Book Review: Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

Series: The Sixth World #1
Source: Purchased hardcopy

When most of the world flooded, we entered into the sixth world, the next world of existence according to the Diné, or the Navajo. This entry into a new world gave life back to gods and monsters that were previously only legend.

Maggie is one of the lucky ones to survive the Big Water and now she makes her living as a monster hunter using the gifts of her ancestors in Dinétah. However, something new is happening and she cannot take it on alone. Enter Kai, he is a bit showy for Maggie’s tastes, but she cannot deny that his methods are effective. So the two make an unlikely pairing to take on legend.

Recently I found myself looking for a book to read because I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for and I found this on my shelves. Honestly, I don’t actually remember buying it, but I picked it up and ended up reading it pretty quickly. It turned out to be a very enjoyable book to read – so I was happy to find it.

I loved the characters in Trail of Lightning. I am all about a kick-ass lead female so Maggie in particular was a great main character to follow. However, it’s not all fun and games for her, she actually has this very dark past that has led her down the path she is currently on and I really enjoyed following those threads. Kai and Tah were both so much fun in their own ways. I just want to hang out with Tah for an afternoon and listen to his stories because I bet he would have the best stories. Kai on the other hand is a bit more dynamic and I’m very curious how he’s going to develop throughout the series. Between them and all of the other characters – looking at you Coyote! – there was a lot of personality packed into this little book.

Aside from the characters, the thing that I enjoyed the most is definitely the inclusion of Navajo mythology. Native American tribes truly have some of the most beautiful and interesting stories and cultures (though I am admittedly biased to think so due to my own Native American heritage). While I’m not very familiar with Navajo myths, I just loved how Roanhorse built a dystopian world around these existing stories of the Navajo. I also like how she handled the clan powers. The idea of having access to the gifts of your ancestors like enhanced speed and strength, expedited healing, and so on was balanced by the fact that there are costs to using them.

Basically, Trail of Lightning was a very interesting read. While the writing felt a bit simple, it did not impact my enjoyment of the characters, world, or story. My only other qualms about this book is that there were a couple of questions that I feel we did not get answers to, but potentially if I read book two, which I will be doing, I will get those answers. All in all, quite enjoyable. 4/5 Stars.