A review by hazeln00t
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

This book rules and I can’t wait to re-read it. Throughout the book there’s passing observations that feel inconsequential and human, but no remark or reflection is accidental. Jemisin is a fantastic world builder and the ending snowballed so fast to a jaw dropping tease for the next book. All of her characters are also deeply emotionally intelligent. That’s not exactly realistic maybe for people in real life, but it makes for damn good fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism and War

Minor: Body horror, Deadnaming, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

While races are fictional, race and bigotry are prominent themes.