The Shadowed Sun (The Dreamblood, 2)

I dragged my feet on starting this book, because I felt pretty lukewarm toward its predecessor, The Killing Moon. Once I finally started on this one, however, I just really wanted to know what was happening. This one is about so many things. I will talk about it as best I can without spoilers. There's a heavy theme of being a fish out of water, getting to know other cultures and unlearning some prejudices. The author is deeply talented at creating a setting and a complex, alien culture that makes sense to the reader and feels believable. Thinking more deeply about right and wrong, and considering that the things that are right within one person's culture can be horrifying to an outsider. There is a lot about gender roles, exploring if a person can take on a role typically seen as belonging to the other gender, while maintaining one's on gender identity. There is a love story between two complicated, emotionally damaged characters who are still discovering their own needs and feelings. It also felt believable to me. There was melancholy in it, but this author does not seem to write typical happily ever after stories. Another major theme in this book, I'd say the most important one, is coping with abuse, and trying to heal from it. Horrific abuse is alluded to in this story, involving a small child, and particularly sensitive readers may find it deeply upsetting. It isn't graphic, but it doesn't need to be to get across the sadness and horror. I have not been so emotionally destroyed by the ending of a book since I gave up reading John Steinbeck. But unlike what turned me away from Steinbeck, not every outcome in this book is negative. There is a great deal of tragedy and sorrow, but there is also forgiveness, understanding, and hope.

...not to mention some of the best storytelling in any genre. People who look down on speculative fiction--fantasy especially--as somehow not worthy of being called "literary" just make me tired. This is one of those books that proves them wrong. Prose, worldbuilding, plot, characters; they're all excellent, as I've come to expect from Jemisin based on her previous four books. I don't really have anything to add to what the other 5-star reviewers said, except that I'm not *positive* this is Jemisin's best book... that seems a bit like trying to pick your favorite child! I very much love her previous Inheritance trilogy and the first book of this duology, The Killing Moon (seriously, read that one first so you have a bit of context). And I very much recommend also reading her Inheritance trilogy (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, etc), which I assume you have not, or you wouldn't need to read these reviews to decide if you want to buy this book. Like me, you'd just buy anything she writes as soon as it's available!

Pretty good. The author's Broken Earth trilogy is much better though.

Reading Jemisin's work is a consistently pleasurable experience. Deep, measured and complex in style and content. The story in the Dreamblood duology intriguing and moving, the world both familiar and exotic, tasting of spice, fate and longings.

From my Goodreads review: An excellent follow-up to "The Killing Moon," set in the same world but about 10 years later. Much has changed in the world, and the book mostly follows characters who were only ancillary in TKM, so there are plenty of new ideas and new stories to tell while keeping the flavor and the writing style of the first book. Jemisin's system of dream magic is explored from a different, and equally fascinating, angle. Her characters continue to feel genuine and their relationships respond to the harrowing challenges (and a few silly human foibles) of their world in interesting ways. There is no idealized society or perfect hero in this story, as easy as it would have been to make either one. The climax is exciting and the denouement is gratifying. I had no idea how Jemisin could follow TKM, which I thought was unique and remarkable, and while TSS isn't quite as tight it is a very satisfying successor. 4.5 stars

Excellent worldbuilding with diverse cultures. Astounding characterization. Good resource for writers to study! Deep lore, different magic system, and good pacing. Read once for the story and a second time as resource for writing.

This is a deep, thought provoking, imagery based novel which opened up deep questions about the power to heal, the power of self, dealing with grief, finding of self and acknowledgement and acceptance of gifting. This novel had the reader hooked from the beginning, having read Book 1, I could not see where the author would go next but in reading The Shadowed Sun I saw how the author looked at Gujareet ten years hence, the division, the turmoil but the underlying desire to get it back to its original standing by fair means or foul. An excellent read, totally enjoyable for me, highly recommended!!

I am completely hooked on the writing of N.K. Jemisin. She has a unique voice and builds worlds that have features of some cultures and religions on Earth but are still fresh visions. Her characters are complex adults and the plots have substance and are not predictable, The action scenes are well done but the real beauty in her writing are the layers of the story that do not easily explain the motivations and goals of all the characters. She trusts the reader to have the intelligence and patience to wait for the story to unfold. Very refreshing in a genre that still seems to be dominated by authors that are telling enjoyable, fast paced stories that owe much to Tolkien and Robert Jordan but ultimately are junk food for the brain. (I like junk food but Jemisin's books can take my breath away at times and that is more fun for this reader.)

全体の感想を言えば、大変面白かったです！Inheritanceが大好きだったのもあって意外に感じましたが、ジェミシンは人間劇だけじゃなく結構アクション部分の文章もしっかりしてるんですね。魔法あり、冒険ありで、ファンタジー好きで長い物語に抵抗を感じない人にはとてもおすすめです。 が、ちょっと長かったかなーと。もうちょっとタイトにできたんじゃ、という感じはあります。綿密な世界観の作りこみ、各キャラクターの感情の書き込みの結果ではあるとは思いますが。Inheritanceシリーズにくらべ、「主人公」が多かったのもすこーし散漫な印象を与えてしまう原因かも。 ラストはイライラしたような、ほっとしたような、切ないような……。でもちゃんと「読んでよかったな」と思いながら本を閉じることができました。

I've read all of Jemisin's book, all entrancing and wonderful reads. This is no exception. Definitely a recommendation for everyone looking for a deep dive into another world.

Questo libro segue le vicende di [book:La luna che uccide|22443286] mostrandoci la situazione dopo dieci anni. E lo fa ribaltando tutto. I protagonisti del primo libro sono ora bene o male comparse, in questo seguito. Sunandi è la reggente della città per conto del Protettorato, ma si trova dilaniata tra il desiderio di preservare il più possibile la città e la cultura che ha imparato ad amare, l'amore per la propria nazione e le richieste dei consiglieri in patria che pretendono di ottenere quanto prima grandi guadagni da questa occupazione militare, a suon di tasse e commerci obbligati. Nijiri invece è ora un Raccoglitore stimato e temuto, e vista la situazione ormai insostenibile per la città con i soldati occupanti che brutalizzano i cittadini è uno dei fautori del piano dell'Hetawa per cacciare gli invasori (all'epoca appoggiati da loro) e cambiare padrone. E chi sarà il padrone? Il figlio del vecchio re, il re folle che era il nemico del primo libro. Il figlio è sopravvissuto, fuggito nel deserto, e ora vuole riconquistare il trono alla testa di un esercito di barbari, forte delle alleanze con i superstiti delle caste militari e nobiliari della città, e pure dell'odiata classe religiosa che vede come i macellai che hanno ucciso suo padre. Un ragazzo con poca conoscenza di quanto fosse realmente accaduto, forgiato da una vita durissima e da costumi diversissimi da quelli cui era abituato. L'erede designato del regno che vive di pace, ora un guerriero violento, membro onorario di una popolazione passionale e istintiva. L'anello di congiunzione tra la città e i barbari di Wanahomen sarà Hinani. Una giovane ragazza, la prima Guaritrice nella storia dell'Hetawa. Da sempre è abituata ad affrontare pregiudizi, risentimenti e scherno, ma venire spedita da Nijiri nel deserto assieme al suo mentore per aiutare il Principe stravolgerà la sua vita. Così come la sua vita, e quella di chiunque altro, sarà stravolta da una piaga che comincia a impazzare per la città, una piaga magica legata al sogno. Incubi che crescono d'intensità e che portano le vittime a una morte orrenda mentre dormono. Incubi che si diffondono come una malattia, passando nel sonno da una persona a un'altra, basta vi sia vicinanza fisica. In questo libro, che ribalta le alleanze del primo, i protagonisti sono tutte persone bene o male menomate emotivamente. Persone danneggiate, problematiche, con un buco dentro che cercano disperatamente di colmare. Un bel libro, prevedibile in alcune parti ma scritto ottimamente. Molto interessanti le considerazioni che vengono fatte sul ruolo della donna, sui pregiudizi che affronta quando entra in un mondo maschile, e su come invece potrebbe funzionare una cultura matriarcale.

Belle histoire de vie a travers un monde different de rêves et de nightmares: couleurs, formes , matières, tout est beau; une langue magnifiquedes personnages attachants toujours vivants et crédibles. Une histoire un peu longue mais passer de demi dieu à humain. Longue vie à Jemisin

The second and final book of the Dreamblood series is as captivating as the first. Set ten years after the first it uses different protagonists to the first but retains many of the familiar characters. It explores many of the same themes - the nature of power, how societies scorn different cultures by labelling them as other, the clash of genders and many other thoughtful and thought-provoking ideas all contained within an exciting, enthralling story that grips one from beginning to end. Jemisin writes in a captivating way, bringing her world into life in a immersive, cinematic manner and plots exquisitely. I found it very refreshing that she weaves a story that is unexpected and difficult to second guess. As a keen reader of history I find she manages to incorporate events that ring true into her tales, virtue is not necessarily rewarded and uneasy compromises abound which is the complete opposite of much mainstream fantasy and far more satisfying to read. This is intelligent, thought provoking stuff from a new voice whose world-building skills are excellent and whose imagination is phenomenal. Although this was published later than the Inheritance trilogy it was written earlier and is well worth reading. However deeply you wish to ponder the ideas she explores this is still an extremely good page-turner and a really good read.