This spring I decided to take a sabbatical from reading books by white male authors. No shade, because if you know me, you know my undying love for "The Wheel of Time" and "The Expanse".
It's been cathartic and world expanding to say the least. I've been on a steady diet of Octavia Butler, RF Kuang, and Liu Cixin. New worlds have been opened up to me and the last book I read has really stood out. "The Fifth Season" by NK Jemisin. It's book one of "The Broken Earth Trilogy".
A quick synapses: we follow three women on separate paths and meet a handful of some of the most entertaining supporting characters I've ever come across. There are polygamous pirates, mysterious pale children, geological based magic, a world crumbling due to chaotic seasons, heartbreak, twists and turns! I love a good reveal and "The Fifth Season" delivered that.
It sits firmly in the sci-fi/ fantasy genre and hits all the beats I look for in a book. I'm just disappointed that it took me so long to pick it up. It's an instant classic. Jemisin's magic system has a similar feel to something to be expected from Brandon Sanderson. It's solid, and well thought out. It's not really magic, but just something that's available in this world. The more I read, the more attached I became to the characters. I wanted to protect them, fight for them, and avenge them! This universe outrages me, it's class system is ripe with abuse and despite our characters making very morally grey decisions, I'm 100% rooting for them.
The book ends on such a high note that waiting for book two is a struggle. First I'll need to recover from the emotional trauma this world had to offer, then onto book two!
-Amber
P.S. Alabaster, I would die for you.
It's been cathartic and world expanding to say the least. I've been on a steady diet of Octavia Butler, RF Kuang, and Liu Cixin. New worlds have been opened up to me and the last book I read has really stood out. "The Fifth Season" by NK Jemisin. It's book one of "The Broken Earth Trilogy".
A quick synapses: we follow three women on separate paths and meet a handful of some of the most entertaining supporting characters I've ever come across. There are polygamous pirates, mysterious pale children, geological based magic, a world crumbling due to chaotic seasons, heartbreak, twists and turns! I love a good reveal and "The Fifth Season" delivered that.
It sits firmly in the sci-fi/ fantasy genre and hits all the beats I look for in a book. I'm just disappointed that it took me so long to pick it up. It's an instant classic. Jemisin's magic system has a similar feel to something to be expected from Brandon Sanderson. It's solid, and well thought out. It's not really magic, but just something that's available in this world. The more I read, the more attached I became to the characters. I wanted to protect them, fight for them, and avenge them! This universe outrages me, it's class system is ripe with abuse and despite our characters making very morally grey decisions, I'm 100% rooting for them.
The book ends on such a high note that waiting for book two is a struggle. First I'll need to recover from the emotional trauma this world had to offer, then onto book two!
-Amber
P.S. Alabaster, I would die for you.