The Fifth Season: Booktrack Edition

The Broken Earth, Book 1

By: N. K. Jemisin

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The Fifth Season: Booktrack Edition adds an immersive musical soundtrack to your audiobook listening experience!

At the end of the world, a woman must hide her secret power and find her kidnapped daughter in this "intricate and extraordinary" (The New York Times) Hugo Award-winning novel of power, oppression, and revolution.

This is the way the world ends...for the last time.

It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester.

This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy.

Listen to the first book in the critically acclaimed, three-time Hugo award-winning trilogy by NYT best-selling author N. K. Jemisin.

Booktrack is an immersive format that pairs traditional audiobook narration to complementary music. The tempo and rhythm of the score are in perfect harmony with the action and characters throughout the audiobook. Gently playing in the background, the music never overpowers or distracts from the narration, so listeners can enjoy every minute. When you purchase this Booktrack edition, you receive the exact narration as the traditional audiobook available, with the addition of music throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2015 N. K. Jemisin (P)2019 Orbit

Critic reviews

"With every new work, Jemisin's ability to build worlds and break hearts only grows." (Kirkus starred review)

"The Fifth Season is a powerful, epic novel of discovery, pain, and heartbreak.... It is a novel that demands much of its readers; it rewards them aplenty and is one of those novels that becomes more powerful after deep consideration and subsequent readings." (SFF World)

"A must-buy...breaks uncharted ground." (Library Journal starred review)

Not for everyone but what I was looking for

If you are looking for a YA epic fantasy you’ve come to the wrong place. This is just what I was looking for: Mature characters,no teenage angst, mature love stories that are subtle and move the plot forward. Even when dealing with younger characters it’s told from an adult perspective. The book is slow as world building takes place along with the story telling and some chapters are written in 2nd person, Which is different/difficult to read/listen too. I enjoyed the background sound and music which really helped build suspense and added a depth to the narrator who I enjoyed listening to. I give 4 stars because the big “reveal” I figured out quite early in the book. I also recommend either downloading a print copy or buying a physical book because of the made up language and difficult names. I’m glad I gave the book a chance to get going and can’t wait to read the next one.

Not as Expected

The story started off on one protagonist, then another, then back, eventually a third, but it all came together in an unexpected way. It was probably obvious to some, I; however, enjoyed the moment.

Great!

Loved it! The voice actor was so good it was hard to believe it was just one person?

Worth it!

There's a lot of heavy narrative, and complex world building, but stick around for the action-packed ending.

Deserves the praise

A rare book that deserves all the accolades it has received. Deep worldbuilding, complex characters, inspired narrative structure, and a a well earned sense of payoff make for a rewarding experience. Excellent narrator as well.

Fantastic world building. Dark but powerful story.

Cynical dystopia with epic world-building. The narrator was exceptional and the story is unique. One of the best fiction books I’ve read in a long time.

Absolutely incredible

A masterpiece of world building and storytelling. So many can get lost in world building and ignore characters or vice versa. This builds deep characters and a deep world at the same time.

Slightly odd way of storytelling

The story was amazing with two odd twists, and leaves a great cliff hanger. I would be upset if there weren't already more books out.
I only noticed one mistake from the narrator, of the whole audiobook, a mispronunciation of one word.

Not really a story for kids in the slightest bit, and plenty of allusion within it. If you aren't paying any attention, you will miss a lot.

I need to read more Jemisin

I don't know what got me to but this book, but I had it for a while and was hesitant. now, after reading it, I need to read more. the characters and world are so rich. The shocking bits are shocking for the right reasons. it's adult fantasy without trying too hard. At first I want sure about some of the prose style. the word choice didn't grab me, but one I got it I was hooked. 100% recommended, especially if you're tired of Western European fantasy style.

Shockingly Outstanding

The book folds like origami; line by line revealing plot lines with stunning episodic crescendos and twists. The author’s writing style fondly brings to mind Bone People by Keri Hulme. This is a great compliment.

Sci fi at its lyrical best. Operatic scope of time as explained from the perspective of half a lifetime. It conveys a Grand Canyon’s worth of ideas and peoples.

Utterly brilliant.