Scan barcode
spellbindingtomes's review against another edition
I tried so hard to finish this, but I just couldn't. I was incredibly bored and confused the majority of the time. I felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't particularly attached to any of the characters. I'm so sad to be writing this because the first book of this trilogy was amazing. It just went downhill from there. I still think people should give this trilogy a try, as I'm definitely in the minority here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
chasinggrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
What do you even say about this book, the ending to this trilogy? All I know is that it is cemented (get it?) as some of the best writing, storytelling, and character building that I’ve experienced.
This story explores a breadth of themes: motherhood (reluctant, surprising, unfortunate, all-encompassing), oppression, climate change, revenge, found family, survival, hatred, guilt, and GRIEF.
So much grief, so much love. My heart absolutely shatters for the main character - we follow her entire life in these three books and I don’t know if I’ve ever truly understood a character more than I have come to understand her. You fall in love with her broken, imperfect self.
But I also deeply understand the other main POV in the second and third installments. I get her - she demonstrates the consequences of experiencing endless tragedy and oppression in childhood. Her decisions make perfect sense when you know her, just like the decisions of the main character. I saw myself in both characters time and time again.
I’m also pretty sure I’ll never ever ever get over the “love interests” (questionable title) of these books. Innon, you will ALWAYS be famous to me!!! Lerna, you were too pure for this story. Baster, you bastard, I love your crazy ass. Any time I read about these men I was close to tears!
All of this being said, there are of course have imperfections in this trilogy that I want to state:
This story explores a breadth of themes: motherhood (reluctant, surprising, unfortunate, all-encompassing), oppression, climate change, revenge, found family, survival, hatred, guilt, and GRIEF.
So much grief, so much love. My heart absolutely shatters for the main character - we follow her entire life in these three books and I don’t know if I’ve ever truly understood a character more than I have come to understand her. You fall in love with her broken, imperfect self.
But I also deeply understand the other main POV in the second and third installments. I get her - she demonstrates the consequences of experiencing endless tragedy and oppression in childhood. Her decisions make perfect sense when you know her, just like the decisions of the main character. I saw myself in both characters time and time again.
I’m also pretty sure I’ll never ever ever get over the “love interests” (questionable title) of these books. Innon, you will ALWAYS be famous to me!!! Lerna, you were too pure for this story. Baster, you bastard, I love your crazy ass. Any time I read about these men I was close to tears!
All of this being said, there are of course have imperfections in this trilogy that I want to state:
- Hoa’s POV frustrated me in this book - I found myself not caring enough during his chapters, even though they are the most important to understand what the fuck is happening and why. I feel like the author could have explored literary devices other than lengthy flashbacks to communicate Hoa’s purpose.
- The literary device used in Book 1 made me obsessed with the series, and I found myself missing it in Books 2 and 3.
I know this is ultimately a story about motherhood, but for a girl who never actively wanted children, this bitch gets pregnant a LOTTTT. By the fourth one I was OVER IT and I found the last one to be so unnecessary. We already know that Lerna is a great guy, we didn’t need this emotionless realization of procreation. - It took 3 books to understand what the fuck the whole war is about, and even now I don’t think I get Steel’s POV or reasoning for manipulating Nassun. I couldn’t explain to you all the sides/motivations of this war if I tried.
This trilogy is fucking emotional and I can say now that I get the hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
agdkfjsjh I feel like I’m going insane. books are so much better when the plot is driven entirely by distinct character motivations!! especially when characters have conflicting motivations!!! I will eat that shit up every time!!!
The depth and breadth of emotion in these books is so visceral. There is a lot to be said about grief in apocalypse stories and this book is a prime example of that.
The structure of this book (switching consistently between three POVs- essun, nassun, hoa) felt like a return to the structure of the first book, and I think it solved the minor pacing issues that the second book had.
The ending also really just reshaped the whole narrative for me. I can’t wait to reread with full context. (also 🥹🥹 need to go find some fanfic of alabaster and essun and their cute little found family. they just needed a little more time 😭😭)
The depth and breadth of emotion in these books is so visceral. There is a lot to be said about grief in apocalypse stories and this book is a prime example of that.
The structure of this book (switching consistently between three POVs- essun, nassun, hoa) felt like a return to the structure of the first book, and I think it solved the minor pacing issues that the second book had.
The ending also really just reshaped the whole narrative for me. I can’t wait to reread with full context. (also 🥹🥹 need to go find some fanfic of alabaster and essun and their cute little found family. they just needed a little more time 😭😭)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Genocide
Minor: Cannibalism
kwthor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy
any_direction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Genocide, Cannibalism, and Murder
thekikko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Genocide, and Pregnancy
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
Sobbed my way through the last chapter.
This author is a genius. The world-building is wildly thorough. I know that I need to re-read this series so that I can understand it better because I do feel like some of it went over my head. She has such a powerful understanding of humanity and families that keeps wrecking my shit.
This last book was honestly hard to want to read--because I just didn't like reading Nassun's POV (it's still excellent! I just wanted to spend time with Essun, but I know how important Nassun's POV was there)--but every time I picked it up, I didn't want to put it down.
This author is a genius. The world-building is wildly thorough. I know that I need to re-read this series so that I can understand it better because I do feel like some of it went over my head. She has such a powerful understanding of humanity and families that keeps wrecking my shit.
This last book was honestly hard to want to read--because I just didn't like reading Nassun's POV (it's still excellent! I just wanted to spend time with Essun, but I know how important Nassun's POV was there)--but every time I picked it up, I didn't want to put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Genocide, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Murder, and Pregnancy
ktmanos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
This series was so unique. Very grim but so rewarding to read. I loved the use of 1st- 2nd- and 3rd-person perspectives, the masterful blending of fantasy and science fiction, and the poignant commentary on power, control, and abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and War
hellsjerome's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.75
Stuck the landing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Child death and Terminal illness