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The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

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description The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms Overview

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is a high fantasy novel by N. K. Jemisin, published in 2010 as the first volume of the Inheritance trilogy. The plot centers on Yeine Darr, a young woman from a matriarchal northern kingdom who is unexpectedly named as an heir to the Arameri throne in the floating city of Sky.

Within this ruling family, she becomes entangled in a vicious succession struggle involving the Arameri's enslaved, weaponized gods. The novel won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and established Jemisin's reputation for complex, character-driven worldbuilding.

help The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms FAQ

Why is Yeine Darr summoned to Sky in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms?

Yeine's grandfather, Dekarta Arameri, unexpectedly names her as one of the possible heirs to his empire. This forces her into a succession struggle with her cousins Relad and Scimina inside the palace called Sky.

Why are the gods enslaved by the Arameri family?

After the Gods' War, the victorious god Itempas bound Nahadoth and several Enefadeh to serve the Arameri. The family uses their divine power as the foundation of its political control over the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

Is The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms a standalone novel?

It tells a substantial story of its own, but it is the first book in N. K. Jemisin's Inheritance Trilogy. The Broken Kingdoms follows, and The Kingdom of Gods completes the trilogy.

Is The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms connected to The Broken Earth?

No, the Inheritance Trilogy and The Broken Earth trilogy use different worlds, characters, and systems of magic. Both series are by N. K. Jemisin, but The Fifth Season begins an entirely separate narrative.

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