Kitemaster

by Jim C. Hines

"Providing a cozier fantasy experience that’s both familiar and distinct, Hines’s latest is recommended for fans of The Last Airbender and Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone."—Library Journal

Nial Sarnin is twenty-one—far too young to have lost her beloved husband, Jika. One year after his death, Nial prepares to fly a kite sewn from his wedding shirt, believing it will carry Jika’s spirit to the stars.

But instead of drifting gently skyward, the spirit kite moves under Nial’s direct control, revealing her as a Kitemaster—a rare gift in a world forever ruled by winds and magic.

Her newfound powers attract Captain Wolf of the kiteship Midnight Rain. With runaway Prince Vikaan, Wolf seeks to thwart Queen Kavaya’s ruthless ambition to dominate the skies and conquer all neighboring kingdoms.

Nial may hold the key to stopping Kavaya’s brutal reign and saving countless lives—including those she loves most—but only if she learns to master her extraordinary gift in time.

Every gust of wind promises hope, renewal, and a chance to reshape a world teetering on the brink in this inspiring tale of loss, resilience, and transformation.

Award-winning author Jim C. Hines delivers a deeply personal epic in Kitemaster, a labor of love written over twenty years.

Genres: Fantasy

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Jim C. Hines began his writing career with a trilogy about the irrepressible Jig the goblin, which actor and author Wil Wheaton described as "too f***ing cool for words." He went on to deconstruct fairy tales in his four-book Princess series, made all the world's literature a grimoire in the Magic ex Libris series, and explored the heroic side of spacecraft sanitation in his Janitors of the Post Apocalypse trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in more than fifty magazines and anthologies. Jim has been outspoken about topics like sexism and harassment, and was the editor of the Invisible series—three collections of personal essays about representation in sf/f. He received the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer in 2012. Jim currently lives in mid-Michigan.

Reviews

[Mike Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitemaster‘ was my seventh book by Jim C. Hines, and it is by far my favourite. For me, it sets the bar for what a Fantasy novel can be. 

It’s an exciting adventure with an against-the-odds struggle by an underdog locked in a righteous struggle with a powerful, ruthless enemy. It has a unique, well-thought-through magic system, flying ships, great battle scenes, wonderful air serpents and enormous dragons. 

What impressed me most was that it never followed the obvious path. Nial did what needed to be done, but she always sought the route of least harm to others. Her enemy was ruthless, cruel, but not evil. She was broken and her actions were monstrous but her failings were very human.

I found myself absorbed in the world that Jim Hines had created: its religion, its people, its use of magic as a technology and its endless cycle of war over territory. I loved how what I at first thought to be myth turned out to be history, and how history started its journey towards becoming myth.

I liked that Nial’s journey wasn’t powered by a hero’s zeal for an epic quest but by her need to protect her family and the other people she cares about. She never falls into a righteous anger that allows her to take any action necessary to achieve her goals. She always takes responsiblity for what she does and is more comfortable with sacrificing herself than with harming others. 

For me, the most powerful aspect of the novel was its deep understanding of grief and loss. If you've lived through grief, you'll recognise the emotions being described here. There is no attempt to say that grief is something that you'll get over. Grief and loss change you. You are never again the person you were before they touched you. This story shows how, if grief turns to rage, it can consume a person. It also shows that you can't 'move on' from grief; you can only become reconciled to the life that now sits before you. 

Jim Hines captures that sense of isolation and dislocation that comes when your life is derailed by loss. Nail's life stops for a while. She withdraws from the people around her, no matter how well-meaning, knowing that she causes them discomfort and they can offer her little to fill the void. 

I loved the spirit kite funeral rites of Nial's people. Even without the magical aspects, it seems to me that this is a practice that honours the dead and helps the living.

[Nicole (bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked many parts of this book, and was indifferent toward some other parts. However, the main character's grief is definitely a big part of her character growth throughout the entire book, so if you are dealing with grief please be careful with this book.

There was a lot I found novel and fascinating in this book. While I've read books with weather magic in them before, there has never been something so specific and focused as the magic of kitemasters. They don't control the weather; they control the wind, and there's no mention of other magics in addition to this. It's just air magic that exists in this universe, and that was really interesting to me. A lot was done with that air magic, though, and I loved seeing where Hines took the air magic abilities of his kitemasters.

I didn't enjoy the political and warmongering parts of the book as much, but they did set the stage for the parts of the action that I did enjoy, so I guess I can't complain. This is a perfect example of high fantasy in my opinion. (Don't pick this up expecting cozy fantasy; it's not that in multiple ways.) I loved the Mohnan characters (humanoids with monkey-like traits but with intelligence equal to humans). Lots of the side characters were fun to get to know, and nearly all of them were more complex than they seemed at first meeting them. As long as you can handle the grief which is woven throughout the story, I definitely recommend this one.

[Stephanie]

Just got his newsletter with the news of this coming out next April - back whenever I read his short story collection which included Kitemaster, and I wanted to see more of that story/world, and at last here it comes!

[Mn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded 4/5
First of all, thank you to netgalley and the author for providing an e-arc! This review is based on my true opinions.
Possible spoilers ahead!
I have to say; this was such a cosy read! I loved the character developments of Nial and Sharette, especially that Nial is overcoming her fears and grief, finding comfort in new friendships and adventures. But I think i mostly kept picking this book up because of Prince Vikaan. that he was slowly coming out of his shell. I guess that is what i disliked about this book; i thought he was coming out of his shell but literally nothing changed after he met his mother again. It felt like he was powerless? I mean i understand he doesnt have powers but he did absolutely nothing to stop his mother in the fight with Nial. Like Xao had more development than Vikaan..
Explaining Sharette is harder. He was good, he was bad, he was annoying, he was helpful, he was mad, he was in the right, he was a good teacher, he betrayed everyone, he was trying to help. Like I understand he did in fear of losing the husband but omg come on PICK A SIDE ALREADY?!

I think the plot was 3.5/5 rounded to 4/5. The writing style was good aswell but i think the author should focus less on the details. I dont need 3 paragraphs on understanding how they do stuff to land on the kiteship.. Sorry.. But i pretty much skimmed this kind of paragraphs with so much details.

In the end overall, this book was a nice read!
3.5/5 rounded 4/5

[Jacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nial Sarnin is a twenty-one year old widow with a small talent to manipulate the ever-blowing wind. On the first anniversary of her husband's death, she is preparing to fly his spirit kite to carry his spirit to the stars when something changes in her own affinity with the wind. Her power grows and she becomes a kite-master. Shortly thereafter she's commandeered by the kiteship midnight Rain, whose captain has befriended the runaway Prince Vikaan, fleeing from his mother, Queen Kavaya who plans to use the power of dragons to destroy her enemy cities, and thus rule the world. Nial must learn to use her powers quickly in order to thwart Kavaya's plans and save the Captain and crew of the Midnight Rain and her own family, held as hostages for her good behaviour. Jim Hines always tells a good story. This is very readable, with good major characters and some excellent set pieces. And no, Nial doesn't find a second love. She remains a widow, true to the memory of her late husband.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a world of steady winds, whisps can move the winds around. A few people have Kitemaster (paper from Caezik SF & Fantasy) abilities that are far more powerful. Nial Sarnin discovers her abilities when she raises a death kite to commemorate the anniversary of her husband’s death. Fortunately that brings a small self-motivated kite filled with the spirit of her grandmother. Unfortunately it also attracts other kitemasters. The Queen is collecting all kitemasters (using their family as hostages) and she has discovered a powerful weapon involving the dragons of the sky that is quite deadly. Of course, only Nial, untrained as she is, has a chance of stopping her. Lots of fun.

[Deborah Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read. Jim C. Hines has created a completely original world filled with flawed, believable characters, life-changing journeys, and creatures you could never have dreamed of. Hines takes you on an adventure that will pull you in and carry you along like a kite on the wind, but more than just a tale of bravery and determination, it is a paean to love and family and friendship. Once you start on this ride, you will never want it to end. As soon as I finished reading, I wanted to start at the beginning and do it all over again!

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitemaster is a work of art.

Kitemaster, with its filaments of loss, love, resilience, and family, is a masterwork.
It grabs your attention early on and leads you through its tale. Each nuance is subtle, and nothing overpowers the flow of the story.
Here's hoping there are more stories from this universe with these characters.

[Catherine Schaff-Stump · Rating 5 out of 5]

This doesn't feel like a Jim Hines book...in the best way. I love Jim's writing, but this book is a stretch for the author. Not only does he take you to a high fantasy world, but he also deals with grief in a way that feels true to the reader. I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you've been following this author and you want to see him become made anew.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but a sweet story. The story of Nial is one of real feeling grief (if you’ve lost someone very recently you might find it too painful and real a read). But she pulls herself together to do what must be done.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim C Hines is such a good writer, and this is one of his best.

[Ranger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, sweet, exciting!

[Christine Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid tale, and I do appreciate fantasy that isn't Tolkien descended.

Makes me want to pick up a kite.

[Tara Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC.

4.25 rounded up.

I really enjoyed this unique story. I like how the grief repsentation was done and it was done really well. Nial at times did get on my nerves, but she did grow on me by the end. Great story I highly recommend.