The Shadowed Sun

April 23, 2012
Gujaareh, the city-state of dreams, is an occupied nation under the heavy hand of the Kisuati. Wanahomen, son of the insane ruler deposed by the foreigners and slain by the priest-assassins of the Hetawa (as described in The Killing Moon), could free his city from its oppressors, but he will need the support of patriots, ambitious aristocrats, Banbarra nomads, and the Hetawa themselves. The priests know Gujaareh needs a leader, but wonder whether Wanahomen carries his father’s madness; they send Hanani, the first woman admitted to the ranks of the dream-healers, to both aid Wanahomen and spy on him. As factions negotiate and scheme, a deadly nightmare virus spreads through Gujaareh. Jemisin eschews simplistic adventure tropes for a nuanced approach. Some Kisuati are admirable, some of Wanahomen’s allies are despicable, and the drive to free Gujaareh requires finding common ground for disparate agendas. The characters often fall flat, as does the romance between Hanani and Wanahomen, and rape and abuse are discomfitingly prominent themes, but the political intrigue and unusual setting are compelling and satisfying. Agent: Lucienne Diver, the Knight Agency.

At night the citizens of Gujaareh are being killed by a cursed dream. During the day, they are being oppressed by occupying forces. An exiled prince and a female dream-priest are key to the city's breaking free of both troubles. Narrator Sarah Zimmerman's steady tones are pleasant, almost soothing. Her soft voice is not always effective at portraying male characters. The story itself is packed with convoluted politics, making it difficult to follow, especially for those who aren't familiar with the previous book in the series. This may be one of the few times an audiobook aficionado wishes for pages, as the desire to flip back to track the narrative is strong. G.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

May 1, 2012
Sequel to The Killing Moon (2011), this New York resident author's ancient Egypt-flavored fantasy. In the city-state of Gujaareh, the priests of the Hetawa temple use dream-magic to heal wounds, cure ailments, ease the passage of the dying, and kill those judged corrupt. Previously, the insane supreme ruler, Prince Eninket, created a diabolical Reaper to gather vast amounts of dream-magic in a quest to become immortal. Gatherer Ehiru and his apprentice Nijiri slew the Reaper and defeated Eninket, but as a result, Gujaareh was conquered and occupied by neighboring Kisua. Now, ten years later, Gujaareh has had enough of its overlords. As ordinary Gujaarans passively resist, Wanahomen, the last surviving son of Eninket, rallies the fierce desert tribes to the rebels' cause; he's supported by powerful but untrustworthy merchant Sanfi and by the Hetawa. Nijiri, now chief Gatherer, sends Hanani, the first and so far only female Sharer, or healer, and her wise mentor, Mni-inh, to Wanahomen, and the main thrust of the story follows Hanani's evolution from subservient, insecure, asexual apprentice to the full awakening of her magical and sexual abilities. As the revolution gathers momentum, the one serious complication involves a Wild Dreamer, a tortured, insane, incestuous girl-child whose uncontrolled and agonized Dreaming is killing both citizens and Gatherers. Again, it's easy to become absorbed in Jemisin's patient if sometimes pedantic attention to detail and emotionally complex characters. Otherwise, the plot lacks the tension of the first book, with much of it more embroidery than substance. Overstuffed and underpowered, but not to the extent that fans of the first book will be deterred.

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from June 15, 2012

Gujaareh, fabled city of dreams where peace is the only law, now bears the burden of conquest by the Kisuati Protectorate. Worse than the harassment of people in the streets by Kisuati soldiers, a plague sweeps through the city, killing people with nightmares of madness. Hanani, the first woman allowed into the healing priesthood of the goddess Hananja, and Wanahomen, an outcast prince of the Banbarra tribe, form an unlikely partnership dedicated to freeing Gujaareh from its conquerors and finding the cause of the nightmares. This sequel to The Killing Moon features some of the same characters, but tells a larger and very different story as a nonviolent people learn to fight for their freedom. Jemisin ("The Inheritance Trilogy") brings to life an exotic world of gentleness and savagery, of dreams and their dangers, and, first and foremost, of people who struggle to remain true to themselves. VERDICT The author's exceptional ability to tell a compelling story and her talent for worldbuilding have assured her place at the forefront of fantasy.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.