The Fifth Season

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.