The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 27, 2010 The Flooze rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, owned, vanquished_2011, the_magic_number

Steeped in bureaucracy and betrayal, built upon cruelty and lies, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not always a pleasant place to be. It is, however, fascinating. Through the eyes of the protagonist, we re-learn an important lesson: history is written by the victors, and it is only by examining all evidence with an open mind that we can peel away the layers of Accepted Lies and find the truth beneath.

A forthright, no-nonsense woman, Yeine Darr has no desire to visit the palace of Sky - the seat Steeped in bureaucracy and betrayal, built upon cruelty and lies, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not always a pleasant place to be. It is, however, fascinating. Through the eyes of the protagonist, we re-learn an important lesson: history is written by the victors, and it is only by examining all evidence with an open mind that we can peel away the layers of Accepted Lies and find the truth beneath.

A forthright, no-nonsense woman, Yeine Darr has no desire to visit the palace of Sky - the seat of power for the cold, ruthless ruling class. Compelled there by the king’s summons, she’s thrust into a harsh climate of political backstabbing and shaky alliances. It’s a place where everyone is out for their own gain, and Yeine is merely a pawn in the greater power struggle. Accepting her political insignificance, Yeine focuses most of her efforts on discovering more about her mother - how she lived, how she died - and using her new position to benefit Darr, the nation where she was raised.

But Sky harbors complications beyond the human preoccupation with power. Wandering the halls are resentful, leashed gods who aren’t tamed in the slightest. Yeine comes to know something of each of them, bringing their strengths and weaknesses to the fore. This is where Jemisin’s story shines - in her description of the gods’ plight and the way she permits events to slowly unfold.

Some have complained that Yeine lacks development. I don’t disagree. At the same time, I’m content with knowing Yeine to the degree Jemisin allows because I don’t see this as her story. Instead, she’s a vehicle through which a much older and significant battle is brought to its crescendo. She is a pawn, a weapon, a source of power. As a keystone character, she doesn’t need a wide breadth of backstory for us to acknowledge her importance. She merely needs personal touches - her mother’s death, her devotion to her people, her concern for her own welfare - to bring us close enough that we can understand her worldview.

Speaking of Yeine’s worldview: the writing style vacillates between dream-ish musings and concise observations. The story often pulls back from the action of the present so that Yeine can relate an anecdote or a legend. In another’s hands, this technique could become confusing and distracting. Jemisin, however, manages to pull it off with such skill that the asides give both Yeine and her world added depth. They reveal the foundations of her society, and the memories aid us in parsing truth from fiction.

Many others have commented on the unnecessary inclusion of a romance. Though I can understand their mindset, I feel that the relationship lends greater significance to the events of the final chapters. It drives home the idea that although love can be a force for good, it is also the source of rivalries, jealousies, and vengeful actions. Jemisin highlights the common cycles we endure, and love won and/or lost is an important aspect of that.

If I am to find any fault with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, it would be that the ending felt a tad too epic, a smidge too convenient. I can forgive the author that, as this is the first of a trilogy. Working with a finite number of books, it’s understandable that Jemisin would want to pack a whallop and effect as much change as possible. I also have to admit that my typical reading material consists of open-ended urban fantasy series. Perhaps if I were more of an epic fantasy/trilogy reader, I would be more content with the wrap-up, as I believe it’s a standard of the genre.

That one niggly point aside, I am left with a very positive impression. Jemisin’s writing is compelling and fluid. Her characters inspire a host of emotions ranging between admiration, awe, confusion and revulsion. Her world-building hints at so many cultures and traditions to explore. Her conceptions of gender and race are thought-provoking without being too heavy-handed. Jemisin presents a universe with so many layers that I suspect I’ll be hankering for more stories within this world long after the trilogy is completed. ...more

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Nov 15, 2009 Samantha rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was a bit different than I was expecting, but it was awesome all the same! I won't reiterate the synopsis, but this book has so many amazing layers, so many different nuances, that I know my review wouldn't do it justice. The different social mores and power structures that were part of the various cultures were thought-provoking. The characters were interesting and complex, without being cliched (which can be difficult to say in this genre). She's created a mythos ...more

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