The Obelisk Gate Audiobook By N. K. Jemisin cover art

The Obelisk Gate

The Broken Earth, Book 2

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The Obelisk Gate

By: N. K. Jemisin
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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This is the way the world ends, for the last time.

The season of endings grows darker, as civilization fades into the long cold night.

Essun - once Damaya, once Syenite, now avenger - has found shelter, but not her daughter. Instead there is Alabaster Tenring, destroyer of the world, with a request. But if Essun does what he asks, it would seal the fate of the Stillness forever.

Far away, her daughter Nassun is growing in power - and her choices will break the world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.©2016 N.K. Jemisin (P)2016 Hachette Audio Action & Adventure Contemporary Dystopian Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Hugo Award Paranormal & Urban Science Fiction Scary Emotionally Gripping

Critic reviews

"Exceptional." ( Library Journal)
"Robin Miles continues as narrator, and the large cast of characters allows her to draw on her vast store of accents. Her narration is intimate and engaged, and she enriches the complicated relationships.... Miles draws out the emotions - sometimes volatile, sometimes seething beneath the surface--as the complexities of this postapocalyptic world unfold." ( AudioFile)

Featured Article: Best Book Trilogies to Listen to Right Now


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Complex Characters • Immersive Worldbuilding • Original Fantasy • Compelling Plot • Unexpected Twists • Soothing Voice

Highly rated for:

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Gets you from the start, surprises you along the way, and is for geologists. Alabaster.

Finally, a fantasy book for geologists!!

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A fantastic book and fantastic reading by the narrator. Such a deep and emotional journey!

Fantastic book!

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The story is so wonderfully written. The perspectives are unique and insightful. Well done. I loved it.

I was hooked right from the beginning

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I hate the feelings I feel when I read this. I'm a father and it makes me sick to my stomach over and over.
despite that (because of it?) I recognize the artistry in the book and the performance.
I'm going to finish this series. I want to know where it goes. I'm not looking forward to it

it's a great series and a good book and I hate it.

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Excellent narration with distinct voices. Writing style offers a unique, sophisticated presentation by shifting pronoun perspective between people, varying between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person, which often helps with tracking the story lines. Although a very different world from ours, the characters are relatable and interesting, with plausible development. The best part for this reader is that it diverged from some of the standards tropes, while the focus of the story is on the lives of the characters.

The shape of the natural world drives the plot and the lives of the people. In this dystopian world, there are long cycles of apocalypse, and this shapes everything about the world and its people. And yet it is not without hope, revealing the human instinct to survive, prevail, and work toward a better life despite hardships and seemingly impossible hurdles.

The first book sets the scene, engages with characters, shows how the culture has developed with, and in spite of, periodic cataclysms. This book reveals more as the hardships continue, complete with clever twists. Some may also enjoy that it is is less predictable than most books of this genre. It also starts to mix some science into the mix with the fantasy and magic. It seems impossible to reveal the best parts of the story without spoilers.

Highly recommended for SciFi and fantasy lovers who are comfortable with exploring some of the darker sides of humanity. While generally clean and free of gory details of violence, the issues and challenges faced in the story are ones better appreciated by the more mature reader.

Well developed and unique world

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