Rebecca Roanhorse has quickly become one of my favorite authors - and Black Sun only strengthens my resolve to buy everything she writes! A epic fantasy set in the Pre-Columbian Americas that is characterized by rotating POV, unforgettable characters, indigenous myths, and magic, Black Sun is a gift to the world. I'm starting to get suspicious at how often crows are showing up in the novels that I read - it must be an affinity for dark foreboding that I've acquired during the pandemic. Be warned - this book starts slow, making sure that you're introduced to each of the characters, and as it builds, it captures your attention completely before leaving you waiting for more (but honestly, what good fantasy doesn't do this??).

The world building is fantastic, but truly, if you like character driven stories, this is for you, with:
--Nara, the sun Priestess who came to power from a less-privileged background and is fighting to be recognized as a leader
--Serapio, a crow god who was blinded as a child and on a mission that he feels he was destined for... an incredibly grim, dark one
--Xiara, the bisexual ship captain with powers associated with water who seems to get into trouble in every adventure she takes on
--Okoa, a trained soldier called to protect his family and trying to navigate the interests of radical groups among his people

There is slow-burn romance, nonbinary characters, men being predictably awful, a struggle between the traditional and the progressive, hints of a war on the horizon, vengeful gods, a sweet underground setting, and so much more to discover. Thank you x a million to NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions are my own. Now to just sit and wait for part two....

I’m a huge fan of Rebecca’s work, and her new series doesn’t disappoint. The story is so jammed pack full of mythos that I fell in love with the story on page 1. The plot was so well written. I loved the inciting incident! 😉 my attention was held the entire time. The character arc was well written. There wasn’t a single spot where I had to question what I just read.

This book was a beautifully written, absolutely epic high fantasy. The world building was top notch, and the feminist society was thrilling to explore. Even the characters I wanted to dislike were so well written I found myself being curious about their motivations. This book was outstanding!

Thanks Netgalley & Simon & Schuster, for granting my wish!

I actually really like this author, and have enjoyed all the stories she tells.

This book took me awhile to get into though.

I ended up liking this story and caring about its characters. But then all the sudden the book was over! The ending felt extremely abrupt and almost unplanned.

Roanhorse's BLACK SUN is richly imagined, intensely compelling, and sucks you in from the very first page. I'm constantly in awe of how she does it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ebook for review.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I loved this world and all the characters. We follow a captain and her mysterious passenger, and members of several different clans as we lead up to the Convergence which seems to be a solar eclipse type event. I loved seeing how everything came together and enjoyed each perspective.

The only thing that kept this being a 5 star for me was at first I found the time and perspective shifts a little confusing but once I got more into the book it was fine.

I cannot wait to see where Rebecca Roanhorse goes with this series and will be rereading this again.

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is everything I’ve ever wanted in an epic fantasy series! Not only is it inspired by the pre-Columbian Americas, but it also includes a bisexual protagonist, gender neutral pronouns, celestial prophecies, vengeful gods, assassins, mermaids, sentient giant crows, a slow burn romance, and a priesthood riddled with intrigue and betrayal. This book is complex and suspenseful and opens with the most unbelievable first chapter that drops you over the cliff and right into the world and struggles of these unforgettable characters.

Naranpa is the Sun Priest, raised up from Coyote’s Maw, the poor district of Tova, and whose views on the role of the Celestial Tower upset the traditional order. Serapio is raised to fulfill one purpose, to avenge his clan, Carrion Crow, at the Convergence, when the sun is at its weakest. Xiala is a Teek sea captain tasked with bringing Serapio to Tova before the Convergence. Okoa is the new head of the Shield guard of the Crows, who struggles to calm the looming threat of war between the Crows and the priesthood. From the opening lines, there is a sense of tension and suspense, and a growing knowledge of a world balancing on the edge of chaos where the collision of these four characters could be devastating.

The world building is absolutely incredible. The history and lore of the world and the stories the characters share with each other are just so beautifully realized that I wanted to spend more time exploring the various clans and priesthoods and continents.

Overall, I would give Black Sun all the stars in the sky! I loved each and every one of these characters so, so much. Roanhorse has proven, once again, that she is a master storyteller, and I am so very excited for the rest of this series!!

Thank you so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC!

I'm a huge fan of Rebecca Roanhorse so I fully expected to love this book - but I wasn't ready for the sheer brilliance of it! Roanhorse is a master at story telling and world building, but for me the characters really made this book shine. My favorite, of course, is Xiala, the captain with a song that can work magic. I would happily read a book just about Xiala! The characters are diverse and complex and I'm already impatient for the next book in this series so I can find out what happens to them.

This is an epic fantasy which intertwines elements of pre-Colombian culture in the Americas with the magical

I haven't read much epic fantasy lately, but I am certainly happy that I gave this book a try. The characters are beautifully written and very memorable.

The culture is whole and diverse, in no way portrayed as "primitive."
It was a delight to become immersed in the book.

I eagerly await the next in the trilogy.

I was given an ARC. I am leaving my honest review.

Based on pre-Columbian cultures, the story follows the Sun Priestess (raised from a low caste and beset by machinations from the other priests, most of them from much higher stations), a sailor from an all-female culture whose voice can calm storms, a Carrion Crow warrior trying to keep the peace despite the not-yet-forgotten slaughter of many of his people not too many decades ago, and the man who might be the host of the reborn Carrion Crow god. As they head towards the confrontation between Carrion Crow and the Sun, they configure in various ways; it was an intriguing start to what looks like a trilogy.

4.5/5 stars

Woohoo! I had my wish granted and received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery/Saga Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Listen, I have a bias towards Rebecca Roanhorse. I have read 3 books by Rebecca Roanhorse and have loved each and every one of them. There is something about her stories and writing that just speak to my soul.. So when Black Sun was announced, I immediately added to my TBR with only the knowledge that it was fantasy and was inspired by Pre Columbian Americas. I went into with the expectation to love it (I did), but Black Sun has much more than I was anticipating and had previously seen in her other works.

Let me quickly talk about the things that spoke to me in Black Sun. This is going to be the long story short version because we all don't have time to read my incoherent and blathering praise of all things Rebecca Roanhorse.
1. A bisexual (or perhaps pansexual?) protagonist!?: ahhhh, I LIVE for this!
2.. 3rd gender characters w/ gender neutral pronouns?!?!?
3.. Multiple POVs: each character was distinct and compelling.
4. Mermaids?!?!?!
5. Visually impaired rep: I cannot speak on the representation, but I know that Rebecca had sensitivity readers that aided her.

and the most important and on brand like, for me.....
6. FRIGGIN' CROW GODS/MYTHOLOGY?!?!?!?!??!!?
Y'all, I nearly SHAT myself with the opening chapter. I love crows. I love ravens. Why? I don't really know, but this story focuses on the revenge of the Carrion Crow Clan and Grandfather Crow. The world-building and lore in this novel was enchanting, vibrant, and eerie. Throughout the novel, there was the every present sense of foreboding that I found alluring. Oh yeah, there are also giant crows that bond with the clan members....y'all, I just can with how much I loved these aspects of Black Sun.

Now onto my dislikes:
1. Pacing: It is moderately paced throughout novel which I enjoyed. However, once you hit the 90% mark, the chapters are cut in half and (obviously) there is a great sense of urgency. That did not bother me, I enjoyed the increase in pace, but I felt that the increase in pace led to a decrease in description/plot. We spent the whole novel building up to a specific climax and when it happens, it is only 2-3 pages. I wanted more! It was minimally-mildly detailed and personally, I would have loved a more graphic and brutal climax. I wanted to feel his hate, I wanted to relish in their onslaught, I wanted to feel the carnage...and unfortunately, I did not get that. The last few chapters felt intentionally vague to create disorientation and necessity to continue the story which was a bit frustrating. With the being said, I understand that my small qualm may be answered in the rest of the series which is why I only subtracted a half point from my overall score.

I loved this book, it's characters, it's world-building, it's history, nearly everything! Rebecca Roanhorse has now solidified herself as my favorite author.

(P.S. please please please I need the release date for the 3rd book in her Sixth World series!)

Give this book all the stars.

Rarely do I find a world-building book that captures and holds my attention. Dense texts of description in order to get the story started are difficult for me to get through, and because of that, I don't typically choose titles in the fantasy genre. I will also admit that I've never seen a Star Wars movie. Maybe someday, but today is not that day. However, I am familiar with Rebecca Roanhorse's writing, and with the stunning cover and summary, I was THRILLED to receive an eARC of Black Sun.

Nara is the Sun Priestess whose progressive views on tradition threaten the existing order. Serapia is a highly-trained, purposely blinded man who believes he's "chosen" and is on mission that could end in catastrophe for everyone. Xiara is the captain commissioned to sail him to Tova to fulfill his destiny before the Convergence. Okoa is head of the Crows, navigating grief, destiny, and the delicate balance between war and peace. Based on various pre-Columbian myths and told in four alternating POVs, Black Sun centers around a prophecy, old vs. new worlds, and how the separate journeys of different clans/groups intertwine and culminate on the Convergence.

When I finished this, all I could think was WOW. First, the world building was expertly done and so subtle you don't realize you're learning about entire histories within a single chapter epitaph, an excerpt from a sacred text or a curse or a cultural narrative. These not only framed the chapters, but helped give valuable information for context without bogging down the explosive plot in intricate details.

Characters are the true star here, and each POV is richly developed and independent--a difficult feat to pull off, especially in the confines of a first in the series. Trying to explain complex histories and ties and betrayals while giving four main characters their own voices, breathing life into supporting characters who are less the focus but still add depth and insight for our main characters--this could easily be messy or overwhelming, but Roanhorse weaves these strands with dexterity and grace, and never once did I find myself confused or wishing for less. I wanted more, specifically of the relationship between Serapio and Xiara. Their characters jumped off the page, and I was invested in their journey more than any of the others--which, I think, is bound to happen in any epic fantasy. Everybody has a Potter house or a GoT affiliation, after all, and this was no different for me. Xiara's voice was vivid and beautiful, and her interactions with Serapio were special. Their histories and stories, the tension and understanding, I could read a book just about the two of them and be happy.

Overall, Black Sun is a stunning, engaging, beautiful read with complex characters, masterful world building, and an abundance of action.

Huge thanks to Gallery and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

An indigenous high fantasy set in a world that is reminiscent of pre-Columbian Americas, Black Suns is immersive and delightful.

Like what is expected from the genre, Black Suns is full of interesting magic and has a large cast of main characters that gives the reader scope and perspective, but without the used up medieval european trappings. Every character is compelling, even if with opposing goals. This is a novel of humanity in the face of destiny, responsibility and vengeance (even though one of the main characters is a god).

Although the start of a trilogy, Black Suns is a satisfyingly complete book. There is more story to tell, but Roanhorse takes you exactly where she promised to… But I am still anxiously waiting for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Black Sun was breathtaking. As I know from her fabulous Sixth World series, Roanhorse thrives on creating complex, compelling worlds and this novel was no exception I was instantly and utterly immersed in the environment: the city of Tova with its soaring Mesas and swaying bridges, bisected by the chasm containing Tova’s roiling underbelly, Coyote’s Maw. Every small detail opened up a world of curiosity for me: I am desperate to learn more about the legendary, matriarchal Teek, the merchant city of Cuecola, the legends of gods and ancient powers that fill in the edges of the tale. While this lush world-building was one of my favorite things about the novel it also was part of my small frustration: there are so many more things I want to know and understand in this novel than are clearly laid out by its conclusion. This is almost certainly due to the fact that it is the beginning of a large story. Black Sun is the start of a series rather than a stand-alone novel, something I wasn’t totally clear on going into it.

However, this gripe was only a small blip compared to how much I loved the rest of the novel. The characters were complex and fascinating. I adored the characters we got perspective from: the mysterious Serapio, the sailor Xiala, the Sun Priest Naranpa, but wished that others had a little more time with the narrative; namely Okoa, Zataya, and Denaochi who were slightly more minor characters but nonetheless exemplified extraordinary potential for expanding the world.

It was also refreshing to see fantasy inspired by a culture that I do not see frequently represented. Roanhoarse mentions in her author’s note that she drew from Maya, Tewa, and Polynesisan culture and folklore when constructing the novel. It is also clear from her author’s note that she did thorough research and put time and effort in consulting with other indigenous individuals on their representation in the story. In a time when so much high fantasy is dominated by pseudo-european narratives, it is enlightening to see new perspective.

Meso American themed characters and a believable plot. Everything is interwoven into a page turner that made me wonder oftem as the story unfolded.This book was extremely well put together . I enjoyed the suspense and want to learn more about ancient religions and their customs.