Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

7 reviews

evelasco's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Hate crime, Murder, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Child death

Moderate: Ableism, Gaslighting, Genocide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cannibalism

leguinstan's review against another edition

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

4.0

I am just amazed at how this series breathes new life into the epic fantasy genre AND the apocalyptic genre. The magic system is unlike anything I've read in other fantasy novels and the world-building is beautifully done *chef's kiss*. You really get a good sense of how the setting influences the behavior of individuals and the social mores of larger communities. I have a hard time picturing any of the characters existing in other fictional universes.

One of my biggest pet peeves in (post-)apocalyptic stories is the abundance of cartoonishly self-serving characters. I'm happy to say this is very much NOT the case in this series. While several character act in a self-serving manner I never got the sense that any of these characters were inherently selfish and each individual self-serving act is understandable considering the past experiences and current circumstances of these aforementioned characters.

I also love how there are not just two, but several groups in this novel with opposing goals and priorities. It's not just Essun and her allies vs. a singular group in direct opposition to her plans. I also really like that we got a better understanding of the stone eaters in this novel.

My only complaint about The Obelisk Gate in particular is that the pacing drags during the many discussions between Essun and Alabaster. Luckily the relationship and history between the two characters are absolutely fascinating and their discussions are very relevant to the plot. Regardless, a fantastic follow-up to The Fifth Season!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Violence, and Gore

Moderate: Genocide, Body horror, Racism, Child abuse, and Cannibalism

Minor: Ableism and Sexual content

The racism is fantastical in nature and has very little to do with our real-world understanding of race. Ableism: so this is an apocalyptic setting and there is talk of physically disabled characters being a drain on resources and not contributing as much to the survival of their communities. Not a major theme in the novel, but it does come up several times. Cannibalism

lucystolethesky's review

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Ableism, Death, Child death, Grief, Medical content, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Blood, Animal death, and Body horror

boglord's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, War, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Vomit, Genocide, and Gore

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, and Slavery

alayamorning's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Murder, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Terminal illness, Animal death, and Medical content

Minor: Ableism, Cannibalism, and Sexual content

n_asyikin_'s review against another edition

challenging 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

5.0

I liked to take my time reading Jemisin's works, because her world was so rich, so complex, you found yourself captivated in an anthropological way.

Set in a dystopia where xenophobia (against orogenes) & ableism were rampant, the Broken Earth series explored morally questionable decisions people made, & were made to choose. The unequal interplay between sociopolitical standings were exacerbated by the power of nature, i.e. Father Earth, highlighting the greater injustices faced by the oppressed. 

If anything, I'm always in awe with how layered the structure to Jemisin's books were. She'd made you questioned who's the narrator, the linearity of the story timeline, the intent of her characters that left you feeling somewhat out-of-sort, but never to the point of confusion. Jemisin's style of writing would teased you & enlightened you in equal measures; it will leave you hooked.

The way Jemisin imbued the characters' complex internal world with the chaos of their reality was mindblowing. I found myself wondering how one could even begun to think of creating such a world. Truly, a brilliant read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Moderate: Ableism and Xenophobia

troisha's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Cannibalism, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Slavery, and Terminal illness

Minor: Abortion, Ableism, Confinement, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, and Vomit