Trail of Lightning - Rebecca Roanhorse

Summary: 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.

My Review: This book was awesome.  Seriously so, so cool.

First of all, I loved the concept.  I don't normally drift to 'grown up books' as it were, preferring middle grade, but when I read the synopsis of this book I knew I wanted to read it right away.

Second of all, I loved our main character, Maggie. She is so dangerous and so damaged.  She is a hard-core monster killer who is also dealing with plenty of emotional and psychological drama.  Her view of the world is obviously hardened and harsh because of what she is (oh my gosh monster slayer yes).  The fact that she cannot really come to grips with what she is just adds to the roundness of her arc, she is just so savage yet so vulnerable.  Ah, such a great character.  On that note I also loved her partner Kai, someone with equally cool powers but a complete opposite to Maggie in terms of how he handles things (she, violence; he, healing).

Third of all I just loved the world.  Another genre I normally steer clear of is the post-apocalyptic one, but this one just worked so well for me.  The Dine (Navajo) culture is filled with such vivid and fascinating lore, and Roanhorse really allowed this to shine.  We get a story set in this land, Dinetah, and with it all the ancient monsters, gods and tricksters that have returned after the apocalyptic 'Big Water' that has destroyed most of the world except this part.  These Dine get to shine and use their clan powers to survive.  They are visited by those ancient gods (nerdy me was super excited when Ma'ii (Coyote) showed up).  And these ancient gods and monsters are equal parts menacing and fascinating and I loved being a part of The Sixth World.

Also, on a note of the visual aspect of this world, I could totally see this being an awesome series/movie as well because I could just see everything so vividly in my mind as I read.  We don't get enough/hardly any proper Native recognition in media, and it's about time we start getting some, and it's awesome to get it from Native authors too.  Can't wait to read the rest of the series.  Problem is this book just came out a few months ago so now we have to wait....

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

For the sensitive reader: harsh language, sexual innuendo, blood and gore