The Fifth Season

Patience pays off with this book. I struggled to get into it for the first 100 or so pages; the world-building is slow and sometimes painfully opaque, and it's hard to get invested in characters. I actually considered dropping it to read something else, but other reviews encouraged me to stick with it and I'm glad I did!

I love books that offer new or fresh perspectives. This is the first fantasy book I've read A) by a black female author B) that has a trans character and C) that explores a spectrum of sexuality in a non-stigmatizing way. The author plays with timelines and character development in a different way that kept me engaged, and often surprised. The writing is straight-forward, casual, and accessible, so it reads much faster than your average fantasy.

But above all, it's the message of this one that really resonates: humans aren't destroying the earth – the planet will go on. We're destroying ourselves.

Can't wait to read the next one – it ends with a lot of questions.

My favorite genres in books are Action and Fantasy. I travel all around the world in my imagination by reading all the action/adventure spy novels I can find. And the other extreme is fantasy - to escape our world completely. Even though my favorites in fantasy are Tolkien and Harry Potter, I have read more of the YA dystopian and paranormal books; probably because epic fantasy deserves a more patient and immersive reading. Game of thrones has prompted me onto the path again and I decided on one very highly reviewed and award winning - The Fifth Season.

The world in the book is called Stillness, a little ironic considering it is constantly ravaged by seismic events - massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis which occur every hundred years or so and destroy the world and its people. The only constant in the world is the struggle for survival. Here, there exist a group of people called orogenes who can control the earth's thermal and kinetic energy to quell the seismic events. Even though they help keep the world safe, they are the most controlled and oppressed by the leadership, with the masses brainwashed about the dangers of associating with them.

The book is about three women orogenes in different stages of their lives, their ordeals and the perils that follow them. Essun is an older woman whose husband killed their two year old son on discovering that he is an orogene. She leaves in search of him and their daughter to get justice. Damaya is a young girl whose family decides to inform and give her up to the Fulcrum as soon as they find out about her powers. What follows is her journey and life in the Fulcrum, training to control her powers and rise up. Syenite is a four-ringed orogene aspiring for more when she is tasked with producing a child with the only ten-ringed orogene known. They travel together on assignment, alternately hating and getting to know each other, helping with the quakes that they encounter on the way. Their stories and lives merge in a very unexpected way to give us a dark and gritty tale.

This book is not like your usual fare where all the plot lines converge to give you a satisfactory conclusion. Here, you get to know the expansive world, its atmosphere, the people, their trials and tribulations, the oppression of the orogenes, histories of the previous seasons that destroyed the world. This is a world where people believe that Father Earth hates them and they should do everything to survive. Amidst these brutal conditions, we get to see some beautiful relationships between unexpected people, small glimmers of hope and love in a world full of despair. This book is hard to understand for the first 20% or so but if you get past it, then what you get is a never before seen fantasy world with characters you can root for. I am eagerly waiting to read The Obelisk Gate.

This book is indisputably a great book.
The universe is so original, character well built, diverse etc... I've for sure never read anything similar.
But the writing was so difficult for me to get in.
The complexity of the informations you have to compute was important and due to English not being my first language I had difficulties to get in.
It is not a light reading !!
I am really curious to know what's going to happen in the next book now that I am more familiar with the all context. Would definitely recommend but not to people new to fantasy or reading in english.

A little slow-starting for me (though maybe that was that I started it, and then had to return it to the library and wait for it to be available again). Once it picked up, though - the first Damaya chapter, for me - I was hooked. I can't wait for the next two to be available, and I definitely want to read more N.K. Jemisin! If you're reading the ebook, be aware there's a glossary in the back and it's definitely helpful, though I was able to figure out most things from context.

(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #7 Read a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel, and #16 Read the first book in a series by a person of color)

I don't know that I've ever finished reading a book, sat up in my chair, and then just started cussing it out for a full minute or so. I certainly haven't felt so emotionally affected by a book in ages. I've read Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy and loved them, but while these books are wonderful and connected, they also each exist as stand-alones. Different protagonists, different themes, connecteed by an amazing world. When I saw her new book sitting on a shelf at a used book store, I picked it up expecting it to be the start of a similar trilogy.

As I closed in on the final chapters and realized there was no way this was wrapping up to my satisfaction, I checked the release date on book 2. It's August 2016.

insert string of expletives I try really hard not to use on goodreads because my students could find me here

Then I finished it and another string of expletives came right out. I walked around my apartment shaking for a while and trying to figure out if I had anything else I could read as a salve. I'm not sure that I do. expletive

I should probably talk about the book. Jemisin is probably the best world-builder of my generation. I say that as a fan of Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Patrick Rothfuss, Octavia Butler, Ursula K. LeGuin and all of the other world builders I deeply admire and love. The world of Inheritance is rich and immersive, but the world of the Broken Earth? I don't know that I've every come across anything like it. We've got a magic system unlike anything I've ever read before, a power system unlike any I've ever read, and an apocalyptic setting that manages to be fresh and original in a world currently oversaturated with apocalypses. Jemisin takes familiar fantasy tropes and adjusts them just slightly to make something new. Father Earth hating his children. “Earth” magic that is far more an unstable science. Catastrophic climate changes as part of routine.

Then there are her characters. Jemisin is a stalwart advocate for diversity and her fiction demonstrates that without being overly preachy. Some authors try for diversity and end up with Power Rangers. Jemisin creates a world where race, gender, love, and power are so diverse, so fluid, and yet so intricate to the relationships developing in the story that her world is complexly diverse rather than statistically representative. I do think this is the first novel I've read with an openly trans character that wasn't about being an openly trans person. Maybe Sandman is the only other series I've seen it done so seamlessly without being an anvil on the plot. All of this allows Jemisin to address the issues of prejudice in all of its myriad forms without being a parable, with morality always a blurry line.

And then there is the story. I won't say it's completely unpredictable. Most of the major “twists” are easy to see, but in a way that made me feel like a smart, aware reader and not like the author just wasn't trying, and one element caught me genuinely by surprise. The time shifts take a bit of getting used to, but once you catch on are easy enough to follow. So are the shifts between third and second person. I'm not generally a fan of second person, but this is an author who can handle what should be a gimmick and make it into an effective tool.

So what I'm saying is don't read this book. Not yet. Wait until this series is completed because otherwise you're going to sit her for the next 8 and a half months like me, refreshing the pre-order button on your Amazon page and just hoping that release date will somehow magically change to today.

This book is the best fantasy novel that I have read in some time. Jemisin has mastered the art of showing, rather than telling. Her daring choice of literary devices, like using the second person, is refreshing, especially in a genre that is distinctly repetitive. The story itself unfolds in the most elegant and natural-feeling way. There are lots of “a-ha” movements towards the end of the book, when so many of the story's events and characters are drawn together—but nothing here feels forced or arbitrary. My single complaint is that the book's ending is not really an ending, but, I guess, this is what you get with a trilogy. It is mitigated by the fact that the rest of the trilogy is already published, so I don't have to wait for a resolution.

I have a feeling that the next generation of fantasy authors will strive to be the next N. K. Jemisin. This book about the planet breaking apart was Earth-shattering for me. Not only was I shocked as an avid fantasy reader at the sheer volume of original ideas and characters, but it also reflects our cultures and world history in a potent way that is completely unique from what previous authors have done.

In this book, you will find a system of “magic” with fantastically detailed rules that follow the science of this created world brilliantly; you will find races and creatures that in no way resemble the typical elves, giants, trolls etc; you will find a world with a 10000+ year history. Yet with all this, the content never seems overwhelming and the pace of the story never drags. (You will also find chapters written in second person, which can become quite an addictive style.)

The cool and original world and characters isn't what makes this book though. What truly sets it apart are the deep and intense social structures. The classic idea of heroes and monsters is turned on its head, and eventually you learn that the characters you follow are considered monstrous villains by other characters. There are some very clear analogies to our world, but it goes far beyond just the analogy to tell a powerful and exciting story. If this book were half as good as it is, I'd have given it 5-stars.

Executive Summary: Dark, yet somehow not bleak. This book is in easily in contention for one of my favorite reads of the year. Not to be missed.

Audio book: This was first time listening to a book narrated by Robin Miles. She does a fine job, and is a good fit for the story. She speaks clearly and was easy to hear.

I put her into the above average category, such that while she didn't really add to the story to make this a must listen she doesn't get in the way of the story either, such that listening to this book is a good option in my opinion, but not a must listen.

Full Review
This is now the third book of Ms. Jemisin I've gotten from a daily deal. I never got around to trying either of her previous two series, but after enjoying this one so much, they have definitely moved up in my queue.

All of my friends were raving about this book earlier this year, but if not for a daily deal, I might have overlooked it. I'm glad I didn't.

It will be hard to put into words exactly why I loved this book so much without massive spoilers to the plot. Suffice to say, this book was excellently written.

The book starts off rather dark and that gave me pause, yet somehow Ms. Jemisin sucked me into the narrative so completely that I was never really bothered by it. It's not all bleakness either. Much like life there are ups and downs, albeit maybe more downs than many people experience in a lifetime.

The stories of Damaya, Syenite, and Essun were all engaging, and intermixed in a perfect way that while you hated to step away from one story, you were always just as happy to return to another.

The world building is really fascinating to me too. I have a lot of questions lingering at the end, that I hope will be addressed in the later volumes. The magic is unique and interesting. That's getting harder and harder these days. Normally I like well explained and structured magic systems the best. In this case however the mystery of the magic system and sense of discovery as the book goes on worked really well for me.

This book is full of social commentary, that may turn some people away who just want a “fun” story. It's their loss. I think Ms. Jemisin does a great job of exploring issues relevant to our own world while telling an incredibly engaging and entertaining story. In fact some of the things were so well done, that I didn't notice them at first, or didn't really give the much thought until after stopping for the day.

This review doesn't do this excellent book justice. I rarely give books five stars though, so that should hopefully give some idea.

This is a refreshing book in an oversaturated fantasy market. I hope the next two can live up to bar set by this one. In the meantime I might have to make some time to check out some of Ms. Jemisin's previous work, especially since I own the first book of each of her last two series.

I went through a rut where speculative fiction was just not singing to me anymore. Over the last couple of years, some great new scifi (primarily by female authors) recaptured my attention, but I was really struggling to find fantasy that was compelling. The fifth season was perfect to recaptivate me – it was like discovering epic fantasy again for the first time. The setting is complex and unique. The metaphysics were unique and interesting. I loved the idea of the Fifth Season being a canonical phenomenon. I liked how there were so many genre conventions: magic users being discriminated against, the magic school, etc., but they were all a little turned on their head. It was even very well-paced for a trilogy.

It took me a minute - and when I say a minute, I mean about 200 pages or so - to realize that The Fifth Season didn't really feel like a story in of itself, but an opening chapter to a very large book. Also, that I wasn't enjoying it very much.

The world of The Fifth Season is one of regular calamity. Apocalyptic earthquakes and seismic events happening every hundred years or less, never allowing civilization to advance. What's viewed as both the protectors and the banes of this world are the orogenes - people born with the ability to affect the movements of the earth. If they're not killed at childhood when their abilities are discovered, they are taken to the Fulcrum, where they are trained to use their powers for the greater good. Make no mistake though, the Fulcrum is not Hogwarts. Grits are brought up with the knowledge that they literally don't count as people, and they have little right to their own bodies or their own lives. The Fifth Season gives us three perspectives into this world at three different times - a girl just brought to the Fulcrum to begin her training, an accomplished four-ringer assigned to a mission and to make a baby with another far more powerful orogene, and an orogene woman who had been in hiding, longing for revenge during the end of the world.

It's going to be hard to put my finger on it exactly, but I think what it was was that I never really felt invested in any of the characters. It certainly wasn't the world building, which as you could probably tell is absolutely fascinating. It's dense, for sure, but Jemisin has never been the type of writer to hold your hand. But what becomes clear within a few chapters is that this is a world built on horrible oppression and, most notably, the abuse of children. That left me with this tension throughout the whole book, like I was always anticipating a blow. When it came to the central characters, there wasn't enough that I felt like I could celebrate with them or about them, the only thing I felt with much acuteness was their pain. A book with mostly pain and little enjoyment feels kind of like a raw deal, doesn't it?

This is certainly a well-written book, with lots of fascinating plot devices, mysterious allies, and super creepy villains. There's some pretty exciting sequences, and Jemisin manages to make the orogenes' use of their powers not seem too abstract (there are some moments though when that stuff just kind of goes by in a blur). I just.... I don't know, I wasn't feeling it. It might have been the voice. Jemisin has always balanced her lofty fantasy worlds with relatable dialogue and sarcasm, but I think in this case the reliance on ironic humor made me feel more detached and even annoyed than invested. I think there's also some issues with the pacing. The way it bounces back and forth between perspectives, and the amount of time character spends traveling and observing things rather than doing things often ground things to halt. Jemisin has gotten away with this in the past, but that's mostly because I adored the characters and didn't mind wandering around for 300 pages with them. This was definitely not the case here.

This is one of those books that is really difficult to rate. Somewhere a little above a 3, because it feels more substantial than most middling 3-star books, but definitely not a 4 for me. A fascinating world, but not a very enjoyable story.

N. K. Jemisin is a phenomenal writer, and I've been a fan of her work since reading her debut novel The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Although I didn't love The Fifth Season as much as most of her other books I've read, I thought it was brilliantly done. The writing is amazing, the characters complex, and the world unique. However, it did seem to be setting up the following books in the trilogy and sometimes the pacing was slower than I would have liked so I didn't find it quite as gripping as some of her other novels.

Full Review: http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2016/03/mini-review-the-fifth-season-by-n-k-jemisin/

This book is one of my favorites, in the top ten (maybe even the top three).

I love the character work - I felt like of the characters (Damaya, Essun, Syenite; though there is a spoiler caveat to this, read the book to find that out). I also like the prevailing idea behind it. Basically, after chapter one, the world is like a post-apocalyptic world and given the excellent tone and how a certain race is treated, it often feels like a dystopian novel - but this is a fantasy novel. The author even tells one of the POV from the second-person point of view (“you”s), and it was quite well done.

Overall, I would say this book was a great start to this year's (and decade's) reading list.

Wow, I can see why this book has been hyped up. NK Jemisin has produced a truly fascinating world and magic system. My inner geologist heartily approves! The writing is engaging and really draws you into the world, with characters and a society that is believable with the conditions the world exists in. The story itself has a certain brutality about it that the best modern fantasy seems to have. I cannot wait to see where this story end up!

This was just awful:
- It uses a 3rd-first person narrative, where the main character narrates the story and refer to him/herself in the third person.
- The names of the characters were annoying, I couldn't bear the excessive repetition of Uche. All the other names of places did not connect with me as well.
- It starts with a prologue.
- The prologue wasn't interesting. It was uninformative, it didn't add any foreboding and the information it gave was related to world building. I rather see that as little as possible, and in the form of show don't tell.

“None of these places or people matter, by the way. I simply point them out for context.”

“When she turns to the man — slowly; stone eaters are slow aboveground, except when they aren't...

I don't really read or enjoy much fantasy anymore. With the exception of Discworld, the worldbuilding and perspectives are basically variations on a century of white men defining the field.

N.K. Jemisin's not just telling a good story with depth and layers here. She's doing it with tons of style and craft. The use of second person? That takes guts. What an amazing work.

This was good, and while I was reading I was very interested in the world-building. But once I got to the end, it curiously failed to make me want to read further. Maybe the world is too damn bleak overall, or maybe it's too hard for me to connect with the main characters. I am glad I read this, but I'm satisfied to put it down and try something else, rather than reading on.

"Let's start with the end of the world, why don't we? Get over it and move to more interesting things."

Somehow I lost all my words, that I wanted to say. The Fifth Season is one of the hardest books to talk about. There are millions of things that I would like to discuss, but I am not willing to tell you any of that because it is much better to get into the story without knowing anything at all.

I have a confession to make. I was not that invested in the story from the beginning and even had all the intentions to give it up. But somehow, between our three narrators Damaya, Syenite and Essun I found myself so immersed in their lives, that it was quite impossible to put the book down. Even after all the pieces began coming together. I was so afraid to continue but I had done so nonetheless.

“There passes a time of happiness in your life, which I will not describe to you. It is unimportant. Perhaps you think it is wrong that I dwell so much on the horrors, the pain, but pain is what shapes us, after all. We are creatures born of heat and pressure and grinding, ceaseless movement. To be still is to be... not alive.”

The Fifth Season