Read-Along: The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin, Part 4

Welcome to week 3 of the read-along of N.K. Jemisin's The Kingdom of Gods. Questions this week were provided by Book Bound, and cover chapters 14-17. Beware of spoilers below!

1. Nahadoth said „You cannot remain in mortal flesh much longer. It’s changing you“ to Sieh. Do you think Nahadoth knows what is happening to Sieh? And what could happen to Sieh?

I don’t think he really does know what’s happening to Sieh.  I think that was kind of connected to Sieh’s realization that he was growing and changing, and his fear that he wouldn’t be Naha’s favorite son anymore. Also, Sieh is growing up, which is antithetical to his nature.

It seemed like a lot of this section was about how even gods (like Itempas) are capable of change, so maybe Sieh will be able to change his nature instead of dying.

2. Sieh half-dies and suddenly comes back with some other magic (something about the universe or other). What do you make of it & Why is it only Shahar, Dekarta and Sieh that remember?

We have a new triad! Or a fourth major god?  We learned from Nsana and Lil that what Sieh really wanted was to be one of the three.  Not necessarily for the power, but because of how intensely they belonged with one another.  He’s lonely, and he wants to belong with people who love him.

Though it was by accident, he built his own group together with Shahar and Dekarta. In order to join his own little trio, though, he had to become mortal.  I think we may have seen that he also changed Shar and Deka, in the ceremony that changed him.  They wanted a friend, and he wanted a trio like Enefa/Nahadoth/Itempas.  Thus, while he became more mortal, they became more divine in some way. 

We’ve heard from the conversation with Kahl that creating a god requires many details to line up with perfect timing.  Given that Sieh was already starting to change, and that he had that weird resonance with the Maelstrom, maybe the time was just about right to create a new 3-in-1 god out of him and his friends. What they did in changing reality to save Sieh, was clearly way above the level of godling, so it makes sense that the only ones who might be able to remember are the three of them and the three greater gods. 

3. What do you think of Yeine’s offer to Remath? 

I have to admit that I was not expecting such a deal.  I wonder if Yeine actually gets anything out of being worshipped by the Arameri, other than her own delight.  Sieh mentioned that being prayed to felt like friendly encouragement, so I wonder if a larger-scale state-instituted worship, like the former Itempas worship, actually makes a god more powerful.

    

4. Thoughout the whole book, but more in the last couple of chapters, we’ve seen the Arameri have become more human-like, and especially Remath has been more emotional. Do you think they’ve always been like this or that there is some trigger that is making them behave differently?

I don’t think there’s anything magical about it.  I think it’s pretty much just because they no longer have the dominating power of the Enefadeh. Now they have to interact more with others, and persuade where they could have once just commanded.  Also, I suppose watching your family be murdered, as well dealing with the stress of being a power in decline, might make it a little harder for them to hide their emotions. 

5. The Echo Palace has been built! And Shahar and Dekarta are „safe“ Why do you think Remath  is abandoning the normal source of Arameri power?

By the normal source of Arameri power, do you mean Itempas? I suppose Itempas is not really in a position to help out the Arameri right now, so it makes sense that they would want Yeine as their new patron.

6. Sieh has just left with Itempas, Nahadoth and Yeine… How will they save him? 

I’m still not altogether convinced they can.  I get the feeling they’re going to need Shar and Deka to help heal Sieh, in the end.  We’ll see, though!