Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

212 reviews

emily_journals's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional slow-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

I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the writing, I loved the unique storytelling; I can't really think of anything about this book that I didn't love. This book is told from 3 (kind of 4) different storylines that center on different characters. There are 3 mains storylines being rotated out for most of the book, but the prologue, interludes, and some of the last chapter are all told from a different perspective. The characters in this book are so complex and so uniquely developed and all of the characters in each of the different storylines are all equally developed and interesting. I think the writing of this book is really what stands out the most to me. The way this book is written with the 3 different storylines alongside the omniscient narrator giving hints and clues with the prologue and interludes is so brilliantly done and I've never read another book that does storytelling in this same way before. This book also just has such a cool premise that I personally am so intrigued by, but you don't really learn the premise of the world until the very ending of the book (although it is hinted at earlier) which I think is such a good way to do world building. I very highly recommend this book, but definitely be sure to check trigger warnings for this one because there's a lot of trauma/grief happening in this world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Abandonment, and Sexual assault

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, and Transphobia

mauricekofi's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

I don't think I can describe accurately what this book makes me feel except awesomely sad and elated. Jemisin is a master of her craft and I thank God I came across her writing because I'm changed for life and you will be too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Genocide, Child death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Grief, and Slavery

angeareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I'm going to need several years to recover from this book. Mentally, I am unwell. It's a brutal world, but just so well-crafted.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Body horror, Grief, Child abuse, and Violence

Minor: Cannibalism

jessi_c's review

adventurous challenging mysterious 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

4.0

I admire Jemisins’ ability to craft a world so thorough in its execution. So well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Violence, Suicide attempt, and Classism

carolyn_baird_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

jennana's review

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? It's complicated

4.5

I may change this rating based on how well I think it sets up the next installments. Characters are at the heart of this story and they are very well executed. The world has more to reveal and I hope it's as exciting as it seems. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Grief

ctara2123's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

This book punched me straight in the face.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Death, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Bullying

Minor: Alcohol and Cannibalism

faithaforman's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

Excellent storytelling with dark moments that will take your breath away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Classism, Slavery, Child death, and Cursing

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Pedophilia

lordslag's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

I read this for like twelve hours straight It’s almost 10 am and I’m a little delirious but So good and I’m so sad Have to get the next books Or I’ll die probably 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Body horror, Pedophilia, and Sexual content

halaagmod's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense

• 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

4.5

This was one of the most creative things I've ever read and the best science fiction novel I've read in a long while. An utter masterpiece.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Body horror, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexual content

Minor: Pregnancy, Transphobia, and Cannibalism