A review by grogu_djarin
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall Thoughts:
While I enjoyed the book as much as the first one, it really suffers from middle book syndrome in a lot of ways. A majority of the book takes place in only two locations (Castrima and Found Moon) and not much happens throughout. Essentially, the bulk of the book is Alabaster training Essun and Schaffa training Nassun. That said, it still manages to have a lot of good character moments throughout, but it still feels slower than the first and that many things overstay their welcome. It expands on much of the mystery of the first book, answering some but introducing new ones to replace them. You learn more about the obelisks and Jemisin does a great job portraying their power, you can feel it yourself in the words she writes. 

Likes:
  • Castrima was a fascinating society, especially with the fragile alliance between orogenes and stills and all the mysteries that were found within the city. The sense of community mixed with political tensions were a highlight of the book. 
  • It was nice seeing the comparison between Essun's Fulcrum-trained orogeny and Ykka's more feral, yet similarly controlled, approach. The contrast between these two characters was fantastic and added a lot not just to Castrima but also to the broader exploration of how orogenes navigate their identities in a society structured to oppress them.
  • I really enjoyed Schaffa in this book, he probably was my favorite character this time around despite not liking him as much in the first book. The story brings him in a new direction I would have never anticipated, and his character has a lot of depth and complexity.
  • Hoa was wonderful in most of his scenes, I just wish there were more since there are many periods of the story in which he is absent.
  • Orogeny continues to be portrayed so well that, like the first book, it's easy to believe it's a fundamental part of this world. You also learn new aspects of it that enhance the worldbuilding and mystery.
  • This carries forward many of the themes from the first book such as parental love, oppression, exploitation, fear of the unknown, the costs of survival, etc but also adds new ones like community, belonging, how knowledge and ability can be isolating, and the temptations of power. 

Dislikes:
  • Most of the time I found Nassun really unlikable. I'm sure part of this is intentional and a credit to Jemisin's writing in portraying a child struggling to process significant trauma, but when she is half the book it's hard to find her as a good protagonist you want to root for. 
  • The settings of Castrima and Found Moon, while interesting in the early stages, start to eventually overstay their welcome. As mentioned earlier, the majority of the book takes place in these two places and there comes a point where you begin to wish for a change of scenery.
  • Alabaster was very underwhelming. This is somewhat understandable given his condition after the first book, but it still was a bit disappointing to see after how good his story was in the first book. 

Other Notes:
  • This book continues the second person perspective of the first, and at this point reading it felt surprisingly normal. 

Would Recommend To:
  • If you enjoyed the first book and want to know more about the obelisks and what happens next, this is the book for you!

Do Not Recommend To:
  • Anyone who hasn't read the first book, The Fifth Season. This is a direct sequel, and you'll need to read that first to understand this.