This is where we part ways with Yeine for the time being.
The last week’s questions were brought by Lauren of the Violin in a Void and here they are:
1. Yeine shows us the meaning of esui when she summons Nahadoth, makes an offering of herself, and asks him to make love to her like the god he is. What did you think of her decision and the scenes that followed? Cosmic sex or verging on comic? What importance does sex has for their relationship?
I was thinking she has some serious case of esui. 🙂 But I think their cosmic sex is important for their relationship because of trust and letting go of yourself in order to make a point of love. At least, that’s how I read it.
2. Relad makes a last-minute play for succession by offering to help the Darre. Are you satisfied with his role in this book or do you think he should have had more of a presence? What do you think of his strategy to get Yeine to choose him over Scimina?
I’m satisfied, especially since I didn’t expect anything much from him I admit. And I think his strategy was rather good, unexpected and back-stabbing when it comes to Scimina which I enjoyed.
3. The final chapters show us more of Dekarta’s character than the rest of the book. How do you feel about him now, knowing the truth of his motives and of Kinneth’s death?
Hmm, I’m not sure. I don’t think that not being responsible for Kinneth’s death absolves him of anything. he still did everything else. Although he does seem to have some nice emotions in himself it seems.
4. The Succession Ceremony: Absolutely nothing turns out the way anyone thought it would. Did any of it match your expectations? What are your thoughts on what happened?
[Note: so much happened in this ceremony that I have separate questions for Itempas and Yeine’s roles. You can discuss them there rather than in this question].
Nothing matched my expectations except for the Relad part. I was left reeling trying to figure out everything that was happening.
I could have done with a better explanation of Yeine’s change, it seemed like she became another person and there was no Yeine left even though I could tell the author wanted to convince us otherwise. I’m not really convinced it’s still her.
5. We finally meet Itempas, a mad god whose overpowering love and hate caused all this suffering. What did you think of him?
God, I hope he suffers as a human for eternity. It’s probably going to take him that long to learn to love. He’s a bit of a psychopath if you ask me.
6. As a goddess, Yeine makes some dramatic decisions and changes, like altering Sky, killing Kurue, and trapping Itempas in mortal form. How do you feel about this new goddess-Yeine? Would you have down anything differently?
I think she made some great choices and changes with her power. What I’m not so enthusiastic about is that I can’t think of her as Yeine. 😦
7. Wrapping up: What did you think of the book as a whole? Any loose ends you’d like tied up? How might the world be changed by these events? Will you read the next book to find out?
I will definitely read the next book but if I got it correctly, it’s going to focus on Itempas and not Yeine and Nahadoth. I don’t think there are any loose ends, I just wish Yeine goddess felt more like Yeine to me. Unfortunately, it felt just like the goddess, no Yeine.
Hopefully, that will change in the future.
Tagged: Book review, Darre, Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin, Nahadoth, read-along, Yeine
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I think Yeine is now Yeine-the-goddess, taking up Enefa’s role as creator, not with Enefa’s personality but with some of her goals (like reuniting the Three). Being a goddess changes her fundamentally, but I still see bits of her personality, like when she says “enough of this disembodied soul business” (quoting from memory) and changes from an Arameri dress into a Darre outfit. So it’s her but not her, if that makes sense? I was quite glad she didn’t die or stay disembodied. I was kind of worried about that so I’m glad Jemisin found a compromise 🙂
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I understand, and I saw bits of her as well but that is my point. Only bits and I kind of hoped she would be more true to herself than to the goddess part.
Am I asking too much? 🙂
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I’m not sure… In what ways do you want her to be more herself? What specifically about her new identity bothers you?
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I can’t put my finger on it. It’s like whatever happened to her made her into someone else, a bit like she doesn’t clearly remember who she was, it’s more like dreams mixed with what Enefa’s life was like.
I understand she had to change in order to encompass some of the goddess but I liked her better as being Yeine, now she seems someone else.
I guess I’m not making much sense when everyone else is fine with it. 🙂
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Definitely – Dekarta may not have ended Kinneth, but he isn’t a pleasant grandpa who might only have 1 or 2 sins on his hands. No, he has a life time of ruining and killing and torturing others. So, I was quite fine with his ending.
I think Yeine and Enefa gave birth to a new goddess, one that has parts of both of them within her. I can live with that.
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So it’s not just my mind running away with me – you also feel that’s another person? I just hate the idea of losing yourself (I think that’s my personal fear) so when I read something similar to it, I have a bad reaction. Even though the new Yeine/goddess is obviously a great character.
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It didn’t work out so well for him, but I’m happy Yeine chose Relad at the end. The look on Scimina’s face was priceless!!
i think Yeine is still herself, but she’s in such shock over what happened, and I would be too! that i can forgive her for not acting like herself for a while. I wish Sieh had gotten a little more screentime at the end, he knows she’s not his Mom, and after all this, that had to be crushing for him.
I’m loving all the words we’re using for Itempas – psychopath, egotistical, asshole. . . it’s cracking me up!
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Oh, yes, Scimina didn’t see that coming at all! Such a great feeling for the reader. 😉
I don’t think we lack words for describing Itempas, I could add quite more to the list. 😉
As for Yeine, I sincerely hope you’re right.
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