steveatwaywords 's review for:

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

4.75

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

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The conclusion of Jemisin's work faces the problematic trope of any fantasy novel or series: how to end without staging a predictable "magical" monumental climax where good triumphs over evil. While the plot walks markedly towards this climax, I was relieved and grateful for her staying true to the characters and methods she had established in the first two books: and in doing so she creates a conclusion which is satisfying and (fairly) unpredictable. And this is what I appreciate from Jemisin, the first fantasy or SF writer I have found in decades who understand how people function: that we are complicated, conflicted, and rarely wholly rational. Yes, we believe in principles, in ideals, but how easily our choices (and our mistakes) feed and compromise them, even while we feel we are walking a certain course. Jemisin creates heroes, but not ones that fulfill their quests by subscribing to external conflicts of good and evil, creation and destruction. What a rewarding read from the genre!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent

Minor: Genocide, Racism

Characters and races in the novel are systemically poorly treated and abused; in the background it is clear that genocide has been conducted upon one group for centuries. It is fairly easy to see parallels to our contemporary history. However, all of these issues are treated sensitively and with an appropriate sense/discussion of injustice.