Trail of Lightning (7/19): roll call and first impressions (no spoilers)

[Shel, Moderator]

Post here if you are reading or planning on reading Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse. No spoilers please!

[Shel, Moderator]

I've requested it from the library but the loan hasn't come in yet!

[Suzanne]

I noticed it is on Kindle Unlimited now, so I downloaded it. I've heard good things about the book!

[Anthony]

I’m definitely going to read this but have two other books (including Blackfish City) to get through first.

[Kari]

Just started and wow, is it great to sink back into a good urban fantasy.

[Shel, Moderator]

I just picked it up from the library - will be diving in tonight!

[Kari]

Shel wrote: "I just picked it up from the library - will be diving in tonight!"

What do you think so far? I'm really into this one!

[Shel, Moderator]

Kari wrote: "Shel wrote: "I just picked it up from the library - will be diving in tonight!"

What do you think so far? I'm really into this one!"

I'm not very far in, but I'm liking it! Really like the Native American voice - it's a nice change from the fae/werewolves/vampires/etc that normally populate urban fantasy.

[Anthony]

Finally was able to start and it’s written with a vivid and crisp approach, which I’m appreciating. Curious to see where it goes from a pretty intense and dark opening sequence.

[Anthony]

Just finished chapter 14, and I’m torn with this one. I’m happy to encounter a setting that is so unexplored and to learn about a mythology that is almost entirely new to me. I’m just a little put off by the generic hard-boiled first-person voice. Otherwise the writing is crisp and vivid and the engine of the plot is pretty compelling.

[Kari]

Anthony wrote: "Just finished chapter 14, and I’m torn with this one. I’m happy to encounter a setting that is so unexplored and to learn about a mythology that is almost entirely new to me. I’m just a little put ..."

Yes, the voice is definitely standard urban fantasy. I like urban fantasy so I'm not put off by it by the tropey-ness of it all but I hope there's a bit of a twist on that eventually. I'm sold enough from the solid writing and plot that Roanhorse can pull off something interesting with her character. At least Kai isn't the standard alpha male love interest type.

I agree the setting is so under-explored and I love it. I don't know if at chapter 14 you've met (view spoiler)[Coyote yet, but I really like the mythology his character brings to the story (hide spoiler)].

[Anthony]

Interesting. This is my first Urban Fantasy so I wasn’t aware it was a trope of that sub-genre. And yes I have met the character mentioned in your spoiler tag and I am quite intrigued by him.