I have mixed feeling a it this book. It was unique but I needed something more. I enjoyed the premise but the pacing wasn't for me. Still, a great fantasy read that most will love!

The story revolves around Mayana descendant of the goddess Atlacoya and Ahkin the king of the Chicome Empire. From the moment they meet on the ritual of finding a bride, there’s a deep connection between them, but the gods seem to be against them. While Ahkin might question from time to time the blood rituals, Mayana is against them and can never stomach doing. With a bloodred comet and a sun that fades everyday way too soon, the life of the Chicome Empire hangs on the line.

The book is based on the legends and history of Aztec and Maya people and brings you an amazing world full of imagination, steamy romance, amazing connection between two people and even if it has triggers such as blood rituals animal and human the book is definitely worth reading.

While the blood rituals in the book did made me feel squeamish, (even tho they weren’t very detailed) the story between Mayana and Ahkin has developed very quickly from the very first pages, I felt their relationship to develop a little bit too quickly for my taste, especially since they barely knew each other, but the intensity of their feelings left me in awe. They’ve had an amazing connection, she knew how he feels, they had so many things in common to share and he always felt she knows him better than anyone else.

The world the author has build for this story is amazing, each empire is different and each descendant from the gods has different powers, from controlling the water to controlling the animals. During their marriage ritual each girl needs to prove herself worthy of being the queen of the Chicome Empire, while others came here to win, others like Yemania were sent here as pure sacrifice. The story can be brutal on some parts, especially when comes to Yemania, she’s definitely different than the rest of the girls at the empire, but her skills on healing people are amazing and instead of seeing that she considers herself unworthy – that’s also the reason her father has sent her, she’s a girl he can sacrifice because he knows she’ll never win. My heart broke for Yemania, I could find myself in her so much, because she’s misunderstood, her skills are amazing, perhaps more amazing than her brother and while her looks might not be to the same standards as everyone else her heart shines brighter than everyone else.

This story for me has been a twirl of emotions, from excitement to fear to disgust towards some of the so called kings of empire, but overall the book is an amazing ride and definitely has some lessons hidden.

Wow- I loved the Mayan/Aztec feel and all the world building that set up this world. The dual POV and main characters really made this book- it gave depth and strengthened the plot.
This book does remind me of the Selection but the contest seems very low priority to the plot.
I enjoyed this book so much I immediately downloaded the sequel!

So good and refreshing, the writing is bold and powerful and the characters are all so well developed. definitely recommend this book for your classroom library to continue to decolonize the shelves.

An intriguing fantasy world that intertwines ancient historical practices and culture to paint a picture of noble life,romance, and inner spiritual struggles,

What an interesting story!

Lani Forbes does an amazing job at getting inspiration from many cultures to build a world that will perfectly sustain her story.
The Avatar vibes transported me to my childhood and the magic system made me fall in love with the story. Ahkin and Mayana are characters that will make you frown, smile and worry all at the same time.

I have to admit that I've read a book from a Mexican author that has a lot of similarities with the plot of this book, however, I enjoyed every part of it!

Thank you so much for letting me read this book, I want to personally apologize for giving such a late review, last year was tough and it included a couple of movings. I really enjoyed the book!

Is the book going to be published in spanish? I'll be more than happy to help with promotion in latin american countries!

It was an amazing read.

The dichotomy between Mayana and Ahkin was awesome and the rich history and cultural hints that were sparsed throughout were absolutely perfect.

While not accurate, the story seemed perfectly in place with the legends of old.

I really liked this book but there were still a few elements that I wished could have been stronger especially the trials, which weren't any life-threatening and were something I doubled over at laughing( really disappointed just like that so-called riddle of ACOTAR)

Coming to another part of this book that many #ownvoices reviewers are voicing about. I did feel that the book had many cultures smashed together and was not a good representation and it has hurt the sentiments of many people hailing from that region. This book might have received more favourable reception had it not been promoted as an #ownvoices book and had it not specially said that it is based on Aztec and Mayan culture.

I couldn't understand the friendship between Yemina and Mayana....It felt really forced and not genuine to me....on the other hand, I would have I liked to see more of Yoli...Similarly, I felt that there wasn't any character development and even the romance felt forced and that aspect was lacking in more ways than one.

The only redeemable thing for me about this book and the series was the plot(which tbh had many similarities with the what many other authors were writing), it wasn't original but I liked it nonetheless and I hope that the next book is much better!

The Seventh Sun is a really great story. The good things about this book are the world-building, the chemistry within the relationships, and the pacing of the plot. All of these things made this book really enjoyable and had me wanting to continue this story. However, I wasn't aware that this was not an #ownvoices book. This brings some other things into the light that caused me to rate this book 3 stars. I felt that the depiction of the enemy in this book did not paint this culture in a good light. I feel as if there should've been a sensitivity reading of the novel prior to its release.
But, I also read the second book in this story and thoroughly enjoyed it. I just feel that there may have been a disconnect between the author and the culture and history she was writing about. As I am not an #ownvoices reviewer of this book I believe that I have hit all the points I could in this review.
I really appreciate Blackstone Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to review, however, I will be sure to research if it is indeed an #ownvoices novel or not.

OMG so all cards on the table I almost DNFed this one!! I know how crazy is that? So I am very glad that I gave this one a second chance because it was OMG AMAZING!!! This book centers around the cultures from Mesoamerica with fantasy aspects tossed in and I have to say that the author has a hit! I loved the blend of of cultures with the fantasy themes it just worked so well.

The characters in this one were great. I loved the dual POV which worked to not only tell us a well rounded story but also just made it so you knew what both characters were feeling. I would love more stories set in this world about other characters. Because each of them are just that important.

The story had a bunch of great twists and turns that I did not see coming and I am so glad that I have book two because I am going to die until I get my hands on book three!!

When Prince Ahkin’s father dies unexpectedly, he finds himself as the head of the Chicome people, grappling with the possibility of another apocalypse as a red comet cuts across the sky and the sun sets earlier each day. As if these problems weren’t enough, Ahkin must host six princesses from the surrounding cities of the Chicome empire and choose one as his empress so that he can officially ascend the throne. As one of the princesses, Mayana finds the course of her life suddenly taking a different turn than expected. For if she doesn’t win Ahkin’s heart, she will be sacrificed with the other four unchosen to bless the new emperor’s reign. And if that wasn’t terrifying enough, Mayana’s beliefs threaten to brand her a heretic, for she believes that the sacrifices to the gods are unnecessary and don’t honor them. While Ahkin and Mayana navigate their own challenges, an old enemy threatens Chicome’s borders and a larger plot starts to take shape, one that may threaten Chicome’s people and the very gods themselves.

First, I’ll attend to what other reviews have mentioned, which is that this novel is not own voices. While reading, there were moments that I felt uncomfortable; I leaned into these moments and interrogated these feelings. Though I was initially intrigued by a Mesoamerican fantasy, I was pulled out of the borrowed history when it became clear that Lani Forbes cherry picked and appropriated various aspects of Mayan and Aztec cultures. The moments that caused some raised eyebrows occurred when Egyptian culture was also thrown into the mix. Mayana’s views also toss in Christian morality that not only doesn’t fit with the time period but exudes a conqueror’s viewpoint that threatens to erase the contributions of the Mesoamerican people.

That being said, my reading experience with this book was just okay. Turning to the plot, the tension and stakes never rose to a satisfactory level. The princess trials were supposed to do some of this work, but I found the first two tasks to be somewhat silly. And the princess trials also activated the YA trope of instalove since Ahkin only had a few days to make his decision before the cursed final days of the year. This caused Ahkin and Mayana’s romance to speed along, a bit too fast for my taste. Finally, examining the characters themselves, Ahkin was fine, written as a young man who suddenly inherits several challenges that, due to his age and inexperience, he doesn’t not feel as though he can successfully overcome. Mayana, on the other hand, was supposed to be sympathetic, but I often found her to be more irritating than likeable. I suspect part of the reason why Mayana bothered me had to do with the treatment of the other women around her who spent time gossiping and being catty, culminating in a full-on fight between several of the female characters. Though a competition for Ahkin’s heart means there will be contention among the women in the story, I wasn’t a fan of several of the women tearing each other down to prove their strength and the weaknesses of others.

Forbes’s debut novel, while interesting, is not unproblematic. I tend to wonder if some of this isn’t due to genre. If Forbes had decided to write this as a grimdark novel rather than YA, I suspect that the sacrifices wouldn’t be questioned and that Mayana’s character, who was often the most controversial given her anachronistic Western views and challenging characteristics, wouldn’t exist. Overall, the cliffhanger at the conclusion will most likely make me pick up the second installment, but any enjoyment will not be untainted by the challenges.

A somewhat bland romance, but that's not the problem. The Problem is that this book is written in a mezo-american culture such as a Mayan or Aztec culture. Unfortunately, the author does not have any real experience or heritage within that culture. Now, maybe we could let that go, but the main character has some inexplicably Christian-like beliefs about the animal sacrifice required by the religion and takes it upon herself to try and change the culture to save the animals. It could happen. I didn't hate it. But I do think if you were Mexican you would resent the appropriation of the culture and the demonization of the religion.

Have not had a chance to read this yet, but will keep it on my list for a rainy day! Appreciate being offered the reading copy!

I can not really say a lot about this novel. Had it been an own voices publication, i feel the message would have come across better than how it did.

While the narrative itself was an ok one, it just felt a lot like the main character was determined that she did not fit in with her own people. She felt very whitewashed and like her opinions on sacrifices within her culture were there to provide a point of view that supports western/coloniser views on the world.

I feel that it also had an identity crisis, seemingly full of cultural appropriation although I am no expert so it may be on point.

The world building felt a little cookie cutter and like the author has simply googled 'Meso-American culture' and simply jigsawed together the results as she saw fit.

While the actual narrative had some potential, I just found that the novel as a whole left a bad taste in my mouth

<b>Rating:</b> 3.5/5 Stars

I received an e-ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in a fantasy world heavily inspired by the legends and traditions surrounding ancient Mesoamerica, The Seventh Sun, is the debut novel by Lani Forbes that features a beautiful blend of magic, history, and mythology. This story follows two main protagonists in a very original coming-of-age story. The first protagonist is Ahkin, a young prince who is thrust into the role of emperor before he is truly ready. The second protagonist is Mayana, a young priestess who has some very unusual beliefs when compared to her people. I don’t want to give too much away because I think going into this one not knowing much is definitely the way to go! I loved the way the story unfolded and while there were some obvious “first novel problems” I thought it was a really good debut! The world building is really well done and the setting of the book & magic systems were hands down my favorite part of the book. I did have some problems connecting with Ahkin at times but I really enjoyed Mayana’s character. The reason I decided to go with a 3.5 star rating though was because the middle part of the book really seemed to drag on for me. It felt like some of it could have been skipped completely and you wouldn’t miss out on anything too important and eventually I found myself skim reading some sections. But again I think it was a really good debut and I’ll probably pick up the second book when it comes out because I saw a lot of promising things in The Seventh Sun that makes me want to keep reading the series.

I really enjoyed this story, but upon further evaluation, and through reading other reviews, learned that it wasn't an own voices story and is harmful to the culture it is meant to represent. Unfortunately, because of this I won't be covering it on my social media platforms or continuing on with these books.

I won't be reviewing this title anywhere else. I know it may appeal to some people, but I didn't enjoy the writing and I've seen evidence that this author has appropriated other cultures in a way that is offensive. I can't promote this book in good conscience.

I loved the idea behind the book but I just couldn't get into it. I had a hard time relating to the characters and spent more time skimming to understand how the story would end.

Before I even start with the review; can I please just say; absolutely delighted I am with such fantasy books or series coming up that focuses more and more on so many different mythologies and cultures?

The Seventh Sun, the first in an all new series; has it’s foundations in the Mayan Mythology, and has inspirations from Aztec and Egyptian Cultures – and this was such a refreshing change to see such beautifully complex cultures being represented and for that this book; and its subsequent sequels as well as the author have my heart!

Now, here the young prince, Akhin is suddenly thrust into a role he doesn’t feel he is ready when his father dies – and as per tradition, his mother has to kill herself, not just so that emperor doesn’t have to journey the afterlife alone; but also so that her son, the prince can now find a wife to stand by his side.

Imagine reading about those events in the first chapter of the book itself – I swear, with such a sad and violent start to the story; it was inevitable that I would be glued to the rest of the book!

Now the traditions that come to choosing the next empresses isn’t an easy one and one that is definitely NOT for everyone! Its a bloody, vicious battle that all the princess from the neighbouring kingdoms are required to participate; one of them being Mayana.

Now Mayana, is a heroine you could definitely root for, right from the start – there is a realistic aspect to her character that the reader can’t help but relate to! And Akhin is a hero, I had mixed feelings for, on one hand, I understood his logical reasoning but on the other hand, I had to literally bite my lips to stop screaming at my e-reader, lest I be considered a loon :P

The Seventh Sun, is a complex story, with political mechanisms and conspiracies abound – not to mention the violent end that comes to the women who AREN’T chosen.

The writing of the author was refreshingly engaging and in spite of the fact that this YA story also falls into the trap of insta – love (Why, oh god WHY!!??), this book was delectably written to capture not just the attention of the reader; but their imagination as well!

"Thrust into leadership upon the death of his emperor father, young Prince Ahkin feels completely unready for his new position. Though his royal blood controls the power of the sun, he's now responsible for the lives of all the Chicome people"

Wow. I really loved the world that this novel was set in. I enjoyed reading the Aztec and Mayan elements. One of my favorite part of fantasy YA books is the way that they can weave in myth along the way. I also find it hard to find books with male protagonists these days. I am excited to offer this choice to my students and not just have female protagonist options.