Intense story
For me, this story was much stronger than the first one – the female characters, who I could relate to, might have been the reason. Jemisin also explores feminist issues in an intense and compelling way. I even felt the narration was stronger, perhaps because I became more familiar with Zimmerman's style. But perhaps Zimmerman also became more familiar with the story, and having her voice more female characters than in the first one was a plus. She does not do voices extravagantly, but the subtlety definitely works for this particular story, which is understated for the most part. Jemisin explores issues of abuse, relationships with fathers, and the paradox of being pacifist while still defending oneself and what is right. These themes really resonated with me, having been raised as a Buddhist and a pacifist. And I can't help but think she was inspired by the monastic culture of Tibet. I highly recommend this title as a standalone or as a sequel to the first.