""Intricate and extraordinary."--New York Times on The Fifth Season (A New York Times Notable Book of 2015) The second novel in a new fantasy trilogy by Hugo, Nebula & World Fantasy Award nominated author N.K. Jemisin. 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 -- 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 …
""Intricate and extraordinary."--New York Times on The Fifth Season (A New York Times Notable Book of 2015) The second novel in a new fantasy trilogy by Hugo, Nebula & World Fantasy Award nominated author N.K. Jemisin. 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 -- 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 Gate"--
"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"--
This was the page turner I've been waiting to read all year. I stayed up late and even read while exercising to find out what happened next only to be left with a cliffhanger ending until next August.
Engrossing and a fantastic page turner, but had some short comings as the middle book in the trilogy. The Obelisk Gate suffers because The Fifth Season was so good and any faults of this story are only visible when you compare it to the book that preceded it.
Narration that worked in the first story felt repetitive here and lacking a genuine hook. The first instalment covered so much time and story that it was hard to top, and that could be why the pace felt a little slow here. All of those nitpicks aside, The Obelisk Gate expanded the scope of this series and revealed there is a lot of history and depth at play here.
The introduction of Nassun was great and she helped continue to build on an already fascinating world. Her story helped carry the weight as Essun's story in Castrima was a little slow...but then …
Engrossing and a fantastic page turner, but had some short comings as the middle book in the trilogy. The Obelisk Gate suffers because The Fifth Season was so good and any faults of this story are only visible when you compare it to the book that preceded it.
Narration that worked in the first story felt repetitive here and lacking a genuine hook. The first instalment covered so much time and story that it was hard to top, and that could be why the pace felt a little slow here. All of those nitpicks aside, The Obelisk Gate expanded the scope of this series and revealed there is a lot of history and depth at play here.
The introduction of Nassun was great and she helped continue to build on an already fascinating world. Her story helped carry the weight as Essun's story in Castrima was a little slow...but then it picked up and was almost moving too fast to follow along with what was happening.
Orogeny as a system of magic is so unique and interesting to read about that I'm glad there are more tricks to it than just causing tremors. Designating Orogeny as "magic" doesn't seem fair either which is a nice change too. However, when Orogeny connects to Obelisks's and the powers that arise is straight up magic and its fantastic.
I have really enjoyed that instead of heralding Orogenes as saviours they are treated as lower class because of their abilities and this delicately walks around sensitive race topics that you wouldn't expect from a story like this.
I'm glad I picked up this series but my only regret is that the finale is still nine months away and any momentum I've gained in the last few weeks will come to a grinding halt.