The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth, #2)

by N.K. Jemisin

Life cannot exist without the Earth. Yet there is a not-insubstantial chance that life will win its war, and destroy the Earth.

There is such a thing as too much loss. Too much has been taken from you both—taken and taken and taken, until there’s nothing left but hope, and you’ve given that up because it hurts too much. Until you would rather die, or kill, or avoid attachments altogether, than lose one more thing.

You’re the one who has to explain to Tonkee that Hjarka’s decided, through whatever convoluted set of values the big woman holds dear, that an ex-commless geomest with the social skills of a rock represents the pinnacle of desirability.