The Kingdom of Gods (The Inheritance Trilogy)

The end of the trilogy begun with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Kingdom of Gods is a worthy conclusion of this tale of gods made flesh and how they adapt, change and grow (or die. Yes, this book is a tragedy as well as a fantasy, just like her previous books).

The whole of this trilogy is the best thing I have read from a new novelist, maybe ever. I have opined previously that it's a lie that THTK was her first novel. She's `way too good for that; she was a best-selling novelist in her previous three lives.

Like my other reviews, I won't tell you a damned thing about this novel that will eat into any surprise. I will tell you it's Sieh, the child-trickster-cat god of the previous books, who is the narrator of this tale, and he does have a unique take on being human, and being divine.

Very worth diving into, and do read the previous novels first if you haven't. I can recommend the audiobook of the first one very highly.

It's always nice reading a trilogy which progressively gets better, despite initial problems. I think Jemisin has achieved that with "The Kingdom of Gods". The plot is more deftly worked, and the mysteries that are set-up are better executed than previously, but there are still a number of issues I have with the writing. These issues mainly revolve around the execution of ideas, events, and story progression, rather than the content of those elements.

The story is written very well. The premise is interesting, but that isn't the real point or focus of the story, even though it acts as the centrepiece around which everything else moves. Events flow together quite well until the last 150 pages, and the last 100 pages in particular suffer. It's there that things begin to unravel a bit; until this point, we get a steady stream of information and story development, and the introduction and resolution of small mysteries. I think the pacing in the last section is too quick. Furthermore, it highlights a number of weaker elements in the rest of the story which I don't think have been fully developed, or which could have been more deeply foreshadowed. Everything makes sense, but it feels threadbare, and gets a bit lost in the rest of the story.

Also, if it weren't obvious by this point that this trilogy is focused mainly on the pantheon of gods here rather than the cultures, this book puts that notion to rest. I found this disappointing, but this all really comes down to personal taste. We don't get any more of the cultures than is necessary, and this is fine, but I thought it sometimes lead to unexplained societal phenomena which hurt the authenticity of the story.

I found Sieh's characterisation interesting, but not without flaws. After previously writing from the perspective of two female characters, writing a male godling is understandably difficult. Jemisin mostly does this well, but I still find the writing style too similar to the other books. It's distinctively Jemisin, but it doesn't feel neutral enough for her to get away with it, and it times I felt like it came too close to the characters from the other books. But if you're not as pedantic as me, this probably won't be an issue. On a positive note, the character is much more clearly differentiated from the previous two protagonists.

Oh, and the retrospective interjections are finally gone, apart from one part at the start of chapter one which specifically tells you that they're gone.

The other characters are fairly well drawn. The antagonist needed alot more work. There were alot of new characters who put in brief appearances, mostly to better characterise Sieh. The main cast of characters are well drawn, and those who had already been introduced in the previous two books got more depth. The characters are, by and large, simply written well enough so as not to be intrusive. Alot of the secondary characters are really compelling, and I felt they often outperformed the main cast. I think there are still some issues with flat characters, either falling squarely in the camp of good vs bad. Despite some problems early on, though, I felt this was much improved.

My biggest gripe here, though, is with the romance and relationships. I found some of the changes in temperament unbelievable; particularly how quickly a certain female character changes in chapter three. In other cases, events move too quickly, and while Jemisin does a good job at slowing them down it's still too rushed (I found this particularly problematic in the last two chapters of Part One). Similarly, I didn't find the romantic relationships, and how deeply they're supposed to run, believable, given how quickly they come about. There's an explanation given, but I found this unconvincing.

I also have some minor gripes with the writing. E.g., multiple emotions surfacing on characters faces in a span of moments, the descriptions aren't always clear, etc. They're present in the first two books, so if you didn't find them problematic there you probably won't here.

And I really disliked the Coda. Again, though, this is an individual thing. I can think of arguments for and against it. Personally, I think it's too sentimental, although the first half is fine and could have had a place elsewhere, and I feel that it cheapens the rest of the story. I think the end of the last chapter was a fitting end, however; it's very powerful, and is also conclusive. But again, personal preference will play a large part here.

Despite these issues I think this was the best book in the series. Still brought down a bit by the last hundred or so pages, as well as some other blemishes, but I think this is also in part because of the quality of the middle sections (Parts Two & Three) and the rest of the other writing. And it's a testament to the story that I feel so strongly about the things which disappointed me. This is certainly a recommended series and author.

4.5/5

I think I could have given this four stars, but I had to go with five. It's rare to feel like a trilogy is truly a trilogy, and not just one book broken up (like John Twelve Hawks), and N. K. did that with three well thought-out books. Also, the momentum from the first book carries over here, for this book simply cannot be enjoyed without the other two. So, FIVE STARS, if you count the journey from one to two to three.
Sieh, a character from the first two, is the narrator of this one. When I first realized, I wondered if I could like the book with him as narrator, and I did, it completely succeeded. I hate reviews that talk about plot, that's what reading it, and book jackets are for, so, suffice to say, these books have it all: plot, characterization, wonderful world-building. And it's rare to find lurid and sensual bits that seem authentic without exaggeration or gratuitousness. Thanks for Miss Jemisen for adding all that in, and adding it in well. She really tapped into class struggle, hidden desires, shame, and worship. I never felt like her material was derivative, and can't wait for whatever is next.

This last book in the trilogy doesn't exist in audio format (as of 1/13). I wasn't sure if I should grab the paper copy after listening to the first two parts and seeing the mixed reviews to this one. But the long story short - I'm glad I did.
I'm the kind of reader who likes well structured fantasy worlds, so the additional details about gods and universe, some people have complained about, turned out to be a welcome addition. The story indeed jumps and goes through some loops, but why not, if it makes it interesting. And after all the first chapter warns you that gods are not as linear as mortals.
The downsides.. well the love story in this book was way underdeveloped and rushed. I also still find it not so easy to believe in gods with so many human emotions, but it is more of a gripe with the whole series.
In any case I found the trilogy enjoyable and it stood very well among the other books I've read these past few month, which included books from Butcher, Pierce, Bujold and Sanderson.

I said it all in my review for the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms ... every book in this series was phenomenal. I actually checked the kindle books out from my library and then went back and bought the omnibus edition because I want to be able to reread any and all of it at a moment's notice.

I absolutely loved this book!

So often the trilogy goes down hill by the time you get to the last one especially with new writers but N.K. Jemisim did not fall into that category for me! If you did not like the last one though you might as well stop now b/c it stays with the focus of interpersonal relationships. Female action if you will. Beautifully written and the story kept me guessing with an ending that ties everything nicely together (another need for "female action" stories).

I have read the entire Inheritance trilogy and I must say it was a treat.From Gods being used as tools of destruction and control to power being shared between all the creatures of the realm, Jemisin does a great job of analyzing human nature at its best and worst, especially the workings of a family, with betrayals, hate and love and loneliness, and, ultimately, the power of forgiveness and new beginnings. You would have to read the books to get the subtleties and the nuances of the feelings the characters experience, but it's overall a rewarding adventure, where gods discover their weaknesses through the eyes of mortals and mortals discover their complexity through the eyes of gods.

That I had been waiting for this book for over a year might tell you a little something of the giddy excitement I felt when I finally held it in my hands. I love Jemisin's writing. The events that befall the characters are tragic at times (I have cried reading these books - I seldom cry while reading), but I always found some rays of hope. Broken Kingdoms (book 2) will always be my favorite, but I thought this one was very well done.

In this world, gods, godlings (children of the gods) and humans exist together, a fact that is not always good for the humans. It's not always good for the gods and godlings, either, but at least they are tougher to kill. In book 1, we come into a world out of balance. It is still out of balance in book 2, but the path to redemption and reconciliation has started. In book 3, the effect of this imbalance, as well as nature's eventual evolution (even gods change sometimes), comes to a conclusion.

An important thing to remember about the gods and godlings in this world is that they are restrained by their natures. Sieh, our narrator in Kingdom of Gods, is the god of childhood. He is cute, mischievous, a bully, a brat. He can be kind, he can be malicious. He acts without thinking. He craves the love and acceptance of his parents (and the big 3 - Nahadoth, Enefa/Yeine, Itempas are all his parents). He wants to be one of them, but he never will be. In his loneliness, he meets Shahar and Deka, children of the current Arameri ruler. Shahar is the future heir. Deka, her brother, is destined for mage school. His interaction with them leads to strange changes as the god of childhood grows up. He loves both of them, is betrayed, learns that he didn't know everything, and finally that he must take responsibility for what he has done.

Spending the book in Sieh's head, it really hammers home how different from humans the gods are, how after many millenia of existence your worldview would be so different, and also how easy it would be to fall complacent, believing in your own invulnerability. Then everything comes to a head.

I enjoyed Sieh's individual character arc, as well as the changes in this world that started in book 1 and are concluded here. The book blurb made it sound like this book followed Shahar, but while she is important, this is Sieh's book.

This is not a series that follows one group of characters around as they battle a big bad. It is character-driven versus battle heavy. Also, if you have a problem with gods as characters, or your gods must act in a very specific way, then this might not be for you. Also, if you must have a romance that follows the "romance rules" then this is probably not for you either. If you are looking for a sweeping fantasy that delves into the characters, then you should try it out.

This final installment takes on a new voice, the godling Sieh. The author captures his unique, child-like, Trickster voice so well, and continues the saga, reminding us of the events that came before, yet standing on its own. I am sad to see the end of stories about this world - unless she chooses to write more! The world in this trilogy is so complete and immersive, with deeply considered divinity and mortality, and so many lessons about the complicated nature of existence. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I hate giving low ratings for books. Especially when it is such a highly rated novel as this whole series has been. However, I have always had a rule that I will read the first quarter of a book before I abandon it. This has worked well for me in the past as I am not a fast reader and can't spend too much time on books I don't like.

All that to say... at page 70 I was not yet bought in... I kept reading... at page 85 I abandoned. When every page I read and am drifting off and have to go back and re-read, it is not worth the effort. It would take me double the time to finish this book. I enjoyed the first two books in the series. However, by page 85 I was asking myself why I was continuing... my list was calling me.

So I am off to another book - sorry folks but life is too short and my list is too long.

I grew up on Epic fantasy, and N K Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy is a breath of fresh air in a genre that has come to feel at times overly familiar. The land of the 100,000 kingdoms will be recognizable to most fantasy readers, but Jemisin makes real a land in which the gods are present, active participants, but still beings of near-limitless power, in a way that I cannot remember any other author pulling off successfully. Her characters are fully-realized and fascinating - the two to three central characters in each novel are easily the strongest elements of each book. The conclusion to the series, The Kingdom of the Gods, follows the journey of Sieh, the child-god. Mortals were at the heart of the first two books, but in the third, Jemisin puts the reader behind the eyes of an immortal being who has lived longer than nearly any other creature in existence. Her success is an incredible accomplishment and a stirring conclusion to the series which has already claimed a place in my top 10 Fantasy/Sci Fi series' ever.

I heartily recommend the entire Inheritance Trilogy, and the Kingdom of Gods in particular.

The characters are rich and interesting, as I've come to expect from Jemisin. She makes it very easy to care deeply even for characters who seem at first blush very unlikeable. I was very glad of this, because unfortunately the narrative of this third book in the Inheritance trilogy is disjointed and often frustrating to follow. At times it falls into the typical pitfalls of YA fiction, in that it can seem written simply, and lacks the polish of more mature writing. It is possible the book was just poorly edited. My investment in the characters and in the truly unique story itself carried me through, but in all honesty, if this were my first foray into Jemisin's work, I doubt I'd have come back. Toward the end she seems to hit her stride, with decisive action sequences and twists that are truly a joy to read; it very nearly makes up for the somewhat ambling, directionless feel of the first 90% of the book.

This book takes a rather different track than the previous two, focusing on the god Sieh, who is my favorite characters from the first book. It is very anything about the plot without spoiling. One thing I can say is that the back cover is a terribly description, as it is not about Shahar Arameri, though she is an important character, and some of the description is not terribly accurate. The Kingdom of Gods is a satisfying read, making me tear up at the end, before finishing in an incredibly finale. In addition to the novel itself, I loved the extras of Sieh doodling all over the glossary, and the short story showing what happened to Oree from The Broken Kingdoms. It very much felt like a good wrap on an incredibly series, and I eagerly look forward to Jemisin's next books.

I didn't think any book could surpass The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. This one does. It takes everything I loved about the first book - the incredible characterization, the examination of Godliness, the postcolonialism, the great plotting, the really crunchy subversion of epic fantasy principles - and blows it up to the nth degree. By the end, I was reading at a breakneck speed, desperate to find out how NK Jemisin would pull it all together. And she does. She really, really does. There's a confidence and an assurance in her writing that wasn't quite there in the first book - you can tell she knows she can get away with anything now. Fantastic.

And the description on the back cover is just ridiculous, but that's hardly her fault. The book is not about Shahar, lovely character thought she is.

I loved the trilogy, with the first book being my fave. However, this is not the story of Shahar and her romance with the god Sieh. This is the story of Sieh, a gay/bisexual god who becomes a mortal human male and falls in love with both Dekarta and Shahar, but has his primary and long-term relationship with Dekarta. If that had been clear, I'd have bought this book a lot sooner -- and would've bought extra copies to loan to friends. As it is, I'm very disappointed that the back cover copy has "straightwashed" Sieh and misrepresented the love story in the book. The author probably didn't get a choice about it, so I don't blame her, but the publisher should be ashamed of themselves.

I love this series. Each book is told from they eyes of different characters and set in different times but in the same world. The lives of each character are rich in detail. This is a world I love to live in!

Sieh, the child-god -- he is the main character. Fascinated by Sieh, Jemisin goes lite on plot, writing tons of Sieh x Dekarta (male twin) scenes, crossing the genre line. I can deal with LBGT in fantasy as a side avenue, but in this book there's more emphasis on LBGT than fantasy. When Jemisin began writing adult scenarios with Sieh-as-the-child it was too much. I stopped reading.

What story I read was confused and not presented well. Setting jumped haphazardly, and random non-essential characters cameo'd then were never mentioned again.

This is my third attempt at presenting a useful review. Let it be known at the halfway point (about where I stopped) there was one explicit sex scene and one kiss between two males. The author writes Sieh as biologically 'old enough' yet I was too disturbed by his romantic 'build-up' characterization as childlike. Specifically Sieh is the god of trickery and childhood, and the child-characterization is good enough that it translates into disturbing romantic subtext.

I returned the book for a refund. I've been told I have a 'bias' because I do not enjoy pedophilia undertones with LBGT fiction. Unfortunately the cover blurb and the genre classification do not reflect the book's contents.

If you aren't bothered by boundary-pushing in fantasy novels, you might enjoy the work. I did not, and I keep trying for a review which has reflected my reading experience. Read more like a woman's sexual adult fantasy than the epic well-built world which enchanted me in earlier volumes. Do not recommend.

This story is rich in creativity and told with a fine attention to detail. The characters are complex and not a typical unilateral skin deep voice. In particular the world's and the layers of relationships was refreshing. Do enjoy!