Book Review: The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin

I’ve always like N.K. Jemisin. I’ve been a fan of her books every since I first picked up The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and I really liked every book that came after that. However, I think that this book, The Shadowed Sun, has just blown way past every Jemisin-related standard I had. This is fantasy at its best, no other way to put it. For me, this was a one-sitting read, and every aspect of the text—plot, characters, relationships, world-building—drew me further and further into this absolutely amazing story.

SO WHAT’S GOING ON HERE, ANYWAY?

This book is a companion novel to The Killing Moon, taking place about 10 years after the end of that book. Some characters do reappear and play a part in the story (Nijiri and Sunandi are both in important leadership roles), but for the most part, the focus is an entirely new set of characters, at the center of which is Hanani, the first female priest the city of Gujaareh has ever had.

It’s not necessary to read the first book before diving into The Shadowed Sun, but I think it would help the reader a lot. As it stands, Gujaareh is under a foreign occupation (the reasons for which would be made clear by reading book one), and after a decade, the people are starting to chafe. There are several interests at play here: the priesthood, the nobles, the occupiers, and the exiled Prince. Hanani, our primary protagonist, is commissioned by the temple to withstand a trial and save the city after her original trial, which would have promoted her from apprentice, fails.

And, speaking of the failed trial: there is a nightmare disease spreading through Gujaareh. People are literally catching nightmares from each other, and there’s no way to heal them. As if impending war wasn’t enough, right?

TWO WORDS: ADDICTIVELY COMPELLING

As one can see, it’s not easy to break down The Shadowed Sun into an easy little summary—there’s just so much going on. The cast of characters is large, the plot threads are numerous, and the action is intense. And Jemisin makes it all work. To describe this book as compulsively readable is an understatement. I seriously did not want to put this book down for a second, and even though it’s a long text, it never dragged.

To be honest, I don’t even really like multi-POV narratives, but this author does them very well, always finding that perfect balance between each character, and interweaving their stories in a way that engages the reader rather than puts them off. Honestly, I actually think I’ve enjoyed the narration in the Dreamblood novels better than I did the first-person perspective of the Inheritance trilogy, though I do wonder if I wouldn’t have really enjoyed being inside Hanani’s head.

HANANI: MY FAVORITE LADY PRIEST

I just really enjoy Hanani and what Jemisin has done with her character. Seriously, one of my favorite female characters in fantasy, though I do like Sunandi (the main character from The Killing Moon) a lot too. But what I love about Hanani is that, even though she works in a field that’s exclusive to men, is derided on account of her gender even as she’s made to feel that she’ll never be a “true woman”, has grown up trying her best to be has masculine as possible—in the end, Hanani embraces her womanhood and proves that being strong is not a quality reserved only for men.

Like, here we have this girl who was sold to the temple by her family at the age of six, who has found a home and family among the priesthood, but who is always pretending in order to get respect. Hanani works above and beyond, trying to prove herself, but it’s never enough and it won’t ever be enough. And some part of her realizes this, subconsciously.

At the start of The Shadowed Sun, the reader is introduced to Henani as a determined, but shy and meek, young woman, one who’s very concerned with proprieties and finding her place (though part of this is inherent in her temple training). As the novel progresses, Hanani begins to value herself more, to be more assertive, and to recognize that just because she’s the only woman in the temple doesn’t mean she has to hide her femininity or act as the men around her do. She relies on her own strength and, in the end, she saves Gujaareh, no one else.

HYPERREALISTIC WORLD-BUILDING

This series pretty much focuses on the city-state of Gujaareh, which is a pretty interesting place. Jemisin has said she based this world on Ancient Egypt plus a type of magic influenced by Freudian dream theory, and it makes for a wholly unique combination. The people of Gujaareh value peace over all things, and this is accomplished by harvesting the magical properties of dreams. The Hananjan religion is centered around dream magic and what it can do: heal, prolong life, offer a peaceful afterlife. This is all nothing new, as the reader should hopefully remember this world from The Killing Moon.

But actually, I’d say the majority of this book takes place outside Gujaareh, where Hanani is staying as a hostage with a desert tribe. I loved that we got to experience a different culture in this book, and I loved how detailed and intricate that new culture was. Dreaming magic aside, I can totally see this world existing. This author’s world-building has always been phenomenal, and that’s no different in this book.

SO I DEFINITELY SHIPPED THE SHIP

I probably should have known better than to get invested in Hanani’s romantic relationship, honestly. Jemisin tends to go for the bittersweet partings more often than the happily ever after—which is fine, of course. A lot of the time a happy endings wouldn’t have suited. But in Hanani’s case, I really wanted it, mostly because of how flawed the love interest was and how he redeemed himself. I loved that there was tension and awkwardness in the relationship, between two people who weren’t right for each other at all and honestly didn’t have room in their lives for a romance. It felt messy and real and also very tender and I just super shipped it.

Probably because I love Hanani and wanted her to be very happy forever and ever.

IN SHORT, READ THIS BOOK!

I am here to tell you today that The Shadowed Sun is everything you will ever need in a fantasy novel. It has:

1. Amazing world-building
2. A complex and engaging female lead who owns her femininity
3. A diverse cast of flawed and variously-motivated characters
4. An unputdownable plot—politics! war! romance! magic! a nightmare disease!
5. Wonderful writing, on all technical levels
6. Plus it’s just a kickass book in general

As I said, I’ve enjoyed all of N.K. Jemisin’s books, but The Shadowed Sun was really something special. Beyond being downright enjoyable, it’s an expertly crafted fantasy novel that satisfied me in every way.