N.K. Jemisin, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

[Larry.]

From my review:

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the opener to the other The Inheritance Trilogy and author N.K. Jemisin's debut novel, is a novel that contains as seeming contradictions as its characters. From the first lines of this first-person narrative through to the end of this trilogy opener, there are surprises coexisting with some rather awkward narrative elements. The beginning chapters in particular highlight the novel's unevenness. The very first paragraphs of the book, pregnant with foreshadowing:

I am not as I once was. They have done this to me, broken me open and torn out my heart. I do not know who I am anymore.

I must try to remember. (p. 1)

have the force of this mystery and hint of the unreliable narrator blunted by indulging a bit too much in expository explanation of who the first-person narrator (the nineteen year-old bi-ethnic (racial?) princess Yeine Darre) is and what she is doing. Throughout the first half of this debut volume, it seemed at times that Jemisin could not decide whether to let Yeine act more as a portal through which the readers could experience the intrigue Yeine was embroiled in or if Yeine's character ought to be shown as an active, dynamic force whose actions would shape her reminiscences. This apparent indecision led to a few dead moments for the first few chapters until the novel's central conflict began to overwhelm the first, lesser confrontation that the opening chapter established.

Yeine's character twists earlier epic fantasy staples such as the overlooked, rustic farmboy rising unexpectedly to claim a largely-forgotten regal inheritance, not to mention the sometimes irritating spunky young woman character type. Yeine begins her reflections by relating why she was traveling to the court of the Arameri to meet long-sundered relatives and to discover that she had been named by her hitherto-now distant grandfather as heir, four months after her mother's murder (itself a plot device that is left rather underdeveloped here). There she discovers she is one of three heirs named, with the expectation that the three would battle it out for control of the court and of the so-called hundred thousand kingdoms under Arameri suzerainty.

This conflict, although at times well-illustrated, is neglected, rightfully so, for the larger conflict mirrored by this smaller, mortal clash. It turns out that the source of Arameri power are enslaved god-children, as well as one-third of the original triumvirate that ordered and shaped the universe. It is this ancient conflict between brother-sister-brother/lover-beloved-envious ones that drives the narrative for the second half of the novel, as the court intrigue falls into the backdrop. It is here here Yeine as a character begins to come into her own, as she begins to reveal more of herself than had been seen in the opening chapters. It is this plot and character development that gives the novel a powerful, surprising conclusion that more than makes up for the tentative, hesitant first half.

There are several things to praise about The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms thematic elements. Jemisin plays upon reader expectations of clashes between Light/Dark by creating a third, mediating element that forces readers to reconsider any previously-held preconceptions they may have held about the two (male) gods that still exist when the novel opens. Furthermore, by having this third, mysterious goddess/element in the background, Jemisin creates a plausible mythology that not only is explored within the narrative, but which provides an interpretative scheme for the novel that may satisfy those such as myself who like multifaceted, challenging narratives. As noted above, the three god/forces dominate the novel and Jemisin's skillful exploration of their motivations and their roles that infuses The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms with a compelling storyline which concludes strongly at the end in a fashion that will be simultaneously surprising and long-expected. Love is such a strange creature and its mutations can affect so many.

Although The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is but the opener for a trilogy, it is virtually self-contained. There is a definite, full narrative arc executed over 400 pages with a conclusion that brings all storylines but one introduced here to a close. The only open arc is introduced in the closing chapter and it sets the stage for a completely different sort of story to be explored in the second volume. It appears this trilogy may rely more upon thematic cliffhangers than narrative pauses to keep readers anticipating the next volume.

So how well did I like The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms? For the first half, as I stated above, I found myself being annoyed slightly by things such as Yeine's seeming digressions, the perceived lack of focus on what might be the book's central element, and the sometimes-distant, passive point-of-view character who sometimes failed to make what was transpiring vivid. But by the time that the gods' conflict emerged as the central focus, Jemisin's prose became more taut and the sometimes languid pace of the earlier chapters picked up in such a fashion as to make the final ten chapters or so very riveting. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not a perfect novel, but it certainly is a very promising and intriguing debut novel, one that despite its flaws felt more polished and nuanced than the vast majority of debut novels I have read in recent years. Jemisin has set the stage for what appears to be a redemption story and that alone would make me want to read the sequels. Knowing that, minor stumblings aside, that she has the writing chops to accomplish this leaves me anticipating the next volume more than I do most pending volumes. Likely one of the better 2010 debuts. Highly recommended.

[aidan]

I should have my review up for this early next week. I'm about half-way through right now and it is even better than I expected. Very impressive and confident for a debut.

[Ski the Swift]

Sounds good, is this available in stores yet?

[Larry.]

Released last week in the UK; Feb. 25 in the US.

Oh, funny to think of the things forgotten while writing an essay: should note that Jemisin has some subtle commentaries on gender issues and racism in her book, but unless one stops and thinks about certain events, these could be overlooked.

[murphy]

I've got it on my wish list at Barnes & Noble. It says shipping within 24 hours so maybe it released early. I'll order it tonight and see what happens. :rolleyes:

[Myshkin]

I actually just ordered this. Hope it's as good as everyone seems to think it is.

[Lupigis]

Thanks for posting that review! I have been interested in this book since reading the sample chapters but also a little hesitant. Glad to know it picked up in the second half.

[polishgenius]

I did like it, but somehow it felt like a somewhat wasted opportunity - it feels like she's a more talented writer than she displays here at times. Still, it's a clever, imaginative debut and she has a good way with words.

Also there's a little too much of the breathless love'n'lust style romance for me, but that's very much a matter of personal taste and it's much better written and more restrained than some books I've read of this type.

[Lupigis]

breathless love'n'lust style romance - that does not bode well. Do the rest of you agree with that characterisation of the book?

[polishgenius]

Don't get me wrong, it's not overwhelming, I certainly wouldn't characterise the book by that. It's just that the passages which did deal with that threw me out of it a bit.

[Renasko]

I'll be picking it up. :) Thanks for the review.

[Garlan the Gallant]

Released last week in the UK; Feb. 25 in the US.

Oh, funny to think of the things forgotten while writing an essay: should note that Jemisin has some subtle commentaries on gender issues and racism in her book, but unless one stops and thinks about certain events, these could be overlooked.

Could you expand on this please?

[kcf]

reading this one now - it's quite good so far.

[RedEyedGhost]

My copy shipped today. So much for the February 25th release date. I'll probably make it my next fantasy read.

edit: I fixed my horrible grammar. "Mine copy..." sheesh.

[Renasko]

I'll probably make it my next fantasy read.

^ What he said. I'm really looking forward to this; hope it lives up to the hype. I was a little put-off buying it, as I was looking a HC version, but beggars can't be choosers. :P Going to be digging into it as soon as it arrives (tomorrow?).

[kcf]

An interview with Jemisin at Amazon.

[Renasko]

Thanks for the link, Ken. I wish she'd come up with better names for her books. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a mouthful, and does not capture the imagination at all. The name of the whole thing, the Inheritance trilogy, as has been mentioned before, is the same one Paolini went with. Ugh. And now she's saying that her next two books up will be called The Broken Kingdoms and Kingdom of Gods. Admittedly, the last title she said was a tentative one for now, but we'll see. That last one just reminds me of Kingdom of God, the Liam Neeson and Orlando Bloom film...

[aidan]

Thanks for the link, Ken. I wish she'd come up with better names for her books. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a mouthful, and does not capture the imagination at all. The name of the whole thing, the Inheritance trilogy, as has been mentioned before, is the same one Paolini went with. Ugh. And now she's saying that her next two books up will be called The Broken Kingdoms and Kingdom of Gods. Admittedly, the last title she said was a tentative one for now, but we'll see. That last one just reminds me of Kingdom of God, the Liam Neeson and Orlando Bloom film...

I just wrapped up an interview with her today. She had totally different titles for the trilogy and each of the novels. Her publisher changed them.

[paran]

The Neeson/Bloom flick wasKingdom of Heaven...

[Renasko]

I just wrapped up an interview with her today. She had totally different titles for the trilogy and each of the novels. Her publisher changed them.

Hooray! Pleased by that.

The Neeson/Bloom flick wasKingdom of Heaven...

Quite right.