content felt a bit overdone or sensational, especially right at the start but also in combat scenes throughout the book. That's the nature of the genre, though, so I can't hold it against the novel too hard.
I thought that the perspective changes were well done, and details were woven in throughout the story that supported the slight twist that happens near the end.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Vomit and Pedophilia
Child death appears right at the start of the book, without buildup, so be prepared for thateve_reads's review
- 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
⁕ The book concept is so original, despite it falling into the popular genres of fantasy and post-apocalyptic.
⁕ The world building can be intense at first, but it is totally worth it.
⁕ Jemisin perfectly balances 3 separate storylines with the just right amount of development and suspense, so I never got bored!
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
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Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Child death, Torture, Violence, and Sexual violence
kiya136's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, and Child death