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decklededgess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A biting allegory for the atlantic slave trade and the treatment of enslaved folk, representation of generational trauma and the pain of choices made to protect and survive, and so much more.
It's a three part timeline following three characters in different eras of this world leading up to the catastrophic natural disaster that will lead to the next seasonal change that occurs in this universe. Each character is living an entirely different life: a child getting recruited into an academy to train her powers, a trainee going on her first mission, and a women with powers who was in hiding and is now in search of her kidnapped child.
I had no idea where anything was headed nor what the goal of the book was outside of survival. In that way I suppose this is a dystopic apocalypse survival book as well as a fantasy. Every new detail revealed was a depressing shock to the system as I read yet everything that led me to say, well what the hell else did I expect that's the dire reality of this world and the real world tragedies it's referencing.
I look forward to the next two books with trepidation.
Graphic: War, Trafficking, Slavery, Murder, Domestic abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Body horror, Vomit, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death
genny'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
I admit I was intimated by the writing style at first, thinking "am I smart enough to get this?"...but it's quite accessible once you've gotten used to it. Jemisin doesn't really explain any of the lore, you just gradually pick it up as you go (there's an appendix, but as always, I never bother). It didn't feel "info-dumpy". I appreciated this, actually! Like she wasn't holding my hand through it, but gave me enough context to understand. This is in stark contrast to Brandon Sanderson's writing style in Warbreaker (I'm only comparing because I finished that right before this one) wherein he plainly explains the magic system like the mechanics of a video game. So: patience is needed, but it'll pay off.
The use of second-person POV in Essun's chapters was a perfect choice! It adds so much to the story, in my opinion. Damaya's chapters were my favorite. I'm proud to say that I figured out the plot twist before I hit the halfway mark, ha. I'm sure other readers figured it out even faster than I did, but I'm usually late to pick up on clues, so I felt insanely validated. đ The reveal of
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Transphobia, and Vomit
seemz'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: Gore, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Murder, and Pedophilia
Minor: Alcohol, Transphobia, and Vomit
neni'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, Murder, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Vomit, and Xenophobia
vasha'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Slavery, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Racism, and Child death
Moderate: Vomit, Colonisation, Ableism, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Trafficking
Minor: Cannibalism, Transphobia, and Homophobia
cozyteareads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Death, Body horror, and Gore
Minor: Cannibalism, Vomit, and Transphobia
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: Child death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Genocide, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
gladduck'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Excrement, Gaslighting, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cannibalism, Blood, and Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Vomit, and Transphobia
jourdanicus'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Vomit
ok7a'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
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Bullying