Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 21/06/2024
Published by: Little, Brown Audio
ISBN: B017KZSV3K
For a book that essentially sets the scene for the rest of the series, ‘The Fifth Season’ was surprisingly gripping!
Similar read: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Cover:
This dark, gothic design reflects the story’s tone and high fantasy genre but gives away little else.
Writing:
Even with the unusual blend of second and third-person perspectives, I could not get enough of the smooth, immersive writing style that brought this story to life. I was also blown away by the intricate world and fascinating magic system used to explore powerful themes such as colonialism, oppression, and racism. However, the world-building initially relies on information dumps and lacks clear explanations for some concepts, which was a bit disappointing.
This is what you must remember: the ending of one story is just the beginning of another.
Storyline:
The character-driven tale brilliantly establishes the key characters and, through their experiences, a brutal world facing a catastrophic season. Intriguing mysteries and concepts are gradually unravelled at an engaging pace that kept me fully invested in the journeys of the main characters.
Main character(s):
Essun, Syenite, and Damaya—a heartbroken mother, an ambitious young woman, and a young child with newly discovered powers—are incredibly well-crafted characters shaped by complex struggles and brutal experiences. While each perspective was heartbreaking, Essun’s was my favourite because of the fierce yet caring nature of her character.
Secondary characters:
Several secondary characters play crucial roles in this story, but I struggled to connect with them as they either felt too mysterious or lacked depth. However, I am really looking forward to seeing how characters like Hoa, Alabaster, and Tonkee develop throughout the rest of the series.
survival is not the same thing as living.
Romance:
The little focus on the romance aspect of the story was refreshing, but it lacked a convincing build-up of chemistry and development.
Narration & Audio:
Robin Miles’ performance seemed natural and fitting for the story. He even used accents and slight character voices to enhance the listening experience.
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
To read other book related posts, click here or check out the tag cloud for more options.
[…] The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and The Jasmin Throne by Tasha Suri are similar epic fantasy reads that brilliantly explore themes like power, oppression and colonialism. […]