Reviews with content warning for Rape - Páté roční období

Best book I've read so far in 2022! I agree with reviews saying it's best to go into this knowing as little as possible. Worldbuilding, atmosphere, character development, even the science behind the magic...amazing, all of it. Do be aware of the content warnings.

I admit I was intimated by the writing style at first, thinking "am I smart enough to get this?"...but it's quite accessible once you've gotten used to it. Jemisin doesn't really explain any of the lore, you just gradually pick it up as you go (there's an appendix, but as always, I never bother). It didn't feel "info-dumpy". I appreciated this, actually! Like she wasn't holding my hand through it, but gave me enough context to understand. This is in stark contrast to Brandon Sanderson's writing style in Warbreaker (I'm only comparing because I finished that right before this one) wherein he plainly explains the magic system like the mechanics of a video game. So: patience is needed, but it'll pay off.

The use of second-person POV in Essun's chapters was a perfect choice! It adds so much to the story, in my opinion. Damaya's chapters were my favorite. I'm proud to say that I figured out the plot twist before I hit the halfway mark, ha. I'm sure other readers figured it out even faster than I did, but I'm usually late to pick up on clues, so I felt insanely validated. 😆 The reveal of

the narrator

, though? I didn't see that coming and it gave me goosebumps, geez. Everything came together beautifully. I am so glad I gave this book a chance!

Content Warnings

seemz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

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neni's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

I had high expections for this book since everyone and their mothers seem to reccomend it highly.

I must say, I knew it had dark themes, but I wasn’t prepared for just how dark and how pervasive the whole thing was. I think that’s what took down the enjoyment factor a bit for me, I get that life is hard in this universe, but I kinda hate when authors make us care for the main characters and then put them through nothing but pain and suffering for the whole book. I mean, can’t they be at least a little bit happy? lmao I totally recognize that’s a personal taste thing and not exactly a fault with the book. Maybe if I had read it at a different time in my life I would have felt another way, but I couldn’t help but get a little bit depressed everytime I read a new chapter.

Other than that though, this book was pretty much impeccable.

The writing style was beautiful and engaging, and somehow managed to create an incredibly emotional environment and deliver powerful feelings without being super flowery or descriptive, which I found impressive. It was to the point, but impactful? Quite unique from what I’ve been reading and a weirdly appropriate choice in a book thats about stone wielders.

On that note, I think the greatest strength of the book is definitely the worldbuilding. The magic system (if it can even be described as magic, some cool natural phenomenon turned technology out of a sci-fi novel would be just as accurate to describe it) is superb in its complexity and originality. All of the rules and the way their powers work around them are fascinating to read about.

The way the author organized the plot and the pacing was stellar as well. She did that super satisfying thing that authors do where the book starts with a bunch of different threads and timelines that seem disconnected but that get progressively closer to each other and it all comes to a head as this “everything is connected” climax. Pretty cool

The character’s as well were nicely fleshed out. But again, thinking about them makes me sad lol

Overall, a great read for fantasy and sci-fi fans alike. Was a tiny bit too sad and depressing for me to find extremely enjoyable, but still I don’t regret reading it.

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shieldbearer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

A masterpiece of worldbuilding and character study.

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kieran_c's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. So amazing. I’m a slow reader, and I read this in under 48 hours. I’ve never not put a book down to do something else before. The narrative voice(s) are amazing, the worldbuilding has me hooked and the intricate layer of mysteries and questions makes this as much a mystery-thriller as it is a fantasy novel. Some people have an issue with one POV being in second person, but it’s done very well, it helps keep the narrative chronology clear and it adds an extra layer of intrigue to the book.

Honestly, this wouldn’t have been the kind of plot I expected to become enthralled by. I’m simple, and like basic happy ever afters. And this is dark, incredibly so. But, you are as gently eased into the level of darkness as is possible, in my opinion, and this dark stuff is what makes you connect so strongly with the story. The characters aren’t naturally loveable, due to their demeanours and actions, but I don’t think they are supposed to be. You see their faults, but connect so strongly with them and understand why they’re there.

I couldn’t recommend the book more highly

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hanahf's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

4.75

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ailsaod's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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

This book is really good but oh boy does it get dark. I've seen a lot f recommendations of this book but no one talks about the messed up stuff that happens. There were a few times I just had to put the book down and be like 'oh wow that is atrocious'. Warnings for

child deaths, implied paedophilia, referenced cannibalism, dubious/non-consensual sex and mass death from various natural disasters

If any of these are deal breakers for you then maybe steer clear as it can get a bit horrifying.

The writing of this book is excellent. It begins following three perspectives - which you quickly realise

cannot be happening simultaneously because only one of them is experiencing the actual END of the world!

and I really enjoyed figuring how the perspectives were connected. I suspect I was quite slow in figuring out the link between the perspective characters but it was still very satisfying and wasn't played as a shock twist at any point. There are also a few sections written with an omniscient narrator that were great as they served to put the very personal tragedy Essun is experiencing into context with the wider world. I found it impressive how these interludes were written in a very detached manner but still communicated the devastation that occurred and wow, is thinking about it too long scary!

I also really liked the setting. Clearly a lot of research had been done into natural disasters and what circumstances could cause a 'season'. The ruins of all the dead civilisations and the obelisks were also very intriguing and I am desperate to know more about how the stone eaters fit into all this. Will be thinking about this book for a while yet!

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