This is yet another fast-paced book with excellent audiobook narration.
In this book, the narrative switches between Mother and Daughter - Essun and Nassun. Essun has to contend with a new comm and new home and adjust to people who may not like her. Nassun has to choose between her Father and her Guardian. There is an excellent level of character development through the various choices they are forced to make.
[Warning Spoilers]
The Obelisk Gate refers to the state achieved when all Obelisks are networked. The origin of the Obelisks remains a mystery. However, as alluded to in the previous book, a skilled Orogene can tap into an Obelisk for orogenic power. When multiple Obelisks are networked, they form the Obelisk Gate - a super battery that gives the Orogene wielder ‘unlimited’ power - at a tremendous personal cost.
A dying Alabaster tasks Essun to learn how to network the Obelisks and tap into their power. The goal is to capture the Moon (that was flung out of orbit) and return it to Earth’s orbit.
The Seasons
The seasons started and were probably caused when the Moon was flung out of Earth’s orbit. The Earth has one single continent - the Panagea. I’d be curious to learn how the Moon was initially lost.
The Stone Eaters
We learn a little bit more about the Stone Eaters in this book. There are 2 factions with differing interests and are at war with each other. One wants to eliminate all humans, while the other wants to return Earth to what it was before the seasons.
The advanced city on the other side of the planet is where the stone eaters seemed to have originated. They were, at one time - humans. At the end of the book, Alabaster, through the actions of Antimony, becomes a stone eater, having expended the last of the power to save Essun.
Nassun
Nassun (Essun’s daughter) is an Orogene, and her powers come effortlessly. She comes under the tutelage of Schaffa - the same Guardian as her mother.
The character arc of Nassun seems evident at this point - it will make her out to be the protagonist in the next book - Mother against Daughter. I’d be curious to see how this happens. Nassun will grow stronger by learning from the rival stone eater.
Sci-Fi that I liked
The bugs that burrow through human bodies with superheated water - reminded me of the scarabs in The Mummy.
More Questions
There were some parts of this book that left me with questions - that were later revealed in the next book -
- It had a console that alerted of a close-by enemy. Who was the enemy?
- The same room had a piece of Iron that attempted to kill Tonkee. Why?
- Drawing power from the Obelisks seems a safer way to practice Orogeny for the trained Orogene. Why was it prohibited? Why risk human life by drawing power from the surrounding Earth? Couldn’t the orogenes have been trained to use the Obelisks instead?