Black Sun is the death metal of fantasy books.

Black Sun starts with a boy, and his mother telling him he will become a god, showing his eyes to the sun, blinding him. With that graphic beginning, this story unfolds that boy’s future and everyone interconnected to these lands. Carrying crows on his arms, wearing black robes, scars inner and outer, he is his people’s vengeance. The vessel of power for the crow god. Seemlessly interwoven with perspectives, we are told a story weaving these people together to reach a final blow. All start with Serapio, our poetic goth god.

When Xiala is broken from her jail cell, she’s hired by Lord Balam to take Serapio, now a man, to Tova to meet the sun priest.

Xiala is our bisexxi mermaid sprung from her jail cell to join the crow god’s vengeance ship.

A Teek captain, a gay, bejewled eyes and hair the color of plums, daughter of the sea! Xiala, and her voice that can be her revenge for man’s betrayal, charts the waters to bring our goth boy to his bloody future.

One of the things I love most about adult fantasy is the intricacy of what is going on in the world and balancing it with human relationships. Everything, every line, every description is detailed with such careful precision. Rebecca Roanhorse is no different. She just excels at bringing new ways of storytelling other authors could not even dream of.

I love the way she develops relationships between people, most especially if those relationships are romantic. That slow, molten, deep in the core transformation from friendly to rejecting one night stands to be with you. Drop me into Roanhorse’s world so I can have someone draw star maps on my hand so that I can think of them as I fall asleep. I want to be able to gaze at them in their wrath, with their crows, their dark sexy power, and question whether they are the villain or the hero.

As Xiala falls for Serapio, so did I. She falls for the pretty ones and so do I. His seemingly wrathful image hides his true form: a sweet and kind poet. Roanhorse does not make her book pinned upon stereotypes of disabled people. Serapio is diasbled. Serapio’s disability never becomes a point of issue for Xiala but he expects it to be. Roanhorse doesn’t paint someone that needs people’s pity or help. He’s front and center of the story. He is the agent.

Across the waters is the culmination of the politics. In Tova, politics are churning and boiling ready for consumption. Told in several POVs, Naranpa is the third perspective we get. She is Sun Priest but when an assassin tries to end her life the plot thickens. Faces she trusts may not be as honest as she thought. Everywhere, and every person around her, seems an illusion or a false face. She is Dry Earth clan amongst priests that are Sky Made clan. Clans are in conflict with each other. Vies for power. A clan seeks vengeance from their old god. The politics is dirty, bloody, maddeningly good.

I have been eager for more epic fantasy set in pre-colonial inspired Americas. One of the arguments I see a lot is that the Americas should be forgotten when it comes to fantastical inspirations because it’s the west but this fails to acknowledge the colonial violence that occured in these lands. Again. We’re anti-Columbus in this house.

Roanhorse is writing a fantasy world remembering the rich cultures of the past. Black Sun does not regurgitate tired tropes of Western inspired fantasy. That in itself makes this unique. Why? Think about it. How many epic fantasy books can you name that do not center the Westernized ideals of fantasy? How many do not center white people? How many are set in a pre-Columbian inspired world where there is a diversity of cultures, people with different skin tones, non-binary people, and trans women? The very fact that Roanhorse is thinking about what is not in the genre makes this different.

I have never read a book like this ever. It doesn’t even remind me of the way Western inspired fantasy books are told, if we’re going to compare this to stereotypical fantasy. That’s not to say that it isn’t inspired by the tropes. Roanhorse just thinks outside what other author’s have done with fantasy tropes. It’s not often I get to see a god, a goth boy, disabled and traumatized being the center of the story. Truth is that we don’t know if he’s the villain or the hero. That’s the question Rebecca Roanhorse presents. She doesn’t lay it all out for us like she’s our mother.

Lastly. Roanhorse sprinkles creamy toppings and fills her prose with such beautiful details and descriptions. A dress of panther skin and a cape of crow feathers falling all the way to the ground. A dress of iridescent serpent scales. A woman’s hair coiled into two horns atop of her head. Jade earrings that drip like green flames of fire a woman’s ears. THE SPEAR MAIDENS. I want to know more about them and their bone weapons made from the ice fields. Blood red and gory statues. Chocolate drinks that taste so delicious I wish to travel through the pages into Tova just to taste that chili and chocolate on my tongue. I want to drink with the gods.

Black Sun is breathtaking, like the blackest night bright with stars. It is fully immersive. This is not a simple fantasy but a complex one.

Black Sun is remarkably rich in atmosphere and culture and is definitely not one to be missed! A slow burn romance (which let's be honest we ALL love!)

An intriguing start to an epic fantasy series - the setting is fresh and imaginative, Roanhorse manages the necessary worldbuilding exposition very well, and the characters are generally engaging and sympathetic. It's always tough to evaluate the first book of a series like this, since you know at the start that all your questions will not be answered and that, while it will have a climax, it won't have THE climax, but I found this satisfying and engaging. I think fans of the standard epic fantasies will enjoy this very much - I especially appreciate that it doesn't fall into the common trap of introducing far too many characters for the reader to care about, and the characters it does introduce are well developed and good windows onto both their places in this world's society and on their moving pieces of the plot.

I first discovered Rebecca Roanhorse when her short story "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™”, was nominated for a Hugo Award. I loved it and her! Her writing style is crisp and It pulls you in right away. When Trail of Lightning, her first novel, was nominated for awards the next year, I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like it had some “first novel” roughness but was altogether enjoyable. The sequel, Storm of Locusts, was even better! So I was thrilled when NetGalley and Saga Press gave me an eARC of her new secondary world fantasy novel, Black Sun. It was fantastic! Roanhorse has really come into her full powers as a novelist and storyteller. The characters are well drawn with understandable flaws based on their backgrounds and upbringings. There are four point of view characters in this book, who don’t all get equal attention. One of my only complaints about the book is that one of the point of view characters, the son of the crow tribe, is not introduced until it felt like halfway through the book. He seemed to get short shrift compared to the others. The only other complaints that I had are incredibly minor. I would have preferred that the book had come with a content warning for some body horror and parent-on-child violence in the first chapter. I understand why that occurred from a narrative standpoint, but it made me feel all squick and I could see a lot of people getting a really negative emotional reaction to it. I also had forgotten until about 7/8 of the way through the book that it was the first part of a trilogy so I was upset with the ending was such a cliffhanger! I can’t wait until the next volume comes out.

Wow, I’ve never read one of Rebecca Roanhorse’s books and now I feel like I’m going to be comparing her worldbuilding to my next fantasy reads and beyond. It’s so detailed and vivid and believable. The first chapter hooks you in that eerie and unsettling fashion that foreshadows later chapters - there is constant tension and I was never bored, but the action (for any thrilling/action/suspense type readers) starts to get juicy about halfway through the book so there’s a bit of a slow build. I can’t emphasize how much thus book feels genuine even while being classified as epic fantasy - really awesome read!

Spoilers Below! You've been warned. Also, all reviews are subjective. My opinions are my own.
I got this book for free for the purpose of an honest review.
I'll just be up front with this: this is probably going to be my favorite book of the year. As of right now, I'm thinking this is one of the best book I've read in years. This is a Political Fantasy novel set in a grounded-but-magical world, with fantastic characterization- all features I like. I am this book's target audience. But even if I wasn't the target audience, I'd have to admit that this book is good.

CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATION:
The characters in this book are rich in subtext. It's very clear that there's a lot of stuff going on under the hood of all these people. They have rich, thriving personalities, but they all play their cards close to their chests. As I mentioned above, this is a Political Fantasy novel about various factions striving for power. Virtually all the characters have to live subtle, guarded lives, keeping their emotions under control for the sake of not giving their enemies information. You get to know all the protagonists deeply despite the fact that they are trying to hide themselves. Really neat writing!
Overall, I give the story's Characterization a rating of: (A-)

PACING AND STRUCTURE
These are compelling characters. You're cheering for them to succeed, even though many of the protagonists have conflicting interests. For one protagonist to succeed, another must fail. This tension, the tension of knowing that for one protagonist to succeed the others must fail, made the buildup to the climax enthralling.
The pacing of this book was a bit slow, but it was deliberate slowness. The author didn't include battles or fight scenes, favoring instead political scenes and travel logs. Don't get me wrong, the book was rich with conflict and death (there were assassinations and blood magic, for example), but if you read primarily for combat, it's a bit thin on the ground in this one.
Go in expecting a relatively slow but tense story and your expectations won't be disappointed.
Overall, I give the story's Pacing and Structure: (A)

PLOT
The book has two main plotlines, and four protagonists. The two plotlines converge at the end of the story.
One plotline was a travel log. Two protagonists (the human avatar of a crow-god and a mermaid demigod) sail halfway across the world on a pilgrimage to a Holy City in time for a celestial convergence of stars. These two characters must overcome the trials of storms, human treachery and and an entirely unexpected romance. The romance works well because both protagonists are depicted as being either emotionally scarred, so we're rooting for them to get together to heal some scars.
The other plotline takes place in the Holy City. Various factions struggle for control of the priesthood which dominates the city, as well as struggle to be freed from the oppression of said priesthood. One protagonist is the present high priest of the city, struggling to stave off an insurrection in the ranks of the priesthood even as people are trying to assassinate her. The other protagonist is the military leader of an oppressed clan, who's struggling to stave off being eradicated by the priesthood.
I felt that the high priest protagonist Nara lacked agency, making her scenes feel clunky. It is possible to write a compelling protagonist with little agency, however I felt Nara should have known from very early on that she was in trouble and should have done more to head off the obvious problems which were heading her way. (The priesthood was a very obvious political organization; how can the high priest possibly be so blind to politics that she was taken by surprised by insurrection? It made her seem naive, and less compelling. I wanted her to realize people were scheming against her, and for her to try to counter-scheme them in return. But she didn't.)
Overall, I give the story's Plot: (A-)

EVERYTHING ELSE (SETTING, WORLDBUILDING, PROSE AND THEME)
This book has crisp, lean, humbly beautiful prose. Non-ostentatious but nonetheless compelling to read for it's own sake.
The setting and worldbuilding stretch between earth and sky, being down-to-earth and grounded, while also being vaunted and glorious. Both subtle and compelling. It is rich in lore and gods and strange occurrences. The author shows just enough of the world (it's system of trade between cities; how different clans use resources like jade or turquoise or mica for jewelry), to make it seem alive.
The book had themes of sacrifice, the inevitability of bloodshed and the cycle of hatred. From page 1, the resentments of generations weighed down the novel, pushing the story forward to a doomed conclusion. The protagonists, for all that they tried to prevent the inevitable, were unable to resist fate.
At times it almost seemed like bloodshed could have been prevented, but it was not to be. Xiala's love for Serapio wasn't quite enough to make him change his mind. Nara and Okoa failed to find a peace accord because the political system asserted itself to prevent a peaceful outcome yet again. This is good use of themes, giving the story resonance and inevitability and foreshadowing.
I give Everything Else: (A+)

SUMMARY
This might wind up being the best book I read this year. It is simply excellent, one of the best books I've ever read. It had it's flaws. I felt that Nara should have been better at navigating the political waters of the priesthood as she was high priest. But overall I loved this book. I wish this book was just a bit longer, so the romance could settle into itself a bit more, so Nara could scheme more.
But it's important when judging a book to not judge it by what it isn't, but to judge it by what it is. This is well written and masterfully plotted, with a satisfying and relentless climax. The characters all have distinct personalities, wants, needs and fears, with clear motives and emotional scarring. The surprising-but-inevitable conclusion was perfectly in line with those motives and emotional scars, giving the story the feel of a Greek tragedy. I eagerly anticipate book 2, whenever it comes out.
In other words, this book is good, go read it.

STARS: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS (5 stars=Perfect, 4 Stars=Great, 3 Stars=Good, 2 Stars=Fun but Flawed, 1 Star=Not Recommended)
JUDGEMENT: A slow burner of a book, about characters struggling against the inevitable. Well written and brutal.
Overall Rating: Highly Recommended (How I Rate Books)

The characters of this novel were all so incredibly intriguing, I was hooked on every single POV. I did appreciate the side character Itkan in Naranpa's POV's more until about the 60% mark. Xiala is a bisexual pirate captain with a special flair (i won't give away for spoilers), Serapio is my soft Crow King, and Okoa feels like a warm strong hug. The chemistry between the characters feels so thick I could cut it with a knife.
loved the tension between Serapio and Xiala. I just want them to be happy. I loved the world-building, I loved the Maw, I loved being in Tova, I loved being on the ship with Xiala, I loved this whole setting. It's vivid but Rebecca wastes no time in long exposition. If I had a choice I would keep everyone in Tova after the honey scene and let me live happily. Rebecca doesn't waste time in long extended prose, she gets right to the point, every word she writes is serving the function of streamlining our experience with the characters and plot. She manages to keep it both plot-driven AND character-driven, so I think this book will appeal to a wider audience. The plot is impeccable, I chose to not pay attention to the synopsis until I reached approximately 25% of the book, you honestly can go into this book rather blind, I just knew it took place in a pre-colonial South America, included a non-cis/heteronormative world, and had SOMETHING to do with an eclipse. All the POV's of the book tie in so BEAUTIFULLY by the end, we see flashbacks for Serapio's life, that explain and flesh out his story and purpose within the plot. There was one point at which it felt all the characters were within reach of each other and it was like the sun shining down in a break of storm clouds god-like. I don't want to give too much away due to spoilers but the plot is high stakes, high action, and full of deceit, treachery, and magic.

(My video review is scheduled for Oct. 12, you may not be able to view it until then!)

From the first chapter, Black Sun grabbed my attention. By the halfway point, I knew it was going to be a favorite of the year… it was that good!

The four main characters: Serapio, a young man blinded by his mother at age 12 in a ceremony to allow him to become an avatar for the crow god; Xiala, a Teek boat captain with the power of Song and an ability to supernaturally navigate the ocean; Naranpa, a girl from the slums who rises up to become the Sun Priest; and Okoa, son of the matron of the Carrion Crow clan and slated to be Shield.

All of these characters are so real, so well fleshed out. My favorites are Serapio and Xiala. I love the relationship between Xiala and Serapio, how they're both outcasts and abhorred because of their powers, yet they both use that to become stronger and more confident people.

The setting and world building is incredible! I’ve never read a fantasy book based off of Pre-Columbian cultures, but Roanhorse did such an amazing job of describing the setting so I could see all the brilliant colors, taste the rich, hot cacao drink, and feel the textures of their clothing. The political structure with its rivalries between the Watchers in the celestial towers, the Sky Clans and the criminal underworld of the Maw opened up an expansive and intriguing world that I’m sure will only get richer in future books.


While I really enjoyed the first two books in Roanhorse’s Sixth World series, the Between Earth and Sky series is on a whole other level and I adored it! It's the perfect blend of expertly crafted world building, fleshed out characters with complex motivations, and smart pacing.

I’d highly recommend this book to everyone who loves high fantasy! I’m sure it’s going to be on all the best fantasy of 2020 lists.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Saga Press for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy for an honest review

I found the Pre-Columbian inspired world of Black Sun to be really interesting, but not necessarily a world for the faint of heart. There's violence, political schemes, and dark magic in abundance. Some more squeamish readers will be turned away right at the onset of this book, but others, like me, will be sucked in for a unique and wild ride that won't let up until they reach the last page. This character driven novel was just what I was hoping for, however there was at least one POV character (Naranpa) that I didn't really care for and that's because I found her a little too naive for someone in her position. Overall, if you like more accessible high fantasy, Roanhorse's other work, or pieces where you find yourself rooting for a morally grey character, you'll probably enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for providing me with an e-ARC of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today he would become a god. So starts this truly unique fantasy inspired by pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. The first chapter gripped me immediately and set the tone for the rest of the book. We follow four characters as the book counts down towards the Day of Convergence, which is a solar eclipse at winter solstice.

Serapio is the character who is set on the path towards becoming a god in the first chapter. He is scarred, blind, and has the power to commune with crows. His present day storyline intersects with Xiala as they make their way towards the city of Tova. We also get flashback chapters from him showing how he got to where he is at now.

Xiala is a Teek who can calm waters and influence men with her song. She takes a job crossing the sea to get Serapio to Tova before the convergence.

Naranpa is the Sun Priest of Tova, which is a powerful political position. Her chapters are full of politics and betrayals.

Okoa is the son of the matron of Crow Clan. He is returning to Tova after a long absence and gets caught up in both Naranpa’s and Serapio’s storylines.

I loved that this book was inspired by cultures I’ve never read about in fantasy. If you love prophecies, political intrigue, magic, and animal companions then you’ll probably love this book as much as I did.

Rebecca Roanhorse has created an epic scifi/fantasy inspired by the Americas. This book was on par with NK Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy for me. Such exquisite world building, beautiful character development, and perfect pacing. I loved every second reading this book. It is told from various POV and while I loved them all, Xiala’s was definitely my favorite :and yes, that’s partly because her character comes from a land of seafaring sirens who can control the sea with their Song. Men may travel to her land, but they are never seen again....

I can't believe I have to wait for the sequel after that ending. I need it now!

If you need me, I’ll be over here putting all of Rebecca Roanhorse’s published works into my online shopping cart.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ok. Wow. I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn’t that! If you are on the market for a Native American inspired fantasy then you HAVE to pick up Black Sun!
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The world was well built. The characters were fleshed out and well rounded. The plot was entertaining and kept me on my toes. I was hooked immediately when the story opened with a gruesome sacrificial ceremony! Black Sun is seriously good stuff and I want everyone to dive
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Thank you NetGally and Saga Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date Oct 13, 2020.

Rebecca did not come to play. They came to snitch wigs and edges. Black Sun hits the ground running from the 1st chapter and the pace does not let up. It hits all the buttons I enjoy in grimdark fantasy: multi POV’s, character-driven, organic magical elements, political machinations, and unique world-building. It’s also has queer rep, which was the icing on this dark cake. I was invested in all the characters and was engaged throughout the whole book. I can not wait for the next book in the series. Which will be coming when? Just asking for a friend lol

First of all, I'd like to thank Roanhorse for creating a fantasy story that isn't based on the typical European setting and basing it on all the magic and wonder that is pre-Columbian civilizations. I don't know if it's been done before, but this is definitely the first time I've read it, and I loved how different it makes everything.
It's a story told from several viewpoints as the countdown begins to a solar eclipse that has been prophesized could change everything. Each viewpoint is original and gives each character an important voice and role within the story arc. Roanhorse really did a great job of making each character into a complete, fully-realized character that brings something to the story.
There's so much going on and so much that's only partially revealed, that each turn of the page brings more wonder and intrigue. I can't even begin to explain how complex the plot is, but I can say that it develops very organically and leads the reader along at a great pace.
My only complaint is that I'm a little mad at the super cliffhanger ending, but I enjoyed the ride to it so much that that annoyance is mostly having to wait for the next book to find out how it develops further.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the early read!

I love Rebecca Roanhorse's writing. She jumps in from the get go creating images and a world that grabs you. To me, it feels like there is a gritty earthiness to her writing. I know when I open one of her books the words will cover me like windblown dirt and the feeling with stay with me for hours after closing the pages. Like her Sixth World series, Black Sun is creative, gripping and highly engaging. The story line is interesting and feels unlike anything out there, or at least that I've ever read before.. Her world building it top notch. Black Sun is written mainly from the perspective of four characters. The point of view changes through out the book. Generally I struggle in books of this type. I am guilty of actually skipping chapters of characters which I struggle to connect. Not this book. I found each of the characters point of view interesting and diverse. Love it!

A HUGE thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse was hands down one of my highly anticipated novels of the entire year. Rebecca Roanhorse has quickly become one of my favorite authors with The Sixth World series and her newest series opener did not disappoint in the least. As far as I'm concerned, it is a masterpiece and an absolute must read. It definitely has a little something for everyone. I couldn't get enough of the cast of characters who feel like they could walk right off the page, the outstanding world-building, and of course the magic. I can officially say that I've never quite read a fantasy novel quite like it and I'm quite certain it's the first novel I've read that's inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas as well. I know my review isn't doing this novel justice, but what I'm really trying to say is YOU NEED TO READ IT!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Black Sun

Author: Rebecca Roanhorse

Book Series: Between Earth and Sky Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Indigenous characters, mythology, and pre-Colombian world, blind character, trans/non binary characters and xe/xir pronouns used, bisexual characters and bi f/m relationship and f/nb pairing.

Recommended For...: fantasy, sci-fi, magic

Publication Date: October 13, 2020

Genre: Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance)

Publisher: Saga Press

Pages: 464

Synopsis: In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.

Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.

Review: I really loved this book! The world building and character development was absolutely masterful and the book plot was intriguing. The book was so well done and I loved that it’s a fantasy not steeped in European myth and culture. Honestly, we need more of those. The book also did well to include a lot of diversity. This is my second Roanhorse book and I am so in love with her writing.

The only thing I can fault the book for is that there are 4 storylines to keep straight and sometimes that can be confusing for some readers. The book also ends in a cliffhanger.

Verdict: A definite must read.

I was given a copy of Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When this arc popped up, I had just finished another novel by the author. I saw Pre-Columbian Americas and epic fantasy and I didn't need any more incentive. I really enjoyed this novel.

Roanhorse does a great job with world building. I never felt like there were big info dumps but I do feel like I learned a lot about the world. I love that it felt inspired by multiple cultures. I loved the politics at play in the novel. I loved the mythology woven throughout the book. It felt like this was all so original and I hope this encourages publishers to publish more stories like this.

Roanhorse also does a great job with characters. I loved that they all seemed a bit grey. No one was purely good or bad. There were bad guys but because of the complex politics you could understand motivation.

I also loved the use of disability in this novel. I remember years ago going to a museum that showed Pre-Columbian art and there was a whole section on how disabled people were considered holy or touched by the gods. It was such a cool idea to see something different be celebrated and not shunned. I really dug that. Plus there was also lgbt+ in this book that seemed seamless and natural and not someone trying to tick a box. This is the representation we need more in novels in general.

I'm impressed that this is Roanhorse's first epic fantasy. I loved that it was character driven and not action driven. Nice not to have 20+ page action scenes (which are fun at times) but weren't needed here.

This was fun and fast paced novel with a great depth of character, in a fresh new setting with wonderful diversity. Pretty excited to read the next installment.

4.25 stars.

Five enthusiastic stars!

I had to take a couple breaks from reading this as it was very intense and densely written, and I was several times in too much pain to concentrate. I would definitely recommend it though as it's so good!

It's refreshing to find an epic fantasy based on a pre-Columbian society, and the worldbuilding was so well-thought-out and complex. I could really imagine being down in the depths of the Maw and at the war school Hokaia and in the clifftop city of Tova and on the ocean and river- it was all vividly described without being too much. I also love how cacao beans are used as a form of currency. I could feel the rumbling discontent in the Tower and in the clans of Tova and in the Maw... It's a world on the edge of change and it really feels like it.

I also LOVED that there are plenty of nonbinary and trans people and that some use they/them and several use xe/xem/xir pronouns seamlessly and without making a big deal about it. They were just there and it wasn't even a big part of their character development. So refreshing.

Xiala is a Teek ship captain who drinks and parties hard (and gets in trouble), Serapio a young man whose mother chose him to be the vessel of the Crow God and carved his body accordingly - and sent him tutors to whittle his mind to the shape required. Naranpa is a former denizen of the Maw who was promoted to Sun Priest, Iktan head of the Tower's Knives and her former lover. Okoa is a student of a warrior school and son of the murdered head of the Crow clan.

The characters were all wonderful and I loved reading about all of them as they struggled against one another and with one another. I can't wait to read how their stories continue. I'm definitely invested in Xiala and Serapio, Naranpa and Iktan, and Okoa. The minor characters too were fascinating and well-drawn.

I can't wait for the next book!

This book is just....wow! Rebecca Roanhorse has done it again. The back stories and character development are on point. Her incredible skills in world building shine through in Black Sun. I was loving the blood magic as well as the other magical elements throughout the story. This is 100% going to be in my top three favorite reads of the year, as of right now it's my favorite!

There is so much I can go into but I still haven't been able to collect all my thoughts since finishing it last night. What I can tell you is that, holy shit, THIS is the way to start a series and it's going to drive me crazy waiting for book two.

I have both the e-galley and the ALC for Black Sun, and started by alternating between the two, but the cast for the audiobook is so freaking incredible that I ended up just listening to the book. I felt fully immersed into the stort and I was totally invested. The amazing cast of the audiobook is:
Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Kaipo Schwab, & Shaun Taylor-Corbett.

Black Sun is a high fantasy/ historical fantasy, that releases Tues, Oct. 13, and I highly recommend you RUN to get this one if you like fantasy at all. I feel this could also be a wonderful introduction into the fantasy genre. I've already pre-ordered a copy for myself and as gifts, because I have a feeling this is going to be one of those series that I'll cherish.


Huge thanks to Saga Press, Netgalley, and Libro.fm for my gifted copies in exchange for my honest opinions.