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A review by chrisljm
The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was so fucking SAD omfg N.K. Jemisin is SICK.
I love how this sequel builds upon the world we’re shown in the first book, but from a completely new setting and perspective, so despite how familiar it is, it’s still a unique experience.
In the first book we see through the POV of the elite and the magical city they live in, while in this we read the story through the lens of regular citizens who live in the shadows far below the city in the sky, more removed from the gods, where suddenly one day a large tree blooms and integrates into their lives. The events of the first book seemed so cosmic and important, and so it’s fascinating to see how in this book majority of the citizens aren’t even aware of the events that transpired with the gods and the specific reasons why their lives have changed so drastically.
I enjoyed this book far more than the first. The plot was gripping, and ultimately so <i>sad</i>. If I were to have been the author of this novel, I'm not sure what choices I would've made, the conclusions I would've settled on. I don't disagree with the decisions in this book but I just hate (in the most neutral sense) how sad it was.
I love how this sequel builds upon the world we’re shown in the first book, but from a completely new setting and perspective, so despite how familiar it is, it’s still a unique experience.
In the first book we see through the POV of the elite and the magical city they live in, while in this we read the story through the lens of regular citizens who live in the shadows far below the city in the sky, more removed from the gods, where suddenly one day a large tree blooms and integrates into their lives. The events of the first book seemed so cosmic and important, and so it’s fascinating to see how in this book majority of the citizens aren’t even aware of the events that transpired with the gods and the specific reasons why their lives have changed so drastically.
I enjoyed this book far more than the first. The plot was gripping, and ultimately so <i>sad</i>. If I were to have been the author of this novel, I'm not sure what choices I would've made, the conclusions I would've settled on. I don't disagree with the decisions in this book but I just hate (in the most neutral sense) how sad it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Rape, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Alcohol