The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

By: N. K. Jemisin

Narrated by: Casaundra Freeman

In this brilliantly original debut fantasy, a young woman becomes entangled in a power struggle of mythic proportions.

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian North. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history.

With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Yeine will learn how perilous it can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably together.

The Inheritance Trilogy:

• The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
• The Broken Kingdoms
• The Kingdom of Gods
• The Inheritance Trilogy (omnibus edition)
• Shades in Shadow: An Inheritance Triptych (e-only short fiction)
• The Awakened Kingdom (e-only novella)

For more from N. K. Jemisin, check out:

Dreamblood Duology:

• The Killing Moon
• The Shadowed Sun

The Broken Earth:

• The Fifth Season
• The Obelisk Gate
• The Stone Sky

©2010 N. K. Jemisin (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"In The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin has created a smart, passionate heroine and an extraordinary world. Marvelous work from a marvelous storyteller!" (Carol Berg, author of Breath and Bone)

"Many books are good, some are great, but few are truly important. Add to this last category The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin's debut novel.... This is the must-read fantasy of the year." (Booklist)

"The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is the provocative and exciting debut novel by a writer whose work I hope to be reading for a long time to come." (Kate Elliott, author of Shadow Gate)

Captivating

Clearly on par with the other SciFi Fantasy classics of Harry Potter or the Name of the Wind.

Bravo!

If you're into a fantasy world political thriller with a kind of a supernatural theme added in for good measure, then this book is for you. Love, politics, suspense, twists, plots, subplots... This book has it all. There's something in it for everyone, in my opinion. A great story from the author and a wonderful performance by the voice actor performing this wonderful story. Great job.

Takes a Second But Eventually Pops Off

After listening to the Broken Earth trilogy, at the beginning of this audiobook I was rather disappointed. I thought it lacked the nuance and interest that series made me fall in love with and, at first. While I would certainly not describe this as a quite to the level that the first two books of Broken Earth manage to reach, it eventually becomes this absolutely entrancing tale that I really loved. All that introduction to the world was absolutely necessary too as it does set up the central mysteries, it's just hard to see at first. The characters are well drawn and the questions the book asks, while not as necessarily deep as Broken Earth, are still important and interesting. The best part is that this feels like a complete story in isolation, so even if you do not intend on finishing the series right away this book serves as a fantastic standalone novel. As I am getting into the sequel I am realizing there are important thematic questions the book poses which remain unanswered and I am unraveling more of this rabbit hole of analysis that fantasy can provide of the human condition.

The narration is fairly top notch as well. The character voices are memorable and distinct. They remain animated but not overly animated throughout the telling. It's the kind of narration that doesn't draw attention to itself above the source material, which is, in my view, the goal.

very enjoyable

run of the mill fantasy plot with unique world-building and excellent narration. i really enjoyed it

Excellent voice acting, story just a little predictable

There is a very original cast of characters here, some of which feel very strong and unique as well as carrying really vivid and complex backgrounds but others simply serve the plot.
Casaundra has a great array of voices that are executed very well. The only heads up I would give is that the gods exhibit a pansexual and interfamilial physical relationship and that may not be some peoples cup of tea but it is a choice that doesn’t feel all that different if you’re used to say Peter Hamilton or many other descriptive and lurid sci-fi novels with male authors.
Definitely recommend!

Amazing!

So easy to lose yourself in this world! This Struggle goes on today, the lessons just as important.

that was a FUN story.

I am a 64 year guy. I loved this story having gods at your command. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to stomp up and down when prayers {demands} are not answered. Great characters and the person reading was so good. I'm sorry I'm not as good as writing this review as the book was.

awesome

perfect story, perfect narrator. Excellent fantasy. huge fan of the author now and getting ready to listen to next in series which I rarely do.

Hot and Gorgeous

Very immersive and beautiful. All my senses were amazed at this world. Can't wait to start the next in the series. N. K. Jemisin is one of the best scifi/fantasy writers writing today. (too bad at about the sanism right near the end, could've done without that part. broke the suspension, unfortunately)

The narration is very distracting

I’ve given this book maybe an hour and I’m strongly considering giving up. It’s very easy to tune out. Some words are over pronounced, and there aren’t adequate pauses between thoughts. The writing style that is meant to sound more archaic at times ends up feeling awkward due to rhythm and unconvincing inflection