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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
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Rating: 3/5 stars
The conclusion to the BROKEN EARTH trilogy.
There was a lot to enjoy about this trilogy: the concept was fascinating, the writing was beautiful, and several of the characters were really complex and interesting. Unfortunately, I felt like this third book fell pretty flat, especially when compared with the rest of the series.
I don’t mind a slow burn, but this one took forever to get going, and even once it did I felt like so much was left unsaid or open-ended. I really didn’t like the ending and don’t feel like it was anywhere close to the payoff I was expecting after the first two books.
In short, I’d still recommend this trilogy and I’m glad I read it, but can’t help feeling a bit let down.
CW: Violence; gore; death; injury; pregnancy; slavery
The conclusion to the BROKEN EARTH trilogy.
There was a lot to enjoy about this trilogy: the concept was fascinating, the writing was beautiful, and several of the characters were really complex and interesting. Unfortunately, I felt like this third book fell pretty flat, especially when compared with the rest of the series.
I don’t mind a slow burn, but this one took forever to get going, and even once it did I felt like so much was left unsaid or open-ended. I really didn’t like the ending and don’t feel like it was anywhere close to the payoff I was expecting after the first two books.
In short, I’d still recommend this trilogy and I’m glad I read it, but can’t help feeling a bit let down.
CW: Violence; gore; death; injury; pregnancy; slavery
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
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
bezarue's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.5
While I still think the first book is my favourite, I still think this finale deserved all the accolades it received. I found Nassun a lot less irritating in this one, possibly because she was in it less, and the final showdown with Essun hurt my heart. Did not enjoy being teased with the possibility of Alabaster and that never coming to fruition, and I kind of wanted Tonkee, Hjarka & Danel to have a bit more relevance in that final bit but other than that don't really have any notes. N K Jemisin has created a masterful exploration of systemic racism and generational trauma within a sci-fi/fantasy plot that keeps you hooked the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Genocide and Grief
Minor: Gore and Pregnancy
alfarmer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
I don’t know what to say. This series was incredible. And devastating. And full of love and loss. I didn’t think I could love and hate every character in a story. Their flaws and reactions and lived experiences were expertly portrayed and I am not sure I will ever experience such whole characters again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
abijmieds's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
I rarely give a final book 5 stars, but this book wrapped up the trilogy in such a memorable and satisfying way. You have to pay attention through the final third, but it really pays off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
amyhasel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
I was in love with this series from the first page of the first book, and this finale is it. N. K. Jemisin is able to balance horror and humor like no one else - it manages to be realistic, gory, and then lighthearted in a moment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Child death and Physical abuse
leguinstan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Wonderful ending to the Broken Earth trilogy!! This novel delved deeply into the history of the stone eaters and answered all the questions brought up by previous entries in the series. All the major characters were explored in depth to the very end. I really don't have much to say. The Stone Sky is a satisfying and cathartic conclusion to a well-written series. If you've made it through to the second book in the series and enjoyed it, I really see no reason to stop now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism and Sexual content
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism