My first impressions (Writing down my first impressions of the book. NOT an in-depth review)
RANK: Super Sensational

Another fantastic book. Book 2 is setting up to have great ending to the trilogy. This is the 2nd book so I’ll be talking about the spoilers in a tag below.
The reason for the fifth season is because of the moon. The moon has not been seen for thousands of years. If Essun can bring the moon back to orbit, then the fifth season will end. This idea of the moon playing a bigger part is interesting. In book 1, we were told that humans did something to Father Earth. Now we know what they did. On top of that, we learn that Orogeny is just magic. Which explains some of the things the Orogenes can do and how Castrima works. This is seen as Sliver Energy. I like how the magic system is evolving as the story goes on. One of my favorite things is when characters discover something new about the magic system. It keeps things fresh and engaging. I hope that this discover didn’t lead Essun and Nassun becoming op and solving problems with ease. The addition of the boiling bugs is just cool. Bugs that get in your skin and use boiling water to kill you. That’s terrifying. The characters were still alright. 2nd person is back and I still don’t like. I hope that in book 3 it explains why are we in Essun head.
Overall, A great 2nd book that didn’t disappoint me at all. I hope to read the last book in the first quarter of the year.

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This second book in the Broken Earth trilogy adds more depth to the world and the story, more layers to the main characters, and (some) more explanations to the plot as a whole. But, just as Essun and Nassun struggle to understand and assimilate all they are learning and experiencing, the reader also has to piece together the clues and revelations in an effort to understand the bigger picture.

Anxious to see how Jemisin brings this all together in the final volume. ( )

[draft - early notes] The beginning is confusing. I do not think someone who hasn't read the first book would be able to follow. I do appreciate the limited references to the past; that this book does not try to summarize and / or repeat the first book in this book. This book starts with backstories for the beginning and end of the first book. Seems strange, and I'll see where it goes.
— Rebecca

I don't know. I just really don't know how to feel about this book and series. On the one hand, some of the world building and setting is absolutely fantastic. The whole idea of manipulating earth and stone, having guardians to control the orogenes, stoneaters that are outside of their control as well, normal people that are afraid of everyone that isn't "human"....it's all really cool. And the idea that the moon isn't there is causing all of the seasons is pretty cool too.

But I just don't know if I like the actual story. I mean, this book spent all of the time (except for another POV character that is introduced) in one place with Essun basically crying about how she can't control the obelisks and trying to make this comm really nice while conveniently forgetting (oops!) that the world is coming to an end. It just went nowhere in the worst possible way with no discernible tension created until the end of the story where everything came together over about 15 pages.

In fact, I would argue that the absolute best part of this novel is following Nassun and her father. This is heartbreaking and very interesting. The parallels to her mother are pretty neat and her character development was much better. Although, I think it's pretty obvious where this is all going and I wish it didn't feel so one-dimensional, but whatever.

Overall, I enjoyed it but I left feeling the same way I did about the first book. Meh. Surprised that it won the Hugo Award, the second she has taken for this series (in a row--quite an accomplishment). I just don't see it.

I'll definitely be reading the last novel because I've already come this far and it's a good yarn with great world building. I hope that it delivers and doesn't fall into the trap of trilogies where the last book is complete and utter garbage. ( )

What an absolute rollercoaster of a story. I didn't want to put this book down, it was so good. The development of the storyline was jaw-dropping. I was excited to get Alabaster back! But then I fucking lost him, which is bullshit. I also cried at this book I think twice. I'm so excited for the characters that love and now they develop over the course of the book. I'm excited and scared for the last book. ( )