The Stone Sky

Wow. 6 stars.

It has felt like an age since I was entirely engrossed by a book series, but The Broken Earth trilogy had me from beginning to end and what an end! Maybe There's an expectation for things to expand out in this last volume considering the enormity of the quest, but N.K. Jemisin still keeps it centred on the complicated and emotional story of a mother and daughter and their own personal quests to create a world better than the one they were born into. Coming from different perspectives, conflict is an easy route to take, but Jemisin infuses it with much more humanity and a great understanding of that familial relationship where love, hurt and enmity exist in the same space. The greater world changing events are certainly a big part of this last volume, but it's the emotional core that is teased out between that had me thoroughly enjoying the story and being highly satisfied with the conclusion.
Overall I thought the whole trilogy was very good - unique, great characters and a highly enjoyable to read all around.

This review was a guest post at Ity Reads Books: The Stone Sky

Be prepared to have your emotions go through a grinder. N. K. Jemisin is a master at building up conflict and keeping readers engaged. And this time she is pitting mother against daughter. Both believe they know what is right for the world, but one chooses to destroy that which is broken and the other wants to right the wrongs that were done to Father Earth.

The way love is portrayed throughout The Broken Earth Trilogy is complex and messy. Different characters love for different reasons, and their lives have impacted how they love. This level of reality in emotions I have never seen done before. And as the story pulled Nassun and Essun back together, it built this cacophony between the two because of how they perceived love and what was acceptable.

Not only do the characters drive this story forward, but so do the cleverly placed bits of history that have been laid down leading up to The Stone Sky. I have never been so invested in learning about the history of a fantasy world. And N.K. Jemisin brought it all to a head as she started revealing actual scenes from before the shattering. And true to style, no details are spared, allowing readers to see how the atrocities of the world they are reading about came to be.

I don't want to let go of this world. I wish there were more books to read. It will be very hard for me to find another set of books that can top The Broken Earth Trilogy. I highly recommend this to fans of dark fantasy.