Book Review | The Fifth Season

[@nicolekawa1265]

Thanks for the review. I just started the book and I’m so confused, but your review has made me want to keep going! The second person POV is hard to get used to, but knowing it’s a character makes a little more sense.

[@kandirussell5024]

The final book is amazing. The author explains why the world is having seasons as well. I don't want to give spoilers but overall it is a wonderful conclusion.

[@dareisayit]

This series has become my favorite! I listened to the audiobook and I loved the narrator! It really helped with the 2nd person narration (and with the pronunciations) and The Obelisk Gate CRUSHED ME!! I need Stone Sky!! (I think the 2nd narration is pronounced Nah-soon) Great review!!

[@ConnorOBrien]

I finished the second book now, and it's definitely become one of my favorites! I'm pumped to see how it will all unfold in the last book!!!

[@SwamiJeeSez]

that’s a really good point that it feels like a prequel, especially thinking about the very last page of the book, it feels like a cliffhanger that if you already knew how the story progresses, then the last page would hit so hard. kind of like gandalf acknowledging that bilbo has the ring at the end of the hobbit, but you knew the lord of the rings story first.

[@deanryanmartin]

Amazing review, Connor. This is absolutely a must-buy!

[@ConnorOBrien]

One of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while!

[@deanryanmartin]

@@ConnorOBrien I will start looking for it.

[@arlenedangerfield6287]

yes I loved it and the next too. Can't wait for the last one. Perhaps this year. I gave both books 5 STARS I am still thinking about the ending of the second book. Let me if you do also when you finish it. Arlene a fan

[@ConnorOBrien]

+Arlene Dangerfield I did read the second! Wow! My review for that will go up later this month.

[@Ann86dk]

I had the hardest time with the 2nd person narrative in this book. I loved the plot, and the world and the magic system, but every time I listened to the 2nd person parts I got thrown off. But the weird thing is, when I listened to the second book I didn't have the same problem at all, and I think that the 2nd person narrative were more dominant in that one. I think it was the audio that didn't work for me, but maybe that I was prepared for it in books 2. It didn't throw me off in the same way. I'll definitely have to get a physical copy of all the books, so I can try and read them instead, because I think it makes better sense that way. I gave Fifth Season 3.5 and Obelisk Gate 4.5 stars.

[@ConnorOBrien]

It honestly helped me out get in the head of the person narrating those parts, so I thought it helped a lot. I bet you were just ready for it in the second book.

[@rameo89]

I completely agree, the 2nd person threw me off. I just started the 2nd book, hopefully, as you said, it gets better. I too gave the first book 3.5.

[@TheDrewjameson]

The author uses the 2nd person intentionally and deliberately, and its de-centering effect forces the reader into a POV they may not be prepared for.

[@SiddharthSingh-ir4oc]

Loved the review but still don't understand why did you hold the book up in the same state for the whole video?

[@ConnorOBrien]

Siddharth Singh I talk with my hands a lot, and holding the book helps minimize that. Otherwise, it would be very distracting.

[@chrisyoungberg3245]

I loved both of these! I can't wait for #3!

[@ConnorOBrien]

+Chris Tannberg So close! I want it in my life now.

[@melissasteusloff1156]

I picked this one up to read for the SFF awards too but didn't get a chance to read it before the voting. I'm definitely still interested though after seeing so many good reviews of it and will hopefully get to it this month some time!

[@ConnorOBrien]

Oh man, you are in for a treat! I have a feeling The Obelisk Gate may get my vote for the awards.

[@melissasteusloff1156]

Connor O'Brien it's next on my to read list if I ever finish ACOWAR. I've been reading it for like a week and a half and I'm definitely enjoying it but I tend to prefer political intrigue fantasy to high action.

[@LightBWK]

I just cannot brain how the dialogs were written. Most of the time I just don't know who is speaking. World building is simple for me since I can anticipate almost everything coming. The second book is slightly more interesting yet closing to cliche as it progresses. Writing style and plot feels like most manga I have read.

[@ConnorOBrien]

+Light BWK Stinks that it wasn’t a home run for you. I loved it!

[@LightBWK]

Another thing that I find lacking is not enough explanation of how the world looks. Most places feels like islands of details. Void in-between.

[@kreiger]

These gets recommended occasionally on /r/fantasy, but I have yet to read it myself. It does sound pretty interesting when you described it so I might add it to my (every growing) "to-read" list.

[@ConnorOBrien]

You should add it toward the top of that list! No lie. After the second one, this may be a favorite of mine.

[@kreiger]

Oooo ok. :p

[@happyelephantbooks8803]

You always have such a great selection of books! This reminds me of Truthwitch slightly, just the part controlling the elements. Have you read that yet? I can't remember. I think you'd like it as you liked this so much 😄 Always love your videos!

[@ConnorOBrien]

I have read Truthwitch. I didn't think the character interactions were believable, but I did like Windwitch much better. I wouldn't say the magic systems are very similar because the witches in the Witchland series use their own energy to do magic. The orogenes in the Broken Earth series use energy outside of their bodies be it the heat of the environment or the heat from other beings' bodies. A bit more intense! I hope you check this one out! You'd probably like it!

[@BooksandLooks]

What an interesting premise. Its like the Purge but with seasons hahaha.

[@ConnorOBrien]

It's definitely an environmental wipe out lmao it is sooo good. I hope both of you check it out and love it!

[@Sach.T]

Hi ! Does someone reckon that this book is easy to read for non-english speakers ?

[@ConnorOBrien]

It depends on your proficiency. I think it would be a bit difficult, but if you're fluent or almost-fluent, it might be manageable. It really just depends.

[@ghx198]

This review made me buy the book. Thanks!

[@ConnorOBrien]

Phoenix I hope you like it!!

[@ReadandFindOut]

I want to read this so bad!

[@ConnorOBrien]

+Shelby Machart It is so good! I hope you love it!

[@JashanaC]

I just read this... another unpopular opinion for the books...! 🙁 eeek!

[@sarahfoulds8533]

I just don't get the success for THE FIFTH SEASON. Do you? It has to be the worst fantasy novel I ever read. The story is an absolute mess. The world is nothing new. At best, the prose is pretentious. At worst, it is cringe-worthy. The use of the second person narration is really irritating. And, here is another issue: are all three characters the same woman at different stages of her life? That idea just didn't work in this series.

[@JashanaC]

Yeah it wasn't my thing at all. :-/ I felt like the writing was pretty pretentious and the plot was super confusing for me all the way around. I did agree with something I see ppl saying - that it was a good representation of systematic oppression and how that comes to be... but aside from that, I was NOT a fan. At all. :P

[@aidualk3511]

I'm currently try to read it but for now I don't like it that much

[@ConnorOBrien]

Second person narration is pretty jarring, I found. Hopefully you've/you started liking it better as you've/you made your way through it!

[@ploxdedits9721]

Cool video best booktuber ever

[@ConnorOBrien]

Thank you, Gabriel! I really appreciate you watching!

[@GoogleUser-tn2tz]

You are so cute! And you're a bookworm. Double win for me. My newest crush. Subscribed. :D

[@isaiahcayatineto2495]

Cute guy

[@sablebeauty]

I totally bought this book because you said it was awesome, but I can’t stand the second person “you” pov. Sorry but I’m not a character in this book! And her writing tone is sooooo condescending. Sigh.

[@ConnorOBrien]

Did you get to the point where you meet the narrator? The person "writing" those sections is a character in the book, but I totally understand why people wouldn't like it. For me, it worked with the novel so well. The character who is telling the second POV sections is super pretentious, so I loved that.

[@sablebeauty]

Yeah that seems to be an issue with what I've read for people that dont like it. They hate the pretentious and condescending tone of the second person POV (especially since they're all the same character in the end) and that it's written with too much hubris on the authors pov. Apparently she's a big racist (which I found out reading reviews) so I guess her bias makes it into her writing since her book is about her oppression.

[@ConnorOBrien]

Oh wow! That's news to me. I follow her on twitter, and I've only ever seen her speak about equality. Can you link me to those reviews, so I can see for myself? I thought the tone and style of the book matches the characters perfectly.

[@sablebeauty]

You can find them on goodreads! On the lower stared reviews. Apparently she spoke a lot about Australians being racist when she was about to visit and her father told her not to visit, etc.(So she's super racist against Australians, which I was like ??? how can you be racist to Australians.. so I guess "white") Saw a few reviews about those kinds of things.

[@ConnorOBrien]

sablebeauty I just read her article on her trip to Australia. Here it is: nkjemisin.com/2013/06/continuum-goh-speech/ It looks like they didn’t read very far because she talks a lot about how great Australians are doing to right the wrongs of the country’s (not too distant) past of treating their native people poorly. Obviously the oppression and treatment of native Australians was awful that it happened, but I didn’t take the article as anti-Australia. She says that they (like a lot of countries) have a long way to go to reaching true equality. But as for the book, that stinks you didn’t connect with it as much as I did. The second person POV and I guess her writing style aren’t going to mash with everyone. I’m happy you gave it a shot though!