The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (The Inheritance Trilogy)

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is N. K. Jemisin's debut novel and the first in her Inheritance trilogy. The book features strong, compelling, fully-developed characters in a grand and complex world, but Jemisin keeps the stage small in this book, introducing the readers to a number of main characters and some of the world, while clearly indicating that there is a lot more to be told.

From the barbarian north, Yeine Darr is outcast and would like nothing more than to live an ordinary, normal, quiet life; but when her mother dies from mysterious circumstances, and she finds herself summoned by the Arameri patriarch (her grandfather) to the spectacular capital city of Sky, she knows normalcy is something she will never be able to have. Dakarta, her grandfather, has proclaimed her an heir to their throne, though she is pitted against two cousins who want the throne much more than she, and will stop at nothing to get it. She doesn't expect to survive the week.

But as Yeine gets to know the people of Sky in her run for the throne she discovers it is a place that is anything but ordinary. The gods are now forced to live in the beautiful city, as servants, due to losing an ancient war. Yeine makes friends and allies, but also enemies in this political concoction, and will need to use her strengths as a woman as well as her status if she is to make it through. While the ending leaves the reader somewhat unsatisfied after the heavy buildup, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a great new voice in fantasy fiction that reveals a new and different world, with some fresh fascinating characters.

Originally written on May 4 2010 ©Alex C. Telander

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On a personal level, one of my least favorite aspects of fantasy fiction is the tendency for writers to embrace the idea of gods as discrete, living entities at the top of their milieu's dramatic food chain. These are the gods who routinely drop into the mortal realm in person, who direct the broad strokes of history through prophecy and portent, who set mortal events into motion for their own ends, and who manipulate the actions and goals of mortal characters like the world might be a chess board.

That's not to say that great fantasy can't be written using that fairly common trope, and some of my own favorite fantasy novels hew unapologetically to that familiar gods-running-the-world line. However, the idea of present, active gods runs a huge risk of undercutting the dramatic potential of a story, and too many marginal fantasy tales collapse as drama because of this. Too many otherwise good fantasy tales lose the essential thread of human(oid) drama by allowing their protagonists, antagonists, and other characters to be driven by the machinations of the divinity that sits atop the fantasy world. In the worst-case scenario, the relationship between gods and mortals can be seen as an almost classical master-slave relationship, and a milieu in which gods exert direct control over mortal affairs is one in which the decisions and dramatic goals engaged in by mortal characters can come to seem pointless fairly quickly.

I was thus knocked on my ass in the best possible way by N. K. Jemisin's "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" -- a book whose foundation is the idea that the gods who once created and directed the world have themselves been enslaved by the mortals who once worshipped them. With the tables turned, these broken gods now serve a Borgia-like world-ruling family whose corrupt upper echelon uses their divine slaves as avatars of destruction, as sexual playthings, and as victimized reminders of how the old order has been broken -- an order that the broken gods will do anything to reestablish once more.

"The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" is largely a personal and political narrative, told from the perspective of a young heir (Yeine) dragged unwillingly into the destructive maelstrom of political life at the heart of the god-forged city of Sky. The backstory is rich and, at times, heartbreaking. The political machinations of Yeine's family are fraught with lethal ambition and disturbing realism, against which she fights to survive a three-part struggle to succeed her grandfather, the head of the Arameri who rule the world on the strength of their control of divine power.

Yeine's struggle is complicated by the belief that her grandfather had her mother murdered for abdicating from the family -- and by a secret locked into the heart of her life that only the enslaved gods know. In the end, the bargain Yeine strikes with those gods promises them the chance to break their chains, even as it lets her seek vengeance on her mother's behalf, determined to discover who the real killer is when she realizes that her suspicion of her grandfather is wrong. In its creation of a darkly compelling character story and its decision to turn a standard fantasy trope on its head, "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" creates a rich and memorable tale of loss, sacrifice, and extremely bloody vengeance.

I read this book in a day -- it's easy to slip into and has a lot of promise. The writing is very accessible -- it reads more like a YA book than a book for adults. The content is somewhat oddly mismatched with the writing style however -- the story seems to use shock value of violence and sex to try to spice up what is otherwise a bit of a meandering plot-line. But even these attempts shy back a bit -- the sex is idealized fantasies and the violence is unsure of itself. The evil nemesis in the book tends to come off more like a hysterical teenage twit than a true enemy, and it's hard to understand why the main character (possessed of all this practical common-sense etc etc) can't come up with a better plan for dealing with her. Having said that, the ideas behind the world-creation and the tensions between characters are well done and original, and the author's understanding of psychology shines through her characters. I also like that the author doesn't beat you over the head with every point that she's making -- it's a pleasant break from some of the more moralistic fantasy out there at the moment. Overall I enjoyed this as a fluff fantasy that could have been something better but just didn't quite get there.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
By N.K. Jemisin

Shortly after her mother dies Yeine Darr is summoned to the Sky Castle on her grandfather's orders, which is all the more odd since her grandfather, the king of the hundred thousand kingdoms disowned Yeine's mother when she ran off with a man he had not deemed fit. Upon arriving Yeine finds out she is to be named heir and must compete against her two cousins for the position of the throne, but the Gods who are trapped in the castle have other plans for Yeine.

This book interweaves the history of the hundred thousand kingdoms and the present in such a way that you are never left wondering why like some books tend to do. I enjoyed how Yeine is a warrior and the people she comes from are a kick back to the the stores, where women are in charge and men are cherished and stay home to protect the children. With all the different aspects of this book, the romance between Yeine and the Dark God, the magic that fills every inch of the Sky Castle, the tribulations each of the characters must overcome, and even the sinister cousin who torments the Gods for her own amusement, this book will leave you anxious to see what happens in the next one.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms grabbed me from the start and the characters kept me interested. The world is unique, but it's not the focus of the novel. There are no multipage descriptions of the lay of the land, and no boring history lessons. Everything is integrated into the main character's story, and I like it that way. The story is character based so minimum details are to be expected, yet the world is interesting, and I do hope we see more of it in the future. The story itself is told in a strange way with the main character arguing with herself at times and going off on tangents. I noted it as strange and moved on, but as the story unfolded it presented insight into what was going on, and turned out to be an interesting addition to the story. The people who ran Sky were different, and the addition of gods as slaves was unique as well. Overall, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is my type of book. It's character based and there is never a dull moment. Of course, that is not everyone's style and some will be bothered by the lack of details of the world. I enjoyed it immensely, but the end wasn't as good as the journey leading up to it and I'm not sure how the story will continue. This novel was a pretty decent stand alone book, but I'm still curious to see what the second book will bring.

I recently was pointed to this by one of those "If you liked Game of Thrones, you might also like...." lists, and I am very impressed. I think the reference to 'Game of Thrones' is because this book is also heavy in Machiavellian and whose-zooming-who calculation, but I think it actually surpasses Game of Thrones in some ways. First, the book is heavily focused around a unique and very interesting and well thought-out cosmology. Magic, such as it is, is done by those able to tap into the cosmology, either directly (getting a god or demi-god to do your bidding), or indirectly (via 'sigils' written in the gods language). I don't want to give away and spoilers, so I'll stop there. Second, I thought the writing quality was top-notch - the book moved very well, and I found the characters well-drawn and interesting.

In sum, this is one of the best fantasy novels I've read in years - I'm off to read the next one!

Ok, as a 30something male, I'm going to try not to gush like a 19yrold girl over a book about a 19yrold girl...but, this book was excellent. Combining an original and enveloping writing style with an original take (heavily influenced by the Greek pantheon) on the relationship between gods and mortals, made this debut novel for N.K. Jemisin a page turner that couldn't be put down. The author is clearly right there on the page for the reader, making the sometimes convaluted segments easily overlooked in favor of the book's overarching sentimentality.
In the hands of most other authors this first book would have been stretched into 2 or 3 seperate parts of an overlong saga, in Jemisin's hands however, the book is compact and the story succinct leaving the reader wanting more. Like most great books the 100k Kingdoms leaves the reader wishing it hadn't ended. In a rarity however, the story is original enough and the characters hinting at a complexity that could have easily allowed this book to double itself in size.
THe themes and writing style make this seem like a young adult book, and with a STRONG female character I'd recommend this book to anyone with highschool age daughters (strong erotic/sexual story lines may make it inappropriate for younger readers).

If you have read and liked Jack Vance's weird magic worlds you will like this book.

If you like discovering promising débutants, you will like this book.

If you want to take a decent break from SF, you will like this book.

If you are tired of dragons, you will like this book.

The hundred thousand kingdoms is easy to read, ambitious in scope, with a well liked protagonist, numerous interesting villains, and Gods, yes Gods. Being the writer's first book, it feels like a good Beaujolais, nervous, audacious, spirited but also a little immature. There is a point, late in the novel, where Gods' affairs become a bit too trivial, too ungod-like, and for a few pages it feels like Gods are acting in Dynasty or Dallas. But, overall, the hundred thousand kingdoms is a very satisfying read, with a very satisfying conclusion and this satisfied reader will be looking forward to the next installment. And by the way:

If you like scattered, witty observations (for example, it is very true that when you have 6 days left to live, each passing day is 1/6th of your remaining life), you will like this book.

Was this her first novel? I think so. I dunno, but I should find out. But here's an author who took every trope of common fantasy, tossed them out, and made something purely new.
"There's nothing new under the sun!"
Phah! Get stuffed. This story was new, at least new to me. A tale of political palace intrigue... but so much more! Yeine enters the theater of global leadership unprepared, bewildered, a lamb in a den of wolves (her relatives) and chained - but still mighty - gods. The fast pace and vivid, immersive voice pulled me in and lit my imagination. I didn't want to reach the end, but I didn't want to stop reading. The grand reveal floored me, set this entire wracking epic as a mere starting point. But I'm forced to wonder - with where this tale ends, what crazy heights of imagination, what strange journey does Jemisin have in store for us? And are we equipped for the ride??

If you love fantasy and Fifty Shades of Grey, then this is the novel for you.

Pros: Very cool premise (enslaved gods used as weapons by a world-dominating family), great title and cover, deliciously evil antagonists, Nebula- and Hugo-nominated, strong first person minority female protagonist, and, unusually for a fantasy novel, virtually all of the action takes place in a single location.

Cons: There is a Twilight-like sexual subplot that reminds me of fanfiction, eye-rollingly awful at times. Chapter 24 is particularly egregious. I almost couldn't finish the book, I felt so embarrassed to be reading it. The publisher, in all honesty, could have called the book Nightlord and shelved it in the romance section.

This novel has all the things I like: Gods, mortals, mystery, court intrigue, palaces, magic, love, and plot twists. It is really, really good. I think this is my favorite book I have read in a long time. I think this is mostly due to the fact that Jemisin is such a gifted writer; it was so easy to read this book because she can create such vivid images and feelings effortlessly (or at least make it look that way). I found myself liking many characters; Sieh, the god in the form and mind of a boy, Nahadoth the Nightlord, Scimina the scheming cousin. Jemisin creates a different format for telling the story. It is narrated by Yeine but throughout she falters and the narration changes s and you only find out at the end why this is.

By the end of the novel I found myself caring a lot about the characters. In the beginning I wasn't too connected with Yeine but she really grows and changes through the story that by the end I was really hoping she would succeed.

I believe this is Jeminsin's first novel (although she is not new to writing) and I have to highly, highly recommend this to anyone interested in a unique fantasy and one written excellently. I cannot wait for the rest of the series!

As a long time reader of fantasy, I am well aware of the potential flaws of this genre. Much of it is derivative and lacking in originality, the same tired stories told over and over again. Sometimes, confronting a library or bookstore shelf looking for the next novel to read, the reader has the feeling trying to sift through a storm-swept beach of broken shells looking for a hidden pearl. It might be there, but there is so much waste debris to comb through! Well, seek no further, and put N. K. Jemison on your to-read list. I stumbled across this novel a week ago and was instantly immersed in the world author N. K. Jemison created. At this point I have already read the sequel (The Broken Kingdoms), and am impatiently waiting for the third novel to be released. The premise is original -- gods are living among humans, slaves to the rulers of the land. Stripped of the ability to use their power as they wish, they are still dangerous and unpredictable. Take this premise and add to it an intriguing plot; sympathetic and well-drawn characters; and best and rarest of all, craftsmanlike use of language. The result is a compelling story that kept me up far later into the night than I'd planned. Heartily recommended.

This story centers around Yeine Darr who is summoned to the realm capital as an heir to the most powerful family. Her mother was the heir but abdicated. Yeine never planned to be a part of the royal family but then she is summoned. Upon her arrival, she is placed into a strange world of corruption, decadence and evil. She also discovers that there are two other potential heirs to the throne. The royal family also controls several fallen gods. Yeine must navigate through the web of trickery and lies to try and survive. She knows that she has very little hope but must try and make the best of the situation and survive as best as she can. In the end, she will have to try a desperate plan to have any hope. This is the first book in the inheritance trilogy and is an excellent read.

I have never read anything like this before. Maybe like Greek mythology. A book about Gods chained by other Gods and forced to do the bidding of humans. Those humans corrupted by so much control over Gods, thinking that they can control those Gods forever. An intriguing read for sure. I enjoyed it.

This was a good first novel. I liked Yeine and the situation the author put her in -- a "barbarian" from a backwater kingdom suddenly thrown into imperial politics where she's way over her head, but soon finds herself with unlikely allies in the enslaved gods who are the source of the ruling family's power. The gods, also, were well portrayed. They acted like gods... capricious, cruel and kind by turns, sometimes cosmic and unfathomable, sometimes petulant and very human.

I guessed the first major twist pretty early on, and while I wasn't sure exactly what would happen in the finale, I had a general idea and was not really surprised by it.

What keeps me from giving it five stars was the fact that most of the villainous characters were flat and cliched, and there was some rough writing that felt a bit amateurish. (The constant asides from Yeine, as she narrates the story but keeps having internal conversations with herself/someone else, were distracting and didn't really add anything to the story.)

There are so many fantasy/syfi stories on gods and humanity that I honestly did struggle to get into this stroy especially with the chopping dialogue and having to determine who is telling their part in the story. But once I got into it I enjoyed the story. I may or may not read the second novel. There was intrigue, love, heart ache and hope all wrapped up nicely in this novel.

How in the world is this a first time author's product? This book is simply awesome....way more than I bargained for or expected....and even if I had been expecting a lot, I would still be duly impressed. This book draws you in, goads you into thinking it's straightforward, and once the onion peels a little on you (unexpectedly), the trap has closed - you're hooked and can only try to hang on as it spirals further into its madness, as the plot thickens and finally clears. SO SO good!!!!

There's more going on in this story than normal. A few of the character names refer more to which body is being referenced than to who that individual is. There's some real philosophical depth, if you care to think about it. Otherwise, it's an interesting reading with an unexpected twist.

The narration can be jaunting at times, mostly because it isn't always clear whom the narrator is speaking with, or which narrator is actually speaking, or maybe even when.

Readers looking for a book with a strong female lead have most definitely come to the right spot. The characters are diverse, but it's a fantasy world, so it falls under the edge of that umbrella.

At 3 am in the morning a startling thought occurred to me. Even though I was alone in the way that every reader is alone at 3 am in the morning - the house totally dark and silent, my cats curled up tightly (one pressed close against my body, the other sleeping within eyesight but far enough away that my movements don't disturb her) and it occurred to me - how many hundreds, maybe thousands, of people have stayed up until 3 am with this book, unable to put it down? We're like an unseen fraternity, we may meet, or sit next to one another on a train, or pass each other on the street and never know it but we are bound by this shared experience. I thought that was really cool. I don't know why I thought of it except for the fact that I wouldn't have picked up this book if not for the excellent reviews on Goodreads and I am so very glad that I did. I loved it!! Specifically about the book: two thousand years ago there was a Gods' War and it was won by Itempas. He raised his servants, the Arameri, to the most powerful position on the planet (akin to the Roman emperors) and chained his rivals, the other gods, forcing them to slavery with the Arameri, who used them as weapons to enforce peace and their own dictatorship. The heroine, Yeine, is called to court and to her, and everyone else's, surprise, she is named one of three Arameri heirs, who engage in a contest to the death for the throne. She's plunged into the vicious, corrupt politics of the court, forced to interact with the dangerous enslaved gods in her attempt to save her own life and, possibly, find out who killed her mother. It's really a FANTASTIC book. I stayed up until 5 am finishing it. I literally could NOT put it down. Loved it. Loved the world, loved the mythology, loved the gods, loved Yeine. Loved that even though it's a trilogy, the book is clearly meant to be a stand alone story (as the next book is about a different set of stories). The world of the story was truly unique. I can't think of another book like it. (And, oh yeah, it's got a Jacqueline Carey-esque sexiness.)

I devoured the whole of this trilogy in a week; Jemisin has rekindled my adolescent love for science fiction. The protagonist of this novel is strong, fascinating, and yet relatable and I was obsessed with her. I was her. I don't know how to describe this author's talent. Her writing is delightful: emotive, witty, heart-wrenching. Let me assure you that you are wasting valuable time if you are reading this review. READ THIS BOOK. And probably anything else you can find that N.K. Jemisin has written. I know that's what I will be doing.

I absolutely loved this book. I do agree with some of the other reviewers that the information of the world the N.K. Jemisin was a bit smushed in the beginning. It left me struggling to keep up (had no idea there was an Appendix in the back, could've saved me a lot of confusion) but once I got into full swing, I felt included, involved. As I tried to explain certain exciting events of the book to my sister, whom did not read it, I found it a bit hard because the author does a real thorough job in pulling the reader in. But after all of the tribal identifications, customs, and introductions were out of the way, the novel was very easy to follow along with.

It was not necessarily fast paced but there were very nice twists and turns throughout. This novel is written in first person that switches from a meaty autobiography to little clips of information to memories and back to the meat. The main character Yeine speaks to the audience very straight-forwardly and explains the visuals in rich detail that did begin to be a tad bit of a turn off near the end when the meat began to get juicy. I do like this 'different' sort of feel that her narration gave.

The book itself is one of those 'scavenger-hunt-for-the-truth' kind of genres where the main character hunts for answers all the while slipping into a bit of trouble. The trouble she slips into is very minor and I wished that just a bit more action sprung up.

But I loved it and I finished it in two days. This book is very addictive.

I would finish the trilogy BUT I found out that the main character from this first book does not carry through as the main character does not play such a vital role - meaning it's someone else's story within the kingdoms. It's a shame. I really liked Yiene and would have liked to continue on with her story in particular. Her stakes were pretty high since she was dealing with gods so I feel that the other books would deflate a bit in comparison.

I definitely recommend a read!!!

I'll leave the plot summaries for some of the other very competent ones already in other reviews and the product description. For me the book ended up being too convoluted. Lots of tangents, backtrackings, "Oh I forgot to tell you"s, and such make up a major component of the storytelling style. The characters aren't necessarily likeable and it's sometimes hard to figure out precisely what's going on or how things work, like political structures, history, physical descriptions, relationships and so on.

The style is more literary than the genre fiction I usually read, so if you like that in a book, this will probably be more to your taste than it was mine. I think it is very distinctive for the genre. But for me it was a bit slow and meandering. However, I'll be the first to admit I like a straightforward story.

The story that we start with seems fairly standard. Yeine is an out of the way heir to the empire's throne, and she's thrown into the battle for succession. The fact that she's a barbarian to boot just adds another touch of familiarity. When she gets there, we meet the scheming, evil sister and the nonchalant brother, and we're introduced to the various nations and various plots.

All of that, however, soon becomes almost a side story. Intertwined with the main story and buried under the various political machinations is a drama on a far greater scale. The Arameri have three enslaved gods in their palace, the super weapon that's given them their preeminence, and those gods are planning to make a bid for freedom and strike back at the god who betrayed them. And Yeine is their key to freedom and the vengeance that goes with it.

The mortal and immortal dramas play off one another brilliantly, and the dichotomy between them is reflected in the prose. Jesmin's writing is clear and fast paced, but, for all that, it's got a twisting, digressive quality that hides greater depths than are at first apparent. Yeine's narration is always factually accurate, but she plays with chronology and the difference between the Yeine narrating and the Yeine of the novel is a stark one, felt strongly as the prose debates with itself:

"In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.

My mother -

No. Not yet." (p. 90)

For two plots to play off of one another, both have to succeed. As such, it's a shame that the politics in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms fails to live up to the grand backdrop that it's been given. Towards the beginning of the novel, Yeine asks another character:

"It might be wise for me to meet with others in the palace who are influential. Who would you suggest?"

T'vril considered for a moment, then spread his hands. 'You've already met everyone here who matters, except Relad.'

I stared at him. 'That can't be true.'

He smiled without humor. 'Sky is both very large and very small, Lady Yeine.'" (p. 64)

That sentiment sums up the politics of the novel fairly well. The important players are brought on stage quickly, and everything else is glimpsed from such a distance that it might as well not exist. Of course, it's fine to have a more focused novel; there's no city state minimum requirement to be considered an epic fantasy.

But the small feel of the world hampers Jesmin's themes. She tries to show us how the Arameri are so dominating, how they trod across other cultures without even being properly aware of it, but those other cultures are so one dimensional that it's hard to really care.

The disconnect between theme and content is most apparent with the Darre, the barbarian people that Yeine comes from. The Darre are set up as a fiercely matriarchal society. We are told that females fulfill the important and dangerous roles and that men are weak and to be protected. And yet, with the Arameri, Yeine surrounds herself entirely with men. She references Darre and compares the Arameri to it constantly in her thoughts, yet her actions don't seem even remotely traceable to that background.

Of course, what we know about the Darre feels like enough to feel an encyclopedia when you compare them with their neighbors. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a title that makes you think of a vast world, but what we actually see of it is so small that the novel could have been written about two cities without much loss of content. We hear of the city's politicians ordering vast territories around at a whim, but the game has no more weight than a game of Risk. This was, perhaps, intentional - it would, after all, be a powerful image to see the society's leaders bossing around whole cultures like they did not matter. But, without first having gotten a sense of the nation's they're leading, it's hard for the reader to humanize them any more than their rulers do.

In the end, it's simply hard to care about the politics when there are gods on stage. At one point, Yeine goes to try and stop a war with the night god, Nahadoth, in tow. In the process of intimidating them, Nahadoth kills half of their delegation in a horrifying, effortless, and incomprehensible way. From that point on, it's a bad hard to be terrified of the soldiers.

Still, the gods stealing the show has some advantages. The various gods are a joy to read about, and, for all that they're immortal and all that, they're the most comprehensible and sympathetic characters of the cast. The trickster god, Sieh, is as adept at inserting himself into the reader's confidence as the characters, and the others are all as vibrant on the stage as he is.

Of course, with the gods we come to the book's biggest point of controversy: the romance. From the first time we see Nahadoth, the relationship can be seen coming. Now, it certainly is a tad (or more than a tad) over the top, but I think it's relatively believable that a love affair involving an all powerful deity might be a bit melodramatic at times. But as the book continues and Nahadoth's character grows more multifaceted, his relationship with Yeine remains shallow. Whatever genuine chemistry there might be between them is so buried by Bad Boy clichés that it's hard to see their romance in any other terms, and it doesn't help that it's all capped off with a sex scene that involves potentially supernatural genitalia.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms tries to accomplish a lot. It delves into the history and metaphysics of its world to a degree that you'd think impassable in a novel so (comparatively) slim, it parallels two larger than life conflicts, and it's got (some) fascinating characters. A good many of those interesting ideas fail to reach their true potential, but enough do that Jesmin's debut is interesting overall. How much you're willing to forgive for ambition is, ultimately, up to you; for myself, I'll be reading another of Jesmin's books at some point, but I'll be hoping that she manages to match her aims with her ability more closely next time.

I found this book while browsing the fantasy section of my local library's website. As soon as I started reading it, I did not want to put it down. I love reading and love fantasy books, but I had gotten rather burned out on the genre. This was such a refreshing change! The author's creativity and non-adherence to the usual simple plot and character formulas of contemporary fantasy books really impressed me.

The world in which the main character, Yeine, lives is well-built and fascinating. The character's motivations and politics are justified, and the trapped gods with whom Yeine interacts are believable. You can understand them to a point, so their actions are not completely foreign to you, but they are still Other. A lot of authors misstep when portraying ancient or immortal, supernatural creatures and turn them into regular humans. It is a hard concept for someone that is not even half a century old to understand, but Jemisin handled it better than most.

I liked Yeine. I did not feel a strong connection to her, but she was interesting to read about. She was not flawless, but she was a strong and realistic character. Yeine and the book in general did lack humor for the most part, but with the circumstances being what they were, it was understandable why everybody was so serious, except of course, the child-god.

The societies and world were complex without being too complicated, and when delving into religion, Jemisin went against the typical yet again and did not base it on Christianity like a lot of authors do. Again, her new take on the fantasy genre was really refreshing and a nice change of pace. She is a really talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

This story has magic, gods as characters, a woman with two souls, and an interesting female lead character. There aren't any long, boring war scenes. It's exactly the kind of fantasy I want to find more of. Where are the other fantasy novels like this, published in the last few years?

A great, twisty fantasy about racism, politics, religion, slavery - basically, power struggles of many kinds. Yeine is thrust into a foreign world when she's named an heir, and her tentative explorations strike a good balance between her actions and her reactions to others'. There is some world-building that can be confusing, but it sets a good foundation for the series and makes for some compelling questions about what a being really desires when they want - and gain - control. There are also surprising moments of humor and fabulous imagery employed throughout.

I don't really recall what I was thinking when I chose to read N. K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. On paper it doesn't look much like the sort of fantasy novel I'd take to. Young and somewhat naive protagonist is thrust into a power struggle on an alternate magic-using world against the evil overlord and his minions? Oh, please, where have we heard that plot summary before? Add to that it's a novel by a woman, from a woman's point of view, apparently aimed primarily at a female audience, and partaking to a certain degree of elements of the romance genre. No, it doesn't look like my sort of book.

You'd think, but no, I enjoyed this one. There's at least one thing Jemisin has in her favor: Style. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms has an engaging narrative style that pulled me in right from the first few pages.

I also liked one of the central conceits of the book, which I haven't seen elsewhere: On her world, there presumably are very few atheists, because the gods are manifestly real -- and the mortals are keeping them as slaves. Knowing that, you pretty much know what the central character, Yeine, is going to be doing. Yeine is a 19 year old outsider, granddaughter of the guy in charge but child of his exiled daughter. She's been summoned to his seat of power to, as it turns out, be a sacrifice in the upcoming succession ritual. She is, of course, not happy with this, but even less happy with what she learns about how her world is governed and the fate of the losers of the Gods' War that nearly destroyed the world thousands of years ago. Nor will she stand by while the ruler's heirs plot destruction of her home country.

It all works very well -- remarkably well for a first novel -- aside from a couple of rather overwrought sex scenes that really didn't advance the plot as much as I suspect the author thought they did, right up until the last couple of chapters. At that point, I'm afraid, Jemisin runs out of steam. The ending is almost very literally a deus ex machina; there are some surprises along the way, but mostly it's a case of a god waving a hand and taking care of everything. Very weak, and to make matters worse, not as well told as the rest of the book. It seems as if, following the narrative shift that takes place, Jemisin couldn't find a voice that worked as well as what she'd used up to that point.

So something of a letdown, but not enough to sour me on what went before. On the whole I enjoyed the book. The jaded among you will not be surprised, and will sigh heavily, to learn it's the first book of a trilogy. A trilogy in the true sense, apparently: three connected but self contained novels, as opposed to a novel in three volumes (like, for instance, The Lord of the Rings). What do you do for a sequel to a deus ex machina, though? We'll see -- I expect I'll read it. At the back of the book are the first few pages of the next volume, The Broken Kingdoms, and I think it starts off pretty well. There's also a thoroughly unneeded glossary; two historical appendices, far too brief to serve much of any purpose other than to say, "Hey, look, the author worked on the backstory!"; acknowledgements; and an interview with the author -- none of which is all that useful or interesting.

N.K. Jemisin has created a whole new adventurous world that is so different, yet with many parallels, to "real human society". An entrancing story filled with mortals and gods and godlings and beings in-between. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the central character and really cared about her well-being. I am reading the second installment in the trilogy and cannot put it down! It is so difficult to find good science fiction. This is SciFi worth reading. Not since Octavia Butler have I come across a SciFi tale so good. Thank you for writing three! Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a most satisfying, thrilling story. If you like good SciFi, buy this book.

I enjoyed the story and found the characters intriguing. No one was "good" or "evil" - everyone (including the gods) was just trying to do the best they could in often miserable circumstances. I found the resolution satisfying even though it was a little predictable.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the segments of "internal dialogue" inserted into the narrative were a bit distracting. In the Kindle version these asides weren't in different type or format, so they felt a bit jarring to me; I don't know how they are presented in the paper version of the book.

While still in mourning for her murdered mother, Yeine receives an unexpected summons from the exalted city of Sky, the ruling seat for all of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, from her estranged grandfather the king. Although Yeine has never once traveled to Sky or met her powerful grandfather, upon her arrival she discovers his intention to name her as an heir to the Arameri throne. Despite the fact that Yeine is the recognized ruler of her own homeland Darr, she is only half Arameri and completely at a loss when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the high-blooded nobles. But Yeine is not the only contender for the throne: her two cousins Scimina and Relad have planned and schemed their entire lives in preparation for assuming control and will each prove to be intelligent if not, merciless adversaries as only one heir can live through the struggle to become king. Sky continues to be a city of revelations for Yeine, including her introduction to the array of complex yet deadly gods trapped into human form as punishment by the Skyfather, Bright Itempas. The mischievous, child-like Sieh, the dark and alluring Lord Nahadoth - enegmatic beings who draw Yeine nearer with their promises of understanding and affection. Scarce on knowledge and on time, Yeine flounders in a incompressible world of secrets and gods as she slowly uncovers mysteries about her family and those hidden deep within herself.

Oftentimes when a fantasy novel devotes such a large portion to explaining a new pantheon of gods an their abilities the story itself suffers. "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" boasts such an impressive creation myth, complete and believable, with stories stretching back to the beginning of time. Despite this wealth of information, Yeine's story swiftly flies by as each new detail added more substance and layers to her struggles. This was partly achieved due to the unique narrative style of the book, told in first person style by Yeine. At times we meet the confused, young-Yeine who is experiencing the action first-hand, then there is the matured Yeine looking back and narrating, and other times a third Yeine who reminds herself of details or who is there to help to collect her thoughts. Sounds confusing on paper, but N. K. Jemisin merges the voices together flawlessly to create a riveting fantasy that reveals itself only by degrees. Take these first few lines of the novel for example:

"I am not as I once was. They have done this to me, broken me open and torn out my heart. I do not know who I am anymore.

I must try to remember.

***

My people tell stories of the night I was born. They say my mother crossed her legs in the middle of labor and fought with all her strength not to release me into the world. I was born anyhow, of course; nature cannot be denied. Yet it does not surprise me that she tried.

***

My mother was an heiress of the Arameri. There was a ball for the lesser nobility -- the sort of thing that happens once a decade as a backhanded sop to their self-esteem. My father dared ask my mother to dance; she deigned to consent. I have often wondered what he said and did that night to make her fall in love with him so powerfully, for she eventually abdicated her position to be with him. It is the stuff of great tales, yes? Very romantic. In the tales, such a couple lives happily ever after. The tales do not say what happens when the most powerful family in the world is offended in the process.

***

But I forget myself. Who was I, again? Ah, yes."

That's an excellent hook if I've ever read one.

Truly the most outstanding feature of Yeine's story are the characters. Yeine herself varies through a variety of emotions - despair, rage, love, fear - all very genuine in the face of such trials. Her adventures are narrated in such heart-pounding accuracy that I often felt fear, joy, or revulsion right along side Yeine. Then there are the gods, the Enefah. Their very existence and power defies everything Yeine previously knew about them while their subjection to Itempas is heart-breakingly tragic. I was utterly enamored with Sieh and his floating spheres and his youthful eagerness to help Yeine. I just want to wrap him up in my arms and keep him safe. Yet no matter how human or tragic the gods appear to Yeine, she continually faced reminders of their true god nature: powerful and decidedly not human. I'm like Yeine when it comes to the gods: I love them all - even if they scare the pants off me.

"The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" was an excellent debut, one that I'd recommend almost without reservation.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was good. It wasn't great, though. I got tired of the cryptic conversations that started every chapter and didn't explain themselves within the local context. Certainly, the end made everything clear, but by then I was too annoyed to enjoy it as much as I should have. I liked the development of the main character, Yeine, because it wasn't character development exactly, but more character realization. The book covered only a week in her life, yet the story ranged through her mother's life, and through the birth and endless ages of the Three Gods as they existed and changed. All in all, quite acceptable, and it got better as it went along, which made the ending tasty and filling.

I have a hard time with books that try to create entire worlds, religions, and dynasties. They spend way too much time intellectually detailing their worlds without making me care emotionally about anything, which for some may be a reason to read them, but not for me. Not this book. From the first chapter, I was interested. The book was paced well, there was only one spot where I almost had to put it down because I couldn't deal with the character evolution- but I got over it and i'm glad I did. A really, really well written fun book. I'd recommend it for certain and look forward to reading more work from the author.

The first couple pages seemed a bit incoherent but once I got a bit further into the story I was totally enthralled. It is a unique world with a new twist on a old stand by. I loved the writing style once I was immersed in the telling. The characters are well flushed out and likable, even in there imperfections. The author pushes normal convention in a way that is intriguing and entertaining. A must read for any fan of fantasy.

All I can saw about this book is "wow". I read it over a summer vacation spent by the pool and it easily ranks as one of the best books I have read all year - and from what I understand is a new author? Amazing! The plot sounds complicated but the author smartly limits the number of characters and locales and uses the first person POV to keep the reader completely engrossed in the main story line. We neve deviate or get side tracked.

Yeine is a young ruler of a outlying matriarchal tribe / nation. She also happens to be the distant grand daughter of the ruler of the known world. Her mother abdicated her position as heir to marry a "savage" and thus begat Yeine. When Yeine is summoned to the "Sky" palace - the ruling city of the hundred thousand kingdoms - she discovers a thoroughly corrupt and power mad ruling family. Once that presses not only all distant relatives into service in the palace but also has shackled the gods of the land to serve as their weapons and amusements. Into this mix, Yeine holds the ability to either try to seize total power or shake the foundation of the world to it's very core.

That was certainly dramatic wasn't it? This book doesn't disappoint at all. Yeine is a great character and one we root for instantly. The author keeps the number of characters pretty small and restricts the locations to the palace, her homelands and very few other settings. This allows us to grasp and easily follow what could have been a very complex and confusing story line. Some people complained that the author's little "asides" - sometimes in the middle of a chapter - are very distracting. I actually thought it was a great mechanic and really served to keep the narrative and story just flowing effortlessly. It made me think I was listening to a story as opposed to reading one.

I already have the second book on my Kindle - but another great point is that the first book is completely stand alone. No cliffhangers or unresolved plot issues. I really admire and appreciate that.

WOW.

Just.. WOW.

Were it not for the Nebula Awards, I would not have picked up this book and I would have missed out - big time. I'm a fantasy and science fiction lover, but not since discovering the Mistborn trilogy have I been sucked into a world so thoroughly and completely. This is just Book 1 of the trilogy but it was an entire epic experience, all on its own.

I don't even know where to begin without just.. gushing praise left and right, because that's what this book deserves. Ms. Jamisin, thank goodness for authors like you! This book contained such brilliant arcs of storytelling that there is absolutely no need for a cliffhanger at the end to have me grabbing for the next book in line. I simply need to read more. That is a sign of great storytelling.

The world in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is fantastically made. Descriptions given by Yeine throughout the story (which are not a digression) provide pictures through example of how the strange Kingdom of Sky is crafted and how the lands are laid out around it. The authority structure, on its surface, seems simple, but then as the story unfolds it just gains more intricate layers until, by the end of the novel, you are surrounded by so much information, so much color, that it's amazing to realize that you can grasp it all, understand it and still feel overwhelmed by it all at the same time.

And then there's Yeine Darr. There was not a single thing I found lacking in her. She carried strength, humanity and so much more. She deals with conflicts, makes imperfect decisions and does everything that endears herself to those reading her. I felt by the end of this book as if she were a close friend and found myself cheering her on while simultaneously wishing I could enfold her in a huge hug.

I knew reading the Nebula nominees this year would be a blast of fun but I had no idea it was going to be like this. All I have to say is (as this is the first I've read thus far), this book sets the bar incredibly high. Ms. Jamisin is a force to be reckoned with.

N.K. Jemisin's debut album, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a novel that blew me away with its writing and storytelling. Set in a fantasy world where The Three gods have been entrapped with humanity, Jemisin crafts a world that is intricate and delicate, with a complicated set of politics and religions, where the story reaches a crossroads between morality and revenge.

At the dawn of history, the three gods (Nahadoth, Enefa and Itempas) warred against one another. Nahadth, god of the night, was imprisoned, while Enefa, god of Dusk, and creator of all life in the universe, was killed, and Itempas, god of the day, overcame both, and became the supreme ruler. Nahadoth, in punishment, was chained and sent to serve the Arameri, a ruling family that, with the power of a god at their disposal, came to rule the entire world.

Yeine, the story's central character, becomes entangled in this story when she is recalled to the city Sky, the ruling seat of the Arameri family, from which her family had been cast out. Growing up in Darr, a far north kingdom, and whose inhabitants are often regarded as barbarians, Yeine finds that she is in an entirely different world all together, and finds that there are a number of different plans and expectations of her, from both the Arameri family, to which she is the heir to the entire throne, and the imprisoned god Nahadoth and his offspring themselves.

Jemisin creates an extremely strong, well-written character story with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Between the incredible amount of world building, political and family structures and intricate plot lines, this story is wonderfully original, intriguing and thought provoking. Yeine's character is something wholly different in the fantasy genre, far from the adventurer or reformer in a fantastic world, she voices her story, with her own confusions and objectives throughout. Pulled into a vicious society and power struggle, Yeine begins to seek out her mother's killer, only to find that that particular story is far more complicated than she imagined.

Over the course of the story, the various characters and their motivations and plotlines begin to merge. Yeine's mother's story is the connection between all of them, from elements of lost love and the actions borne out of desperation, to family obligations that set much of this in order, to the workings of the gods and their struggle to break free from their slavery to the Arameri family. Reaching the end, when the final pieces fall into place, this story resonates with the shear scale of the drama and society that Jemisin has set up.

In the middle of it all is Yeine, who must navigate the various agendas and complete her own journey. At times, it becomes clear that she is merely a pawn in a much larger game, with little choice in the actions that happen around her, especially with the manipulations from the gods and family, but looking deeper, it becomes clear that despite being used on a number of fronts, her saving grace is her character - her own lifetime, experiences and motivations are hers alone: this becomes a large part of the story, and where she surrenders to fate, she becomes a force of her own, quite literally.

This story is set amongst a fantastic, wonderfully thought out world that stands up amongst many other comparable fantasy novels. Too often, the only real innovation comes with the actual land. Here, Jemisin has put together a world that is very complex. The title suggests the world itself, composed of a hundred thousand kingdoms. Of these, only a handful is really looked at, with the city of Sky hovering above. There is a real sense of political struggle between the worlds, with the Arameri family overlooking the organized fiefdoms below, with an enforced peace that seems as if it is ready to break apart.

The Arameri family is in a world apart, far above their subjects, unable to leave their city. Within their own territory, there is a horrifying set of rules and characters as internal politics runs rampant amongst the family, where internal fighting and squabbling turns family members against one another, as they attempt to use the gods in their own favor, ordering them around to carry out their whims.

Still yet is the detailed mythology that is constructed for this novel. Jemisin has really outshone others in this regard, creating a fantastic world with its own creation myths, where the gods walk amongst the people, with all of their own problems and motivations. The caricatures of the gods, especially Nahadoth, are intriguing, loosely based off of Freud's theories, which in a weird way, makes quite a bit of sense. The portrayal of these gods is what is really interesting, especially with how they interact with the numerous characters that appear in the story. In the end, the story is crafted in such a way that all of their motives and agendas come out organically, as the story unfolds, building up to the end of the story, making this an exceedingly rewarding read, one that proves to be an extremely different sort of fantasy novel. Gone is the sword and sorcery style of fantasy writing. Here, the magic and power is in the society, the politics and the wills of the characters, akin to the way a strong film will rely on its story, rather than the gimmicks that make it look good.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a well written, conceived and plotted story that is sure to turn a number of heads over the course of the year. The end of the book provides the first words from the follow up novel, The Broken Kingdoms (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is the first of the Inheritence Trilogy), which is already too far off to bear. This book contained so much in the way of characters, world building and story that it is a relief to see that it will be continued. Hopefully, that will come sooner, rather than later.

Originally posted to my blog.

Once I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. The story follows Yeine Darr as she comes from the barbarian North to the city of Sky, seat of power of the entire world. Yeine soon realizes that she is to be a pawn in the politics of the succession. Gods walk through Sky, enslaved but still powerful and they have their own interests in Yeine. This is epic fantasy, romance, and mythology all bundled together.

The story is told in first person, with some other interesting style choices. This was a tiny bit off-putting at first, but I soon became so enraptured in the story that these sections didn't bother me. And they directly relate to the plot. This is the first book in a series, but reaches a definite conclusion. I understand that the next book takes place in the same world, but could also be read with no knowledge of the first book.

The overall feel of the world, the imagery of the writing, and the interaction of the mortal world with that of the Gods were my favorite aspects of this book and it is probably the best book I've read this year (so far).

Shortly after Yeine's mother passes away, a mysterious death, Yeine is called to Sky. Sky is the elite city in the air on a single column overlooking the kingdoms in which the Arameri, people awarded by the god Bright Itempas with contol of weapons given to them, live. Yeine does not know why her grandfather, whom she has never met, has required her presence in Sky. Once in Sky Yeine is bombarded with many things; being named heir to the throne, the difference in culture, the imprisoned god Nightlord and his three children called Enefadeh, and twin cousins who will do anything to be the heir to the powerful throne. Yeine is warned of how dangerous the imprisoned god and Enefadeh are, yet she has something they need. The cousins are also named heirs to the throne and Yeine is not sure what is to happen with three named heirs.

I have to say I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the creation of the gods and why they were weakened, trapped, and tortured. Along with the way a god could be kept under thumb and used for the power holders ways, needs, or just for the power possessed. I was also mesmerized by the relationship and differences between two cultures and way of life. Then there's the wondering question of who do I trust or not trust in a new world. Not only do I, as a reader, ask this question in a new book or series but Yeine the main character has to work this out herself. I started learning of the magic present in the story, and I look forward to learning more as the rest of the trilogy unfolds.

The story is written from Yeine's point of view, in the first person, which gives the feeling I am seeing, experiencing and learning everything with her. There are sections at the beginning and through out the chapter in which Yeine is remembering pieces of additional information or stumbling slightly in her storytelling, but if you know these sections are there you should not be confused. I liked the insight these shared as potential tidbits to help know what is going on or why.

It was a great debate novel for Nora Jemisin and an amazing start to a trilogy. I WILL be looking forward to book two, The Broken Kingdoms due out fall 2010, and book three.

Really enjoyed the novel. Rich, complex fantasy novel that avoids a lot of standard/cliche story elements of fantasy novels. The gods offer an additional layer that helps this novel transcend the average novel. I liked the protagonist, and appreciated the time devoted to establishing her origins and her culture--though I'd have liked even more. There is clearly a ton more to be said about this world and the place it finds itself at the end of the novel. Loved the ending!

The world of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is ruled by one powerful and ruthless family, the Arameri, who inhabit the fabulous city of Sky. They are cared for by countless servants, all related in some way by blood. They worship Bright Itempas, who directly grants them almost unlimited power by way of a fervent priesthood and the command of enslaved gods who are no longer allowed to be worshiped.

Yeine, of the far northern barbarian kingdom of Darr, is thrust into deadly intrigue and politics when she is called to Sky by the head of the Arameri, Lord Dekarta, who is elderly and failing. He has a niece and nephew who already vie to succeed him, but Yeine is his granddaughter, so he names her as a third Heir, throwing her into a situation she is totally unprepared for, despite having had to prove herself in her own far kingdom. And then there are the captive gods that the Arameri can command, who are hazardous even given their bindings, The Nightlord Nahadoth--oldest of the gods, Sieh who wears the form of a child, the giantess Zhakkarn and Kurue the Wise.

The world of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is intriguing, with its various kingdoms and the long history of ruling with the aid of one god and the use of the great powers of the captive gods. Since the action is primarily set in Sky, we don't get to explore much of the world, but there are plenty of hints that such a thing would be worthwhile. And Sky and the Arameri and the gods are definitely enough to keep a reader fascinated. Yeine is sympathetic character as she fights to make her way in a strange new world. There are romantic and sensual elements and a touch of Zelazny and Tanith Lee that only adds to the interest, instead of seeming derivative.

Half this book reads as a romance/porno novel. If, when you browse though the fantasy section of books on the store, you find the books with burly, half-naked men as cover art alluring, you might like this. I don't understand why so many fantasy authors can't resist the temptation to add rapey/porno scenes to their books, ruining what would otherwise be a decent story.

Romance novel elements aside, the author does have a way of writing that makes reading easy and enjoyable, conveying a lot with few words. The book promises and hints at a world rich with lore, culture, and history that it never quite delivers on (perhaps later books address this). Overall, I am disappointed. If you have read Jordan, Sanderson, Martin, etc. (Weeks, Rothfuss, and Goodkind, to a lesser extent) and are looking for a similarly good fantasy series to read, this is NOT it (based purely on the first book). If you don't mind a half-lusty romance-fantasy novel in a unique setting that is different and fairly-well written, then go for it.

Good ending, but the book generally didn't do it for me. I really wanted to like this one.

First, the book offers little scene variety, with 95% of events occurring in a large white castle suspended a half-mile above the earth. Second, with the exception of the main character, Yeine, and maybe one or two others, the people in the book are entirely forgettable. Third, there's too much of a romance-novel element to this book. Over and over and over again, so-and-so softlly caresses the face of another or toys with the tendrils of another's hair. I expected Fabio to make an appearance at any moment. Enough, already. Finally, the author repeatedly uses an annoying literary device where one conversation by characters identified to the reader is abruptly interrupted by another conversation by characters who are unknown to the reader or whose identities the reader is supposed to guess at. It's almost as if the book as attention-deficit disorder.

Despite all of this, it's a decent first try, and I'll likely read the sequels.

This book feels like an amateur attempt at writing a "epic" novel. Yeine's first person narrative lacks depth and is very straight forward. Her emotions, motivations, actions are ... just simple. For someone who is supposedly schooled in court intrigue and survival, she is quite the simple country bumpkin. This would have been ok if the situations in the book would not be so contrived and she can be left alone as a simpleton and things happen on their accord without her intervention. But the author tried too hard to make her do something, which really, she can't. So now the entire story has been brought down to the level of this young adolescent.

In order for the book to be more mature, the author gratuitously thrown in sex, incest, rape, killing, etc to make the book more suitable for a mature audience. This does not work. You can't work on the characterization without a interesting story.

Without the more adult content (which does not add to the book), this would have been an ok young adult coming of age book for 12-14 year olds, and I would leave it at that.

If you have already read or started Ms. Jemisin's latest trilogy it is too late to read this. It has nothing to do with spoilers or plot and everything
To do with style and voice. In the six years since this book was published, Ms. Jemisin has become an infinitely better writer.
This novel reads like a teenage girl's diary: boring,one dimensional and all-about-me in a story told by the main female character. Action is slow and transitions are choppy. Sex is coy. The premise does little to draw you in and the characters do less as they are barely developed beyond
A broad, general spectrum. Judith Tarr did a far superior job with similar magical beings and their relationships to humans years ago in her semi-erotic trilogy.

I had never heard of this book until a few months ago, yet I heard there was a lot of hype behind this book. Where was I? I'm not sure, but I'm almost glad I didn't know about it earlier. Not knowing about this book led me to have few expectations. What got me to buy a copy was the great rating it got over on The Book Smugglers website. Because I didn't want to have big expectations, I decided to only look at their rating, instead of their actual review. I knew I HAD to have it because it contained a city in the sky, an heir bound for death, and gods. Seeing as how I love mythology, I was more than ready to try this book out.

I'm glad I did. I loved it so much that it will undoubtedly be in my top books read in 2010 list. It had romance, wit, political scandal, and elegant dialogue. I couldn't go too many pages without finding a line that told a poetic truth, or made me giggle due to its cleverness. The romance was sexy and dangerous. It was even mysterious at first, because initially I didn't know who Yeine's (main) love interest was.

I loved the way the author writes. This has no similarities to the Wicked Lovely series, but it does remind me of why I love Melissa Marr. Their ability to create worlds and tie everything together is amazing. Everything flowed for me, even when I didn't quite understand certain scenes (or forgot what character went with which name). There wasn't a real cliffhanger at the end, but I'm extremely excited to see what the characters are up to, and how they're dealing with their present settings. I'm getting The Broken Kingdoms (second book in the series) as soon as possible.

A word of caution: if you enjoy sleeping, eating, have a job and or a family, don't read this book! This is excellent material for no sleep, no eat, and think about staying home from work just to read one more chapter. It's that good: I had no idea who this author was, and now I won't forget. A rich, deep tale of spinous mystery, intrigue, drama and touching threads of human-ness woven among gods in a way I've never seen or read anywhere. Totally incredible-- bravos and standing ovations!

Barbaric warrior Baroness Yeine Darr lives in the Northern Kingdom of Darr. When her mother dies mysteriously, she has no time to grieve or investigate. Instead she is "invited" to come to the center of the universe by the Emperor of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by her grandfather the Dekarta Arameri ruler of all. In the capital city of Sky, a bewildered Yeine learns her grandfather the ruler names her his third heir along with her cousins once removed twins Lady Scimina and Lord Relad.

Confused and bewildered over her selection to the competition to replace the aging Dekarta, Yeine soon realizes her role at court is to be an expendable pawn used by her cousins as each has ambitions to be the next ruler. However, she also learns more about her family's history and the gods serving them; losers in the Gods War eons ago who humiliatingly must bow to the mortals as their retribution for the crime of defeat. She proves to have backbone though all at court thought she would and intelligence that none thought she had while trying to save the kingdoms and free the god-slaves.

The first tale of the Inheritance Trilogy is a fascinating adaptation fantasy told through the filter of the heroine who uses her experiences as a chieftain and lessons from her late mother to understand the glamorous cesspool she has been tossed into. Yeine is a terrific lead protagonist who keeps the deep story line focused whether she deals with her grandfather, her amoral rivals, the slave-gods especially Nahadoth. Although the engaging story line is simplified too much between the forces of good and bad, readers will enjoy the opening account of a fully developed convoluted world in which debts of the soul are paid by losing your rights as Nahadoth the Nightlord One of the Three and now Yeine know the difference between the slave and the princess.

Harriet Klausner

I wanted to like this book … the ideas are excellent. But the execution doesn't hold up, for me. Just as in far too many books written for a "female" audience, we have a young-woman protagonist who loses her temper every few pages, steps all over other people, and doesn't think. She has a loving "grandmother" figure, several male figures who remain endlessly interested and supportive (including the vampire stand-in), and an evil female rival/enemy. The plot is the usual windy muddle of mini-climaxes, leading to the grand finale climax that itself is longwinded and muddled. The writing is mostly fairly dull. I will certainly hope that this author gains skill over time.

I read this book as soon as I could get my hands on it, and read it in a night and a day, unable to stop.

100K is absolutely gorgeous. I went into it tentatively, but burst out the other side with tears, laughter, and joy. Actual tears! The plot is gorgeous in structure and execution, and the characters are, from the central to the most peripheral, vibrant, rich, and complex. To sink into a novel as lush as this is beyond beautiful.

Yeine, the female protagonist, is a character that women and girls alike can look to as a heroine of fierce intellect and strength.

As an avid Science Fiction/Fantasy fan, I spend so much time reading SciFi that is male-dominated and male-POV that to sink into this wonderfully woven tale of womens' strength was like waking to a clean, cool dawn after trudging through eternities of muddy night. Beautiful. (Did I mention, beautiful?) Not to knock the male POV, but we gals appreciate a turn or two of our own, and N.K. Jemisin grants us turn after turn, page after page.

I am reminded of Ursula K. LeGuin; Jemisin's writing has a similar grace, yet the voice is wholly her own. I'm so glad that I've found a new female writer to read, and I cannot wait for the sequel to 100K.

Very, very complicated story. Well written, excellent pace. As a reader I had to really stay focused and pay attention to every line because it became confusing if I missed something. Liked the story line and the nuances between characters. The ending was a bit of surprise.

What a refreshingly new concept in fantasy, I was hooked from the first few pages. I love her writing style, and really got drawn into a world with depth and novel characters.

I won't spoil anything, but each book in the trilogy stands on it's own with great twists and satisfying endings, and I absolutely loved how it all ended :)

Definitely pick this one up!

Prose by turns lean and lush. Super fast paced world building, so pay attention. Politics and philosophy for those attuned to it, but those who read past the larger implications will still be entertained.

I'm not quite sure where to begin talking about N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I guess I should start with my pre-reading impressions. This book came recommended to me from a few here at Fanlit, and from many authors and blogs, but I resisted reading it for quite some time. There was nothing in the descriptions that really caught my fancy. It sounded like a typical high or epic fantasy, and even the title, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, seemed to confirm my initial thoughts. I kept thinking, a whole hundred thousand? Will there be a hundred thousand royal family members with a hundred thousand titles? How about a hundred thousand political squabbles? I'm not a big fan of the type of fantasy with long lists of families and loads of political intrigue, and I was so sure that The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was going to be just like that. I was an idiot.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is the first person account of Yeine Darr. Yeine is one of three heirs to the Arameri crown. After her mother's death she was whisked away from her northern barbarian home to the capital city of Sky. She is to compete with the two other heirs for the right to succeed the reigning king, Dakarta. No one knows why Dakarta brought Yeine out of the rural north to be a part of the succession events. You can imagine what would happen in a game of deadly politics between a highly intelligent and savage young lady and the spoiled and educated master schemers of the royal family. To say the least, things quickly get interesting.

The most amazing part of this book is Yeine herself. She is one of the most engaging and charming characters I've ever read. She is the sole voice of the story and always stays in character while describing the events of the story.

There are also plenty of gods with unique personalities who each bring something different to the table. There are only a few characters who Jemisin spends a lot of ink on, and the rest are left a little underdeveloped. The world itself is also left a little unexplained. The story's focus is on the capital city of Sky, and the Arameri family that resides there, so the other lands and peoples, except Yeine's homeland of Darr, are left in the background. I hope that will change in the sequels.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is beautifully written and I enjoyed the story a great deal. The fact that this is Jemisin's debut novel is disgusting. That one person could contain this much talent is a crime upon humanity. Jemisin will join Pat Rothfuss on my "List Of Disgustingly Talented Authors Who I Should Hate From Jealousy, But Can't Because They Are Too Awesome Not To Love" (The LODTAWISHFJBCBTATANTL, for short). Seriously, the writing is both vivid and entertaining with a very reader-friendly pace and I appreciated that there was none of the hoighty-toighty self-indulgent Arthurian hooey in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

I listened to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms on Brilliance Audio CD. It was narrated by Casaundra Freeman. Casaundra was amazing. It's extremely important that the voice actor of a first-person story become that character in the reader's mind. If a voice is too different than what you would imagine then it is difficult to become engaged. That is definitely not a problem in this version of the book. Ms. Freeman is Yeine, and a delight to listen to. I highly recommend this version, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Broken Kingdoms coming in November 2010. --Justin at FantasyLiterature

The gods in this tale reminded me of the gods in Sanderson's Warbreaker. They have distinct and flawed personalities that increase the appeal of the story. In addition, the reader is limited to the heroine's point of view, which made the story more interesting as the reader only gains understanding of her circumstances as she does. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I finished in one day, and I will be getting the sequel.

This is the first book in the Inheritance series by Jemisin. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I had wanted to read it and heard it was an excellent fantasy novel. It started out a bit slow for me, but once I got into the story I really appreciated the complex world-building and the fascinating characters. At times the book reminded me a bit of Catherynne Valente's novel Deathless.

I listened to this on audiobook. The audiobook was decently done, although at times some of the male character voices were hard to distinguish. Still the narrator did a good job of conveying character emotion and was enjoyable enough to listen to.

Yeine Darr is summoned by her uncle to the city of Sky where the Arameri rule, and much to her horror named heiress to the throne. She has no desire to to leave her kingdom of Darr and no desire to rule Sky. To complicate matters she finds that she much compete against two other heirs, if she loses her life is forfeit. As things unfold for Yeine she meets a captive god and his children and is befriended by them in ways only the gods can fathom.

Yeine lives in a world where there are three main gods: Nahadoth (god of chaos and darkness/night), Bright Itempas (god of order and light/day), and Enefa ( goddess of balance and twilight/dawn). Bright Itempas killed Enefa and enslaved Nahadoth. The Arameri serve Bright Itempas and by the day Nahadoth and all of his children must do as the Arameri command. By night though the Gods resume their true forms, although they cannot harm the Arameri because of the blood sigils the Arameri wear.

Yeine is from a barbarian culture and is thrown into the Arameri culture which is full of politics and backstabbing more than outright fighting. She must figure out how to maneuver her way through this culture without destroying her country or getting killed herself. She is put into an impossible situation and turns to the only people she can for help, the Gods that oppose Bright Itempas.

Okay, seriously that is a lot of background...but this a very complex world and story. To be honest the very first part of this book was almost too much. We, like Yeine, are bombarded with all the strange culture of the Arameri and the complexity is almost (but not quite) overwhelming. All of this is interspersed with stories about the Gods and the last God war. At first it is a bit confusing why all of this matters so much....and then we meet the Gods.

Meeting the Gods makes all the difference and suddenly all of the history is more applicable because we are learning the history of these fascinating and immensely complex characters. I was absolutely engaged from this point on.

Jemisin does a stunning job of portraying the Gods. They can be cruel, calculating and numb to pain (both theirs and others). They are also surprised by kindness and love each other with an intensity and a consistency that spans millennia and is something mortals could never understand. Nahadoth especially also shows elements of immensity and cosmic greatness, he spans place and time in way that is truly godlike. But at times the Gods are very human too; they get lonely and sad and long for freedom. They are just what Gods should be and just as complex as you would expect, but it takes a lot of excellent writing to portray this so well.

Yeine is an interesting character as well. She understands that the Gods aren't human and struggles with treating them as such. She loves them but sometimes, like her lust and love for Nahadoth, her love takes on a very human form. Yet she seems to understand that they are Gods and will never look at things how humans do. Yeine is a noble and tough character who does her best in a very tough situation. She loves fiercely and will do anything to protect those she loves. I really enjoyed reading about her.

There are a number of side characters as well. We read a lot about Sieh, who is one of Nahadoth's children. Sieh is an eternal child and trickster and he loves Yeine in the way only a child can. He is an interesting concept and adds a lot of fun and depth to the story.

All of the side characters are fascinating and have a lot of depth to them. The characters, like the world, are incredibly well done.

The story ties up very nicely with all of the smaller plot points featuring Yeine well tied up. The second book, The Broken Kingdom, features different characters...but explores what happens to the Kingdom following the events in this book.

Overall an outstanding epic fantasy novel. There is just so much that is well done here. The book does start a bit rough, but quickly regains its footing. The world-building is fantastic and the characters have a lot of depth and absolutely intriguing and engaging. The story is very well done and I enjoyed it a lot. Highly recommended to fans of epic fantasy.

If you enjoy books about mortals struggling to make a life while their lives are entwined with the lives of Gods, I would also recommend Deathless by Catherynne Valente. Deathless reminded me a bit of this book in that it features a young girl who is chosen to be the bride of a Deathless and is drawn into his eternal Godly battle.

I read this in a day and a half, it was fantastic. Very different - an interesting interaction between mortals and gods combined with a fantastic political thriller that keeps you guessing. I think if you enjoy George RR Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, etc there is a good chance you'll like this too.

...but lacking in...excitement? The words and sentences themselves are missing a little shine. It could have been developed so much more. Four stars though for an interesting, promising read, and *gasp* a complete, standalone novel. Harder and harder to find, lately, which is a shame! I only found one misprint/typo in the Kinde version.

I've read a lot of fantasy novels. A lot, a lot, a lot. So when I read a new fantasy novel, the chances are excellent that I've heard it all before.

Not with this book.

Oh, it has a few elements in common with other works, since Jemisin's writing about human beings, after all. But the source of magic in this book is wildly different, and the whole book just feels fresh.

Thanks, Ms. Jemisin, for giving this experienced reader something new and wondrous!

Very, very complicated story. Well written, excellent pace. As a reader I had to really stay focused and pay attention to every line because it became confusing if I missed something. Liked the story line and the nuances between characters. The ending was a bit of surprise.

What a refreshingly new concept in fantasy, I was hooked from the first few pages. I love her writing style, and really got drawn into a world with depth and novel characters.

I won't spoil anything, but each book in the trilogy stands on it's own with great twists and satisfying endings, and I absolutely loved how it all ended :)

Definitely pick this one up!

Prose by turns lean and lush. Super fast paced world building, so pay attention. Politics and philosophy for those attuned to it, but those who read past the larger implications will still be entertained.

I'm not quite sure where to begin talking about N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. I guess I should start with my pre-reading impressions. This book came recommended to me from a few here at Fanlit, and from many authors and blogs, but I resisted reading it for quite some time. There was nothing in the descriptions that really caught my fancy. It sounded like a typical high or epic fantasy, and even the title, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, seemed to confirm my initial thoughts. I kept thinking, a whole hundred thousand? Will there be a hundred thousand royal family members with a hundred thousand titles? How about a hundred thousand political squabbles? I'm not a big fan of the type of fantasy with long lists of families and loads of political intrigue, and I was so sure that The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was going to be just like that. I was an idiot.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is the first person account of Yeine Darr. Yeine is one of three heirs to the Arameri crown. After her mother's death she was whisked away from her northern barbarian home to the capital city of Sky. She is to compete with the two other heirs for the right to succeed the reigning king, Dakarta. No one knows why Dakarta brought Yeine out of the rural north to be a part of the succession events. You can imagine what would happen in a game of deadly politics between a highly intelligent and savage young lady and the spoiled and educated master schemers of the royal family. To say the least, things quickly get interesting.

The most amazing part of this book is Yeine herself. She is one of the most engaging and charming characters I've ever read. She is the sole voice of the story and always stays in character while describing the events of the story.

There are also plenty of gods with unique personalities who each bring something different to the table. There are only a few characters who Jemisin spends a lot of ink on, and the rest are left a little underdeveloped. The world itself is also left a little unexplained. The story's focus is on the capital city of Sky, and the Arameri family that resides there, so the other lands and peoples, except Yeine's homeland of Darr, are left in the background. I hope that will change in the sequels.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is beautifully written and I enjoyed the story a great deal. The fact that this is Jemisin's debut novel is disgusting. That one person could contain this much talent is a crime upon humanity. Jemisin will join Pat Rothfuss on my "List Of Disgustingly Talented Authors Who I Should Hate From Jealousy, But Can't Because They Are Too Awesome Not To Love" (The LODTAWISHFJBCBTATANTL, for short). Seriously, the writing is both vivid and entertaining with a very reader-friendly pace and I appreciated that there was none of the hoighty-toighty self-indulgent Arthurian hooey in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

I listened to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms on Brilliance Audio CD. It was narrated by Casaundra Freeman. Casaundra was amazing. It's extremely important that the voice actor of a first-person story become that character in the reader's mind. If a voice is too different than what you would imagine then it is difficult to become engaged. That is definitely not a problem in this version of the book. Ms. Freeman is Yeine, and a delight to listen to. I highly recommend this version, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Broken Kingdoms coming in November 2010. --Justin at FantasyLiterature

The gods in this tale reminded me of the gods in Sanderson's Warbreaker. They have distinct and flawed personalities that increase the appeal of the story. In addition, the reader is limited to the heroine's point of view, which made the story more interesting as the reader only gains understanding of her circumstances as she does. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I finished in one day, and I will be getting the sequel.

This is the first book in the Inheritance series by Jemisin. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I had wanted to read it and heard it was an excellent fantasy novel. It started out a bit slow for me, but once I got into the story I really appreciated the complex world-building and the fascinating characters. At times the book reminded me a bit of Catherynne Valente's novel Deathless.

I listened to this on audiobook. The audiobook was decently done, although at times some of the male character voices were hard to distinguish. Still the narrator did a good job of conveying character emotion and was enjoyable enough to listen to.

Yeine Darr is summoned by her uncle to the city of Sky where the Arameri rule, and much to her horror named heiress to the throne. She has no desire to to leave her kingdom of Darr and no desire to rule Sky. To complicate matters she finds that she much compete against two other heirs, if she loses her life is forfeit. As things unfold for Yeine she meets a captive god and his children and is befriended by them in ways only the gods can fathom.

Yeine lives in a world where there are three main gods: Nahadoth (god of chaos and darkness/night), Bright Itempas (god of order and light/day), and Enefa ( goddess of balance and twilight/dawn). Bright Itempas killed Enefa and enslaved Nahadoth. The Arameri serve Bright Itempas and by the day Nahadoth and all of his children must do as the Arameri command. By night though the Gods resume their true forms, although they cannot harm the Arameri because of the blood sigils the Arameri wear.

Yeine is from a barbarian culture and is thrown into the Arameri culture which is full of politics and backstabbing more than outright fighting. She must figure out how to maneuver her way through this culture without destroying her country or getting killed herself. She is put into an impossible situation and turns to the only people she can for help, the Gods that oppose Bright Itempas.

Okay, seriously that is a lot of background...but this a very complex world and story. To be honest the very first part of this book was almost too much. We, like Yeine, are bombarded with all the strange culture of the Arameri and the complexity is almost (but not quite) overwhelming. All of this is interspersed with stories about the Gods and the last God war. At first it is a bit confusing why all of this matters so much....and then we meet the Gods.

Meeting the Gods makes all the difference and suddenly all of the history is more applicable because we are learning the history of these fascinating and immensely complex characters. I was absolutely engaged from this point on.

Jemisin does a stunning job of portraying the Gods. They can be cruel, calculating and numb to pain (both theirs and others). They are also surprised by kindness and love each other with an intensity and a consistency that spans millennia and is something mortals could never understand. Nahadoth especially also shows elements of immensity and cosmic greatness, he spans place and time in way that is truly godlike. But at times the Gods are very human too; they get lonely and sad and long for freedom. They are just what Gods should be and just as complex as you would expect, but it takes a lot of excellent writing to portray this so well.

Yeine is an interesting character as well. She understands that the Gods aren't human and struggles with treating them as such. She loves them but sometimes, like her lust and love for Nahadoth, her love takes on a very human form. Yet she seems to understand that they are Gods and will never look at things how humans do. Yeine is a noble and tough character who does her best in a very tough situation. She loves fiercely and will do anything to protect those she loves. I really enjoyed reading about her.

There are a number of side characters as well. We read a lot about Sieh, who is one of Nahadoth's children. Sieh is an eternal child and trickster and he loves Yeine in the way only a child can. He is an interesting concept and adds a lot of fun and depth to the story.

All of the side characters are fascinating and have a lot of depth to them. The characters, like the world, are incredibly well done.

The story ties up very nicely with all of the smaller plot points featuring Yeine well tied up. The second book, The Broken Kingdom, features different characters...but explores what happens to the Kingdom following the events in this book.

Overall an outstanding epic fantasy novel. There is just so much that is well done here. The book does start a bit rough, but quickly regains its footing. The world-building is fantastic and the characters have a lot of depth and absolutely intriguing and engaging. The story is very well done and I enjoyed it a lot. Highly recommended to fans of epic fantasy.

If you enjoy books about mortals struggling to make a life while their lives are entwined with the lives of Gods, I would also recommend Deathless by Catherynne Valente. Deathless reminded me a bit of this book in that it features a young girl who is chosen to be the bride of a Deathless and is drawn into his eternal Godly battle.

I read this in a day and a half, it was fantastic. Very different - an interesting interaction between mortals and gods combined with a fantastic political thriller that keeps you guessing. I think if you enjoy George RR Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, etc there is a good chance you'll like this too.

...but lacking in...excitement? The words and sentences themselves are missing a little shine. It could have been developed so much more. Four stars though for an interesting, promising read, and *gasp* a complete, standalone novel. Harder and harder to find, lately, which is a shame! I only found one misprint/typo in the Kinde version.

I've read a lot of fantasy novels. A lot, a lot, a lot. So when I read a new fantasy novel, the chances are excellent that I've heard it all before.

Not with this book.

Oh, it has a few elements in common with other works, since Jemisin's writing about human beings, after all. But the source of magic in this book is wildly different, and the whole book just feels fresh.

Thanks, Ms. Jemisin, for giving this experienced reader something new and wondrous!

I really loved the worldbuilding. I just can't get some of those images out of my head (not that that's a bad thing!) I love the city of Sky. The mythology - especially the choices of the "wise" goddess - is so fresh. Yeine is a fascinating - and unusual (you'll see why) - heroine.
Warnings for sexual content and violence. But you knew that already.

PLEASE read her novels. My best friend shared them with me and we had a field day talking about the different aspects. It's a complex and unique story. No sappy forced love stories here! Character development and growth.

This was a complex book which at times frustrated me. I have gotten so use to simple stories that my mind fought me on keeping information in my head for later use in the story.
Now that the history of the story has been laid out I am curious to see how the writing style will unfold the next book.

I picked up this book during one of my quarterly book-hunting ventures at the local Border's. Upon picking up this book when I got home, I nearly tossed it aside - the plot sounded interesting, yet cliche, and I was in the mood for something more complicated.

I'm glad I read it, however. Surprisingly, the first person narrative did not irritate me as much as they normally do. The author uses Yeine's voice and personality in a wonderfully direct way, keeping within the constraints of the character's perception of the world around her. Yeine herself becomes an empathetic character. At times, I noticed myself thinking, "Hmm...that's kinda repetative. Would Yeine really do that?" but it never detracted from the story itself. At worst, they were literary hiccups easily forgotten by the next page.

Yeine had a fascinating way of explaining herself. Much of the story was told as though you were sitting in the room with her, complete with tangents and sidesteps that you'd get from listening to another person's narration of events. This sort of thing has the potential to be a negative to the story itself, but I found myself interested in everything Yeine was talking about.

That is when it hit me: It doesnt happen often, but this book roped me in through the author's writing style moreso than the story. Thats not to say that the story was sub-par - it wasnt. It was a simple storyline that has been done before. However, it is the style of narration that gives this tale its appeal.

Perhaps the only critisms that stick out in my mind is that the world, while seeming vast, rich, and filled with lore, takes the back seat to the city of Sky. Sky itself is interesting, though I found myself getting lost within it more than the characters did. It was described adequately, but perhaps more description would have made the city more memorable to me (and easier to navigate in my head.) All I can remember is stark white walls, making me think more of a hospital than an elegant city of nobles.

I would have liked to explore the world outside Sky a bit more than the one or two glimpses that was given, but I imagine (and rightly so, as I emailed the author with my thoughts on her book) that there will be more of the world to come in the next book.

I was able to identify many character archetypes through the tale, though the author did manage to twist the characters into a somewhat unexpected angle by the end of the book. I wish there was more time spent with Dekarta, Relad, and T'Vril, as their characters had so much potential yet seemed to take the backseat when they were no longer necessary to move the storyline ahead. The gods aspect was well done though some of the imagery seemed somewhat disjointed. This could have been the intention, however, for how does one explain the thoughts of gods? N.K. Jemisin did and admirable job of just that.

In summery, I found this book to be engaging to a fault, keeping me awake until nearly two in the morning so I could read 'just one more chapter'. It suffered some shortcomings, but those were more than compensated for with the unique voice of the character. If you are seeking an entertaining page-turner, then pick this up. I rate this with Patrick Rothfuss's "Name of the Wind", Jennifer Fallon's Second Sons Trilogy, and Brandon Sanderson's "Elantris" in terms of story enjoyment.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is an elegantly written novel, one of the best I've read. The prose flows beautifully and the breaks in thought in the narrative work well. The story line is engaging and the main character is well developed. The world Jemisin created is well thought out. The concept of a god-created world is a little difficult to take in the modern world, but it is fantasy so there is no reason a god-created world should be less readily accepted than the commonly written about world with magic.

I especially like how Jemisin explains and describes the nature of the gods. It fits well with the descriptions of the Greek gods where they can be beautiful and terrible at the same time, something lost in their Roman iterations.

My only negative is that I don't really like all the names Jemisin created for her characters. They are almost too difficult to try to figure out how to say them but it doesn't interfere with enjoying the novel.

Oh, and one complaint. The length of the chapters is just at the point where you read one, and you think you have time before you need to go to sleep to read a second, and maybe a third, but after you've read that second and third chapter, you notice the time and you're up way past your bedtime. Be careful of losing track of time when reading this book!

I highly recommend this book since it is thoroughly enjoyable.

N.K. Jemisin is a phenomenal writer. She can somehow use English words to describe experiences that are by definition beyond the human capability to understand. Fantastically imaginative, interesting exploration of power, and it's always a relief to read a book in fantasy/scifi centered on women/people of color.

This is (thankfully) not another generic fantasy novel.

If you like a book that makes you think and is sometimes challenging to follow, but is intriguing and pulls you in, give this one a try.

If you are looking for Twilight, or Tolkein, this isn't it. But it stands well on its own merits, with interesting characters, a deep history and an interesting problem to solve.

Give it a try.

Unexpectedly summoned by the King, the grandfather she never knew who renounced her mother before her birth, to the capital city of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Yiene Darr finds herself thrust to the forefront of a battle between gods and mortals, good and evil, light and darkness. Not knowing who to trust and burning with the need to discover who murdered her mother and avenge her death, Yiene must navigate her way through court intrigue, dalliances with a child-like god, and encounters with a terrorizing Lord of Darkness. What she discovers within herself and how she acts upon all her newfound knowledge is the basis of a truly wonderful, engaging tale. The first book of a planned trilogy, this story embraced me and has me eagerly looking forward to Book 2!

I loved this book. It was a bit addicting and I caught myself reading snatches, even if I had just a few minutes to spare. The world building is terrific and this tale diverges from the popular tropes which are currently trending in high fantasy, instead becoming a new creation all its own. I would definitely recommend it.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms has some very interesting aspects--the book discusses: race, gender, slavery, alternatives to heteronormative sexual relationships, and many other fascinating ideas. Unfortunately, the execution is just plain bad. Half of the book's words are used to explain sex scenes with the night lord, which could be interesting to someone--just not me.

This book has the potential to be great, but potential is not worth the time you spend reading this book. Try her other series--this one isn't good.

Going back to read this I was surprised by how likable some of the characters were, which can be hard to achieve on such an epic scale. But I really love fantasy & SF that put these questions of good and evil in perspective, and that's what this book (and Jemisin's writing altogether) does.

I loved this book. The characters were very well built and I especially enjoyed the softer love story aspect that the book has even though it's not really a love story it was there though and I felt like it made the God characters more appealing

The world that was created within "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" was refreshing and imaginative. The characters, especially Yeine, were relatable, lovable, and at times, harrowing. I would love to see this book (and series) made into a film. I can't wait to continue reading this series.

This thoughtful and intriguing book has enough to recommend it -- a well-imagined and original world, engaging and surprising characters, including a kickass young heroine, and a strong story line -- that I'm hanging onto it to lend to others, starting with my mother, and including my goddaughter when she comes of reading age. The prose is thick without ever being awkward or distancing, making it a solid and entertaining read. Jemisin's voice is strong, and I'm really looking forward to more from her, including Yeine's further adventures.

Very impressed that this is a debut novel. I enjoyed the originality of the story and the writing style. Especially enjoyed the feeling I had that I was inside Yeine's head, following her around Sky and experiencing what she experienced. Fell in love with Yeine and also with the gods, especially Nahadoth and Sieh. Loved the tension that starts very early in the book and continues until it resolves itself near the end (no spoilers here!). Well done, Jemisin, and thanks for a great ride! I look forward to more.

I just finished reading this book and I'm totally blown away by it. The characters are memorable and complex. The setting is unique and fascinating. Oh, and the twists! Amazing plot twists of the best kind - the kind you understand but never see coming. The kind that will make you want to re-read the book immediately and from a whole new perspective!

All in all a masterful story of betrayal, love, and hate told at both mortal and cosmic levels. If you love mythologies, epic fantasy, and political intrigue, this book if for you.

I did not know what to expect when I started to read this trilogy. Nevertheless, the first book completely ensnared my attention and I had to acquire the entire trilogy. This is the type of story that sticks with you. It is intriguing and presents a very interesting world with laws and rules that just seem to click. The entire time I read this I kept imagining a movie... it would do so well.

This ebook came in my Hugo voter packet.

New in town, barbarian Yeine explores the peculiar culture of Sky and discovers the mystery of the gods' war. This book follows the archetypal plot of comedy, but the fun is sinister and the universe is heyoka. The enslaved gods are the most original thing I've seen in sf & f this year. They're deliciously creepy, terrifying, and vampirically dark-sexy, and those are the good guys. The evil ones are truly horrifying.

A compelling book. A narrative that will grab you from the start and keep the pages turning. A plot that built with incredible tension to a resolution that I didn't see coming. An intriguing heroine who's completely different than your run-of-the-mill heroines. A novel that's completely different than your run-of-the-mill fantasy.

I completely and utterly love this series, N.K Jemisin and her work has blown me away. Honestly the best fiction series I've read in a long time. It has everything action,romance, adventure, politics, parallels from our society. Awe invoking and Magical!

[I read an ARC of this, furnished by the Publisher]

Its a very strange thing to read a book as if its another's disjointed memories clashing with one and other to be told first. At first I wasn't sure what I was reading--there would be strange asides that would break pieces of the tale, that would draw me either forward or back to an even farther back time, but always the asides made sense. The story is told from first person perspective (Yeine's) and the asides gave me the impression that she was having an argument with herself as she told the tale.

And the tale begins impressively with Yeine telling us her mother fought to keep her within her womb. From there it only became more urgent and dire. Yeine told the tale with a certain amount of detachment, which makes sense as the story progresses. Often when she found herself stumbling to remember something, some small thing perhaps that meant importance, I could recall times I had that problem. Sometimes the tale gets ahead of the teller, my grandmother used to tell me. Always Yeine caught herself and would bring the direction of the narrative back again.

I found myself sympathizing with Yeine often, but I felt worse for Sieh and Nahadoth, even Naha (though his casual cruelty chilled me). The two Gods trapped in mortal shells were at once powerful, but enslaved. Only able to act out when a member of the Arameri carelessly spoke or ordered them to. Their story, of how they became mortals and of the truth behind Yeine, is as twisted as any god's origins. This isn't to say it was confusing, but when a tale is several hundreds of thousands of years old who really cares to remember the truth of it? Really the details remained fixed in their minds, the circumstances really mattered very little to them.

Yeine's struggle--first to figure out why she was summoned so abruptly to her Grandfather's side after two decades of indifference, then to the truth behind everything (her mother's death, her own birth, the truth behind the religion...)--is hard and cruel. She's thrown into the viper's den without so much as a by-your-leave, with no idea who to trust and the vaguest notions of how to get on. Her so-called 'family' is actively plotting to have her removed, her homeland eradicated and all trace of her gone. Her only friend is another half-breed, who pretty much tells her hope is lost and she best figure out a way to save herself if she can. Trust is a dangerous, expensive and ultimately foolish pursuit for Yeine--anyone who can help her, won't, anybody who does isn't really helping her and anyone who truly means to help, even their intentions are stained with selfish desires.

I'll go on record saying this--the last two chapters pack a wallop and poetic justice does not do what happens well enough. Its not quite the ending I expected for anyone involved to be honest. I think though you'd be hard-pressed to find a more perfect one for any involved.

The ARC edition I have had 3 Appendixes (covering the terminology, further explanations for the terminology, and a short account of history as the Arameri saw it), an interview with the author (she wants to write for Square-Enix and Atlus--that alone makes her awesome in my book) and a short teaser for the forthcoming second book. I admit I am a sucker for Appendixes in books, I love that sort of stuff (in fact half the words in this review wouldn't have been spelled correctly except for Appendix one) and the explanations? Even better.

I strongly, strongly suggest that you go buy the book. I can't recommend it enough. I read it in four hours the same day that the book arrived on my doorstep--isn't that proof enough right there?

OK, first off it's really hard to tell anything about this book without spoilers! I can't tell you much more than what you can read on the cover: Yeine is the outcast granddaughter of the emperor and within ten pages she finds herself trapped in the very teeth of a familial power struggle that will rock the foundations of the world. Her life is at stake; her peoples' lives are at stake; the nature of the universe itself is at stake. And not for the reasons we first think. Even in the early chapters, there are reversals and surprises at frequent turns, and there are multiple layers of significance, too. The moves being pulled off here are not typical first-novel maneuvers. Do not try this at home unless you really know what you are doing (Jemisin does).

The protagonist is instantly sympathetic because she is an outsider, an underdog, and pretty much clueless and doomed in the midst of a case of sibling rivalry of epic proportions. Yeine really doesn't stand a chance, but she holds her head up and goes forward anyway, never leaving her integrity behind. Her canny social skills, wry observations, honestly-confessed emotional wobbles, her loyalty to her people--and certainly her courage--all carried me along, made me care about her.

From the very getgo the author cultivates a habit of interrupting the narrative to interject bits of history, fragments of stories, information and memories. At first I wasn't sure of the wisdom of this decision, but I changed my mind. As the story begins to gather momentum these digressions actually serve to create an economical narrative architecture that saves reams of intricate worldbuilding. The structure of tell/interrupt/tell is simple enough, but it lends a slightly elliptical quality that, like the rooms-between-walls in Sky itself, adds dimension to the world, significance to the events, and tension to the main storyline. Not to mention surprises.

It has to be said that nothing in this book is understated. And near the end the drama goes so far over the top that it actually comes round again the other side--this seems inevitable given the sheer audacity of the story's emotional scope and the way the characters are pitted against not only one another, but the changing metaphysics of their cosmos. What grounds the story is Yeine's down-to-earth observation of even the most outrageous events. She remains stubbornly human and herself.

The book can be read as a young woman's initiation; it can be read as a spiritual treatise; it can be read as political commentary. But for all its overt concern with the twists and turns of a familial power struggle--its outer coating of political saga--for me the book is most successful as a story about the nature of the human psyche. I found much to consider in terms of archetypes, the Shadow, the coexistence of more than one aspect in a single body, and so on. Don't know if I read it as it was intended, but I found a lot of interesting implied material about identity and the impact of the collective on the shape and health of the soul. There were a number of power relationships that were eventually subverted in interesting ways. There were buckets of ambiguity and irony. Gotta love that.

Two quibbles:

1) I loved it that so much of the book centered on Yeine's quest to solve the mystery of her mother's life and death and the deep questions of her mother's love, but I never really bought into the Darren women-warrior matriarchy as depicted here. To be fair, it's not been deeply explored in this book, and moreover I'd rather see matriarchy being explored in a way that doesn't work for me than (as is usually the case) not explored at all.

2) There were times when the constant questioning of motives, the he-said-she-said, the 'what shall I do now that I know X is this and Y is that?' of Yeine making her way through the shifting loyalties and startling revelations of past events in Sky...some of this was a little unwieldy. That's just a quibble. Generally speaking, the action and the plot reversals (the latter of which there are plenty) move along at quite a clip, and always the characters are vividly portrayed.

But you know what? Quibbles aside, here's the thing that counts. Jemisin is not afraid to think big. She is bold. She not only takes the bull by the horns but judo-flips it for good measure. This is such a great thing to see, especially in a new writer. I would so, so much rather read a book that takes risks and breaks the mold than--well, than just about anything else, really. Scintillating 'perfection' isn't what it's about. Rather than being carried in a vehicle that corners perfectly and gleams from polish, I'd rather get taken offroad and really go somewhere. This book is going somewhere new, and the author is to be welcomed as a bold and strong new voice in fantasy fiction.

This is the most engaging adult epic fantasy I’ve read since Game of Thrones, and it’s got much more subtle beauty and relevant social commentary weaved throughout. The writing is gorgeous, the characters are real – and as many of my YA friends have been calling for lately, complicated – and the world is rich, problematic, challenging. I tore through the first book (one of those, awake-at-3-a.m.-and-read-till-the-sun-comes-up situations) and downloaded the second to my Kindle the minute I was done.

Once I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. The story follows Yeine Darr as she comes from the barbarian North to the city of Sky, seat of power of the entire world. Yeine soon realizes that she is to be a pawn in the politics of the succession. Gods walk through Sky, enslaved but still powerful and they have their own interests in Yeine. This is epic fantasy, romance, and mythology all bundled together.

The story is told in first person, with some other interesting style choices. This was a tiny bit off-putting at first, but I soon became so enraptured in the story that these sections didn't bother me. And they directly relate to the plot. This is the first book in a series, but reaches a definite conclusion. I understand that the next book takes place in the same world, but could also be read with no knowledge of the first book.

The overall feel of the world, the imagery of the writing, and the interaction of the mortal world with that of the Gods were my favorite aspects of this book and it is probably the best book I've read this year (so far).

I enjoyed the world this story is set in and it's theology a lot. The creation story is well done and the god characters are very intriguing. Their emotional extremes and unique natures contrasted with the more balanced mortal characters makes a great story and makes their character debelopent even more meaningful.

I credited this book with 3 stars for the first half of the story, which was original and engaging. Somewhere between 1/2 and 2/3 of the way through, though, the story loses almost all sophistication and could even be considered a bit silly and trite. I was hurrying to finish and rolling my eyes as I did so. The author's writing ability just doesn't seem up to the challenge that her imagination presents. Ultimately quite disappointing, as I had been anticipating a great trilogy; now I'm not going to bother.

I had to finish this book. I couldn't focus on anything else until it was finished. The writing is excellent.

I'm a 36 year old black man who has been reading high fantasy since I was 9. Somehow this is the first fantasy novel I've ever read by a black aUthor (shame on me). I never imagined the possibilities of this genre to critique America's racial history. I am shaken and inspired.

I am shocked this book is getting such positive reviews, and disappointed that the hype convinced me to buy this book I would rate it as the second worst Spec Fiction I have purchased, sandwiched between the fifth sorceress below and Terry Goodkind above.

The plot to my mind can be summarized as follows: Homely bi-racial the store girl/authorial insert has sex with the sexiest, baddest bad boy in the history of the universe and becomes a goddess herself.

As a work of art I found it terrible, but I finished it because it was fascinating to me how the heart of the story ended up fitting so neatly in to the most unnuanced idea of female wish fulfillment(getting with a sexy man and gaining prestige and status) while bearing the trappings of the most unthoughtful feminism.

The female warrior society from which Yeine comes is not explored at all and makes no sense even in the context of the character. Yiene is the ruler of these female warriors but in order to conquer a man she has to use sex and treachery, and otherwise her warrior skills never come up in the plot; that doesn't do any favors to the logic of this female warrior society nor is it a positive representation of feminism from my perspective.

There are two simple problems facing a society of warrior women. Number one: warrior effectiveness; women are on average smaller and physically weaker than men. There is no evidence that this is different among the Darre. In fact Yeine's case seems to indicate the opposite, I believe she even refers to value of keeping the stronger males to protect the offspring (why not train them as warrior then?). If women are in fact weaker in this society as seems to be the case then they will have problems facing physically superior male warriors of other societies.

Number two: reproduction. First, the time in a woman's life when she would the best warrior is also her peak reproductive period. How do women juggle the demands of child bearing (9 Months) and lactating (2 years in a agricultural society) children and being active warriors. Prior to modern medicine most women needed to spend the majority of their reproductive years either pregnant or lactating just in order to maintain population replacement. A society's reproductive potential is limited by the number of females where as male numbers have to fall very very low to change total fertility. If the Darre clashed with another civilization as their bloodthirsty history indicates they would have, win or lose their population would decrease in the next generation due to high female casualty rates. Societies with male warriors would not have the same problem, and would then have relatively more warriors compared to the previous generation. These logical problems are not in any way addressed in the book. To me, just randomly designating a society as matriarchal the stores without exploring the practicalities of such a situation is not a complex and multifaceted look at genders, it's an illogical and shallow fantasy.

"The Sky God's Lover" would be a much more honest title for this book. I was definitely dissapointed it did not live up to the political intrigue the title "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" indicated. Of course a book not being what it seems is one thing, but this was the height of absurdity. This is a story about a women who is trying to find her mother's killer, prevent her own death, and the genocide of her people, and yet when she is told there is no one worth her attention besides the half dozen she has already met she accepts it at face value. That seems unlikely that a bureaucracy of world spanning empires has only 6 or 7 power players worth noting.

Finally, the world building was terrible. There are apparently a hundred thousand kingdoms but all we see is Sky, which might as well be the wing of a hospital given how white, sterile, convenient (with elevators), and utterly boring it is.

The potential for an interesting story was here: investigating her mother's death, preventing genocide, fighting for her life with her awesome matriarchal warrior skills. Instead the book is really all about hooking up with the sexy god of night.

I was rather excited to read this novel. Reviews promised all my favourite elements: high fantasy, heavily character-based, first-person narrative, political intrigue... Unfortunately, the package falls short of breathtaking. To be honest, I believe it falls short of just about any positive criticism I've read.

Yeine, the main character, is introduced in such a way as to intrigue even the most cynical reader: she's a blunt, shrewd, and frankly fearless protagonist, uprooted from her home at the behest her grandfather to live in the floating city of the intimidating ruling class. We soon come to realize, however, that Yeine is about as interesting and compelling as a paint swatch. The author seems to attempt to make up for Yeine's lack of personality by having her either under or overreact to everything that is said or done to her. In fact, there is no subtlety whatsoever to the emotions or actions of any characters in this novel. It's either ridiculously intense staring contests or explosive anger/soap opera-worthy melodrama. Characters that have the potential for compelling, well-rounded personalities are under-explored (Sieh, Relad). The only thing N K Jemisin seems to do well is the layout of society. I loved the concept of a ruling class of god-favoured people, secure in their position despite having to rely on the volatile gods and godlings. Descriptions of the floating city of Sky were interesting and original, but they came at the expense of a decent exploration of Yeine's homeland and customs, which are only mentioned in passing (despite the fact that Darre plays an important role in the novel). Over and over, it seems the land of Darre, the godling Sieh, and all the most interesting concepts and characters are overlooked in favour of Nahadoth's "ttly hawt bodee". At times, this book reads like an adult Twilight Saga, right down to ...SPOILER ALERT...
Yeine's transformation from a plain, overlooked young woman into a goddess, where she can finally join her god lover and godling stepchildren. END OF SPOILER ALERT

Read the positive reviews too, perhaps this IS the book for you. As a Robin Hobb and Lynn Flewelling fan (used to deep characterization and excellent world-building), I was less than impressed.

I thought I'd read so many fantasy novels that I wouldn't find anything novel again. But this was different and fun and thoughtful and even sexy without being tawdry. Thank god for N. K. Jemsin's imagination and prose stylings!

In the author interview printed in the end of the edition I read Jemisin said something about liking the vivid imagery of Sky (the central location of most of this novel)

Now I realise that cover art is an important part of the product that is a novel however aside from the front image, I have to say that vivid imagery is not something I would say when describing 100,000 Kingdoms. Much of the action (what little there was) took place in undescribed scenes, as if a play was being rehearsed without background props.

The plot involves something about three gods at war, the two defeated being enslaved and hiding, or whatever. The central conflicts are so poorly introduced in amongst force-fed historic mythology, and bland dialogue that not only did I find myself not really following what the main point of the story was, I also found myself totally apathetic to the resolution.

The characters seem to make completely random decisions, the authors attempt to make things fresh and new with eccentric internal monologues made me feel like she was leaning over my shoulder while I read whispering into my ear "Oh this bits good - did you get that?"

In short I did not enjoy this book, the mythology was clusmily presented, most of the action had already happened when the narration began and the characters were shallow and unrelatable.

Rant over

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
By N. K. Jemisin
©2010, Orbit Hachette Book Group

First off, once the Nahadoth Nightlord T-shirt and action figure line becomes available--I must be notified immediately! Can we say sizzling, long-haired, uber-Badboy? Shall we say this is the same kind of insane attraction that an legendary, fanged Transylvanian possesses? Yum.

Don't ask how I have come into possession of The Ten Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin. Suffice it to say, I won't betray my fellow pro-Enefadeh. The Itempan Arameri have their scriveners recording every word I say. I'll keep typing as fast as I can.

Yeine Darr Arameri, the protagonist, comes across as a solid everywoman despite her fantastical surroundings. The novel remains in her point of view. Her trouble is most of the novel's cast seeks her death for one reason or another. Yeine balances being a reader surrogate during charged exchanges with the afore-mentioned Nahadoth, being the kind of heroine who transforms from awkward barbarian to a force for justice in a vicious, amoral world, and being comfortably herself.

I fell in love with the book almost from the moment I saw the author photo on the back. People of color have an ancient tradition of fabulous story-telling. I, for one, demand more volumes to choose from and The Ten Thousand Kingdoms has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf. The brooding cover art also promised a delicious, female-centered darkness. 398 pages later, I wasn't disappointed. Cross-pollination between genres is welcome. Romance readers and fans of Shonen-Ai may also find this book to their liking. I appreciated so much the inclusion of alternative sexualities. Think on this, an incestuous triangle between two gods and their deceased sister-goddess lies at the heart of the conflict. This is the kind of book that derives its intense eroticism, not from gratuituous prose, but from the understated image of its aftermath: a broken bed. Read into that whatever you will.

Peace,

Her Tangh-i-ness

Disclosure: I received a free advance copy of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Book 1 (The Inheritance Trilogy)

I have read hundreds of fantasy novels and I have to say that this book is one of the most imaginative I have ever read. The unique narrative flow and storytelling style as well as an imaginative panoply of gods and godlings make this a fascinating read.

he Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010) is a somewhat convoluted tale of politics and deities. A young, rural noble, Yeine, is whisked away to the world's capital city, where she learns that she's one of three competing heirs to the throne. In the short time she has before her inevitable death by the hands of her competing cousins, Yeine has to unravel her family's secret history, understand the true nature of the land's strange gods and, most difficult at all, wade through a field of asterisms.

* * *

An asterism is a series of three punctuation marks (usually periods or asterisks) that is used to denote subchapters. You may have seen it used. Perhaps if you're a 19th century printer. Or in a freshman poetry class.

* * *

Interestingly, the author litters nearly every single page with these landmines of punctuation. This makes for a distinctive writing style. And by distinctive, I mean "frustrating". I can only guess at the intention. Perhaps they were meant to offset the near-stream of conscious (rivulet of consciousness?) style of the protagonist's first-person prose? But any advantage to doing that was swiftly lost when

* * *

You're getting annoyed now right? Not just having the bloody things interrupt mid-sentence, but, if you're paying attention, you may have noticed that you're now reading in the second person, instead of the first.

* * *

The book does toy with some interesting concepts - at least in passing. In the setting of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the good guys have won. The evil night-god is imprisoned and forced to do construction work. The good sky-god and his kinfolk are ruling the world. Peace reigns. War is strictly controlled - and mostly bloodless. Yet, as the author constantly recites, there's something wrong about this. The ruling class is decadent, the succession schemes are bloody and some of the outlying barbarian cultures aren't getting equal representation in the Council of Nobles. (This is, interestingly, a topic raised in Robert Graves' I, Claudius - in which he talks about the excesses of Tiberius and the omnipresent fear of his close kin, but then also points out that, for the millions of people in the Roman Empire, life had never been better.)

* * *

You'd probably want to know more about this interesting take on a fantasy civilisation, wouldn't you? Me too.

* * *

Most of the book focuses with Yeine and her family problems. Not to trivialize them - her family is composed of gods and emperors - but they're actually not that interesting.

In fact, by the halfway point, the entire plot of the book has been established and the author has already underlined the moral conclusions (this world = WRONG). Yeine has five days to live, let's follow her around and see how she spends them... The answer, of course, being "in bed" - with her "thousand-mouthed, god-phallused" lover. Much to my distress, the only lengthy-un-asterismed passages are those in which Yeine is being taken to the great heights of pleasure (literally) and subsumed by the forbidden pleasures of her primordial lover. I'm not so prudish that I don't mind a good sex scene, but, for about half the book, that's all that happens. Should Yeine sleep with the captive-god? Ok, again? What about again? Oooh. Ok, it was reeeally good that time - but maybe she should... nope, happened again. ENOUGH.

* * *

Asterisms do make writing a review a lot easier. You don't need to actually complete arguments. I'm starting to understand

* * *

Beyond the now-thoroughly-irritating asterisms, the book commits another horrific stylistic flaw. Italics are for emphasis. See? That stood out, didn't it? That's because, typographically, italics are different

* * *

But your eyes get a little tired if you read paragraph after paragraph in italicised text. It isn't really meant to be read for a long period of time. Think about it, if it were legible, all text would be italics. But, waaaay too often, especially in genre fiction, authors use italics to convey the difference or the importance of an entire bloody scene. Perhaps the most overused convention is to have a particular character or method of communication always take place in italics. For example, any time a god speaks, or a character does some sort of psychic chit-chat. That's annoying, but almost (not quite) forgivable - as long as said character doesn't mind-link for a page at a time. But to have entire scenes in italics? That's completely illegible. And it is particularly annoying when it is, say, the entire climax of the book. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms actually wraps up the entire fate of the book, its protagonist, the empire and its holy pantheon... in a italicised wonderfest that turns the entire thing into eye-aching gibberish. If the entire climax is so important that it needs to be emphasised, isn't it more important that it can actually be read?

* * *

Here's a question: where was the editor in all this? Here's another: was it their fault?

* * *

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is an exercise in style over substance. I find this a particular shame, as the style is atrocious and the substance is quite promising. I say this fully aware that style is a personal decision, and I applaud the author's daring-do in pushing the typographic and punctuated boundaries of genre fiction. I applaud, however, with one hand, as I need the other to pour myself some aspirin.

This book is great, if you liked it , the hall Gods romance and stuff + the first person way of righting, then reading a book called "Acheron" by Sherrilyn Kenyon will most likely feel like an orgasm to you, at least the first part of the book; and the good thing that it is not series of books, instead its a one long book, 800+ pages long hardcover with an ancient feelingAcheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12) :) http://www.the store.com/Acheron-Dark-Hunter-Book-Sherrilyn-Kenyon/dp/0312362153

I was rather excited to read this novel. Reviews promised all my favourite elements: high fantasy, heavily character-based, first-person narrative, political intrigue... Unfortunately, the package falls short of breathtaking. To be honest, I believe it falls short of just about any positive criticism I've read.

Yeine, the main character, is introduced in such a way as to intrigue even the most cynical reader: she's a blunt, shrewd, and frankly fearless protagonist, uprooted from her home at the behest her grandfather to live in the floating city of the intimidating ruling class. We soon come to realize, however, that Yeine is about as interesting and compelling as a paint swatch. The author seems to attempt to make up for Yeine's lack of personality by having her either under or overreact to everything that is said or done to her. In fact, there is no subtlety whatsoever to the emotions or actions of any characters in this novel. It's either ridiculously intense staring contests or explosive anger/soap opera-worthy melodrama. Characters that have the potential for compelling, well-rounded personalities are under-explored (Sieh, Relad). The only thing N K Jemisin seems to do well is the layout of society. I loved the concept of a ruling class of god-favoured people, secure in their position despite having to rely on the volatile gods and godlings. Descriptions of the floating city of Sky were interesting and original, but they came at the expense of a decent exploration of Yeine's homeland and customs, which are only mentioned in passing (despite the fact that Darre plays an important role in the novel). Over and over, it seems the land of Darre, the godling Sieh, and all the most interesting concepts and characters are overlooked in favour of Nahadoth's "ttly hawt bodee". At times, this book reads like an adult Twilight Saga, right down to ...SPOILER ALERT...
Yeine's transformation from a plain, overlooked young woman into a goddess, where she can finally join her god lover and godling stepchildren. END OF SPOILER ALERT

Read the positive reviews too, perhaps this IS the book for you. As a Robin Hobb and Lynn Flewelling fan (used to deep characterization and excellent world-building), I was less than impressed.

I thought I'd read so many fantasy novels that I wouldn't find anything novel again. But this was different and fun and thoughtful and even sexy without being tawdry. Thank god for N. K. Jemsin's imagination and prose stylings!

In the author interview printed in the end of the edition I read Jemisin said something about liking the vivid imagery of Sky (the central location of most of this novel)

Now I realise that cover art is an important part of the product that is a novel however aside from the front image, I have to say that vivid imagery is not something I would say when describing 100,000 Kingdoms. Much of the action (what little there was) took place in undescribed scenes, as if a play was being rehearsed without background props.

The plot involves something about three gods at war, the two defeated being enslaved and hiding, or whatever. The central conflicts are so poorly introduced in amongst force-fed historic mythology, and bland dialogue that not only did I find myself not really following what the main point of the story was, I also found myself totally apathetic to the resolution.

The characters seem to make completely random decisions, the authors attempt to make things fresh and new with eccentric internal monologues made me feel like she was leaning over my shoulder while I read whispering into my ear "Oh this bits good - did you get that?"

In short I did not enjoy this book, the mythology was clusmily presented, most of the action had already happened when the narration began and the characters were shallow and unrelatable.

Rant over

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
By N. K. Jemisin
©2010, Orbit Hachette Book Group

First off, once the Nahadoth Nightlord T-shirt and action figure line becomes available--I must be notified immediately! Can we say sizzling, long-haired, uber-Badboy? Shall we say this is the same kind of insane attraction that an legendary, fanged Transylvanian possesses? Yum.

Don't ask how I have come into possession of The Ten Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin. Suffice it to say, I won't betray my fellow pro-Enefadeh. The Itempan Arameri have their scriveners recording every word I say. I'll keep typing as fast as I can.

Yeine Darr Arameri, the protagonist, comes across as a solid everywoman despite her fantastical surroundings. The novel remains in her point of view. Her trouble is most of the novel's cast seeks her death for one reason or another. Yeine balances being a reader surrogate during charged exchanges with the afore-mentioned Nahadoth, being the kind of heroine who transforms from awkward barbarian to a force for justice in a vicious, amoral world, and being comfortably herself.

I fell in love with the book almost from the moment I saw the author photo on the back. People of color have an ancient tradition of fabulous story-telling. I, for one, demand more volumes to choose from and The Ten Thousand Kingdoms has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf. The brooding cover art also promised a delicious, female-centered darkness. 398 pages later, I wasn't disappointed. Cross-pollination between genres is welcome. Romance readers and fans of Shonen-Ai may also find this book to their liking. I appreciated so much the inclusion of alternative sexualities. Think on this, an incestuous triangle between two gods and their deceased sister-goddess lies at the heart of the conflict. This is the kind of book that derives its intense eroticism, not from gratuituous prose, but from the understated image of its aftermath: a broken bed. Read into that whatever you will.

Peace,

Her Tangh-i-ness

Disclosure: I received a free advance copy of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, Book 1 (The Inheritance Trilogy)

I have read hundreds of fantasy novels and I have to say that this book is one of the most imaginative I have ever read. The unique narrative flow and storytelling style as well as an imaginative panoply of gods and godlings make this a fascinating read.

he Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010) is a somewhat convoluted tale of politics and deities. A young, rural noble, Yeine, is whisked away to the world's capital city, where she learns that she's one of three competing heirs to the throne. In the short time she has before her inevitable death by the hands of her competing cousins, Yeine has to unravel her family's secret history, understand the true nature of the land's strange gods and, most difficult at all, wade through a field of asterisms.

* * *

An asterism is a series of three punctuation marks (usually periods or asterisks) that is used to denote subchapters. You may have seen it used. Perhaps if you're a 19th century printer. Or in a freshman poetry class.

* * *

Interestingly, the author litters nearly every single page with these landmines of punctuation. This makes for a distinctive writing style. And by distinctive, I mean "frustrating". I can only guess at the intention. Perhaps they were meant to offset the near-stream of conscious (rivulet of consciousness?) style of the protagonist's first-person prose? But any advantage to doing that was swiftly lost when

* * *

You're getting annoyed now right? Not just having the bloody things interrupt mid-sentence, but, if you're paying attention, you may have noticed that you're now reading in the second person, instead of the first.

* * *

The book does toy with some interesting concepts - at least in passing. In the setting of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the good guys have won. The evil night-god is imprisoned and forced to do construction work. The good sky-god and his kinfolk are ruling the world. Peace reigns. War is strictly controlled - and mostly bloodless. Yet, as the author constantly recites, there's something wrong about this. The ruling class is decadent, the succession schemes are bloody and some of the outlying barbarian cultures aren't getting equal representation in the Council of Nobles. (This is, interestingly, a topic raised in Robert Graves' I, Claudius - in which he talks about the excesses of Tiberius and the omnipresent fear of his close kin, but then also points out that, for the millions of people in the Roman Empire, life had never been better.)

* * *

You'd probably want to know more about this interesting take on a fantasy civilisation, wouldn't you? Me too.

* * *

Most of the book focuses with Yeine and her family problems. Not to trivialize them - her family is composed of gods and emperors - but they're actually not that interesting.

In fact, by the halfway point, the entire plot of the book has been established and the author has already underlined the moral conclusions (this world = WRONG). Yeine has five days to live, let's follow her around and see how she spends them... The answer, of course, being "in bed" - with her "thousand-mouthed, god-phallused" lover. Much to my distress, the only lengthy-un-asterismed passages are those in which Yeine is being taken to the great heights of pleasure (literally) and subsumed by the forbidden pleasures of her primordial lover. I'm not so prudish that I don't mind a good sex scene, but, for about half the book, that's all that happens. Should Yeine sleep with the captive-god? Ok, again? What about again? Oooh. Ok, it was reeeally good that time - but maybe she should... nope, happened again. ENOUGH.

* * *

Asterisms do make writing a review a lot easier. You don't need to actually complete arguments. I'm starting to understand

* * *

Beyond the now-thoroughly-irritating asterisms, the book commits another horrific stylistic flaw. Italics are for emphasis. See? That stood out, didn't it? That's because, typographically, italics are different

* * *

But your eyes get a little tired if you read paragraph after paragraph in italicised text. It isn't really meant to be read for a long period of time. Think about it, if it were legible, all text would be italics. But, waaaay too often, especially in genre fiction, authors use italics to convey the difference or the importance of an entire bloody scene. Perhaps the most overused convention is to have a particular character or method of communication always take place in italics. For example, any time a god speaks, or a character does some sort of psychic chit-chat. That's annoying, but almost (not quite) forgivable - as long as said character doesn't mind-link for a page at a time. But to have entire scenes in italics? That's completely illegible. And it is particularly annoying when it is, say, the entire climax of the book. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms actually wraps up the entire fate of the book, its protagonist, the empire and its holy pantheon... in a italicised wonderfest that turns the entire thing into eye-aching gibberish. If the entire climax is so important that it needs to be emphasised, isn't it more important that it can actually be read?

* * *

Here's a question: where was the editor in all this? Here's another: was it their fault?

* * *

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is an exercise in style over substance. I find this a particular shame, as the style is atrocious and the substance is quite promising. I say this fully aware that style is a personal decision, and I applaud the author's daring-do in pushing the typographic and punctuated boundaries of genre fiction. I applaud, however, with one hand, as I need the other to pour myself some aspirin.

This book is great, if you liked it , the hall Gods romance and stuff + the first person way of righting, then reading a book called "Acheron" by Sherrilyn Kenyon will most likely feel like an orgasm to you, at least the first part of the book; and the good thing that it is not series of books, instead its a one long book, 800+ pages long hardcover with an ancient feelingAcheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12) :) http://www.the store.com/Acheron-Dark-Hunter-Book-Sherrilyn-Kenyon/dp/0312362153

Hype. A powerful tool in the publishing industry. It's an impressive achievement when a yet-to-be-published author can create and maintain buzz about their debut novel, with readers going gaga over something that hasn't even hit store shelves. It's exciting for those readers, but dangerous as well. For every time an author lives up to that hype (Patrick Rothfuss) several others fail to take advantage, to prove they were worth it (Robert Newcomb, anyone?). As a reviewer, I try to separate myself from the hype, to choose my books based on what I find interesting, not what the publishers are pushing hardest. Sometimes, though, it's unavoidable. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin is one of those cases.

As with any highly-anticipated novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms had predefined itself in my mind, based on nothing more than the blurb on the back of the book and the beautiful cover. Before it even arrived on my doorstep, it was a victim of preconceptions and expectations. I opened The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms expecting one book and found a very different beast within. Expectations are often dangerous, but in this case, the smashing of them was a very good thing indeed, for I expected a familiar story, only to find a wonderfully original one in its place.

The synopsis hints at a traditional novel - young, naive protagonist, whisked into adventure and intrigue, shouldered with the responsibility of saving the world and navigating the bloody politics of her land. Even the tittle, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms suggests the novel is an expansive struggle of lands and kingdoms, typical of Epic Fantasy (or Secondary World Fantasy, take your pick of sub-genre). For a truer impression of the novel, one has to consider its history, or, more aptly, the history of its title.

Originally, the novel was titled The Sky-God's Lover, a title much more accurate to the tone and plot of the novel. Jemisin's novel is very much a character-driven narrative, delving deep into the politics and relationships between its small cast of characters, rather than the kingdom-encompassing politics that its published title may suggest. Now, there is some true politicking included, but only a handful of the `Hundred Thousand Kingdoms' are involved, and the disputes are more a display of power and coercion in the bitter relationship between protagonist Yeine and antagonist Scimina. For a novel titled The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms there is little world building or world-ranging conflict. The true heart of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms lies in Yeine's relationship to the characters (human and god) around her, most importantly the fallen Sky God, Nahadoth. The Sky-God's Lover hints at the complexity of this relationship as it winds through its labyrinthine twists and turns through the slim novel.

Many novels written in first person perspective are done so for stylistic reasons only. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms embraces the that style and weaves a story that could only be told directly from Yeine's mouth (or pen, I suppose). There is a subtle dichotomy between and Yeine-the-girl, whom the story is about, and Yeine-the-woman, who narrates the story. Jemisin often breaks the fourth wall, with Yeine-the-narrator gathering her thoughts, throwing doubt on her recollections of events or characters and leaving the constant feeling that much is left unsaid, that the truths of the story are between the words, just out of reach.

Those characters surrounding Yeine are a mixed bag. The gods Nahadoth and Sieh are tragic and compelling, the relationship between them and Yeine growing organically through the novel. In contrast, Scimina, who stands in as the antagonist for the novel (for lack of a better term) is shallow and cliched - mean for the meanness sake, never as intelligent as the reader is told she is, and lacking in depth or motivation beyond desiring to rule the kingdoms. Her brother Relad, the other contender to the throne alongside Scimina and Yeine, is even shallower - a drunkard who sees very little screen time and serves more as a plot device than a character. Jemisin chose to focus on the gods, who are admittedly more interesting than the humans, and so the politicking for the throne is less compelling than it could have been.

Magic is central to the story - from the subtle magic used to reconstruct a trashed bedroom, to the earth shattering magic of a mad god - but there is little in the way of rules to contain the magic, beyond deciding which higher-ranking noble outranks the other and can control the whims of the chained gods. It does anything needed, no questions asked. But, then, these are gods we're talking about, so perhaps that's fitting. Certainly the spectacle is there and Jemisin's imagery of the magic is astute and often astounding.

Jemisin's novel is tonally reminiscent of Daniel Abraham's The Long Price Quartet, a quiet reflection on the important themes of love, prejudice, rule and family. Yeine explores and fights with these facets of relationship and shows remarkable growth through the story. The relationships can often be brash and heavy-handed, but, like any that develop quickly and in times of duress, they are realistically bold and whimsical. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is marketed as the first volume of a trilogy but stands entirely on its own, with all major plot strings tied up at the end, the premise of future volumes hinted at only in the final pages of the satisfying climax.

Oftentimes, hype can be a dangerous thing, but in the case of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, I fell for the trap - hook, line and sinker. In the end, the few shortcomings of the novel were easily overlooked as Jemisin took my expectations and tossed them away, giving me a novel I never knew I wanted, but ended up needing so badly. A confident debut, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms promises of great things to come from this bright new voice in Fantasy fiction.

Have you ever watched "Scandal"?

Imagine "Scandal" with gods in a fantasy world, but not nearly as clever, logically plotted, or good.

Okay, the first thing you want to do before you read this book is:

IGNORE ALL THE MARKETING FOR THIS BOOK!!!

The cover art, the title of the book, and the blurbs and descriptions of this book are totally marketed in a way to appeal to lovers of the major high fantasy epics. Every expectation you have built up, hoping you are going to be reading "Malazan Book of the Fallen" meets "House of Cards" will be deflated.

Abandon any thoughts you have about reading a story about awesome mega gods and a hundred thousand kingdoms at war wrapped in a gripping, edge of your seat political maelstrom. Cast them off now.

Having those expectations will really screw with your reading of this book.

The marketing for this book is outright deceptive and disingenuous.

So what is it?

Simple.

It's a Mary Sue/bodice-ripper/Harlequin Romance in a badly constructed fantasy world.

If this book was traditionally marketed, it would have had a bare-chested, dark-haired Fabio with glowing Urban Fantasy eyes, embracing a woman in barbarian hides clutching a hunting knife, above the title:

The Night God's Lover

And it would not have sold. Because it would have been buried under a mountain of other such books. Instead they cleverly pushed it in another market and hoped to fool enough of a different demographic to pick it up.

Regardless, once I realized what I was reading I decided to give it a try and see if it was good anyway.

It starts out okay, and then it quickly collapses under its own weight of bad world building, shallow and unlikable characters, laughable gratuitous sex (some of which were kind of rape-y; which I found out from a friend is apparently kind of common in "bodice-rippers"), illogical plotting, terrible pacing, and an ending that had me wincing to finish.

Then I realized what I had read when I finished.

"Scandal" with gods in a fantasy world, but not nearly as clever, logically plotted, or good.

The one thing I can say in the book's favor is that it is very different than the vast majority of books in the fantasy genre. But different doesn't automatically equal good.

And this book was not good.

This book is horrible. I could rehash some of the comments others have said about this book, but I will not. I will simply say it was the worst part of my 12 hour flight back from China to the States.

The Three Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is nothing more than a romance novel (almost in the old Dracula/vampire, "can't resist him even though I know he is bad for me" way) wrapped up in a vague backdrop of a potentially interesting fantasy world.

I admit I gave up on this book after only a few chapters. Maybe the rest of the book was awesome, but that is not the impression I was getting.

The biggest turn off for me was the very clumsy way the author had of stopping the story in it's tracks in order to give you a history lesson. What really pushed it over the edge for me is a scene early on where a mad god chases the main character only for the narrator to inexplicably stop to explain what it is. The chapter ends with the girl running for her life, only for the next chapter to start with a page long story explaining the mythology of the world. Because of this the pacing sucks in this book.

Another obnoxious thing is that within about ten pages the author feels the need to explain over and over that Sky is a city. This is where I felt the author was actually insulting me.

In my opinion the author just isn't good enough at explaining a world without overexplaining it. I picked up this book to read a story, not a history book.

I gave this 100 pages to get interesting. It didn't. The author's a competent writer but little of interest happens. The narrator is not a sympathetic character, and the choice of first person narrative in such a large world defeats the purpose and limits the reader's view of it all. The narrator's ruminations and reflections are not in the least interesting.

Awful. Just awful. It was poorly written, the story itself was stupid. There was absolutely nothing compelling about this book. I wish I could better articulate why. Suffice it to say that you should not be fooled by the positive reviewers. This book is a horrible waste of time.

Was excited to see a very highly rated fantasy novel; I haven't had a good read in a year or two, and the concept for this novel is grand. But it falls flat, as a whole; the writing style is clumsy (I'd call it incoherent, in some instances.) The main character, who is barely supported by other characters in the novel, is underdeveloped to the point you do not really have a good feel for her personality by the end of book one. Her several enemies lack menace, and plot twists near the end lack in impact, cheapening any investment you may have had in the plot and characters.

What you will get from this book is a rather good creation story and a good reason not to buy the other books in the series.

I heard many, many positive reviews about this book. Heaps of praise by Authors whose work I love (I am looking at you Brent Weeks), friends, and bookstore employees. I love fantasy books with a big dash of political intrigue and interesting new worlds, cultures, governments and people. Throw in a little romance and some epic clashes between gods and I am well on my way to all night reading binges. So a book titled "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" complete with gods and a little god/mortal romance would be right up my alley. I certainly thought so. This book is so far from the can't-put-the-book-down-all-night-binge I dare say it falls short of even being interesting.

To start while the world may contain 100,000 kingdoms we hardly get to see any. I am not saying I want maps, essays on government policy and lists of economically important industries for all 100,000 of them. I would however like some glimpses of the cool stuff. Next the gods don't act like gods and they aren't very well explained. The romance plot is not really a romance just the main character having many pages worth of gratuitous sex with the dark god. Lastly, the villains don't appear to have any motivation besides "because we can."

To be honest I can look over a few flaws to a book I otherwise enjoy. It is a little harder to overlook when all of the important bits of the books are so badly done. This book's most egregious flaw, however, is the bland, uninteresting main character. A first person narrative NEEDS a main character whose head I want to be in for several hundred pages. A good character can make me care about a poorly developed world, or overlook poor descriptions and sometimes even poor writing.

Honestly, I could not get myself to care about the main character. I didn't care if she lived or died, I didn't care what decisions she made, I didn't care who she had sex with, I didn't care what happened at the end. (I almost put the book down several times, but it came so highly recommended I convinced myself the end would make up for the rest of it. I was wrong).

Some books are not great, but they gave me at least 8 dollars worth of entertainment. I wasted not only 8 dollars on this
book, but also a solid chunk of time that I can't ever get back.

I don't often love the first hundred pages of a book and then find myself completely unable to finish it. That was sadly the case with this book. I was left uncertain what I was supposed to get from it; I didn't like any of the characters; I was no longer intrigued by any of the mysteries; and in the end I admitted defeat and put it away. I know it gets lots of good reviews, I just don't understand why. I can't recommend it at all.

I didn't even finish the book. It had some interesting ideas, but I was pretty bored reading it. None of the good guys seemed all that heroic. About the only good thing I have to say about the book is that I really hated the antagonists. The problem is that the protagonists didn't seem to be much better, just... less overtly evil and more morally ambiguous. Also, I felt it had far too much sex. Call me a prude, but I just don't care for explicit sex in the books I read. If I wanted sex in the stories I read, I'd read some porn instead.

At first this book seemed to have promise, but the heavy-handedness with which the gods in it are used and the bland characters ruined it. I also think it could have used a better title as you only hear a little about a few kingdoms. The sex scenes are downright silly and not in a funny way. I really don't know why this book is rated so high or on any lists. I usually enjoy even the pulpiest sci-fi and fantasy novels, but this was not enjoyable at all. My suggestion to the author is to stop writing about gods as this is hard to do well and lets you get lazy and throw in divine intervention instead of complex coherent plots.

Way too much about gods. Gods getting into wars, having sex with mortals, etc. and such and such, equals mythology and not fantasy. She wanted to create a religion that was "plausible" -- umm, so that was a big fail.

It was not entertaining. The writing wasn't great and I didn't care at all what happened to the main character (or any others, come to think of it). I read the entire book only because I was spent Christmas with relatives who live in the middle of nowhere and there wasn't anything else to do.

*sigh* I really hate getting duped into purchasing and reading crappy fantasy-cum-mythologies.

[This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy]

What if gods were real...and walked among us...enslaved...and were used as weapons...and were really pissed off about it?

N.K. Jemisin is a gifted storyteller and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a satisfying tale built on intriguing ideas. Buy this book if you love the flights of imagination only possible in fantasy. Buy it if you love stories of betrayal, murder, hard truths, and being in way over your head.

The book is written in the first person. I usually hate this. Here, it works. There are scattered, apparent digressions: snippets of history, backstory. This may bother you. I thought it fit, and the digressions served a purpose. Though the story deals with politics at the highest level, the cast is small. For those who get lost and frustrated in a George R. R. Martin-sized cast, this is a boon. Jemisin's characters are clearly differentiated and easy to remember. Those who love additional complexity may wish the cast were larger and the book longer. This IS the first book in a trilogy, so I'm sure we'll get to see more in later books. The world is fascinating, but we spend most of this book inside the central palace of Sky. The visuals are clear and cool.

[Full disclosure: I have met Ms. Jemisin once, and she is published by the same company I am. However, neither she nor Orbit asked me to do this review.]

N.K. Jemisin is a debut novelist who deserves the chance to write many more novels. But you don't care about that, and you shouldn't. The only question that matters to you is, "Among all my other options, is THIS book worth my money and my time?" Yes, and yes. Emphatically.

-Brent Weeks
NYT Best-selling Author of The Night Angel Trilogy

I love fantasy, but I'm sorry to say I did not love or even like this book. I made myself finish it, hoping that with each additional chapter (and there are many) I might gain some appreciation for the very detailed world-I did not. The set up of god's, their children, and their relationships with mortals did not feel real, even with the blatant sex scenes and disturbing hints of deviant sexual behavior.

There are times when I decide to slog through a book because the initial chapters made me feel for a character or I wanted to see how the story ended. I didn't even get a third of the way through with this when I asked myself "Why am I wasting my time with this?"

I stopped reading and I have no sense of remorse, feeling that I might be missing some magic (like I felt with Mistborn which I finally decided to read and am so grateful that I did).

If you want some escapism and a good yarn, don't read this book. It's too much hard work.

Several other reviewers have already said it more succinctly... what a shame that the editor didn't send the treatment back for a substantive plot with some actual character development. Wasted a what was a potentially really unique idea in favor of speed-publish. No chance of me picking up volume two.

I've struggled through some real stinkers in my day, from Stendhal's "The Charterhouse of Parma" to Redfield's "Celestine Prophecy", and more recently such notable greats (does sarcasm work in print?) as Card's "Empire" and Weber's "A Mighty Fortress" (which was so bad I may never read another David Weber book again)

This book was as bad as anything I've ever read (I'm talking "The Eye of Argon" bad). I finished it in a single night, not because it was good and I couldn't put it down, but because I was having a PTSD moment and needed some serious escapism (you know you are having a rough time when your every time you close your eyes your dreams revolve around robo-vacs that you reprogramed going on a killing spree because of poor planning and sloppy coding on your part). Another contributing factor to the speed with which I finished this book is that I quickly learned to recognize the coming signs of godly coitus and could skip ahead a few pages and not miss a single plot point.

Which raises a delicate point here. I'm not sure what it says about the protagonists body that she can handle sex (not one, not twice, but multiple times!) with an evil night god, who's previous sexual encounters with mortals left his lovers shattered, broken, and scattered over several thousand kingdoms, err acres.

Oh wait, that's right. Its because she's really (blank), who is the evil night gods (blank), which makes it possible...but even more disturbing on so many different levels.

Or in other words, even what plot and conflict there is, is so transparent and predictable that it loses any ability to engage a reader who's advanced beyond the "Dick and Jane" level of reading comprehension.

Another reviewer, J. Shurin (aka carnivore), has already touched extensively on the author's stylistic formatting choices, and the only thing I wish to add to that review is a comment on prose. I firmly believe that most of the authors romantic passages were written to win the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

There's a lot of hype about this book, coming even from people whose opinions I respect, so when I found a cheap copy I snatched it up. The back cover copy suggests political intrigue, fascinating worldbuilding, a good romance. The book offers none of these things.

The worldbuilding is, in brief places, quite interesting. I drank up little details about Yeine's culture, matrilineal and female-dominant, yet more complex than the "man-eating bitches" variant I've seen elsewhere. Do we get a full exploration of this society? Sadly not. Is Yeine a complicated product of it, struggling with her mixed heritage and, now, the transition from leader of her tribe to the token barbarian girl in a patrilineal white society? No. As with the other hints - distant lands, the division between Naha and Nahadoth - we are given too little, in favour of Sky and the relationships within it. I suspect we are meant to find Sky boring - it's entirely white and smooth and sterile - but intention hardly distracts from how terribly, terribly boring it is to read about Sky. Surely it could have merited a few pretty lines of description, but Jemisin's prose is bare and simple. Description seems low on the book's priorities. (One glimmer is the old temple with two boarded-up windows - a great detail - but soon we're back to white, plain Sky. The good bits are only glimmers.)

If Sky is intentionally bland, the characterisation and plot should compensate, yes? Sadly not. The plot focuses on relationships more than political scheming; when it switches to the latter, it's a politics without the layers and difficult-to-penetrate intentions of a book that pitches itself as being about politics. In some places, the politics seems a distraction before we get back to the important business of Yeine talking to gods and fretting a bit. I did like the chapter called "Diamonds" (all the chapters are named as straightforwardly and pointlessly as this, as if numbers alone are too naked); I can believe in Yeine's need to take a blunt approach in her limited time scale, and the method is fun to read. Little else impressed me.

A relationship-focused story requires great characters to succeed. This story offers little. I adored Sieh, a layered and pleasant-to-read character, and found Nahadoth sometimes interesting - especially the underexplored Naha/Nahadoth aspect of him. Sometimes he reminded me too much of the melodramatic hero in manga or fanfiction. - SPOILERS - In fact, a lot of the relationship between Yeine and Nahadoth reminded me of fanfiction, which is not a slight on the entire genre; rather, I thought of the overwrought and silly relationships depicted in some stories, with kisses at unexpected moments, proclamations of lost tenderness, assurances that it is not lost, no, merely hidden in the terrible present, and a truly ridiculous sex scene. (They fly through the universe and see whales with the faces of long-lost friends.)
- END SPOILERS -

Yeine herself had so much potential. The young leader of her tribe, uprooted to a distant and deeply different seat of power, where she is quickly expected to know enough to survive. And there are glimpses of her background affecting the present: the world's equivalent of coloured contact lenses freaks her out, she's blunter than her Arameri relations, she makes an effort to research various things. Yet never did I believe in her ability to lead a tribe, to act with more than her bluntness, to plan in the long-term, to participate in any kind of culture - because she, like Sky, is so bland. Certainly she lacks agency for much of the novel, through no fault of her own, but in her frustration and confusion and attempts to act I got no good glimpse of the woman she is said to be. She finds the cold-hearted culture incomprehensible, but little else of the Arameri surprises her; perhaps her Arameri mother prepared her for its differences, but fundamental things like the role of men and women never seem to trouble her. Never even draw a remark. There's one moment when she's condescending towards men. One, that I recall, in 398 pages narrated by a woman from a female-dominated society. Even if her mother schooled her into a more equal-handed attitude - though I wonder what her tribe would have thought - it didn't ring true.

Other characters, besides Sieh, impressed me just as little. I'd have liked more of Relad, her male cousin, but he's sidelined in favour of evil Scimina. The author admits to intentionally writing Scimina as two-dimensional "Just Because" a fantasy story needs a big Evil and if Scimina had been otherwise, Yeine might have sympathised with her and found it difficult to act against her. (I am not lying: [...]) This refusal to give Yeine a moral quandary is indicative of how little Yeine pays for the entire core plot. Her god-friends are tortured but heal immediately, and at least externally brush off the psychological wounds. She is taken from her homeland but, as with much else of Yeine's character, I didn't actually feel convinced by her moments of homesickness. By the end, she has gained a lot, yet she's not especially struggled. If she'd sat on her hands for two weeks, the ending in Sky would essentially have been the same (though the side-plot of her homeland's military situation would probably have turned out worse for them). Dekarta, T'vril and Viraine never excited me, nor did the other trapped gods - none of whom, besides Sieh, read believably like gods.

Everything about this book had such potential. By the end, I thought forlornly of it written differently, with a denser plot and complicated characters, and wish I'd read that book instead. This one just disappoints with its all-round blandness.