Overview
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin is a science fiction dystopia riddled with horrific, world-ending “seasons” that lead to a society built on survival. Whether it be chance or Father Earth, some within these survivor communities are born with a deep connection to the world’s tectonic plates. It is a gift like no other, but treated as a monstrous curse. Dubbed “Orogenes” by their society, these select few are stripped of their homes, their identities, and their freedoms in order to counter earthquakes before the quakes destroy humanity.
Completion Status: 100%
(Spoilers to follow.)
Current Loves
I love that this novel unfolds as three narrative arcs from the same person, each at a separate point in time. Moreover, the use of the third person in childhood and young adulthood in contrast to the second person in the present is beautiful. It establishes Essun's desire to build a wall between who she was and who she is.
I love Hoa, but by the novel's end, I still don't understand his role or why he's chosen Essun.
I love how this novel tackles complex topics of love, relationships (both good and bad), individuality, and freedom. Jemisin is incredible at showing the difficult and blurred line between love and fear in toxic relationships, and she easily challenges the default definition of a loving relationship and what each party brings to that relationship. I loved Syenite and Alabaster's constantly developing and changing relationship--while nothing like I've ever seen before and obviously between two fictitious characters, it felt undeniably real. This novel also tackles what freedom means and how that meaning is more fluid than it seems on the surface. Syenite's definition is at constant odds with Alabaster's, and I love the way his viewpoint opens her eyes and makes her challenge what she's considered being free for so long.
And last but certainly not least, I love the reveal that the catalyst of this novel was Alabaster all along--including the reasoning why he decided to tear the world apart. Alabaster and Essun's relationship is intricate and complex, and it was both painful to know how much the death of their child destroyed him but also a comfort to know he doesn't blame Essun for it.
Current Concerns
I can't get behind the stone eater that draws Alabaster to and from different locations. Her initial appearance is abrupt and without any prior hints to the audience. What's more, her role feels like a convenient way to change settings, characters within the settings, or both.
I also dislike that--although the driving force of this novel answers the question, "Where is Nassun?"--the main question is left unanswered. I understand that series need an overarching connection between novels and that any book in a series that answers all its questions leaves no room for the next book in line; however, this was the centerpiece of The Fifth Season. Leaving this question unanswered is misleading. Nassun's safety and location are the story's driving force, and I was invested in that answer.
My last gripe is the reveal that Hoa's the second-person narrator. I love Hoa throughout the novel, but I don't like this. It has to do with the fact that Hoa refers to himself as Hoa in the narrative. He considers Essun "you" but never considers Hoa "me." Much like the stone eater that conveniently pulls Alabaster away, Hoa, as the narrator, feels like something thrown in. There was no way for the reader to surmise this due to the mislead, which makes it more for shock value than an ah-hah at the end of the novel.
Current Theories
The only big theory I have for the next novel is that Essun's husband did not kill their son. I find it hard to believe that Jija, someone Essun describes as a loving and kind parent, would do something so horrific. What's more, if everyone knows orogeny is genetic, why would he keep Nassun alive? It makes me think that perhaps someone else killed their son, leading Jija to pick up his surviving child and flee. I'm excited to find the answer to this question.
Would I Recommend This Book?
While I was angry with the final chapter of this novel, my first thought the second I finished was, "I need the next book." So, with that said, I absolutely recommend it.
