Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Fifth Season

This is an amazing and unique book unlike any I have read before.
The book is split up into different povs, two of which are told through third person narrative and one which is told through second person narrative. I'd never read a book before that used second person and it was really cool. At first it felt strange, but it didn't take long for the second person chapters to feel very natural and for me to stop noticing that it even was. NK Jemisin is an amazing and talented writer and in this book weaves an interesting, complex, and captivating world together with rich characters.

One thing I will mention is that I felt that this book was rather heavy. Throughout reading and after I finished I felt very contemplative and at times sad or disturbed by events which occurred and ways in which the society functioned. This was intentional as the book it set in an apocalyptic world.

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mvvelde's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

Wow.

This is every bit incredible as people say it is.

Jemisin’s writing is masterful, leading to gripping storytelling that keeps the reader puzzling pieces together. I really enjoyed how information was slowly funneled out. It left mystery to many bits and pieces along the way, and led to shocking connections and plot twists. It was hard to put this one down & I am already certain I’ll want to re-read it.

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ecobookworm's review

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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

5.0

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carissa230's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? No

5.0

The first 100 pages or so was a lot of world building, I was pretty confused on what was happening. Once we got past the world building and I was solidly in the world I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

The book follows three main characters. The world is made up of Orogene, people that can feel the earth and help to quell shakes or create them, guardians that work to control the orogene, and those with no powers. The ones with power are unwanted, and feared by those that do not have the power.

Damaya is an orogene, a guardian has just show up to take her to a training facility where she can be controlled. Better to be controlled and used than to be killed for your powers. Damaya is going to learn to control her power, and use it to help get the planet through a new season.

Syenite has achieved her 6th ring, proving she has some power. She has been assigned to conceive a child with Alabaster, a 10 ring. They should produce a powerful child. While they are working on conceiving a child (neither of them enjoy the procreation), they are going on a quest to save a village. They will be forced to work together to save the town.

Essun's son has just been brutally murdered his father. Essun had kept her childrens powers a secret, but he must have seen something he shouldn't and killed the little one to try and control the situation. Her daughter is missing and Essun is on a mission to save her daughter before her father finds out her secret as well.

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