Book Review – The Butlerian Jihad

After a long year of resisting, I finally gave in to my friend and picked up “The Butlerian Jihad” the first book in the “Legends of Dune” trilogy that serves as a prequel story to main saga told in Dune. Set 10.000 years before the events in the original series, it tells the tale of how humans raise in rebellion against their machines overlords who have ruled humanity for the past 10.000 years. Only a small number of planets known as the League of Nobles still resist against the machines, although this planets are far from ideal with some of them having slavery. In this series we are able to witness the birth of some of the most important aspects of the original series, Dune, such as the birth of House Atreides or the Orange Bible.

This book completely blew me away. It had been very much hyped by my friend and whilst I was expecting it to be good, I did not expect it to be this good.  The book is written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (whom I know from when I used to read Star Wars novels) and they are able to really capture you and deliver a very complete story. Right from the get go you are able to feel the hopelessness of the human struggle and the beginning of this book is able to show this as well as the persistence and creativity of humanity, two of its defining characteristics.  We are immediately caught in this long conflict and the authors are able to introduce to two characters that I immediately fell in love, Serena Butler and Xavier Harkonnen (yes, Harkonnen, from THAT family in Dune). In that opening battle they are able to capture the terror of the enemy and the sacrifices it will take to defeat them, a theme that is present throughtout the entire novel.

The novel also had some concepts that amazed me. The cymeks, humans that have let go of their bodies and moved their brains into machines, were simply amazing. They are the humans that took over a galactic empire, became awful and brutal tyrants and by being lax in their duties allowed for the rise of the machines that replaced their rule but did not kill them, instead becoming an important piece of the rule of the machines.  They are the enforcers and leaders in the war against humans. The fact that they use the names of classical historical figures such as Agamemnon, Ajax or Xerxes, made me, a history nerd, love them even more. The cymeks are truly complicated characters that you can’t help but love to hate. They are the perfect arrogant, brutal villains providing a great contrast with the cold Omnius, the leader of the machines.

Overall I found the first book in this saga to be delightful. It was fast paced and as a political scientist I took great pleasure in reading about the start of a revolution and how sacrifice and symbols are needed. The characters were amazing, especially Serena Butler, whose strength and pain really jumped out from the page becoming an inspiring character even in real life. At several points of the book I actually found myself cheering on the humans and becoming very involved with the story.

If you are a fan of the Dune series or a fan of fantasy/science fiction this is definitely a series that you have to read, I should have listened to my friend a year ago, she was right. This was a fantastic book and I can’t wait to read the second one.

 

Why I love Science Fiction

It has been a long time since I last posted on this blog, something which makes me ashamed. I have been going through a myriad of issues and have been thinking of trying different venues such as youtube, podcast or even streaming through twitch. However I now realize that my true passion and my forte lies in the written word. When I write I feel like I am able to express myself better than in any other form. As such to celebrate my return to blogging, I am writing a special entry on why I love reading science fiction so much.

Over the past few months I have been constantly reading science fiction and whilst I still prefer fantasy (fantasy will always be my favourite genre), science fiction is a genre that I love. From reading Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke, to the wonderful Ursula K. Le Guin to the more modern authors N.K. Jemisin or Cixin Liu, I have always loved reading the stories these authors’ craft. Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction, typically dealing with imaginative concepts such as futuristic science and technology, space travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. Science fiction often explores the potential consequences of scientific and other innovations and this is perhaps the aspect that I have always been attracted to the most.

Science fiction allows us to explore universal issues, themes through a futuristic setting and allows us to question everything. Through science fiction we question what defines humanity, what are the consequences of technology and give an insight into what could be the future of humanity. All of this issues are presented through a futuristic lens, a world or universe that in many ways is very different to ours but at the same time remains fundamentally identical at its core.

Science fiction also fulfils another role in my life, and that is to approach me to the scientific world. The best kind of science fiction uses real life science at its core, with some liberties. As someone who has always been fascinated by astrophysics, by physics in general, but has no capacity whatsoever for Math, reading science fiction serves as an outlet for this desire, as a way to vicariously through the story and characters be a part of that scientific world.

Perhaps most importantly science fiction allows me to disappear from this world for a couple of hours and go into a place where spaceships are a reality, where humanity is able to visit different planets and where my issues fade away as I ponder other questions that whilst at the surface might not seem relevant to everyday life actually allow you to reflect on deep issues that are a basis for what makes one human and his ideals.

Science Fiction is a loyal, close friend with whom I will continue to have amazing adventures in the future and one that always rewards my love for reading. If you have not been reading science fiction books, I urge to go to your local bookstore and pick one, you will not regret it.

I hope you have enjoyed this and keep checking the website because pretty soon I will upload a review of the hilarious book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”.

Character profile – Jean Grey

Comic books have some of the greatest female characters and so I have decided to start a new series where I will occasionally talk about some of the most awesome characters and highlight them. To start off, I thought it would be awesome to talk about one of the greatest female characters in Marvel who also happens to be a vital figure in my favourite superhero series, the X-Men and that is of course the great Jean Grey. Jean Grey has been a cornerstone of Marvel comics and of the X-Men for more than 60 years and is one, if not the most iconic character in that franchise. She has died and come back to life more times than I can count and has proven to be, in part thanks to the Phoenix, the most powerful mutant in the Marvel Universe (well depends on the writer).

Jean Grey has evolved throughout the years. As one of the original X-Men her role in those early comics was to basically play the “damsel in distress”, always being captured by the enemies of the group. However slowly as the character developed she became more than just a damsel in distress and Cyclops love interest. She became this kickass heroine, not just capable of standing her ground but actually becoming the most powerful member of the team. Her character growth really kicked off with the addition of the new X-Men (Storm, Wolverine, Colossus etc…) and it hit its highest point with the Dark Phoenix Saga.

The Dark Phoenix Saga is to this date, still considered the landmark of all X-Men stories. Written by Chris Claremont, it explored how Jean Grey, under the influence of the Phoenix slowly became crazy and after destroying a planet ended up sacrificing herself. Despite this story being retconned later on several times, the influence it had on the character of Jean Grey was immense.  This was her first (of many) deaths and it established her ongoing relationship with the cosmic entity the Phoenix. Her return with X-Factor showed her as an even more powerful  and assertive character, growing to lead the X-Men in several occasions and eventually to even become the Headmistress of the school (also married Scott, raised Cable (the son of Scott and a clone of Jean Grey) in the future, battled Apocalypse and had many more adventures).

Jean Grey would eventually die again, this time at the hands of Magneto in 2006 and for the better part of the last 10+ years she has remained so, beyond alternate universe appearances. However her influence has been felt throughout the years, and every time the Phoenix makes an appearance or Hope Summer showed up (who looks weirdly similar to her and that has yet to be explained), we inevitably think of Jean Grey. Recently we have had the young Jean Grey and that has been a (sometimes) fun ride, but in the past few months we have seen the return, after 12 long years, of the original Jean Grey thanks to the Phoenix whilst simultaneously finally getting rid of it (at least until they bring it back). This time she is leading her own team of X-Men and for the almost the first time since the inception of her character is going at it without Cyclops, Wolverine or Xavier.

Jean Grey is and always will be one of the most iconic comic book characters and one of the most important characters in the X-Men universe. In a universe filled with many strong female characters, Jean Grey has always been a standout. Her character has transcended the comic book medium becoming a pop culture icon. Thanks to her appearances in the films she has even gained even more fame and it will not end anytime soon. Jean Grey will probably die and return many more times in the comics but she will forever be the heart and soul of the X-Men stories and will remain “fire incarnate”.

Review – Avengers Infinity War

I have taken my time, seen it twice, and now it is time for me to talk about the movie that everyone is talking about, Avengers Infinity War. I will keep this review spoiler free, at least as much as possible. People who know me, know that I am a huge comic book fan, especially Marvel although I do enjoy DC as well. For the past 10 years I have been a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel has done a tremendous job of creating this connected universe that started with Iron Man in 2008 and has delivered us some of the best superhero films ever produced. We have become invested in these characters and their struggles so coming into the film, the hype and anticipation was incredible.

I had big, very big expectations for this film and let me assure that it not only delivered but it blew them away.  This movie was an INCREDIBLE comic book movie. It perfectly captured what it means to read a crossover. The movie faced an incredible challenge, combining all of the characters into the MCU, present a new villain (Thanos) and deliver a satisfying story that has been 10 years in the making. The Russo Brothers have somehow been able to pull it off and gave us what in my opinion might be the greatest comic book film so far. The film was epic, it had heart, action, intensity, laughter, sadness, huge stakes and was entertaining as hell. The CGI in this film was great, especially in Thanos, who could be the best MCU villain so far.

Watching this film was perhaps the best cinematic experience I have ever had. I was in a theatre full of geeks, just like me, and sharing that collective euphoria with them over the movie was incredible. Throughout the film people were clapping, laughing, gasping and cheering like crazy. Whilst normally I don’t enjoy such things while I am watching a film, this time, with this kind of movie, it made the whole experience much better. I got to sit down and share this incredible film and experience with people who love this film as much as I do.

Avengers Infinity War was simply brilliant. This movie delivered and it managed to share the focus between all the characters perfectly, especially giving us a great Thor moment that I can’t wait to see over and over again. The film was very courageous and it had an ending that left me shocked and eagerly awaiting the next films in the MCU, especially the next Avengers film coming out in 2019. If you have not seen this movie, you better get up and go to the nearest cinema and watch it, you will NOT be disappointed. As for me, all I can say is that it will be one very long year.

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

Book Review – The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Recently I have been reading a lot of science fiction from modern authors, authors who are up and coming. We are currently living a great moment in both science fiction and fantasy. New authors are providing great stories and are taking these genres to previously unseen territories. One of those authors is Becky Chambers and I have just read her first novel, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, after it was recommended to me by a very good friend. This novel was shortlisted for the 2016 Arthur C. Clarke Award and is a combination between classic hard science fiction and space operas in the style of Star Wars.

That combination was very appealing to me as I love science fiction and read a lot of genre books and well if you know me, you know that I ADORE Star Wars. Thus this book sounded like the perfect book for me and I can say without a doubt that it did not disappoint. After reading this big scale science fiction books with huge stakes (for example the fantastic trilogy by Cixin Liu), reading something a bit more low key and intimate was exactly what I needed. The book follows the trip of the multi-species crew of the Wayfarer as it embarks on a yearlong mission to set up a space route to a new planet that has joined the Galactic Commons (a galactic organization very similar to the one seen in Star Wars). The story is told through different POVs (namely the entire crew) and as the story develops we get to learn about their pasts and reach a better understanding of the characters. By the end of the book I had come to love this crew, the author through the interactions between them and through the exploration of their past, is able to give us rich characters that we come to understand and appreciate. Even the non-human characters are well developed and you come to understand their point of views.

This book is all about their characters and their journey. It is very easy to relate to them and come to understand them. However that said, the book does also give us a great and wonderful world full of different races that clearly has a lot of potential that can be developed in future novels set in the same universe. Furthermore, the story that slowly develops throughout the book provides an interesting backdrop that pays off satisfactorily and allows the characters to grow and complete their character arcs.

Overall, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, is a fun, character driven space opera that will have you entertained and will make you fall in love with the characters. Becky Chambers is without a doubt an author that any space opera or science fiction reader must check out. I can’t wait to read more novels from this author (in fact I have already bought the second novel) and go back to this universe and this characters, as well as new ones.

Review – Ready Player One

It has been quite some time since I last updated this blog. Life has been really hectic with a lot of changes, including a new job which has consumed a lot of my hours. However, now I have some time and want to return to this blog. For my return I have thought that there is no better moment than right now to talk about Ready Player One, the film by Steven Spielberg based on the novel of the same name by Ernest Cline. I had read the book a couple of years ago so coming into this movie I was very excited.

Ready Player One is the ultimate nerd fantasy, a videogame without limits, where everything is possible and full of the most awesome pop culture references. However, all of this traits that made the book so unique also made a film adaptation very difficult. Thus walking into this movie I was a bit apprehensive but yet hopeful, after all this was a movie directed by the great Steven Spielberg and the trailers so far had been really entertaining.  After watching the movie I can without a doubt say that it completely delivered. The film was great fun all around and was a very good adaptation of the heart and tone of the book.

There were some significant changes to the book, especially in regards to the tests that the characters must do in order to find the Easter Egg, but those changes were well thought out. The tests the characters do in the book are good fun and very nerdy but they would have been very difficult to translate into film and as such they found good replacements that kept alive the spirit of the book showing us good nerdy fun. The film had a fast pacing that did not drag at any point and all of this was complimented by astounding special effects that made the OASIS world seem incredibly real.

The movie is not without its faults, at some points of the film the pace feels a bit too rushed and as such some of the character development is lost. This can be seen in the love story between the two main characters which does feel a bit empty as we are not given enough time between them to see that love grow. That said this is mostly offset by the great performances of the actors. All of the cast is able to bring out the traits that defined the characters in the book, the traits that made them so relatable for all of us nerds.

But perhaps the biggest challenge that this film faced was to have a lot of 80s nostalgia without overindulging in the nostalgia. Nostalgia for the 80s has become a staple of nerd culture and can now be seen in many films and TV series (as well as comics and books) but just like the book this feels more like an ode to that time, an ode to the simplicity of films and games back then. This is all tempered with hidden references to more modern games and films. Some critics have commented on the fact that this film relies too much on the nostalgia factor, but in my opinion this is exactly what you are looking for in this film.

Overall this was a great, fun filled film with a lot of heart. It provided exactly what I was looking for and had me entertained for the whole time I was in the theatre. If you are looking for a film that provides nostalgia as well as an ode to nerd culture, Ready Player One is without a doubt your film (and do check out the novel, you will not be disappointed).

 

Review – Justice League

The long awaited Justice League movie has finally arrived and I went to see it as soon as I could. DC has not had a great track record with the only movie in the DCEU that has had critical acclaim being Wonder Woman, however with Justice League they hoped to alter the course and have a box office and critical hit. In Justice League we have a world that following the death of Superman is faced with an alien threat that forces Batman and Wonder Woman to recruit other heroes to defeat the threat they are facing in order to save the Earth.

Coming into this movie I had a lot of mixed feelings. I had not enjoyed most of the DCEU films and had found them to be very flawed. The tone of the films was not a tone I enjoy and the portrayal of characters like Superman was in my opinion very disconcerting and removed from what the character should be like. Thus I was in a way very apprehensive about the film. That said I was also really looking forward to this film since it was about the Justice League, the premiere superhero team in all of comics with some if not the most iconic heroes of all time. I have always been more of a Marvel comic fan but the Justice League had me really excited.

So, did the movie deliver? Well the answer is not a simple one. By no means is this a bad movie, it is fun and entertaining and I think it stands above the other DCEU films, except Wonder Woman. Yet despite this, I felt that it was lacking something and that it was not a good a movie as it should have been. Whilst I did enjoy the film at no point was I blown away by it, there was nothing spectacular that spoke to me or made me really excited.

The movie overall is fun and has a great pace. The interaction between the characters really work, Aquaman played by Jason Momoa was all kinds of awesome, the new Flash was great, Cyborg worked for me and Gal Gadot was incredible and remains the strongest asset that the DCEU currently has. I also found that they have improved the characters of Batman and Superman compared to the previous instalments. Another aspect that I enjoyed was the lighter tone yet still dark enough to make you feel the stakes. The action in the movie was also another bright aspect as it was well paced and shot.

However the movie had some issues. First of all the CGI was sometimes really bad. The moustache debacle with Henry Cavill is very noticeable and Steppenwolf (besides being a bad developed villain in the film) looks awful and fake. The other issue I had with the film was that it lacked a spectacular moment. The return of Superman should have been a monumental moment but it was somehow lacking punch, it did not feel as big as it should have and this can be said for most of the film. We had some of the greatest most iconic characters on screen together yet at no moment did it feel huge, it was just OK.

A small pet peeve I had and it might be ridiculous is that they incorporated in a quick moment the Batman 1989 theme and John Williams Superman Theme. The latter especially is a favourite of mine and hearing it used so quickly and in a small moment only served to remind me how much better and epic it would have been if they had included it on the film.

Overall Justice League was a fun enough movie and good step towards a better future for the DCEU, they improved the tone and the action was great. That said the movie was lacking in “epicness” and that is something they need to work on. They need to work on that, on making the big moments feel bigger. Hopefully with the next DCEU movies they continue improving this and by the time Justice League 2 comes around we will be awed by the film.

Book Review – The Three-Body Problem

Recently I have been reading more science fiction than any other genre. I have always enjoyed sci-fi but I had been for the past couple years more involved in reading fantasy with the odd science fiction story being read between fantasy sagas. However this has changed and now I am really enjoying reading science fiction. After finishing The Broken Earth series by N.K Jemisin, a beautiful saga, I was a bit lost on what to read but my good friend Carol Mateu (follow her twitter @carolmola for awesome nerdy fun and lots of laughter) recommended The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu and all I can say is that I have fallen in love with this book.

Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The novel follows Wang Miao as he struggles to make sense of everything that is happening and how the world is changing.

Reading this book has been an eye opening experience. This was my first contact with a novel written by a Chinese author and I have to say that it was an amazing experience. It was refreshing to read a novel with a different style and it was quite interesting to see how the author presents its characters and the stories in what for me was an unfamiliar method. I found myself enthralled by the storytelling and fascinated by the science presented in the book. This is perhaps the aspect I enjoyed the most, as I was reading this great story, I found myself learning about new theories and new aspects of science that until now had been unknown to me. The author is able to masterfully explain the science being developed the book but does this not at the expense of the story. If anything this makes the story feel more stimulating and entertaining.

Despite the difference in style, Cixin Liu is still able to create a recognizable science fiction story that contains many of the classic tropes we have come to expect in science fiction, with a new spin to them that keeps the story entertaining. After reading this novel, I can understand quite well why it has had the impact it’s had and why the author has won so many awards. It is a fantastic novel and in my opinion a novel that brings new forms of storytelling to science fiction. It has been a fascinating read and has allowed to me to experience science fiction in a way that I am not used to.  Furthermore it has allowed me an insight into some aspects of Chinese culture and history that were completely unknown to me, especially the several philosophers it mentions and the POV of China in regards to the Cultural Revolution.

Finally I would like to dedicate a paragraph to the wonderful ending of the book. The ending is beautifully written, including many references to a defining moment of the book that happened earlier and sets up the next book in a great manner. The ending of this book has instantly become one of my favourite endings as it is capable to leave you with questions, be astounded (at least in my case) by the wonders of the science explained in it, and full of wonder towards this world created.

I have really enjoyed this book and plan on continuing to read more from Cixin Liu (in fact I have already bought the second book on the series) and more eastern science fiction. I encourage you 100% to pick up The Three Body Problem, you will NOT regret it.

Review – The Defenders

The Defenders have finally arrived to Netflix and thanks to being sick I was able to stay home and binge watch the whole show in one day and as such I am ready to bring to you my review of the season and I will keep the spoilers to a minimum. The Defenders are basically the street level Avengers and its members are Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Daredevil. All of this characters have had their own series and most of them, except perhaps Iron Fist, to critical acclaim. This series was the unification of all the Netflix Marvel characters and the culmination of many plots and sub plots that have started in the other individual series.

The Hand are the antagonists in this show and we have seen them prepare their plan since Daredevil Season One. They seek power, influence and to obliterate New York. However to complete their plan and to return to K’un-Lun they need one more thing, The Iron Fist. In the show we are introduced to the Five Fingers of The Hand, amongst which we see some familiar faces such as Madame Gao, and their leader, Alexandria (Sigourney Weaver), a woman who has lived lives upon lives. It is she who resurrects the dead Elektra Natchios with the power of the Black Sky, and the last of the substance that makes the Five Fingers cheat death. Falling in line with the other Netflix shows (save for maybe Iron Fist), we are given a villain worthy of her status. With Elektra as her “muscle” we watch the unlikely heroes struggle to match her, even when they have her outnumbered, making every fight scene that much more compelling.

The show without a doubt delivers and it does a great job in setting up the story. The four titular characters are very different to each other and it takes a long time for them to come together, especially considering Daredevil at the start of the show is attempting to leave that part of his life behind.  However when they finally come together the pace really picks up and the show is incredibly satisfying, especially the interactions between the characters (highlighted by the wonderful Kristen Ritter as Jessica Jones and her snide but hilarious comments). The action scenes are wonderful, especially the one in the hallway (a classic now in the Marvel Netflix Universe) and the one in the last episode.

The characters are wonderful and everything is anchored in my opinion around Daredevil and his relation with Elektra who is played by Élodie Yung perfectly and is able to steal many of the scenes she is in. Sigourney Weaver is also excellent and joins the excellent list of Marvel Netflix villains, as she portrays a ruthless, timeless, powerful villain. The main cast does a great job as well, the chemistry between the Defenders is great and the rapport between the heroes is entertaining. Iron Fist, played by Finn Jones, who was the weak link coming into this show is much improved in this series. Both the actor and the writers seem to have found a more appropriate tone for him and his interactions with Luke Cage are a great throwback to their comics. The main cast is well complimented by all of the side characters we have come to know in the other series but Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing and Rosario Dawson as Claire Templeton (and the character who has been in every show) stand out particularly.

I enjoyed the story that was presented although I will admit that at some parts it dragged a little, however this was a minor issue that was offset by the great interactions between the characters that form the heart of this series. Another excellent point is the use of different colours to present each character, which gives us that comic book tone that is just great to see. The colour schemes change from character to character. Jessica Jones’ scenes are blue and dark, with Luke we are shown yellow lighting and a hip hop theme, while Iron Fist’s scenes are green, and lastly the scenes with Daredevil are often red. When they are all together we get a different tone to show us that it is no longer about the individual but about the team.

I have really enjoyed this show and its ending is spectacular, heart-breaking and ideal to set up the next of the series with the Defenders, Daredevil Season 3, in which we seem to be heading towards one of the most classic Daredevil comic book stories. The ending had me feeling a myriad of sensations but most of all it left me feeling satisfied with the show as a whole. This first season of The Defenders has in my opinion lived up to the hype. It is entertaining, fun, gritty, dark and captures perfectly the tone of the different shows. We are perfectly primed to see now the next seasons of the individual shows of this characters and I can’t wait for the Defenders to come back. Meanwhile we can get ready for the arrival of The Punisher.

The Defenders: 8.5/10

Book Review – The Fifth Season

I am finally back writing on this blog and it has been quite a while but between vacation and work life has been quite hectic lately! That said, I am now back and ready to bring you more good nerdy reviews and hopefully soon new sections to the blog. Today we are going to talk about a delightful book I just finished and that is The Fifth Season written by N.K Jemsin. I had wanted to read for quite some time this series since it was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel at the 74th World Science Fiction Convention on August 20, 2016. It was also nominated for the Nebula Award and World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and as such I was incredibly excited to read this book. Before we get into the review let me warn you that there might be some minimal spoilers although I will attempt to keep it at a minimum.

I absolutely loved this novel and it is more than deserving of the awards it attained and all the praise it has received. The story combines many elements of classic fantasy and science fiction in a unique manner to give us a rich story with an intriguing setting and plot. The Fifth Season is set on a planet with a single supercontinent called the Stillness were occasionally climatic disasters labelled as the fifth season occur, thus preventing humanity from flourishing. In this world there are a group of people hated and feared known as the oregenes who are capable of controlling energy, particularly that of the earth (directly) and temperature (indirectly) and thus prevent earthquakes and climatic disasters. Although they are hated and not considered human, they are used by society to minimize dangers in a world divided by caste. At the start of this book we learn that a fifth season is starting and we follow different characters in their struggles, especially that of Essun, an orogene mother whose son was killed by the father and who left with their daughter, and her search for them. This setting full of climatic strife, racial conflict and community struggles is captivating and yet also relatable. It is relatable because although it happens in a fictional world that is different to ours, the core of its issues are similar to many of the issues we now face.

The characters of the book are incredible, with profound development throughout the novel that has a profound impact on the book. The diversity in the characters in this book is refreshing to see as within the genre of fantasy and science fiction this has not always been the case. Throughout the novel we meet characters that despite their differences with our world, reflect quite well in our and thus make you invested in it.

The characters are what drive the story throughout the whole novel, as we are able to witness their evolution, their thought processes and how they face the challenges ahead is a fascinating read and combined with the plot of the story makes for an enthralling read. N.K Jemsin is able to bring to live a fantastical world, full of incredible characters with amazing abilities that at the same time feels very similar and relatable to ours.

I can’t recommend enough this book, it is wonderful, filled with beautiful characters and in an incredibly setting. After reading the first one, I for one can’t wait to read the next two books, with the third one having come out this month. I encourage you all to read the books as you will fall in love with them, and better do it soon since a TV show based on the novels has just been announced!