The Niess used magic freely and more efficiently than those of Syl Anagist. While the people in Syl Anagist could create their share of magic, they did not believe magic was free to be used at will. Even decades later, those in Syl Anagist feared that the Niess would retaliate. The Niess were a people whom Syl Anagist had conquered. Houwha is proud of his job and his abilities until he learns that the tuners were created in the image of the Niess. Houwha is a tuner created during the time of Syl Anagist to assist in starting up the Plutonic Engine, a device made of a network of obelisks intended to draw a self-perpetuating stream of energy from the earth. However, Nassun must first be persuaded to use her power for good.

The two women hold the power to position the moon in its proper place to end the seasons. Then, Essun and Nassun’s story picks up in the present time as the moon has been primed to be pulled back into proper orbit with the earth. First, Hoa tells his story from nearly forty thousand years before the time of the Stillness.He explains how he is the one responsible for throwing the moon out of orbit. The novel is divided between two different time periods. This final installment in the Broken Earth Trilogy addresses the themes of hate and racism, the dangers of abusing natural resources, and the importance of recording and sharing stories. In both cases, it is an image of love that makes them show mercy instead.

Both Hoa and Nassun have been so hurt by life that they want to use the opportunities they have been given to destroy those who have hurt them. Jemisin, the parallel stories of Hoa’s life as a tuner and Nassun’s life as an orogene illustrate it is sometimes the ones most hurt by racism and ignorance who must use their power to make the world a better place. The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Jemisin, N.K.

The stone sky by nk jemisin