Scan barcode
A review by sai_g
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I would like to start with the positives of this book:
The concept of this book is very unique and interesting.
All the three POVs being the same person was a clever idea. When we realize that Damaya is Syenite, I guessed that she was also Essun. But still liked that part of the book.
Queer people being openly accepted and not viewed as something "out of the ordinary" was a treat.
Then why 2 stars? Well, I am having a very hard time pinpointing the reason for my dissatisfaction. But, I'll try. Here goes:
Maybe this is a me thing, but the repeated incomplete descriptions were driving me to an edge.
Here is an example:
Some description that is supposed to be horrifying but it -
Abruptly stops with a dash
There are two Oh's, one of which would be in italics.
Next line is a profanity in the "Earth" slang.
Moving on to the next dialogue.
Maybe Im dumb. But, Im supposed to understand what happened from that? The author has decided not to include the usual monologues we get in fantasy books where a character explains the world to someone, which is just for the reader's sake. Brave choice. But now she also does this?! Give me something.!
I hated being kept in the dark for so much of the book. Well, the whole book technically. (I usually don't mind when authors do this, but I found myself getting angry here)
Themes that could be interpreted as being parallels to our world's conditions were over done to the point of being horrifying for the sake of horrifying.
The relationship came out of nowhere but later became tolerable.
Overall, I am not even interested enough to read the next book.
The concept of this book is very unique and interesting.
All the three POVs being the same person was a clever idea. When we realize that Damaya is Syenite, I guessed that she was also Essun. But still liked that part of the book.
Queer people being openly accepted and not viewed as something "out of the ordinary" was a treat.
Then why 2 stars? Well, I am having a very hard time pinpointing the reason for my dissatisfaction. But, I'll try. Here goes:
Maybe this is a me thing, but the repeated incomplete descriptions were driving me to an edge.
Here is an example:
Some description that is supposed to be horrifying but it -
Abruptly stops with a dash
There are two Oh's, one of which would be in italics.
Next line is a profanity in the "Earth" slang.
Moving on to the next dialogue.
Maybe Im dumb. But, Im supposed to understand what happened from that? The author has decided not to include the usual monologues we get in fantasy books where a character explains the world to someone, which is just for the reader's sake. Brave choice. But now she also does this?! Give me something.!
I hated being kept in the dark for so much of the book. Well, the whole book technically. (I usually don't mind when authors do this, but I found myself getting angry here)
Themes that could be interpreted as being parallels to our world's conditions were over done to the point of being horrifying for the sake of horrifying.
The relationship came out of nowhere but later became tolerable.
Overall, I am not even interested enough to read the next book.