The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

I have all kinds of things to talk about lately but no time to actually log in and post so the post about CSA's and the Roller Derby and the latest game night fun will have to wait until another time.  I do have a few minutes to expand on one of last weeks reads.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - Yeine Darr has grown up expecting to be the ruler of a small impoverished kingdom but after her mothers murder she is summoned to the capital city of Sky by her Grandfather, the most powerful ruler in existence. When she arrives, he pits her, his niece and his nephew in a battle for the kingdom. She only wants only to find the person responsible for killing her mother but she slowly realizes that the losers of the competition will not only lose the kingdom but their lives. As she struggles to understand the politics of this race of people she also comes in contact with the gods and must fight to stay one step ahead of them all.

As a stand alone or as the beginning of a series, the mythology and world building in this novel are well thought out and believable and Yeine is a multifaceted character with a creatively, distinctive voice.  Told in first person, the author leads the reader through the story Yeine is experiencing, which makes for a vividly told and sympathetic narrative. This complex political novel is also a fast paced tale of intrigue that pulls you in and will not let you go.