isareadss's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child death, Injury/injury detail, Violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
savvylit's review against another edition
- 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
This series was absolutely riveting and compelling. The Broken Earth trilogy is not only a sci-fi/fantasy epic but also a centuries-spanning mystery. Jemisin's characterization and world-building are perfection. Personally, I do not usually enjoy books with heavily detailed world-building, but my interest in the characters kept me invested long enough to accept and eventually delight in the setting of Broken Earth. Syenite, Alabaster, Essun, Lerna, Innon, Tonkee, Hoa, Nassun, Ykka... I truly fell in love with each of these often deeply flawed humans being stretched to the limits of survival.
This trilogy is stunning for its honesty and nuance regarding the spectrum of humanity. Among the known characters, there is no strict good vs. evil dichotomy. There are just humans with or without the knowledge to make the right decisions. Even characters who seem to be enemies are more complex than that. Additionally, Jemisin's characters often challenge the gender binary and celebrate love in all forms. Lastly, beyond the multi-faceted people, this series contains disturbing and thought-provoking analogies for real world oppression and hatred. The subject matter is heavy but realistically and compassionately portrayed. I can't wait to read more of Jemisin's work!
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Violence, Death, Injury/injury detail, Pregnancy, and Racism
brycestevenwilley's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I always forget that there's an appendix in the back, would have helped the first 75 pages.
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Child death, Classism, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide
Moderate: Cannibalism, Injury/injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Hate crime, Violence, Racial slurs, and Torture
mossgoblins's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Excrement, Body horror, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Pregnancy, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Murder, and Forced institutionalization
hebenonceae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Slavery
hattieosha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Sexual content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Cannibalism
danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Violence, and Injury/injury detail
madyou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Child abuse, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and Cannibalism
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Child death, Death, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Classism, Genocide, Pregnancy, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Gore, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, and Vomit
Moderate: War, Torture, and Sexual content
maeverose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
First, I think if you’re going to include something as sensitive as sexual assault and rape, especially happening to children, it needs to have an important reason to be there. In this book I felt that those things in particular were there purely for shock value. It really wasn’t necessary and it bothered me.
Second, the way the trans character Tonkee is represented I found to be offensive. Not only is she frequently described as being smelly and unclean when no one else is, but there’s also this line in a scene when she’s taking a bath in front of Essun:
“You’re a little surprised to see a penis somewhere amid this process, but, well, not like any comm’s going to make her a Breeder.”
That’s essentially saying ‘oh she’s trans.. but whatever she’s ugly anyway.’ Like??? That’s what your mind to jumps to after finding out someone is trans? Really? Also just the fact that the two trans characters in the book (one isn’t even named) are introduced as being trans by describing their genitals, which is just invasive and could even be read as fetishy. I really don’t understand the people praising this book for having trans characters… Tonkee isn’t even a main or important character hardly, and Essun seems to see her as an annoyance the entire time.
I don’t know if the offensive way Tonkee was represented was intentional or not, but it really doesn’t sit well with me and kind of ruined my experience of the book, which sucks because it is a really good story besides that.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Racial slurs, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Transphobia
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit