Reviews

A wonderful continuation of The Fifth Season. Set on a very geologically unstable world where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can cause long dust-cloud winters. The main character Essun is an Orogene who can sense when these seismic events are about to happen and use her orogeny, a kind of telepathic magic, to prevent them, or cause them.

Essun is searching for her daughter, another orogene, who was taken by her father after he killed his son, due to him also being a feared Orogene. As her search starts out there is a massive seismic event after which the sky is full of ash and dust. Essun is enticed into a comm (a village) that is hidden underground. A comm which she will help to protect from other comms seeking to steal its food stores.

Unlike the first book in the series, which was told by three separate versions of Essun in different eras as if they were separate characters, this novel is told from the point of view of just one version of Essun and also her daughter.

As I said about the first novel, the world building is fabulous. This world does not have anything like the medieval feel of most epic fantasy (think LOTR). There are no dwarfs or elves or trolls. The writing is fantastic. When Essun's POV is used, like in the original novel, it is often told in second person, which I think the author uses to suggest Essun is constantly watching herself to try not to appear a threat to the Stills (non-orogene humans) around her.

If you are after superior, original fantasy and not the same old, same old, get this series. The novels will have you staying up late to finish them. I must order the third book in the trilogy.

c_potter's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

edgaruribe's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

jematral's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? No

5.0

mitskacir's review

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4.0

I liked this book quite a bit more than the first book - since the first book set up a lot of the world, I was able to focus more on the story and the intricacies of the lore in this one. Also a lot more happened in terms of plot, and a lot more was explained. I particularly enjoyed the chapters narrated by Schaffa, as he has become an intriguing and more sympathetic character. I was a bit annoyed by how frequently characters killed people in this book... sometimes it was bordering on Game of Thrones killing-someone-because-its-been-awhile-since-anyone-has-died style. Definitely looking forward to reading the third book though, and hoping it will continue to explain lore and wrap up loose threads.

syddieff's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

eats... and stone eats if you will

isaacl98's review against another edition

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challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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