Read the whole trilogy one after the other last year, and I can confirm that books two and three are AS amazing and engaging as the first one. It might be the only fantasy series where I felt the quality was completely maintained through each successive book, and it has a place of honor on my favorites shelf as a result!
@@WillowTalksBooks yes, title them all that, whether they have anything to do with Matt Haig or not or just make every review video title 'Is [Book] Any Good?' and open immediately with 'yes' or 'no', that'd also do the trick. like a TL;DR, but even more reductive!
Wow 25 seconds into the video I was sure I was going to pick it up and by eight minutes I had the audiobook ordered. Can't wait to experience what is so amazing about this trilogy.
I read Fifth Season earlier this year and it blew me away. I agree, her writing and storytelling are very special and she is one of those authors that will inspire, change, and influence the future of the genre.
THIS gives me so much joy that you loved this book! This was my first intro into fantasy and as you can see, the bar was set high. Breaks so many stereotypes... Reading about a middle aged, flawed, POC, mother (I am all these things!) as a fantasy protagonist was so refreshing and made it such a kindred read for me. The world building element was complex but Jemisin writes in a way it feels familiar... Genius. Like your example about 'sessapinae' - I also didn't fully understand, but inherently it was familiar... Kinda like 'sussing' but with a super earthbound connection. This along with SO MUCH MORE is all fleshed out in the rest of series. You did an amazing job summarising the book, got me excited for a reread. Seriously, prepare yourself... book 2 and 3 will expand and blow your mind even further! Enjoy x
You've got me very hyped for books 2 and 3, thank you! And I too was thrilled to see an older protagonist who is also a POC and a mother. How very refreshing for a fantasy series!
Omg yessss this was the best series! I'm a fantasy fan too, and a geologist, so reading this was practically euphoric. The geological principles was so well researched and very wonderfully applied! Your pronunciation of orogeny was spot on, it's a geological term meaning the process of mountain formation.
Le Guin absolutely is the best comparison. I would not be surprised if Jemisin would cite her as her most important influence, particularly Wizards of Earth Sea, which comes very close in tone and feel. (It's been more than 20 years since I read Wizards, so take this as a very lightly held opinion)
This is probably the best book series I've ever read. Every single book hit me hard, emotionally. Essun is so relatable because she is so flawed. And who can blame her. She's been through so much. Yet she still dares to love, dares to keep moving forward. I can't praise these books enough.
Superb sci-fi. Unusual, well-introduced, horrific world. Great, unlikeable, believable, interesting characters. High stakes, heartbreak, good use of multiple pov (including excellent execution of 3 different voices: 1st person, 2nd and close 3rd, quite unusual but a technique which actually served to build up and reveal the characters speaking in each style). Also, well-written. It isn't a comfortable story. But it was absolutely worth reading.
I mean, they’re not in the same league. Shadow & Bone is passable but unremarkable YA fantasy, while Jemisin has single-handedly rewritten how the fantasy genre works.
I would recommend you check out her short story "emergency skin" in the forward collection. It's roughly 30 pages, and is kind of sci-fi. It's one of my favourite short story/novella that I have read and I feel you would really enjoy it. Plus it's a very quick read. Also a bit of warning to go to the next two books with little lowered expectations.😅
I give this trilogy to my daughter a couple of years ago. I plan to borrow them to read someday. I generally feel uncomfortable reading fantasy. I keep thinking why am I reading this when there are so many great science fiction novels to be read. But lately my SF collection has been waiting while I read literary fiction.
I very rarely read through a series one installment after the other, but I absolutely binged The Broken Earth. There was absolutely nothing I didn't like. I'll be interested to hear your thought on The City We Became, though, as that was not something I enjoyed nearly as much.
I also rarely do that but I find myself itching to read the second one more than I have with any trilogy before. Usually I just thing, yeah, I'll get to it soon but this one is calling out to me.
Thanks for the review. I did think that you missed an opportunity after your opening, (which I really liked) to actually read the amazing first sentence of the novel however, " Let's start with the end of the world, why don't we ?". which is some introduction to a story. Thanks again for an interesting and helpful review which though your summary does simplify the novel little is helpful for readers who may be somewhat bewildered and wondering what the hell is going on?
Read the whole trilogy one after the other last year, and I can confirm that books two and three are AS amazing and engaging as the first one. It might be the only fantasy series where I felt the quality was completely maintained through each successive book, and it has a place of honor on my favorites shelf as a result!
That is such wonderful news! Thank you. I've got the second one ready to go.
three seconds into this video and you've answered the question, that's the good content right there
Hahaha maybe I should start titling my videos, "Was I WRONG about Matt Haig?!"
@@WillowTalksBooks yes, title them all that, whether they have anything to do with Matt Haig or not
or just make every review video title 'Is [Book] Any Good?' and open immediately with 'yes' or 'no', that'd also do the trick. like a TL;DR, but even more reductive!
Wow 25 seconds into the video I was sure I was going to pick it up and by eight minutes I had the audiobook ordered.
Can't wait to experience what is so amazing about this trilogy.
I read Fifth Season earlier this year and it blew me away. I agree, her writing and storytelling are very special and she is one of those authors that will inspire, change, and influence the future of the genre.
I've never seen a storyteller of her style and delivery before, and I'm so glad I found her 💜
THIS gives me so much joy that you loved this book! This was my first intro into fantasy and as you can see, the bar was set high. Breaks so many stereotypes... Reading about a middle aged, flawed, POC, mother (I am all these things!) as a fantasy protagonist was so refreshing and made it such a kindred read for me. The world building element was complex but Jemisin writes in a way it feels familiar... Genius. Like your example about 'sessapinae' - I also didn't fully understand, but inherently it was familiar... Kinda like 'sussing' but with a super earthbound connection. This along with SO MUCH MORE is all fleshed out in the rest of series. You did an amazing job summarising the book, got me excited for a reread. Seriously, prepare yourself... book 2 and 3 will expand and blow your mind even further! Enjoy x
You've got me very hyped for books 2 and 3, thank you! And I too was thrilled to see an older protagonist who is also a POC and a mother. How very refreshing for a fantasy series!
Omg yessss this was the best series! I'm a fantasy fan too, and a geologist, so reading this was practically euphoric. The geological principles was so well researched and very wonderfully applied! Your pronunciation of orogeny was spot on, it's a geological term meaning the process of mountain formation.
Haha euphoric, I'm so happy that you got so much out of this series! That's awesome :)
Le Guin absolutely is the best comparison.
I would not be surprised if Jemisin would cite her as her most important influence, particularly Wizards of Earth Sea, which comes very close in tone and feel.
(It's been more than 20 years since I read Wizards, so take this as a very lightly held opinion)
I just finished The Fifth Season and it blew my gd mind. An absolute masterpiece.
This is probably the best book series I've ever read. Every single book hit me hard, emotionally. Essun is so relatable because she is so flawed. And who can blame her. She's been through so much. Yet she still dares to love, dares to keep moving forward. I can't praise these books enough.
Just read the Fifth Season. I know I am late to the race, but I loved the read.
Thanks for that. I'll give it a go.
Hope you enjoy it even half as much as I did.
Superb sci-fi. Unusual, well-introduced, horrific world. Great, unlikeable, believable, interesting characters. High stakes, heartbreak, good use of multiple pov (including excellent execution of 3 different voices: 1st person, 2nd and close 3rd, quite unusual but a technique which actually served to build up and reveal the characters speaking in each style). Also, well-written. It isn't a comfortable story. But it was absolutely worth reading.
In one short comment, you did a better job of selling the book than my whole video! Well done!
Shadow and bone or this , what would you recommend?
I mean, they’re not in the same league. Shadow & Bone is passable but unremarkable YA fantasy, while Jemisin has single-handedly rewritten how the fantasy genre works.
I would recommend you check out her short story "emergency skin" in the forward collection. It's roughly 30 pages, and is kind of sci-fi. It's one of my favourite short story/novella that I have read and I feel you would really enjoy it. Plus it's a very quick read.
Also a bit of warning to go to the next two books with little lowered expectations.😅
Thanks for the rec! Nothing I love more than an impactful short story that stays with you for a long time.
I give this trilogy to my daughter a couple of years ago. I plan to borrow them to read someday. I generally feel uncomfortable reading fantasy. I keep thinking why am I reading this when there are so many great science fiction novels to be read. But lately my SF collection has been waiting while I read literary fiction.
I very rarely read through a series one installment after the other, but I absolutely binged The Broken Earth. There was absolutely nothing I didn't like. I'll be interested to hear your thought on The City We Became, though, as that was not something I enjoyed nearly as much.
I also rarely do that but I find myself itching to read the second one more than I have with any trilogy before. Usually I just thing, yeah, I'll get to it soon but this one is calling out to me.
Robin Hobb and Joe Abercrombie you say?
ㅡ auto subscribe😭
Haha thanks, hope I don't disappoint
Thanks for the review. I did think that you missed an opportunity after your opening, (which I really liked) to actually read the amazing first sentence of the novel however, " Let's start with the end of the world, why don't we ?". which is some introduction to a story.
Thanks again for an interesting and helpful review which though your summary does simplify the novel little is helpful for readers who may be somewhat bewildered and wondering what the hell is going on?