Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Leaning Pile of Books

Yesterday I got one review copy in the mail. After finishing Bone Crossed (about 60 pages left), I was planning to read one of my review copies but I wasn't sure which one until this one showed up.



The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

This fantasy debut novel is the first book in the Inheritance trilogy. I have been hearing very good things about it and have been especially excited about reading it ever since I read Ana's review over at The Book Smugglers. It sounds like just the type of book I like so it was a great surprise to receive a copy yesterday. I am really looking forward to reading it. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms will be released on February 25.

10 comments:

Ciara said...

I saw this book in my local bookshop last week. Bought it not knowing what to expect but I'm glad I did. A really enjoyable, different read. Loved it.

Benjamin said...

Ooo, nice. I've heard a lot of good stuff about this one too and I've asked for it for my birthday next month. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to your review. :)

Kristen said...

Ciara - I started it yesterday and so far I really like it. It is different and had me hooked from the beginning.

Benjamin - Right now I'm about a quarter of the way through it and at least so far I can see why everyone has been saying good things about it. It sucked me in right at the beginning and it's one I don't want to put down. Hope you like it if you get it for your birthday!

Anastasia said...

I read the review you linked to - and wow, yeah, that book sounds great. The quoted passages have a good rhythm to them, I think I'd enjoy the prose. I was interested enough to look up the author's name (enigmatically hidden under initials, but it has to be a woman, right?). So here's what the Internet told me about N.K. Jemisin: "N" stands for Nora, she's a black writer living in New York City, and lists "Octavia Butler, Storm Constantine, Omar Khayyam" as her literary influences. ~squee~

Kristen said...

Anastasia - The quoted passages in that review really appealed to me as well. I'm about 150 pages into the book now and so far I really like it a lot. It hooked me easily and I'm enjoying pretty much everything about it - the world, the characters, the writing, the plot.

When I see initials I automatically assume a woman writer (although I'm sure I'm wrong about that at least some of the time - M.L.N. Hanover is not a woman writer, for instance). I did know the 'N' stood for 'Nora,' though, since I found the author on Twitter. And, wow, those are some pretty good literary influences (although I must admit to not knowing who Omar Khayyam is - have you read anything by that author?).

Anastasia said...

Omar Khayyam was an 11th century poet, philosopher, and mathematician/scientist. I read a few poems in translation.

Let me share some exciting news! I just found the KGB Bar Fantastic Fiction (http://www.kgbfantasticfiction.org) - monthly spec fic readings at a bar in East Village. Tomorrow is Peter Straub and Daryl Gregory. I'm super excited about Gregory, as I really enjoyed Pandemonium and was curious about his new book. New month (March 17), N.K. Jemisin will be there. I'm kicking myself that I haven't found this before, as they've had awesome guests in the past, but I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and everything from now on. I've never met an author in person before.

Anastasia said...

Samuel R. Delany was at the KGB Bar in July, and I, like, worship him. That's on my list of things to do before I die - meet Samuel Delany.

Kristen said...

Anastasia - That sounds like a lot of fun! I hope you have a good time tomorrow night. Next month's sounds interesting - from what I have read so far, that's one I'd like to see.

Jamie Gibbs said...

I'm really looking forward to this one myself. I've got to get through Raymond E. Feist's Wrath of a Mad God and Celia Friedman's Feast of Souls (and a book by a local author) before I can even take a look at The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. It sounds awesome!

Kristen said...

Jamie - I really liked The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. If I wasn't sick this weekend, I'd probably be writing a review of it right now. Feast of Souls was also very good; I'd like to get the sequel sometime soon.