In the twentieth chapter of The Broken Kingdom, Oree builds a new life while Shiny finds his. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read The Broken Kingdoms.
Chapter Twenty: “Life” (oil study)Â
I can’t believe this book is almost over. This chapter, which jumps ahead A YEAR INTO THE FUTURE WHAT, gives us a chance to see what Oree’s new life is like. She chose to live, and now we find out what that life comprises. In some ways, it’s bittersweet. She’s a new person – Desola Mokh – with a new past, and her old life doesn’t “exist” outside of her mind, at least not officially. I’m glad that Shiny came along with her (as Enmitan Zobindi), and we learn (in detail later) how the two have come to use one another as emotional support. As Oree puts it:
He could not be Madding for me. I could not be Nahadoth or Enefa. Still, each of us managed to fulfill the other’s basic needs.
I love this idea that these people come to each other with damaged hearts and still are able to find something to live for in one another. Like I said, this isn’t necessarily a happy ending. (Well, there’s still one chapter left, so I don’t know that I can definitively state that this is an ending at all.) After creating a god out of willpower, Oree finds out that she’s lost her magic. She wore it out completely, and she’s got to re-adjust her entire life to learn how to live in it as someone who is fully and completely blind.
And her life is, largely speaking, ordinary. She and Shiny spend time going to the market, running errands, and being as normal as one could be in the context of this world. However, her life will truly be “normal” in that very same context, as shown to us by the appearance of Nemmer. Oree is now the only surviving demon left in the world, and it was only a matter of time before another one of the gods figured it out. Nemmer’s visit is fraught with complication. Is she there to kill Oree? Warn her that she’s been found?
“Why did you come, then?”
She kicked her feet again. “I thought you’d want to know. Kitr runs Madding’s organization now, with Istan.”
Nemmer slowly reveals that she arrived partially out of her own curiosity and partially to let Oree know about the people who used to be in her life. Oh, not fair. It’s nice to know that Lil and Kitr survived, that the Art Row people are alive and well. But, as I said, this is all bittersweet. The rest of the godlings are dead, and Nemmer couldn’t check in with Oree’s mother. It’s also a complicated situation because of Nemmer knows that Shiny is there with Oree, and Nemmer doesn’t know know how she should feel about it. Does she talk to her father? Visit him? Slip away quietly? And I love that this shows us that the godlings still haven’t quite forgiven Itempas for what he’s done. However, I feel like it’s not hard to see Nemmer’s behavior as thankful of Oree for what she did. I don’t know how much the godlings know of what happened between the New Lights, Dateh, and Oree, but Oree is largely responsible for ending the plan to kill Nahadoth. Shiny was a part of that, too, but I don’t think he’s in a rush to confront any of the godlings. Their forgiveness is going to take time, and he’s giving them that.
Instead, Jemisin closes this chapter with a long scene that’s more about Shiny and Oree’s personal growth. And I love the idea that, so far, this isn’t about bringing us closure between Shiny and the gods. Hell, this story was never really about that, was it? Instead, Shiny approaches Oree and expresses a very direct sexual desire, something she’d never seen from him. It’s so shocking to Oree because… well, shit, can you imagine living with someone for years and they’ve only barely begun to have regular conversation? As she says, she didn’t even know he was interested. But his reason for finally expressing a sexual interest in her? OH MY GOD.
“I don’t know –” I began.
“I have decided to live,” he said quietly.
What I found most significant about this was his desire to not only consummate his relationship with Oree but to do so while being in his true nature. In recent days, I’ve been thinking a lot of how sex relates to power dynamics because of Beyoncé. (Did you seriously think my reviews would escape the gravitational pull of one of the greatest pop records of the last decade? YOU WERE MISTAKEN.) I mean, I’m listening to “Rocket” while writing this paragraph, and I can’t help but think about what this chapter means in a larger sense. Sex is a complicated thing to navigate as a person of color, as a queer man, and as someone who has issues around control and trust. And I admit that reading this whole sex scene between Oree and Shiny was empowering. I love the idea that there is love and ecstasy to be found in giving one’s self completely and fully to someone you trust. Trust is the basis of Oree’s desire. She wouldn’t do this without trusting that Shiny is the one for her, that he won’t hurt her, at least not in a way that she doesn’t want. And so she submits herself to Shiny as he briefly becomes the Lord of Light, not because she is a weak person or because submission implies something negative, but because it is an expression of love and trust.
Bless this book.
Part 1
Part 2
Mark Links Stuff
– You can now purchase a personalized Holiday Card from Mark for just $20!
– If you would like to support this website and keep Mark Does Stuff running, I’ve put up a detailed post explaining how you can!
– Please check out the MarkDoesStuff.com. All Mark Watches videos for past shows/season are now archived there!
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. The schedule for Double Features is also updated through the end of the year!
