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nerdy_reader_9571's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Murder, Torture, and Slavery
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Rape
sarasreading's review against another edition
- 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
I was so happy to finally get some answers in this one, and that we start getting them right from the beginning. The way Jemisin seamlessly blends multiple genres, POVs, and timelines was just so good. And the stakes just kept raising and raising while still being at its core (ba-dum-bum) an intimate mother-daughter story.
The trilogy as a whole explores so many systemic problems from our own past and present that are mainly caused by those with power who continually chose their own interests over what's right. It's incredibly complex in its ideas, scope, and characters. Every character is layered, which just draws you in even deeper.
I got all the answers I wanted, and the ending was really satisfying to me. The first book might still be my favorite in the trilogy (that twist still has my jaw on the floor!), but the entire series is amazing. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Death, Body horror, Torture, Abandonment, Racism, Slavery, and Genocide
thewileyseven's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Torture, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Child abuse, Colonisation, and War
kaimetcalfe's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, Torture, Cursing, and Slavery
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Mental illness, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
studydniowka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Genocide
Minor: Torture, Blood, and Cannibalism
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- 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
And while Jemisin deals in BIG global themes, she is also incredibly intimate. She gives such grace to each character that we are consistently pushed to reevaluate our sympathies and our own assumptions. I appreciate that while the fall-out for each character is complex, leaving each in morally grey spaces, the evil at the root of all this tragedy is very clear. Jemisin doesn't leave our interpretation to chance here - she (Hoa) will interject frequently, and we're reminded that for every single crime committed, other choices were always possible.
This series is HEAVY with lots of on-page trauma (please check content warnings!). But I highly recommend. I will be carrying these characters in my heart.
Graphic: Slavery, Body horror, Racism, Torture, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Racial slurs, and Genocide
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cannibalism
some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Abandonment, Genocide, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Stalking, Murder, Child death, Medical content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Pregnancy, Torture, Hate crime, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Excrement, Colonisation, Cursing, and Sexual content
boglord's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Torture
lilifane's review against another edition
- 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
I don't... I don't understand how N.K. Jemisin pulled this off. How the hell did she come up with ... all of this?!?!? She's a genius and definitely a new fav author now.
If I didn't have so many other books to read, I would reread this whole trilogy immediately.
And... the plot is not even that interesting. I would understand if people find parts of it really boring. But the story is still epic and full of emotions. And the world building?! WTF was that?! It's SO wild and perfect? And I already miss the characters.
And the way the story is told? It's my favourite thing when authors use unconventional methods to tell their stories. And it seemed so random at first, but in the end... it all makes SO SO SO much sense.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
fiveredhens's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Hoa says to your slumped back, "I can't die."
You frown, jarred out of melancholy by this apparent non sequitur. Then you understand: He's saying you won't ever lose him. He will not crumble away like Alabaster. You can't ever be surprised by the pain of Hoa's loss the way you were with Corundum or Innon or Alabaster or Uche, or now Jija. You can't hurt Hoa in any way that matters. "It's safe to love you," you murmur, in startled realization.
"Yes."
She draws up her feet and wraps her arms around her knees, curiously vulnerable for someone whose presence within the strata is as deep and dense as a mountain. I reach up to touch her ankle, greatly daring, and she blinks and smiles at me, reaching down to cover my fingers with her hand. I will not understand my feelings for centuries afterward.
The onyx says, in its ponderous, wordless way:
Execute Y/N?
And in the cold stone silence, alone, Nassun chooses.
YES
"It might take some time."
"I don't think I'm very patient."
But you take my hand. Don't be patient. Don't ever be. This is the way a new world begins.
"Neither am I," I say. "So let's get to it."
It's almost like the old days, except that now Hoa appears as you walk, gets left behind as you keep walking, then appears again somewhere ahead of you. Most times he adopts a neutral posture, but occasionally he's doing something ridiculous, like the time you find him in a running pose.
Remwha crouches to run a hand along the wooden slats of the floor. I don't know why he does anything.
Asked Tinimony to take me into the hole today and she said no. What's in the hole, huh? What's in the hole.
complex mother-daughter relationships fraught with abuse and they have to
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Excrement, Gore, Medical content, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit