mirissab's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
connect4mary's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-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
suflet's review against another edition
5.0
I've been a fan of N.K. Jemisin for a long time, so I waited until all three installments in The Broken Earth were out (I preordered every one and saved them) to binge all three in one long holiday weekend and, my friends, the wait was worth it. This trilogy blew me away. I would die for Essun, Alabaster, or Hoa. The characters are SO GOOD. The plot is intense and so well-paced (can't say much without spoilers). The system of magic and science was really interesting and, as a life-long voracious science fiction and fantasy reader and as someone with a strong physics background, I can confirm that the magic and science systems were really original and well thought-out. I can't recommend this trilogy enough.
tartt's review against another edition
4.5
every time when i finish a good book i give it five stars, and then a day or more later i come back and change it to four. but now i keep going back and forth, so let's pretend this is a 4.5. jemisin's story telling Made this book. as well as the way she made an actual intriguing world that wasn't just "we must defeat the big bad evil. why is it evil? because it does evil things. and we are objectively good btw and are destined to save the world because of our goodness and the fact we are 1 in a million trillion."
now did i truly like any of the main characters THAT much? did i really really? mmm not REALLY. but the narration was great and the world was cool and wow did i just find a book within the fantasy genre that was actually well written? crazy
now did i truly like any of the main characters THAT much? did i really really? mmm not REALLY. but the narration was great and the world was cool and wow did i just find a book within the fantasy genre that was actually well written? crazy
cambh1's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This may be the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. It is so witty and darkly funny, yet incredibly emotional and I did in fact finish the final book sobbing at 1am on the couch.
haniluta's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
3.75
leesasimpson's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- 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? No
5.0
effervescenteloise's review
adventurous
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
5.0
N. K. Jemisen is the author ever for going to a conference where scientists educated authors on what realistic science and worldbuilding looks like, and saying actually fuck that i have a really fucked up idea for a world and i don't care if it scientifically doesn't make sense. According to Jemisen herself, that conference was the genesis for this series, and thank goodness she went and had that Idea, because this series is stellar. The world is grim and beautiful in equal measure, the protagonists are beautifully and deeply flawed, the message is strong and powerful, and the antagonists are horribly and viscerally evil in a way that is believable (which makes them all the scarier). This series has influenced my own writing and worldbuilding so much it isn't funny. All of that, and the characters are beautifully, authentically, and realistically queer in a way that warms my heart so deeply. Just read these books. You will not regret it.
arissthearies's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0