Post apocalypse fantasy with mutant Earth Benders and underground aliens/magic monsters with diamonds for teeth? Sure, let's do this.
Jemisin does an excellent job weaving together the three pieces of narrative in a way that is satisfying even as you start to figure out how they interconnect. The plots build together, and while there are things that take on new meaning in retrospect, there's not really any "twist," so there's no eye rolling moment of "really?" but, rather, a series of "Oh, I think I see where this is going... ah, yes, that makes sense..." There's a lot of interesting things being explored here. Not just how far you can push people before they break--although there's that, too--but fear, how we adapt to and accept dehumanizing situations, loss, family, how catastrophe brings out the best and worst in us. For a book about an extinction level event, the story stays surprisingly grounded in the personal tragedies and experiences of a very small number of people.
I can't wait to jump into the second book, now.
No comments:
Post a Comment