From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance, #1)

N.K. Jemisin

Start date: May 1, 2011

Finish date: June 2, 2011

Discussion: 2011 Reads

Why we're reading this: You guys seem to really want to read this one!
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2011 Reads

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What Members Thought

Nov 04, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2011, fiction, fantasy

WOW.

Just.. WOW.

Were it not for the Nebula Awards, I would not have picked up this book and I would have missed out – big time. I’m a fantasy and science fiction lover, but not since discovering the Mistborn trilogy have I been sucked into a world so thoroughly and completely. This is just Book 1 of the trilogy but it was an entire epic experience, all on its own.

I don’t even know where to begin without just.. gushing praise left and right, because that’s what this book deserves. Ms. Jamisin, tha WOW.

Just.. WOW.

Were it not for the Nebula Awards, I would not have picked up this book and I would have missed out – big time. I’m a fantasy and science fiction lover, but not since discovering the Mistborn trilogy have I been sucked into a world so thoroughly and completely. This is just Book 1 of the trilogy but it was an entire epic experience, all on its own.

I don’t even know where to begin without just.. gushing praise left and right, because that’s what this book deserves. Ms. Jamisin, thank goodness for authors like you! This book contained such brilliant arcs of storytelling that there is absolutely no need for a cliffhanger at the end to have me grabbing for the next book in line. I simply need to read more. That is a sign of great storytelling.

The world in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is fantastically made. Descriptions given by Yeine throughout the story (which are not a digression) provide pictures through example of how the strange Kingdom of Sky is crafted and how the lands are laid out around it. The authority structure, on its surface, seems simple, but then as the story unfolds it just gains more intricate layers until, by the end of the novel, you are surrounded by so much information, so much color, that it’s amazing to realize that you can grasp it all, understand it and still feel overwhelmed by it all at the same time.

And then there’s Yeine Darr. There was not a single thing I found lacking in her. She carried strength, humanity and so much more. She deals with conflicts, makes imperfect decisions and does everything that endears herself to those reading her. I felt by the end of this book as if she were a close friend and found myself cheering her on while simultaneously wishing I could enfold her in a huge hug.

I knew reading the Nebula nominees this year would be a blast of fun but I had no idea it was going to be like this. All I have to say is (as this is the first I’ve read thus far), this book sets the bar incredibly high. Ms. Jamisin is a force to be reckoned with. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 14, 2011 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, read2011, sword-and-laser

I was more interested in the world than the plot.

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2011 Jlawrence rated it liked it

Shelves: sword-and-laser

Really 3 1/2 half stars - the fantasy world was interesting, and I especially enjoyed the unique treatment of gods in it. I was pretty engrossed throughout too, but, without spoilers, I'll just say the end was not as satisfying as the rest of the book - that's the one factor that knocked it from 4 stars to 3 for me.

Though I was intrigued enough overall that I'll likely give the next book in the series a try. ...more

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May 05, 2016 Deirdre rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Deeply interesting read, I enjoyed it, and I could see where it's not to everyone's taste. When Yeine is called from her homeland to the vicious court of her mother's family, she's declared a potential heir, but the politics are complicated and might just kill her. As she gets more involved she discovers more about the history of why there are so many gods in her family space and how things work, but she doesn't really approve of much of what is going on and the temptation to meddle is strong.

In ...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Infromsea rated it liked it · review of another edition

Not a bad read.

The author does a nice job of creating a new universe while not going overboard on the lore behind it.

This is a quick read that flows well, you'll find yourself turning the pages at a pretty good clip.

I think the story was a bit too long with too much filler that did not contribute to the story, amongst this was quite a bit of romance style storyine, could have done without all of that.

Overall, I'd recommend it but I don't see it as a classic or mind-blowing. ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I took a while to warm up to this book. The gods-as-people story has been done, redone, and done again. I wasn't sure this book would have anything new to say. (One could possibly say the same thing about dragon books, but why would one? Dragons are fun no matter how many times you've already met them.) The woman-of-destiny who shows up and immediately has all the male characters in love with her has also been done. But Jemisin brought a fresh perspective to the kind of psychological dramas god ...more

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Sep 15, 2018 Sandeep Vasudevan rated it it was ok

Shelves: fantasy

It started magnificently. Right at the beginning, it seemed to set the tone - mad gods, relatable heroine, magical city. And it keeps the tone alive for the most part. Where it sort of flagged as we went along was the incessant romance that festered within, breaking through like a pestilence and slowing things down into a fever dream. Initially I felt the romance part of the interpersonal dynamics which feed into the mystery, but as we went along I increasingly felt I was thrust into the middle ...more

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