The Kingdom of Gods

I had my reservations about this one after how much I liked The Broken Kingdoms. I was very pleased to find everything worked out well. Sieh was a fascinating main character to explore and I loved the parallels scattered throughout the book. As with the previous books, it did feel a bit like the biggest plot points got resolved pretty quickly near the end of the story. But the buildup and character building made the story very engaging to read.I had very few issues with the story. The passage of time got a bit confusing, and I had a lot of trouble figuring out Remath's motives throughout the majority of the story. A part of me wished for more action, but what was written was very nicely spaced out and always entertaining to read.I think this trilogy has been a fascinating study in character building. Overall, I still find the first book the weakest, and Yeine remains a bit flat in terms of personality and plot contribution. But the previous book and this one had very strong main characters that made me fall in love with the world over and over again.And, as expected, I was very happy about the little side story at the very end. In the end, I'm very glad to have read this trilogy.

From the first book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, I loved Sieh. The prankster. The Eternal Child. The impetuous, reckless, cruel Sieh. He was everything that was wonderful about being a child and everything that was terrible. So for me this was the perfect book. I thought it oddly fitting in many ways--Book 1 was about a mortal who became a god. Book 2 was about a mortal plagued by gods (and the one who was not a god but not mortal) and so what else to finish the circle then a god who was slowly becoming mortal?I love the book. I love that even though Sieh was maturing in a way he had never been before (he shifted his age as he liked, but he didn't understand the full truth of aging) he didn't allow that to make him any less than he was. Maybe he didn't enjoy the experience and certainly it taught him so hard lessons, but given his nature it was a necessary.Jemisin's style is on cue for me here. Its recogniziably hers--there's something about her turn of phrase or the rhythm maybe--but Sieh's narrative is very different from Yeine's or Oree's. Yeine's was all over the place; past, present and future all colliding because the narrator--Yeine--was still coming to grips with what it meant to be a god (where time moves differently). Oree's was firmly entrenched in the present--her memories and speculations were just that, she showed a decided fondness for linear story-telling. Sieh though, his narration progressed in a linear fashion, but his observances were not mortal.This is meant to be the full circle of what began in the first book, but I honestly didn't understand what Jemisin was hinting at until it was laid out. Its clever in its way, a kind of mystery that in hindsight you see the clues. It did overshadow the plotline about the Arameri killings for me however. It all tied in, but for me I was felt much more invested in what was happening to Sieh then what was happening to that clan of murderers (even if Shahar was different).Its funny because Jemisin's writing makes me want to be able to discuss how the book(s) make me feel in a better more thought-provoking fashion. I'm not a terribly eloquent person to be honest, nor can I discuss at length the deep nature of the book that Jemisin so encapsulates. I can talk passionately about why I love something and if I read something I agree with that is intelligent and thoughtful and everything I can never form into words, I will use that to help me explain my love better....but its not my nature to be so brainy? Though that's not the right word at all I don't think.

N.K. Jemisin outdid herself on this last and final installment of the Inheritance Trilogy. Was it as surprising and revelatory as the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms? No, but the book was all the better for it. The first book in the series, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, introduced the reader to a sumptuous fantasy land and created an intricate magical system that was something out of the ordinary even in this genre. I didn't expect to like the first book as much as I did and skimmed through the first 20 pages before Jemisin's detailed and thorough writing style sucked me in. I strongly feel the first book deserved to win the Hugo and Nebula Awards. As other reviewers noted, you should read the other books in the series before reading this book. Some series allow you to pick up in the middle but Jemisin doesn't bother with this convention. She dispenses with the formulaic introductions and places trust in the reader making the story more intimate and emotional. This last book is all about Sieh, the godling offspring of the two gods central to the first two books: Yeine and Nahadoth, two of the three creators of the universe. Sieh is a trickster godling who is the embodiment of childhood with all a child's wonder, brutality, and justice intact. Sieh has been a favorite of mine and I'm glad he got his own story. Jemisin set up her enormous universe in the first two books with god structures, races and stunning lands described in lush detail. The Kingdom of the Gods is where she went all out on character development focusing solely on one person rather than dividing her attention. I teared up a little at the end but the series ended well and I was OK with letting it go.Other reviewers took note of Sieh's bisexuality but I don't think much emphasis was placed on his sexuality in the book and it was more about equal opportunity love rather than his gender preferences. Knowing Sieh, he would probably have relations with an alien of indeterminate gender if he felt so inclined. In summary, I liked the book. Not as much as Hundred Thousand Kingdoms but better than the Broken Kingdom. She ended the series well and I don't feel a need to clamor for more stories from this universe (although I might be tempted).For readers looking for more, I thought her universe and story development were similar to Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion cycle.

This is one of the best series I’ve ever read (fan of Game of Thrones and Outlander)! I ate these books up, one after the other and don’t know what I will do now… read them again?! The world Jemisin creates is beautiful and rich, and although it takes a few chapters to get the details straight in my mind, after that I can’t get enough of her imagined universe, the characters and the story. So intricately woven - a masterpiece I will certainly recommend!!

The third book in this trilogy is as brilliantly well done as the first two, bringing it all to a very satisfactory ending with new revelations about the Gods and Godlings of this universe that enable all (or at least most) of the loose ends to be tidied up and tied off.The Gods and Godlings are, of course, central not only to the world building but also to the plot, so it's worth taking a moment to focus on this part of Jemisin's writing. Like the deities of the ancient Greeks, Romans and others, they are in many ways all too human: for all their power and knowledge, for all their eons of life experience, they are still capable of being petty, and careless, of making grievous mistakes (especially in relationships) and of making things worse while trying to put things right. Above all, they are confined by their own natures. They cannot become more than they inherently are, which puts an ultimate limit on even the most powerful of the Gods.The entire trilogy could be seen as a parable about the dangers of power without wisdom. Or you could just read as a wonderful bit of story telling, marvelously well imagined, perfectly structured and utterly enthralling from beginning to end.

I loved the non western feel of this series. It was interesting seeing the strong woman from what I assume is an Islamic perspective. These books read as fables told by someone who experts a non Grimm fairytale upbringing. I enjoyed the characters and the completely different monsters and challenges faced. A strong fantasy world with a different take on romance, less bodice ripping and more deep feelings. All in all satisfying.

I fell in love with N.K. Jemisin’s writing when I read the Broken Earth trilogy. I have enjoyed following up with this series and the final book and ending have made it worth it.

Will keep this brief. One of the best writers I have come across in a long time. Fluent articulate writing, creating characters that matter and that the reader cares about. Lot's of humour, love and poetry in all three books. I cried at the end. Again after reading the acknowledgements. Perfect.

This trilogy is a really original take on the fantasy genre - I have actually preferred the 2nd and 3rd books in the series, finding the protagonists more likeable. The book plays with morals and religion whilst also having lots of magic, adventure and twists and turns which I like. I also enjoyed how chasracters you thought you knew from earlier books aren't who you thought they were! A refreshing new series, the 2nd and 3rd books especially are written skillfully and I was thinking about them for quite a while after finishing. I'd buy it if I were you!