N.K. Jemisin Books In Order

Publication Order of Broken Earth Books

Publication Order of Dreamblood Books

Publication Order of Great Cities Books

Publication Order of Inheritance Trilogy Books

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Mass Effect: Andromeda Books

Publication Order of Forward Books

Publication Order of The WisCon Chronicles Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

N.K. Jemisin is an American Speculative writer and blogger that was nominated for the Nebula Award in 2010.

+Biography

Jemisin was born September 1972 in Iowa City Iowa. She spent most of her childhood in Mobile, Alabama. She also spent a few years living in Massachusetts.

The writer attended Tulane University between the years of 1990 and 1994, eventually receiving her Degree in Psychology. N.K. Jemisin eventually earned her Master of Education from the University of Maryland College Park.

The author’s career began to take shape when she graduated from Viable Paradise Writing Workshop in 2002. Over the years, she published a number of short stories before working on and completing several novels.

N.K. Jemisin also participated in the Boston-area writing group BRAWlers. She was also a member of Altered Fluid. Her career has availed her several opportunities over the years, this including the chance to be co-Guest of Honor at the WisCon Science Fiction Convention in Madison, Wisconsin in 2014.

She also delivered the Guest of Honor Speech at the 2013 Continuum in Australia. She has, on occasion, butted heads with Theodore Beale, a writer she called racist, misogynistic and hateful.

Jemisin’s work explores a variety of themes, from cultural conflict to oppression, with most of her stories told within a fantasy and science-fictional context. Jemisin was nominated for the Hugo Award in 2011. She has also been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, this along with being short-listed for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.

N.K. Jemisin is best known for her work on the Inheritance Trilogy which spans three books that were released within a two-year period. The author has continued to supplement her Inheritance story with novellas and short stories set within the same universe.

+The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

When her mother dies, Yeine Darr, outcast from the barbarian north, is summoned to the majestic city of sky. Once there, she learns that she has been named an heir to the king. However, winning the throne is no easy task. Yeine is forced into a vicious struggle for power.

When Jemisin was questioned about her approach to this, the first story in her highly popular trilogy of novels, she explained that she had little interest in maintaining the status quo.

So many fantasy novels on the shelves today are purposed towards pitting heroes against villains that they must defeat in order to bring back the good old days or thrusting rightful heirs into the thrones they were born into.

Jemisin claims that she approached her Inheritance trilogy with the aim of writing a story where power was challenged and the good old days were discarded.

And the African-American author more or less succeeds here, throwing everything that the fantasy landscape has come to know away and instead forcing readers to rethink the paradigms they have come to expect.

On the whole, there are a lot more merits than demerits, at least according to most readers. A wonderful read, the first novel in the trilogy brings Yeine Darr to the fro, the heroine of the story, an outcast from the ruling family and the product of a biracial marriage.

Summoned to the palace and suddenly declared as one of three heirs to the throne, this after the mysterious death of her mother, Yeine soon finds herself locked in a deadly war against her cousins both of whom possess far more power and understanding of the political arena that Yeine.

Through her trials, Yeine works to gain the loyalty of the Enefadah, gods that the ruling families have enslaved.

If you love stories about gods meddling in the affairs of the mortal plane and bringing chaos upon mankind, you will appreciate this book. N.K. Jemisin’s mythology is rich and intriguing.

Admittedly, some readers have complained about Jemisin’s writing style, calling it choppy. A few voices, in particular, have raised complaints about the author’s transitions in time, most of which are not bad but largely unnecessary, instead playing out like a gimmick used by Jemisin to inject flavor into an otherwise bland story.

The plot hasn’t escaped opposition, with some people complaining that the story of an orphan girl being thrust into the political machinations of her family is hardly new.

While the book has proven divisive in some circles, N.K. Jemisin’s work continues to garner attention from Science Fiction fans, receiving praise for its engaging plot and interesting characters.

+The Broken Kingdoms

When Oree makes the fateful decision to provide assistance to a mysterious individual who, through her unique sight, seems to shine, she is dragged into a deadly conspiracy.

Godlings have began to die all over, and in noticeable numbers. Someone is murdering them and carelessly discarding them on the streets, desecrated. The objective of these killers remains a mystery, whether it is the homeless man they truly seek or Oree herself. With powerful forces beginning to churn and divine entities such as she has never seen finally coming into play, Oree will need all her wits to survive the coming chaos.

For a lot of people, this book exceeds expectations, superseding Jemisin’s previous work in every single way. Even proponents of the previous novel have come around to appreciate Jemisin’s work in the sequel, which proves that the author probably has more room to grow.

N.K. Jemisin creates a far more vivid world than before, bringing greater detail to her characterizations.

There is one complaint that must be raised against The Broken Kingdom, and it is a problem that watered down the quality of the first book in the trilogy. Jemisin continues to make her heroines unnecessarily helpless, making them seem like they are designed to fall apart the moment their world fails them.

Oree is a victim of circumstances throughout the run of this novel. Her actions are rarely empowering and she rarely shows initiative unless other people’s actions provoke her. Along with the cold and rather ridiculous romances that Jemisin attempts to insert into her story, anyone looking for a strong and powerful heroine will be sorely disappointed, this failure to craft an intriguing female lead ruining what might have been a wholly entertaining read. That doesn’t make the book bad. However, it could have been much better.

One Response to “N.K. Jemisin”

1. philip e keeting: 3 years ago

   just to say you are a terrific writer. i started way long ago, heinlein’s methusalah’s children was my first at about 9-10 years old, and found over the years a few other special writers – gaiman, gay, abercrombie, tolkien, lewis, some bujold, ks robinson, some others- and i have to say i place you in their company. i hope you take this as a compliment, that’s how i mean it. thanks.

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