Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

First book in the Between Earth and Sky series

5 stars

Black Sun centers around four characters (three who are central for the first 100 and one who pops in and becomes a key player) who are all connected to a central historical event that has been prophesied and long waited for in Tova. Serapio has been mutilated as is fashion for the Carrion Crow people by his mother, but her blinding him has led him into the journey of being marked as the vessel for the Crow God to return. Serapio will be his vessel. Xiala is a Teek (think like a siren) who is a pirate and is transporting a mysterious figure (Serapio) to Tova in time for the solstice. Naranpa is a Sun Priest and is unlikely candidate in the Priesthood for her station. She has to protect her life at all costs now that it looks like someone wants her out of the way. Okoa, is the prince of Carrion Crow and he becomes a integral part of the story about a 100 pages in. I loved this book. I loved the world building and I adored the characters with every fiber of being. Serapio was my absolute favorite and his journey throughout this book leaves me weeping and wanting a different ending for him because he deserves so much more than what the prophecy forces him to become. The writing in this book was exquisite and absolutely enthralling. I loved the narrative of the four characters and the interweaving of these storylines. Roanhorse does an amazing job at setting up a high fantasy story set against the backdrop of cultures similar to the Aztecs and Incas. Which was so much fun to read and see a fantasy world that is different from the usual Eruo-centric lens of fantasy. It was fun, but it also leads to great discussions on a number of topics that often can't be explored outside of the typical white lens that fantasy has been stuck into until probably the last ten years. Roanhorse is an innovative writer who loves her world and wants to tell this story well. I knew that I would love this book and it was one of my most anticipated books in the last half of 2020, but I didn't know I would love it this much because I've been on a bit of a fantasy hiatus. This book reminded me how much I love fantasy and how much fun it is for me. This book is gruesome, bloody, tension filled, full of political intrigue, and magic it checks off so many boxes. It was also really cool to read about several LGBTQ characters who existed in this world. While some faced persecution- Xiala, for her bisexuality in a place where it is banned and thrown in prison- others in the priesthood seem quite open and accepting of people who identified on the queer spectrum. There was also great discussions on colonialism and erasure of religion. I am so impressed with this book (and I knew I would be, but I gotta GUSH ABOUT IT).


Whimsical Writing Scale: 5

SERAPIO!!!!!!!!!!! Serapio is my man and the best thing about this book. He is scary, tortured, but he is also so sweet and has the kindest spirit. When he exacts revenge on a group of people more than once in this book I WAS SCREAMING AND FLAILING. Yes, Serapio, show them your power. You are not be messed with. I loved Xiala's character as a Teek pirate. The Teek are similar to sirens, but she can live on land and it was so much fun to be on her pirate ship. Female pirates commander ships in such a fun way and I haven't read a good pirate book in so long, but this was a blast. Naranpa was kind of like ASMR- some people are obsessed and need it to fall asleep and some people cringe at- I am not sure where I fall on the spectrum with her because sometimes I like her and other times I question her choices. She's just so prideful that I'm like, "GIRL, open your eyes and see the people around you are betraying you. You can't be that dumb." She is that dumb though, but I was still rooting for her to survive. Okoa randomly comes in after a huge plot development, but I was totally here for it. Once Okoa establishes himself as part of this narrative and bigger story, I was a huge fan of him and I want him to be more fleshed out. Since he played such a huge role at the end, I have hopes for the sequel and his development.


Character Scale: 5

The Villain- There isn't really a set in stone villain in this book. There are circumstances and a society of people who should probably not be allowed to be in so much power, but they aren't all horrible people. This book is morally gray and I love it. Some may see Serapio as the villain, but that's my man and he is fulfilling the prophecy and doing what he has to for the Crow God to ascend. Will he be a villain in the upcoming books? Probably so, but he isn't in this book and I will build a strong case for him.


Villain Scale: 5

This book is everything I could want in a fantasy novel. The characters are amazing. I wasn't bored at any point in time in any of the narratives (WHAT A WIN!) and the writing fleshed out many worlds and cultures that I was able to follow and understand the operations of. This book is a national treasure and everyone should read it in 2021 if you didn't in 2020. Thanks for coming to my Black Sun gush party. Go read and then come gush with me because this book was perfect for me.


Plotastic Scale: 5

Cover Thoughts: I LOVE THIS COVER. It is ten times more amazing in person. Breathtaking. STUNNING. I can only imagine what the next cover will look like.

Thank you, Netgalley and Saga Press, for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I read the finished copy that I purchased because I needed to hold this beauty.

I think I preclude all of my fantasy books with the fact that I tend to struggle through reading fantasy but I really enjoy them. It just takes me much longer to process the info - all the world building, the clothes, the creatures. I’ve just really got to take my time with it, particularly if it’s not more modernized, not magical realism, not the “regular world” with magical elements. And Black Sun was all new to me. Something really neat about the book is that it’s based in Indigenous and Central American culture and history, and that was one of the biggest appeals to me. So much fantasy is white-washed, even if it’s set in areas that are current-day Asia or Central/South America where white isn’t the predominant race and never has been.

This story follows a few different folks and different storylines, and honestly at the beginning it was a bit of a deterrent. I was overwhelmed by all the different characters and their different stories. But once I got the hang of each of the main characters and their respective plot lines, I was pretty into it. The story was incredibly immersive. I was super into the descriptors of each character, their backgrounds, and the outfits they wore. I can only imagine the beauty of each person in the story, and could truly visualize each and every glorious outfit and ornament.

What really sold me on the book was the very end. So I highly recommend that if you’re reading it and feeling overwhelmed or worried that it’s not a book that you want to finish, I urge you to keep with it because that ending will blow you out of the water. I’m now impatiently waiting the next books in the saga.

"Sometimes it is better to let one live with their sins than to free them through death. A dead priest cannot atone. A live one... well, there is always the choice." - Black Sun, Rebecca Roanhorse

Black Sun is heavily armed with many fantastical tropes and elements. If you’re a person on-the-fence when it comes to fantasy, or if it’s truly not your cup of tea, I don’t think you’ll enjoy this novel. But if you’re into fantasy even a small bit, this is one hell of a story. I cannot wait to journey back into the city of Tova and see what’s next to come.

This was a great book. I loved the characters and the story. I was really drawn into Serapio's story. I'm so excited to see where this series goes!

Black Sun was an amazing read. The world-building in this book was incredible. The characters were well-developed and the different perspectives were an amazing way to show the different aspects of the world. I loved Seropia and Xiala. Their dynamic made me want to continue reading.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Enjoyable read in a creative universe, lots of cool worldbuilding. Long setup for a cliffhanger ending, didn't feel like a very complete story in itself, but made me eager to read the next. I included this in my 2020 roundup and will likely write more about it.

Overall, this book is solid in many areas. The world-building is superb and the characters are developed well. I did get lost a few times trying to keep the multitude of characters straight in my head, but this wasn't too much of a distractor from the plot and imagery. A solid fantasy that steps outside of the usual locales. I have recommended this book to several students and friends.

This book has one of the most unique worlds I’ve ever read! The setting, political-esque intrigue, and fascinating lore were all draws together this world. Much like Serapio, I found myself wanting to heart story after story about Teek culture, as just one example. The details in this story, evidently, were the most alluring.

While the plot was strong, I think the draw to this book was its characters. Xiala won my heart within mere pages of meeting her, and Serapio grew to be one of my favorite characters. Nara was probably the only other character I felt a connection with.

While I loved these characters, I couldn’t help but feel like the multiple POVs made it hard to stay focused well on each individual story. My eyes were glued to every word of a Xiala/Serapio chapter, but tended to glaze over more (in the latter half of the book) during Nara/Okoa’s chapters. This undoubtably lead to me not retaining as much of the plot as I should have but... those chapters really failed to capture my attention while my mind was still hooked on what had just happened between Xiala and Serpio. Multiple POVs is truly a double edged sword in this regard. Perhaps my next read around will be more focused!

Another aspect I loved of this world— characters who used pronouns other than she/he/their and lgbtqia+ characters were near-seamlessly accepted and respected in this book. How refreshing to read about a society like this (even if it had many other faults).

I will be keeping an eye out for future books in this series—I’d be interested to see where things go from here!

This book contains a very diverse group of characters that I was happy to see. I really enjoyed the adventure and can’t wait for the sequel! I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a new unique fantasy series.

What a fascinating world explored! It took me a bit to get names straight, as they are very unique and somewhat similar with letters. However, once I had the characters straight, I couldn’t wait to find out their journeys! Black Sun was so beautifully described, I could see it as a movie someday. Very enjoyable!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, though I've previously read two other books by Rebecca Roanhouse and enjoyed them both quite a lot. I was not disappointed by this one at all, though it was very different from her previous novels in some ways yet in others it was very similar. Strong female characters, influenced by Native American lore, myths and legends. I'm curious to see where this story will go next as the ending left me eagerly wanting more

Well, well, well, so here we are once again, with me writing a review that takes a contrary position from nearly everyone else who read this.

I’ve actually been procrastinating my review of Black Sun for this exact reason, because I really wanted to love this book—and at first I did. On the surface, it seems like it should be an automatic win: an interesting, new take on the fantasy genre that, as countless others before me have observed, draws on nontraditional, non-Eurocentric sources, contains a greater number of important, strong female characters than is typical of fantasy novels, and includes more modern characterization (non-binary characters don’t even raise an eyebrow, for example).

So with this as the foundation, we should be on our way to a completely fresh take on the fantasy genre, right? Well, sadly, no. Instead, nearly all of the standard fantasy tropes make an appearance, which means there is plenty of....guess what? QUESTING. Yes, the most overused trope in the history of fantasy writing makes up the majority of this book, with any sort of actual plot grinding to a halt while nearly everyone travels somewhere for reasons that I’m sure are very important.

(Something does actually happen during the last chapter or two, but by the time I got there I really didn’t care anymore.)

This could be overlooked if it were used to help us get to know the characters better, but that isn’t really what happens here. Each character is largely interchangeable with every other character, and the emphasis on pre-Columbian American civilization that is so hyped in descriptions of Black Sun wasn’t really evident to me (it’s possible that, as I don’t really know much about pre-Columbian American civilizations, I didn’t really know what to look for, and that’s on me rather than the author). I couldn’t really chart any sort of growth or development for any character here. Connecting with them emotionally was not really possible.

Most tellingly for me, however, is the fact that I had to increasingly force myself to return to reading this book until I was finally just trying to make it through to the end. It isn’t that Black Sun was bad or poorly written. It was just dull. So while I didn’t hate Black Sun, it is unlikely that I’ll be reading the other volumes in this series.

****I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is it.****

Truly a page turner. I don't feel like I often get to say that about epic fantasy. Don't get me wrong, I love the genre. But once I got started on this one, I found myself picking it up during my breaks at work or when I had a moment while cooking, any little chance to get a few more pages in. Roanhorse has crafted a vibrant world that is a very welcome change of pace from Ye Olde Fantasy Britain. A growing sense of dread gradually built for me as the end of the book approached, and even though I knew what was coming, I couldn't look away. Can't wait for the next one. I

This story felt so different from anything I have read recently. Yet despite the new world and mythology, I didn't feel lost or confused. It was well explained and woven into the story. The cast is diverse and morally gray, and I really enjoyed the depth and time each was given. The plot was riveting and I was never quite sure where we'd end up. I'm excited to continue the series!

I loved the start of the story, with the introduction to a lush, rich fantasy world inspired by civilizations so often written out of popular folklore. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, I found myself having a difficult time maintaining interest. This may just be me; fantasy of any kind has been difficult for me to focus through lately, what with world events as they are. I wanted badly to love this one, but didn't find the character arcs particularly compelling. However, many trusted friends loved the book, so again this seems like a case of it's-me-not-you. I think this one went over my head, but I'm still glad it's out in the world for others to consume and fall in love with. Thank you Gallery Books / Saga Press for an advanced e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I adore this book. The author’s world building is phenomenal. The story follows Naranpa, the Sun Priest, Serapio, the avatar of the god destined to kill her, Xiala, the ship captain tasked with carrying him to the solstice ceremony, and Okoa, the Shield of the Matron of Serapio’s clan.

These characters are so neatly developed. It’s hard to decide who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. It is so gripping I couldn’t put it down!

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse is the first book in a new fantasy series set in Pre-Colombian America. We follow Serapio, a man who is more than what he seems, Xiala, a Teek charged with transporting a Serapio to the holy city, and Nara, the sun priest. Their stories intertwine in a plot filled with political intrigue, mystery, adventure, and a little bit of romance. Black Sun has a little bit for everyone.

This book was a real treat. It took me a little bit to get into the plot, but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the diverse characters and all of the different representations included. The worldbuilding is immense and brilliantly done. The Pre-Colombian American setting is a refreshing take on the fantasy genre.

The characters were well written and I am definitely invested in their journeys. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

After reading Roanhorse' previous book, I knew I had to give this a chance... and I am not disappointed. This book was very much so a build up for something more in the sequels. And if I'm honest, I don't know if it suffered for that? Now, I liked this book. A LOT. The writing and lore was amazing, the character latched onto me, even if I favored POV's over the others. The pacing was slow, but that gave me time to savor what was happening. Overall, I am quite excited to see how out characters fair in the sequel.

Black Sun was as solid of an introduction to a new series as you can get. The characters were dark and interesting and, at times, absolutely terrifying. I was hooked from the graphic opening scene all the way to the ending (which was a little too abrupt) and through every bloody, heart-wrenching moment in between. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

The first in a series Black Sun was just the fantasy I was looking for. The cast of characters quickly became some of my favorites. The novels follows several characters until the day of convergence. The world building in this novel is exquisite, there are so many wonderful details which will leave you wanting to learn more about each society. In terms of the plot what struck me the most was the political tensions between the different societies. There is vengeance, romance, betrayal, and discussions of family relationships.

Black Sun is great for readers who want to transition from YA Fantasies to Adult Fantasies, but also fantasy lovers in general. Its rich world building will draw readers in and will leave them needing the second book. Furthermore, the audiobook has a full cast of narrators and they are all wonderful. This is a book you will seriously will not want to miss.

Black Sun was a refreshing and intriguing read, with representation that we do not see very often and Native American inspiration.
The characters were well developed and the atmosphere was fantastic.
Reading this has motivated me to pick up more of this author’s work and I highly recommend picking up Black Sun.
Thank you to #netgalley and #sagapress for the digital copy!