The Kingdom of Gods

September 12, 2011
Jemisin’s third and final Inheritance fantasy (after 2010’s The Broken Kingdoms) builds on the series theme of obsessive, destructive love. Child trickster godling Sieh has been lonely for eons. When Shahar and Dekarta, twin scions of the once-powerful Arameri clan, disingenuously offer to be his friends, his misguided attempt to seal their friendship with magic and blood ends in catastrophe. Years later, Sieh wakes to find himself mortal and aging, Dekarta scapegoated and banished, and Shahar entangled in family politics. Worse, an ancient, forgotten figure has returned with a plan for vengeance that may doom the world. Jemisin is as talented as ever, and the focus on desperate longing lends the series thematic unity. There is room for sequels but no need for them, allowing Jemisin to move on to new frontiers.

October 15, 2011

Finally freed from their enslavement by the ruling Arameri, the gods and godlings of the world still find themselves influenced by the shifting loyalties, loves, and hates of mortals. When Sieh, the god of childhood, gives his friendship to two Arameri children, Shahar and her brother Dekarta, his godhood slips from him and changes the course of the world forever. Jemisin's brilliant conclusion to her award-winning trilogy (after The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms; The Broken Kingdom) explores the human desire for the divine as well as the gods' need for the mortals who worship them. VERDICT Masterly storytelling and compelling characters make this a standout selection for fantasy lovers.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.