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The Way of Thorn and Thunder #1-3
The Way of Thorn and Thunder: The Kynship Chronicles
Taking fantasy literature beyond the stereotypes, Daniel Heath Justice's acclaimed Thorn and Thunder novels are set in a world resembling eighteenth-century North America. The original trilogy is available here for the first time as a fully revised one-volume novel. The story of the struggle for the green world of the Everland, home of the forest-dwelling Kyn, is an adventure tale that bends genre and gender.
632 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
47 people are currently reading
1637 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Heath Justice
28books121followersDaniel Heath Justice (b. 1975) is a Colorado-born citizen of the Cherokee Nation/ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰ�, raised the third generation of his mother's family in the Rocky Mountain mining town of Victor, Colorado. After a decade living and teaching in the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee territories of southern Ontario, where he worked at the University of Toronto, he now lives with his husband in shíshálh territory on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. He works on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam people, where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Literature and Expressive Culture and Professor of First Nations and Indigenous Studies and English at the University of British Columbia.
Daniel's research focuses on Indigenous literary expression, with particular emphasis on issues of literary nationalism, kinship, sexuality, and intellectual production. His scholarship and creative work also extend into speculative fiction, animal studies (including badgers and raccoons), and cultural history. He is also a fantasy/wonderworks writer who explores the otherwise possibilities of Indigenous restoration and sovereignty. His newest book is *Raccoon*, volume 100 in the celebrated Animal Series from Reaktion Books.
A few more facts about Daniel:
-he's an amateur ventriloquist with a badger puppet named Digdug;
-he's a lifelong tabletop RPG player whose favoured alignment is Neutral Good and favoured classes are Druid and Ranger;
-his favourite Indigenous writers working right now include Leanne Simpson, LeAnne Howe, Lee Maracle, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Cherie Dimaline, Billy-Ray Belcourt, and Joshua Whitehead.
-the speculative fiction writers who had the greatest influence on his imagination growing up include Octavia Butler, Ursula K. Le Guin, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and his early pop-culture loves include Masters of the Universe, Ewoks, and Thundercats;
-he's a fierce mustelid partisan with a particular love of badgers--in fact, his favourite tattoo is of the badger symbol used by his character Tobhi from *The Way of Thorn and Thunder*;
-he's a devoted Dolly Parton fan and has seen her in concert three times (but has not, alas, yet been to Dollywood); and
-he is the proud and dedicated human attendant to three very weird and awesome dogs.
In summary, he's a queer Cherokee hobbit who lives and writes in the West Coast temperate rainforest and occasionally emerges to teach and do readings. And he's good with that.
Go to his website, , for more information about his published and forthcoming work as well as his irregularly-updated blog.
Daniel's research focuses on Indigenous literary expression, with particular emphasis on issues of literary nationalism, kinship, sexuality, and intellectual production. His scholarship and creative work also extend into speculative fiction, animal studies (including badgers and raccoons), and cultural history. He is also a fantasy/wonderworks writer who explores the otherwise possibilities of Indigenous restoration and sovereignty. His newest book is *Raccoon*, volume 100 in the celebrated Animal Series from Reaktion Books.
A few more facts about Daniel:
-he's an amateur ventriloquist with a badger puppet named Digdug;
-he's a lifelong tabletop RPG player whose favoured alignment is Neutral Good and favoured classes are Druid and Ranger;
-his favourite Indigenous writers working right now include Leanne Simpson, LeAnne Howe, Lee Maracle, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Cherie Dimaline, Billy-Ray Belcourt, and Joshua Whitehead.
-the speculative fiction writers who had the greatest influence on his imagination growing up include Octavia Butler, Ursula K. Le Guin, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and his early pop-culture loves include Masters of the Universe, Ewoks, and Thundercats;
-he's a fierce mustelid partisan with a particular love of badgers--in fact, his favourite tattoo is of the badger symbol used by his character Tobhi from *The Way of Thorn and Thunder*;
-he's a devoted Dolly Parton fan and has seen her in concert three times (but has not, alas, yet been to Dollywood); and
-he is the proud and dedicated human attendant to three very weird and awesome dogs.
In summary, he's a queer Cherokee hobbit who lives and writes in the West Coast temperate rainforest and occasionally emerges to teach and do readings. And he's good with that.
Go to his website, , for more information about his published and forthcoming work as well as his irregularly-updated blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 18, 2020
Why does this book have less then 100 ratings? Why is this book not better known?
I have read a lot raved about books in the 1000 or 10.000 areas that were mediocre in comparison to this beautiful, heartwrenching, melancholic and soulful novel. Daniel Heath Justice provides us with a meaningful story about identity, kinship and the question about what really matters in a life.
He takes the theme of the trail of tears and clothes it in an elaborately fleshed out Fantasy world where the realms of Humans and the Folk are set against each other. Even though we have the genre typical black and white characters, there is also a lot of grey inbetween. Each character is thoughtfully developed, each one has depth, each their own relatable agenda. Especially noteworthy is the fact that the Folk is not one species of earth connected beings. We have several branches with their respective traditions and magical skills. There is infighting as well as fighting between the realms. Everything is centered around the question: How much change can one survive before losing their identity? When is it better to die fighting than to give in to suffering and live?
This novel is meaningful. It has a soul, a very deep soul. And it shot easily into my top five Fantasy books of all time. (Right there alongside N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy)
What are you waiting for? Read it!
I have read a lot raved about books in the 1000 or 10.000 areas that were mediocre in comparison to this beautiful, heartwrenching, melancholic and soulful novel. Daniel Heath Justice provides us with a meaningful story about identity, kinship and the question about what really matters in a life.
He takes the theme of the trail of tears and clothes it in an elaborately fleshed out Fantasy world where the realms of Humans and the Folk are set against each other. Even though we have the genre typical black and white characters, there is also a lot of grey inbetween. Each character is thoughtfully developed, each one has depth, each their own relatable agenda. Especially noteworthy is the fact that the Folk is not one species of earth connected beings. We have several branches with their respective traditions and magical skills. There is infighting as well as fighting between the realms. Everything is centered around the question: How much change can one survive before losing their identity? When is it better to die fighting than to give in to suffering and live?
This novel is meaningful. It has a soul, a very deep soul. And it shot easily into my top five Fantasy books of all time. (Right there alongside N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy)
What are you waiting for? Read it!
November 21, 2020
I appreciate so very much the wellspring of generational trauma and history that animates the themes and imagined beings and creatures in this novel, but I wish that Heath Justice had received more copious and diligent editing in bringing his vision to life. I think it’s deeply inspired of Heath Justice to find a vivid, fantastical path for refracting the legacy of the decimation and degradation of Native Americans at the hands of their white oppressors; the Trail of Tears in particular receives a thoroughly upsetting and harrowing treatment here. And I feel the pride and love he clearly has for the indomitable spirit of so many of the characters he’s created. If he had found a more economical means of telling his richly conceived tale, and if he had a better handle on pacing and dramatic tension, I would have been completely swept away.
As it stands, though, I’m glad to have spent time in the world he created, and I hope he continues to ply his craft, since he has so very many promising ideas.
As it stands, though, I’m glad to have spent time in the world he created, and I hope he continues to ply his craft, since he has so very many promising ideas.
December 29, 2020
This book took it's time, but I very much enjoyed how much I got to learn about the world and its people.
It moved me deeply and I am very glad to have read it.
It moved me deeply and I am very glad to have read it.
January 19, 2021
I think this book is important, and, if things were a bit different, it would be a fantasy classic like LOTR and Malazan (namely, racism and that this was published through a university press that makes it hard to come by). It's hugely epic, weaving in so much mythology from the Cherokee people as well as the uncountable loss they experienced during the Trail of Tears. Before I get into my reactions, I'd like to mention that there were also a few factors that got in the way of my ability to fall into the story that are in no way the book's fault, so let's start there.
1. I read this as an American at the end of 2020, when the pandemic and politics were at a level that made following any other story difficult.
2. This is an omnibus of what I believe is actually 2 or 3 books. I don't tend to read series straight through--absence, fondness, etc.
3. I had to take an unceremonious break to read a library book with a due date at an unfortunate stopping point.
4. I finished under a lot of time pressure as I'm about 4 books behind what I promised to have read by now.
So...yeah, if things had been different, likely some of my feelings would be, too. But I still found a lot of greatness in this book.
CONTENT WARNING:
Important and great things:
-The mythology. This is a whole world. So often we get bits and pieces--one feature creature or one mythic hero. What makes this truly epic is that it's not, it's a whole pantheon. I was impressed with how the author went and made this accessible to others, too. He deftly makes it clear that elves and fairies and all the rest aren't just European creations, but then introduces people unlike any I've ever encountered before that were truly magical to spend time with. I think, though of course I can't know, that he also hints at a lot of "in group" tales, too--stuff that's big and meaningful to other Cherokee or indigenous Americans, that aren't For Us White People, and I loved being surrounded in a story that grand.
-The scope. Again so often we get one rising action, one true motivation, one quest. This really tackled a lot: coming of age, the rise of religion, found family, political intrigues...and not just from one POV, either! Really what I think is most impressive here is that it sort of effortlessly says that no group is a monolith, there's never one reason something happens, and the story changes on the teller. That's...breathtakingly hard for me to think about doing, and here it was just the assumption behind the story.
-Accepting. I'm on a roll with books that just accept that the world is bigger than the binary, in any sense. It was just so...refreshing and lovely to spend time with people who are comfortable being their authentic selves, and have everyone around them also accept them. The full gamut here--two-spirit folks, old, young, people with disabilities, people with different religions, poly families, found families, adoption, mixed races...all of them find a place among our protagonists. More of this, please!
-Poignant moments. There were several searing lines, and two really powerful scenes for me. I never actually tear up at books, and the scene where Tobhi realizes he has work to do made me actually shed tears. Some exceptional writing and emotional depth to this book/series.
Things that detracted for me:
-Overly wordy. I got hung up several times because whole paragraphs weren't helpful for me. Word choices got a bit florid, several darlings that should have been culled for the whole remain. I think this was probably a cycle too many.
-Continuity errors. Really I think some of this just needed more editing, like above. But there were several things in later cycles where I had to stop and let things go, because they were canonically not true.
-Dialogue. A lot of the dialogue was used to infodump in unnatural ways. Several times I thought to myself, "they'd never say that" because the portrait painted of their true hearts was more extensive and expressive than what they said, which might be true to life, but made for ragged reading.
-The last third. I had a bunch of problems with structure here. 1. We change structures from more or less linear to having flashbacks, but the flashbacks serve to me more as deus ex machinas rather than filling in knowledge we're dying to know. 2. Way too many characters introduced and explained too late in the game. 3. Summary ending. This is an 800 page epic, not Animal House.
So, a really uneven read for me with soaring heights, really important themes and messages, and a lot of clunkiness. In terms of merit and importance, this is not something to rate with stars--I think this story is CRUCIAL. In terms of me reading a fantasy novel, it was okay. Likely if I'd had a different situation for my reading, I'd have been able to look past more, but as it is, all I can say in terms of stars is that I liked it.
1. I read this as an American at the end of 2020, when the pandemic and politics were at a level that made following any other story difficult.
2. This is an omnibus of what I believe is actually 2 or 3 books. I don't tend to read series straight through--absence, fondness, etc.
3. I had to take an unceremonious break to read a library book with a due date at an unfortunate stopping point.
4. I finished under a lot of time pressure as I'm about 4 books behind what I promised to have read by now.
So...yeah, if things had been different, likely some of my feelings would be, too. But I still found a lot of greatness in this book.
CONTENT WARNING:
Important and great things:
-The mythology. This is a whole world. So often we get bits and pieces--one feature creature or one mythic hero. What makes this truly epic is that it's not, it's a whole pantheon. I was impressed with how the author went and made this accessible to others, too. He deftly makes it clear that elves and fairies and all the rest aren't just European creations, but then introduces people unlike any I've ever encountered before that were truly magical to spend time with. I think, though of course I can't know, that he also hints at a lot of "in group" tales, too--stuff that's big and meaningful to other Cherokee or indigenous Americans, that aren't For Us White People, and I loved being surrounded in a story that grand.
-The scope. Again so often we get one rising action, one true motivation, one quest. This really tackled a lot: coming of age, the rise of religion, found family, political intrigues...and not just from one POV, either! Really what I think is most impressive here is that it sort of effortlessly says that no group is a monolith, there's never one reason something happens, and the story changes on the teller. That's...breathtakingly hard for me to think about doing, and here it was just the assumption behind the story.
-Accepting. I'm on a roll with books that just accept that the world is bigger than the binary, in any sense. It was just so...refreshing and lovely to spend time with people who are comfortable being their authentic selves, and have everyone around them also accept them. The full gamut here--two-spirit folks, old, young, people with disabilities, people with different religions, poly families, found families, adoption, mixed races...all of them find a place among our protagonists. More of this, please!
-Poignant moments. There were several searing lines, and two really powerful scenes for me. I never actually tear up at books, and the scene where Tobhi realizes he has work to do made me actually shed tears. Some exceptional writing and emotional depth to this book/series.
Things that detracted for me:
-Overly wordy. I got hung up several times because whole paragraphs weren't helpful for me. Word choices got a bit florid, several darlings that should have been culled for the whole remain. I think this was probably a cycle too many.
-Continuity errors. Really I think some of this just needed more editing, like above. But there were several things in later cycles where I had to stop and let things go, because they were canonically not true.
-Dialogue. A lot of the dialogue was used to infodump in unnatural ways. Several times I thought to myself, "they'd never say that" because the portrait painted of their true hearts was more extensive and expressive than what they said, which might be true to life, but made for ragged reading.
-The last third. I had a bunch of problems with structure here. 1. We change structures from more or less linear to having flashbacks, but the flashbacks serve to me more as deus ex machinas rather than filling in knowledge we're dying to know. 2. Way too many characters introduced and explained too late in the game. 3. Summary ending. This is an 800 page epic, not Animal House.
So, a really uneven read for me with soaring heights, really important themes and messages, and a lot of clunkiness. In terms of merit and importance, this is not something to rate with stars--I think this story is CRUCIAL. In terms of me reading a fantasy novel, it was okay. Likely if I'd had a different situation for my reading, I'd have been able to look past more, but as it is, all I can say in terms of stars is that I liked it.
June 10, 2019
“Kinship is about so much more than blood.� This book blew my mind. I would give it six stars if I could as it is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. The Way of Thorn and Thunder has all the elements of a great fantasy story: the compelling, epic narrative, the multiple nuanced protagonists and the unique and imaginative setting.
However, the author goes well above and beyond just great storytelling. This book drew me in so much that I didn’t notice time passing. When I did look up, it was like coming up for air, my mind swimming with all the different themes and connections. I especially appreciated the adept handling of gender and sexuality, the deep insight to Native American history and culture, and the intricate mythology and belief about the magic of the natural world.
Overall, this was a beautiful, gut wrenching journey and the worst thing about it is that it is over.
However, the author goes well above and beyond just great storytelling. This book drew me in so much that I didn’t notice time passing. When I did look up, it was like coming up for air, my mind swimming with all the different themes and connections. I especially appreciated the adept handling of gender and sexuality, the deep insight to Native American history and culture, and the intricate mythology and belief about the magic of the natural world.
Overall, this was a beautiful, gut wrenching journey and the worst thing about it is that it is over.
September 12, 2022
I've been hesitant to rate this after spending over a year slowly getting through the pages. But have to accept, that despite its crucial themes and imaginatively invented lore, the narrative or the character handling weren't the most captivatingly realized; continuously leaving me waiting for a firmer connection.
It was an experience still, working one's way through this, and I can't say I'd be sorry to have read the book.
(The reading updates too seems to deal more with tackling the read, rather than engaged with the story itself. But, one thing they do point out - and I maintain: that this rather felt it might work as a good basis to build a graphic novel production upon).
It was an experience still, working one's way through this, and I can't say I'd be sorry to have read the book.
(The reading updates too seems to deal more with tackling the read, rather than engaged with the story itself. But, one thing they do point out - and I maintain: that this rather felt it might work as a good basis to build a graphic novel production upon).
Read
June 11, 2019This was amazing.
Reviews of the first two parts (will update once I write the third part of these posts - hopefully soon IY"H)
____
Source of the book: I got it as a present from my wishlist, but from someone who wanted to remain anonymous. Thank you!!!
Reviews of the first two parts (will update once I write the third part of these posts - hopefully soon IY"H)
____
Source of the book: I got it as a present from my wishlist, but from someone who wanted to remain anonymous. Thank you!!!
October 15, 2016
The Kynship Chronicles is speculative fiction epic that follows beautifully written Folk and Human characters as they become implicated in the defence of the Folk homelands, the Everland, against an impending invasion by Man. The narrative unfolds as the reader is carried by the journeying of different Folk, weaving a story that details a complex politics of survival and resistance to colonising forces.
Justice complicates colonial conceptions of gender and Indigeneity, writing characters that inhabit multiple belongings simultaneously in a way that challenges in-between spaces as exceptional.
This narrative balances sensuous visceral descriptions of the Everland, people and Folk with explicit reference to the power of discourse in sanctioning violence and maintaining physical and ideological domination.
Yet, strangely this trilogy was a pleasure to get lost in and relax with. When I wasn't sitting with this book, I often found myself wondering what the characters might be up to.
Very early on it became apparent that the Kynship Chronicles had been written with readers in mind who may be sensitive to continuing legacies of colonisation. At times things got heart-achey, particularly in response to the violence portrayed by Justice in parallel to collective historical and contemporary experiences of attempted dispossession. Despite this, multiple entry points enable the reader to imagine otherwise, to imagine returning home, even in its re-creation.
If you have some time to dedicate to a sprawling epic journey, this is a hefty Trilogy I'd definitely suggest reading.
Justice complicates colonial conceptions of gender and Indigeneity, writing characters that inhabit multiple belongings simultaneously in a way that challenges in-between spaces as exceptional.
This narrative balances sensuous visceral descriptions of the Everland, people and Folk with explicit reference to the power of discourse in sanctioning violence and maintaining physical and ideological domination.
Yet, strangely this trilogy was a pleasure to get lost in and relax with. When I wasn't sitting with this book, I often found myself wondering what the characters might be up to.
Very early on it became apparent that the Kynship Chronicles had been written with readers in mind who may be sensitive to continuing legacies of colonisation. At times things got heart-achey, particularly in response to the violence portrayed by Justice in parallel to collective historical and contemporary experiences of attempted dispossession. Despite this, multiple entry points enable the reader to imagine otherwise, to imagine returning home, even in its re-creation.
If you have some time to dedicate to a sprawling epic journey, this is a hefty Trilogy I'd definitely suggest reading.
February 28, 2019
This is a very unique take on the High-Fantasy genre. With multiple magic systems, a plethora of races and people of all types, and a map so big you could easily get lost in it. AND this story is written by a Native Cherokee author and the story is a well-crafted analogy of the Trail of Tears.
Justice weaves a thrilling story through multiple characters points of view as they attempt to change the fate of their world. Each character is unique and strongly formed, and watching them interact with each other is thrilling to watch. From strong headed and destiny-bound Tarsa to unassuming Quill, we meet a cast of characters that is vast and diverse. AND we have queer characters! Tarsa, our protagonist, is poly-amorous and we meet a character who is Zhe and uses "hir" and "zhe" pronouns. Not only that, but the culture of the Kyn hold the Zhe-Kyn in a position of honor because they walk between the worlds and are not bound to one gender!
So lets dive in: when you first start this book it will be a little difficult to keep up with if you are white. I say this because the character names and locations of the story are long and use spelling and phonology that is more complex than the English language. BUT after the first 5ish chapters it all clicks in. This is because the names are very reminiscent of Native american names and language. And as colonizers, we deserve to struggle with that. :)
World Building: I am not kidding, this map is huge! When the first leg of the "quest" begins and our hero's talk about how they have traveled for a week from X to X, I looked at the map, and it was about a 1/4 of an inch...Now that being said we do not go to Every location, but they all help to give us context of the world and the people in it.
The epic journey that our characters go on split off into different arcs as the story unfolds, and each of them take a different approach to fixing the problem they are faced with. That problem being the genocide of their people. The basic run down is that a group of humans who followed a specific religion summoned a piece of a different world into their own. That is how the Kyn nation ended up in their world. Then a few hundred years latter public sentiment has shifted against the Kyn and the humans now think that they are "hording" the land that "rightfully belongs to the humans" (look familiar?). So the humans trick deceive, murder, and do what humans do best to get what they want. This is a well-crafted analogy of the invasion of white European Colonizers to the American Continent, and then more specifically, becomes the Trail of Tears.
If you like sweeping, epic, high fantasy with fresh and unique spins on characters, magic, and society: read this book!
Justice weaves a thrilling story through multiple characters points of view as they attempt to change the fate of their world. Each character is unique and strongly formed, and watching them interact with each other is thrilling to watch. From strong headed and destiny-bound Tarsa to unassuming Quill, we meet a cast of characters that is vast and diverse. AND we have queer characters! Tarsa, our protagonist, is poly-amorous and we meet a character who is Zhe and uses "hir" and "zhe" pronouns. Not only that, but the culture of the Kyn hold the Zhe-Kyn in a position of honor because they walk between the worlds and are not bound to one gender!
So lets dive in: when you first start this book it will be a little difficult to keep up with if you are white. I say this because the character names and locations of the story are long and use spelling and phonology that is more complex than the English language. BUT after the first 5ish chapters it all clicks in. This is because the names are very reminiscent of Native american names and language. And as colonizers, we deserve to struggle with that. :)
World Building: I am not kidding, this map is huge! When the first leg of the "quest" begins and our hero's talk about how they have traveled for a week from X to X, I looked at the map, and it was about a 1/4 of an inch...Now that being said we do not go to Every location, but they all help to give us context of the world and the people in it.
The epic journey that our characters go on split off into different arcs as the story unfolds, and each of them take a different approach to fixing the problem they are faced with. That problem being the genocide of their people. The basic run down is that a group of humans who followed a specific religion summoned a piece of a different world into their own. That is how the Kyn nation ended up in their world. Then a few hundred years latter public sentiment has shifted against the Kyn and the humans now think that they are "hording" the land that "rightfully belongs to the humans" (look familiar?). So the humans trick deceive, murder, and do what humans do best to get what they want. This is a well-crafted analogy of the invasion of white European Colonizers to the American Continent, and then more specifically, becomes the Trail of Tears.
If you like sweeping, epic, high fantasy with fresh and unique spins on characters, magic, and society: read this book!
December 17, 2023
What can I say? This is a masterpiece of fantasy fiction. (Linda Hogan and Ursula Le Guin agree with me).
One might say that what makes it special is the Indigenous North American sensibility, and that's true since I can't think of another fantasy novel set in this territory. However, although that's an important consideration, it might give some the impression the ONLY reason it's important is because of the Indigenous canvas. What a mistake that would be. The characters, the world-building, the plot, the imagery, the prose are on par with any book I can think of.
Read it for any reason that appeals to you, but READ IT.
One might say that what makes it special is the Indigenous North American sensibility, and that's true since I can't think of another fantasy novel set in this territory. However, although that's an important consideration, it might give some the impression the ONLY reason it's important is because of the Indigenous canvas. What a mistake that would be. The characters, the world-building, the plot, the imagery, the prose are on par with any book I can think of.
Read it for any reason that appeals to you, but READ IT.
December 30, 2022
So good! It has beautiful world building and lovely metaphors. So refreshing to have a fantasy story NOT reproducing feudal Europe but set loosely in the Indigenous perspective of colonial Turtle Island. This context in many ways still has resonances to today, making it a much more politically relevant fantasy than others which reproduce feudal society.
December 2, 2020
There is a lot that I appreciated about this book. The world was well-constructed and felt real and alive and I would love to learn more about the people inhabiting it. The parallels to historical events of colonization and the Trail of Tears are evident, and I really felt the pain and trauma within. At the same time, the sense of recovery and hope in the end, the rebuilding of a society, was truly heartwarming.
That said, some of the writing in this book served to distract me from it. Frequent POV shifts made it hard to keep track of character storylines, especially when they might go several chapters between appearances. I noticed many descriptions of outfits as well that just ended up drawing my focus away from what was happening in the scene. Fortunately both of these issues seemed to diminish toward the end of the book, and the suspense and action of the finale was much more enjoyable.
That said, some of the writing in this book served to distract me from it. Frequent POV shifts made it hard to keep track of character storylines, especially when they might go several chapters between appearances. I noticed many descriptions of outfits as well that just ended up drawing my focus away from what was happening in the scene. Fortunately both of these issues seemed to diminish toward the end of the book, and the suspense and action of the finale was much more enjoyable.
September 9, 2024
Several times while reading this I had to stop, find a pencil, underline, and ponder what I had just read. I feel that this book shines in the spaces between the plot points, in the small discussions, in the hesitations.
For me, it pressed further into questions that plague me—how do you approach a tradition that belongs to your people, but that you did not grow up with? How are our own traditions transformed by encounters with the oppressive/colonizing other? What do we do with hatred that seethes? Can and how does that kind of hatred get pointed towards life-giving ends? What is worth dying for?
I highly recommend this book.
For me, it pressed further into questions that plague me—how do you approach a tradition that belongs to your people, but that you did not grow up with? How are our own traditions transformed by encounters with the oppressive/colonizing other? What do we do with hatred that seethes? Can and how does that kind of hatred get pointed towards life-giving ends? What is worth dying for?
I highly recommend this book.
December 21, 2019
I’ve only read book 1. I plan on finishing the trilogy eventually. I really liked it! I wish my library owned a copy so I could recommended it to patrons. But it’s over 2 years old so they won’t buy it :(.
October 10, 2021
Absolutely brilliant. The end felt a bit rushed, but it nevertheless ended so meaningfully. First book I recommend to everyone.
April 30, 2023
The world building in this book was absolutely incredible. The author creates a complex political landscape while still showcasing the unique cultural traditions of each group they talk about. The characters are both complex and endearing. I would highly recommend to any fantasy fan.
January 29, 2013
This is really more of a 3.5 and I went back and forth on 3 or 4 but eventually decided to go with a high 3.5. Take 1 part Tolkien, 1 part Star Wars and add a pinch of Harry Potter. Mix well and then use it to retell the Cherokee Trail of Tears story. And it does a very good job of that. It was originally published as 3 separate works of a trilogy and this edition is a new edition all in one. I didn't think the third part was as strong as the rest. It crammed a lot in and I think something was lost because of it. I was familiar enough with the Cherokee story to get the historical references but not familiar enough with the mythology to always make sense of that. It was enjoyable, though. Definitely worth reading.
January 8, 2012
Brilliant man. This guy knows what he is doing and does Native authors everywhere a huge credit.
This story is pumped full of action, political commentary (which, by the way, is biting, fresh, and totally accurate), assertive characters, and beautiful language. Deep fantasy has never been so artfully crafted.
I can't tell you how many dozens of voices of characters we hear from, but somehow can keep straight. And you want to hear from every single one. I don't know yet how he did it all, but I want in on his secrets.
This story is pumped full of action, political commentary (which, by the way, is biting, fresh, and totally accurate), assertive characters, and beautiful language. Deep fantasy has never been so artfully crafted.
I can't tell you how many dozens of voices of characters we hear from, but somehow can keep straight. And you want to hear from every single one. I don't know yet how he did it all, but I want in on his secrets.
April 13, 2016
One of the best things to come out of the #MagicInNorthAmerica kerfuffle is discovering writers such as this. Bravo, Daniel Heath Justice! *This* is what inclusive literature looks like, writing that is of, by, and for the rest of us. It took a while for the story to "take", but by chapter 6, I knew that I had to read all 600 pages through to the end.
December 28, 2019
Okay here we go, here’s my personal opinion:
THE BAD:
This book could use some editing.
I feel like a novel is the wrong medium to tell this story- a graphic novel would be better, because you wouldn’t fall asleep/get lost during the pages and pages of overly descriptive and confusing info-dumping this book suffers from.
I am no stranger to reading fantasy, and you simply cannot have a magic system with no rules or guidelines, and have a main character suddenly go from extremely incompetent to god-tier with their powers in some off-page “training� that occurs over a mere few weeks. There was no training, therefore the reader cannot grasp the laws of the world, and it makes Tarsa harder to emotionally connect to, because we don’t undergo her journey with her. The introduction of Quill as a dollmaker further confuses things, with her entirely unrelated branch of magic. She makes creepy dolls that speak to her? And makes portals but doing so means she can’t have children??? What???
Aspects of the world building confused me. The Folk make great mechanical inventions such as metal horses and great airships but still only use primitive tools and houses? Why? Its a contradiction.
I did not care for many of the characters. With the exception of Denarra (who doesn’t appear until halfway through the book), there was no banter between friends; there were too many cases of TELLING not SHOWING what these characters feel for one another. Tarsa and Jitani’s romance, for example, came out of nowhere and was not believable. You’re telling me they’re pining in love for each-other after two short conversations?
There were also too many instances of a POV being introduced, ruining any semblance of pacing the novel had gained, only to provide an insignificant perspective from a character who is not currently relevant. These POVs needed to be arranged for better placement, or, in some instances, cut entirely.
The beginning also DRAGGED. So much. The entire book suffered deeply with pacing issues. Important moments happened too quickly, and boring moments went on, and on, and on....
There’s too much of everything taking place on the road. At one point, the characters are in the castle of the Big Bad Guy (should be a significant plot point right?) and they only hang out there accomplishing NOTHING for a chapter or so before leaving. Theres no intrigue, theres no tension, there’s no opportunity taken to explore this plot development - all they really do is eat dinner until - SURPRISE! - they get poisoned and escape. It really begs the question of what was the POINT? For the villain to meet the protagonists? It was not dramatic enough; it didn’t hold enough weight to feel significant enough. There wasn’t enough interaction between him and Tarsa for me to feel the conflict between the two sides. It also made ZERO sense to send 1 warrior and 5 diplomats to meet the murderous bad guy, then act surprised when he attacks them on the road and eventually poisons them. Like what did you expect??? The point of their mission was to retrieve a diplomat, so why did they not have more fighters with them to do so???? And if he attacked them on the road WHY the heck would they stay in his hospitality for the next few days pretending like he doesn’t want them dead? I was extremely frustrated towards the protagonists reading this.
Another example of poor pacing: The big “plan� of the antagonist was revealed through a convenient info-dump 64 pages from the end. The plan of the good guys to stop him is NEVER hinted at leading up to the end, everyone is seemingly aimless in their actions - there’s no cohesion to their ending victory.
THE GOOD:
Denarra’s character was a breath of fresh air to this story. I loved everything about her and her dialogue. The ending with the peacock feathers was PERFECT, emotionally touching in the best way!!!!!!!!!!!Her band of merry actors and conflict with Thane was one of the most engaging plots to me. Thane himself was a well developed character. Nerranda’s story arc was also extremely well done.
The plot-twist with Jago got me, I did not suspect it. And the way they were written was terrifying (in the best way).
The immersive descriptions of the Everland and nature was gorgeous.
REPRESENTATION!!!!! Amazing, beautiful, wonderful LQBTQ+ representation. The portrayal of genderfluid characters was well done. Sexuality was never a problem in this novel.
The best part of this work are the themes and motifs, with the parallels to the real world tragedies in colonialism. Having the Kyn’s feelings through their “sensory stalks� juxtaposed with the Men who lack empathy really highlighted their insensitive cruelty. These themes were strong and left an impact (man =hunger). The way in which the humans were portrayed pushes the reader to think about how we really are horrible to nature and others.
IN CONCLUSION:
I understand the message it was going for (and a very important message at that). However, the poignancy of the themes were not enough to engage me in reading. To me, it unfortunately fails as a high fantasy novel and was a struggle to finish, but I respect the impact this novel may have.
THE BAD:
This book could use some editing.
I feel like a novel is the wrong medium to tell this story- a graphic novel would be better, because you wouldn’t fall asleep/get lost during the pages and pages of overly descriptive and confusing info-dumping this book suffers from.
I am no stranger to reading fantasy, and you simply cannot have a magic system with no rules or guidelines, and have a main character suddenly go from extremely incompetent to god-tier with their powers in some off-page “training� that occurs over a mere few weeks. There was no training, therefore the reader cannot grasp the laws of the world, and it makes Tarsa harder to emotionally connect to, because we don’t undergo her journey with her. The introduction of Quill as a dollmaker further confuses things, with her entirely unrelated branch of magic. She makes creepy dolls that speak to her? And makes portals but doing so means she can’t have children??? What???
Aspects of the world building confused me. The Folk make great mechanical inventions such as metal horses and great airships but still only use primitive tools and houses? Why? Its a contradiction.
I did not care for many of the characters. With the exception of Denarra (who doesn’t appear until halfway through the book), there was no banter between friends; there were too many cases of TELLING not SHOWING what these characters feel for one another. Tarsa and Jitani’s romance, for example, came out of nowhere and was not believable. You’re telling me they’re pining in love for each-other after two short conversations?
There were also too many instances of a POV being introduced, ruining any semblance of pacing the novel had gained, only to provide an insignificant perspective from a character who is not currently relevant. These POVs needed to be arranged for better placement, or, in some instances, cut entirely.
The beginning also DRAGGED. So much. The entire book suffered deeply with pacing issues. Important moments happened too quickly, and boring moments went on, and on, and on....
There’s too much of everything taking place on the road. At one point, the characters are in the castle of the Big Bad Guy (should be a significant plot point right?) and they only hang out there accomplishing NOTHING for a chapter or so before leaving. Theres no intrigue, theres no tension, there’s no opportunity taken to explore this plot development - all they really do is eat dinner until - SURPRISE! - they get poisoned and escape. It really begs the question of what was the POINT? For the villain to meet the protagonists? It was not dramatic enough; it didn’t hold enough weight to feel significant enough. There wasn’t enough interaction between him and Tarsa for me to feel the conflict between the two sides. It also made ZERO sense to send 1 warrior and 5 diplomats to meet the murderous bad guy, then act surprised when he attacks them on the road and eventually poisons them. Like what did you expect??? The point of their mission was to retrieve a diplomat, so why did they not have more fighters with them to do so???? And if he attacked them on the road WHY the heck would they stay in his hospitality for the next few days pretending like he doesn’t want them dead? I was extremely frustrated towards the protagonists reading this.
Another example of poor pacing: The big “plan� of the antagonist was revealed through a convenient info-dump 64 pages from the end. The plan of the good guys to stop him is NEVER hinted at leading up to the end, everyone is seemingly aimless in their actions - there’s no cohesion to their ending victory.
THE GOOD:
Denarra’s character was a breath of fresh air to this story. I loved everything about her and her dialogue. The ending with the peacock feathers was PERFECT, emotionally touching in the best way!!!!!!!!!!!Her band of merry actors and conflict with Thane was one of the most engaging plots to me. Thane himself was a well developed character. Nerranda’s story arc was also extremely well done.
The plot-twist with Jago got me, I did not suspect it. And the way they were written was terrifying (in the best way).
The immersive descriptions of the Everland and nature was gorgeous.
REPRESENTATION!!!!! Amazing, beautiful, wonderful LQBTQ+ representation. The portrayal of genderfluid characters was well done. Sexuality was never a problem in this novel.
The best part of this work are the themes and motifs, with the parallels to the real world tragedies in colonialism. Having the Kyn’s feelings through their “sensory stalks� juxtaposed with the Men who lack empathy really highlighted their insensitive cruelty. These themes were strong and left an impact (man =hunger). The way in which the humans were portrayed pushes the reader to think about how we really are horrible to nature and others.
IN CONCLUSION:
I understand the message it was going for (and a very important message at that). However, the poignancy of the themes were not enough to engage me in reading. To me, it unfortunately fails as a high fantasy novel and was a struggle to finish, but I respect the impact this novel may have.
September 30, 2022
I was going to give this book two stars, but I really didn't like it. I thought the idea was neat, but I didn't really feel any of the concepts were fully realized. I found the characters were very two-dimensional and the plot just kind of wandered, without a lot of logic or sense.
There was a big deal made of the treaty that the kin were asked to sign, but it was hard to see what difference signing the treaty or not signing the treaty made. The kin's villages were being burned and kin were being killed and captured before the treaty, the same thing happened after. I couldn't even see the difference between whether they signed the treaty or not - signing it exposed them to violence so it's hard to see that not signing it would have had a different outcome.
The pace of the book slowed to a crawl at times - at one point, Justice spends three pages describing what everybody attending the conference looks like. The climatic scene was a big mess and kind of underwhelming, it was hard to understand Neranda's motivation, the denouement was long and drawn out but that might be more me than the actual book - I seem to have little patience for denouement.
I think if Justice had spent a little more time on developing the characters and their motivations, I might have enjoyed this book more, but he seems to have just roughed them in with broad strokes and then said "there! I'm done." It was hard to care about any of the individuals, or fully hate the villains, because there just wasn't anything there.
The book had great potential but missed in the execution, and it resulted in a real slog of a read.
There was a big deal made of the treaty that the kin were asked to sign, but it was hard to see what difference signing the treaty or not signing the treaty made. The kin's villages were being burned and kin were being killed and captured before the treaty, the same thing happened after. I couldn't even see the difference between whether they signed the treaty or not - signing it exposed them to violence so it's hard to see that not signing it would have had a different outcome.
The pace of the book slowed to a crawl at times - at one point, Justice spends three pages describing what everybody attending the conference looks like. The climatic scene was a big mess and kind of underwhelming, it was hard to understand Neranda's motivation, the denouement was long and drawn out but that might be more me than the actual book - I seem to have little patience for denouement.
I think if Justice had spent a little more time on developing the characters and their motivations, I might have enjoyed this book more, but he seems to have just roughed them in with broad strokes and then said "there! I'm done." It was hard to care about any of the individuals, or fully hate the villains, because there just wasn't anything there.
The book had great potential but missed in the execution, and it resulted in a real slog of a read.
December 10, 2022
More of a 3.5, rounded up. This book took a long time to find its footing. Seeing that it was originally a trilogy, I would say the first third gets really lost in its worldbuilding and is hard to follow. But once Tarsa and Tobhi make it to the capital city, things pick up, and it goes from there. The section on the Darkening Road (analogous to the Trail of Tears) was particularly harrowing.
Justice also has a habit of skipping to the aftermath of an event and then backfilling, which is a fine technique sometimes but not as often as he used it. Also, for a book that is described as queer, a lot of it felt awfully straight. (The Kyn have a third gender but there’s only one character of note of that gender, and they aren’t very prominent at all. There’s a character you could say is trans, but that’s only revealed in the glossary. There’s a sapphic relationship, but it comes in pretty late in the book.)
Justice also has a habit of skipping to the aftermath of an event and then backfilling, which is a fine technique sometimes but not as often as he used it. Also, for a book that is described as queer, a lot of it felt awfully straight. (The Kyn have a third gender but there’s only one character of note of that gender, and they aren’t very prominent at all. There’s a character you could say is trans, but that’s only revealed in the glossary. There’s a sapphic relationship, but it comes in pretty late in the book.)
November 30, 2019
Oh my gooooddddd. This book is fucking incredible. I don't read fantasy, and I haven't read the Lord of the Rings books, but this book turns the fantasy genre on it's head. Imagine Lord of the Rings, but it's also a really complex allegory for American removal of indigenous peoples and occupation of indigenous lands. It's a moving, beautiful, rich narrative that at its core is a story of Native resistance and healing. Also includes queer and nonbinary characters. An entire world is built and it is magical. The plot is compelling and action-oriented, the characters are lovingly crafted and well-developed. I have so much praise for this book. If you have any interest in fantasy novels or in art with a social justice bent, I can't recommend this book enough.
A
A
March 31, 2025
Only read 175 pages for class but I am counting it! The other 400 pages are in exchange for the online readings throughout the sem...ok review time.
Idk if all fantasy novels are like this but there were soooo many character I was like ??? but I started liking it around 120 pages in. I really liked imagining the setting/magic and liked the concept of the wyr but I found it hard to picture all of the characters since I don't typically engage with fantasy beings. Like could not imagine bc my brain could not decipher if they should've been animated or more realistic lolz.
Maybe will finish later in life idk.
Idk if all fantasy novels are like this but there were soooo many character I was like ??? but I started liking it around 120 pages in. I really liked imagining the setting/magic and liked the concept of the wyr but I found it hard to picture all of the characters since I don't typically engage with fantasy beings. Like could not imagine bc my brain could not decipher if they should've been animated or more realistic lolz.
Maybe will finish later in life idk.
May 15, 2018
Stunning. There is so much to talk about here, I don't even know where to start. I picked this up on a free table of UNM Press overstock, and I am so glad I did; I don't know that I would ever have come across it otherwise. It's a brilliant re-imagination of what a fantasy novel can be, deeply indigenous in its sensibilities and storytelling, complex, carefully crafted, with characters, places (the place is, in many ways, the most important character), and mythologies that will linger with me for a very long time.
June 27, 2019
A queer AF fantasy saga that centers indigenous folks and anticolonial values? Yesssss.
Except from The Way of Thorn and Thunder:
"I didn’t accept this office to be party to the wholesale degradation and slaughter of an entire race of people, Kell. That’s not why I fought for the Republic for all those years." The First Magistrate shook his silvered head, and he looked at his world-weary successor with genuine sympathy. "Of course it is, my noble-hearted friend, though you may not have known or believed it at the time. How else do you think great nations come into being?"
Except from The Way of Thorn and Thunder:
"I didn’t accept this office to be party to the wholesale degradation and slaughter of an entire race of people, Kell. That’s not why I fought for the Republic for all those years." The First Magistrate shook his silvered head, and he looked at his world-weary successor with genuine sympathy. "Of course it is, my noble-hearted friend, though you may not have known or believed it at the time. How else do you think great nations come into being?"
September 13, 2021
A wonderful take on the age old clash between cultures, between societies that hold everything in balance vs. the ambitious/rapacious cultures that chew up both their own people and those around them, in a never ending quest for more more more.
Great characters, including some more badass females that are appearing more and more in fantasy and science fiction. There was a bit more telling and a bit less showing than I would have liked, but at least characters didn't sit around explaining the laws of physics to each other.
An author I'll be reading more of, I hope.
Great characters, including some more badass females that are appearing more and more in fantasy and science fiction. There was a bit more telling and a bit less showing than I would have liked, but at least characters didn't sit around explaining the laws of physics to each other.
An author I'll be reading more of, I hope.
July 15, 2017
Magnificent. Originally published as a trilogy, then later melded into a single volume, this novel held me spellbound from beginning to end. Wonderful characters, steady and powerful writing, beautifully evoked interrelationships between people and home places, and (very much related) smart, urgent politics. I can't recommend Daniel's novel enough.
August 27, 2019
I stumbled upon this gem of a trilogy quite by accident and have absolutely no idea why this isn't on more people's radars/recommended reading lists for this genre. Really superb story with lots of unique concepts and interesting characters. Genuinely unique enough to keep me interested throughout and with great world building I'm now interested to find out what else this author has written.
September 6, 2020
Definitely a must read for fantasy fans. It breaks from a lot of the traditional European-centric tropes of fantasy literature. It's tricky to write about all the amazing things in the book without a lot of spoilers, so I'll be brief: If you're looking for something different, queer, and well-written, read this book.
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