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strategineer's review against another edition
5.0
The shake that passes will echo. The wave that recedes will come back. The mountain that rumbles will roar.
The Fifth Season is a story about suffering and trying to find moments of pleasure and peace in a broken world.
The POV characters are all persecuted and forced to suffer because of circumstances outside of their control.
They're "orogenes", people born with the ability to exert control over stone, often, in exchange of their own life force and of the people around them.
They are a minority and their powers make them targets to be used, abused and lynched by the majority.
Their plight resonates with me because I see myself in them. Like the orogenes, I'm also desperately trying to find moments of happiness in a world that is broken beyond repair (aren't we all?).
I'm different, like the orogenes, I'm different in a way that constantly puts me at odds with the vast majority of people on this planet (they don't think like me, they don't communicate like me and they usually don't care to try to understand me and my perspective).
I'm constantly bending over backwards to meet their expectations and most people can barely lift a finger to try and meet me somewhere in the middle.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep trying to change myself, to be less different, to be more like everybody else and less like myself to fit in. Because I know deep down that no matter what I do, I will never be accepted as I am, warts and all.
Like one orogene in particular, sometimes I feel as though it would be best for us to shatter the world we live in and start over.
The Fifth Season is one of the best novels I've ever read. N. K. Jemisin is skilled beyond her years. She's written an engaging text that kept me glued to my seat throughout but also a text that holds up to scrutiny and begs you to think about what it's trying to say about our own world.
If you're looking for a light read, maybe look elsewhere. But if you're ready to sink your teeth into something real, then I can highly recommend The Fifth Season.
The Fifth Season is a story about suffering and trying to find moments of pleasure and peace in a broken world.
The POV characters are all persecuted and forced to suffer because of circumstances outside of their control.
They're "orogenes", people born with the ability to exert control over stone, often, in exchange of their own life force and of the people around them.
They are a minority and their powers make them targets to be used, abused and lynched by the majority.
Their plight resonates with me because I see myself in them. Like the orogenes, I'm also desperately trying to find moments of happiness in a world that is broken beyond repair (aren't we all?).
I'm different, like the orogenes, I'm different in a way that constantly puts me at odds with the vast majority of people on this planet (they don't think like me, they don't communicate like me and they usually don't care to try to understand me and my perspective).
I'm constantly bending over backwards to meet their expectations and most people can barely lift a finger to try and meet me somewhere in the middle.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep trying to change myself, to be less different, to be more like everybody else and less like myself to fit in. Because I know deep down that no matter what I do, I will never be accepted as I am, warts and all.
Like one orogene in particular, sometimes I feel as though it would be best for us to shatter the world we live in and start over.
The Fifth Season is one of the best novels I've ever read. N. K. Jemisin is skilled beyond her years. She's written an engaging text that kept me glued to my seat throughout but also a text that holds up to scrutiny and begs you to think about what it's trying to say about our own world.
If you're looking for a light read, maybe look elsewhere. But if you're ready to sink your teeth into something real, then I can highly recommend The Fifth Season.
irisjune's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
daedal's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chopp2111's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
taylorthiets's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the book and by listening to the audiobook, I picked up on the twist (all three povs were the same person) on accident because I didn't listen closely enough at the beginning. The story was unique and creative, but a bit confusing when starting the book with no context of what the story will be about. Will continue the series, but will read rather than listen.
finallyrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
emily613's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eryngrace's review against another edition
2.0
well, that was painful.
on paper, it sounded exactly like my kind of book: female protagonist, interesting premise and potential for cool worldbuilding, unlikeable and diverse characters. unfortunately, it didn't live up to any of my expectations. I hated the writing style, bland characters, and boring dialogue - I just didn't care for any of it by the middle of the book and finished it out of respect for the author, hoping it'd get better later on. it didn't.
I wonder whether my rating would've been higher if this book hadn't been so hyped up by literally everyone.
on paper, it sounded exactly like my kind of book: female protagonist, interesting premise and potential for cool worldbuilding, unlikeable and diverse characters. unfortunately, it didn't live up to any of my expectations. I hated the writing style, bland characters, and boring dialogue - I just didn't care for any of it by the middle of the book and finished it out of respect for the author, hoping it'd get better later on. it didn't.
I wonder whether my rating would've been higher if this book hadn't been so hyped up by literally everyone.