I have a feeling this will be a book that I fall in love with more on my eventual reread before the sequel comes out. The first read was a little overwhelming for me, a person who has really fallen off from reading fantasy lately, because there is a lot of world-building to be done in this pre-Columbian inspired fantasy world. That said, by the time I really felt like I had the lay of the land and a grasp of the characters, I was very invested. Unsurprisingly, I was much more interested in the storylines following Xiala and Serapio because there's also a budding romance happening. I was shipping them so hard, I actually cried at one point.

Anyway, let's talk about what this book is about before I ramble on about my ship. This book has four perspective characters, though one is introduced rather late into the book, so I won't really touch on him. First up, we have Serapio, who is the vessel of the Crow god. His mother performs an elaborate and painful ritual in the opening chapter and then we fast forward to the present where he's on a quest to get back to Tova in time for this eclipse. Then we have a Captain, who is Teek, and also in jail, but she can't quite figure out why. That captain is my favorite character, Xiala. She's a bit of a mess, but I love her the most. She's so engaging and I love the journey she takes and there are lots and lots of secrets and mystery surrounding her and I can't wait to learn more. We also have Naranpa, the Sun Priest, who despite being a position of great power seems sort of precarious because she's trying to change the way this priesthood thing does things. Her sections of the book were weirdly some of the most confusing to me and I still don't think I have a solid grasp of what was happening there. Finally, we have the late intro, Okoa. I don't think he's really a spoiler because I don't even think he was mentioned until his perspective appears. He's a Carion Crow and a member of the ruling family. His chapters are interesting, but by the time we got there, I was furious we left Xiala and Serapio every time. I truly love them.

So now seems like the right time to squeal about my ship. I love them the absolute most and I'm basically Dido singing, "I will go down with this ship," because even while I was falling in love with them, baked into the plot is a "this love is doomed conflict." I am DISTRAUGHT and I need book two immediately, but only if it gives me an HEA. Otherwise, I would like six hundred fix it fics giving me what I need.

Some really cool things about this book: The magic that happens here is very cool. There are a couple aspects of that. The usage of they/them pronouns briefly for a quick character intro and two separate characters who use xir pronouns. Honestly, the entire story is really fascinating and I'm just super looking forward to the second book and my reread of this book so I can take it all the stuff that I missed in my frantic desire to know what happened next.

The audiobook has four narrators and is really excellent. I especially loved the narrators for my two favorite characters. I also had an advanced e-copy via Netgalley and did sort of switch back and forth when I wanted to read with my eyeballs faster. These opinions are my own.

Black Sun is the first book in the Between Earth and Sky series by author Rebecca Roanhorse. Her prose and writing is gorgeous and impeccable. It's beautiful and lyrical without taking itself too seriously. This is a book that takes place in pre-Columbus America (Fuck Christopher Columbus to Hell) with rich cultures and even richer people. The characters are all so multi-faceted and fun to read from the perspective of. We follow the perspectives of Naranpa, the Sun Priest in the city of Tova. We also follow Xiala, a disgraced Teek, a sea captain who can calm the waters with her voice and Serapio, a young blind man who is seeking passage on Xiala's ship, they make their way to the city of Tova, days before a holy celestial event that is set to change the course of the world. Once these characters collide, everything changes. The journey getting there was beautiful and heartbreaking. Roanhorse writes unforgettable characters with clear and undeniable skill. I highly recommend this one and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

(Rating is 4.5 stars)

The book is epic in scope with a broad cast and a few incidental points of view (POV). The cast includes everything from a world governing body that has lost its relevance, the vessel for a reborn god, and a foul-mouthed captain from a people of myth. I could have become lost in all the names and different circumstances, but the characters are distinct and the characterization rich. Even with chapters between mentions, it took little to bring me back to knowing who held the POV.

Using multiple POVs in the same group of characters helped with this by reducing the stretch of time without a mention, and through developing an internal and external understanding of the people key to the story. These characters are far from cutouts or straight forward. Nor have their lives left them unscarred physically or psychologically. They are as likely to find their contradictions puzzling as the reader…or maybe more so because we know situations are rarely simple.

The same is true of the cultures and places. This is not a single nation with a single culture. Nor are the various cultures united under a single worship or practice. Instead, we have a rocky agreement based on an ancient treaty to hold all these cultures equal beneath the guidance of the Sun Priests. The world is a vivid mix of experience and myth. We learn through the eyes of sailors, priests, and fanatics among others, though that turn of phrase is too limiting as one character is blind.

The conflicts are against society and history as much as individuals. Betrayal and sabotage are often grounded in birthplace or events two generations before. Cruel or kind people exist, but most are a blend of these states, showing position and history fail to produce a perfect or corrupt person consistently. This is not a book for those seeking simple answers or splits between good and evil. Both violence and rough language exist on the page, along with an intimate scene, but these elements reveal the characters and their philosophies in important ways.

The book throws you into the thick stew of a fantasy world drawn from pre-conquered indigenous cultures in what we now call the Americas. People and cultures connect through areas of influence or control, and through the trade moving between the locations by canoes, barges, and presumably, over land. The author doesn’t hold to what we have discovered of the histories, though. She uses them as a starting point to create a world of her own populated by old and new gods; fantastical beasts large enough to bear a human or two whether crow, eagle, flying serpent, or water bug; and myths that might have more truth to them than anyone in the story knew.

Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a historical or religious text belonging to this world and offering the reader insights. These headers also provide a date and timeframe that’s crucial to tracking the story. The novel is not chronological, or even set in a current time with flashbacks to a previous one. Instead, it combines flashbacks, flash forwards, and time moving up to meet the future we have seen.

Normally, this lack of chronological storytelling would have bugged me, but it’s more a story outside of the strict limitations of time than not. I was grateful to realize the header held the necessary grounding, however. The book’s epic not only in scope but in timeframe. It covers the lifetime of gods along with that of humans, and yet everything works and makes sense in context.

The novel has fascinating cultural beats, something I enjoy, yet they can sometimes slow the story down. I noticed a few slower spots in the beginning as we’re getting to know the people and places, but the story moved quickly overall. Switching between the various characters helped this. The captain offered a good contrast to the Sun Priest, for example, until that part of the tale got rolling. By the end, I couldn’t say which of them I preferred.

Black Sun speaks to my craving for sociological speculative fiction. It draws on North, South, and Central American ancient indigenous societies whose sophistication is often ignored whether the Polynesian navigational skills or the buildings found in Inca or Aztec ruins. Then add in complex characters who come to life in their contradictions. Yes, there are dark moments, but I don’t think that’s the heart of this narrative. There’s a lot of meat on these bones, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

P.S. I received this Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I gave Black Sun a 4⭐️ rating. This was one of the most unique fantasy stories I have ever read. It was filled with diversity! The only problem I had with this story was the timeline jumped around a lot and it took me about 20% to really get into the world and fully grasp what was going on. This book also surprised me with how much I ADORED the romance within the story.

OMG!!!! I absolutely love this book! I want to know when the next book comes out. I have put in for this book several times and I am glad I received one and will also go out and purchase this book. I have to say, so far this year, this book is my favorite read. There was a bit of confusion in the beginning on the book set up, but after finally getting it, I could not put this book down.

There are three main characters and stories in this book. I love all three and cannot pick which one I would consider my favorite. The author intertwines these characters with one another even when one does not realize this until the end. These three characters are well rounded and beautifully written. Each character has their flaws and I can see the growth in them as I got further to the end. I cannot wait to learn and see these characters again in the next book!

Serapio is the main character we are following. We learn from the first chapter, his destiny, which is to bring the Crow God alive and bring justice for the Crow Clan. He learns many ways to survive as a blind person to transition from boy to man, from man to god. It intertwines his destiny with the priesthood and the sun priest. You watch him grow as a character in the book.

Xiala is an interesting and for me the most mysterious out of our three characters. Her story is not fully revealed because I think there is more than what was told. She is an alcoholic captain and a teek, which seems to be a siren like character. In this book, the author intertwines her story with Serapio. She agrees to give him passage to Tova, not knowing who or what he is until halfway through the voyage. He intrigues Xiala and Xiala intrigues Serapio. 

Naranpa is the last main character. She is the new sun priest and has ideas to change the priesthood for the good. Sadly, she came at a time where there was a lot on her shoulders. She is part of Serapio’s destiny. She is a noble character and someone you want to be on their side. I can feel she is a good person who wants to do great things for the people, but there are others who do not see her position as a good. Maybe she is my favorite.    

What pulled me into this book is its mythology and world building. I felt the realism and was immediately sucked into this book. The different clans with their the old religious faiths battling the new beliefs of the priesthood are frankly no different from what has happened in this world. The old religious faith drew and created Serapio’s destiny. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology, dark fantasy, great world building and writing. I cannot wait till the next book comes out.  

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Yall, I found my favorite Rebecca Roanhorse book and I am stoked about it. Okay, yes this one was the most up my alley (and has cult-like vibes at times during certain parts). That being said, I feel like Rebecca Roanhorse has officially hit her stride and knows how to write exactly what she wants to say in a way to make an impact. And this, this one holds back ZERO punches.

I wasn't ready for this book.

From the synopsis, I knew it was going to be epic, and unlike the author's past two books I've read. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer brilliance of BLACK SUN. I feel like any words I use will minimize what I feel about this book. It's like standing before the Grand Canyon and trying to take a selfie with it. It's impossible. No photo will do it justice just as my review will never be good enough.

All you need to know is that BLACK SUN wrecked me.

With an eye-widening first chapter, Roahhorse pulls you into indigenous myths inspired by pre-Columbian Americas. The setting is visually stunning in its world-building, and the magic systems and political intrigue accompany you into a world of Sun Priests, giant crows, and mermaids.

This is a multiple POV book. We have a blind young man, a magical captain, a Sun Priest, and a beast rider. All on their own paths that converge with a thunderous roar at the book's conclusion. I loved the different POV's personally, but I know some people have a hard time with them especially with high fantasy such as this one. I connected with each character on a personal level. The author excels in placing humanity in her characters so well that you learn to empathize and cheer for them. The pacing of this book is fast, packed full of action and heart. Everything was superb.

But I have to talk about that ending. WTF REBECCA ROANHORSE. I mean, really???? You got some courage leaving us such a cliffhanger and I bow to you and your ballsy courage because, man OH man. I was in for the win and then BAM, acknowledgments. I will need book two in my hands STAT.

The author set out to write epic fantasy and she hit the mark a million times over. I would compare BLACK SUN to books such as THE FIFTH SEASON, THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER, and KUSHIEL'S DART to name a few. With a YA comparison to THE SEVENTH SUN and SOULSWIFT.

BLACK SUN is available now from Saga Press.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley.

Black Sun is a fantastic beginning to Rebecca Roanhorse's new fantasy series, Between Earth and Sky, inspired by *the civilizations of Pre-Columbian Americas*, which makes for wonderful world building and cultural elements as a foundation for this story. However, I did have a few minor quips with how the story was structured.

Black Sun is told through four alternating POVs, which I both appreciated and was overwhelmed by. There is A WHOLE LOT going on. Let me explain:

Serapio, who we meet in the initial (amazing! May be one of the best opening chapters of a fantasy that I've ever read tbh) chapter of this book, is a vessel for the Crow God to make a return to his people on the day of convergence (a major celestial event that has been prophesied for a long time) and, as such, has a pretty terrible adolescence. Serapio needs to get to the major holy city area before the convergence to fulfill his destiny.

Nara, the Sun Priest living in the holy city and trying to make the whole office of the Sun Priest relatable to the average person again. Nara is a council with other Priests, who are not big fans of her peasant background. Lots of political scheming ensues.

Okoa, a POV that enters later in the story, is the son of the recently deceased Crow Matron who is accused of attempted assassination of the Sun Priest. Okoa is our view into the Crow cultists who are gathering in wait of their Crow God's return.

Lastly, we have Xiala, a sailor/siren who has been exiled from her home island and who just barely survives by working as a ship's captain for hire. Xiala is Teek, which explains her siren powers, and is a group which other most people superstitiously distrust or outright murder. Xiala is tasked by a rich merchant with captaining a ship with the sole mission of delivering a single scarred, silent religious figure to the holy city.

As you can see, the set up to this story has so much potential, most of which is realized. I didn't even touch on the murder crows, huge river monsters, massive eagles, holy city slums crime syndicate, or the romance aspects of the story. Black Sun is jam packed with lore, relationships, prophecy, flashbacks, scheming, and religious factions. All of this is awesome and fascinating, but a lot. It almost feels like this book could be a few separate books telling separate stories because some of the lore felt separate from everything else, especially Xiala's powers and background. I'm hoping that everything comes together a bit more in future books in the series.

My one last gripe is that last part of the book with the climax of the action happened way too fast! I was expecting a little bit of dialogue between characters instead of a few descriptive paragraphs and that's it. So that was a bit disappointing, but again, I'm hoping that we get more information in future books.

Overall, Black Sun is a fantastic start to a unique, engaging, and well-imagined fantasy series. I would recommend to adult fantasy lovers who enjoy expansive worlds, tons of lore, and complicated relationships between characters, and are looking for a fantasy series grounded in culture from somewhere other than Western Europe.

The winter solstice is a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare event considered the unbalancing of the world. On a ship bound for the holy city of Tova, the captain Xiala has a gift that can calm the seas or unsettle minds. Her only passenger is the blind Serapio, a young man described as harmless. With a description like this, it's highly unlikely that he is.

Black Sun is the first of a trilogy exploring pre-Colombian culture and myth. The great city of Tova has its priestly elite beneath the Sun Priest, a title currently held by the baseborn Naranpa. The great clans are named after the animal gods they worship, all of whom pay tribute to the tower at Tova. There is intrigue surrounding Naranpa, who despite her origins remains idealistic about the role of the priests and their need to serve the city. Our other POV characters are Xiala and Serapio; Xiala is an exile from her seafaring people but still able to use her Song to soothe the open sea that is otherwise too dangerous to sail, and Serapio had been trained since age twelve to make him the vessel of the Carrion Crow.

There is a layered history and culture here, as our three main characters are caught up in a greater plot than they know. Nara has been isolated in the tower, becoming an academic, and Xiala never much cared for gods when she keeps gaining a job as ship captain and then losing it in spectacular fashion. Serapio had long since figured out what his fate was to be and accepted it from the start. Along the way to the conclusion of this novel, we see flashes of different ethnic groups and traditions, different gods, magic, and shape changing. Each chapter starts with an epigraph about the people in Tova or the beliefs of the Crow Clan, adding to the weight of history behind the events of the novel.

We do have a complete arc for this story, with enough questions left over to fuel the rest of a trilogy. This entire book is beautifully written and will linger in your mind long after you finish it.

My first book by Rebecca Roanhorse did not disappoint! This is the first book of a new high fantasy series inspired by Pre-Columbian Americas with Indigenous mythology full of magic, politics, sacrifice, destiny, and religion. There are mermaids, gods, and giant crows too.

The book centers around four different characters story lines/points of view which normally turns me off but I absolutely loved two of the characters SO much - Serapio and Xiala.

The world that Roanhorse built was vivid, creative, and imaginative. The diverse characters are not only POC but represent the LGBTQ community (ie: trans, bisexual, nonbinary). I loved the representation and how it is casually mentioned. Each character deals with their own stereotype in who or what they are and I thought that was fantastically done.

The book is a strong 3.5 for me because of the first half not entirely sucking me in but I don’t think it was the boo, I think it was my mood not feeling like reading. The second half of the book was captivating and ends in a cliffhanger so I will definitely be reading the next book of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery/Saga Press for the advanced copy of this book.

I just want to preface this by saying that I read this book over about 5 days. I was slumping hard, but by the time I finished, I loved it.

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter. It was dark. But I was so intrigued.
I did find some of the middle to be a bit slow. (Which could be because of the reading slump.) And I wasn't as enthused about the time jumps. Some were flashbacks to years ago, while others were within a few days' time. I followed them okay, but wished for it to be a bit more linear.

I LOVED all the parts with Xiala and Serapio, while I found Naranpa's parts to have a bit too much politics for me. It wasn't bad at all, but just not my favorite. Xiala had so much character and life. And Serapio was so mysterious and intriguing.

I loved that we had so much diversity in race, sexuality, and gender in this world. The fact that all of these things are so normal in this world is exactly what I wanted.

Now, I need the next book... Because how could it end just like that?!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fantasy fan and want a can’t-put-down book that feels absolutely fresh, check out Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse! I’ve been a fan of Rebecca Roanhorse’s urban fantasy series so I was really excited when I saw she was writing an epic fantasy trilogy inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas. And Black Sun is now my favorite book she’s written so far.

This one seriously has it all - court intrigue, murders, mystery, ominous prophecies, gods, magic, and so much more. Plus an amazing slow-burn romance. And you’re never entirely sure who is the villain and who is the hero. Although this one is very character-driven, it’s still action-packed. The descriptions are super vivid and I loved seeing this world come to life. Plus the world-building!! I can’t wait to find out more about this world in future books.

I know that this fall is jam-packed with excellent fantasy novels but definitely consider picking this one up if you’re a fantasy fan!

*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Black Sun is a book that I would recommend to so many of my SFF loving friends... it just wasn't for me. It wasn't NOT good. In fact, the writing was excellent, the characters were fun and multi-faceted. The story wasn't my cup of tea though. It was slow, lots and lots of detailed world building. I was bored. Bored in the same way I was with Dune, and well, everybody else loves that book. And those are the friends I'd recommend Black Sun to! So, while I didn't enjoy this one as much as I hoped to, I definitely recognized immediately that it is a book that is going to appeal to and entertain many, many people!

Black Sun is the first book in a trilogy by Rebecca Roanhorse. Released 13th Oct 2020 by Simon & Schuster on their Gallery imprint, it's 464 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a lushly imagined and beautifully realized world with magic and majesty and imperfections. The characterizations are stunning and complex and really seem to live and breathe; following their own internal motivations (which aren't always apparent). Like all really well written fantasy, it feels very realistic - the author notes that the world is based on Pre-Columbian culture and it does show its bones, but the story is so much more. I stayed up way too late reading this book and even missed my bus stop reading a particularly engaging bit (totally worth it).

This is obviously an author who's adept at her craft (she's won pretty much every major award possible for speculative fiction/SF for her earlier work). This is an impressively well written book with precisely engineered pacing and dialogue. There is a fair bit of graphic violence (always in context) including body horror on a child. There is also nuanced and very well written non-binary gender characterizations as well as depictions of non-cis attraction and love.

I'm really looking forward to what comes next. This is probably my best read in the genre thus far this year. It's complex but definitely worth the effort.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Holy WOW this book. I loved it so, so much! There is no one I wouldn't recommend Black Sun to. The characters are wonderful--deep, nuanced, and compelling, with rich backstories and motivations. There are multiple points of view, but at no time when a POV switch was I disappointed. Early in the novel, I was most interested in Xiala's story (though the first chapter with Serapio was just... WOW), but as the book went on, I became equally invested in Naranpo's political intrigue and Okoa's story.

But even more the characters, the worldbuilding may have been my favorite thing? It felt so FRESH, and I couldn't wait to read on to spend more time getting to know Tova and Cuecola and beyond. I have a feeling I'm going to be screaming about my love for this book for a while, but in the meantime just... read it. Please? It was amazing.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 1 of the trilogy "Between Earth and Sky", and is one of the best fantasies I've ever read. According to the author, the setting, the people, and the customs were inspired by the pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. I really liked that non-binary people are recognized in this book and that the pronouns xe and xis were used instead of he/she and his/hers. As a warning, the book opens with a horrific scene, but it is there for a reason.

The next chapter takes place years later, in the city of Tova when the winter solstice is approaching. This winter solstice, a cause for celebration, is unusual this year because it will be combined with a rare eclipse of the sun, leading to the title (Black Sun). If I could only pick two words to explain this book, they would be 'converge' and 'explosive'.

There are three main characters in focus in this book: Naranpa, the Sun Priestess; Serapio, a young blind man anxious to get to Tova to be there for the eclipse; and Xiala, captain of the very large canoe that is carrying Serapio to the city of Tova. The explanation of how Xiala navigates the featureless ocean (featureless to us) is fascinating. She pays attention to the action of the waves, as well as the positions of the sun and the moon.

There is a fourth character, Okoa, who also plays a pivotal role. Okoa receives bad news and travels to Tova ... on the back of a giant crow. I'm imagining what that would be like, and I'm envious, terrified, and airsick - and ready for the next book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. These are my opinions of the book.

This is a really interesting Fantasy story. First, the praise. The rep in this book is some of the best rep I have ever read. If you're trans or non binary (or just like to read about trans or non binary characters) and you want read fantasy that represents you then this is the novel for it. The dream is for people in the real word to treat LGBTQIA+ people like they're treated in this book (just as normal people).

Now there wasn't anything wrong with the actual plot of the book that caused me to give it 3 stars. I just didn't love it. I could not tell you why or what I didn't love. I just thought the story was okay.

“Black Sun” is the first part of Rebecca Roanhorse’s new epic fantasy trilogy set in the precolonial Americas. In it, Roanhorse uses the rich history and diversity of precolonial America for a very inclusive work of fantasy, so different from anything I’ve read. Although I’ll admit I had a hard time getting into it at first, I started it again on audio and could not put it down. I picked the physical book back up halfway though and plowed through it... foolhardy, considering it left on a massive cliffhanger and I now have to wait awhile for the next book. But alas, it was that good!
.
The story follows four main characters— Narmada, Okoa, Xialla and Serapio. They’re all dealing with the various expectations of their positions and social standings. The narration is from each of their perspectives, which can be a bit confusing at times when listening, but the performance is rich on its own (as king as you don’t let your mind wander). That being said, the world building is fantastic— I could visualize it all so well and I was fully immersed. We’ve got celestial prophesies (teaching about fate vs free will now, so timely), political intrigue and magic, so of course I’m in. I also found the main characters (at least Xialla and Serapio) so likable. I want more now!
.

Black Sun is an epic fantasy adventure unlike anything I've ever read. This pre-Columbian inspired fantasy will take you on a high stakes ride with bisexual mermaids, crow gods, sun priest, sailors on a voyage, forbidden magic, political intrigue and a celestial prophecy with our four diverse cast of main characters on a mystical quest. It's easily one of the best books I've read this year, or of all time.

Reasons to read Black Sun:

☀ It's a high stakes political intrigue and rivalries

☀ The worldbuilding, inspired by various Indigenous cultural influences, is excellent, sharp, innovative and expansive. And the prose is absolutely vivid and vibrant which really brings this fantasy to life. Rebecca Roanhorse proves she has the range.

☀ Complex and fully developed (morally grey) characters

☀ The rep. One of the MCs is nonbinary whom prefers neo-pronouns (xe/xir) to which the characters respect. Another MC is bisexual. The casual queerness is commonplace in their non-cis/heteronormative society and it's very much appreciated. There's nuanced disability rep as well which was also handled with care (i.e. the author hired sensitivity readers).

☀ The story revolves around the winter solstice, a time for celebration and renewal, however this one will coincide with a solar eclipse which is a rare celestial event that tips the balance of their world.

Thank you Saga Press, for the opportunity to read this phenomenal book and I cannot wait for more in this trilogy.

I got an ARC of this book.

Holy fuck.

That’s it. That’s the whole review.

This book starts off with a horrific scene that really just set the tone for the whole book. Each plot line was so wonderfully written and intertwined even when they were seemingly unrelated. It was so intensely perfect. I am struggling to find words that express how I feel. I have already started to poke iam to read faster. I have so much to say, but it is so full of spoilers and intense feelings (and probably caps lock shouting “I KNOW” at each other).

The casual queer rep is what I want other authors to see. There is no need to make a whole plot line out of a character being queer or even to fully define it when it isn’t relevant to what is going on. Having the Sun Priest casually admit to having had a physical relationship with another priest who used neo pronouns was just simple and wonderful. Added depth to the characters and gave some context for their interactions. Do I know either of their sexualities? No. It wasn’t something I needed to know. Though I do need to know more about both of those priests, just because I love them. They might be my favorite characters.

The Teek plots were so full of heartbreak and longing. I wanted to hug Xiala so close. I wanted to protect her from the world. I wanted to know every single detail about her world. There is something about her that made me so excited. She was tough, she was a bit crude, and I am pretty sure she could have killed me without really trying. Can I be her friend? I really need to see more of her.

The time jumps made perfect sense and they revealed things at just the right moments. I was so impressed with just how fluid everything was. It was perfectly arranged and plotted. The timing and the pacing was spot on. It was an amazing book. I really can’t find anything to complain about. I tried earlier to complain about something and it didn’t go well for me. I messaged my partners about how there was a cool sounding game described and that I was pissed that a version I could play didn’t exist yet. I did a quick google, but with the wrong term. As soon as I used the right word, there was an academic text about the development of the game and how it changed over time and over land. There were even diagrams of the different way the boards could look. There was a lot of information on how to play the game and how everything worked. The game was tracked through Mexico and some of the United States. The game was such a small detail, but the way that Roanhorse included it so accurately was such a big thing for me. So my attempts to be mad about something led me to finding out that Roanhorse really did her homework. Even on a detail as small as a gambling game that only appears twice in the book, once by name and once to advance the plot. If she put that much effort into that small of a detail, I can only imagine the things I missed.

Overall, one of the best books I have read this year and probably the best fantasy novel I have ever read.