My first N.K. Jemisin novel and I was not disappointed. This is gritty, dark, and tinged with deep sadness. Yet, our MC and side characters maintain a chasmic will to survive amongst the tumultuous and ever-changing landscape post environmental breakdown. In the dystopian wasteland future, civilizations are plagued by tectonic shifts, volcanoes, horrid weather, and brutal consequences of the power of Orogenes, a people who can enter and move the earth. Discriminated against, the Orogenes are exploited for their power and struggle to find freedom in the brutal political systems of the current Season.

Knowledge of the world builds as we continue reading, and the beginning is a bit slow and confusing. As we dig deeper into the lore and history (often filled with holes for the characters as well) we begin to piece together events and possible reasons as to why things became this way. There is quite a bit of violence and brutal scenes throughout the book as a warning. N.K Jemisin’s writing style flowed for me and I appreciated the detail she added to the world, the characters, and the history. Looking so forward to the next one!!

CW: violence, sexual scenes (described), assault on a child (physical, described and sexual, described), death of children (described)