Reviews

This is fantasy for people who are sick of the prescribed high fantasy formula. Powerful women? Check. Abandoned gender stereotypes? Check. Non-Eurocentric approach to fantasy's typical historical/mythological elements? Check.

Jemisin has woven a beautiful, incredibly detailed world, full of lovable and flawed characters. Plus, it's just a really, really good story. BRB, about to find everything else she's written and devour it.

timinbc's review against another edition

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4.0

With 80 pages to go this was still a five-star book. Great world-building, a variety of characters, a plausible framework of magic and politics, some good guys who turn out not to be, and an excellent sequence of one-choice-leads-to-another for the lead characters. And like the Inheritance series, the text just flows along effortlessly.

Then the Prince started to amp it up. I am still trying to recall which book I read recently with a dragon and a very evil Prince-type character, all bwah-hah-hah, look how I wield evil power but oh, only for good! Twirls mustache, explains his entire plot to the hero, then -- OK, didn't expect that, well played Jemisin.

Then we saw where the Reaper thing was going. Oh dear, no, that's a bit over the top. And Jemisin must have realized that, because it doesn't completely go there. Bit of a cop-out, really.

And then suddenly it was over. It was like going for a nice weekend drive at 45 mph, and finishing up with a wild set of curves at 80, and suddenly we're back on the edge of town and doing the speed limit.

And a big downmark for the use of twine - you know what I mean. Is there an award for clumsy foreshadowing? Imagine a giant bank vault, foot-thick steel walls, earthquake-braced ... and the door is a bead curtain. Like that.

Still a very, very good book - but it could have been great.

tregina's review against another edition

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3.0

While it is certainly a very technically well done book, I just didn't connect with it, particularly when compared to the Inheritance Trilogy. I felt emotionally distanced and the action seemed to spin its wheels for a while. What is is in evidence, though, is her gift for worldbuilding, for grounding it in real-world cultures and mythologies but transforming and combining it into something completely new, not just different from its inspiration but genuinely new in terms of the genre.

grahamclements's review against another edition

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4.0

I bought this book by accident as I aimed to buy one of her novels which had one the Hugo award. Jemisin, won the Hugo three years in a row from 2016 for Broken Earth trilogy so that sparked my interest. I was also interested because she was a Black writer too. Having said that I had "Grown" out of reading sword and sorcery novels years ago, prefering fantasy such as American Gods. Killing Moon is set in an Eygpt type world which helps get rid of the cliches inherent in many novels set in a medieval English type world, ie there are no trolls, elves or wizards. It is about a Gatherer and his apprentice who help release the souls of the dying to their version of heaven or nirvana. They discover a conspiracy to start a war. I was expecting a different sort of style or attitude because of the author's background, but I can't say I noticed one. The writing though is very descriptive, especially of emotions, but not flowery. Knowing there was a second book set in the same world, I expected it might have a hanging ending, but instead it had a very conclusive ending. A very enjoyable read.

aapasara's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

henneyce's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

ludiviin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

this book was overall very intriguing and compelling. it started out very nice; jemisin has a good foundation laid out and she eases you into the world building so smoothly. but towards the middle-end, i felt things start to drag out a bit, and the resolution felt super quick. there was soooo much building up and up and up and so much tension and so many factors to look out for, and then the way things got cleaned up in maybe 5 minutes of reading upset me a bit. i wouldn’t say it was detrimental to the feel of the book, it was still done well and in good writing, but it’s just something i noticed. the characters are so much fun to follow along with as they all really guide the story. there’s a glossary at the end of the book if you’re having trouble keeping up with everyone or the world’s specific vocabulary, but THE GLOSSARY DOES SPOIL. i think if you’re looking for a world to feel super immersed in and characters to adore, it’s definitely worth your time.

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