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 - a palace above the clouds where gods' and mortals' lives are intertwined. There, to her shock, Yeine is named one of the potential heirs to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history. But it's not just mortals who have secrets worth hiding and Yeine will learn how perilous the world can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably.
Tash - 13nv
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is the first in a thrilling trilogy of books by rising fantasy author N.K. Jemisen based in a strictly regulated hierarchical society. The heroine Yeine is a barbarian noble, is summoned to the capital and instantly thrown into the midst of the power struggles surrounding the court. Yeine must survive until the coronation while avoiding the machinations of her fellow candidates, ambitious court members, and the gods themselves, who seek to manipulate her for their own gains. The mythology of this series is incredible, and Jemisen does an excellent job of characterising the gods, who despite their somewhat human mannerisms, act and interact with the other characters in a way that is entirely alien. Also powerful in the story is the strong themes of prejudice, particularly focusing on issues of race. Recommended for any fans of Game of Thrones, The Hundred Thousand is the first in a series you wont be able to put down.
Guest, 19/08/2014