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albernikolauras'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
Now if only I would pick up the last book....
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Slavery
kjoli'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
Graphic: Slavery, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Genocide
boglord'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, War, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Vomit, Genocide, and Gore
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, and Slavery
drkshadow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia
elenatamsen'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
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Death, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Minor: War, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
sugarpal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Unlike the first book with its three perspectives, this novel mostly follows two POVs, the main one written in second person like in The Fifth Season, the other in third, with some interludes. (I did find the second person narration more intrusive in this installment, but as I suspected there is a narrative reason for it, so.) Slight spoiler concerning the content warning: one perspective is that of the abuser, the other of their victim, so you really see both sides of the story. The telling rang absolutely true to me, because Jemisen is incredibly sympathetic to both characters, but that’s also why I think this book could be hurtful to someone with trauma in that area. But then, it’s just an incredibly dark book. I advise caution.
On with the actual review, then. Obviously, one of the main focuses of this book is abuse, especially child abuse. Jemisen really examines the abusive cycle, how victims become abusers, how they imitate what they know, how people can do terrible things to people they really do love, and that just because they do them out of love doesn’t make them excusable. I really love (and hate) how balanced Jemisen is with her characters, how she sympathizes with them but never sugarcoats things, and lets the reader decide what they can condemn or forgive. And when, exactly, does a person change enough to redeem themself? Can they ever –– can they choose to become someone new?
Of course, because this is an N.K. Jemisen book, there’s so much more. Between the usual sci-fi/fantasy considerations of morality, murder and survival and sacrifice, Jemisen also thoroughly examines the natures of bigotry and oppression, exploitation and dehumanization. Though these subjects are often touched on superficially in stories, as an African American woman, Jemisen brings an incredibly important and urgent perspective, and she makes it personal. Despite this trilogy’s setting in a far-future post-racial survivalist dystopia, it is a thorough indictment of the status quo.
I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first, but then that bar was sky-high. Still an incredible novel — I highly recommend.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Child death, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
troisha'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
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Cannibalism, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Slavery, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion, Ableism, Confinement, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, and Vomit
fiveredhens'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
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Torture
regnistegra'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
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence