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stierwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I didn’tunderstand the use of the 2nd person until about 2/3rds thru the book, and then thought it was rlly clever.
Characters were complex and loveable.
I have a history degree. That this book focuses on history, how it is told, and who writes it was so good to read and exceptionally well-done. The lore was sooo fleshed out.
A hard one to read in a slump. The world building was complex so thank gd for the appendix.
Dark, but never unnecessarily so.
Except every modern dystopian piece of media i have consumed recently has had cannibalism in it and my tummy hurts.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
natalie_gumm'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: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Kidnapping
alba_marie'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
4.0
The issue with it was that The Fifth Season was a bit too stylised. It required a deep dive into the book, investing in at least 50 pages to really immerse oneself in the text, style and world. And normally, I might be into that. Normally I'd probably love that, even. But it was certainly not the right book to read with a newborn! It was supposed to be done before the baby arrived, but the baby had other ideas and he came early. This is a book that requires full concentration and focus. Not a book you'd dip your toes in here and there in between feeds. For that reason, I struggled a bit to connect with it and follow the various characters and time lines.
But it's clear that Jemisin is a very good writer and visionary. She is amazing at world building, and characterisation. She pulls at one thread and a butterfly flaps its wings 300 pages later.
It takes a long time to get into the story, and to see how all of the stories collide and combine. But when they do, there's an "oh shit" moment that I might have caught earlier on if I had been less sleep deprived.
Beware though – one of the POVs is written in "you" format; the style is obtuse and the purple prose is sometimes difficult to understand. This is high brow fantasy. This is the book that proves that fantasy doesn't have to always be fun and games; that fantasy can also be literary fiction.
At its core (pun intended), the book centres on earthquakes, thermal energy, geology, and earth movements – and the people attuned enough with the earth to control them. It takes the reader across barren landscapes, apocalyptic earths, through earthquakes, past ancient lost civilisations, into crowded cities, and onto pirate ships, secret islands and into the heart of the (evil?) institution at the heart of it all.
I will certainly be reading book 2... when my baby is a wee bit older!
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
chthonicgod'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
jessthanthree'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, Cannibalism, Dysphoria, and Classism
pollyflorence's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder
sparklefarm'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
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Gore, and Toxic relationship
studydniowka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Classism
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: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
mrsmowrey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Definitely one of the best books I have read in years.