Monday Book Recs--Blink by Wynne-Jones and The Killing Moon by Jemisin

The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin

This book begins with the idea of using magic to kill people, but in a kind way. The characters who are introduced to the reader in the beginning with this death magic are all good characters. One of them makes a mistake in using the death magic early on, but we forgive him. He is thoughtful and caring and feels horribly guilty that he has been misled and used his magic badly. There is also the idea that souls live on, and so a person who has died in this life is going to be happy in the life to come, and it mitigates the guilt a bit.

I liked this idea, not only because the idea itself was interesting, but also because Jemisin does a great job in creating characters who have interesting conflicts and relationships. And also because the worldbuilding is great. This is a fully fleshed out world. Jemisin admits that she bases the world on ancient Egypt, and allows that she has made changes that she had to for her story. I suspect that every author actually does this, whether they admit it or not. The best world building is based on some world that has actually existed. This allows us to research the details and twist them as necessary. It also works for the reader because it draws us in by showing us that this has happened before, and it will happen again. It gives verisimilitude.

Jemisin is a brilliant writer who makes me feel as if I am always in the hands of someone who is just a little like me as a reader and not at all like me as a writer, a good feeling. I trust that she will surprise me in all the right ways and that she will never leave any thread untouched unless she means it to be precisely that way. I suspect at this point, I will buy anything she cares to write.

Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones

On the one hand, this is a thriller of a mystery, with high stakes, a faked kidnapping, wealthy people telling lies and manipulating the media and two teens who find out the truth and are in danger. Blink is the boy who sees the kidnapping happen--and it isn't as scary as it should be. Caution is the girl who plans to rob him, but changes her mind.

On the other hand, this is a story about teens in jeopardy. Caution has a dark secret, but her current life is just about as down and out as it can get. Blink is trying to make good choices in a world in which morals don't make much sense to him, after the life he has seen.

There is just enough reality in this book to make me ache, and just enough fun in it to make me keep turning the pages, and I'm not sure there's any higher compliment than that to offer a writer.