Deep and wide-ranging world-building, a complex and thrilling plot, and an uncoventional, convincing and immersive representation of slavery and exploitation. I especially liked how Jemisin managed to capture my attention and keep me guessing on three levels simultaneously: deep civilisational history, impending apocalypse, and finally family and personal sacrifice.
Great second book in the series. The plot thickens, and characters I had written off in the first book have their stories filled in and woven back into the main storyline again. Masterfully done - again, this book won a Hugo for a very good reason.
The Fifth Season was unlike anything I'd read in a long time. A perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy in a fascinating world. But, when I picked up The Obelisk Gate, I had just read something like it, not too long ago: The Fifth Season.
Don't get me wrong, the second book in the trilogy is probably just as good as the first, but I knew what to expect and was no longer blown away by the novelty of it.
It's very hard to write about this series without giving too much away, because I believe this world should be experienced without any prior knowledge. There are strong female characters, clever world building, an interesting and novel magic system and wonderful prose. Part of it is written in the 2nd person, bringing you even closer to the main character. It takes a little getting used to at first, but …
The Fifth Season was unlike anything I'd read in a long time. A perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy in a fascinating world. But, when I picked up The Obelisk Gate, I had just read something like it, not too long ago: The Fifth Season.
Don't get me wrong, the second book in the trilogy is probably just as good as the first, but I knew what to expect and was no longer blown away by the novelty of it.
It's very hard to write about this series without giving too much away, because I believe this world should be experienced without any prior knowledge. There are strong female characters, clever world building, an interesting and novel magic system and wonderful prose. Part of it is written in the 2nd person, bringing you even closer to the main character. It takes a little getting used to at first, but Jemisin knows how to make it work.
A beautiful read that I recommend to every fantasy fan with a bit of patience, because Jemisin does ask for some patience with her slow and subtle reveals.
