The
Killing Moon (Dreamblood, Book 1)
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Publisher: Orbit Books
American
release date: 2012
Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Fantasy /448 pages
Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★
Guajareh is a city of peace,
prospering under the loving guidance of Prince Eninket. Even in death is peace,
for that is the job of the Gatherers of the city. They ease souls into
Ina-Karekh through the most beautiful of dreams. The Gatherers serve the
Goddess, Hatawa. They work primarily at night, under the auspices of the
Dreaming Moon. One such Gatherer is Ehiru. He is given a commission to ease a
man of the Bromarte, Charleron of Wenkinslan. But things do not go as they
should, and Charleron tries to warn Ehiru that he is being used. Disturbed,
Ehiru returns to the Hatawa, expecting to be reprimanded, concerned for his sixteen-year-old
apprentice, Nijiri. Despite what has happened, though, he is given a new commission
from the Prince himself, who is Ehiru’s brother.
Nijiri had been meant to have
Una-une as his mentor, but the man’s untimely death has changed that, and he has
been placed under Ehiru’s wing instead. Nijiri is not opposed to the change,
although saddened by the reason, for he has deep feelings for Ehiru, despite
the fact that his new mentor is forty years of age. He has known Ehiru for most
of his life and would do anything for him. To Nijiri, age is immaterial, as
well as gender, although he knows it is not allowed for Gatherers to indulge in
such passions. But being near Ehiru and learning from him are enough for
Nijiri.
Sunandi is from the neighboring
country of Kisua, sent to Gujaareh by her master Kinja She Kalabsha to study
Gujaareen magic as part of her apprenticeship. But that doesn’t mean that the
two countries agree in the way they do things. Sunandi senses something wrong
in Gujaareh. If only her master hadn’t died.
She finds Prince Eninket charming, and rather seductive. Doesn’t mean
she trusts him. And she certainly can’t afford to let him find out what her
true purpose is in being there.
Sunandi is summoned to a meeting
with General Niyes, who shows her something shocking, and relates to her the
strange events of the past few years. He tells her that war is imminent and
that she must carry the news back to Kisua as soon and as stealthily as
possible. He warns her that her life may be in danger, and the sooner she and
her servant Lin leave the better.
That night, however, an unexpected
presence turns up in her room—a Gatherer and his apprentice, whose purpose is
to send her to Ina-Karekh. Sunandi makes Ehiru see that his so-called
commission is nothing less than assassination, sowing seeds of doubt in his
mind. When he becomes convinced that she is telling the truth, and that
politics are at play here, he realizes he must keep her safe for the sake of
all.
This book was recommended to me by
my daughter-in-law, and I am so glad she told me about it! N.K. Jemisin weaves
a fascinating world, a unique world, with many strange concepts and many people.
At first, I was focused on remembering who was who and stumbling over the
strange words and ideas, but suddenly I found myself very immersed in the story
and the names became real people to me, and I realized I was hooked.
Ehiru is a very conflicted man,
whose beliefs are crumbling around him, barely able to hang on, if not for the
love and support of Nijiri. Nijiri is wise beyond his years, and it’s hard not
to like him, as well as Sunandi. The author modeled much of the belief system
and the countries in her novel after those of ancient Egypt, while also drawing
on Freud and Jung. The concept of easing people into death seems meant to be a loving
form of euthanasia, but obviously there is much room for abuse in such a
system.
At the heart of this story is a
tale as old as time itself—power and greed, the eternal struggle between right
and wrong, life and death, recognizing
what is right and finding the strength and courage to do what must be done. I
loved these people so much that I hated to see the book end.
Good thing there are two more, even though the first one is filled with a fair
amount of heartbreak. I will have to look for more of Jemisin’s books after I
finish this trilogy. She is an awesome writer.
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