Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - La quinta estación

Sometimes (most of the time) I say controversial things when it comes to books, as often overhyped and over-celebrated book are really just that: over hyped and over-celebrated. But The Fifth Season is not that book. N.K. Jemisin deserves all the praise for this spectacular and emotional devasting piece of art she’s created, and let me tell you why.

The book takes place at the end of the world. An earthquake has cracked the continent in half and volcanoes are pumping ash into the sky, threatening to coat the sky in eternal darkness for centuries, but all Essun cares about is finding her husband and killing him for kidnapping their daughter and murdering their three-year old son. It’s an emotionally charged first chapter, and yet the punches keep rolling.

In the world of The Stillness, Jemisin’s world-building is superb, detailed, and immersive. The narrative is enriched by a deep history and a complex magic system known as Orogeny, which deals with the manipulation of thermal and kinetic energy (think earth bending and fire bending combined). But the people who wield this dreadful power are villainised and killed if they cannot be controlled by the Fulcrum, a mysterious organisation who are not above enslaving, murdering and torturing orogenes in order to control them.

What sets The Fifth Season apart is Jemisin’s ability to weave complex themes of oppression, survival, and resilience into a narrative that is both epic and deeply personal. Essun’s journey is not just one of vengeance but also of self-discovery and understanding the true nature of her world and its prejudices. This book is an allegory on the harsh, historical and systemic racism our own world faces and it’s an incredibly important story to tell.

Jemisin’s world-building is incredibly detailed, from the intricate histories and lore to the perceived inaccuracies that shape societies within The Stillness. The only fault in her writing is the overwhelming amount of terminology and historical events to wrap your head around (thankfully, there is a glossary and appendix at the back of the book). However, this complexity doesn't ease up, as more terms and events continue to accumulate. Additionally, while Jemisin creates a fully-fledged world with rich characters, each weighed down with unique voices and flaws, her descriptions are sparse and mostly factual. At times, it was challenging for me to grasp exactly what she was trying to convey in certain parts. This minimalistic approach to description left me yearning for more vivid imagery to fully visualize the story's settings and events.

Regardless of minor drawbacks, The Fifth Season is a masterclass in storytelling, blending speculative fiction and fantasy with profound social commentary. This one is a heavy hitter, it’s dark and incredibly emotional. It’s a book that challenges you to think and feel deeply and I’m well settled in for the remainder of the trilogy. 4.5/5 stars.

Content Warnings

hdunscombe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

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chantellimus's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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jjokokomo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is not a fast read. The world building is immense and complicated. The characters can be difficult but I quickly became invested in them. There are many twists and turns and the author continues to keep the reader guessing.

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benditlikebecka's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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sophiarichter's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

Wow. I mean the world building alone makes this book a minimum 4-star - the author puts so much thought and care into a world of turmoil, strife, and oppression. She writes about pain and violence so intimately it almost hurts to read, but turns it into something of grit and determination, painting a world that is so intensely fucked up and imaginative you can’t stop reading and hoping. The use of multiple viewpoints usually annoys me, but it was done in such a way that actually really worked for me. The ending was a bit too abrupt for my taste and left me wanting more (which is a bit disappointing because i have heard the rest of the series is not as good) but overall an amazing story. Definitely should come with major trigger warnings

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elsa_lectora's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a second re-read for me. I should have remembered that now it's not the best time to do so (see trigger warning). But this still is an amazing book. Three points of view, a girl, a young girl and a mature woman, slowly entangling one with the other. A thrilling worldbuilding, with pieces of a perfect puzzle inexorably falling into place. The need to know more of the story...

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tangledweb65's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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 was a challenging book to read, and I found it slightly slow to start, but GOD it was worth it. One of those books you finish and immediately reach for the next in the trilogy. I absolutely admire the style of storytelling she manages to achieve, and how she makes the characters such normal people while being so completely not. Absolutely amazing.

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