Sign in with FacebookCarolyn Crane's Reviews > The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
by N.K. Jemisin (Goodreads Author)
by N.K. Jemisin (Goodreads Author)
Carolyn Crane's review
bookshelves: fantasy
Sep 18, 11
bookshelves: fantasy
Recommended for:
fantasy lovers
read count: 1
I really enjoyed this fantasy - I found it quiet, intricate, and gleaming, shiny, in a way. Maybe that's the worldbuilding. The image of place is so innovative and strong.
This is a classic underdog tale, really, of a heroine thrown into a battle she can't win, and her underdog allies, who happen to be enslaved gods. The slow reveal of all aspects of this and the evolution of their alliance was one of the extreme pleasures of this book.
There are also a few quirky narrative gambits I enjoyed, like the tiny, experimental-esque passages of a strange type of interior monologue. At first, I didn't know what to do with them, but as the book progresses, you figure out what's going on with them, and it's highly satisfying when you get it.
There is not a lot of big drama and pathos, not much romance, but plenty of sly, smart twists and a very fierce and lovable heroine. Plus, the world building - and the built environment itself - is pretty breathtaking.
This is a classic underdog tale, really, of a heroine thrown into a battle she can't win, and her underdog allies, who happen to be enslaved gods. The slow reveal of all aspects of this and the evolution of their alliance was one of the extreme pleasures of this book.
There are also a few quirky narrative gambits I enjoyed, like the tiny, experimental-esque passages of a strange type of interior monologue. At first, I didn't know what to do with them, but as the book progresses, you figure out what's going on with them, and it's highly satisfying when you get it.
There is not a lot of big drama and pathos, not much romance, but plenty of sly, smart twists and a very fierce and lovable heroine. Plus, the world building - and the built environment itself - is pretty breathtaking.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
sign in »
Reading Progress
| 08/27/2011 |
|
15.0% | "Hugely enjoying this! I'm loving this heroine...and these mysterious other characters, too. The world-building is my favorite type - strange and imaginative, yet vaguely familiar and inevitable. It all feels fresh and bright and dark, like its cover picture." | |
| 08/31/2011 |
|
50.0% | "Things have gotten very interesting..." |
Comments (showing 1-14 of 14) (14 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Renee
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Aug 23, 2011 09:27pm
Ooh, such a thought-provoking book! I'll be interested in your thoughts of it. (I listened to the audiobook.)
reply
|
flag
*
Renee: Ooh, have to go see what you thought now!Kindle-aholic: Probably soon. I really enjoyed your review of it!
I really liked this one SO much. I've been avoiding the second though,because I heard a spoiler that makes me a sad panda.
Carolyn wrote: "Oh, nooooo! poor sad panda. Thanks for the warning...I'll guard against reading thing one about it."I'd share it but it's a huge spoiler and reading it on the page would probably ruin the story for me - but looking forward to seeing what you think!
Oh, I loved this one SO MUCH. I have the second one somewhere, but I'll probably wait until they are all available to read (and until I forget about the spoiler, too.)
It's a series that I love, but don't feel like I can talk about it in anything other than vague - "I loved it, couldn't put it down" terms or else I'll spoil some of the awesomeness. Book 2 is fantastic - I liked it better than book 1 (and I loved book 1). I need book 3 yesterday.
Kindle-aholic wrote: "It's a series that I love, but don't feel like I can talk about it in anything other than vague - "I loved it, couldn't put it down" terms or else I'll spoil some of the awesomeness. Book 2 is fant..."Oh, wow, you enjoyed 2 even more? I can't tell you how happy that makes me - when the books head upward in quality. Maybe I had better read it quick before I come across this mysterious spoiler.
I've read the first one on my birthday last year. best birthday present to myself ever :) I'm sad like that. But I do want to read the other two books. i thought the third one came out already?
Well, I love that b-day present. Okay, I just checked - the third hits OCt 11, but it looks like there are already reviews. Prolly ARCs?
I've checked too, lucky sods probably must have had ARCs for reviews :) Oh well, we still have book #2 to read first.
Carolyn wrote: "Kindle-aholic wrote: "It's a series that I love, but don't feel like I can talk about it in anything other than vague - "I loved it, couldn't put it down" terms or else I'll spoil some of the aweso..."Yep - read it now. :)
I tortured myself by reading the first couple of chapters of bk 3 on Jemisin's site. Now I just want it more.
