Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - La cinquième saison

Trigger warnings: racism, torture, child abuse, domestic abuse, death of child, sexual assault and child sexual assault, confinement, slavery, murder, gore, emotional abuse, sexual content

A biting allegory for the atlantic slave trade and the treatment of enslaved folk, representation of generational trauma and the pain of choices made to protect and survive, and so much more.

It's a three part timeline following three characters in different eras of this world leading up to the catastrophic natural disaster that will lead to the next seasonal change that occurs in this universe. Each character is living an entirely different life: a child getting recruited into an academy to train her powers, a trainee going on her first mission, and a women with powers who was in hiding and is now in search of her kidnapped child.

I had no idea where anything was headed nor what the goal of the book was outside of survival. In that way I suppose this is a dystopic apocalypse survival book as well as a fantasy. Every new detail revealed was a depressing shock to the system as I read yet everything that led me to say, well what the hell else did I expect that's the dire reality of this world and the real world tragedies it's referencing.

I look forward to the next two books with trepidation.

Content Warnings

kieran_c's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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

5.0

Wow. So amazing. I’m a slow reader, and I read this in under 48 hours. I’ve never not put a book down to do something else before. The narrative voice(s) are amazing, the worldbuilding has me hooked and the intricate layer of mysteries and questions makes this as much a mystery-thriller as it is a fantasy novel. Some people have an issue with one POV being in second person, but it’s done very well, it helps keep the narrative chronology clear and it adds an extra layer of intrigue to the book.

Honestly, this wouldn’t have been the kind of plot I expected to become enthralled by. I’m simple, and like basic happy ever afters. And this is dark, incredibly so. But, you are as gently eased into the level of darkness as is possible, in my opinion, and this dark stuff is what makes you connect so strongly with the story. The characters aren’t naturally loveable, due to their demeanours and actions, but I don’t think they are supposed to be. You see their faults, but connect so strongly with them and understand why they’re there.

I couldn’t recommend the book more highly

Content Warnings