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Black History Month

12 Challenge

Recommended by Sam

You wouldn't know it if you look at my shelves lately, but high fantasy used to be my favorite genre. I grew terribly tired of how white and male the genre got, and eventually stopped seeking new series. I wouldn't dare to call the terrible Asian YA fantasy lite ARCs I've recently read and reviewed high fantasy, but they do make me want to steer clear of the genre.

I digress. This book, series, and author have been on my radar for far longer than necessary, and it took Sam and the 12 Challenge to get me to finally commit. I tried on audio. I failed. I find first go arounds with worlds this in depth are often easier in print. I forgot how fun it was to highlight epubs. Nothing disappointed.

Unusual in a novel such as this, but I was equally captivated by all three POVs. The reasoning behind this is obviously explained later. I loved the lore, the dystopian nature of this world, and the massive amount of worldbuilding that occurred. A story of this scope has not sucked me in in quite some time, and I'm eager to delve into the sequels.

We meet Damaya, gifted to the Guardians because a terrible ability. We meet Syenite, forced to travel with a superior and mate with him, in order to produce more children with gifts. We meet Essun, whose husband has just murdered one of their children for what he believes to be a curse. As the stories intertwine, we begin to learn more about the continent known as the Stillness. What are these terrible powers? What are the obelisks floating in the sky? Who made them? Who came before?