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buffy87's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Writing: good, intense world building, kept my interest, a lot of interesting ways to describe things
Content: complicated, I needed to take notes. Multilayered, you learn as you go what's happening, a fantasy with heavy science element, very long intro but I enjoy the MC.
Asexual: two explicit sex scenes, casual mention of sex, not a lot of physical intimacy
Recc: higher literacy levels, HS+ but some jr high kids could read it if advanced,
Content: complicated, I needed to take notes. Multilayered, you learn as you go what's happening, a fantasy with heavy science element, very long intro but I enjoy the MC.
Asexual: two explicit sex scenes, casual mention of sex, not a lot of physical intimacy
Recc: higher literacy levels, HS+ but some jr high kids could read it if advanced,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death, War, Child death, Genocide, Slavery, Body horror, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
halfacenturyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, War, Child death, and Violence
emflipspages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia and Rape
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
I’m so sad I waited so long to read this book. I know it’s won countless awards and it is deserving of every single one.
I think there are a few things that this book does really, really well. The world-building is incredible. It offers complex geography, local politics, history of empire, and social class structure, a “magic” system, as well as noting that this known history is just one of many histories of the land. It’s absolutely brilliant, but then it’s paired with stunning character work. Damaya, Syenite, and Essun all share different perspectives throughout the narrative and the pieces these 3 stories slot together illustrate how much you can root for a character, be frustrated by them, be angry at and for them, the parallels between fear, anger, and grief.
One thing I really loved about this apocalypse story is that it’s not a stereotypical dystopia where a teenage chosen one with powers has to save the day. As we follow Essun, she’s a woman in her mid-late 30s, she’s a mother, and she’s not trying to save the day; she’s just trying to survive. She’s not a “good guy”— she’s actually been the bad guy and has been told she’s the bad guy, subhuman, her entire life, and that her powers are not a magical gift, but a curse. It’s also casually queer in a way that surprised me for a fantasy book in 2015 (I know that’s not THAT long ago but still) and the openness of relationship & parenting structures. It’s not bound by our conceptions of patriarchy and family and I absolutely love that.
This book is genre defying and genre defining. It’s everything fantasy can and should be. I cannot wait to start the Obelisk Gate!
I think there are a few things that this book does really, really well. The world-building is incredible. It offers complex geography, local politics, history of empire, and social class structure, a “magic” system, as well as noting that this known history is just one of many histories of the land. It’s absolutely brilliant, but then it’s paired with stunning character work. Damaya, Syenite, and Essun all share different perspectives throughout the narrative and the pieces these 3 stories slot together illustrate how much you can root for a character, be frustrated by them, be angry at and for them, the parallels between fear, anger, and grief.
One thing I really loved about this apocalypse story is that it’s not a stereotypical dystopia where a teenage chosen one with powers has to save the day. As we follow Essun, she’s a woman in her mid-late 30s, she’s a mother, and she’s not trying to save the day; she’s just trying to survive. She’s not a “good guy”— she’s actually been the bad guy and has been told she’s the bad guy, subhuman, her entire life, and that her powers are not a magical gift, but a curse. It’s also casually queer in a way that surprised me for a fantasy book in 2015 (I know that’s not THAT long ago but still) and the openness of relationship & parenting structures. It’s not bound by our conceptions of patriarchy and family and I absolutely love that.
This book is genre defying and genre defining. It’s everything fantasy can and should be. I cannot wait to start the Obelisk Gate!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: War and Cannibalism
lisbethleftwich's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
Moderate: Violence, Child death, Sexual content, War, and Death
Minor: Animal death
novelteareader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death, and Xenophobia
bolinebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🌟 Peak fantasy experience 🌟
Spoiler free review:
The Fifth Season was absolutely fantastic. The plot, characters, and structure were entirely unique. Something I loved about it was that one of the main characters was written in second person and was a 40yr(ish) woman. While the themes are VERY dark, it was done with purpose and not for shock value (definitely look up trigger warnings).
It was a twisting roller coaster of pain and excitement.
The world building was wild. Since there are 3 time lines, I really got a sense for the world. I loved getting to know all the characters and they were so beautifully fleshed out.
It took me some time to get into this book, but once I got the audiobook I found it much easier. The narrator really made the story come alive and it was nice to read along with the book or just listen. One of the best audiobooks I have listened to.
This book absolutely deserves the recognition that it has gotten. I was on the edge of my seat by the end and couldn't put it down. I'll definitely be reading more books by NK Jemisin.
Spoiler free review:
The Fifth Season was absolutely fantastic. The plot, characters, and structure were entirely unique. Something I loved about it was that one of the main characters was written in second person and was a 40yr(ish) woman. While the themes are VERY dark, it was done with purpose and not for shock value (definitely look up trigger warnings).
It was a twisting roller coaster of pain and excitement.
The world building was wild. Since there are 3 time lines, I really got a sense for the world. I loved getting to know all the characters and they were so beautifully fleshed out.
It took me some time to get into this book, but once I got the audiobook I found it much easier. The narrator really made the story come alive and it was nice to read along with the book or just listen. One of the best audiobooks I have listened to.
This book absolutely deserves the recognition that it has gotten. I was on the edge of my seat by the end and couldn't put it down. I'll definitely be reading more books by NK Jemisin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Child abuse, Death, and Grief
piperkitty's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
The Fifth Season N. K Jemisin
5/5
Brilliant world building. Books drag you in as if you are part of their world. Dark but so enacting.
I enjoyed getting to see the class system in this world.
Different classes of people.
A lot is going on in this book, but if you reflect as you go, you understand the story more. I love how we have each character's story and how we are viewing the story through 3 different points of view.
I love the idea of Stillness, where the earth is entirely different to what we knowknowtoda. There's so much plot and world-building within this book. I enjoyed it though it's a slow build. It gets you to know this world well.
Danya, I empathised with it; a harsh world for her.
I have literally shouted, gasped and cried as this book.
5/5
Brilliant world building. Books drag you in as if you are part of their world. Dark but so enacting.
I enjoyed getting to see the class system in this world.
Different classes of people.
A lot is going on in this book, but if you reflect as you go, you understand the story more. I love how we have each character's story and how we are viewing the story through 3 different points of view.
I love the idea of Stillness, where the earth is entirely different to what we knowknowtoda. There's so much plot and world-building within this book. I enjoyed it though it's a slow build. It gets you to know this world well.
Danya, I empathised with it; a harsh world for her.
I have literally shouted, gasped and cried as this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, and War
midnightgremlin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve now read this book twice and it hit has stood up the test of time. I can’t wait to continue with this series and see if any of my theories pan out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Slavery
Minor: War, Cannibalism, Vomit, and Genocide
jarshi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.25
The way the separate plotlines come together at the end of this book is so fucking satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Violence, Murder, War, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death