The hundred thousand kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

Inheritance trilogy ; 1

Okay, so I’m behind the times with this. And yes, I’ve heard so many people talk about N.K. Jemisin in such a positive light that I really should have read her earlier. And y’all were totally right, I loved this book.

The blurb makes it sound like a fairly generic epic fantasy novel

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle.

but this is not your standard poor child comes to realise that they are the hero the kingdom has been waiting for. Although in some ways it is!

It is the story of a young woman, who is yes, finding her way in the world. And what a world, one with enslaved gods and magics that enforce peace. Where conquerors insist that they are acting in the colonised best interest¹ while not caring in the slightest what happens to the less powerful once they obey.

It is also a story of family and betrayal. Of love and hate. All that good stuff that motivates us all.

Plus, although it is book one in a trilogy it is a complete story, so you can finish the book satisfied.

I’ll certainly be reading more by Jemisin now that I’ve finally started.

1. don’t they always ↩