A review by jamgrl
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

Can I just insert that Lady Gaga gif? “Brilliant! Incredible! Amazing! Showstopping! Spectacular! Never the same! Totally unique!”

The world building is smart and fascinating and rich and so detailed and creative; this is some top-notch world building. I loved the way information was revealed bc I started to realize that if I payed close attention, I could pick up bread crumbs for later reveals, which is always so satisfying! I am someone who loves trying to connect the dots, like red string on a cork board, so this kind of book is great for me. I’m already formulating theories for Book 2 😂. 

I was also invested in the characters and their relationships. This book is brilliantly tragic because you can know something terrible is inevitable and still be pleading for it not to happen bc you care so much about these people. 

It definitely starts out dark and fairly cryptic/difficult to comprehend, AND it is 100% worth continuing past that initial strangeness (the prologue is a great reread after you have finished the book).