This year I decided to start off with some good old fantasy. I had to do a little research as to which fantasy novel I should read, since I haven’t been focussing on this particular genre as much lately. But after reading a few lists and watching some videos, The Fifth Season came out on top. And I’m glad it did. This book was a great way to start my reading year and get back into fantasy, as well as showing me what a fantasy novel can be. 

Jemisin doesn’t take her readers as fools in this book. Unlike in other fantasy novels where there are usually a lot of pages solely dedicated to world building, Jemisin dives straight into the story and leaves you, as reader, to keep up and figure the setting and story out for yourself with the bits and pieces of the puzzle the author slowly provides. As you get farther, you realize what a rich, interesting and cruel world this actually is. The setting is The Stillness, the only supercontinent on a planet that faces harsh conditions. Every few centuries a Fifth Season occurs, a catastrophic climate event, which leaves everyone to fight for their survival. I mean how cool is that for a setting?

The most interesting aspects of this book were definitely the point of view and perspective. This is the first novel I have read where the second person point of view is used! I never really considered it an option to use this style when I write anything. I thought it would just sound confrontational and corny, but I actually thought it was ingenious and refreshing to read. Constantly getting addressed by you in a book does take some getting used to, but it also grabs your attention and forces you to experience the events for yourself. Not only does Jemisin use this unconventional point of view, she actually switches points of view during the story. Mostly when the perspective changes as well. This highlights the parts where ‘you’ is used even more. All this can seem rather confusing, but I think Jemisin definitely pulled it off. 

This book might not be the best fantasy novel to begin with. The language isn’t necessarily complicated, but the narration style can be a bit daunting for beginners. Themes like women empowerment, racism (but not necessarily of skin color) and inclusiveness all play a role. I would recommend this book to people looking for something a bit different, but still in the realm of fantasy and at the same time dealing with some of today’s struggles and of course all fantasy-lovers.