Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse Series: Sixth World #1
on June 26, 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia
Pages: 305
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.
Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.
Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.
As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.
Welcome to the Sixth World
Read It, Rate It and Record
A short review to update challenges
I saw others reading this and liking it so I got it from the library. Trail of Lightening is the start of a new series, Sixth World. The mythology is Native American, but the setting is dystopian, after a big flood. Everything is rather Wild West with power making right; it is not a very safe environment. There are also gods and monsters and those with magic.
I had a lot of first book problems here. The world-building seemed rich and detailed but almost too slow as I struggled to understand aspects of it. The characters were interesting but I had trouble grasping some of their motivations. Maggie and Kai are just introduced and getting to know each other, as they go out to hunt monsters. I will likely try Storm of Locusts, which is projected for April 23, 2019.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Red River Road by Anna Downes @whatannawrote @MaddyWithington @MinotaurBooks @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooks - October 3, 2024
- A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara @MaxieDara @jaimebee @BerkleyPub @PRHAudio @sophiarose1816 #LoveAudiobooks - October 2, 2024
- 🎧 Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne @KevinHearne @luckylukeekul @DelReyBooks @PRHAudio#LoveAudiobooks - October 1, 2024
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Library-Love
- BTB 2019
It’s always tough with first books in this genre…how to keep the story from getting bogged down in world building and be interesting. I always try to give new series a two-book chance. It sounds like it should be good. Glad you’re going to give the next book a shot, Anne.
That’s it exactly. Thanks Jonetta.
This was one of my top reads last year, and I can’t wait for book 2.
No idea if it was intentional here, but sometimes non-Western based storytelling structure butts up against expected Western structure ideals, and there’s a disconnect for readers who don’t expect it.
Maybe? I have read this exact tribe in a few books but not dystopian. I read all kinds of genres and many different cultures / world views. Fantasy cultures are not fit to tradition either mostly. It also could be timing / mood. I liked it; I just didn’t love it.
I just bought the audiobook this week. Maybe the next book in the series will work better for you.
I saw it was the ADD (Audible Daily Deal) yesterday. I’m hoping that is true. I sometimes have problems with the first book in a series and then it’s all good.
I do enjoy this blend of genres. I think I’ll check this out. Loving that cover too!
I hope you love this. It’s different which is good.
I totally understand what you mean by a rich world but too slow. The plot doesn’t seem to have a point or at least it wasn’t put out there very strongly. It’s like they went on side quests and got distracted from the main storyline. I’m enjoying it more than you did but it is a problem of the book. ❤️
Thank you. I am so happy you get what I mean. I wanted to love this book. I have read many stories contemporary and fantasy which include this culture so it is not an issue at all with the culture. It’s more they didn’t have a clear purpose at times and they go off on a few tangents.
I’m eager to read this book. I’ve read one or two of the author’s short stories, and thought they were really good. I know that doesn’t always scale up; writing a novel presents a whole new set of challenges for an author, so I’m always willing to cut a first novel a little slack. But I love good worldbuilding and the premise sounds amazing.
I hope you love it! I’m hoping I’ll get more plot with book 2.