N.K. Jemisin is the Greatest Author of our Generation

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

No, I'm not referencing any kind of article in this, I'm just saying that, in my opinion, N.K. Jemisin is the greatest storyteller of our generation. Because of this, I want everyone ever to read her work, because while she's mildly prestigious, she doesn't get nearly enough credit.

She has eight published novels; two trilogies and one duology.

The Inheritance Trilogy
1. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
2. The Broken Kingdoms
3. The Kingdom of Gods
3.5. The Awakened Kingdom (Novella)
Short Story Triptych: Shades In Shadow


Dreamblood
1. The Killing Moon
2. The Shadowed Sun

Broken Earth
1. The Fifth Season
2. The Obelisk Gate
3. The Stone Sky

Who all has read her works? For me, Broken Earth is by far the best, followed by The Inheritance Trilogy, and then Dreamblood. I just read Broken Earth for the first time earlier this year, and I'm thinking of re-reading it again soon.

 

[Leira Galene]

ME I HAVE READ EVERY SINGLE THING SHE'S WRITTEN. 100% AGREE I LOVE HER.

My order I think would be Broken Earth, Dreamblood, then Inheritance. I'm guessing this means you finished The Stone Sky?

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

Oh, yep! Finished it a few months ago. I couldn't function for a little while. Not in the whole, "lol I loved this book I died after I read the ending omg" fake way, but in a, "No, I need to sit down for a couple of hours and just think for a bit." type of thing.

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

What didn't you like about The Inheritance Trilogy (or, what did you like about Dreamblood)? Because to me, Dreamblood is like, it was fine (which means it was great by regular standards, but it was just fine by Jemisin standards).

 

[Tallan Daar]

All aboard the Jemisin fan train! She's not my no. 1 favourite but she's pretty far up the list. The Broken Earth is absolutely the best, and I think I'm fonder if Inheritance than Dreamblood, but then I've only read Dreamblood once, might be time for a reread there..

Also the short The City Born Great, the proof of concept story for her coming urban fantasy book/series/I don't even know. Whatever. 2019, hurry up!

 

[Leira Galene]

Oh, yep! Finished it a few months ago. I couldn't function for a little while. Not in the whole, "lol I loved this book I died after I read the ending omg" fake way, but in a, "No, I need to sit down for a couple of hours and just think for a bit." type of thing.

Yes, same.

I don't know, I guess how you felt about Dreamblood is how I felt about Inheritance. I loved the Inheritance novella, but I guess I was just sort of meh on the Nahadoth/Itempas thing. Dreamblood, I thought, had more interesting cosmology. Plus, as a planetary science person, I loved that it was fantasy, but set on the moon of a gas giant. It took me a while to figure out but once I did I was thrilled. So I guess I felt like Dreamblood had more of the mix of fantasy, but with a science-fiction-like setting that I loved about Broken Earth.

That being said, I've only read Dreamblood and Inheritance 2&3 once. I've been considering a reread of Dreamblood, although I think I want to reread The Stony Sky first.

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

Also the short The City Born Great, the proof of concept story for her coming urban fantasy book/series/I don't even know. Whatever. 2019, hurry up!

Oooooh, I've read that, but I didn't know it was for her next book/series! Time to re-read it.

That's totally fair re: Dreamblood. I'm all about the characters - a cool setting definitely adds a lot, but for me, if the characters aren't there, I'm much less interested. I absolutely loved Nahadoth/Itempas/Yeine and Sieh. They were fantastically flawed characters. Yeah, the setting was a bit wanting, but it wasn't bad. I agree that Dreamblood had a more interesting world, but I honestly didn't care for any of the characters except for Ehiru.

 

[Cahalan Sothron]

I have only read the Broken Earth series so far, but I absolutely loved it. Reading other stuff by her is definitely on my to-do list!

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

I am reading The Fifth Season just now (I believe it was Leira who recommended it to me!) And I'm enjoying it immensely. Probably take me a while to get through as my time for reading is curtailed just now. But it's very good.

 

[Leo Kian]

I have never heard of the author until now. I have been looking for a new series to start so will definitely check one of these out. Thanks for recommending!

 

[Relinya Ryviarra]

I just bought book one in the broken earth series yesterday! I trust you @Jeffan Caliarthan ...although light knows why :kiss

 

[Elanda Tonil]

I own The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms but haven’t actually read it yet. One of these days I really should sit down to read it.

 

[Xander Silverstar]

I read The Hundred Thousan Kingdoms, I thought the book was ok, but I didn't find it to be fantastic. It was ok.

 

[Mathei Kardone]

Im going to have to read one of these, which is good to start with?

A hundred thousand kingdoms seems to many to keep track of

 

[Elanda Tonil]

Probably only three or four of the kingdoms actually matter.

 

[Tallan Daar]

Go for gold, start with The Fifth Season.

 

[Jeffan Caliarthan]

Go for gold, start with The Fifth Season.

This

 

[Anujun Trahearn]

Added to my dwindling list on Goodreads Thanks for the tip!

 

[Ilverin Matriam]

OMG excited to start reading these after this much positive reviews

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

Go for gold, start with The Fifth Season.

Inheritance is better. Nothing ever written ever beats the blind pov of Broken Kingdoms.