FOLLOWING HER SERIES, HUGO, NEBULA, AND WORLD FANTASY-NOMINATED DEBUT SERIES, N. K. JEMISIN RETURNS WITH A CAPTIVATING NEW TALE.
In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and among the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers--the keepers of this peace. Their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe...and kill those judged corrupt.
But when a conspiracy blooms within Gujaareh's great temple, Ehiru--the most famous of the city's Gatherers--must question everything he knows. Someone, or something, is stalking its prey both in Gujaareh's alleys and the realm of dreams. Ehiru must now protect the woman he was sent to kill--or watch the city be devoured by war and forbidden magic.
This description comes from the publisher. The Killing Moon is the first book in the Dreamblood Duology.
FOLLOWING HER SERIES, HUGO, NEBULA, AND WORLD FANTASY-NOMINATED DEBUT SERIES, N. K. JEMISIN RETURNS WITH A CAPTIVATING NEW TALE.
In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and among the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers--the keepers of this peace. Their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe...and kill those judged corrupt.
But when a conspiracy blooms within Gujaareh's great temple, Ehiru--the most famous of the city's Gatherers--must question everything he knows. Someone, or something, is stalking its prey both in Gujaareh's alleys and the realm of dreams. Ehiru must now protect the woman he was sent to kill--or watch the city be devoured by war and forbidden magic.
This description comes from the publisher. The Killing Moon is the first book in the Dreamblood Duology.
Loved it. A fairly standard fantasy tale but oh, what flavour. The author has meticulously constructed a gorgeous world, mythos & magic system - & lets you just figure it out. Will definitely pick up the second book & probably everything else Jemisin has ever written too.
A few suspicious coincidences can be necessary to make a story work. But this story only works because of them (plus a few weird plot twists).
A character spends days in jail, escapes exactly at the right second to be in the perfect position. The cavalry arrive exactly at the right minute after a multi-day chase. A fleet travels for weeks and reach its target on the perfect day for their enemies.
There are many more.
There comes a point where the suspension of disbelief is lost.
Not really my genre. I liked bits of this, but it didn't really have that certain something I look for.
There were quite a few names or terms to remember that I think I never quite got straight. I found myself focusing on other things while listening, and it didn't interest me enough to rewind. That probably made it worse.
I've read reviews that say other Jemisin books are faster-paced, so perhaps I'll try those.
Not really my genre. I liked bits of this, but it didn't really have that certain something I look for.
There were quite a few names or terms to remember that I think I never quite got straight. I found myself focusing on other things while listening, and it didn't interest me enough to rewind. That probably made it worse.
I've read reviews that say other Jemisin books are faster-paced, so perhaps I'll try those.
Very excellent.
Ancient Egypt is a criminally underused setting, and Jemisin makes this particular take of it wonderfully foreign.
The world she makes is interesting and believable, the magic well thought out in its practice and effects. The characters of the book were all interesting and compelling in their own ways.
Jemisin strikes this great balance of amazingly inventive fantasy with vivid prose. Her writing, especially of characters, is positively in point.
I'd read the author's "Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" previously and thought it was OK and with potential, but I hadn't rushed to read her other books. But this audiobook was a Christmas gift and it's clear the author is just continuing to improve, I finished it in 2 days.
The setting is a fictional desert country the author says is loosely based on ancient Egypt, but the details are all new and imaginative. The Gatherers are among those who practice narcomancy (sleep magic), gathering dreams to ease the ill or the criminal into a quiet death, or using the power of the dreams to heal illness and injury. The plot follows Gatherer Ehiru and his apprentice Nijiri, who slowly realize that something is greatly amiss in the city of Gujaareh. Framed and imprisoned for a hideous murder, Ehiru is released only on the condition that he kills the foreign ambassador Sunandi …
I'd read the author's "Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" previously and thought it was OK and with potential, but I hadn't rushed to read her other books. But this audiobook was a Christmas gift and it's clear the author is just continuing to improve, I finished it in 2 days.
The setting is a fictional desert country the author says is loosely based on ancient Egypt, but the details are all new and imaginative. The Gatherers are among those who practice narcomancy (sleep magic), gathering dreams to ease the ill or the criminal into a quiet death, or using the power of the dreams to heal illness and injury. The plot follows Gatherer Ehiru and his apprentice Nijiri, who slowly realize that something is greatly amiss in the city of Gujaareh. Framed and imprisoned for a hideous murder, Ehiru is released only on the condition that he kills the foreign ambassador Sunandi of Kisua, who is herself concerned that someone in Gujaareh is trying to start a great war with her people. Despite their mutual distrust, Ehiru and Sunandi (with Nijiri assisting) must work together to find out who is responsible for the murders, whether war is coming, and find a way to stop it all before it's too late.
The characters are interesting and sympathetic; the magic and religion are fascinating and unique; and even the "bad guys" are not simply stereotypical baddies but have shades of grey and complex reasons driving their actions. I've already picked up the sequel!
This is amazing, innovative world-building, like the other Jemisin books I've read. But to me it was too much and not presented clearly enough. I spent too much time reading a name and thinking "who was that again?" or a mention of a nationality or ethnic group and wondering if I was supposed to have figured out how it related to the story by now. And although I wanted to know how things were going to turn out, the story never really gripped me. Although I felt some connection to the characters I didn't really worry about whether they would live or die.
I'll probably read the next book set in this world, but it wouldn't kill me not to.
This is amazing, innovative world-building, like the other Jemisin books I've read. But to me it was too much and not presented clearly enough. I spent too much time reading a name and thinking "who was that again?" or a mention of a nationality or ethnic group and wondering if I was supposed to have figured out how it related to the story by now. And although I wanted to know how things were going to turn out, the story never really gripped me. Although I felt some connection to the characters I didn't really worry about whether they would live or die.
I'll probably read the next book set in this world, but it wouldn't kill me not to.
This was an interesting book, but it was very different from what I anticipated. The magic system (narcomancy) was cool, but unexpected. It clearly had some influences from ancient Egyptian beliefs. Despite all this, the book was engaging showing a unique culture.
A more detailed review is up on my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2012/06/book-review-killing-moon-by-nk-jemisin.html
3.5 stars. Loved the Egyptian mythology aspect to this. I hope I get over my problem with finishing series and get through the second one, because I really enjoyed this.
3.5 stars. Loved the Egyptian mythology aspect to this. I hope I get over my problem with finishing series and get through the second one, because I really enjoyed this.
