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A review by embee007
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
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
4.25
"I don’t give a shit what the something- somethingth council of big important farts decreed..."
I had a major plot point spoiled for me, a few chapters before I reached the first hint of its reveal. If that hadn't happened, I'd probably be feeling a lot more solid on 4.5.
“The world is what it is. Unless you destroy it and start all over again, there’s no changing it.”
The beginning was very slow, & by the time I was invested, my library loan was up & I had to wait a few weeks to get the book again, hence why this took over a month & a half to read.
“I’ve never wanted much from life. Just to be able to live it, really."
I can't say much about the actual text itself that isn't a spoiler?? There's 3 povs, only one is told in 2nd person perspective, for reasons (so if that has put you off the book, it's only a small percentage of the book). We're following these POVs in 2 or 3 different times (unclear at first) in a world where some people have the power to control the movement of the earth's plates. This earth happens to see a lot of cataclysmic seismic movement, so having people that can calm the earth's movements, or move the worst away from the cities is important. This happens so often, that this is what they base their seasons on - each disaster that effects the entire continent.
"We are the gods in chains and this is not. Rusting. Right."
I like Jemisin's writing style, & I'm very interested in where this series will go. I plan to pick up book 2 within this year (if the library cooperates).
“And that’s a really shitty apology. ‘I’m sorry you’re so abnormal that I can’t manage to treat you like a human being.’”
Representation: lots of Black & mixed characters (as far as I could tell, both Orogenes & Stills). Trans secondary character. Gay relationship. Bi MCs. (I finished right before I fell asleep & I'm probably things.) At least in the one community, disabled people are accepted. * Slavery is addressed as a theme. *
I had a major plot point spoiled for me, a few chapters before I reached the first hint of its reveal. If that hadn't happened, I'd probably be feeling a lot more solid on 4.5.
“The world is what it is. Unless you destroy it and start all over again, there’s no changing it.”
The beginning was very slow, & by the time I was invested, my library loan was up & I had to wait a few weeks to get the book again, hence why this took over a month & a half to read.
“I’ve never wanted much from life. Just to be able to live it, really."
I can't say much about the actual text itself that isn't a spoiler?? There's 3 povs, only one is told in 2nd person perspective, for reasons (so if that has put you off the book, it's only a small percentage of the book). We're following these POVs in 2 or 3 different times (unclear at first) in a world where some people have the power to control the movement of the earth's plates. This earth happens to see a lot of cataclysmic seismic movement, so having people that can calm the earth's movements, or move the worst away from the cities is important. This happens so often, that this is what they base their seasons on - each disaster that effects the entire continent.
"We are the gods in chains and this is not. Rusting. Right."
I like Jemisin's writing style, & I'm very interested in where this series will go. I plan to pick up book 2 within this year (if the library cooperates).
“And that’s a really shitty apology. ‘I’m sorry you’re so abnormal that I can’t manage to treat you like a human being.’”
Representation: lots of Black & mixed characters (as far as I could tell, both Orogenes & Stills). Trans secondary character. Gay relationship. Bi MCs. (I finished right before I fell asleep & I'm probably things.) At least in the one community, disabled people are accepted. * Slavery is addressed as a theme. *