Winner of the 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novel“Magnificent” – NPR The acclaimed sequel to the bestselling The Fifth Season, winner of the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and a New York Times Notable Book of 2015. THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS, FOR THE LAST TIME. The season of endings grows darker, as civilization fades into the long cold night. Essun — once Damaya, once Syenite, now avenger — … into the long cold night.
Essun — once Damaya, once Syenite, now avenger — has found shelter, but not her daughter. Instead there is Alabaster Tenring, destroyer of the world, with a request. But if Essun does what he asks, it would seal the fate of the Stillness forever.
Far away, her daughter Nassun is growing in power – and her choices will break the world.
For more from N. K. Jemisin, check out:
The Inheritance Trilogy
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The Broken Kingdoms
The Kingdom of Gods
The Inheritance Trilogy (omnibus edition)
Shades in Shadow: An Inheritance Triptych (e-only short fiction)
The Awakened Kingdom (e-only novella)
Dreamblood Duology
The Killing Moon
The Shadowed Sun
The Broken Earth The Fifth SeasonThe Obelisk GateThe Stone Sky
more
I was blown away by The Fifth Season and had my fingers crossed for a worthy sequel. Although the initial awe and adrenaline I felt when first discovering Jemisin’s world has subdued (as tends to happen with most things, once novelty wears off), getting to re-enter and delve deeper into the universe was still a treat.
This installment felt little like a standalone book, and more like the bridge between a stunning debut and a grand finale. A means to an end. That was fine with me. The book was still incredibly entertaining, rich with world-building, and unapologetically philosophical.
It was compelling enough that once I finished, I immediately bought the ebook version of The Stone Sky.
Definitely recommended to those out there who loved The Fifth Season (and if you haven’t tried the series yet, what are you waiting for?).
This is the second book of N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy. And just as magnificent as the first. If you’re a sci-fi fan, or even a fan of just superbly written novels, read this series. In order, mind you.
This second book was almost as good as the first, but still amazing in its own way. There were so many mind blowing moments that left me speechless. Revelations and twists had me sitting on the edge of each with each page. The characters are so ridiculously amazing and flawed that I can’t help falling in love with them. The Broken Earth trilogy is the best series I’ve ever read and I was so enthralled while reading it.
The season sets its jagged teeth into the land. Civilization has become nothing more than a ruin. The comm and the commless band together to survive. Bandits loot and kill, animals once peaceful become hungry beasts and the land dies. Essun continues to work among her new community, trying to keep the peace between orogenes and humans. But a history of hatred and racism lies rooted in their hearts. A guardian awakens and fights against the orders he was forced to condone. And a child learns how quickly love can become twisted and cruel.
The Obelisk Gate continues to follow three separate characters, though two of these perspectives are different from the first book. The balance is not as precise in this second novel. Essun does dominate most of the story. But this didn’t take away from my enjoyment, because the other two characters accented Essun’s discoveries.
The Obelisk Gate enthralls readers with its dark and emotional tones. N. K. Jemisin is a master at world-building. She peels back the layers of history with each chapter propelling readers forward with a thirst for knowledge and understanding. As the pieces begin to fall into place, you’ll find yourself immersed in the broken world that may just yet have a chance at survival. But it will take those subjected to centuries of discrimination and bigotry to rise up and fight. Nothing is ever as it seems, and some of the revelations in this second book will be jaw dropping.
N. K. Jemisin also continues the reveal of who the stone eaters are and how they came to be. While this is a minor subplot to the story, the stone eaters fascinate me. Since book one, Hoa’s been such a presence within the story. When he isn’t by Essun’s side, you can feel the weight of him not being there and how it affects Essun’s character. And the stone eaters are written in a way that doesn’t require much dialogue. Their body language and reactions to certain situations are so artfully written.
I need more of this world. This is by far my favorite fantasy series of 2021.
Jemisins writing is excellent, but her story is complex and demands your full attention and concentration. Sometimes I’m simply too tired to focus, but when I allow myself to subside it’s so damn good!
Book 2 of the Broken Earth trilogy works just as well as book 1 (The Fifth Season , but you do need to read book 1 first.
These books…holy cow…I have never enjoyed a depressing story so much. Everything about this world and the characters start out so bleak. And I generally don’t like grim dark sorts of stories. But I couldn’t put these down. They are so powerful and intricate and fascinating. Love this series so much. This book is fantastic. Read them, read them all.
You will find yourself actually leaning into this book. A wonderful followup to the start of an edge of your seat series.
Book 2 of the Broken Earth trilogy. Don’t recommend reading this out of order.
The middle book in this trilogy isn’t as powerful as the first, and there’s just no way it could be: there really isn’t any way to engineer a second cliffhanger as surprising as the first. The author makes an excellent go of it, though.
My only gripe is that the opening of this book read more like a seamless continuation of the first; having not read the first book in over a year, I was lost for a bit. Recommend that you plow straight from book 1 to book 2 if your heart can take it. I personally needed the break and found myself struggling to continue: at least GRRM has the decency to kill most of the characters that he tortures. “Better off dead” was a thought I kept having here. No complaints–just be ready for more of the same.
This was not as good as the first book in this trilogy, but it was still very solid.
For lovers of fantasy