The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1) in What's the Name of That Book???

Feb 18, 2021 Jackie "the Librarian" rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, teen-books-adults-can-enjoy, awardwinners, youngadult

A story as fractured as the crust of the world it is set in. You are given a map to refer to, and there is an appendix describing the different "seasons" but it doesn't help, at first. Each of the initial chapters introduces the reader to new characters, in new places, and none of it seems to go together. But as one reads on, the pieces come together even as we understand that this world has literally been broken apart.
This is a world profoundly affected by its geology. Earthquakes and volcanic A story as fractured as the crust of the world it is set in. You are given a map to refer to, and there is an appendix describing the different "seasons" but it doesn't help, at first. Each of the initial chapters introduces the reader to new characters, in new places, and none of it seems to go together. But as one reads on, the pieces come together even as we understand that this world has literally been broken apart.
This is a world profoundly affected by its geology. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common and prepared for, eras are named for natural disasters rather than rulers.
And in this world are people with the ability to both sense and affect the movements of the earth. They are called orogenes, or, profanely, roggas. Viewed with fear, because their powers are dangerous, they are sent as children to be trained at the Fulcrum, if they are not instead simply killed.
We follow the lives of Essun, an orogene in hiding, whose husband has killed their four year old son after he innocently shows orogenic capabilities; Syenite, an orogene trained by the Fulcrum, traveling on assignment with Alabaster, an unstable yet extremely poweful ten ring orogene; and Damaya, a young girl whose parents gave her up to a Guardian to be taken to the Fulcrum for training.
At first, I was impatient with the jumping storylines, (view spoiler)
With questions about power and freedom, loyalty vs. survival, in a world of desperation where people accept their roles in order to survive.
Truly original. Great world-building and descriptions. The language flowed. By the end I too was desperate, to know more of both the history of this world, and what was going to happen next.
This has been designated a Young Adult novel, but I would call it Adult SF/Fantasy, based on the complexity of the storyline, the depth of the ideas, and the ages of the protagonists.
Four stars, because of the opacity of the plot until quite a ways in. It wasn't until two thirds of the way through the second volume that the use of the second person voice in the Essun chapters made sense to me. ...more

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Sep 02, 2017 Jess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, adult-fiction, bookgroup-adult

Rich world-building and character development (although I had to flip back to the beginning a few times, once things started coming together, to make sense of a few things - it's one of those books where you learn important things before you can understand what they mean). ...more

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Oct 17, 2020 Lasairfiona rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 30, 2017 Karen rated it liked it

I didn't find the world of this book very interesting. The focus on earthquakes and the power of feeling vibrations just didn't seem that imaginative, and it took awhile for me to feel that there was a plot to this book. ...more

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Feb 17, 2020 Christine H rated it liked it

Shelves: popsugar, aaa

This was good, and while I was reading I was very interested in the world-building. But once I got to the end, it curiously failed to make me want to read further. Maybe the world is too damn bleak overall, or maybe it's too hard for me to connect with the main characters. I am glad I read this, but I'm satisfied to put it down and try something else, rather than reading on. ...more

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