Reviews

An amazing sf book with well thought out lore, magic/physics, and culture. Main characters are strong (in every way) women of color. Not quite post-, but maybe mid-apocalyptic? This world feels real and raw and it shapes it's occupants in brutal ways that feel authentic and interesting.

mirissab's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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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

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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

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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

cambh1's review against another edition

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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.

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