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

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

3.0

This novel was exceptionally well written, and I 100% understand the hype behind it, however it just took me a long time to get into. "The Fifth Season" follows a woman who is trying to find her kidnapped child, and she will go to any length to bring her daughter home. Essun has already lost her son, and she will not give up hope to be reunited with her daughter. There is some magical elements as well, and a grand adventure across great land. 
The world building is very complex, and you need to pay close attention to every detail or you will not fully appreciate what is happening. The author also chose to write a portion of the book in second person, which is not something I see too often. It initially threw me for a loop and really took me out of the story, and I found it difficult to continue to stay invested in Essun's story. 
If I do decide to continue with this series, I think I will need to reread this book so I can full appreciate what is happening, but I definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for an adult Dystopian Fantasy! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings