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

adventurous challenging dark 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? No

4.0

 Really interesting world building and compelling storytelling. I was a little put off at first by some of the naming conventions (4-ringer to show how many rings an orogene has earned for example) but after 100 pages or so the story sucked me in. The author creatively uses different narrative voices in a way that doesn't become clear until the end. I recently had a conversation with someone who claimed that sci-fi explores social issues in a way that fantasy doesn't, but I think this book proves that fantasy can be used in the same way rather than as simple escapism. Will be reading book 2. 

Summary for myself: At the beginning of the book we are introduced to 3 separate storylines. 1) Damara is a young child who is a "rogga," someone with earth powers. She is taken from her family by a Guardian to be trained at the  Fulcrum. 2) Syenite is an adult oregene (earth wizard?) who is building a career at the Fulcrum and assigned to breed with another powerful orogene named Alabaster. 3) Essun is a "rogga" living in secret in a normal comm who has just discovered her husband has murdered their young son after discovering the boy was a "rogga." We watch as Damara turns into a star student at the Fulcrum, Syenite discovers the dark side of the Fulcrum as she accompanies Alabaster, and Essun searches for her husband and daughter in the aftermath of an apocalyptic earthquake. The entire world is built on the concept of "seasons" and the capriciousness of the earth below them. An apocalypse is a "fifth season." As the 3 stories converge, Syenite accidentally causes the destruction of an entire comm on the coast. She and Alabaster are rescued by a Stone Eater who takes them to a free island comm where roggas are valued and honored. They form a polyamorous relationship with the comm leader, Innon and have a child. But the comm is found and attacked by the Fulcrum and in desperation Syenite destroys everything and kills her child to prevent him being taken by the Guardians. The book ends with Essun, accompanied by Tonkee the geomest and Hoa the Stone Eater, discovering an underground comm built from an obelisk/geode? that is run by orogenes/roggas. She finds a dying Alabaster there who implores her to continue his work of destroying the planet. Dun dun dunnnnn.
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