tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post3470888703354045443..comments2024-03-28T07:09:28.500+00:00Comments on The Speculative Scotsman: Book Review | The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. JemisinAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-83925073371739183862012-01-13T18:26:45.793+00:002012-01-13T18:26:45.793+00:00I loved the narrative conceit of the novel and its...I loved the narrative conceit of the novel and its beautiful writing! Yeine's somewhat confused narration is perfect for her story, but I can see how that could affect one's appreciation of her as a character. I do agree though that books two and three only improve on what comes before.Mieneke van der Salmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04782771945227479913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-5591865868397001592012-01-11T05:11:45.560+00:002012-01-11T05:11:45.560+00:00At the time of reading, I found this one flawed bu...At the time of reading, I found this one flawed but interesting, and I decided that I'd continue in the hope of seeing the flaws corrected and the strengths brought out. In the months since, though, that drive rather evaporated. Many of my problems were those that you raised, and I'd agree with you on the prose. It (and Abraham's) is not exceptional in the sense of its very style being remarkable, as is the case for, say, VanderMeer or Ligotti, but it does excel in the Epic Fantasy tradition, I think. I don't mean to damn with faint praise there, either. Their writing, though Abraham's far more so in my opinion, focuses more on conveying the story than on itself, as is the genre's norm, but does so with rather more color and character than is, I feel, common.Nathaniel Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12852939663324751332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-40767884706830635262012-01-10T22:58:40.057+00:002012-01-10T22:58:40.057+00:00I didn't find the book beautifully written, bu...I didn't find the book beautifully written, but it does have a fair amount of polish for a debut. Otherwise I agree with your review - I'll look for reviews of the others, since me thinks you could rekindle my interest in the series.Chrishttp://ty-real.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-48129611485535346352012-01-10T21:47:50.815+00:002012-01-10T21:47:50.815+00:00I had a similar opinion ... well written prose, bu...I had a similar opinion ... well written prose, but somewhat shaky story/characters. I just finished and reviewed book three ... book two was infinitely better on every level, but don't even bother with book three, it was far worse in my opinion!Joshua Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05660987767660028351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-46369656080197419362012-01-10T21:25:40.754+00:002012-01-10T21:25:40.754+00:00@Ryan - Nah. I shouldn't think so. If there...@Ryan - Nah. I shouldn't think so. If there's nothing about this first book that interests you, mate, then the sequels aren't likely to change your mind. However much better books two and three of the series are, they're basically more of the same. Except... moreish.<br /><br />But like the man says, there are plenty other fish in the sea, so. :)<br /><br />Now then. I'm going to Bratislava. Speak soon, everyone!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-60448898724248222222012-01-10T21:19:01.835+00:002012-01-10T21:19:01.835+00:00@Bibliotropic - If you've been through The Hun...@Bibliotropic - If you've been through The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms twice and you're still excited to see what's next, I expect you'll have a great time with the sequels, Ria. The best is certainly yet to come.<br /><br />Happy second blogiversary, by the way! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-21859252496796733022012-01-10T18:08:06.701+00:002012-01-10T18:08:06.701+00:00I just finished rereading this one, in preparation...I just finished rereading this one, in preparation for reading the other two books of the trilogy. I've put them off for too long now, and I wanted to refresh the story in my mind. There were definitely some interesting themes to it, and Jemisin's style certainly is smooth. I'm excited to pick up book 2 soon! (I've only had it on my shelves for months now...)Bibliotropichttp://www.bibliotropic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-78896138512444803162012-01-10T16:37:28.744+00:002012-01-10T16:37:28.744+00:00This book has a pretty good reputation around the ...This book has a pretty good reputation around the blogs as a good read, but every time I read a review, I don't feel that twinge of interest in the book. I'm not one to read something just because everyone else is, so I think, despite your positive review and many others, I'm gonna let this fish swim by.<br /><br />Then again, your reviews for the rest of the series might sway me....Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261179296556524707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-53302711170607543742012-01-10T14:27:51.956+00:002012-01-10T14:27:51.956+00:00I was ready to give up the ghost on this about the...I was ready to give up the ghost on this about then myself, but solely because of its reputation I pushed on - with this book and then the trilogy - and I'm glad now that I did. Both of the sequels are rather better than The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, I think. But I'm getting ahead of myself!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-46645111172300557772012-01-10T14:20:44.999+00:002012-01-10T14:20:44.999+00:00I managed about twenty pages of this before I put ...I managed about twenty pages of this before I put it aside. At that point, there was nothing about the book that appealed to me.<br /><br />As to the quality of the prose, it is interesting how wildly opinions can vary. For me, there was nothing special about the prose of this book and though I love Abraham, I feel his prose is the weakest aspect of his books.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504273309594020933noreply@blogger.com