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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
After finishing The Stone Sky, the final installment in NJ Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, I MARVEL at how she pulled off these story arcs across three books. How she managed to examine slavery, motherhood, intergenerational trauma AND a climate crisis - without ANY of these layered allegories feeling incomplete or forced in any way - is genius.
And while Jemisin deals in BIG global themes, she is also incredibly intimate. She gives such grace to each character that we are consistently pushed to reevaluate our sympathies and our own assumptions. I appreciate that while the fall-out for each character is complex, leaving each in morally grey spaces, the evil at the root of all this tragedy is very clear. Jemisin doesn't leave our interpretation to chance here - she (Hoa) will interject frequently, and we're reminded that for every single crime committed, other choices were always possible.
This series is HEAVY with lots of on-page trauma (please check content warnings!). But I highly recommend. I will be carrying these characters in my heart.
And while Jemisin deals in BIG global themes, she is also incredibly intimate. She gives such grace to each character that we are consistently pushed to reevaluate our sympathies and our own assumptions. I appreciate that while the fall-out for each character is complex, leaving each in morally grey spaces, the evil at the root of all this tragedy is very clear. Jemisin doesn't leave our interpretation to chance here - she (Hoa) will interject frequently, and we're reminded that for every single crime committed, other choices were always possible.
This series is HEAVY with lots of on-page trauma (please check content warnings!). But I highly recommend. I will be carrying these characters in my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Body horror, Racism, Torture, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Racial slurs, and Genocide
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cannibalism
beccaand's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Body horror, Death, Genocide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Slavery
Minor: Sexual content and Cannibalism
wren_rainbow's review against another edition
4.0
Such a bittersweet feeling upon completing this trilogy. I completed it still quite not understanding the world and inner workings. A lot of questions left unanswered. < I don’t blame Nassun for her choices and understand why she was making them >. My heart aches for them all but hope that it works out in the end. <Also wish I could see a snippet of Essun and Alabaster’s reunion as well as what her and Hoa end of doing>
I will definitely reread this trilogy in a few years. It will be interesting to read this with a whole new perspective
I will definitely reread this trilogy in a few years. It will be interesting to read this with a whole new perspective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Genocide, Death, Body horror, Grief, War, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Slavery, Gore, Confinement, and Physical abuse
nebulographer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
A fantastic end to a narratively-adventurous trilogy, culminating in a truly emotional confrontation between mother and daughter, an exploration of sacrificial love, and a note of hope for the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Child death and Sexual content
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: violence, child abuse mention, natural disasters, slavery, genocide mention
The Stone Sky is the final book in the Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. This was a beautiful wrap to a stunning scifi/fantasy series. This series is incredibly complex and beautifully wrought.
We continue to get the story from Hoa's POV for both Nassun and Essun. Nassun is with Schaffa and has decided to follow the influence of a stone eater she calls Steel. His influence is destructive. Essun is recovering from the events of the prior book while travelling with the Castrima comm to find safety. All Essun wants to do is find her little girl, and make the world a better place for her. We also get a kind of origin story for the stone eaters from Hoa telling us about Syl Anagist and what happened to the moon.
The plot through these books is so expertly weaved. If you were able to get through the confusion of the first book, then this is a satisfying, if not sad, end. Jemisin has given us a masterclass in world building. Her use of language is exquisite, and I would say it is modern literature in its own right. I don't want to spoil the end, so I will end it here.
I greatly look forward to reading more Jemisin!
The Stone Sky is the final book in the Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin. This was a beautiful wrap to a stunning scifi/fantasy series. This series is incredibly complex and beautifully wrought.
We continue to get the story from Hoa's POV for both Nassun and Essun. Nassun is with Schaffa and has decided to follow the influence of a stone eater she calls Steel. His influence is destructive. Essun is recovering from the events of the prior book while travelling with the Castrima comm to find safety. All Essun wants to do is find her little girl, and make the world a better place for her. We also get a kind of origin story for the stone eaters from Hoa telling us about Syl Anagist and what happened to the moon.
The plot through these books is so expertly weaved. If you were able to get through the confusion of the first book, then this is a satisfying, if not sad, end. Jemisin has given us a masterclass in world building. Her use of language is exquisite, and I would say it is modern literature in its own right. I don't want to spoil the end, so I will end it here.
I greatly look forward to reading more Jemisin!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
albernikolauras's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
What a conclusion. I can't even really wrap up my thoughts throughout this trilogy other than excellent. All of the questions I had in the back of my head got answered - including the reason for the second person. And I loved it.
I had a nice long review of this, but then deleted it, so you just get this telling you to read it.
I had a nice long review of this, but then deleted it, so you just get this telling you to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, and Body horror
chilu_esquivel08's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Quiero que ARDA, quiero quemarlo todo, que se acabe todo, todo, que no quede NADA, que no haya más odio ni más muertes, que no haya nada, p-por el óxido, nada, nada PARA SIEMPRE.."
"La magia deriva de la vida."
"Pero para una ciudad creada a partir de la explotación no hay mayor amenaza que no tener a nadie a quien oprimir."
Sobreviví. Logré llegar hasta el final. Pero no sin quedar malherida.
Creo que con este libro pude ver con más claridad la función que tiene El portal de los obeliscos en toda la trilogía, además se me aclararon las dudas que tenía en cuanto a todo.
Me sorprendió bastante que el tema de la opresión fuese a tener muchísima más profundidad (literal) en cuanto al pasado de la Quietud y también me sorprendió la rapidez en la que transcurrió toda mi lectura.
A lo largo de toda esta trilogía he de admitir que me surgieron varias crisis existenciales y llegué a disociarme también, supongo que fue por los temas tan duros que toca toda esta historia (también hay mommy issues aquí). En definitiva, no es una lectura alegre, pero bastante increíble y única; el mundo que ha creado Jemisin ha sido uno que no había visto antes jamás y como he leído antes, llegué a la conclusión de que tiene muchos elementos de fantasía y ciencia ficción pero no logra encajar en ninguno de los dos por completo, lo cual lo hace bastante original.
Lo único que puedo decir del final es que es agridulce, no había forma de que terminara de otra manera.
Esta fue la primera historia que he leído que ha sido escrita por una mujer negra, N.K. Jemisin ha sido la única escritora en obtener el premio Hugo a la mejor novela por tres años consecutivos y también el premio Nébula y Locus a la mejor novela con El cielo de piedra. Es algo de admirarse muchísimo, no es cualquier cosa.
Les invito a que le echen un vistazo y se adentren en este mundo, no se quedarán indiferentes. Yo por mi parte espero volver a esta historia en un futuro (pero no próximo).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Death of parent, Abandonment, Death, Slavery, and Racism
kjoli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Child death, Child abuse, Murder, and Genocide
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
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
This was probably the most epic story I've ever read in my entire life.
I don't... I don't understand how N.K. Jemisin pulled this off. How the hell did she come up with ... all of this?!?!? She's a genius and definitely a new fav author now.
If I didn't have so many other books to read, I would reread this whole trilogy immediately.
And... the plot is not even that interesting. I would understand if people find parts of it really boring. But the story is still epic and full of emotions. And the world building?! WTF was that?! It's SO wild and perfect? And I already miss the characters.
And the way the story is told? It's my favourite thing when authors use unconventional methods to tell their stories. And it seemed so random at first, but in the end... it all makes SO SO SO much sense.
I don't... I don't understand how N.K. Jemisin pulled this off. How the hell did she come up with ... all of this?!?!? She's a genius and definitely a new fav author now.
If I didn't have so many other books to read, I would reread this whole trilogy immediately.
And... the plot is not even that interesting. I would understand if people find parts of it really boring. But the story is still epic and full of emotions. And the world building?! WTF was that?! It's SO wild and perfect? And I already miss the characters.
And the way the story is told? It's my favourite thing when authors use unconventional methods to tell their stories. And it seemed so random at first, but in the end... it all makes SO SO SO much sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War