Trail of Lightning

[psocoptera]

I think I would have had my eyes on this whether or not Roanhorse won the Campbell, but I'm sure even more people do since she did. Trail of Lightning, Rebecca Roanhorse, book one of a postapocalyptic urban fantasy series of unknown length, or possibly they're supernatural thrillers, I suspect there are finely-graded genre distinctions there that I don't have a handle on. I liked it but didn't love it - the setting and worldbuilding are really neat (and well-handled, in how/when she gives more details) but I found a number of character reactions and motivations perplexing. Some of which were early on, setting up a sort of ongoing sense of being thrown off, and some of which were in a big climax of "wait, what??" at the end. Also it's the sort of book with a scene where everyone has to get dressed up in their very most fan-art-able costume options and if you like that sort of thing you'll probably find that fun and if not eyes may roll. I liked the characters and their dynamic despite their confusing choices and I'm definitely going to read the next one. I would recommend this one to people who like supernatural thrillers/urban fantasy and are willing to roll with some plot arc wobbliness for nifty setting and use of Navaho mythology. (I really liked how things like the inclusion of Diné words was handled, and the daily-life details.)

Major warning for gore/graphic violence and child harm/child death.

Comments

[oracne]

I liked this one a lot - it got me through being stuck in bed for days with a leg injury. The worldbuilding was my favorite part.