The Stone Sky
N.K. Jemisin

The final chapter in Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy. I reviewed the first book the Fifth Season here and the second book, the Obelisk Gate, here.

The Fifth Season is one of the best science fiction books I have read in a years and years. Maybe ever. Its world building is exquisite and subtle, the writing is wonderful, and the plot and structure fit together like a fine watch. I finished it, smiled, and said out loud “that was brilliant”. I found the second book to be not quite as brilliant, and this one, too, has a just a little bit less luster.

That isn’t to say it isn’t worth the time. It’s still a very very good book. But it’s easier to start a trilogy than end one, easiest to build a world and raise a lot of questions than it is to answer them. Still, unlike many other epic SF books I’ve read, I felt satisfied with how this tied up. Our heroines reached fitting conclusions, their powers and stories are explained, and while it wasn’t all tied up neatly with a bow, it was tied up better than most.
Even if this volume wasn’t perfect, and didn’t have the same precision as I felt Fifth Season had, I still think its among the best SF/F books I’ve read in a while. Wonder what you’ll think.
Recommended for the enthusiast.