Five stars! I already plan to assign this in class next year. Black Sun is an epic fantasy inspired by Indigenous North America, and it’s a perfect example of why diversity is so desperately needed in genre literature; this is not yet another familiar story made of tired tropes, but an engrossing step into a compelling and different world, with three-dimensional characters of all types and high stakes, engrossing action.

I have been in a semi reading slump for most of the year and this book has made me excited to read again. I loved this book so much from the story to the action and the characters are *chef’s kiss*. It’s also nice to see a fantasy inspired by precolumbia; it’s refreshing and as a Latina, I appreciate the time and care the author put into this world. Now the only thing I want is a cure for that illegal cliffhanger.

I requested this book on <i>NetGalley</i> because I was already a huge fan of Rebecca Roanhorse's "The Sixth World" series. My expectations were pretty high, and I have to say that Roanhorse absolutely met and exceeded them. "Black Sun" is first class epic fantasy with stellar world-building and compelling characters.

Let's start with the refreshingly unique take on the setting. Too many times have I picked up (and DNFd) yet another high fantasy which took place in Arthurian/medieval worlds, and was populated by heroic males with swords (and sidekicks). Instead, Roanhorse weaves her story in a world inspired by Pre-Columbian Americas, dispensing with European myths and culture as inspiration, and instead turning to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas to conjure the novel's fantastical beasts and dead gods.

To make things even more compelling, the author's take on the indigenous cultures is very positive. The cultures she's describing are accomplished, not primitive or barbaric. Additionally, this world is very inclusive, from same-sex relationships, to gender fluidity, including the correct pronouns. And no one bats an eye.

Then there's characters. Yes, this is high fantasy, filled with prophecies, great destinies, and quests of revenge, but instead of coming across as mythical figures, our heroes are simply and compellingly HUMAN. They come from very different circumstances, they believe in completely different destinies for themselves (or in none), even their motivations are very different. What connects them all is their inherent loneliness, a sense of being excluded from the larger society, not belonging - and the yearning to become part of it, and become accepted by it. It is definitely true of the three main characters we first meet (Xiala, Serapio & Naranpa), and seems foreshadowed in the fourth character, one we are introduced to a bit later (believe it or not, this late insertion into the story still works, he actually became my favorite character!).

As in any good story - especially fantasy - the paths of these four characters slowly converge and lead to an unavoidable cliffhanger. Thankfully, Roanhorse is a quick writer ("Sixth World!") and I won't have to wait too long to see what happens next.

A great first installment in a fantasy trilogy inspired by pre-Columbian mythology. The world building is exquisite, characters are well-developed and the multiple storylines intersect tantalizingly at the end of the book to make you want to pick up the next volume right away. Alas, you have to wait.

Hello Gemmies! I have an exciting book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is a fabulous new adult fantasy novel. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, so I was so excited to receive this book to review. Man, I was not disappointed, Black Sun is so much more than I anticipated. Inspired by Pre-Columbian culture in the Americas, this novel felt like a breathe of fresh air in its uniqueness. It pulls you in from the very first chapter. Rebecca Roanhorse has created something truly spectacular.

Black Sun is an extraordinarily well written character driven story. The story unfolds from four different characters point of view. Let me say right upfront that I am Team Crow all the way! I absolutely loved Serapio's character. I found him to be endearing, likable, and completely relatable. I found myself rooting for him to succeed. I also like to be part mermaid in my downtime, so I really appreciated Xiala's character and all of her sauciness. And Xiala and Serapio together?!?!?! Be still my heart!

Black Sun also contains outstanding world building. I enjoyed the overall aesthetic, writing style, and the imagery depicted throughout Black Sun. The city of Tova and all of its different areas were practically a character all on their own. Each location provided glorious backdrops that helped to propel the story forward. I loved all the different rich cultures and details on their clothes, jewelry, and ceremonies. There is also a healthy dose of seafaring action to satisfy all water babies.

Black Sun is full of action and feels appropriately paced. It also contains everything I love about fantasy. Prophecies, revenge, destiny, magical creatures, morally grey characters, and a lush detailed world. But it ended way too soon for me!!! I want....no, I need more immediately. There is so much left undone, and I can not wait to revisit this world sometime soon.

If you are a fan of vengeful gods, blood magic, giant crows, half mermaids, and destiny, then go read this book. Published by Saga Press, Black Sun is set to release on October 13, 2020 and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give Black Sun 5 out of 5 gems. I cannot wait to read more stories set in this universe. Happy Reading!

BLACK SUN is an Americas-inspired epic fantasy about old gods getting vengeance against the new, and it is f*cking incredible. An absolute must-read for 2020. Roanhorse bends tropes of the fantasy genre over her knee until they cry "uncle." She incorporates third gender flawlessly (I'm a sucker for representation). It's as immersive as a George RR Martin or a Robert Jordan without having anything in common with that familiar Medieval Europe fantasyscape. Every character is believable, and there's only two categories: those you're rooting for, and those that make you want to pop popcorn and watch.

I'm going to warn you right now: this is the kind of book that you read in a day, but the pacing is so gentle - not slow, but even and gentle -that it won't induce a book hangover or make you feel like you absolutely have to keep going.

And finally, this book is an honest to god masterpiece. Every once in a while I read a book that's so good I can't help pausing to be thankful that the world has aligned - the agent took on the author, the author and the editor whittled everything smooth, the marketers got loud enough, my own schedule let me make room, etc - and I had the opportunity to experience such an incredible, magnificent book. That's how I felt for the entirety of BLACK SUN. Overwhelming gratitude to like. The universe. That I got to read it--and even more so that I got to read it before pub date.

Was really interested in reading this because of the cover and the author. This is the first time reading a book by her and I enjoyed her writing in this book mostly more than the story itself. She has placed her story in a culture and people that are not usually written about. Most fantasy books use Western or even Eastern mythologies but this books is based on different American mythologies.. This is something I think most people are unaware and probably not used to seeing in fantasy but it should take its place as a world to be explored more in the future. I was drawn into the story at some points and really lost interest in others. Mostly I liked reading the chapters with Xiala and found her to be character I wanted to learn most about and then Naranpa. The story is one of revenge at its core but will turn into more than just that I think or rather hope that is what I think should happen. This is a book that will need a reread to fully appreciate the world she is giving us here in Black Sun.

Rebecca Roanhorse says in the acknowledgements, "So much of epic fantasy is set in analogs of western Europe that I think most readers believe that all fantasy must be set in a fake England in order to even be considered epic."

This definitely sums up the issue I have with the genre. Though premise and setting alone is enough to separate Black Sun from the standard English worlds, so to does the mythology and plot elevate it within the genre. Admittedly slow to build, momentum gathers as the plot reaches its climax, the individual threads we've followed culminating in an explosive ending; the cliffhanger does feel somewhat abrupt and jarring, but for me personally, I think it served the rhythm of the story well. The calculated unfurling of the mythology - the supernatural, the political, the religions therein - works at a pace that isn't overwhelming, nor does it seem to ever be spontaneous, thrown in to explain away a plot hole (which is where a lot of magical systems in fantasy ultimately fail.) The rich and vibrant histories really made this for me, as did the LGBT representation, even if the introductions of the nonbinary characters who utilize neopronouns (xe/xir) feel a little like "hand-holding" / educational moments for people unfamiliar with the community (but it's totally forgivable, as it never breaks the immersion of the world; what's a little less so are the moments where characters are seemingly gendered by conventional Western / modern notions, i.e. the descriptions of feminine characters seeming to favor words like "slight" "small" "wide hips" etc, while masculine characters are typed as "broad" and "tall." It was just an interesting choice in an otherwise non-conforming narrative that seemed adamant on defying those standards.)

There's so much to like that I don't know how to put it into words - I'm just in awe of every facet, every chapter, how every word is deliberate and sharp. Such love and care has been put into the shaping of this universe, into the creation of these characters, that you can feel it in every sentence. I can't even begin to imagine the scope of the wider world and how the story will continue in the subsequent sequels but I've never anticipated a series more in my life.

I'm 40% done with Black Sun and I'm finding it very engrossing. It reminds me of Game of Thrones but without the chauvinism, with a diverse group of protagonists and several queer/nonbinary people. Lots of action, suspense, and intrigue with multiple points of view. I will definitely recommend this to patrons who love fantasy and adventure, or who are looking for diverse books.

I have been trying to find #ownvoices fantasy books by indigenous authors and that’s how I stumbled upon Rebecca Roanhorse. I was very excited to be approved for an earc by Netgalley and the publishers, so dived in as soon as it was downloaded.
Black Sun starts with one of the most intense, disturbing, almost jarring opening scenes ever and it sets the tone for the rest of the book. A rare celestial event is imminent in the holy city of Tova and with it comes the realisation of a prophecy that can rewrite the history of the world.
The book focuses on four characters - Serapio, the prophesied Crow God who will destroy the Sun Priest, Xiala the mysterious Teek sailor who is assigned with the mission to get Serapio to Tova, Nara the Sun Priest who is struggling to hold on to her leadership and Okoa, the confused heir to the Crow clan.
All four characters have their own distinct voice and personalities but for me the character of Serapio stood out bright among the others. Nara and Xiala comes in as close seconds. While Xiala remains a mystery even at the end of book 1, Nara’s backstory had me rooting for her and wanting to learn more of her struggles. Okoa’s was the weakest PoV among the four, mostly because he had very little role to play but I hope it will change in future instalments of the series.
The book is inspired by the civilisations of pre-Columbian America, which has always interested me and the rich culture seeps into every bit of the world building making this book such an enthralling, immersive experience.
My one disappointment was with the finale. The whole book builds up to it but it somehow never crescendos. It plateaus before reaching the peak and fails to arouse the excitement a cliffhanger normally would have.
This book overall felt like the prologue, a setting up of the scene before the actual story gets underway. I am very very excited to see what’s going to happen next and cannot bear the wait for book 2.
Definitely recommended!!!
Rating: 4 stars

Rebecca Roanhorse began her writing career only a couple years ago, but with this ambitious work of high fantasy, she has earned her place as one of the finest writers in the genre. Fueling the storyline with mythological elements from ancient indigenous American cultures, Roanhorse delivers a fast-paced adventure tale of political intrigue with strong female protagonists and rich cultures. She writes with a mastery that already seems fully developed, and I look forward to spending more time in her worlds--starting with the next two volumes of this planned trilogy.

This was a very unique book with a very interesting and unique setting. Central America pre-Columbia. Hasn't really been done before, not as far as I know at least.

I really liked Xiala and Serapio as characters. I enjoyed reading their chapters much more than Naranpa's. I don't know if she was meant to be unlikeable, but I didn't like her. She's the leader of a religious faction and isn't that religious, just kind of power-hungry.

The political intrigue wasn't as engaging for me as everything that was happening on the ship. It might be that the character I didn't like was more connected to the politics than the crew on the ship. The prophecy aspect was really interesting and I would have liked there to be a little more focus or mention of that earlier in the book. Most of the time was spent on the less interesting, to me, religious politics.

There was one aspect of this book that took me out of the fantasy setting, I don't know if it will bother anyone else. But for me, it took me out a little and made it difficult to stay as invested in the story at times. I don't really feel like mentioning it though, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

I really enjoyed the writing though, I'd like to look into reading Roanhorse's Urban Fantasy books. I think they were already on my TBR. I also wish this book had the maps, so I could flip back and forth when things happened.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Another situation where I wish I could give decimal points in my reviews, because this is actually like a 4.5 for me. Either way, this book slaps so hard. If you want something that’s like Steel Crow Saga (with all the representation included) but doesn’t have a problematic author? This is the book for you. The characters are phenomenal, and their stories are so fascinating all the way through. I love me a good “cast of characters are entirely separate from each other but are destined to become entwined on their journeys towards their goals” type of story, and this delivered PERFECTLY. The writing was gorgeous and the pacing and plot were genius. My only complaint would be that in some of Naranpa’s sections at the VERY beginning it seemed like it was dragging a little bit, but it quickly picked up and eventually I was just as captivated with her as everyone else. I’m extremely hyped to see where this story goes next and I absolutely will be recommending it to my friends.

Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun is an epic, EPIC fantasy inspired by pre-Columbian cultures. It imagines the world described in Charles C. Mann’s, 1491: New revelations of the Americas before Columbus, which revealed the story of the vast and sophisticated societies of the indigenous people of the Americas that was mostly buried by historians.

The first chapter is the most jarring I’ve ever read and the story really never lets up. If you've read any of Roanhorse's other novels you know she doesn't pull and punches, and wow, it is a gut punch. There are several moments in the novel that are...chilling. There’s also magic, political intrigue, rogues, and fantastic creatures. Told from the point of view of four diverse and inclusive characters, loving rendered, and developed. The world building is top notch. The ending a fantastic cliffhanger, or is it? I reread the first three chapters as soon as I finished and kicked myself. Brilliant. One of the best fantasy novels I’ve read this year.

The human avatar of the crow god is on his way to Tova to fulfil the prophecy of the Carrion Crow. But, with only twenty days to a rare triple convergence, the characters in Black Sun must face killers storms, political betrayals, and their own biases and blindspots. With this novel, Rebecca Roanhorse has created a well-realized fantasy world peopled with characters that both grow on you and surprise you. My one criticism of the novel is how very unfinished the story feels. This probably isn’t fair as the book is presumably the first book in a series, and I’ll be waiting eagerly for book two. However, the book may have been stronger with some significant resolution of its own—as of now, a full review will have to wait for book two.

This kicks off with a mother stitching her son’s eyes shut and throwing herself out the window, and it doesn’t really let up from there, even if things seem to be calmer. We have three people that we follow here, and one somewhat tangentially, though he comes more into the forefront of the narrative towards the end of the book, as everyone converges. The tension keeps building and feels like it skids a bit at the end with how sudden the ending is, but leaves a hell of a sequel hook. This is very Aztec based fantasy but is enough of Roanhorse’s own building that while you might know some of the turns if you know the general mythos, but not all of them. There small tangential things I like - casual mentions of trans characters and xir/xey pronouns, the climatic love making not being penetrative and incredibly tender, “may you fall in love with a man” being a casual curse of one of the matriarchal cultures, same sex attraction being treated as normal and not scandalous. I’m incredibly interested to see where this goes, and hope we don’t have to wait too long for the sequel. (Thanks to Saga and Net Galley for the ARC.)

Giant crows, shadow magic, political intrigue, bisexual mermaids and MURDER. Sign me the eff up. Roanhorse delivers an absolutely stunning first book in what I hope will be a long epic fantasy in a rich, complex world. BLACK SUN brings us into a world already chock full of history, deep clan grudges, and characters with deliciously messy pasts and idealistic goals. It's a testament to the execution that I finished this book still not quite sure who the villains versus heroes are. Complex, layered, but never veering too far into grimdark.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for letting me read and review this unique and intriguing story. This is a bit different than most sci-fi and fantasy books that I've read and it makes it all that much more interesting to read a bit of a different story, which it says is inspired by the Pre-Columbian Americas. I always enjoy finding and broadening my horizons with cultures and myths woven into stories from more different parts of the world and not just the more common ones.
This story took me a little bit, but once it got going and things started coming together more, it was harder to stop reading it. It's about Serapio, who you learn his history with his mother and things right at the beginning and then it jumps to the present time where he's on a ship to go to the city of Tova. At Tova, there's going to be a big event happening, a solar eclipse during the winter solstice, which is a rare thing. The Sun Priest of Tova says this event will cause and bring about an unbalancing of the world and Serapio's destiny is tied to it.
On the ship that is taking Serapio to the city of Tova, the Captain is a Teek that's been disgraced and she is a siren, whose song can be used for good or bad purposes. Xiala, the Teek Captain, has one passenger on her ship that she has to get to the city of Tova by the solstice and she's told that he is a harmless person so she knows that means he's probably not harmless at all. The two of them get to know each other on the voyage and they end up becoming close.
Matriarchal societies are warring with one another in the city of Tova and so there's some political intrigue with that and also differences in cultures, ways of life, and people getting to know one another and their different ways of life.
In way of content warnings/possible triggers, there is some romance, with a little bit too much of a steamy scene for me toward the end of the book, also some violence, but nothing too graphic from what I recall and a bit more profanity than I usually like mostly referring to the F word. There are also a few cultural things with rituals and such that can be a bit disturbing in the tribes.
If you're a Rebecca Roanhorse fan, or looking for new, original, and unique stories to read then make sure to add this one to your list to read it when it comes out.

This was a very enjoyable read with plenty of backstabbing, subterfuge, religious/political power struggles, clan versus clan, a love story, and at the center a prophecy. I know this kind of sounds like a novel with a ton of elements that are being juggled up in the air, but it works. I've only read two other Roanhorse novels before which were mostly okay. I think she grew with this work though because it was more engaging and didn't lag so much as the other books did for me. The chapters switch between about four different character POV's that take place over a 20 day period of time and because of this the linear plot line is easy enough to follow, there are only a couple of moments where the book goes back in time to develop the characters. I will say I wasn't paying attention to how much book was left at the end and the story totally and completely stopped. So if you don't like a cliff hanger you might wait for book two. Either way I think the author will find good success with readers.

I REALLY loved this book. There were a couple formatting and grammar things that I'm sure are gonna be sorted out in the final copy. But aside from those this was absolutely wonderful.
1) great representation and inclusion
2) amazing characters (I'm not a character driven reader and I absolutely loved all these characters and all their relationships and ties to others. I really really felt for them)
3) intriguing plot
4) magnificent world (I wish there was more worldbuilding, some stuff could be fleshed out and explained more. But I'm not mad about it and assume it'll be laid out more as the trilogy progresses)

An all around wonderful time. I highly recommend everyone check this one out when it's released!!!