Sep 252013
Something of an exercise in frustration: On the first hand, Jemisin has created a stunning world with its own creation myth that’s uncovered, layer by layer, over the course of the story… but we hardly see any of it. It’s meant to show an out-of-touch ruling glass, but doesn’t really work. Our heroine Yeine is plucked up by her god-emperor grandfather and used as a political tool in a world where the pure order reigns. Gods, godlings, plenty of hot god-on-human action and nasty politics struggle for clarity through an experiment in narrative structure which muddies this strong first effort.