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clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Incest, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia
mauricekofi's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
NK Jemisin. You. Are simply. The best at what you do. I see now you were a master at your craft from the beginning, only to get better as time passes.
This book will give you everything and more. Love is a weapon and a tool, and a right of respect for all beings. These nuances are portrayed. Corruption is flawed and absolute, while it does not manifest the same across all beings. These nuances are explained. Holiness and depravity are distinct yet subjective, depending on who is considered holy and whoever else is not. That is one of the themes and messages, yet not the only one.
A running subtheme of the flaws, violence, and fallibility of men (and by men, I mean dudes with dickheads and egos). The male species is diverse and vibrant in this story, and yet reflective and why and how women are wary of men. Jemisin does not portray all men in this book as villains, but shines a light into the characteristics and habits in all men, and why distrust is natural with them.
And the reality of women, be they heroes or villains (because the men are the sideshows in this tale, remember. The protagonists and antagonists, the ones who drive the story, are the women after all). Jemisin made sure to portray her main actors to be either complex in their imperfections, or absolute villains in who they are. Nothing that is rooted in apparent assumptions who how women act or are, only that they are deeply human in their decisions and reality. That's not to say this is somehow novel, only that Jemisin writes this truth in a way many (male) authors fail to do so. I say this as a man, aware of my own flaws and imperfections, and I can only marvel and be in awe in the mastery that is NK Jemisin's writing.
She's truly the best at what she does. I'm thankful to exist in a time in human history where I can enjoy her works (may many more come).
This book will give you everything and more. Love is a weapon and a tool, and a right of respect for all beings. These nuances are portrayed. Corruption is flawed and absolute, while it does not manifest the same across all beings. These nuances are explained. Holiness and depravity are distinct yet subjective, depending on who is considered holy and whoever else is not. That is one of the themes and messages, yet not the only one.
A running subtheme of the flaws, violence, and fallibility of men (and by men, I mean dudes with dickheads and egos). The male species is diverse and vibrant in this story, and yet reflective and why and how women are wary of men. Jemisin does not portray all men in this book as villains, but shines a light into the characteristics and habits in all men, and why distrust is natural with them.
And the reality of women, be they heroes or villains (because the men are the sideshows in this tale, remember. The protagonists and antagonists, the ones who drive the story, are the women after all). Jemisin made sure to portray her main actors to be either complex in their imperfections, or absolute villains in who they are. Nothing that is rooted in apparent assumptions who how women act or are, only that they are deeply human in their decisions and reality. That's not to say this is somehow novel, only that Jemisin writes this truth in a way many (male) authors fail to do so. I say this as a man, aware of my own flaws and imperfections, and I can only marvel and be in awe in the mastery that is NK Jemisin's writing.
She's truly the best at what she does. I'm thankful to exist in a time in human history where I can enjoy her works (may many more come).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
alreadyemily's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
4.75
Holy crap this is what SJM ripped off for ACOMAF! N. K. Jemisin is the mistress of the genre, y'all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, and War
macih's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
saobuddette's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Incest, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Pedophilia, Cannibalism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
electrachet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I wish we were given a world map or other world building elements to help better define some of the countries outside of Sky. The city itself was beautifully written, but some of the minor godlings fell flat. I think I generally expected more from this book. I'm not sure yet if I will continue the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Pedophilia, Racism, Colonisation, and War
mlkai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
flew through! going right into the second one 😁
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
talasi's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Globalement déçue. Je m'attendais à une intrigue politique fine, et je ressors de ma lecture avec une impression de vide. Attention, j'aime les livres au rythme lent, mais là il ne se passe pas grand chose, voir presque rien, hormis du sexe et du sexe incestueux (sans TW évidemment). Hormis les scènes où l'héroïne est submergée de désir et gémit dès qu'on la frôle, cette dernière prend généralement de mauvaises décisions et semble subir l'intrigue presque de bout en bout jusqu'à un final en deus ex machina. Vraiment : tant de pages pour ça ? La plume est au moins jolie, fluide, et l'univers plutôt intriguant même si malheureusement pas assez exploité : deux éléments qui m'ont permis d'arriver au bout de ce livre, que je suis bien contente d'avoir emprunté et non acheté.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Rape
finickyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Here's me starting my N.K Jemisin journey, working my way up to the Broken Earth Trilogy.
First, let me say that I understand. I understand why N.K Jemisin is lauded to be such an amazing writer and storyteller. I was completely absorbed into this story from the very first chapter. Immediately noticing that there would be no info dumping (as is per the course of a new fantasy series) I was wary about not connecting with the story but the way Jemisin weaved her words did not leave me confused at all. I don't know how she did it but she did. I literally listened to 50% of the story in under 3 hours which shocked me because I've never done that before. A testament to her skill.
The second half of the story is what really sold it to me, I found myself openly exclaiming while listening to the audio book especially during the climax. I did not see those two twists coming and I loved it. In terms of the characters, I can't say I'm all for the characters - I like them for what they are as a part of the story and that's it. I'm neutral but that neutrality towards the characters didn't make me dislike the story in anyway.
I for one will definitely continue this series, especially after seeing it's more of an interconnected set of stories that will come to together in the last book. If this continues, if the rest of this series is amazing you will catch me buying physical copies.
fyi: the audio book I would highly recommend the narrator is phenomenal.
First, let me say that I understand. I understand why N.K Jemisin is lauded to be such an amazing writer and storyteller. I was completely absorbed into this story from the very first chapter. Immediately noticing that there would be no info dumping (as is per the course of a new fantasy series) I was wary about not connecting with the story but the way Jemisin weaved her words did not leave me confused at all. I don't know how she did it but she did. I literally listened to 50% of the story in under 3 hours which shocked me because I've never done that before. A testament to her skill.
The second half of the story is what really sold it to me, I found myself openly exclaiming while listening to the audio book especially during the climax. I did not see those two twists coming and I loved it. In terms of the characters, I can't say I'm all for the characters - I like them for what they are as a part of the story and that's it. I'm neutral but that neutrality towards the characters didn't make me dislike the story in anyway.
I for one will definitely continue this series, especially after seeing it's more of an interconnected set of stories that will come to together in the last book. If this continues, if the rest of this series is amazing you will catch me buying physical copies.
fyi: the audio book I would highly recommend the narrator is phenomenal.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Incest
trizk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It is important to appreciate beauty, even when it is evil.
I'm unsure if I'll keep my rating the same, but I just want to say that the summary for the book doesn't really match the reading experience.
Now onto the things I enjoyed. I liked seeing how even early on, Jemisin played around with POV. I liked how it felt like I needed to get to the very end of the book to fully understand where things were going. The writing kept me engaged from the first page, especially by 30% when things felt like they sped up a bit more. The setting of Sky itself was incredibly interesting with its presentation as a pristine building that contradicts the happenings going on within it. I also really adored Sieh and Yeine, both as characters, and their relationship with one another which was incredibly sweet.
I liked that the novel touched on colonialism, however things felt a little too on the nose for me. I probably would've thought the book was better if I hadn't read a bit of Fifth Season way before. I'd recommend people to start there first because the author has truly improved since this debut!
P.S. For any of my fellow sexual trauma survivors, there is a scene where
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Incest, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and War