18 Nov 2022

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays: The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays introduces readers who are unfamiliar with the Adult SF/F genre to books, authors, and discussions all about the vast expanse of the world of Adult SF/F!

THE FIFTH SEASON

Author: N.K. Jemisin
Series: The Broken Earth #1
Source: Audible
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: August 4, 2015


Summary:
This is the way the world ends. Again.

Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze -- the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization's bedrock for a thousand years -- collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman's vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries.

Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.
Purchase:
Content Warning: Assault, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Infanticide, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

The Fifth Season
This took a bit to get into and I'm still not 100% sure on the worldbuilding but the characters are fantastic and I loved the writing! I thought that there were a lot of great parallels between the world we live in today and the nation that Jemisin creates, which will really open up people's eyes - if they are paying attention.

The Obelisk Gate
Holy shit, this was so good!! I can't believe this was better than the first but this was more than a work of art. This answered all the questions I had from The Fifth Season and opened the world up so much more. I was concerned about how we would continue the story since the first book was basically following only one character, but it transitioned so perfectly.

This has some of the best writing, character development, and magic of any fantasy series I've ever read. If you haven't already read this series, start today!

The Stone Sky
REVIEW

Have you read this series? What was your favourite part?

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