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yeast_beast's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
4.25
abartuska's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
hannah_grillo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
baileylien's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
vcatterson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization
chantellimus's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Child death, Genocide, War, Hate crime, Bullying, Body horror, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, and Racial slurs
givemacasnack's review against another edition
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
5.0
isaacl98's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
caitcoy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
I feel like I'm one of the few who enjoy the world of sci-fi and fantasy and haven't at least tried this series. Especially given the number of awards it has won. It's a series I've always been intimidated by and I only finally tackled it because I had friends reading it with me. The story of Fifth Season follows Essun, whose husband has killed their son and kidnapped their daughter and Essun must pursue him to get her back even as the world is ending (again) around her.
I find myself really conflicted on the rating for this book. On the one hand, I really admire Jemisin's writing skill and I think I would pick up anything from her just based on that alone. The plotting and the world-building were superb. The POVs, the foreshadowing and the way the reveals were structured was just so impressive to me. I wasn't bothered by the use of the second person POV because just the way it was written, I trusted Jemisin to make it matter. I also constantly was intrigued by where the story was headed and how everything would tie together.
But on the other hand, I also never really felt emotionally connected to the characters. I liked them, I wanted them to succeed, but I never really fell in love with any of them. I suspect that part of this might boil down to the POVs not feeling like a full-fledged character on their own, for good reason. And the character deaths were less impactful because I had the same lack of connection to any of the folks who died, even if I liked them as a character. As someone who's fairly character-driven, that disconnect is why I'm ultimately rating this 4.5 stars.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with this book. It handles some difficult topics and there were definitely sections that I felt enraged or saddened by what was happening and I always wanted to know more. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where Jemisin takes the world and the characters from here.
I find myself really conflicted on the rating for this book. On the one hand, I really admire Jemisin's writing skill and I think I would pick up anything from her just based on that alone. The plotting and the world-building were superb. The POVs, the foreshadowing and the way the reveals were structured was just so impressive to me. I wasn't bothered by the use of the second person POV because just the way it was written, I trusted Jemisin to make it matter. I also constantly was intrigued by where the story was headed and how everything would tie together.
But on the other hand, I also never really felt emotionally connected to the characters. I liked them, I wanted them to succeed, but I never really fell in love with any of them.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience with this book. It handles some difficult topics and there were definitely sections that I felt enraged or saddened by what was happening and I always wanted to know more. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where Jemisin takes the world and the characters from here.
milliemarilyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5