What an interesting fantasy book. I was immediately taken in by the richness of this world, the mythology, the cultures, and the characters that had a role to play. It was grand, it was epic, it was incredible.

This book has been a long time coming. I added it to my tbr when I first heard of it, was very excited when I got the arc and also got the audiobook immediately upon release. But I never did get to reading it because my head was a mess last year, and I completely avoided reading all books which I had high expectations for. But I finally braved it this month, at a time when I am again in a bad reading slump, but this had me completely in its grips from the first word and wouldn’t let me go till I was done.

What a refreshing world the author managed to create here. While creating European inspired worlds is pretty common in the fantasy genre, I have tried to diversify my reading in the past year or two to try and pick books where the worlds are created by authors with Asian or African heritage, taking inspiration from their own cultures and mythologies. However, I never even gave a thought that a world could be based on pre-Columbian indigenous American cultures, and I was completely in awe as I discovered with epic wide world created by the author. We have cities and towns and tribes, each with its own set of cultures and belief systems, bound by a treaty to ensure peace in the world, and watched over by a priesthood who believe themselves capable of reading the stars and predicting the future. I am obviously ignorant about the history and couldn’t discern which aspect of the world building was inspired by which culture, but nevertheless the author managed to create something which felt real and lived in, and very much a part of the daily lives of its people. The various magic systems are also lightly described and I was amazed by the scenes where it came into play, but I also have a feeling that this aspect will be more prominent in the next book. And also except for some personal prejudices/superstitions, this is also a very queernormative world, with all forms of genders and sexualities just accepted as part of the normal and where this aspect of a character doesn’t drive the plot.

The writing is really engaging and mesmerizing from the get go. All the descriptions were quite vivid and I could feel the cold, the pain, and the fear that the characters were experiencing; as well as the feeling of being on the sea in the middle of a ship killing story, the air hitting your face when on the back of a giant corvid, and the dread of being on the edge of a cliff just before falling down. The pacing is also just right, never slacking off even for a bit, making me excited to keep turning the page without ever putting the book down. I was frankly quite surprised by the use of neopronouns, because I have personally never encountered them before, but they felt very organic to the world that the author created. All the POVs are woven seamlessly through the story, and I was so glad that I loved everyone equally and was looking forward to read about each of their adventures. Listening to the first half of the book on audio also helped because the full cast of narrators are brilliant, and I loved getting to know how to pronounce the words correctly.

The way the collective history and the trauma of the people is told through this story felt very raw and painful. Each of the clans or tribes has suffered in the past and while there maybe peace currently, the hurts nor the pain have been forgotten, and every generation inherits this trauma, alongwith a deep seated need for vengeance (or justice) for their peoples. Add to this a dose of religious fanaticism and belief in vengeful prophecies, and it makes for a powder keg of a world which is always on the verge of the next riot, or maybe even outright war. I thought the author’s handling of the topic of generational trauma and the cycle of revenge was very realistic and hit me quite hard.

And it was this writing that made me very empathetic towards most of the characters, despite whatever action they were keen on taking. Serapio’s life has been traumatic since his birth, first with his mother treating him like a vessel to fulfill her goals, and his father ignoring him either out of fear or disgust. He has been told and trained and prepared to fulfill his destiny, but I couldn’t help but feel bad that he never got much of a choice. It was hard to see him determined to achieve his goal as vengeance for a people whom he didn’t even know, but at the same time I also wanted him to succeed.

Xiala on the other hand was a delight. Belonging to a people who are feared because of their abilities, she has to navigate a lot of misogyny, prejudice and fear to be able to work as the captain of a ship. She is also open with her affections, just wanting to have a good time with some drink and a chat with the people around her. But it’s not always easy to find that camaraderie that she so desires, and that’s why I really loved her developing relationship with Serapio.

And the last one is the sun priest, Narampa. She is admirable for having risen up to her position despite being from a humble background, and believing so thoroughly in the responsibility of her role and the priesthood as a whole. But she is also naive enough to think only her beliefs are right, as well as that she alone can reform an age old status quo. I honestly wasn’t surprised to see her encounter many obstacles, and despite her sometimes questionable decisions, I did want her to be safe.

There are also a good number of side characters as well as creatures who make this a very memorable read, and though most of them had very less page time, I can assure you that they leave an indelible mark and it hurts when something bad happens to them.

In conclusion, this is what epic fantasy feels like. A vast world with scope for being more expansive, characters who are not always likable but still very much will find a place in your heart, a fast paced plot with multiple threads that all converge with an impending sense of doom, and an unexpected ending where you are left wondering if any of your favorites made it. I’m extremely happy that I seem to be having great luck with fantasies these days and I can only hope it continues. And now I’m eagerly waiting for the sequel news, which the author promised would be coming soon.

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Rebecca Roanhorse. I had heard of her book Trial of Lightning, but I haven’t read it yet. I was super excited to receive this book from Netgalley, as I had heard a ton of good things about it from people who had also received ARCs.

Black Sun is a very interesting book. It starts off a little slow, but it definitely picks up in the second half. It took me a lot longer to read the first half than the second half. A friend of mine who had already read it encouraged me to continue on, and I am glad he did. The first half was a little on the confusing side for me, because of all of the characters, their factions, etc. However, I did get it eventually and it was fine.

I found myself rooting for all of the main and side characters, which is problematic since they are/will be against each other. I am very interested to know what will happen with them in the second book. I really liked Xiala, one of the side characters. She felt very real to me, even though she is a Teek, which is a race with special abilities. Her thoughts and desires were tangible, and I liked that.

There is LGBTQIA+ representation in this book, as Xiala is either bisexual or pansexual (it is never stated which), there is a transgender character (not a main or side character, just someone one of the side characters meets), and two characters that seem to be non-binary (they use the pronouns xe, xir). There is total acceptance of all of these characters.

The imagery in this book is very vivid, and the characters are brought to life with the author’s words. Ms. Roanhorse is a talented author, and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I give this book 3.75/5 stars.

I couldn’t have predicted a thing about this book. Going in to this, I knew it would be a shocking fantasy with Indigenous elements and a unique plot, but as soon as I hit play I knew I was in for a wild ride. It was utterly compelling and had me enraptured the entire time. The plot and world building was definitely the driving force for my entertainment.

Out of the characters, Serapio was the only one I really had a connection with. That hindered my enjoyment of the novel just a bit, but overall I’m really surprised by how this story played out and I’m excited for the next book in the series.

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

As I’ve gotten more into the book community, there are quite a few authors that have popped up on my radar that I didn’t know of before. One of those authors is Rebecca Roanhorse. I remember when a lot of people were talking about Trail of Lightning and thinking I should give it a try. But my TBR is ever-growing and it got lost in the stack. Then, I read Vampires Never Get Old, a short story compilation all about our favorite fanged fiends, and found myself really enjoying the story written by Rebecca Roanhorse. And I knew she was coming out with the first book in her new adult fantasy series, so she quickly got bumped up on the TBR. I’m so glad I picked this one up because it completely knocked it out of the park!

This story is a beautiful mix of four vastly different lives. We have a young man who has been brutally fashioned into a vessel for an old god. We have a sailor whose heritage makes her both feared and sought after. There is a woman who has fought to rise above her humble beginnings to try and make a difference. And there is a son who wishes to protect his clan from outside forces and themselves. All these stories are weaved together over the backdrop of an impending total eclipse in which all of their lives will be changed forever.

I feel like it’s taken me forever to actually sit down and write about this book because how does one describe the feeling of being completely transported by a story? How can I find the appropriate words to articulate how much this story burrowed into my consciousness and now lives there rent free? What can I say that will do justice to this book in an eloquent manner when all I want to do is shout “PLEASE READ THIS NOW” to any and everyone? This books deserves the best of the best writings to capture how stunning it is!

But ya got me, so prepare yourselves for an unabashed, slightly inarticulate gush!

AAAHHHH, THIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE! Everything about Black Sun was perfection, from the writing, to the characters, to the immaculate world-building. When they talk about ‘immersive reads’, they mean books like this one. Every single element was crafted in a way that completely sucks you into the story. Let’s talk about our characters, for instance. First, I would die for Xiala. Seriously, she’s amazing and I wanted to fight anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way in this book 😤 She’s complex and intriguing, with layers that make her the most interesting of the characters you come across over the course of this story (I love the little snippets of her Teek heritage!). And one of those characters may or may not be a literal god! That’s not to say that the other characters are lacking, of course. Serapio, Naranpa, and Okoa, the other main characters in this tale, are all fascinating and you can’t help but want to know more about them. Multiple POVs doesn’t always do it for me, but Rebecca Roanhorse pulls it off flawlessly!

Speaking of ‘flawless’, can we talk about the world-building of this story?? Because… just… *chef’s kiss* This is a beautiful example of creating a world with a lot of background and traditions, but not just dumping all the info on the reader in boring exposition. Rebecca Roanhorse is the best kind of storyteller; one that can craft an intricate world and pull you into it in a manner that is lyrical and smooth. I found myself so immersed within just a few pages and, even as I closed the book, I wished I could stay for just a little bit longer. The world of Black Sun is rich, vibrant, and absolutely captivating! I’m also stoked that we’re getting an adult epic fantasy series that is not set in some fantasy version of medieval Europe. The culture in this book is beautiful to behold, though I, of course, can’t speak to the representation. It’s a setting that I haven’t seen before and I instantly want more of. Thankfully, this is just the first book in the series!

This book has also cemented the fact that I love Rebecca Roanhorse’s writing. As I mentioned, I’ve only ever read a short story from her, but it stuck with me so much that I had to try out one of her novels. I’m glad to see that that story wasn’t just a one-off and this is an author that could easily become a favorite! Being who I am as a person, I find it hard to put into words what I love so much about her writing. There’s just something about it that makes it flow so well that I found myself tearing through the pages. I even found myself enjoying the non-linear timeline, which can often be a stumbling block for me. What can I say, I’m easily confused 😅 But this author made it work! It added a sense of suspense that carries through the entire book as we arrive at the end. I will say that this is definitely a dark and graphic story, so please check trigger warnings before you dive in.

Final thoughts: This book is absolutely phenomenal! Every aspect is well-crafted, from the richly imagined world, to the complex and fascinating characters. Every bit of this book is designed to make you forget about the outside world while you become invested in everything that is happening in the story. This is a dark story that is written masterfully and in such a way that I’m still thinking about it a week later. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with dark themes, multiple POVs, non-linear timelines, and with a unique setting, I think you would enjoy Black Sun!

I adore this book & pre-ordered it before I was even halfway through. I'm super excited for the sequel!

Black Sun is a compelling narrative with a diverse cast of morally grey characters that drive the plot forward.

Engaging Plot Line
It is said that Black Sun l is inspired by pre-Columbian America’s and it shows in the writing and the world-building.

It is always wonderful to pick up a book and be engaged in world-building from the very beginning because it gives the reader a solid foundation to grasp. It is easier to imagine and see from the details to the intricate politics and culture.

Admittedly, the opening was a bit slow. However, while it might have a slow pace, it focuses on building up those dynamics, the culture, the fantasy, and the politics. Again, this is a very intricate story, but it is written and easy to follow.

Again, the reader sees the influence of Native American culture in the story. There is some argument as to whether or not the author officially belongs to the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo tribe. However, it says a lot that her memories as a child, her appreciation of her culture, and her husband’s culture, who is Navajo, shines in the novel. When reading, the reader sees Native American individuals portrayed in a way that is not stereotypical.

Character-Driven Story
What also helps Black Sun move forward are the characters. There are three central characters, Sun Priest, Xiala, and Serapio. What makes them attractive is how they are all different and how their fates are tied together.

First off, it is great to see such a diverse cast of characters. However, what makes them more engaging out the level of layers that go into their personalities.

The Sun Priest has to face her trials. Being from the Deep Earth, the Maw, she is considered other and lesser than by the Sky Made people around her. These are people who seek to undermine her, who want her gone because she is different. Despite this, however, she continues to be resilient and deals with morally questionable people to stop a war.

Xiala is Teek which automatically makes her an outsider. As a Teek, she is similar to a siren. Xiala can sing music to the ocean and, in a way, calm the seas. She faces her challenges as a woman with power. Again, she is considered other, but her origins only fuel men to dislike her because she has a power they do not and skills that allow her to rise above them in ranks. Xiala is, by far, one of the more interesting characters in the novel.

Finally, there is Serapio. Blinded as a child by his mother to be a vessel for the Crow God, Serapio is willing to die and kill for his people. He is soft-spoken but intimidating. His narrative goes back on time, building up the present, unlike the others, to give him more depth and create this idea of vengeance versus justice. He was raised to be a vessel, so a part of him is sad that his life was never his own, and it resonates with the reader.

Final Thoughts
Black Sun is such an incredible novel. As a start to a new series, it gives readers a fresh and inventive new fantasy with complex characters and an intriguing blend of mythology and politics.

A very good fantasy and great set up for a series.

This book is full of world building and prepping for what looks to be a great fantasy series. It is a very interesting era and society, so interest is mildly kept.

The hype for this book was real, I was pulled in and ready to GO when I got this eARC, however, sometimes the public hype really lets me down. I need to remember what others view as epic isn't always the case for me.

That said, I did enjoy the book at parts and some just fell really really flat for me. At this point, I'm not eagerly awaiting book 2 but I may pick up in the future.

This book follows 4 characters, each on a journey to stop and start a disaster that is bound to happen in the City of Tova. I truly enjoyed this book. The characters were amazing the plot was very well written. My only fault I think is I wanted to learn more about the history of the Skymade because there isn’t much info into why they came to Tova or why they decide to replace the old gods. I also wanted to see more Teek mythology, hopefully in book 2, which I will be buying!

This was so good!

I loved the exploration of Pre-Columbian culture, I loved the characters, I loved the world Roanhorse created.
The dual POV was a nice touch, the reader was able to view the classism and racism of the community from both an exalted and valuable position, and a marginalized one. The way the story line unfolded was great, the switch between viewpoints was not jarring, and the plot flowed well. I was apprehensive about the length given all the background, language, and world building information one needs to start a series this epic, but the author handled it well and kept the reader engaged.

Overall, 4.5 stars and highly recommend.

Another great young adult book. I wish I had more options geared like this towards my age growing up. I would love to see more books like this for adults as well in the future.

The author has constructed a very interesting magical pre-colombian world. I felt, however that this book was a setup for bigger and better stories and it ended right as the "big event" happened...leaving us to wonder what the fallout is and what's going to happen next. Hopefully a tease for a sequel, but ultimately unsatisfying as it ends just as our heroes mark big changes in the world.

This book blew my mind. It's epic fantasy at its best, plus female-centric and based on ancient civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas. The characters are complex, unique, and mesmerizing. I couldn't decide which of them I loved the most and finally decided that I loved all of them equally with perhaps a slight lean toward the people who can mind-bond with crows and ride giant Carrion crows as their steeds.

Listen, you have to get this book! If the siren ship captain who calms the waters with her song, but also has a slight drinking problem and sleeps around with anyone in port doesn't intrigue you, then surely the man whose eyes were sewed shut by his mother to trap the god's soul that she put inside him will. Layer this with Ms. Roahnhorse's beautiful prose, describing a spell-binding world and cultures that you loath to leave by the end of the book. Please write faster, Ms. Roanhorse! I need the second book in the series now!

The beautiful cover drew me in, but the story kept me engaged. I can't wait for more stories set in this world.

Chapter 1 ends and I'm completely hooked. What a way to setup a story! This is s masterfully crafted and unique world - the rich lore in this book is so completely transportive it breathes life into the cultures, the sceneries, and the characters with ease.

This is absolutely a must read for epic fantasy lovers.

Slow-paced but in a way that is deliberate, tantalizing, teasing to the reader that promises these loose ends will eventually come together and blow your socks off.

4 stars instead of 5 because there was one particular POV that I connected with far less than the others. The religious undertones of the Sun priestess story arc just didn't capture my interest as much as Serapio and Xiala's seafaring journey. Their relationship felt real and grounded and rooted in such impending tragedy it was hard to look away. They were the kinds of characters you just want to pluck off the pages and keep in a safe place. A good book has you rooting for the hero, but only a great book has you cheering for the villain.

Highly anticipating the sequel! Thank you to netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Everything I've ready by Rebecca Roanhorse has been really great, and this is no exception. The story is full of wonderful characters with their own mythology in a richly constructed and diverse world. This book is high fantasy at its best. Black Sun is an incredibly enjoyable read and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

(4.75 rounded up)

This book was definitely not what I expected but it has me so excited for the rest of the series!

If you are looking for a heavily plot driven novel, this is not it. That aside, this was a strong beginning to an epic series that will definitely leave you wanting more (especially with that ending.)

I would describe this as a prolouge to what will undoubtedly be an amazing series.

While there is an overall plot, it is very slow moving(which isn't a bad thing!). We may follow a trio of characters and learn about what parts they play in the story.

I loved everything about this book and I'm definitely picking up more by Rebecca Roanhorse.

*thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an Arc in exchange for my honest review*

**What I loved about this book**
- Prose: Snappy, sharp, unique, concise. Can't ask for much better.
- Worldbuilding: Sensory and colorful. Could smell and touch everything.
- Characters: Likable and easily distinguishable from one another in terms of motivations, narrative voices, visuals, personalities, etc. Super distinctive.
- Plot: Steady and efficient, doesn't lag at all. Very exciting.
- Setup: Overall, author did perfect job of pulling the reader in from the start.


**What could've been improved**
- Pacing is almost too efficient. There should've been more pauses taken for important moments like the climax, but author gives such key scenes as much importance as the generic moments, which made the brutality of the finale (via Serapio) fall flat and not as impactful as the book was gearing it up to be.
- Political sabotages. Naranpa as the Sun priestess seems lacking in authority, which makes it hard to believe why she was ever given that position. Also, the political sabotages at the end were rather obvious and convenient imo.
- Naranpa and Iktan's dynamic. Loved their banter and unspoken tension at first, but then Iktan is moved to the sidelines as though xe's scheming for/against Naranpa, but nothing really comes of it by the end, romantically nor politically. Wish we'd seen more closure to this.
- Serapio and Xiala's romance. Why do I get the feeling they're gonna move on to other love interests later on? Felt this romance escalated a tad quickly, and Serapio doesn't seem that into Xiala. This dynamic became the least compelling by the end.


**What I actively disliked**
- Naranpa and Denaochi's reunion. This should've been THE emotional high of this book, but these siblings proceed to converse openly as though they haven't been apart for decades. Not to mention, it was super unnatural that Ochi would disclose his past struggles (i.e. prostitution) and his sexual preferences to such a degree before even addressing the elephant in the room lol (i.e. his resentment of his sister). Kinda forced.
- Serapio as a character. His fixation on avenging his mother was fine, but it was dissonant how he fluctuated from being an empathetic & self-aware human being to a cold killing machine. He doesn't have moments of introspection or moral doubt in regards to his goal, so I couldn't marry the fact that he was so warm AND callous at the same time. He was simply told to become an assassin...so didn't he ever have a moment of doubt that he was being told a lie?!


**Bottom line**
This book is brilliant, but I was not fully satisfied when it came to certain arcs (i.e., the sibling reunion, Naranpa and Iktan's dynamic, Serapio's actions in the finale). The author seems hesitant to truly milk key moments for emotional satisfaction, which is a shame because I would've given this beyond 5 stars if she had. Regardless, this is a great series starter and can't wait to jump into the sequel.


Thank you to the publishers for sending an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are solely my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Rebecca Roanhorse is a revelation to the science fiction and fantasy genre. The highly anticipated Black Sun offers a pre-Columbian mythology that is engrossing and beautifully written. And if you’re looking for an Indigineous horror film to pair with it, Blood Quantum could be a good fit — and with fantastic, compelling premises, you’re sure to be thinking about both of these long after you’re done reading and watching them!