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some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
As the ending of the series, it more than delivered, with some of if not the best worldbuilding I have ever seen in my life (the other books in the series also had really good worldbuilding but this one took it to the next level) and everything is wrapped up better than I thought possible. The character arcs & relationships between characters are really well written and I got emotional at quite a few points. Only issue with the book was that a couple chapters dragged a little but overall one of the best books I have ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Abandonment, Genocide, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Stalking, Murder, Child death, Medical content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Pregnancy, Torture, Hate crime, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Excrement, Colonisation, Cursing, and Sexual content
savvylit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
(Review is for the whole trilogy but still spoiler-free:)
This series was absolutely riveting and compelling. The Broken Earth trilogy is not only a sci-fi/fantasy epic but also a centuries-spanning mystery. Jemisin's characterization and world-building are perfection. Personally, I do not usually enjoy books with heavily detailed world-building, but my interest in the characters kept me invested long enough to accept and eventually delight in the setting of Broken Earth. Syenite, Alabaster, Essun, Lerna, Innon, Tonkee, Hoa, Nassun, Ykka... I truly fell in love with each of these often deeply flawed humans being stretched to the limits of survival.
This trilogy is stunning for its honesty and nuance regarding the spectrum of humanity. Among the known characters, there is no strict good vs. evil dichotomy. There are just humans with or without the knowledge to make the right decisions. Even characters who seem to be enemies are more complex than that. Additionally, Jemisin's characters often challenge the gender binary and celebrate love in all forms. Lastly, beyond the multi-faceted people, this series contains disturbing and thought-provoking analogies for real world oppression and hatred. The subject matter is heavy but realistically and compassionately portrayed. I can't wait to read more of Jemisin's work!
This series was absolutely riveting and compelling. The Broken Earth trilogy is not only a sci-fi/fantasy epic but also a centuries-spanning mystery. Jemisin's characterization and world-building are perfection. Personally, I do not usually enjoy books with heavily detailed world-building, but my interest in the characters kept me invested long enough to accept and eventually delight in the setting of Broken Earth. Syenite, Alabaster, Essun, Lerna, Innon, Tonkee, Hoa, Nassun, Ykka... I truly fell in love with each of these often deeply flawed humans being stretched to the limits of survival.
This trilogy is stunning for its honesty and nuance regarding the spectrum of humanity. Among the known characters, there is no strict good vs. evil dichotomy. There are just humans with or without the knowledge to make the right decisions. Even characters who seem to be enemies are more complex than that. Additionally, Jemisin's characters often challenge the gender binary and celebrate love in all forms. Lastly, beyond the multi-faceted people, this series contains disturbing and thought-provoking analogies for real world oppression and hatred. The subject matter is heavy but realistically and compassionately portrayed. I can't wait to read more of Jemisin's work!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Child death, Death, Grief, Violence, Racism, and Pregnancy
iloponis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
i am speechless this was so beautiful
was like 3 stars for most of it but the ending GOT me
was like 3 stars for most of it but the ending GOT me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Violence
surdiablo'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? Yes
3.0
Definitely an improvement over the previous book, with a satisfying well-written ending ( although perhaps a bit predictable but that isn't necessarily bad ). I did not love it like the first book but it answered pretty much all the unanswered questions I had throughout the series, and everything was tied up nicely for the most part, except for nothing much about stone eater alabaster anymore? cmon! . It was a really good series overall and I don't regret reading it, as I had my doubts after finishing second book. What I enjoyed or appreciated most was the answers we finally got after waiting for long, as those revelations were interesting enough and didn't ruin the story in anyway for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
abbyschalupa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
tayanapier's review against another edition
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
A wonderfully devastating end to the trilogy.
NKJ has woven themes of oppression and motherhood so effortlessly into a SFF world that you can feel it in every page.
Why you need to read this series:
LGBTQI+ representation
The pros
Found family
The world building and magic system is insane
This series is unapologetically black
NKJ has woven themes of oppression and motherhood so effortlessly into a SFF world that you can feel it in every page.
Why you need to read this series:
LGBTQI+ representation
The pros
Found family
The world building and magic system is insane
This series is unapologetically black
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, and Grief
Minor: Cannibalism
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.75
The conclusion of Jemisin's work faces the problematic trope of any fantasy novel or series: how to end without staging a predictable "magical" monumental climax where good triumphs over evil. While the plot walks markedly towards this climax, I was relieved and grateful for her staying true to the characters and methods she had established in the first two books: and in doing so she creates a conclusion which is satisfying and (fairly) unpredictable. And this is what I appreciate from Jemisin, the first fantasy or SF writer I have found in decades who understand how people function: that we are complicated, conflicted, and rarely wholly rational. Yes, we believe in principles, in ideals, but how easily our choices (and our mistakes) feed and compromise them, even while we feel we are walking a certain course. Jemisin creates heroes, but not ones that fulfill their quests by subscribing to external conflicts of good and evil, creation and destruction. What a rewarding read from the genre!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Genocide and Racism
Characters and races in the novel are systemically poorly treated and abused; in the background it is clear that genocide has been conducted upon one group for centuries. It is fairly easy to see parallels to our contemporary history. However, all of these issues are treated sensitively and with an appropriate sense/discussion of injustice.clhtdr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cannibalism, Child death, and Death of parent
boglord's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Torture
hanarama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Book at a Glance:
• Series finale
• Epic science fantasy
• Parent and child dynamics
• End of the world
• CW: body horror, dismemberment, death of a parent, death, cannibalism, environmental disasters, starvation, brain injury
I can't imagine a better ending to this absolutely breathtaking trilogy. While I had suspected how the story would play out, I would never call this story predictable. Rather, N.K. Jemisin masterfully crafts this story, showing her characters' motivations clearly as well as their doubts, worries, and hopes.
Essun and Nassun are both compelling, messy, and flawed people. Jemisin breaths such life into both of them, that it feels impossible to root for either to succeed/fail against the other. Both of them have had such rough lives, their reactions to the harsh world they live in are understandable, even as they act in malice. The dynamic between them, as mother/daughter feels so real, even though they spend much of the book separated.
The framing device of this as well as the previous installments gives some hint towards the conclusion, however, like the rest of the book, is so unique in execution.
When I first read The Fifth Season, I had a hard time getting into the story initially. There was so much world building to take in, and Jemisin has a melodic style that I found, at times, difficult to focus on. However, as I continued, I found myself drawn deeper into the story, and understanding better. I'm sure that I missed things on my first readings, but I know that this is a story that deserves to be read multiple times. Even after finishing the trilogy, I frequently find myself just thinking about it. This is a really beautiful trilogy. I'm excited to read it again in the future.
• Series finale
• Epic science fantasy
• Parent and child dynamics
• End of the world
• CW: body horror, dismemberment, death of a parent, death, cannibalism, environmental disasters, starvation, brain injury
I can't imagine a better ending to this absolutely breathtaking trilogy. While I had suspected how the story would play out, I would never call this story predictable. Rather, N.K. Jemisin masterfully crafts this story, showing her characters' motivations clearly as well as their doubts, worries, and hopes.
Essun and Nassun are both compelling, messy, and flawed people. Jemisin breaths such life into both of them, that it feels impossible to root for either to succeed/fail against the other. Both of them have had such rough lives, their reactions to the harsh world they live in are understandable, even as they act in malice. The dynamic between them, as mother/daughter feels so real, even though they spend much of the book separated.
The framing device of this as well as the previous installments gives some hint towards the conclusion, however, like the rest of the book, is so unique in execution.
When I first read The Fifth Season, I had a hard time getting into the story initially. There was so much world building to take in, and Jemisin has a melodic style that I found, at times, difficult to focus on. However, as I continued, I found myself drawn deeper into the story, and understanding better. I'm sure that I missed things on my first readings, but I know that this is a story that deserves to be read multiple times. Even after finishing the trilogy, I frequently find myself just thinking about it. This is a really beautiful trilogy. I'm excited to read it again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Genocide, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Death of parent