Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

141 reviews

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

frankieclc's review against another edition

5.0

1st book I've read in ages that didn't have second book syndrome

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Cannibalism, Xenophobia, and Body horror

brianneh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death

the_bees_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad tense 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

4.0

Loved the second book in this series, even if it did have a little book two syndrome, cannot wait to see where book three takes me to! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, War, and Body horror

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cannibalism, Grief, and Death

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

talasterism's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

4.75

SLIGHTLY worse than the first one but still SOOO good, i love the lore of this world so much and the povs of this one were !!!!

AND ALABESTER BEING A STONE EATER jt makes so much sense no???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Violence

Minor: War and Torture

applequinn's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Child death, and Death of parent

Minor: Cannibalism

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Genocide, Death, Blood, Body horror, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Cursing, and Physical abuse

Minor: Deadnaming

brycestevenwilley's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

For me, truly cements this as a great series. The mystery and build up of the Obelisks, the writing style, the continuing character arcs, and the exploration of the world's mechanics are all incredible. Everything in the world building from the physics, to the history, to the socialogy to the character motivations all align so well, and it all meshes together. Excited to get to the next one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Terminal illness, Murder, and War

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Truly, the brilliance of this series cannot be overstated. Like any second installment in a trilogy, this book could have easily plateaued, but it didn’t. The added perspective of additional points of view kept the plot engaging (and, per the norm for this series apparently) heartbreaking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Murder, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse and Cannibalism