Name: Alice Hyman's review of The Killing Moon
Item: The Killing Moon
Rating: 5
Author: Alice Hyman

The Killing Moon

Whitney Lambert

True peace required the presence of justice, not just the absence of conflict.

Wren Hardwick

Alice Hyman

“Real love lasts years. It causes pain and endures through it”

As this is an N. K Jemisin book this isn’t so much a review rather a OHMYGOSHTHISBOOKISAMAZINGPLSREADITRN 

What are some of your autobuy authors ?

This book seeps into your mind like water through the ground - it’s one of those that you just have to keep thinking about, which is probably a good thing because I don’t think anyone can read this book and not grow as a person, or at the very least gain huge perspectives on your own views.

The political system of the countries are amazingly distinct - even the structure and politics of the religion is so complex and well throughtout. 

Even the difference between the cities themselves are so deep and meaningful. In Kisua there is more freedom. Death and retribution do not stalk the shadows. Men and women show disrespect, break laws, and become homeless. In Gujaarah a strict sense of order remains, one purveyed through fear as well as a sense of religious beliefs. This order is controlled to force the grow of peace, but this peace is leaden with the blood of those it cost. Can control really create a complete peace ? 

While I was definitely rooting for Sunandi throughout there is a great lack of distinction between the good guys and the bad guys. We are presented with two sides/countries/views but there is no super easy pointer of these are the bad guys and these are the good ones. Though I was sided with Kisua throughout the story there was things that made me question whether the Hetawa and the Gujaareh way of worship was the bad thing or was it simply bad people - who happen in every culture.

Basically this is my long winded way of saying I really appreciate the creation of complex cultures with multifaceted factions and sides rather than a goodside.exe and a badside.exe (hint if you live near a place called Mt. Doom its probably the latter side)

Tracey O’Rourke

I loved her latest, The Fifth Season, so I went back to read this one. I was bored mostly, and even though I have the second book on my desk, I have no interest in reading it.

Jennifer

N.K. Jemisin's writing really got me thinking and inducing reckonings on human psychology <3 I've read opening novels from two of her other series, but this one redeemed itself as the smoothest and aesthetically appealing out of the three that I've read so far. The writing style is lush and intricate - it brings out the dreaming-inducing & imaginative worldbuilding. It also draws on the cultural influences from stuff like Egyptian mythology and spins something new from it: from the symbolism of the numbers to the divine. So yeah, here's once again an excellent worldbuilding with an intricate backdrop with stories to devour into. 

And, next up is the characters. While initially there's a lot to take in with the multiple perspectives and the dense worldbuilding (I had to refer to the Glossary quite a lot at first though it helped that I happen to own a paperback of this novel), both paid off after the main characters are properly introduced around 100 pages through. Here we read from the perspectives of 3 main characters, in which all of their psychological dissonances and consciousness are being fleshed out. I found myself not only getting into their headspace but also getting to engage with their development and the processes that goes about in their subconscious realm e.g. in a dream (and this is something N.K. Jemisin absolutely excels at).

In a nutshell: An excellent adult fantasy with dreamy & mysterious vibes as well as characters confronting their inner dilemmas. It really got me thinking about what actually goes on in the subconscious mind and I might as well be thinking about the meaning of dreaming differently. Hopefully I get around reading the sequel really soon!

5/5

Natalie Sypeck 

My first book by this author. I've heard amazing things so my expectations were high, and they most certainly were met! I loved the writing, it was easy to get into and I felt like I was just flying through this story. I never felt overly confused, which is nice since I'm still new to high fantasy. I liked all the characters and their relationships with each other. I unexpectedly cried during this story, but I think that just goes to show how strong this author is in her ability to make you feel the emotions of those in the story. Looking forward to book two and her other series!

Kathleen Boyle

This was absolutely fantastic and I feel as if it is also criminally underrated. I have no read anything else by N.K. Jemisin but this duology is the one I hear about least and I cannot imagine why. The plot and the characters are so intricately woven. The world-building and the magic system are beyond smart.

Wren Hardwick &
The Killing Moon

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Wren Hardwick &The Killing Moon

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Wren Hardwick &
The Killing Moon