elizabeth_lepore'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Injury/injury detail, Xenophobia, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Hate crime, and Transphobia
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
kea9f'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 death
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Cannibalism, and Slavery
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
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
_annika__'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Slavery, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Grief, Hate crime, Pregnancy, and Violence
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
winterdevil's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Grief, and Racial slurs
Minor: Alcohol, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
reebeee'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
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Child abuse, Death, Child death, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Dysphoria, Pregnancy, and Cannibalism
beccaand'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery, and Genocide
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit