brando sanderson

Chess meme time

(Explanation if you don’t understand chess/image description under the cut)

Mm, this was a cool book. I didn’t quite realize that it was a Snow White retelling at first, though it is one. Spoilers below probably

I liked a lot of the concepts, the sheer idea of powers of snow and over glass. Neither of those are powers I’ve really ever seen before, so they were really cool! I liked the imagery of how Mina used her powers, and in turn the little effects that being made out of snow had on Lynet.

I realized in hindsight that I didn’t super like the beginning for some reason? The first scene where Mina’s father explains all the stuff about her heart to her was a little meh to me, for some reason. But I liked the story a lot more once it got going further on

I noticed about a quarter of the way in that I liked Lynet’s character more, but I liked the story going on in Mina’s perspective more (when it was still in the 16 years ago flashback). I actually liked Lynet’s character right of the bat because I really like climbing things, trees but also buildings when I can, so when it described her climbing stuff I was like :0!!!!! Also I loved the whole thing with Nadia. I feel like the way it was developed was really good; there was no mention of romance in the blurb, and they didn’t fall in love instantly, it slowly developed over the course of the book. Nice.

Guess this is a book review, sort of? Finished these a week ago, but they’re the first books I read since making this blog and also they’re so so good. I cry. I haven’t read any fantasy books in a while and The Fifth Season felt like more or less a religious experience. (vague spoilers for the whole series below)

I really loved a lot of the characters- Damaya/Syenite/Essun feel almost too large to fit under a “single character” umbrella, but anyway I liked all of that. I loved Syenite’s perspective/tone of voice particularly, and watching and seeing how the three different characters actually blend into the same character was really enjoyable.

I loved Alabaster in general. Like, holy shit. I feel like he’s one of my favorite characters of all time- I feel like you get such a vivid picture of who he is despite never directly seeing in his head.

mm, hm. I liked the direction they went in with Nassun and Schaffa, I didn’t see that coming. Nassun was great in general- and oh I loved Tonkee. And probably a bunch of other people I’d keep listing if I had the time

Anyway! It was really lovely to read. Worldbuilding was great. 2 random things: I love the scene at the very beginning, where the villagers from Tirimo go out and realize that there’s a circle of unbroken land all around their village. And it says something about them realizing there’s a rogga in the village, and stonelore saying to look in the center of the circle. I love that because you just know nothing about any of that at that point, but it’s such- just a great entrance point, I guess? It piques your interest.

The entire plot with Nassun in Obelisk Gate, or sort of the parts of the plot where she remembers and traces back her childhood with Essun, now from her perspective- that whole thing is brilliant. I just. Agh. I literally stopped for a few minutes when Nassun talked about how Essun broke her hand, like oh fucking hell

Slightly related, but I love all the tiny form breaks Jemisin did sometimes. The first time I can remember it happening was when Alabaster was poisoned, “a contaminant”, but I also SUPER fucking love the scene in Obelisk Gate with “DID THEY BREAK YOUR HAND”. just. Argh. It’s such a wonderful, strong, brilliant way of conveying what she’s feeling and!!! Argh. That line could probably blow up my entire house

I might be reaching but I know that NK Jemisin actually writes and reads fanfiction, she really supports it, and that makes me wonder because the place I’ve most seen form breaks like that before is in fanfiction. But then again I haven’t read a ton of adult fiction/adult fantasy, so who knows what’s common

This meme is terrible so obviously it needs to be the first chess meme I post

Explanation for people who don’t know chess that well under the cut