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

4.0

This is a very different kind of fantasy in a world where some people, called orogenes, have the ability to control the movement of the plates and rocks that make up their Earth. These people, however, are generally feared and hated by others and are taught and controlled by government "guardians" who turn them into tools of the government, deciding even who they will mate with to make better living tools for the government. The world is further complicated by the existence of another, more ancient and mysterious hominid race called "stone eaters." The earth these characters inhabit is shaped by "seasons", seismic events that cause prolonged and devastating winters. It is the job of the orogenes to help control these events. In spite of the important role they play, the orogenes are considered less human by the population at large and are hated and berated. This book builds a complicated world, complete with diverse cultures and races. The discrimination in this imaginary world rings true in our current world and situation. The characters in the book struggle to survive and find their way in a world that sees them as a threat if they are not firmly under the control of the government and guardians. As a science nerd, I really enjoyed all of the geology references. The characters were well developed and the story was written in such a way as to keep the reader trying to fit the pieces together up until the end. My only complaint about this book is that I hate books ending with a cliff hanger. I knew from the beginning that this book was the first in a trilogy, but I still like to come to more of a resolution at the end of each book. This is just a matter of personal taste. Other than that, I have no complaints.