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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
lunabbly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
SO GOOD.
I cannot imagine writing a trilogy ever. N.K Jemisin is talented. I read the afterword she wrote and learned that the trilogy was written as she was watching her mother transition to become an ancestor, which is why the trilogy captures such a nuanced, heartfelt, and incredibly complex relationship on motherhood, mothers, loving, relationships, and intergenerational trauma.
As I was reading, I think N.K Jemisin captured so beautifully the confusion of what is yet to come. We're reading about what the world was like before and what catalyzed all seasons, what made Father Earth so volatile, and it felt like as she was writing, she was also unraveling the storyline herself because that's how good the writing is!!! I'm not sure if I'm explaining it correctly lol.
Even though the ending felt so sudden, it was perfect. To capture Nassun's realization of what her mother intended and wanted as her mother gave up because Nassun was too powerful for her, and for Essun to finally return to Hua, for Essun to finally remember who she was and what she needed to be, it was all so beautiful. It was affirming because it was a cycle that concluded.
Highly recommend.
I cannot imagine writing a trilogy ever. N.K Jemisin is talented. I read the afterword she wrote and learned that the trilogy was written as she was watching her mother transition to become an ancestor, which is why the trilogy captures such a nuanced, heartfelt, and incredibly complex relationship on motherhood, mothers, loving, relationships, and intergenerational trauma.
As I was reading, I think N.K Jemisin captured so beautifully the confusion of what is yet to come. We're reading about what the world was like before and what catalyzed all seasons, what made Father Earth so volatile, and it felt like as she was writing, she was also unraveling the storyline herself because that's how good the writing is!!! I'm not sure if I'm explaining it correctly lol.
Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
dkamada's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
ceridwen33's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Again wonderfully written from a craft perspective. Easily the least tear-inducing of the trilogy. That being said, I did wonder how the conclusion of "maybe we shouldn't murder literally all humans" was the most optimistic part of the series. I still had to force myself to get through all the darkness in this series. I'm glad I had the experience of reading it, but I immediately removed them from my house afterward so I'm not visually reminded of how dark a view of humanity these books have. I'm pessimistic enough by myself without the help!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Terminal illness, Violence, and Abandonment
amschelly153's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Gorgeous. Devastating. One of my new favorite series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wormgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Colonisation
nerdy_reader_9571's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
Of the three emotionally devastating books in the trilogy, this one hit me the hardest. The history of this world provided in the third installment pulled together so much of the story for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Rape
sarasreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
Wow, I can't believe I've finished this trilogy. What a ride it was! I feel like I've gone through something with these characters. Every step of this journey was masterful.
I was so happy to finally get some answers in this one, and that we start getting them right from the beginning. The way Jemisin seamlessly blends multiple genres, POVs, and timelines was just so good. And the stakes just kept raising and raising while still being at its core (ba-dum-bum) an intimate mother-daughter story.
The trilogy as a whole explores so many systemic problems from our own past and present that are mainly caused by those with power who continually chose their own interests over what's right. It's incredibly complex in its ideas, scope, and characters. Every character is layered, which just draws you in even deeper.
I got all the answers I wanted, and the ending was really satisfying to me. The first book might still be my favorite in the trilogy (that twist still has my jaw on the floor!), but the entire series is amazing. I can't wait to read more from this author!
I was so happy to finally get some answers in this one, and that we start getting them right from the beginning. The way Jemisin seamlessly blends multiple genres, POVs, and timelines was just so good. And the stakes just kept raising and raising while still being at its core (ba-dum-bum) an intimate mother-daughter story.
The trilogy as a whole explores so many systemic problems from our own past and present that are mainly caused by those with power who continually chose their own interests over what's right. It's incredibly complex in its ideas, scope, and characters. Every character is layered, which just draws you in even deeper.
I got all the answers I wanted, and the ending was really satisfying to me. The first book might still be my favorite in the trilogy (that twist still has my jaw on the floor!), but the entire series is amazing. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
gandalf_a'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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, Pregnancy, and War
bergha1998's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
What an end to this series. The world building was incredible though very complex. I will ceaselessly love all three of the main characters. Very sad too, especially with getting all the background information and how everything is built on racism and xenophobia. Important for the very same reason.
Found Family, Complex Discussions of Racism
“No need for guards when you can convince people to collaborate in their own internment.”
“Well, some worlds are built on a fault line of pain, held up by nightmares. Don’t lament when those worlds fall. Rage that they were built doomed in the first place.”
“(It bothers her that she does this, watching him constantly for shifts of mood or warnings of tension. It is another thing she learned from Jija. She cannot seem to shed it with Schaffa, or anyone else.)”
“But there are none so frightened, or so strange in their fear, as conquerors. They conjure phantoms endlessly, terrified that their victims will someday do back what was done to them—even if, in truth, their victims couldn’t care less about such pettiness and have moved on. Conquerors live in dread of the day when they are shown to be, not superior, but simply lucky.”
“I think,” Hoa says slowly, “that if you love someone, you don’t get to choose how they love you back.”
“There are stages to the process of being betrayed by your society. One is jolted from a place of complacency by the discovery of difference, by hypocrisy, by inexplicable or incongruous ill treatment. What follows is a time of confusion—unlearning what one thought to be the truth. Immersing oneself in the new truth. And then a decision must be made.”
Found Family, Complex Discussions of Racism
“No need for guards when you can convince people to collaborate in their own internment.”
“Well, some worlds are built on a fault line of pain, held up by nightmares. Don’t lament when those worlds fall. Rage that they were built doomed in the first place.”
“(It bothers her that she does this, watching him constantly for shifts of mood or warnings of tension. It is another thing she learned from Jija. She cannot seem to shed it with Schaffa, or anyone else.)”
“But there are none so frightened, or so strange in their fear, as conquerors. They conjure phantoms endlessly, terrified that their victims will someday do back what was done to them—even if, in truth, their victims couldn’t care less about such pettiness and have moved on. Conquerors live in dread of the day when they are shown to be, not superior, but simply lucky.”
“I think,” Hoa says slowly, “that if you love someone, you don’t get to choose how they love you back.”
“There are stages to the process of being betrayed by your society. One is jolted from a place of complacency by the discovery of difference, by hypocrisy, by inexplicable or incongruous ill treatment. What follows is a time of confusion—unlearning what one thought to be the truth. Immersing oneself in the new truth. And then a decision must be made.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail