Author Guide
N.K. Jemisin Books in Order
Complete reading list for the only author to win three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Novel.
About
N.K. Jemisin is an American speculative fiction author and the first author ever to win three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Novel — one for each book of the Broken Earth trilogy. Her fiction is notable for formal experimentation, world-building that draws on non-European mythologies, and a focus on systemic oppression as a driver of fantasy conflict.
Where to start: The Fifth Season is essential. Commit to the full Broken Earth trilogy — the payoff requires the whole arc.
All N.K. Jemisin Books
The Broken Earth trilogy is her most acclaimed work.
1
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
2010
Inheritance #1A young woman discovers she is heir to the most powerful empire — and that gods themselves are enslaved. Extraordinary debut.
2
The Fifth Season
2015
Broken Earth #1 — Start HereA world of periodic apocalyptic Seasons. Three women with the power to control the earth. Hugo Award winner.
3
The Obelisk Gate
2016
Broken Earth #2The second Broken Earth novel. Second consecutive Hugo Award.
4
The Stone Sky
2017
Broken Earth #3The conclusion of the Broken Earth trilogy. Third consecutive Hugo Award. Unprecedented in the genre.
5
The City We Became
2020
Great Cities #1Six people become avatars of New York's boroughs and fight an entity that wants to destroy the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start with N.K. Jemisin?
The Fifth Season (2015). It demonstrates everything that makes Jemisin extraordinary — the second-person narration, non-linear structure, and world-building through character.
What makes her writing distinctive?
She is the only author to win three consecutive Hugos. Her world-building is genuinely original. Her narration is formally experimental — The Fifth Season uses second-person for one POV.
Is the Broken Earth trilogy complete?
Yes. All three books are published. Read them in order.