lillelow 's review for:

Den femte årstiden by N.K. Jemisin

3.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

---

Intriguing story with solid world-building, rich history, and well-developed cultures and social structures that bring the setting to life. The characters are well-fleshed out, realistic, and their relationships evolve naturally - although I can’t help but wondering how many bad things can realistically happen to a person. The depicts a cruel world with lots of death, trauma, and jarring imagery on many different levels. While I guessed some of the supposed big reveals early on, there was still plenty to decode, and I’m sure much will only make full sense when reading the second novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Hate crime, Slavery, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Classism