Jemisin, N. K. -- The Kingdom of Gods
Third book (and concluding volume, although the previous two stand
alone) in series about cranky deities. It has only now occurred to me
that Jemisin gives us the first interesting theological alternative
to Worshippers-Give-Them-Power since Pratchett filched that trope from
Lankhmar's purse. These gods do fine without worshippers (although
some enjoy the sensation); what they need is to be true to their
Aspect. Thus, our protagonist Sieh, the god of childhood, literally
gains mana from playing tag, throwing tantrums, or jumping on the bed.
And yet he is an ancient being who watched his parent-gods create the
human race; his tantrums have devastated cities. Kudos to the author
for seeing that there's a whole novel's worth of potential just in
that setup.
The book has an A-plot, nonetheless, involving a scheme to overthrow
the Arameri aristocracy. One will not be surprised to find some
commentary on privilege and power. The conclusions to all these
threads felt just a little overblown, sketchy, and/or precious
(depending on how seriously you take devastated cities). Nonetheless,
the character relationships carry the book. I include the internal
relationships between the gods and their natures, between the gods as
vast immanent beings and as people-like-us. (It is no accident that
each book in the series shows one of the gods being forced to live at
the mortal level, in some way.) Very well done.
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