The Obelisk Gate

“But if you stay, no part of this comm gets to decide that any other part of this comm is expendable. No voting on who gets to be people. This is a community. You will be unified. You will fight for each other. Or I will rusting kill every last one of you.”

I was very very excited to read this book after the amazing Fifth Season. I can't say that I was disappointed with this but may be my expectations were too high. This is a proper middle book of a trilogy – not a lot of exciting things happen, we get quite a few answers which we were waiting for but also lead to more questions, and the ending is perfect to setup an explosive (hopefully) finale.

This book has two main POVs – Essun and Nassun. Essun has unexpectedly been reunited with Alabaster on his deathbed who reveals that he is the reason for the beginning of the new season. He also tells her that he wants to teach her how to use her orogeny and obelisks' power to restore the Earth's equilibrium and bring an end to the seasons forever. On the other hand, we get to know that Nassun left with her father voluntarily. They make their way to a comm in the Deep South where she meets other rogga children and guardians.

“The way of the world isn't the strong devouring the weak, but the weak deceiving and poisoning and whispering in the ears of the strong until they become weak, too.”

Essun grows in power as we expect from her and also tries to become a normal member of the Castrima comm. Her transformation into a leader and protector is shown quite well. The surprise is Nassun who is getting equally powerful by day in the shadow of Schaffa but her intentions are not so pure. It's easy to sympathize with her because she has been surrounded by people who hate her which has hardened her heart. She is a ten year old thrust into a centuries old war she doesn't understand. Even though her choices seem wrong, I don't think we can begrudge her given her circumstances. However, the best part of the book for me was whatever little was written about Hoa. His protective nature and love he shows towards Essun is very childlike and ancient at the same time and particularly endearing. I look forward to reading so much more about him.

On the whole, this is a good book with lots of information and answers provided and new characters explored. But there is something missing relative to the first one. However, it was a good read and makes me quite curious for The Stone Sky.