Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

The Killing Moon - N.K. Jemisin

January 15, 2021.
Requested by Hailee.

The Shadowed Sun - N.K. Jemisin

February 8, 2021.

Wow that was quick. Thank you Jenna!

Hailee wrote: "Wow that was quick. Thank you Jenna!"

You're welcome :)

Is the plan to read both books in the duology? 1 book per month?

I'm definitely planning on reading both books. If everyone else does as well we can either read 1 book per month or just start book 2 once the slowest person has finished The Killing Moon. Whichever works best for people.

Since its only two books I think we may as well use this thread for both books.

*thumbs up* Works for me. =)

I should be able to do it. I have the audiobook. So it's a matter of making sure I have a day to listen.

I'll try to join in this one too, I bought this book a few months ago and keep meaning to read it

Uhh I'll try to join too. It's been on my TBR for a long time. I hope I'll have the time for it.

Yay! More buddies.

Marking my spot!

I am joining this read! I wanted to read more N.K. Jemisin this year and this seems another great place to resume!
I “just” need to wait until next Friday!

I am going to go rogue and start in a few minutes. I hope you can join soon!
I cannot contain my excitement about reading this story. I have recently started reading the DC comic Far Sector written by N.K. Jemisin and it is a fantastic story (not to mention the character is captivating and she really is appealing). I cannot wait to read what this book is all about (and what characters I will fall in love with!).

I'm planning to start this once I've finished Legendborn, which I should do either tomorrow or Friday.

The only thing I've read by Jemisin so far is The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms which I really enjoyed at the time although its faded in my memory over the last few months so I'm a bit undecided as to if I'll definitely continue on ( I suppose it depends if a buddy read comes up lol). I am really looking forward to trying this duology though.

To count in the Team Challenge, BR's can start 7 days ahead of the planned date or joined within 2 weeks of the start date. =)

I'll probably start the day of or so. =D

I've finished my previous book, so I'm actually pleased a few of you are starting early - it means I can dive in! :D

In! I've neen wanting to read this for a while. I may be a bit slow this month tho

I just finished chapter 8 and I love this story. I am still trying to figure out how things work but it is really intriguing.
First and foremost, I enjoy this Egyptian setting. It is new for me and I enjoy it quite a bit.
The world building is also very strong including the mythology. I wonder how much deeper we will get (considering the book is shorter than 500 pages) so I am curious to understand what else will be unveiled.

I also like the main characters so far - different and unique, facing their own paths and challenges.
I am really having a blast with this book!

Starting today. =)

I just finished the book and I truly enjoyed it.
While the world building is limited (it is a short book) what is developed is comprehensive.

I found the magic system unique and outstanding. Maybe not too complicated but I did not read many books that use this type of magic.

And I loved the feelings in this book. The characters are interesting and what makes them really stand out is the emotional introduction and development of these characters!

I am certainly interested in reading the next book!

Done! =)

This was an easy book to take in. Complex themes that are explored in a simple format.

Thoughts: (view spoiler)[
Wanted more:
- Setting development, cultures, look into the main character's.
- More interactive scenes vs tell narrative.

Loved:
- The little stories/myths that are woven into the story. Re-telling folklore, religious tales, etc were great.
- Some scenes & emotions were written in a dream-like style that was pretty to hear.

Narcomancy looks cool on paper but sounds weird to hear. lol
I didn't like the sound f it. That made me wish that the magic/ability was called something else. (hide spoiler)]

I do like the fact that the book works as a standalone. There were two places where I thought the story would end and it didn't. The next story takes place 10 years after the events in this one.

How would you describe Narcomancy?

Just started last night, I didn't get far, but it seems really interesting

I started this on Saturday but haven't had chance to read anymore since the initial 30 pages. I'm very intrigued so far though.

Started late Thursday/early Friday and although I'm enjoying when I pick it up, I'm not feeling any urge to pick it up when I'm doing something else - it's not a 'keep an eye on it while I'm cooking' read for me if you know what I mean.

Finished; it was okay but not brilliant; I would've liked it if the world-building had been a bit more detailed, but that could just be because I've been spoiled by epic fantasies previously.

And like Soo (view spoiler)[ I didn't think the name was the best; narcomancy kept making me think of narcolepsy or necromancy. I understand why the author used it, but I couldn't help but feel another term would've been better, although I'm not sure what. (hide spoiler)]

I had a bit of trouble getting into this and couldn't read more than 20 pages before my mind started to wonder. However I have just finished chapter 16 and the pace is definitely picking up speed and my interest and enjoyment is increasing.

I'm picking up the worldbuilding now and I'm enjoying the characters of Ehiru and Nijiri especially.

Yeah, I didn't manage to go far either, I'm at ch 11, but I feel like it's picking up pace and I like it very much so far.
There are a lot of names introduced early on and I'm still trying to catch them all, there are times when I have to stop reading and remind myself who we're talking about at the moment.

@Solseit First and foremost, I enjoy this Egyptian setting. It is new for me and I enjoy it quite a bit.

Yes, I agree! The Egyptian setting is so intriguing! I don't think I read anything similar.

It's a very layered plot! I liked it.

Hey friends, I finally started this afternoon. The first few pages, I found myself needing to reread to take in all the information but I’m now about 50 pages in and starting to enjoy it.

I often hate info dumps so I don’t mind that I had to slow down and focus haha.

So I've read um- one chapter.

I'm sorry! N. K. Jemisin's writing style is too poetic and not pithy enough for my usual tastes that makes it hard to get through the infodump.

It's a straight forward story. If it doesn't pick up your interest within the first couple of chapters, it may not be a story you want to read right now.

Soo wrote: "It's a straight forward story. If it doesn't pick up your interest within the first couple of chapters, it may not be a story you want to read right now."

I agree with Soo. In fact it took me till chapter 16 intil I could say I was absorbed into the story.

No need to apologize, Sha, we've all had books we found difficult to get into. I had to reread the first two or three chapters to absorb the information.

I like this one. As my first Jemisin novel, it was enjoyable enough that I'll definitely read the next book in the series and move up some of her other stories on my tbr list.

4 stars

(view spoiler)[I happened to really like the world-building, especially the pacing of some of the history reveals and character background stories.

However, I did struggle to connect with the main characters outside of Ehiru. They didn't seem as complex and I found myself much more interested in his overall fight between good and evil. Also, I did want more details about the magic system, particularly the scrolls/reaper storyline. (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night
I liked it quite a lot. Like you guys said, it's not terribly complex and it was easy to read. It's not the kind of book that I can't put down, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.
(view spoiler)[I liked the characters, especially Ehiru and Nijiri and their relationship. The whole Egyptian setting and magic system were interesting.
I wish there was more talk about the Hetawa and life inside it, I found that intriguing. Also, like Heather said, the whole lost scrolls storyline was a bit underdeveloped. It felt a bit cheap that the Prince could use all kinds of magic, because of some long lost scrolls and we don't even know what was in them. (hide spoiler)]

And I definitely want to read the second book, if you guys are up for it?

Lucija wrote: "And I definitely want to read the second book, if you guys are up for it?"

I'm up for the second book. I haven't finished book 1 yet but I'll be ready for book 2 any time after the 8th of Feb but don't mind waiting for as long as it takes everyone to finish. Anyone have a preference on a start date?

I'll try to get the book finished by Feb 8th, then. If I can't do it by then, I'll re-shelve it. //nodnod

Yeah, of course, take your time, don't mind waiting for everyone to finish :)

Just finished chapter 34 and the 4th interlude (view spoiler)[I did not see the identity of the Reaper coming. I really felt sorry for both him and Ehiru. I hope Ehuri and Nijiri can escape before Ehuri turns into a Reaper himself. (hide spoiler)]

I finished. It was an ok read. When I was reading it it was interesting but I found it difficult to read for long periods of time, after a chapter or two I found myself getting distracted. I think the world and the magic were the most interesting part of this book. Ehuri was actually the only character that I liked 100% of the time. My tolerance of the others fluctuated throughout the book.

Anyway I'm interested to see what happens in book two although like Soo said I think this story wraps up well enough that you could just leave it there and be satisfied. However since I already own book 2 I may as well read it.

Are we starting The Shadowed Sun on the 8th or do people want a bit more time between them? I'm happy either way, I've got plenty of other books to keep me occupied.

Hailee wrote: "Are we starting The Shadowed Sun on the 8th or do people want a bit more time between them? I'm happy either way, I've got plenty of other books to keep me occupied."

I'm fine starting on the 8th, but if others want more time, that's fine as well.

Great. I'll try and get the header of this thread updated so that it says The Shadowed Sun. Or get a new thread set up, whichever suits the mods best.

I'll set the start date as the 8th but anyone else who wants to continue still has two weeks after that to start it and still count it for buddy read points in the competition.

Great!
I started last night and I gotta say I didn't expect to be so happy to be back in this world. I was engaged as soon as I started.
Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[Damn. That I did not expect. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah I read the first 5 chapters yesterday and I feel like I got into this a lot faster than book 1 probably because I started so soon after finishing the first one and we've already run into some familiar faces.

But yeah chapter 3 (view spoiler)[really triggered my squick factor. That poor girl, no wonder she can't wait to be married off. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 6 (view spoiler)[and now he is pimping out his daughter!! Bleeding hell, what a creep. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[Oh man, I feel so bad for that girl (hide spoiler)]

I've read a good chunk of the book in the last day or so... I'm at chapter 32 at the moment

Ch 15 (view spoiler)[I really liked this chapter and I'm a sucker for hero stories.
I like the progression we've seen happen here. Before, Gatherers were feared, even by the faithful ones, they would cause uneasiness when they appeared on the street. But now a Gatherer is a champion of the people. He offers hope.

Also, we've found out before that Wanahomen has a son and that really surprised me. I imagined him to be a young men (which, I guess he still is, but somehow it never occurred to me) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[It's intriguing to see how the Banbarra live.
I'm a bit unnerved by how easily Wanahomen angers. He is ready to kill so easily. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 22/23 (view spoiler)[It's terrible what happened to Hanani, but I really like how protective Mni Ihn was and how he handeled Wanahomen
Could Wanahomens anger issues be partly because of his untrained dreaming gift?
I do like how Wana treats his son, he seems like a loving father. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[God, I cannot express just how much I hate Sanfi. Those poor girls. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[This book inadvertently has so many similarities to our COVID situation haha
I mean there are people wlaking around in veils (masks) and there is a plague outbrake happening in Gujareeh (hide spoiler)]

Ch 31,32 (view spoiler)[Damn, Hanani goes through so much punishment, Jemisin does not pull her punches (hide spoiler)]

Thanks for editing the the title of the thread Jenna

Lucija wrote: "I've read a good chunk of the book in the last day or so... I'm at chapter 32 at the moment ..."

Oh nice. I'm still at the end of chapter 12. I had to concentrate on a few other books over the last few days so that I can get them of my currently reading shelf in preparation for some buddy reads that are starting imminently. I'll try and read a few more chapters today so I can open a couple of the spoilers.