Author: N.K. Jemisin
Published: August 4, 2015 by Orbit
Format: Paperback, 468 Pages
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy / Dystopian
Series: Broken Earth Book #1
Blurb: 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 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.
My Opinion: There’s a lot packed into the prologue of The Fifth Season and I wouldn’t blame anyone for setting the book down after those first fourteen pages. It’s dense, dry, and daunting. The appendices at the back don’t help either; they signal that this isn’t going to be a casual read. But for those who press on, there’s a map of the Stillness waiting; a small reward, a hint that this world, however harsh, is worth the effort.
Once you move into the chapters, something shifts. Maybe it’s the book that settles, or maybe it’s you. Either way, Jemisin begins to work her magic. And it’s not the kind of magic that gently pulls you in, it’s the kind that grabs you by the collar and drags you through ash and agony.
Genre-wise, I’m still not sure where this book belongs. Science fiction? Fantasy? Dystopian? It’s all of them and none of them. Jemisin builds a world that defies easy categorization, and maybe that’s the point. The Stillness is a place of constant upheaval—geologically, emotionally, socially—and the narrative mirrors that instability.
Just when you think you’ve found your footing, Jemisin hits you with a new brutality. You’re sideswiped, knocked off balance, and left wondering, “What the rust am I getting into?” There’s shock, surprise, and a relentless stream of “I didn’t see that coming” moments. It’s not just plot twists; it’s emotional whiplash.
The story unfolds through three distinct perspectives:
• Essun, a grieving mother and powerful orogene, searching for her daughter in the wake of her son’s murder.
• Damaya, a young orogene just beginning to understand the terrifying power she holds.
• Syenite, a seasoned orogene on a mission that will unravel everything she thought she knew.
Each voice is unique, compelling, and heartbreakingly human. You’ll try to choose a favorite, but Jemisin won’t let you. Eventually, their stories converge in ways that are both devastating and brilliant, revealing an intricate architecture and the lives within it.
I didn’t see the last hundred pages coming. I read the final fifty with my mouth open, my stomach clenched, and tears streaming. Jemisin did something to me, something I’m still recovering from. And yet, I know I’ll reread this series once I’ve finished all three books. Not just to relive it, but to catch what I missed. Because I know she’s not done with me.
Yes, I’m late to this party. But I’m so glad I showed up. The Fifth Season explores oppression, prejudice, family, loss, and the brutal cycles of destruction and survival. It’s not an easy read, and it’s not meant to be. Book One will sit with you, both physically and emotionally, until you’re ready to face Book Two. And even then, you won’t be ready.
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.
My Opinion: There’s a lot packed into the prologue of The Fifth Season and I wouldn’t blame anyone for setting the book down after those first fourteen pages. It’s dense, dry, and daunting. The appendices at the back don’t help either; they signal that this isn’t going to be a casual read. But for those who press on, there’s a map of the Stillness waiting; a small reward, a hint that this world, however harsh, is worth the effort.
Once you move into the chapters, something shifts. Maybe it’s the book that settles, or maybe it’s you. Either way, Jemisin begins to work her magic. And it’s not the kind of magic that gently pulls you in, it’s the kind that grabs you by the collar and drags you through ash and agony.
Genre-wise, I’m still not sure where this book belongs. Science fiction? Fantasy? Dystopian? It’s all of them and none of them. Jemisin builds a world that defies easy categorization, and maybe that’s the point. The Stillness is a place of constant upheaval—geologically, emotionally, socially—and the narrative mirrors that instability.
Just when you think you’ve found your footing, Jemisin hits you with a new brutality. You’re sideswiped, knocked off balance, and left wondering, “What the rust am I getting into?” There’s shock, surprise, and a relentless stream of “I didn’t see that coming” moments. It’s not just plot twists; it’s emotional whiplash.
The story unfolds through three distinct perspectives:
• Essun, a grieving mother and powerful orogene, searching for her daughter in the wake of her son’s murder.
• Damaya, a young orogene just beginning to understand the terrifying power she holds.
• Syenite, a seasoned orogene on a mission that will unravel everything she thought she knew.
Each voice is unique, compelling, and heartbreakingly human. You’ll try to choose a favorite, but Jemisin won’t let you. Eventually, their stories converge in ways that are both devastating and brilliant, revealing an intricate architecture and the lives within it.
I didn’t see the last hundred pages coming. I read the final fifty with my mouth open, my stomach clenched, and tears streaming. Jemisin did something to me, something I’m still recovering from. And yet, I know I’ll reread this series once I’ve finished all three books. Not just to relive it, but to catch what I missed. Because I know she’s not done with me.
Yes, I’m late to this party. But I’m so glad I showed up. The Fifth Season explores oppression, prejudice, family, loss, and the brutal cycles of destruction and survival. It’s not an easy read, and it’s not meant to be. Book One will sit with you, both physically and emotionally, until you’re ready to face Book Two. And even then, you won’t be ready.
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