The Obelisk Gate
Ratings674
Average rating4.3
This review is also featured as a guest post on Ity Reads Books: The Obelisk gate
The season sets its jagged teeth into the land. Civilization has become nothing more than a ruin. The comm and the commless band together to survive. Bandits loot and kill, animals once peaceful become hungry beasts and the land dies. Essun continues to work among her new community, trying to keep the peace between orogenes and humans. But a history of hatred and racism lies rooted in their hearts. A guardian awakens and fights against the orders he was forced to condone. And a child learns how quickly love can become twisted and cruel.
The Obelisk Gate continues to follow three separate characters, though two of these perspectives are different from the first book. The balance is not as precise in this second novel. Essun does dominate most of the story. But this didn't take away from my enjoyment, because the other two characters accented Essun's discoveries.
The Obelisk Gate enthralls readers with its dark and emotional tones. N. K. Jemisin is a master at world-building. She peels back the layers of history with each chapter propelling readers forward with a thirst for knowledge and understanding. As the pieces begin to fall into place, you'll find yourself immersed in the broken world that may just yet have a chance at survival. But it will take those subjected to centuries of discrimination and bigotry to rise up and fight. Nothing is ever as it seems, and some of the revelations in this second book will be jaw dropping.
N. K. Jemisin also continues the reveal of who the stone eaters are and how they came to be. While this is a minor subplot to the story, the stone eaters fascinate me. Since book one, Hoa's been such a presence within the story. When he isn't by Essun's side, you can feel the weight of him not being there and how it affects Essun's character. And the stone eaters are written in a way that doesn't require much dialogue. Their body language and reactions to certain situations are so artfully written.
I need more of this world. This is by far my favorite fantasy series of 2021.
On one hand, there's no sweep of narrative history like the first book. Essun basically doesn't do a whole lot for most of the book. But Nassun, my god, you're both cringing and eagerly reading in the hopes she'll survive her father and what's to come.
I think this is my favorite of the trilogy. So much juicy exposition, both of characters and plot. This is easily the busiest I've been at work in my adult life, and I try to be pretty strict about my bedtime, and the best thing I can say about this book is that I kept staying up too late reading it.
The Obelisk Gate takes what started in the Fifth Season, grabs it and takes off running. Everything – plot, the characters, the setting – all develops into something way more detailed and interesting. While I enjoyed The Fifth Season, the Obelisk Gate was more of an easier read for me. It could be that you aren't learning as much in this book – no info dumps, no feeling lost – but that's what makes this book more enjoyable to read. You spend way less time confused on what's going on.
One star is knocked off due to the fact that...not a whole lot happens in this book? It's a stepping stone to get to the final novel, which is fine. That's what second books of trilogies are for. But don't go into this expecting huge worldly shakeups. Really, the only huge change is that you get to see Nassun's POV which I found super fascinating. I can't wait to see her grow in the next book, and hopefully get to see her reunite with her mom.
A half of a star gets removed due to the fact that the book is basically set in only two places. The geode comm is really neat, a cool thing to imagine overall, but the book almost never LEAVES that comm. The only change in setting was with the change of POV, when you get to see where Nassun and her father go. I was looking forward to seeing more of the world, but you really kind of don't in this book. Oh well. Maybe in the next.
As a sidenote – that character death HURT a lot: Watching Essun deal with Alabaster's death was very, very hard to read.
So three and a half stars, rounded down because Goodreads.
chef's kiss Muah!Mm. Yes. Please. Thank you.Loved this, - perhaps not as much as [b:The Fifth Season 19161852 The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1) N.K. Jemisin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386803701l/19161852.SY75.jpg 26115977] but - it was everything I wanted from the series so far and more.The writing is excellent; character building is balanced and the sections with 2nd person PoV are well done and didn't effect my immersion whatsoever.The story covers a shorter overall period of time than the first book; in this entry a little over a year passes during the course of the story in which both Essun and her daughter Nassun are improving and honing their skills, albeit they seem to be on a collision course with each other for the third instalment.Besides this I don't think I can say much more without spoilers so sufficed to say this is a worthy follow-on and deeply enjoyable ‘next step' in the trilogy. If you read and enjoyed The Fifth Season, definitely keep going.
The second person POV sections for Essun didn't work as well for me in this sequel to “The Fifth Season.” In fact, it was distracting and confusing, probably on purpose. I also found Essun to be a bit dull and somewhat stupid in this one with far too much relying Alabaster's character pushing the story along; some of the information sections were convoluted and still don't Vick fit me days after finishing the book. Some of the backstory on Jija and Schaffa was compelling. With that said, I'm interested in the conclusion to the trilogy.
Gah, this book! So good, very fast-paced and strumming with tension. Now do I take a break before reading The Stone Sky or start tomorrow?
It was still good, and there were plenty of moments I enjoyed. Some of the story didn't resonate with me, especially the bits that (without spoilers) tried to explain the magic system. Overall less enthusiastic about it than the first book, and I feel like from a narrative point of view very little actually happened in the book.
The Obelisk Gate is the second book in The Broken Earth series, continuing the story of Essun, Nassun and Alabaster. The world of The Broken Earth is one of post apocalyptic nature, with events called ‘fifth seasons' happening with a regularity that cause mass starvation and ecological disaster, driven by powerful geological effects (volcanoes and tectonics). I am a professional geologist by day, so seeing things I am familiar with drawn into a fantasy/sci-fi magic system is doubly intriguing.
Jemisin has such an infectious writing style, it is really hard not to be drawn into her world. It is almost conversational and always opens with an alluring dialogue with the reader. She makes extensive use of the the second person, YOU are Essun, a rarely used perspective that becomes all the more engaging because of it.
This is the middle book of a trilogy and the story is very much in that ‘middle book' phase where you can feel things being set up for the finale. That being said there is plenty of action and the story is engaging. You really do empathise with Essun and her motives.
I have the final book on my tbr, and will probably be reading it sooner rather than later. This epic trilogy is award winning for good reason. Easily one of the best written and most engaging series I have come across and fully deserving of all its accolades.
This book is the almost perfect sequel to the first book in the trilogy (The Fifth Season), and I would have been enthralled entirely if personal matters did not steal me away from the book. I think this book has good characterization from the past book, interesting and great (at least for me) execution of the premise, good voice (that I probably became addicted too), and has set up everything for the next book.
However (and this is where I attempt to be unbiased), it could be said the book suffers from the last point–being the set-up book for The Stone Sky (the last installment). In relation to The Fifth Season, it was a bit slow from a plot perspective. I, personally, have enjoyed this book because it asked “questions” about its magic system and then answered them (though in the last few questions), set up the two (probably) major players in the next and last book (The Stone Sky) and set its premise.
I honestly would recommend, if you don't mind a middle “set-up” book (or at least one the feels like it), like I do. Can't wait till I start The Stone Sky tomorrow.
This book is the almost perfect sequel to the first book in the trilogy (The Fifth Season), and I would have been enthralled entirely if personal matters did not steal me away from the book. I think this book has good characterization from the past book, interesting and great (at least for me) execution of the premise, good voice (that I probably became addicted too), and has set up everything for the next book.
However (and this is where I attempt to be unbiased), it could be said the book suffers from the last point–being the set-up book for The Stone Sky (the last installment). In relation to The Fifth Season, it was a bit slow from a plot perspective. I, personally, have enjoyed this book because it asked “questions” about its magic system and then answered them (though in the last few questions), set up the two (probably) major players in the next and last book (The Stone Sky) and set its premise.
I honestly would recommend, if you don't mind a middle “set-up” book (or at least one the feels like it), like I do. Can't wait till I start The Stone Sky tomorrow.
Wow. NK Jemisin is a force. Every bit as good as the Fifth Season, Jemisin has basically turned the genre on its head to produce something truly original, but with all of the nostalgic resonance deserving of an epic fantasy trilogy.
Keeping a brisk pace in this second book, with tons of plot reveals and twists Nassun taken in by Schaffa! and character development (including a deepening of the relationship between Alabaster and Essun, which may be my favorite relationship in a modern book.) The characters are rich, nuanced, broken (so broken) and really relatable. There's an intimacy to the story, which mostly takes place within the confines of Castrima in this middle book, despite having world-altering consequences.
I think one of the places where Obelisk Gate really shines is exploring the metaphysics of orogeny and depicting how it's much broader than Essun (and we!) have been given to believe from the Fulcrum. I was also really drawn in by Schaffa's story and the deepening of our understanding of Guardians in general.
3,5 sterretjes
Opnieuw bijzonder onder de indruk over hoe fantasierijk en hoe mooi begrijpelijk de complexe wereld wordt neer geschreven.
Dit tweede boek was wel iets minder absorberend en dringend in het lezen dan het eerste boek, waardoor het een beetje aanvoelde als een brug naar de finale. Desalniettemin was dit deel heel intrigerend, omdat je meer en meer leert over het hoe en wat. En het einde was zo explosief!
Ik ben super benieuwd naar de grote finale!
Pros: everything good about the first book returns. It still handles apocalyptic topics in serious ways like The Stand and perhaps even The Road; it still handles grief in a way that's not only “good for fantasy,” but simply “great for fiction.” Jemisin remains the most thoughtful, insightful writer on emotional trauma I've read since The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I also appreciated the daughter's viewpoint, giving another shade of gray to the moral spectrum of the world.
Cons: the pacing felt slightly off to me; took me a while to get through the first third, then I read the second half at a sprint
Contains spoilers
Another good break from the broken earth trilogy.
I especially liked nassun's story line and really enjoyed the parallels that NK Jemisin draws between orogenes and the gender sexual and romantic minority community and their struggle for aacceptance.
Great read all around and highly recommend it.
My youtube channel Drew's book reviews has a more detailed review so check it out
Mantiene el nivel y desarrolla.
Lo planteado en La Quinta Estación va más allá.
Todo avanza, todo mola exactamente igual que en la primera entrega.
Y lo mejor de todo es que te quedas con ganas de más (a por el tercero que voy).
De nuevo destacar la traducción de David, absolutamente impecable. Hace poco con motivo de la publicación de El Cielo de Piedra ha colgado en Twitter un hilo donde comenta aspectos sobre la traducción de esta trilogía, totalmente recomendable.
This books is a solid second book: continues the development of characters and continues world building. Yes, it gets a touch slow but those parts that a slow add depth. Recommended if you have enjoyed the first book.
Continues the story of the first book, with the same major characters. I'm excited to hear how it all ends in the final book.
Poetry
The story is an epic poem the likes of Homer's. A fully realized world filled with characters of power and humanity.