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fishbelly 's review for:
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
by N.K. Jemisin
Wow, I was completely taken by surprise while reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Jemisin's debut grabbed me from the start--a deftly told fantasy unlike any I've read in a long time.
The novel centers upon Yeine Darr, a barbarian outcast who has come to the city of Sky. Unexpectedly, she is declared the heiress to the king (her grandfather) and immediately becomes the target of the two current heirs.
Jemisin creates a world filled with intrigue, betrayal, and passion, but the most interesting aspect is her take on religion and the gods. The gods are real, and held as slaves by the citizens of Sky. The interaction between humans and gods is central to the novel, and perhaps the most fascinating part as well.
In the end, plot, character, and world creation--while well done--were meaningless to me. Jemisin tells a tale so well, and so uniquely, that I was enthralled and delighted in equal measure. She could've been writing cookbook recipes and I would have eagerly read them. I'm already anxious to read her next endeavor.
The novel centers upon Yeine Darr, a barbarian outcast who has come to the city of Sky. Unexpectedly, she is declared the heiress to the king (her grandfather) and immediately becomes the target of the two current heirs.
Jemisin creates a world filled with intrigue, betrayal, and passion, but the most interesting aspect is her take on religion and the gods. The gods are real, and held as slaves by the citizens of Sky. The interaction between humans and gods is central to the novel, and perhaps the most fascinating part as well.
In the end, plot, character, and world creation--while well done--were meaningless to me. Jemisin tells a tale so well, and so uniquely, that I was enthralled and delighted in equal measure. She could've been writing cookbook recipes and I would have eagerly read them. I'm already anxious to read her next endeavor.