Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

90 reviews

veeples's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: War

sadieh's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Medical content, Grief, and War

Minor: Gore

shingekiyes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

this book was SO SLOW but it really expanded on the incredible world established in The Fifth Season. the magic, the science, was all extremely fascinating and i was continually perplexed and in awe of this universe. 

i had to stop reading about 1/3rd through because of a few of the trigger warnings i list below, but i am very glad i kept going. 

NK Jemisin has such a unique way with words and her characters are all so tangible and emotive. Essun and Alabaster ripped my heart out time and time again, and i empathized with Nassun on so many unexpected  levels. i cannot wait to read the (what i have heard will be) thrilling conclusion to the trilogy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, and War

Minor: Sexual content

savvylit's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

(Review is for the whole trilogy but still spoiler-free:)

This series was absolutely riveting and compelling. The Broken Earth trilogy is not only a sci-fi/fantasy epic but also a centuries-spanning mystery. Jemisin's characterization and world-building are perfection. Personally, I do not usually enjoy books with heavily detailed world-building, but my interest in the characters kept me invested long enough to accept and eventually delight in the setting of Broken Earth. Syenite, Alabaster, Essun, Lerna, Innon, Tonkee, Hoa, Nassun, Ykka... I truly fell in love with each of these often deeply flawed humans being stretched to the limits of survival.

This trilogy is stunning for its honesty and nuance regarding the spectrum of humanity. Among the known characters, there is no strict good vs. evil dichotomy. There are just humans with or without the knowledge to make the right decisions. Even characters who seem to be enemies are more complex than that. Additionally, Jemisin's characters often challenge the gender binary and celebrate love in all forms. Lastly, beyond the multi-faceted people, this series contains disturbing and thought-provoking analogies for real world oppression and hatred. The subject matter is heavy but realistically and compassionately portrayed. I can't wait to read more of Jemisin's work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

mmccombs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

4.0

While not as gripping as the first, it still holds its own as an incredibly, well, magical installment in the trilogy. It does the 2nd book thing where it builds up context and a lot of the content feels like a bridge, but it still felt like it’s own story with compelling twists and turns. I loved getting Nassun’s perspective and as a result, seeing more facets of this world. And Essun is just… THE character I love her. Very excited to probably immediately start the third book!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief

some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Second book syndrome (or maybe the other books in the trilogy were just too good).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Stalking, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Genocide, and War

beccaand's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Cannibalism

anwade88's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Just wow. This book sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down. Jemisin is a master at diverse characters, complex world building, and somehow still layering it into a fascinating plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, and War

Minor: Body shaming and Cannibalism

bwwilhelm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

fourfootedbeasts's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Colonisation