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  • The Fifth Season

  • The Broken Earth, Book 1
  • By: N. K. Jemisin
  • Narrated by: Robin Miles
  • Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,289 ratings)

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The Fifth Season cover art

The Fifth Season

By: N. K. Jemisin
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Novel
Book 1 in the double Hugo-Award-winning trilogy
A New York Times Notable Book
Shortlisted for the World Fantasy, Nebula, Kitschies, Audie and Locus Awards
The inaugural Wired.com book club pick

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

It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world, 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.

The Broken Earth trilogy is complete - beginning with The Fifth Season, continuing in The Obelisk Gate (Winner of the 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novel) and concluding with The Stone Sky (Shortlisted for the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novel).

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

©2015 N. K. Jemisin (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Astounding." (NPR)

"Elegiac, complex, and intriguing." (Publishers Weekly)

"Intricate and extraordinary." (New York Times)

What listeners say about The Fifth Season

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book. Can't wait for part two!

The story develops slowly but once it's rolling you can't stop listening. The hardest part is getting familiar with all terms.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully narrated and an awesome story

I can't wait to read the rest of the series! I did get a little confused as to what the time line was for the different POVs in the middle but everything comes together with a beautiful aha! moment at the end. I loved the narration, I wasn't sure about this book going in but having listened to it it is now in my top ten of all time! Highly recommend! I'm about to start my second listen through!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

engrossing and nice to have strong female leads

the world and magic system very well thought out the mythology deeply engrossing.

a theme running s through the story of some untold mystery

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

took me a while to get into, but now I'm so hooked! can't wait to start on the next book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning audio by Robin Mile & very engaging book

This is a big book, and at times confusing. but it is such a rich tapestry of fantastic storytelling that I can't wait to get the next one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

:)

was a little confusing at first but ended really well. really enjoyed it, good read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

wow. bleak. characters of true strength

bleak and intense but draws you in and through the fascinating tale. powerful delving into the earth' s crust and mantle, the forging of diamonds and volcanoes, connects the reader more with our own earth. lastly , refreshingly untraditional stances on sexuality and power, we see women in charge, a main transgender character and fluid sexuality explorations. even in this choked up world, love is love.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

pedantic story line

Characters were good, good narrator, good idea but listening to the story was like watching grass grow. I like a bit more action in stories I read but in this I only got to chapter 11. Half way through and I was still wondering what the story was about.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning

A beautiful and complex tail, I’ve loved every moment and am looking forward to starting the next in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

Best thing I've gotten on audible so far! Love the female narrator, she's awesome!! I usually only listen to audiobooks on drives but found myself putting this on at home as I just couldn't stop!

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