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witcheep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Kirjasarja jatkuu samalla monitasoisella tavalla kuin aiemminkin. Maailmanloppu on alkanut viidentenä vuodenaikana, ja päähenkilöt sekä lukija oppivat lisää sen taustoista ja mahdollisista yrityksistä vaikuttaa koko Tyynimaan kohtaloon. Jokainen on vaikeiden valintojen edessä jatkuvasti sekä oman että heille läheisten ihmisten turvaamiseksi: ketkä nähdään ihmisinä ja ketkä ovat toisia, vihollisia.
Tämä on vieläkin hän. Sinä et pääse eroon siitä tunteesta. Siksi sinä huokaiset ja päästät irti siitä osasta itseäsi, joka haluaa kohdella häntä jonakin toisena, jonakin pelottavana, jonakin vieraana.
Maailmanlopun taustalla on vuosisatoja tai -tuhansia kestänyt sota, jossa on lukuisia osapuolia. Loppujen lopulta kaikki tiivistyy siihen, ketkä ansaitsevat voimakkaimpien avainhenkilöiden – nyt tai kaiken alkupisteessä olleiden kansojen – rakkauden ja millaisiin hirmutekoihin he ovat valmiita rakkaidensa tähden.
Tähän samaan monimutkaisuuteen kytkeytyvät myös kirjan kerrontaratkaisut monissa eri persoonamuodoissa (minä, sinä ja hän). Vaihdokset persoonamuodoissa osoittavat kertojan ja eri henkilöiden välisten suhteiden syvyyttä. On paljastunut, että päähenkilö Essunista kertovissa luvuissa sinä-kertojan ääntä käyttää
Minä haluan jatkaa tämän kertomista sinulle samaan tapaan kuin olen jo tehnyt: mielessäsi, omalla äänelläsi, kertoen, mitä tiedät ja ajattelet. Tuntuuko se sinusta tunkeilevalta? Minä tunnustan, että onhan se sitä. Itsekästä. Kun puhun vain omissa nimissäni, minun on vaikea tuntea olevani osa sinusta. Se on yksinäisempää. Minä pyydän, anna minun jatkaa vielä vähän aikaa.
Kertoja ei ole ainoa, joka säätelee omien tietojensa eteenpäin kertomista tai opettamista sen mukaan, kuinka paljon arvelee yleisönsä kykenevän käsittämään tai kuinka paljon jaettua tietoa kulloinenkin tilanne ehdottomasti vaatii.
Kerronnan kytkeytyminen kerrottavaan tarinaan näin moniulotteisella tavalla on kiinnostavaa! Kerrontaratkaisut tuntuvat enteilevän sitä, että juonessa on luvassa trilogian päätösosassa vielä lisää yllätyksiä.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Genocide, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Deportation
dellydoos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.5
I picked this book up right after I finished the Fifth Season, and I did not put it down until I had finished. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin is a brilliant continuation of the Broken Earth trilogy, maintaining the high standards set by its predecessor while expanding the depth and complexity of its world and characters.
The character development in The Obelisk Gate is particularly noteworthy. Essun’s growth as a mother and a powerful orogene is compelling, and the introduction of Nassun's perspective adds depth and a fresh viewpoint to the narrative. Nassun's journey, filled with pain, discovery, and transformation, is heart-wrenching and powerful. The relationship with her father is fraught with tension and sorrow, highlighting the emotional toll of survival in a fractured world. Her struggle to reconcile her own burgeoning powers with her father’s fear and loathing of orogeny is both tragic and compelling. Schaffa, our favourite Guardian, also reappears and I somehow hate him even more in that state that he’s left in after the events of the Fifth Season. But I know that Miss Jemisin has plans for this one, so for now I will sit and seethe with impatience.
The relationship between Alabaster and Essun is another highlight, filled with complexity and depth. Their interactions are laden with a history of pain, betrayal, and unspoken affection. Alabaster is a little bitch, but he is also incredibly complicated. His gradual transformation and his cryptic guidance to Essun add layers to their already intricate dynamic, making their relationship one of the most nuanced in the series. Their shared experiences and individual traumas shape their bond in ways that are both poignant and profound.
And Hoa, let’s not forget that lil gem.
Jemisin also excels in power scaling and plot development in The Obelisk Gate. The introduction and further exploration of the obelisks, along with the enigmatic stone eaters, add new dimensions to the story. The obelisks’ mysterious power and the stone eaters' cryptic motives create a sense of wonder and tension, driving the narrative forward. I’m engaged and I’m intrigued.
The Obelisk Gate delves deeper into the mythology of The Stillness, revealing more about the world’s history and the origin of its catastrophic cycles. The stakes are higher, the conflicts more intense, and the characters’ struggles more desperate. Jemisin’s prose remains as evocative and powerful as ever, drawing readers into a world that is as brutal as it is beautiful.
Again, the emotional damage I suffered from this book was heartbreaking and I enjoyed every second of it. 4.5/5 stars
The character development in The Obelisk Gate is particularly noteworthy. Essun’s growth as a mother and a powerful orogene is compelling, and the introduction of Nassun's perspective adds depth and a fresh viewpoint to the narrative. Nassun's journey, filled with pain, discovery, and transformation, is heart-wrenching and powerful. The relationship with her father is fraught with tension and sorrow, highlighting the emotional toll of survival in a fractured world. Her struggle to reconcile her own burgeoning powers with her father’s fear and loathing of orogeny is both tragic and compelling. Schaffa, our favourite Guardian, also reappears and I somehow hate him even more in that state that he’s left in after the events of the Fifth Season. But I know that Miss Jemisin has plans for this one, so for now I will sit and seethe with impatience.
The relationship between Alabaster and Essun is another highlight, filled with complexity and depth. Their interactions are laden with a history of pain, betrayal, and unspoken affection. Alabaster is a little bitch, but he is also incredibly complicated. His gradual transformation and his cryptic guidance to Essun add layers to their already intricate dynamic, making their relationship one of the most nuanced in the series. Their shared experiences and individual traumas shape their bond in ways that are both poignant and profound.
And Hoa, let’s not forget that lil gem.
Jemisin also excels in power scaling and plot development in The Obelisk Gate. The introduction and further exploration of the obelisks, along with the enigmatic stone eaters, add new dimensions to the story. The obelisks’ mysterious power and the stone eaters' cryptic motives create a sense of wonder and tension, driving the narrative forward. I’m engaged and I’m intrigued.
The Obelisk Gate delves deeper into the mythology of The Stillness, revealing more about the world’s history and the origin of its catastrophic cycles. The stakes are higher, the conflicts more intense, and the characters’ struggles more desperate. Jemisin’s prose remains as evocative and powerful as ever, drawing readers into a world that is as brutal as it is beautiful.
Again, the emotional damage I suffered from this book was heartbreaking and I enjoyed every second of it. 4.5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia
sofipitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This one was good but not as good as the first, many scenes with Essen felt like waiting around for plot relevant information. I ended up more riveted by Nassun's arc, that was so well done and personally affecting. I'm excited to finish the trilogy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Violence
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming
lucystolethesky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, and Blood
farleighelse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
expands on stone eaters. more on what happens during a season and how it affects environment. a guardian lost, losing his original drive. starts to care for oregones. Fucked up moon. child abuse and trauma. multiple POVs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual content and Torture
studydniowka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
4.5
Nie znam piękniej napisanej fantastyki. Warto przeczytać tylko dla tego języka i dla tej narracji (w drugiej osobie!), żeby zrozumieć, jak poetycko opisać koniec świata…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Cannibalism
anwade88's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Just wow. This book sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down. Jemisin is a master at diverse characters, complex world building, and somehow still layering it into a fascinating plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, and War
Minor: Body shaming and Cannibalism
corriejn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Sequels are frequently disappointing, but Jemisin has managed to pick up seamlessly where The Fifth Season left off, masterfully keeping the reader engaged and looking forward to the final installment of the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
maelikesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
3.75
This book explores some amazing themes and is beautifully written. I love the characters and their dynamics and the commentary on love, parenthood and growing up in an oppressive world. However, the slow pace did make it harder to get through and enjoy it. I’m glad I read it, and I will be reading the final book in the trilogy, but it wasn’t the most enjoyable of reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual content