jlgookin's review
adventurous
fast-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Medical trauma, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
coffinfinite's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I learned that the Inheritance trilogy has not one but two extra novellas, I was delighted. When I finished The Kingdom of Gods I did not feel ready to leave the world Jemisin created, and so to return was a genuine pleasure. This short story is told from the perspective of Shill, a newborn Godling birthed centuries after the events of the third book. Shill is young, excitable and eager to discover her nature, and so she descends from the Gods’ realm to the mortal one in her search.
This story deals with a reversal of gender politics - the Darre, one of the civilisations to survive the conclusion of Kingdom of Gods, have endured a rebellion that has resulted in the subjugation of all Darren men “for their own good”. Previously they were a matriarchal nation who valued men as different but equal; now they have quashed a failed power-grab by stripping all male citizens of their rights.
It is difficult to portray this sort of matriarchy in a way that doesn’t feel like a flimsy inversion of patriarchy as it exists in reality. NK Jemisin takes great efforts to demonstrate how the justifications of female supremacy would be different, but too many traces of the binary remain (men are considered care givers and sexual chattel, for example) for this effort to be entirely successful. However, the story and characters that exist around this slightly flawed premise are strong enough to carry the narrative convincingly.
The introduction of new Godlings alongside the recurrence of old favourites make this a nice entry into the Inheritance lore. Learning of how the Gods coped with the conclusion to the trilogy gives a welcome sense of closure, though of course this novella still leaves the story open for more exploration, as the nature of Gods is that they are eternal. The story being delivered in the enthusiastic voice of Shill is stylistically endearing, too. A worthy entry into the series.
This story deals with a reversal of gender politics - the Darre, one of the civilisations to survive the conclusion of Kingdom of Gods, have endured a rebellion that has resulted in the subjugation of all Darren men “for their own good”. Previously they were a matriarchal nation who valued men as different but equal; now they have quashed a failed power-grab by stripping all male citizens of their rights.
It is difficult to portray this sort of matriarchy in a way that doesn’t feel like a flimsy inversion of patriarchy as it exists in reality. NK Jemisin takes great efforts to demonstrate how the justifications of female supremacy would be different, but too many traces of the binary remain (men are considered care givers and sexual chattel, for example) for this effort to be entirely successful. However, the story and characters that exist around this slightly flawed premise are strong enough to carry the narrative convincingly.
The introduction of new Godlings alongside the recurrence of old favourites make this a nice entry into the Inheritance lore. Learning of how the Gods coped with the conclusion to the trilogy gives a welcome sense of closure, though of course this novella still leaves the story open for more exploration, as the nature of Gods is that they are eternal. The story being delivered in the enthusiastic voice of Shill is stylistically endearing, too. A worthy entry into the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault
kylieqrada's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The sweetest novella to accompany the series!!! While it was told in a very different style than the rest of the books, the story was still very much classic N.K. Jemisin, packed with political commentary, and following an aspect of the story that was left unfinished in the main trilogy. A great addition to the overall arc.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Medical trauma
booksthatburn's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Awakened Kingdom is a novella set after the end of The Inheritance Trilogy, featuring a tonal shift and a new MC.
This is a sequel novella which is not meant to stand on its own. The story is self-contained but so much of the background was established during the main trilogy that this story doesn't devote much time to showing the setting, except in the ways where things have changed in the centuries since the end of the trilogy. It's a mostly lighthearted story about grief, which feels weird to say. The MC is disconnected from the very sad events of the main trilogy's conclusion, and finds herself in the position of being surrounded by people who expect things from her based on someone she never knew. How she deals with that is interesting and I enjoyed this story. I am glad that this particular narrative tone is only present as a novella because I think it might become irritating in a longer story, but it's just the right amount here to really convey her state of mind (being a literal child but also a godling).
The secondary plot which becomes more obvious in the second half of the story is really intriguing, it continues some of the themes from the main trilogy in a great way. I especially like the continuation of the idea that unchecked power isn't great in anyone's hands, no matter how noble the foundation.
If you like The Inheritance Trilogy and want to know more about what happened after the main story, give this a read. However, if you read this first it might not be a great way to know whether you'll like the main trilogy since the tone is pretty different.
This is a sequel novella which is not meant to stand on its own. The story is self-contained but so much of the background was established during the main trilogy that this story doesn't devote much time to showing the setting, except in the ways where things have changed in the centuries since the end of the trilogy. It's a mostly lighthearted story about grief, which feels weird to say. The MC is disconnected from the very sad events of the main trilogy's conclusion, and finds herself in the position of being surrounded by people who expect things from her based on someone she never knew. How she deals with that is interesting and I enjoyed this story. I am glad that this particular narrative tone is only present as a novella because I think it might become irritating in a longer story, but it's just the right amount here to really convey her state of mind (being a literal child but also a godling).
The secondary plot which becomes more obvious in the second half of the story is really intriguing, it continues some of the themes from the main trilogy in a great way. I especially like the continuation of the idea that unchecked power isn't great in anyone's hands, no matter how noble the foundation.
If you like The Inheritance Trilogy and want to know more about what happened after the main story, give this a read. However, if you read this first it might not be a great way to know whether you'll like the main trilogy since the tone is pretty different.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
CW for sexual assault, child abuse, self harm, violence, death.
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