Review: The Sixth World Series by Rebecca Roanhorse

Twenty years in the future an environmental collapse causes what is known as The Big Flood and everything below an elevation of 3,500 feet across the Earth is under water. This ushers in The Sixth World and the return of magic in this post-apocalyptic series set against the backdrop of the Navajo nation.

- Trail of Lightning -

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.

- Storm of Locusts -

It’s been four weeks since the bloody showdown at Black Mesa, and Maggie Hoskie, Diné monster hunter, is trying to make the best of things. Only her latest bounty hunt has gone sideways, she’s lost her only friend, Kai Arviso, and she’s somehow found herself responsible for a girl with a strange clan power.

Then the Goodacre twins show up at Maggie’s door with the news that Kai and the youngest Goodacre, Caleb, have fallen in with a mysterious cult, led by a figure out of Navajo legend called the White Locust. The Goodacres are convinced that Kai’s a true believer, but Maggie suspects there’s more to Kai’s new faith than meets the eye. She vows to track down the White Locust, then rescue Kai and make things right between them.

Her search leads her beyond the Walls of Dinétah and straight into the horrors of the Big Water world outside. With the aid of a motley collection of allies, Maggie must battle body harvesters, newborn casino gods and, ultimately, the White Locust himself. But the cult leader is nothing like she suspected, and Kai might not need rescuing after all. When the full scope of the White Locust’s plans are revealed, Maggie’s burgeoning trust in her friends, and herself, will be pushed to the breaking point, and not everyone will survive.

Trail of Lightning is a Native American inspired post-apocalyptic urban fantasy novel. When I read that I just couldn't wait to get started on this book. The world Rebecca Roanhorse created for this series is absolutely amazing and unique. I was happy that the world-building wasn't complicated, the author did a great job in explaining the reader what was going on in this new world. This book is set in Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation), and the main character is Maggie Hoskie, a Dinétah monster hunter/a supernaturally gifted killer. I felt a connection to her right away and wanted to know more about her. She is strong but also deals with trauma she hasn't got over. She doubts herself and fights the powers that reside inside of her. I really liked that she wasn't this perfect heroine. She has a lot to work through, and I really look forward to how she will develop further throughout this series. This book was action-packed, mysterious, funny, and emotional. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to get started on the next book in this series.

Storm of Locusts is an amazing addition to The Sixth World series. I loved everything about this book. I enjoyed the first book and being introduced to all the characters, but you really see them grow in this one. Maggie is loyal, protective and good, even if she doesn't feel that way. Especially in the previous book she was dealing with a lot of darkness inside of her. But this time around she is feeling guilt about the things she had to do in the first book. I loved seeing her letting people come close to her. She is realizing that it is okay for them to rely on her and vice versa. Storm of Locusts was more action packed and I loved traveling around all the new places. There was no dull moment and the author did a great job in telling a whole story. I absolutely loved the new character Ben, it was obvious that Maggie saw a lot of herself in her. It was also great to be reunited with the other characters, but the new ones were extra intriguing. I am a huge fan of this series, and I love how original it is. The bad guys are mysterious and unique, and you never know what is going to happen next. I can't wait for the next book to release after reading the ending of this book.

Rebecca Roanhorse is a Nebula and Hugo Award-winning speculative fiction writer and the recipient of the 2018 Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Her short fiction has also been a finalist for the Sturgeon, Locus and World Fantasy awards. Her novel Trail of Lightning was selected as an Amazon, B&N, Library Journal, and NRP Best Books of 2018, among others, and is a 2019 Nebula Finalist. 

Her short fiction can be found in Apex Magazine, New Suns, and various other anthologies. Her non-fiction can be found in Uncanny Magazine, Strange Horizons, and How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation (Macmillan). 

She lives in Northern New Mexico with her husband, daughter, and pug.

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