The Killing Moon (Dreamblood, #1)

Aug 18, 2012 Carol rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: you, if you want an unusual fantasy read

Shelves: fantasy, epic-fantasy, favorites, to-buy, multi-culti

Every now and then, something special brings a new flavor, a blending of colors, an amazing moment, that just leaves me saying 'wow.' Jemisin did that for me in The Killing Moon. An unusual story line, an interesting fantasy world, multi-culti characters, and theological sophistication while being oh-so-readable made for an engrossing, delicious read. I sat down today and read until it was finished, breaking only for dinner and to follow the sun as it shifted around the yard.

The story takes plac...more Every now and then, something special brings a new flavor, a blending of colors, an amazing moment, that just leaves me saying 'wow.' Jemisin did that for me in The Killing Moon. An unusual story line, an interesting fantasy world, multi-culti characters, and theological sophistication while being oh-so-readable made for an engrossing, delicious read. I sat down today and read until it was finished, breaking only for dinner and to follow the sun as it shifted around the yard.

The story takes place in a low-tech, stratified society roughly based on ancient Egypt. It's a desert setting, prone to annual flooding; transport is by camels, horses and the occasional ship. Where Jemisin has made in roads into the unusual is in one of the main religions, the worship of the female deity Hananja, that crosses national boundaries. The priest-sect, the Hetawa, use magic taken from dreams to heal and to ease pain, but easing pain is a double-edged sword as they also gently usher people into the next life. Those whose souls are 'gathered' are usually those whose time has come, or who have been judged and found guilty of corruption. Jemisin does an astounding job at showing the beauty of what we in hospice like to call a 'good death.' The caveat being that it takes place in the night, during sleep and the cultural traditions around it mean it is a solitary experience. But in the end, isn't it always? The people who hold vigil most likely do it for themselves, although I will say that I feel it is a mark of humanity to bear witness.

But I digress. Ehiru, one of the most experienced Gatherers, makes a mistake during a soul-gathering, causing a crisis of conscience. Unfortunately, one of the trainees is just to the point where he is assigned a mentor, and Nijiri most assuredly knows he wants Ehiru in that role. We get hints of a backstory to their meeting, but it isn't until much later that we understand how layered their relationship is. Alongside this is the story of the Prince of the country, and Sunandi, a female ambassador from a neighboring country. Her mentor has been killed, most likely assassinated, and she's left to piece together the puzzle of his research. One of the greatest perversions of the Hetawa is occurring for political means, and she is looking for proof.

I won't go father in plot summary except to say it was both unusual, suspenseful and a pleasure. Character creation was phenomenal, with very dimensional leads that struggled with ethics, their histories, intended actions, sexuality--truly, all encompassing portrayals. Even the villains were more than cut-out, and their motivations were more sophisticated than plain evil. Also a pleasure was the multi-culti aspects of the book--although the caste system is not specifically spelled out, it appears that the darker the skin, the more likely the caste is high. The women are people, not tropes, with insights, prejudices and determination. There's a very delicate and understated exploration of sexuality in the acolyte that impressed me.

If there's any complaint I can find at the moment, it's that very little is explained up front, which more than likely accounts for some of the less enthusiastic reviews. It takes a little time to show us, since Jemisin avoids the dreaded info-dump, so the beginning required a great deal of concentration to focus on names, cultural terms and places--this was not an old, familiar world that one could slip into like a pair of worn shoes. This is, however, a pair that will pay off in wow-value if you can get past the initial break-in.

Truly a remarkable work with sophisticated themes, world-building and characters. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2012/1...(less)

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May 03, 2012 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-publisher-netgalley, fantasy, will-continue-series

The Killing Moon is the first in a new epic fantasy series by the author of the The Inheritance Trilogy, N. K. Jemisin. Jemisin has said that The Killing Moon is her "homage to epic fantasy — as opposed to the Inheritance Trilogy, which was more my eyeroll at epic fantasy". This book hit me hard and stole me away from reality, completely. I was not expecting it. I had read great things about the Inheritance Trilogy, which I really need to read (I now fully understand that I really need to read i...more The Killing Moon is the first in a new epic fantasy series by the author of the The Inheritance Trilogy, N. K. Jemisin. Jemisin has said that The Killing Moon is her "homage to epic fantasy — as opposed to the Inheritance Trilogy, which was more my eyeroll at epic fantasy". This book hit me hard and stole me away from reality, completely. I was not expecting it. I had read great things about the Inheritance Trilogy, which I really need to read (I now fully understand that I really need to read it) and I thought understood that Ms. Jemisin is forging a new path for fantasy. But I actually really didn't know or understand. This is new, unique and just different.

The Killing Moon starts off slowly. There is world building to be accomplished and each chapter begins with a quote from the main culture's (in The Killing Moon) religious text. There are three characters introduced and Jemisin takes her time in fully drawing these characters and presenting them to the readers. Jemisin has time, the book is 448 pages and the first in a new series. So, the first 20 percent of the book involves story set up. The world is intricate, the religion and operating belief system is very unique. Thus, the slow build. Don't worry, there is some action and the book comes with a glossary. But once I was enmeshed in the story, I was hooked and did not want to put it down. Be prepared, like many fantasy stories it is slow in the beginning so readers need to be committed. What I was not ready for was an emotional ride and in-depth scenes between characters that were raw and dripping with emotion. The last 20% is non-stop action, but not the kind of action you can fast forward or skim your way through (which I admit to doing in action movies and many fantasy novels). Yes, it involves battles and fights and you will wonder who is going to make it, but there are a few very emotional scenes between two main charcters who love each other dearly (no, not romantic love -- mentor/mentee stuff) and are suffering through physical deprivation together. Their dialogue is hearbreaking, Jemisin tells it in a brilliant manner.

The setting for The Killing Moon, unlike most in the fantasy genre, is a non-European setting with characters who are in the majority part not of European origin. I believe the intention was to establish the story in a culture similar to ancient Egypt, but not identical and the story is not historically based (Jemisin has a disclaimer at the beginning of the book where she states she made an effort to "de-historify" the tale). The religion and culture worships a female goddess and in the book itself, there are female characters that are in prominent and active roles. Because of all of this, the Killing Moon has a completely new feel. It is hard to walk away from a fantasy book feeling that I have read something new and different, Jemisin accomplishes that.

For the romance lovers, well there is no romance in this story. There are hints of sexual relationships and sexual longings, but nothing explicit. For those that love a fight between good and evil, well you will get that fight in this book except that good is not completely good and the bad is sometimes sympathetic. Jemisin gets what some writers forget, the best political tales and the best power struggles are not between black and white/good and evil, but between smudged lines of not knowing who is good and understanding why someone is bad.

The story involves political intrigue, but not in a confusing or overly intricate way that will bore readers. The book is more about the corruption of power and how it infiltrates religion and authority figures. Admittedly, yeah this is not a new theme but the way it is written and how the power is corrupted is very new. I have not read anything like this religious structure nor anything like the "power" that is weilded in this book. I do not want to be more explicit because it is important to slowly learn the world, I would hate to spoil it. I recommend this book to fantasy book fans and those that formerly loved fantasy but have given up because they thought they had read it all. I will definitely be looking out for #2 in this series!
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May 20, 2012 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, awesome-author, best-of-2012, reviewed

Wow... That was amazing. This is a fantastic book. 2012 continues to prove a fertile year for fantasy with the first in a new series by NK Jemisin. So far, it appears that there will only be two books, this volume and the next, titled The Shadowed Sun, which I'll be acquiring as soon as it comes out, which is thankfully on a payday for me.

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. The growth in her writing is extremely evident. Her distinct authorial voice is still th...more Wow... That was amazing. This is a fantastic book. 2012 continues to prove a fertile year for fantasy with the first in a new series by NK Jemisin. So far, it appears that there will only be two books, this volume and the next, titled The Shadowed Sun, which I'll be acquiring as soon as it comes out, which is thankfully on a payday for me.

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. The growth in her writing is extremely evident. Her distinct authorial voice is still there, but sharpened and honed into the tool of a seasoned storyteller. The characters are well-wrought, especially Nijiri.

I was first struck with the cover art, I have to admit. It's gorgeous, and Orbit did a fantastic job with the printing. The glossary is extremely helpful. This is definitely one of those books where the reader is dropped into the world and expected to start picking up on things, though the fall isn't as jarring as with Gardens of the Moon. Factions, paths, bloodlines, and nations are referenced by their names right away, with none of the over-explanation I've grown to dislike in fantasy. One of the nice benefits of this is the ability of the storyteller to keep the story about the characters, and not about the world. The scope of the story is told within two related countries, relieving us of the need for a map, and having to familiarize ourselves with endless nations, kings, cities, etc Don't get me wrong, I love a good map, but it's nice to just read something without trying to remember which king ruled which place or what god was in charge of which area blah blah blah blah. She offers bits and pieces of the history, mythology and law through the book which help familiarize the reader without ever veering into "Well, Bob..." territory.

The magic system is well-imagined and draws on many different ideas which might be familiar to readers already. She combines the physical body, dreaming and sleeping, divine power and emotional power into one succinct system and ably demonstrates the good and bad sides of the magic. She explores the addictive nature of magic and power, which I found very compelling.

She delivers the same deft exploration of two cultures, the Guajareen and Kisuati, which are just similar enough to be enemies. Jemisin's chops in this regard are one big reason I am a fan of hers. She really understands how a culture works, right down to the food, and how it shapes interactions between members of the culture and outsiders.

The only possible criticism I have is that there could have been more action. Though it's easy to view her as a Serious Author Writing Serious Things, she actually handles action scenes very well. I hungered for more after it ended. Add action to the list of things Jemisin writes very well, in addition to romance (The Broken Kingdoms), culture shock, food, art, and tweets.

In short, highest possible recommendation for this book and this author! I look forward to the release of Shadowed Sun, and anything else she writes.(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 David Green - Proud member of Team Perry! rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, read-by-kindlelight, 2013-reads, favorite-books-or-series

Beautiful, complex, and refreshingly original, The Killing Moon shines bright!

Ehiru-the dreamer- Ehiru is a Gatherer in the city-state of Gujaareh. He has devoted his life to serving the goddess Hananja. Upon taking a commission, he enters a person's dreams and gathers the dreamer's soul so that they will live in peace forever, even though their body dies in the process. Ehiru has never questioned his faith...until now! After a Gathering goes horribly wrong, Ehiru begins to doubt his own magical...more Beautiful, complex, and refreshingly original, The Killing Moon shines bright!

Ehiru-the dreamer- Ehiru is a Gatherer in the city-state of Gujaareh. He has devoted his life to serving the goddess Hananja. Upon taking a commission, he enters a person's dreams and gathers the dreamer's soul so that they will live in peace forever, even though their body dies in the process. Ehiru has never questioned his faith...until now! After a Gathering goes horribly wrong, Ehiru begins to doubt his own magical abilities. But when he finds evidence of a horrible creature stalking the streets of Gujaareh and stealing people's souls for its own amusement, Ehiru is forced to seek help from a person he cannot possibly trust...the corrupt woman he knows as Sunandi!

Sunandi-the voice- A Speaker for the city-state of Kisua, Sunandi neither possesses nor needs any magical abilities. Instead, a beautiful smile and a cunning mind are her greatest weapons. Investigating the death of her mentor, Sunandi travels to Gujaareh where she suspects a vast conspiracy is looming which could threaten her people. A true pragmatist, Sunandi is willing to do whatever it takes to prevent war between Kisua and Gujaareh...even if it means allying herself with a murderer like Ehiru!

"The Killing Moon" is not your average fantasy novel. In this land, there are no dragons or elves, no evil wizard or one ring to rule them all. Instead, Jemisin has created a rich and unique world, where all magic is fueled by the power of dreams, and even the most secondary of characters have multiple layers to them. Jemisin has even crafted her own mythology in this book...including one of the most fascinating and original legends for the sun and moon that I have ever seen. She doesn't so much describe the scenery, as she uses her words to paint the images directly into the reader's imagination. I was particularly impressed with the imagery she used during the dreaming sequences...not only does she come up with brilliantly original concepts, but her narrative manages to be both beautiful and terrifying...much like dreams themselves can be!

As impressive as Jemisin's world-building is, her character development is even better! What makes the story so compelling is that the two protagonists have completely different morals and points of view, yet both of them seem equally valid. On the surface, Ehiru could be considered a murderer. However, through his eyes, he is using his abilities to grant a person peace in their final moments and to ensure that their soul is preserved forever. Sunandi's willingness to use deception and seduction to control her enemies can be perceived as immoral, but she only does these things to ensure the safety of her people. The clash of ideals is balanced perfectly, where the two characters have severe philosophical differences, yet it never comes across as petty bickering. There is no clearly defined "right" and "wrong" mind set, each side is given equal weight.

While Ehiru and Sunandi were the two characters I enjoyed the most, I was also awed by how much depth the other characters were given as well. Ehiru's apprentice Nijiri (who Sunandi insists on sardonically referring to as "Little Killer") is given a tragic backstory that makes his devotion to Ehiru that much more engaging. Even the villain (whose identity shan't be revealed here) is masterfully fleshed out. This isn't just some mustache-twirling stereotype who's evil just for the sake of being evil, this novel's antagonist has a genuine belief that they are doing the right thing, and while the villain's mind is certainly clouded by madness, you can't help but feel some sympathy towards them once the true motive is revealed.

N.K. Jemisin's world-building abilities are right up there with J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin. "The Killing Moon" is a magical, fantasy epic that will amaze even the most discerning of readers!
belle

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May 19, 2012 Traci rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

I'm really struggling with my rating here. I loved this book. Absolutely and completely. The whole time I was reading it I had that magical feeling going when we read a new favorite book, one of many and many, for the first time. But my conscious is questioning whether it deserves a full five score. For now I'm saying yes. But for any objectiveness you can bring it down to four and a half if you wish.

...Where to start? I'm definitely not going to try to explain the plot. But let's just say for w...more I'm really struggling with my rating here. I loved this book. Absolutely and completely. The whole time I was reading it I had that magical feeling going when we read a new favorite book, one of many and many, for the first time. But my conscious is questioning whether it deserves a full five score. For now I'm saying yes. But for any objectiveness you can bring it down to four and a half if you wish.

...Where to start? I'm definitely not going to try to explain the plot. But let's just say for world building alone Jemisin deserves a perfect score. For language and atmosphere, perfect score. When I read her books I feel as though I am reading a dream and so I found it fitting that this most recent one deals so heavily in the dream world.

I loved that there was no right or wrong. There are differing views in this book but never once are we the audience told to think. I love that the world is just familiar enough but never an exact copy. I love that Jemisin strays away from the tradition mode of European fantasy. And does so in a way that is completely different. This story could not have been told in any other fashion. Jemisin has a great talent at bringing life to unique fantasy cultures.

Not to say it was perfect. I do think Jemisin needs some improvement with characterization. Although this book did a better job of this than her previous works. She can definitely create awesome characters, they just could use more of a human touch.

But more like this and I'll be a longtime fan.

I know some readers found her first series a little heavy on romance but I can reassure any potential readers that this is high fantasy. No mistake.

I recommend this to fans of Jemisin's first series, obviously. Fans of Jaqueline Carey. Guy Gavriel Kay. And, don't shoot me, George RR Martin. Honest, the political aspects of this book is much stronger than her others.

I'm just sorry it wasn't longer.

* add-on I know how there's a reluctance to start new series for fear of cliffhangers and unresolved plots. Even though there is at least one more book planned, this one does have an end. And seems as though it could be read as a standalone. Almost.

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May 06, 2013 Ceridwen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, monarchy, nebula-2012, omg-were-all-going-to-die, reviewed

Cross-posted on Readerling

From the author's note:

Like most fantasy writers, I have found it challenging to write material influenced by real (if bygone) cultures. [...] Since this is a fantasy novel, not a historical text, I found myself in the odd position of having to de-historify these tales as much as possible -- in effect stripping away the substance of reality while leaving behind only the thinnest broth for flavoring. My goal was to give homage; my goal was not to ape humanity. Armchair E

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Sep 14, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

One of the things I say frequently is, "this was an interesting book". Well, this was an interesting book. The world according to the author has multiple influences...though it springs largely from ancient Egypt. There are influences from all over however and if you care to look you can see them.

Actually however I'd suggest you just relax and enjoy the book. This is an exercise in detailed and skilled world building. Ms. Jemisin had to build the world, lay out the "magic system" and then build t...more One of the things I say frequently is, "this was an interesting book". Well, this was an interesting book. The world according to the author has multiple influences...though it springs largely from ancient Egypt. There are influences from all over however and if you care to look you can see them.

Actually however I'd suggest you just relax and enjoy the book. This is an exercise in detailed and skilled world building. Ms. Jemisin had to build the world, lay out the "magic system" and then build the characters and plot within these, making and keeping it all coherent. All this is done with grace and style.

The society in the city (Gujaareh) where the action mainly takes place is built around the worship of the Dream Goddess. This is not the only place in this world where the Dream Goddess is worshiped, but it's the only place where the Narcomany magic from said goddess is still practiced. It has been outlawed everywhere else. You see in Gujaareh all know that to live there makes you subject to the Gatherers who gather tithes for the goddess.

That means separating soul from body...killing.

To make this a believable book and to get the reader to buy into said society is quite an order. And Ms. Jemisin does it, well.

I must admit that I didn't get really involved with the characters though I did find myself beginning to understand both sides of the "disagreement" the conflict. The story is built with an eye to real human failings and the history of anything humans have gotten their hands into; showing among other things how often those supposed to be guarding and standing against corruption themselves become corrupt this is an excellent work.

I'm very close to giving a 4 here but go 5. I didn't truly get as involved or as committed to the story as I would like to have I do have a few reservations, but shading the 4.5 to the plus side I need to rate the book a 5. Some of the names are a bit similar and make following the story one where you'll probably occasionally go..."now which one is that?" But that in itself isn't that unusual in fantasy novels, LOL. So, a very few, very small negatives here. This is an excellent book and I can recommend it to most anyone who likes fantasy. (less)

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May 14, 2012 Stefan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, www-tor-com-review, far-beyond-reality-review

As is so often the case with great novels, the opening chapter of N.K. Jemisin’s The Killing Moon offers a snapshot of the conflicts and relationships that end up driving the whole story. We meet the Gatherer Ehiru as he stealthily travels through the city-state Gujaareh at night, collecting tithes of “dreamblood” for the goddess Hananja from its dying or corrupt inhabitants. This dreamblood will then be used by his order’s Sharers to heal and help others. Ehiru’s first commission is an old man...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Dragana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magic

This is my first encounter with N.K. Jemisin. I planned to read The Inheritance Trilogy for some time now, but I accidentally stumbled upon this book and thought 'Why not?'

The start was rough. Unknown terminology, world, customs... And each chapter sported a different protagonist. It took a lot of concentration and some patience until I understood it. But eventually the book got its claws in me, and I was reading chapter after chapter eager to see what happens next.

It's hard commenting on the ch...more

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Jul 13, 2012 A.E. Marling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-fantasy, high-fantasy

NK Jemisin's best yet. Halfway through the story I worried resolution would be deferred to the next book, which will be released shortly, but the author slammed the end of the story down like a card player laying a flush of spades. I would love to see more fantasy like this, featuring an end at the end, a rich setting at the beginning, and a magic awash with moral uncertainty.

This book revolves around moral dilemma. Dreamblood seems to be the energy released when a soul is shoved/escorted to the...more NK Jemisin's best yet. Halfway through the story I worried resolution would be deferred to the next book, which will be released shortly, but the author slammed the end of the story down like a card player laying a flush of spades. I would love to see more fantasy like this, featuring an end at the end, a rich setting at the beginning, and a magic awash with moral uncertainty.

This book revolves around moral dilemma. Dreamblood seems to be the energy released when a soul is shoved/escorted to the afterlife. Two of the protagonists, the gatherers, specialize in freeing sufferers. But they also harvest the “corrupt,” a perilous term ripe to be exploited by political intrigue and fallible men. And it is. And as readers, we are disturbed no matter where we fall on the euthanasia issue.

This struggle of using a potentially terrible magic for good lies at the frenetic beating heart of the Killing Moon. The forces of human need, free will, and religious devotion all clash, with no clear victor. NK Jemisin challenges the reader, not only with moral uncertainty but also with a frolic through tense and perspective shifts. (Yes, including second person, present tense.) A few times I had to blink and take a breath, when her words struck a perfect chord.

The setting is non-European but what it is seems mostly understated. Mentioned in passing are a seasonal flood, camels, a few drifts of sand, and loindrapes (more classy than loincloths?). The culture's dominant feature is the religion of a dream afterlife and a goddess of sleeping peace, an invention that transcends reference to any real-world local.

Given that euthanizing monks make up two of the three main viewpoint characters, and the tone of the story, I would be tempted to classify this as Dark Fantasy. Since it's second world, magic-centric, and has resolution in fewer than five hundred pages, High Fantasy is another reasonable description. If you like delving the uncertain waters of often disturbing ideas, of unrequited romance, and bitter triumphs, this is the fantasy book for you. Oh, and the Reaping magic is atom-bomb overpowered, but at least it has the decency to drive the user into gibbering madness.(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Derek Broughton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Imagine a society very much like ancient Egypt, but clearly not on our Earth as their planet (strictly a moon) orbits a gas giant. Now imagine that this society has learned how to harness the power of Jung's "collective unconscious", collecting the power of dreams and even a person's entire "life force" to cure disease and injury.

This is Gujaareh. The Goddess Hananja's Gatherers go out into the night and gather the Dreamblood and Dreambile of those judged corrupt by the Hetawa - Gujaareh's relig...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Sunil rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, 2013, favorites

While I've been hearing about the Inheritance Trilogy for years, I hadn't heard very much about the Dreamblood, which only came out last year. This was my introduction to N.K. Jemisin, and I am absolutely seeking out more of her work.

The Killing Moon is somewhat impenetrable at first because Jemisin drops you in her world without much exposition at all—it wasn't until I finished the book that I saw that there was a HELPFUL GLOSSARY IN THE BACK—so there are heaps of unfamiliar words and concepts...more While I've been hearing about the Inheritance Trilogy for years, I hadn't heard very much about the Dreamblood, which only came out last year. This was my introduction to N.K. Jemisin, and I am absolutely seeking out more of her work.

The Killing Moon is somewhat impenetrable at first because Jemisin drops you in her world without much exposition at all—it wasn't until I finished the book that I saw that there was a HELPFUL GLOSSARY IN THE BACK—so there are heaps of unfamiliar words and concepts thrown at you. We first meet Ehiru, who is a "Gatherer" who sneaks around the city-state of Gujaareh collecting "dreamblood" (and there also appear to be "dreambile," "dreamichor," and "dreamseed") as a "tithe" for the "Hetawa" and—yes, it's confusing in the beginning, but trust me, it's totally worth it. Jemisin has constructed a really fascinating magic system based on Freudian dream theory and Egyptian medicine (did you know the ancient Egyptians also had the "four humors" philosophy of the Greeks?), and she has in turn constructed a very interesting society based on ancient Egyptian culture (which, incidentally, means that all the characters are non-white).

So let's start over. Ehiru is basically a ninja priest who goes around collecting magical energy from people as he helps them die peacefully, and this magical energy is used to heal people in the name of their Goddess. Nijiri is a ninja priest-in-training. Sunandi is an ambassador from a nearby city-state, Kisua. Our three main characters discover that there is corruption in Gujaareh, and war may be imminent. Also there is some creature running around eating people's souls.

Although it took some time to get my footing in this world, at a certain point, it becomes an extremely compelling page-turner, and I found it hard to stop reading. I was audibly gasping and cursing throughout the book as we discovered more about what was going on and I feared for everyone's lives. At first, Ehiru seems like kind of a dull Areo Hotah-type, but there is much more to him than his duty to the Hetawa, especially once he begins questioning their orders. Nijiri is a devoted apprentice, fiercely protective, and he knows that he may be called on to do more than he is capable of in the name of saving his home and his friend. Sunandi has no love for Gatherers or Gujaareen culture in general, but she must learn to understand them if she hopes to keep peace between them.

The Killing Moon leads up to a hell of a climax, and even though I knew that N.K. Jemisin allows each book in a series to stand alone, I was very worried about how she would leave things. The resolution is appropriate for this story and the characters, and I am very intrigued as to what The Shadowed Sun is about. Jemisin has sucked me into this world so hard that even when I didn't know what all the words meant, I was invested in what was going to happen. Once again: the early chapters are going to be a bit difficult, but seriously, stick with it, and you will be rewarded with an exciting, richly detailed fantasy adventure.(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Ari J Bookzilla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, will-re-read, want-own-in-print, 2012-absolute-favorites, clean-read

“There is power in dreams,” She told him. “Harness it and therein lies magic. But only virtuous men may wield it.”

In The Killing Moon, N.K. Jemisin creates a wonderful world (similar to ancient Egypt, but Jemisin writes that she was influenced by a lot of cultures - the Gatherers reminded me of ninjas, for example) with priests, reapers, healers - an organized religion, a society where gender equality takes a whole new meaning, and a world of intrigue and politics where you just can't pick a si...more

“There is power in dreams,” She told him. “Harness it and therein lies magic. But only virtuous men may wield it.”

In The Killing Moon, N.K. Jemisin creates a wonderful world (similar to ancient Egypt, but Jemisin writes that she was influenced by a lot of cultures - the Gatherers reminded me of ninjas, for example) with priests, reapers, healers - an organized religion, a society where gender equality takes a whole new meaning, and a world of intrigue and politics where you just can't pick a side. Everyone is right. Everyone is wrong. There's no good vs. evil, there's only the greater good, or the lesser evil.

What I liked the most about The Killing Moon is the mythology, all the magic, everything is worked out to the very last detail and not confusing at all. The hierarchy within the Hananjan faith was really interesting to read about, and the very first scene with Ehiru (of whom I thought as a ninja priest) in the book just makes you want to know more about Hananja. I loved the way she explained how the whole process of soul gathering works, I could see it right before my eyes.

The book follows characters from both Gujaareen and Kisuati sides, and this is why it's really hard to pick the right one. Everyone has good and logical reasons for what they are doing, but at the same time, they might be considered less than noble. Nothing is black and white, but there are a million shades of gray.

The reason I'm not explaining the plot is because I will probably fail at it. It's complicated and you need to read it to understand it.

There's no prominent romance in this book - although there is a very subtle one - you will notice the relationship between Ehiru and Nijiri is just begging to be more than it is, but there are obstacles. For what it's worth, I got the impression that there is no such thing as sexual orientation in Jemisin's books (these or the Inheritance trilogy). I really liked that.

Now, what really makes this book is her writing. It is so different than anything I've ever read - I felt this way about her other books I've read, but I felt this book is much stronger writing-wise. She takes her time to lead you into this world she creates and you feel like you're right there with the characters, the language, the food, the places you visit and finally, the people you see in the book.
The first chapter - the story of the Sun and the Moons, I liked it - a lot!
I know some have complained about characterization... I thought it was good enough. Honestly, the book is on the long-ish side, but I felt it was just too short to tell this story and have every aspect of it be perfect. Still, each character was different in their own way - Sunandi, the politician, Nijiri, a bit of a rebel, and Ehiru, who has a great sense of calm composure and serenity about him despite everything going on.
The action sequences were great, but there weren't many of them. Then again, I felt that maybe this was intentional considering the whole tone of the book is somewhat peaceful (although you can also feel that peace is actually artificial and things aren't what they seem - within Hananja, Gujaareh or Kisua.)

Another thing, even though the book is a first in a two-book series, there is no cliffhanger in the end. It can very well work as a standalone, and you don't have to worry that it will make you throw your book/reader across the room.
Either way, the books were released one after the other within a month, so you don't have to wait for the second.

It is a clean read, although if I remember correctly, there are is a scene where sex was implied.

Overall, I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I'd like to think people will read it despite the lack of true romance in it. I'm first and foremost a romance reader, but I liked this so much it's one of my favorite books I've read. And just look at that amazing cover.(less)

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Sep 19, 2012 Virginia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Virginia by: The Big Idea

Shelves: speculative-fiction, read-2012, big-idea

Even though it is the first in a duology, there is a satisfactory resolution and ending. Important loose ends are tied up and even if you don't read the remaining book, you will be satisfied. I enjoy that aspect!

What I really enjoyed, though, was the fact that the majority of this world is black or brown. Yes, there are lighter colored folks in this world - but they are not the main focus. Even the hairstyles have dreadlocks! I think that is beyond awesome.

I would not really want to live in this...more

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May 07, 2013 Foleye rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am almost too in awe of how completely amazing this book is to write a proper review. The world creation and the mythology of this universe is completely original while at the same time paying homage to Earth's ancient religions and mythologies. The characters are fully realized and very human; no one is completely good or completely bad and even the characters who do evil things have understandable motivations.
It takes place on a different planet, in a country that slightly resembles ancien...more

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Mar 24, 2013 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a really slow start but got much better. At first, I kept getting lost in the odd names, very different cultures and unstated premise of Jemisin's world. But about halfway through, I started to get interested and, for the last third, I couldn't put it down. The characters...their greed, fear, weaknesses, kindnesses, and determination to do the right thing...were compelling. The world was complex and interesting. This country is based on worship of a moon goddess; Gatherers (kind of...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Leonora rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book hit all the right notes for me, and yet I still felt like something was missing. I loved the world Jemisin imagined for this. It is so complex and layered, it felt like a real, living society. I loved the characters. They are all awesome in their own ways, and complex, and I felt like I knew them. I loved the magic. Without giving anything away, the book slowly reveals the nature of the dream magic and its implications.

Even though it checked all of these boxes for me (good characters,...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Rachel Neumeier rated it 4 of 5 stars

First, assuming you’ve read NK Jemisin’s first trilogy, the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms trilogy . . . let me say that this duology really doesn’t have the same feel. Instead of the very close first-person narrative, here we have a much more scattered third-person narrative. In THE KILLING MOON, we have three main pov protagonists: the Gatherer Ehiru, with whom we start and who felt to me like the primary protagonist until quite far into the book; Nijiri, his apprentice, who grows up the hard way d...more First, assuming you’ve read NK Jemisin’s first trilogy, the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms trilogy . . . let me say that this duology really doesn’t have the same feel. Instead of the very close first-person narrative, here we have a much more scattered third-person narrative. In THE KILLING MOON, we have three main pov protagonists: the Gatherer Ehiru, with whom we start and who felt to me like the primary protagonist until quite far into the book; Nijiri, his apprentice, who grows up the hard way during the course of the story; and Sunandi, from a neighboring country. Plus certain scenes are presented from yet other points of view: The Prince, Eninket, who starts off sympathetic before we realize that he’s actually, well, I don’t want to say ‘ruthless’ because that wouldn’t be strong enough. Also one of his generals, Niyes, briefly. And I’m sure there are others.

All these characters are handled well, but the effect of using a scattered third-person is that this duology was for me slower to start than the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms trilogy. There you are drawn at once into close sympathy with the narrator; here you have to accommodate the shifting narrative. Plus the choice to use third person holds you at a slight distance from the characters. For me, this meant that the first quarter or third of the first book was not that engaging.

After that, well, I definitely did get drawn in! By the end, I cared very much about Ehiru and Nijiri and Sunandi. And about all the secondary characters, and the city of Gujaareh, and the country of Kisua. What I liked best about the main characters: none of them were perfect, all of them were different and complicated and felt like real people, all of them were very sympathetic, when they came into conflict with one another, it was for good reasons and they all learned to understand one another (pretty well, at least) by the end.

I was surprised to find that the first book stood very well alone. Events in the second book grow directly out of events in the first, but both books are surprisingly self-contained.

(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 Tim Hicks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

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

Then the Prince started to amp it up. I am still trying to recall which book I read recently with a dragon and a very evil Prince-type character, all bwah-hah-ha...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy readers who want a complex world and well-developed characters

Recommended to Margaret by: Locus magazine

Imagine a world where priests can harness the power of dreams.

In Jamison’s fantasy world, characters struggle for redemption in a society pockmarked with corruption. Gujaareh is a magic city, where the priests of Hananja tap into the power of dreams. The Gatherers assist the dying to enter the dream world. Sharers use their power to heal. The novel starts with a breakdown in this system. Gatherer Ehiru falters and loses a soul about to enter eternity. Shaken, he is comforted when his apprentice...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Indrani rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will confess: I was a tad confused at first, trying to sort out the jargon. There were a few times when I wondered if I hadn't picked up a sequel by mistake. It would have helped had I found the appendix - the edition of this that I was reading had a strange marking of the last few pages, and when I flipped to this, I found an "interview" with the author. I dislike inadvertently reading the end of a book before I get there, and so made the mistake of assuming there was no glossary (hint: I was...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

The city-state of Gujaareh has a thriving economy of dream-magic. Specially-trained priests gather one sort of energy from nightmares, another sort from sex dreams, another sort from the dreams of the dying; these are then distributed through the city to keep the populace healthy, sane, prosperous.

Or, from the point of view of foreigners: Gujaareh is a city where these seriously damn scary ninjas sneak in through your window while you're asleep and *kill you* by *sucking your soul out*. You will...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: culture, fiction, fantasy, religion, society

I have two words for you: Ninja. Priests.

There you go, that should really be enough for you to go out and buy this book. I suppose if you need more, though, there is a whole "plot" and "world" and "characters" and stuff. But even Jemisin says that the initial idea that got her started writing was ninja priests, and everything else just kind of built up from there.

Welcome, then, to the great land of Gujaareh, a land not entirely unlike our own ancient Egypt. It rests alongside a great river that...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: spec-fic

C2012:FWFTB: Gujaareh, Gatherers, dream, harvest, magic. Ms Jemisin appears around the book blogging sites as an author of note. Sadly, my normal book source did not stock the first books for some time so before I knew it I had reserved this one thinking that it was the first of her books.
It can be read alone but I did feel, for the first third of the story, that I was missing some background and I had to keep going to the front pages to reassure myself that this was indeed the first of a new se...more

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May 20, 2012 Jay Z rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

First five-star book of the year and it's about damn time. Plot-wise, the book's not entirely riveting. But Gujaareh, the city in which it's set, is like nothing you've encountered before in fantasy. It combines ancient Egypt, Fruedian dream theory, and Jung's idea of the collective unconscious, which, in addition to being fucking brilliant is also fucking complicated. The genius, then, is how Jemisin peels back the layers of this creepy-dreamy world for the reader at exactly the right pace, and...more

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May 15, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2012, sci-fi-fantasy

I won a copy of this in Twitter, and was really glad I did! I had read Book 1 of the Inheritance Trilogy by the same author, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, which is one of those books that wasn't bad, but just was clearly not my style. (Worth a read, though, and is up for a Nebula Award.)

The things I liked about The Inheritance Trilogy are even stronger in The Killing Moon, and I think we can start assuming these are just Jemisin's strengths - the world building is the best part. She has crafted...more

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May 13, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the city of Gujaareh, a sect of warrior priests keep the Peace. These Gatherers are bound by no temporal law, guided only by their precept to root out corruption, and lead the souls of the suffering to the afterlife, Ina-Karekh. They do this more or less by sneaking into peoples' bedrooms and killing them while they sleep. And they're the good guys. One of the pleasant surprises in Jemisin's new novel is how totally plausible this seems.

The main protagonists, the incorruptible Gatherer Ehiru...more

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May 12, 2012 Matthew Stepp rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-list

I'm going back and forth as to whether I like the book more than the three star review I'm giving it. Largely I think it's because I'm internally comparing it to the Inheritance Trilogy, her first trilogy completed last year, which should be considered one of the best fantasy series of the last couple of decades. Its an unfair comparison, but I think it showcases some of the lows and highs of the Killing Moon.

The highs:

- Jemisin's writing style is as strong as ever. The narrative flows and there...more

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May 07, 2012 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jemisin can build mythology like nobody's business. I love that she doesn't just do the clean types of gods, she creates the weird twisty old gods, the ones with deep roots in nature and the sweaty, amoral genesis stories. Seriously, this must be how religions are created - people like Jemisin developing a creation myth so delicious, you WANT to believe it.

(Also, Jemisin is one of the only authors who can write "loindrapes" into a book and I'll go with it. Anyone else tries that, and I scoff. Sh...more Jemisin can build mythology like nobody's business. I love that she doesn't just do the clean types of gods, she creates the weird twisty old gods, the ones with deep roots in nature and the sweaty, amoral genesis stories. Seriously, this must be how religions are created - people like Jemisin developing a creation myth so delicious, you WANT to believe it.

(Also, Jemisin is one of the only authors who can write "loindrapes" into a book and I'll go with it. Anyone else tries that, and I scoff. She does it? Okay, I'm in.)

Much like the Inheritance Trilogy, this is an immersion book. The alien culture ebbs from the pages, the religions feel real, the action and motives of the characters feel genuine. I can't imagine the pitch for this book - holy assassin and diplomat battle evil? And I don't know that this series is going to work as well as the Inheritance Trilogy, to be honest. There's a distance in this book that wasn't there in the trilogy. I didn't feel as close to the characters here, and I found the dreamscape stuff uneven. I still don't get the mechanics of dreamblood, it's just a little too weird for a race that sounds otherwise human - collecting and emptying dreamblood? Dreambile? And what exactly does "dreamseed" have to do with anything? While the religion itself was described well, the rituals were not.

The feeling of distance and a vague dislike of the dreamscape stuff might be related - Ehiru and Nijiri spend a lot of time at a remove, either literally or figuratively. They analyze a lot and are constantly purging themselves of more complicated, interesting emotions, so it's hard to feel close to them, and when you build a book around a man who appears to have molded himself into a religious vessel it's hard to really catch hold of him as a person. Even when he's thinking of Nijiri, he's weirdly removed about it. Sunandi has more potential for me, and hopefully she'll be the main character in the next book in the series.

This is a 3.5 book, I'd say. I guess there's a possibility that this first book is acting as a staging ground for future work, but it felt a little hollow to me. Still leagues above many of the books I've read, but while the sights and sounds and smells and tastes were all there, it was missing a piece of soul. Ironic, for a book so focused on souls.(less)

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May 03, 2012 heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wiscon

In a city where the soul is both a traveler and a commodity, death has a different meaning.

Each night, the Gatherers go out. They visit the dying, the incurable, the aged, the insane, the corrupt. The souls they gather are nestled into a good place in the dreaming world forever. The dreamblood they gather is returned to the temple for the healing of others. Children with the dreaming gift who do not join the priesthood go mad.

In principle, this is very idyllic. No one drowns in their own lungs:...more In a city where the soul is both a traveler and a commodity, death has a different meaning.

Each night, the Gatherers go out. They visit the dying, the incurable, the aged, the insane, the corrupt. The souls they gather are nestled into a good place in the dreaming world forever. The dreamblood they gather is returned to the temple for the healing of others. Children with the dreaming gift who do not join the priesthood go mad.

In principle, this is very idyllic. No one drowns in their own lungs: they get a good death. The ill are healed, the mad are contained, crime is non-existent. Peace, perfect peace. In practice, however, the checks and balances are weak. Dreamblood is necessary/addictive to the Gatherers. There are hidden political currents using the power of the priests.

This is the story of the Gatherer Ehiru, his apprentice Nijiri, and the outland woman Sinandi, and how together they are all working toward peace, against steep odds. It's a heroic story, full of wit and strong will and deep, compassionate love.

I was deeply drawn to Ehiru's faith and dedication. He is the ideal of believers, steadfast and yet willing to listen, and performing his tasks out of love and service. Nijiri also has love and service, but in his case it's a toss-up of whether he loves his goddess or his mentor more. The end result is the same. Sinandi is a spymaster, a poised and competent woman protecting her country.

Worldbuilding has always been one of Jemisin's strong suits, and this book is a great example. Although I recognized some of the sources, she wove the whole into an intact and beautiful maze for our characters to grope through. The setting, the gods, the religion, all top-notch. The action, once it gets going, is both interesting and a mirror of the emotional processes of the characters. As a story, this book is excellent. If that's what you wanted to know, you can stop reading now.

Parts of this book revolted me, like literally lip-curling recoil. While it is true there are a lot of deaths that I think people would like to get through faster and more painlessly, the priests are not always invited by the dying person. Instead they are sent on commission, merciful assassins. A committee evaluates the legitimacy of the commission, but isn't it possible to disrupt such a system? Sinandi calls Ehuri and Nijiri "The most pitiful victims of all, because they believe."

Sinandi says to Ehuri -"You kill, priest. You do it for mercy and a whole host of other reasons that you claim are good, but at the heart of it you sneak into people's homes in the dead of night and kill them in their sleep -- you do this and you see nothing wrong with it." I think I understand Sinandi better than Ehuri. Later, there is a character who is dying, but rejects the dream-death because, as she explains, life is suffering and good things all mixed up together, and to avoid suffering is to also avoid potential joy. I thought the Gatherers should hear that, but it didn't seem to make much impression on them.

Sometimes I want pairings for books, like a well-constructed cheese plate. You should read this with Bad Cripple's blog, and Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow.

Read if: You want a meditation on end of life and addiction issues, you are fascinated by the corruption of power.

Skip if: You are bothered by stories of merciful death. You want a potato-chip book. Although maybe if you are not me, you can read it on the ninja priests and court intrigue level.(less)

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The Killing Moon (Dreamblood #1)

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