Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

150 reviews

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I feel like the first book did a disservice to this book by being SO good. Like, if this book had been preceded by anything else, it would be 5 stars through and through. But the first book just set the standard so high 😭. 

I think the pacing on this book just let it down a bit. It’s a classic second book—there’s a lot of setup going on. Everyone is standing on shaky ground, and any relationships formed are tenuous. It makes the characterization very interesting, but also harder to really root for anyone. Mostly I just wanted to get through this book and on to the next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Hate crime, Violence, and War

Minor: Ableism

lamamaloca's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death

shadereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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 abuse, Death, Racism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence

witcheep's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Kirjasarja jatkuu samalla monitasoisella tavalla kuin aiemminkin. Maailmanloppu on alkanut viidentenä vuodenaikana, ja päähenkilöt sekä lukija oppivat lisää sen taustoista ja mahdollisista yrityksistä vaikuttaa koko Tyynimaan kohtaloon. Jokainen on vaikeiden valintojen edessä jatkuvasti sekä oman että heille läheisten ihmisten turvaamiseksi: ketkä nähdään ihmisinä ja ketkä ovat toisia, vihollisia.

Tämä on vieläkin hän. Sinä et pääse eroon siitä tunteesta. Siksi sinä huokaiset ja päästät irti siitä osasta itseäsi, joka haluaa kohdella häntä jonakin toisena, jonakin pelottavana, jonakin vieraana.

Maailmanlopun taustalla on vuosisatoja tai -tuhansia kestänyt sota, jossa on lukuisia osapuolia. Loppujen lopulta kaikki tiivistyy siihen, ketkä ansaitsevat voimakkaimpien avainhenkilöiden – nyt tai kaiken alkupisteessä olleiden kansojen – rakkauden ja millaisiin hirmutekoihin he ovat valmiita rakkaidensa tähden.

Tähän samaan monimutkaisuuteen kytkeytyvät myös kirjan kerrontaratkaisut monissa eri persoonamuodoissa (minä, sinä ja hän). Vaihdokset persoonamuodoissa osoittavat kertojan ja eri henkilöiden välisten suhteiden syvyyttä. On paljastunut, että päähenkilö Essunista kertovissa luvuissa sinä-kertojan ääntä käyttää

kivensyöjä Hoa, joka sanoo rakastavansa Essunia

. Kertoja paljastaa itsestään lukijalle ja

puhuttelemalleen Essunille

lisää sitä mukaa, kun Essun kokee paljastuksia maailmasta, omista kyvyistään ja muista ihmisryhmistä. Samalla kertoja vaikuttaa kuitenkin pelkäävän, että kaikkien paljastusten myötä hänelle tärkein henkilö ei enää välttäisikään hänestä.

Minä haluan jatkaa tämän kertomista sinulle samaan tapaan kuin olen jo tehnyt: mielessäsi, omalla äänelläsi, kertoen, mitä tiedät ja ajattelet. Tuntuuko se sinusta tunkeilevalta? Minä tunnustan, että onhan se sitä. Itsekästä. Kun puhun vain omissa nimissäni, minun on vaikea tuntea olevani osa sinusta. Se on yksinäisempää. Minä pyydän, anna minun jatkaa vielä vähän aikaa.

Kertoja ei ole ainoa, joka säätelee omien tietojensa eteenpäin kertomista tai opettamista sen mukaan, kuinka paljon arvelee yleisönsä kykenevän käsittämään tai kuinka paljon jaettua tietoa kulloinenkin tilanne ehdottomasti vaatii.

Kerronnan kytkeytyminen kerrottavaan tarinaan näin moniulotteisella tavalla on kiinnostavaa! Kerrontaratkaisut tuntuvat enteilevän sitä, että juonessa on luvassa trilogian päätösosassa vielä lisää yllätyksiä.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Genocide, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and War

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Deportation

kayhardt's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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: Child abuse

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

rx_hydro's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Toxic relationship, and War

jnavbar's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad fast-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

Como buena segunda parte, genera más preguntas de las que responde. Esperemos que la conclusión de la trilogía esté a la altura.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Xenophobia

bigofheartdumbofass's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• 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

Second time reading this, and damn is it so good still. It's been my favorite series for a decade, and there is a reason for that!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Hate crime and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death and Colonisation

hdunscombe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

dellydoos's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.5

 I picked this book up right after I finished the Fifth Season, and I did not put it down until I had finished. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin is a brilliant continuation of the Broken Earth trilogy, maintaining the high standards set by its predecessor while expanding the depth and complexity of its world and characters.

The character development in The Obelisk Gate is particularly noteworthy. Essun’s growth as a mother and a powerful orogene is compelling, and the introduction of Nassun's perspective adds depth and a fresh viewpoint to the narrative. Nassun's journey, filled with pain, discovery, and transformation, is heart-wrenching and powerful. The relationship with her father is fraught with tension and sorrow, highlighting the emotional toll of survival in a fractured world. Her struggle to reconcile her own burgeoning powers with her father’s fear and loathing of orogeny is both tragic and compelling. Schaffa, our favourite Guardian, also reappears and I somehow hate him even more in that state that he’s left in after the events of the Fifth Season. But I know that Miss Jemisin has plans for this one, so for now I will sit and seethe with impatience.

The relationship between Alabaster and Essun is another highlight, filled with complexity and depth. Their interactions are laden with a history of pain, betrayal, and unspoken affection. Alabaster is a little bitch, but he is also incredibly complicated. His gradual transformation and his cryptic guidance to Essun add layers to their already intricate dynamic, making their relationship one of the most nuanced in the series. Their shared experiences and individual traumas shape their bond in ways that are both poignant and profound.

And Hoa, let’s not forget that lil gem.

Jemisin also excels in power scaling and plot development in The Obelisk Gate. The introduction and further exploration of the obelisks, along with the enigmatic stone eaters, add new dimensions to the story. The obelisks’ mysterious power and the stone eaters' cryptic motives create a sense of wonder and tension, driving the narrative forward. I’m engaged and I’m intrigued.

The Obelisk Gate delves deeper into the mythology of The Stillness, revealing more about the world’s history and the origin of its catastrophic cycles. The stakes are higher, the conflicts more intense, and the characters’ struggles more desperate. Jemisin’s prose remains as evocative and powerful as ever, drawing readers into a world that is as brutal as it is beautiful.

Again, the emotional damage I suffered from this book was heartbreaking and I enjoyed every second of it. 4.5/5 stars

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia