The Broken Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy #2)[May 15, 2023]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin starting on May 15, 2023.


Happy Reading!

[Nirkatze]

I just blew through this book today. This one is my favorite of the three, and I still really enjoyed it.

[Choko]

I started... About 15 % in... (view spoiler)[ Oree seems a very interesting character... A blind artist! Who can "see" the godlings... And her mysterious roommate...

The scene of the priests questioning her about the murder of the female godling, immediately reminded me how much I hate the priests in this world. I couldn't remember if we had met the godling that got killed before...

Her ex boyfriend is a godling named Madding and he showed up to help her with her roommate, when he stood up for her and instead of being beaten and tortured to death, as she expected, he apparently killed all the priests who had him. And after Seer and I am guessing the goddess who inhabits Yeine from the last book, showed up, and Seer's hatred, which obviously comes from hurt love, I speculate that Shiny is the G-d who was taken down at the end of the first book and in order to redeem himself, is cursed to live as a human among humans... Wasn't he the strongest and first of them all? Once again, I am guessing he will be Oree's love interest... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 10... (view spoiler)[ How is that Aramery bitch still alive?!?????!!!! And married to some heretic zealot , obviously wanting revenge against the Night Lord and Gray Lady... And I can't believe she is acting like a f*$ing victim!!!!! Does she believe herself???? I am so angry right now! And the f#*ing cult just abducts initiates? WTF!

And why are these godlings so vulnerable? I understand they are immortal, but they sure aren't invulnerable... On one hand, I like this, because it gives humans a fighting chance if need be, but on the other hand, it lets insanely power-hungry people and creatures take their powers and kill them... Drives me crazy! (hide spoiler)]

I like the way Oree sees and uses magic:)

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 13... (view spoiler)[ So, the leader of the cult just told Oree that both of them are Daemons... From what I remember from the first book, daemon's blood can unmake and kill godlings and g-ds alike... Daemons are the children of g-ds and humans, and even a drop of mortal blood can make the immortal mortal... I wonder how this is going to turn out...

Shiny is so weird... I think he is very well written, implacable to his own detriment, craving closeness, but unable to think about anything apart from himself and his desires. I hope that Oree teaches him to see humans and even godlings as worthy, not just the Three g-ds which he is a part of... I am glad that he is able to pretend he is human so well, that even the blood tests by the cult can't detect his true persona. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Choko wrote: "I started... About 15 % in..."

I rather enjoy Oree... (view spoiler)[I might find the blind artist who can "see" a little cliche... but I think it was done pretty well still. I like how the descriptions use a lot of sound and smell for it.

I really like Madding too, and I find it really interesting how godlings & humans can be exes. LOL. I like how the godlings and humans in Shadow are learning how to live together again, and figuring out what it means to inhabit this new world...

I think you're asking the right questions about Shiny. ^^

Itempas is that god's name, and he is actually the second of the three--Nahado, and darkness, was first. I think they're supposed to be equally powerful though. (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[LOL Don't you remember how annoying the Arameri were in book 1? Typical Arameri, not seeing any truth in favor of what narrative fits their own purpose. At first I wondered if she was the woman who was favored to win the head of family in book 1... but I think that woman died? I think this is a new character, but it makes me wish for a wikipedia.... (hide spoiler)]

re: Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[Yeah... it was something about... by mingling god-ness with mortal humans, it taught their god-ness how to be mortal... so any blood of such a union, or descendant, could kill any god/godling. And I think, the "gods" are just the Three--while the "godlings" are any of the Three's numerous children, and their children, and so on... as long as there is no human in the tree.

I also love Shiny! I think that is why this is my favorite of the trilogy, Shiny is so well done, and his clashes with Oree are so fun. (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

I also blew through this one very quickly. And Shiny/Oree make this one the best for me as well!
Ending (view spoiler)[ I was pretty sad Oree couldn't stay with Shiny, but it certainly gives hope that Shiny can be redeemed in Nahado's eyes..
Also Shiny knew there was something "wrong" with him and he understands his punishment... Was that just always an internal flaw, or did something else interfere? I don't remember anything like that, but it would make for an interesting twist... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

In my opinion, it's just him... He is deeply flawed, but also loyal and definitely a person who loves his rituals. Everything has to be a certain way, or he can't handle it. It's a bit like a person who is neuro-divergent... They tend to have a scenario in their heads, and anything that upsets that throws their life into chaos... My Jack is this way and I have gotten so used to a ritualistically ordered days, that I don't even remember how it was before that:) So I can see Shiny trying to keep everything and everyone in this strict ordered world, and since that's impossible, him becoming a dictator... There obviously are a ton of other reasons he has acted the way he did, but I think this is a part of it...

[Nirkatze]

I was thinking the same--that he's a bit like someone on the spectrum or OCD-esque... everything has its place and a place for everything and DO NOT MOVE THAT. And they moved it. And it broke him. I was seriously worried that he wouldn't be able to change at all, because of his nature...

As for Oree... characters do show up again in the next book.