A review by _chaoticbooknook
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

 so. i found this book to be a lot easier to follow now that i was more oriented to the world after Fifth Season. the pacing was a bit faster, and the plot was so interesting. but oh my god is it possibly more emotional and devastating? the family dynamics made my heart break into shards in a singular way: just so achingly, devastatingly sad. the emotion in the Nassun storyline is unparalleled. that alone makes this book extra good for me. plus i feel like the fact that the meat of the trilogy is coming together makes this utterly fascinating. 
 
not to say that you can half-pay attention at any point during this book still. the world building is a bit more explained but still somewhat piecemeal. things unfold quickly that have significant impact on the storyline. i had to go and re-read a few parts because i definitely did missed those details. things came together in this book in a slightly surprising way, but i really enjoyed it. 
 
this book continues to be so incisive and smart. Jemisin truly excels at testing the limits of the written word, from her choice of words to her play with the sentence structure. i’m more excited to read the next book than i was at the end of Fifth Season. 
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