Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Sun and The Void' by Gabriel Romero Lacruz.

'The Sun and The Void' is a debut work by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz, and it is my favourite book - by the blurb. Sadly, I didn't enjoy the book itself as much as I expected I would. Its gutting but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. However, I know plenty of people who will read this book and fall in love with everything about it.

Genuinely really loved this book. I need to do a thorough re-read very soon again. Now I'm off to preorder the book because its super pretty.

I love it when anticipated reads don’t disappoint me. The Sun and the Void is one of them!

Gabriela Romero Lacruz created this novel with evident care. Everything, from worldbuilding to the magic system to characters, is well crafted. And the story never goes where the reader thinks it may go.

It’s told from three different points of views, Reina, Eva and Maior’s, and then there are two secondary characters, Celeste and Javier. All of them are very realistic, they’re flawed and moved by their own interests. I guess we could say they are all grey characters. My favorite is Eva, she’s has already gone through a whole character development and I can’t wait to know what’s up for her in the sequel.

As for the romance, I couldn’t really get into Reina and Celeste’s story because I didn’t perceive any real development on page. Reina and Maior, instead, oh my god. They made me giggle and blush.

Even though I didn’t vibe with the magic system, it is well crafted and I appreciate that there isn’t a single big info dump but we get to explore it slowly.

The writing style is very easy to get through and descriptions and fighting scenes aren’t boring. I must say though, some words chosen were peculiar and I didn’t expect to find them in this kind of novel, they felt too contemporary.

Also, I don’t get the choice to add at the beginning of the book a “Notes on Names”, it isn’t really necessary.

Anyway, the book deals with adult thematics (colonialism, politics, discrimination) but it deals with them in a very easy way that, in my opinion, it’s a great for someone who wants to approach adult sff.

All in all, The Sun and the Void is a solid debut novel and I will keep an eye on the author’s future projects (and obviously The Warring Gods #2).

Incredible worldbuilding, really unique characters with different species and magic *with a whole new magic system) and an adventure. This was written really well, the writing is so descriptive it transports you to this fantasy world; but it parts it becomes almost too descriptive and everything is thrown at you all at ones, lots of names, places, families and species and its a lot to take in. Apart from that nothing really happens in the first half of the book and until part two so it's quite hard too get into. Maybe this wasn't for me but this is too much of an info dump and it made things confusing even with the included glossary. This is written incredibly with such a unique style and world but I don't think it was executed properly.

Reina and Eva are thrust together in this beautifully written fantasy. The world building is stunning, if a little difficult to follow in places, and the magic was intriguing. I enjoyed the fast paced plot and sped through this book!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

According to the legend, Rahmagut can grant any wish a person desires... Nothing is out of his reach, as long as his will is summoned by an act of great evil, such as spilling the blood of his runaway nine brides...

Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐

The Sun and the Void follows two strong female leads- Reina and Eva, who eventually come together halfway through this fantasy story. Both experience struggles, prejudice, and doubts about who they are and what they are prepared to do for the future. Living alongside humans and other races has not been the easiest life, but fate or not, they both have a role to play in the eyes of the Gods.

Personally, I struggled with the info dump. There was just so much information about Venazia and Fedria, that the first 30% (I think) of the book pretty much covers history, magic, and political structure. And proper action picks up after that 30% mark, so my attention and focus wavered quite a bit in the beginning (regarding the plot and the characters).

Regarding the magic system- it was mentioned that there's celestial magic... because as I see it, the magic that mortals use is mineral based. If it was meant that iridio is celestial magic (just because it is a fallen star) it was not properly executed in my opinion.

But alas, this debut novel indeed showcased mythology drawn from Venezuelan folklore and gave us some lovely sapphic yearning and slow-building romance. The author has created a world full of magic, creatures, and terrible practices. There will be gory, betrayals, crimes and love. And some creepy creatures - fun! Also, thumbs up for the glossary of terms :)

What to expect:
* Questionable allies
* A Sapphic romance
* Venezuelan and Colombian-inspired landscapes
* Mythology drawn from Venezuelan folklore
* Magic and swordfights
* Fantasy races/species unique to this world
* Exploration of colonialism and revolution

Content warning: alcohol, assault, blood, child death, childbirth, death, demons, emotional abuse, gore, infertility, kidnapping, pregnancy, racism, religion, sexually explicit scenes, mentions of slavery, violence.

Thank you to Gabriela Romero-Lacruz , publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

“According to the legend, Rahmagut can grant any wish a person desires … Nothing is out of his reach, as long as his will is summoned by an act of great evil, such as spilling the blood of his runaway nine brides…”

When the Claw cuts the sky, any bold enough may seek the favour of the dark god…

Be prepared to be thrust straight into the action in a world where once-enslaved nozariels and the militarily renowned valcos live alongside humans, those of mixed heritage are uncertain of their place… and of their connection to their magic.

We follow the stories of two young women: one, scarred by a terrible experience; one, hiding her growing magic but desperate to claim her heritage, both struggling against prejudice and their own concepts of who they are and what they’re prepared to do.

Gabriela builds the world skilfully and subtly but then thrusts you into a heart stopping finish. The last 15% of this book was v stressful but I did enjoy it.

featuring:

- unique fantasy races
- sapphic yearning
- untrustworthy allies who might be bad people but who definitely are hot
- many crimes and morally grey shenanigans
- kinda gory but beautiful

. Note to the reader: there’s a helpful glossary at the end! (This didn’t help with words I just didn’t know, like Marescent. If you didn’t know either, it means leaves that have dried up and withered still on the stem!)

Thank you netgalley and daphne press for a review copy!!
4.5⭐️
I was really impressed by this book, I didn’t really know what to expect when I started this books but I found it really interesting. It was quite slow at the start and at about 50% I was unsure about where the plot would go but the story flowed beautifully, it never felt jumpy or mismatched. This vivid world is inspired by South American history and folklore, Reina gets an invitation to meet her grandmother that she has never met before but when she gets attacked on the journey her life becomes dependent on being in her grandmothers good graces. Eva is an outcast in her family, shamed for her father heritage, she tries to be perfect to fit in with her family even though magic calls her. Overall this was an amazing fantasy book with lots of plot twists and beautiful writing, a must read new release for and fantasy lover!!

Gabriela Romero Lacruz's "The Sun and the Void" is a fascinating work of fiction set in a realm influenced by South American history and mythology. The protagonists of this narrative are two young ladies named Reina and Eva, who are each searching for their place in the world.

A young woman named Reina whose grandmother is a mysterious sorcerer receives an invitation to a party. Reina faces danger on her way to visit her grandma because of the animals who live there. Reina comes to rely on her grandmother's magic and the wishes of an old god who speaks to her in her sleep while her life hangs in the balance. Yet, Eva's mixed ancestry and lack of legitimacy make her unwelcome in her own family. She attempts to cover up her quirks, but the magic keeps drawing her back. Even though she understands that practising magic carries the death penalty, Eva can't resist the allure of it. Eva has become someone she could never have imagined as she goes down this perilous road.

The premise and characters are both well-developed enough to keep readers interested throughout the entire story. The South American history and folklore serve as inspiration for the expansive and detailed world-building. Through their respective trajectories, Reina and Eva shed light on questions of community, individuality, and authority.

In sum, "The Sun and the Void" is a superbly crafted fantasy tale that expertly interweaves themes of old magic, colonialism, and the struggles of two young women to find their place in the world. For those interested in epic fantasy and South American folklore, this is a must-read.

4/5 Stars from me.

***A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Yes yes yes! This was an absolutely phenomenal read that I adored every second of, with the best kind of representation.

I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK! It was so nice to see sappic latin representation! I need to go eat some Venezuelan food now! I would die for Reina! This is not a light hearted read by any means. It hurts. There is gore! And some pretty brutal scenes. The first one took me by surprise! Now excuse me while I take care of this book hangover.

This book does have some hard triggers such as rascism, slavery is mentioned, child death, assault, and emotional abuse!

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so far loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have believable voices. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.