enbyglitch's review against another edition
5.0
A great follow-up, showing the world from a very different perspective than the first book. A few moments that are echoed in and essential to the Broken Earth trilogy, which is fun to see.
Otherwise lots of similar themes and questions being asked; often in more grey areas than the first book.
Some great imagery and I personally enjoyed seeing the narrative shift away from such a focus on sex and relationships. Interested to see what happens next.
Otherwise lots of similar themes and questions being asked; often in more grey areas than the first book.
Some great imagery and I personally enjoyed seeing the narrative shift away from such a focus on sex and relationships. Interested to see what happens next.
sleepyjane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
nbhatta's review against another edition
5.0
I think I like this book better than the first!
It was great seeing what had happened to this world after the events of the first book.
Looking forward to the next book.
It was great seeing what had happened to this world after the events of the first book.
Looking forward to the next book.
kylarkylar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not as good as the first but still enjoyable!
moirwyn's review against another edition
5.0
This review first appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/02/28/the-broken-kingdoms-n-k-jemisin/
The Broken Kingdoms is the second book in N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy. Set ten years after the events of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the book tells the story of a blind woman named Oree Shoth who makes a living selling trinkets beneath the World Tree in the center of the capital city, Shadow. Oree may be blind, but she is able to see magic, which makes Shadow the perfect place for her to live. The city is home to many godlings, including Oree’s lover, Madding. One day, Oree stumbles upon the corpse of a godling, and as more bodies start turning up, she finds herself caught up in a conspiracy that could threaten the entire world.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the godlings, each of whom has his or her unique nature. There’s Nemmer, who works in the city’s criminal underworld, Madding, who wants to love Oree, but is scared because he’ll inevitably lose her, and of course, there’s Lil, my favorite, who eats human flesh, but only if it’s freely offered. The godlings make life in Shadow interesting, and I enjoyed learning more about them.
In The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, we mostly saw the world from the perspective of the ruling Arameri family. The Broken Kingdoms gives us a chance to delve deeper into the same world and see a greater diversity of the capital’s inhabitants. We get to see a range of people that includes artisans, merchants, godlings, beggars, priests, and cultists. This gives readers a much better picture of what life is like outside the palace walls.
Oree’s blindness added yet another dimension to the story. This is perhaps the only speculative fiction novel that I can think of offhand that has a blind protagonist. Her unique ability to sense magic allows her to be more perceptive than most sighted people, giving us a better picture of the godlings, whom most people try to ignore. Oree is an artist, and she can see the paintings that she creates. She quickly discovers that her paintings are a form of magic, and they play an important role of the story.
I could go on for hours about how much I love N.K. Jemisin’s writing and how fantastic the Inheritance Trilogy is thus far. I read The Broken Kingdoms as part of a readalong with other bloggers, and greatly enjoyed discussing it in depth. I can’t say enough good things about this book, and would highly recommend it.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/02/28/the-broken-kingdoms-n-k-jemisin/
The Broken Kingdoms is the second book in N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy. Set ten years after the events of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the book tells the story of a blind woman named Oree Shoth who makes a living selling trinkets beneath the World Tree in the center of the capital city, Shadow. Oree may be blind, but she is able to see magic, which makes Shadow the perfect place for her to live. The city is home to many godlings, including Oree’s lover, Madding. One day, Oree stumbles upon the corpse of a godling, and as more bodies start turning up, she finds herself caught up in a conspiracy that could threaten the entire world.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the godlings, each of whom has his or her unique nature. There’s Nemmer, who works in the city’s criminal underworld, Madding, who wants to love Oree, but is scared because he’ll inevitably lose her, and of course, there’s Lil, my favorite, who eats human flesh, but only if it’s freely offered. The godlings make life in Shadow interesting, and I enjoyed learning more about them.
In The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, we mostly saw the world from the perspective of the ruling Arameri family. The Broken Kingdoms gives us a chance to delve deeper into the same world and see a greater diversity of the capital’s inhabitants. We get to see a range of people that includes artisans, merchants, godlings, beggars, priests, and cultists. This gives readers a much better picture of what life is like outside the palace walls.
Oree’s blindness added yet another dimension to the story. This is perhaps the only speculative fiction novel that I can think of offhand that has a blind protagonist. Her unique ability to sense magic allows her to be more perceptive than most sighted people, giving us a better picture of the godlings, whom most people try to ignore. Oree is an artist, and she can see the paintings that she creates. She quickly discovers that her paintings are a form of magic, and they play an important role of the story.
I could go on for hours about how much I love N.K. Jemisin’s writing and how fantastic the Inheritance Trilogy is thus far. I read The Broken Kingdoms as part of a readalong with other bloggers, and greatly enjoyed discussing it in depth. I can’t say enough good things about this book, and would highly recommend it.
firefly99's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked the main character in this one!! Oree is amazing and I love her. She seriously might be one of my favorite book characters ever. Great story, some fun surprises, enough tragedy to feel real. Loved it.
tarynneitup's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bramboomen's review against another edition
3.0
The writing of The Broken Kingdoms was a lot better than its predecessor, so I enjoyed it much more. The buildup of the story was better, the main character was a lot more likeable and Jemisin didn't spend half of the pages to mind-blowing, explosion-filled, supernatural sex scenes.
But I can't help but feel that it would have made so much more sense to have read this before the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Nothing seems to have happend for the world of this book, and, because I presume Oree doesn't feature in the last book, not a lot happened to the characters as well. Which would be fine for the introduction of the series, but after the first book the story felt ... inconsequential.
But I can't help but feel that it would have made so much more sense to have read this before the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Nothing seems to have happend for the world of this book, and, because I presume Oree doesn't feature in the last book, not a lot happened to the characters as well. Which would be fine for the introduction of the series, but after the first book the story felt ... inconsequential.
mxknits's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
saoki's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written. It's a book filled with feelings, so consider that if you're going to be reading it in public.
I was wondering how the author could possibly make me sympathise with Itempas after what we learn on the first book, but she managed to convince me to like him. I actually cried in the end.
I was wondering how the author could possibly make me sympathise with Itempas after what we learn on the first book, but she managed to convince me to like him. I actually cried in the end.