Reviews with content warning for Medical trauma - The Obelisk Gate

The Obelisk Gate, book two in the Broken Earth trilogy by NK Jemisin, built on everything I loved in book one and brought even more depth, complexity and heart-wrecking authenticity to each character. As I was thinking about how to describe the dominant themes in book two, I thought most of Beloved, by Toni Morrison, for how fearlessly both NKJ and Morrison explore the layered traumas of child loss and enslavement. I also kept thinking back to the second installment in Tracy Deonn's Legendborn Cycle, Bloodmarked, for how both NKJ and Deonn use fantasy to literally and explicitly call out colonization and the inter-generational trauma of enslaved peoples. NKJ has been very straightforward in her thoughts on the use of subtler forms of allegory to discuss racism in fantasy (as in, subtle doesn't work). In that vein, The Obelisk Gate leaves nothing to misinterpretation - this is a story about slavery.

At the start of The Obelisk Gate, our main character Essun has lost too many children, has sacrificed too much of herself, and has been hunted by too many of those she once loved, and her grief is all consuming. The tender moments between her and Alabaster destroyed me. And we finally get NESSUN in book two, and it's just as much of a gut punch as we expected. She gives up so much for survival - her "daughterhood," her childhood, her ideas of familial love. Through Nessun in particular, NKJ is constantly pushing us to examine our sympathies. Characters like Jija and Schaffa are head-spinning as we try to sort out good and evil in a world literally covered in gray ash.

And sweet, terrifying Hoa. I love him. I distrust him. I love him. I don't know.

Highly recommend this series and looking forward to book three!

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laurenleigh's review

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

The second installment in this trilogy has solidified my opinion that Jemisin is one of the greatest writers of her generation. Her style is so unique and unlike anything else I’ve ever read. This series is certainly dense (I don’t recommend audio versions even though Robin Miles is amazing), but I like a more challenging read once in awhile. It forces me to stay more present so I can attempt to fully grasp Jemisin’s genius. I can’t even begin to understand how she came up with this fantasy world! I loved the expansion of that world in this second book. The exploration of Essun and Nassun’s relationship was particularly interesting. If protecting someone you love involves sometimes hurting that same person, is it still protection? I hope we get more of Nassun in the third book!

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boglord's review

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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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hanarama's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

The Good:

Melodic, poetic prose.
Complex world building.
Complex themes of destiny, duty, sacrifice, etc.

The Bad:

Struggling to understand at times.
Very sad.

You Might Like this if You Like:

Epic, contemplative fantasies.
Creative world building and magic systems.
Post-apocalyptic stories.
Characters who make hard choices.

I feel at times as though I didn't actually read this or Fifth Season, but rather entered a trance and absorbed Jemisin's writing. Her prose is so melodic and unlike anything else that it just washes over me.

Though this book loses the POVs of Syenite and Damaya, we get chapters from Essun's daughter, Nassun. I really loved that this book goes between mother and daughter. It really emphasizes many of the themes of the book, and after the Fifth Season, it is interesting to see Nassun follow a path very similar to her mother's, but diverging in many key ways.

There is so much world building in this book. So much of what is introduced in the Fifth Season is expanded upon here. Jemisin is such a talented world builder.

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troisha's review

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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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podanotherjessi's review

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

So, the plot of this one was a little bit messier than the first book, but I think that's because the perspectives in this one didn't interlock as tightly, so I'm okay with it. It's still absolutely fantastic! If I had to criticize, it'd be that Jemisin is a little heavy handed with her messages sometimes, but given that I agree with those messages, it didn't really bother me. If you don't agree though, it might be hard.

Spoiler free, The Broken Earth trilogy review: https://youtu.be/H83E_4F_09k

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