by N.K. Jemisin
Overall: I have enjoyed every book of Jemisin’s that I have read thus far, and The Killing Moon, book 1 of the Dreamblood Duology, did not disappoint. Inspired by the religious beliefs, customs, art, and architecture of ancient Egypt, The Killing Moon takes place in the neighboring countries of Gujaareh and Kisua on a distant world circling a gas giant. In Gujaareh, the people revere Hananja, the goddess of dreams, and the priesthood has developed a system of magic that uses “dreamblood” to heal the sick and promote peace. Some of the priests, however, are “Gatherers,” tasked with collecting the dream magic from those deemed corrupt or criminal, or from the terminally ill, which kills them. When Ehiru, Gujaareh’s most revered Gatherer, begins to realize something is amiss, he gets drawn into a conspiracy that threatens to unleash a war between the two neighbors.
Likes: I *love* ancient Egypt, and the world of The Killing Moon is a fascinating extrapolation of this lost civilization. Ehiru is a complex, flawed character, who I nonetheless rooted for, and I felt the same about Sunandi, the ambassador from Kisua who also begins to uncover the conspiracy. The relationship between Ehiru and his apprentice Nijiri is a deep exploration of the complex emotions that can develop between a mentor and a much younger devoted pupil. As with all of Jemisin’s worlds, this one is super detailed, from the food and clothing to the social hierarchies, and the world-building is seamless and convincing.
Dislikes: Really nothing. But if you like a lot of explanation in your fantasy world-building, this won’t be the book for you. Jemisin loves dropping the reader into the deep end and letting them figure things out for themselves! I love the feeling of discovery that this brings, but I know it’s not for everyone.
FYI: murder, violence, terminal illness, death of parents, death of children.
Liz Helfrich 