The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N K Jemisin (Inheritance Trilogy #1)

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On a lark I picked up N. K. Jemisin's debut fantasy, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and I am very glad I did. What a refreshing fantasy with a great story arc and characters. I had heard much praise directed at Ms. Jemisin and her work, but hadn't taken the time to actually give it a chance.
In the book we meet Yeine, a young woman from Darr who is mourning the murder of her mother and is called to the great city of Sky to learn that her Grandfather is naming her an heir of the kingdom. Much to her surprise, Yeine is catapulted into the schemes and intrigues of the royal family where her two cousins are also vying for the kingdom and as Arameri, (the ancestral line), she learnd first hand the ruthlessness of not only her grandfather, Dekarta, but in a wonderful twist to the story, the enslavement of four Gods who live in Sky as well.
The interactions of Gods and mortal are highlights of the book with an agreement between Yeine and the Gods to help free them through the succession ceremony that is upcoming. A ceremony where Yeine must die to ensure the succession. Truth be told, Yeine isn't aware of all that she is and the story has a heck of a climax.

Looking forward to book 2, The Broken Kingdom.

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Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (Book of the Ancestor #1)

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first of Mark Lawrence's books that I have read. And I am so glad I started! Red Sister is a wonderful fantasy with a remarkable and memoriable heroine in Nona Grey. I have to say that I purchased the book by the cover and the strong reputation of the author.
I had just recently finished Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and Red Sister looked to have the same feel. They are similar but also distinctly different. The world building is first rate and the characters are vivid. If this is what I have to look forward to in reading the rest of Lawrence's books, happy day for me!
The story opens with a young girl, Nona, being marched to the gallows to be hung for murder. If that doesn't keep the pages turning, I don't know what will. Before this can occur, Nona is given a reprieve by the Abbess of Sweet Mercy Convent where young girls who have shown that they may be endowed with special properties can be properly trained. You guessed it, in ways typical novices are not. Blades, poisons and the elusive Path are just a few of their new classes.
Suffice it to say that more than this will spoil the surprises and immersion I to this new world which though very bleak is fascinating in it's own way.

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Trap the Devil by Ben Coes (Dewey Andreas #7)

Trap the Devil by Ben Coes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ben Coe's has really outdone himself with Trap the Devil. This the 7th entry in the Dewey Andreas series shows how the modern thriller should be. I didn't think That Coe's could top 2016's First Strike, but somehow he did.

I have a confession to make. It took me awhile to even try the first book in the series, Power Down. I just couldn't see how power plants and terrorism could hold my interest, but my gosh was it good. I attribute this to the skill of Coe's in formulating scarily plausible scenarios for his hero to navigate and at the same time grow his character. Dewey has grown with each book and in Trap the Devil staggering revelations present themselves to Dewey and we see a peek into his soul. Very sobering stuff.

In Trap the Devil, Coe's presents the frightening possibility of people in the government taking matters into their own hands to stem the rise of terror from the Muslim world who would seek to destroy us. Even to the point of killing their own colleagues in our government and targeting even the President to accomplish their agenda.

Coes is a master of building tension and fleshing out his characters so much so that at times I had to put the book down because I was afraid of what was going to happen next. I am not a big fan of spoilers. I would prefer that you be surprised on your own.

Suffice it to say that Trap the Devil, after a brief prologue that sets the stage of events from 20 years before, starts with a physically and emotionally damaged Dewey. Forced to see a shrink by his boss Hector Calibrisi, Dewey learns that he might be relegated to a softer agency roll. Far from something that Dewey wants or needs, he is seen as one almost driven to kill himself in the line of duty, always putting himself on the line. Guilt is eating away at him for not only the death of his fiance, Jessica, but also his wife Holly from many years before.

Basically relegated to babysitting the Sec State on a trip to Paris, Dewey is not happy and fueling up on alcohol and self pity. Until something happens to begin a rollercoaster ride that doesn't end until the last page.

Don't be like me.. Pick up Power Down, discover Dewey and be prepared to have a great summer!



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