Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

La quinta stagione by N.K. Jemisin

118 reviews

_wilhelmine_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

macyplier's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.0

I read this for like twelve hours straight It’s almost 10 am and I’m a little delirious but So good and I’m so sad Have to get the next books Or I’ll die probably 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Pedophilia, and Sexual content

halaagmod's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense

• 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

This was one of the most creative things I've ever read and the best science fiction novel I've read in a long while. An utter masterpiece.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content and Kidnapping

Minor: Transphobia, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy

sofipitch's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Stayed up late to finish this so writing less than it deserves but fucking excellent. One thing that really stood out was how engaging the prose was, especially doing a similar bit that Harrow the Ninth does (well, did before). Every bit of this was so well put together, I don't feel like anything overpowers one another, the plot, characters, themes, etc stand in equal importance, which makes for a really engaging and rich read. Also not afraid to get dark

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, and Grief

cherry_lake's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Completely loved this book, so excited to read the next one. 

Things I loved about it:
- World building
- Character development 
- Queerness as an unremarkable aspect of the world
- Excellent pacing 
- Complete commitment to the geology theme 
- Such a good plot twist near the end 
- Loose writing style that easily enveloped very difficult themes and humor

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Trafficking

Moderate: Bullying and Pregnancy

dragon_s_hoard's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

tired_cicada's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-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

4.75

Do you ever go into a book knowing nothing about it and it is just gut punch after gut punch? Cause apparently that's how I need to pick my books from now on casue y'all this book had me in the palm of its hand!! 

(Check trigger warning through!)

I am I sucker for nonlinear story telling, I live pick out the lies and the half truths! I am glad I didn't know anything about this though, cause if I'd know this book was told in second person I probably wouldn't have picked it up, but...
This it was just too good! 

I would recommend this book to my friends... But maybe not my mom. If you know you know.

I need book two right now!

WE ARE GOING TO STEAL THE MOON!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Cannibalism, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

mythicsage's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

squidnamedfinger's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-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

totally gripping all the way through. couldn't put it down. you know a fantasy book is good if it's got me actually referencing the glossary.

Jemisin does such a great job creating a world that is as deeply insidious as our own. her use of second-person perspective is especially good at hammering it in that YOU should be feeling this sense of hatred and injustice at every turn. I love the way the perspective character often describes people in terms of how desirable the empire sees them. it really drives home how deeply the ugliness of this world affects the way her characters think and act.

and her CHARACTERS. the whole cast is enthralling. I won't say much because I think they deserve to be introduced on their own, but my favorites are Tonkee and Innon.

Jemisin also supplies just the right amount of information; the glossary and timeline are vague enough to give a sense of the world without spoiling anything. I actually went back and reread the prologue about halfway through to get more context, then I read the glossary and ignored the timeline (until the end). 

her pacing is also a huge strength--I was confused for the first few chapters jumping time and perspective, but by the time I got about 80 pages in (around when you're introduced to Damaya and Schaffa) it clicked. from there it just delivers blow after blow of outstanding scenes that all echo each other across every storyline. 

cannot recommend this enough. brutal and horrifying--but it's also heartwarming, and quite funny in passing moments. quite a few passages had my jaw on the floor. really excited to dive into the next in this trilogy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Body horror and Gore

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I really loved this epic fantasy packed full of earth-based powers, found family, inclusive character design, and tragedy. The 3-character style worked so well. This starts slow, as many epic fantasy do, and has such an interesting payoff as character stories come together.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death

Police brutality, destroyed homelands/refugee experience