What a grand opener to the new year. I already loved the first book of the duology, but the sequel really blew me away.

The Shadowed Sun is set 10 years after The Killing Moon. Gujaareh is occupied by the Kisuati after the events of the first book, and the peaceful citizens are ready to shake off the yoke of the conquerors. In the desert, the legitimate heir of the mad prince Eninket, Wanahomen, is ready to lead the barbarian tribes to gain his throne. But as things are heating up, a mysterious dream plague starts killing people in Gujaareh and in particular affects the only woman of the narcomancy priests of the Hetawi, a Sharer-Apprentice called Hanani.

What can I say, I loved it. The story behind the dream plague is tragic and shook me up, and I loved the tribal folks, in particular Yanassa. I love me some strong ladies. You live and breathe the colorful world of Gujaareh through N.K. Jemisin's superb world-building and storytelling. I still liked Sunandi and Nijiri from the first book, but they're just excellent side characters. It's really Hanani's story, with a good dose of Wanahomen.

I highly recommend this duology to anyone who might be interested in ethnic, pseudo-Egyptian, pseudo-Anazazi fantasy.