An interesting fantasy, but far too long!

I liked the world and the characters seemed cool, but the writing and pacing really let this book down. The girls felt interchangeable and didn't have a very distinct voice. I did like the way the story began, but it immediately lost momentum, and I found it hard to continue reading.

Overall, not one I'm inclined to recommend unless you don't mind slow plots and pacing, with a slow burn romance. Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!

3.5 ⭐'s

Unfortunately I was left wanting more from this book.

Firstly, I want to say how much I loved the writing style and concept of this book! The South American inspired world and their cultures was beautifully done and explained with great care. This world was super easy to picture due to detailed explanations and I loved the political aspects and the show of how colonialism affected this world.

One thing that I really struggled with was the pace of this book. For the first 30% it was just super over explained and I was really eager for the gods to get more involved. I struggled to want to pick this book up, although when I did I enjoyed the writing. From page 400 onward I really enjoyed the pace, I just don't think this book needed to be 530 pages long.

I enjoyed the dual POV, although I wasn't totally invested in either Reina or Eva. The characters were quite similar so didn't give two massively diverse stories. Overall, my favourite character was Javier, because at least he knew that he sucked and was somewhat trying to change for the better.

Overall if you want a book with a rich South American influence and don't mind a slow paced read then then this one might be for you.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC to review.

I continue to really love and cheer on increasing the number of titles that are steeped in Non-Western mythologies. It’s so great, to be able to dip your toes into something you know less about, have a wondrous sense of the discovery of the world as well as the story. From that perspective, this is a great addition to the shelves. However to be truthful it does have some drawbacks of a debut, namely:it would have benefitted from tighter pacing, and a stricter editorial hand, for things like allocating POV chapters equivalent screentime. It is also rather lengthy, which I think does not always match the needs of the story. But overall - an interesting read. Thank you yo Netgalley and Daphne press for an early copy of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Daphne Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just a warning - This review will feature heavy spoilers!

I really struggled with this one. When I read the blurb I thought it sounded amazing, a Sapphic South American inspired fantasy with unique magic – yes please! What started out as quite promising soon became dense and heavy with world building that had little to no context alongside it. I was so confused as to what was going on, I had to go back and re-read chapters because I thought I had missed something. I hadn’t - it just wasn’t there.
What I did enjoy was the setting and the dark sinister magic that was being revealed. Eva’s chapters in particular were disturbing (the snake!) and I loved it. Doña Ursalina was a fantastic villain, who I genuinely hated throughout most of the book.

I had two main obstacles with this book however. To start with, we have two main characters Reina & Eva. But the chapters mainly focus on Reina’s plotline and every so often we get thrown Eva’s POV. If we are going to have two POV’s – can we have it split somewhat evenly? I will also note here that those expecting a sweeping Sapphic romance will be a little disappointed. It is very light on any romance until the last maybe 10%. It’s more unrequited pining than anything else.

The second problem was the pacing. It was all over the place. It starts off extremely slowly, but then we’ll suddenly leap a year into the future with no explanation or warning. For example in one chapter it is suggested that Doña Laurel is pregnant, then in the next chapter she’s eating dinner cradling her 40 weeks bump and then goes into ‘early labour’ (40 weeks is not early labour fyi – that’s full term and right on time).

There’s another instance later on in the book where we have two separate pairs travelling to the same spot from various parts of the land. Somehow they all arrive at the exact same time and then all travel to another part of the land in less than a day, by foot? (my copy did not come with a map - so maybe this is possible?)

This book desperately needed another round of edits in my opinion to make everything cohesive and understandable. The Sun & The Void had huge potential, but ultimately I felt a bit let down.

3 stars

Reina, now an orphan and no family close to turn to, answers the invitation of an estranged aunt to come visit. On the way she encounters near death and is found in the nick of time by the family her aunt works for. From there she’s given a new lease of life and a temporary heart which will either help her survive or kill her quickly.

To gain the trust and help of her aunt and the rich family she lives with she has to embark on a treacherous and challenging journey which will make her question everything she’s ever known and bring out something in her she never knew existed.

Eva is her familys shame, a mixed heritage illegitimate child who tries to be the perfect lady they desperately train her to be. But magic calls to her, the magic she’s always told is the sign of the dark God. I loved how Eva and Reinas paths merged and how they became allies towards the end.

That ending though?!! I have to have the second book!!

This is a brilliant new fantasy with immense world building, character development and a beautiful back drop based on South American folklore. If you’re in the market for something to get you over your Fourth Wing slump then pick this up now!! I can’t wait to read more from this author and I can’t thank @blackcrow_pr and @daphne_press anymore for sending me a stunning arc to read and review!

This had me hooked from page one. The world building is truly wonderful and full of well established complexities which add depth the to plot.
Many of the characters could be described as beautifully morally grey with understandable motivations behind their actions.
The descriptive language within this book is evocative and enjoyable to read.
Overall this book is powerful and emotional and thoroughly engaging. I would recommend this to lovers of fantasty

First, let's start with the content warnings of all kinds. There's assaults, child death, kidnappings, familial abuse, murder. The list could actually go on. This is all to say, I don't care who tries in the future to shelve this as YA, it most certainly is not. This is a magical story for the adults in the world that need South American inspired cast and world of fantasy.

Our main characters are Reina, Eva, Maior, Javier and Celeste. There are some pretty major secondary characters, like Doña Ursulina, who is awful and deserved her ending. I might also want to slap Doña Antonia but that's my own baggage.

This world has a rich history we get glimpses of throughout and you can see where it took some inspiration from South American history. Love that sort of thing personally. Within all the politics, there is a magic system that is almost somewhere between half intuitive and half learnt. Our Valco characters can see strains of magic, the nozaerials possibly can? It looks like humans can learn if Doña Ursulina and Maior are anything to go by. Certainly, anyone can learn the different strains but some characters have an innate connection to some of it. That made things really interesting. Also what was interesting was the taboo nature of the pre-colonised religion, geomancia. Again, you can see where Lacruz was taking from history and weaving it into a story beautifully.

It's not all dark, gloomy, content warnings. This is absolutely a found family book and what a found family it ends up being. I seriously hope this is not a standalone, (minimal spoiler - especially because I need to know what's going on with Eva and Javier next. Mainly Eva. But sure, Javier too.). So you have a found family of just immensely strong women, in power and in their determination for themselves. We need more of it and I am here for it.

Finally, while a lot of people have commented on the pacing, I actually didn't find that to be an issue. The whole narrative felt almost like a campfire retelling and that's not a voice a lot of books have. I felt a 'come sit around the fire, children, and I will tell you about these gods.' throughout the story. If Lacruz ever does do a live reading event, I would strongly suggest campfires are involved as a result.

I loved the sound of this book, and it was an interesting read. The magic system was fascinating, and the diverse characters, cultural differences, and attitudes to each other were relatable.

I think what let it down, for me, was the length. I found it a bit repetitive at times, and I tended to skip over bits that didn't move the story forward. Apart from that, it was an enjoyable read, with a great ending. I would recommend it for lovers of fantasy books with diverse characters and cultures.

Thank you Daphne Press and NetGalley for the arc of The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The Sun and the Void is an epic fantasy that establishes a world of political and colonial themes crossed with Latin American mythology and folklore. Race is a key theme addressed through the treatment of Humans, Nazariels and Valcos, and their treatment and mistreatment of one another.

The magic system is another strong piece of the puzzle that is this book - Geomancia is a magic system derived from a folklore base, with gods, Demi gods and core materials that can be used to protect, curse or destroy. It is a fascinating system that truly captured my imagination.

From a character perspective, Eva and Reina are both interesting protagonists, each having a lot in common with the other, and the supporting cast of characters is strong, diverse and interesting.

If you are looking for a book that does ves straight into the action, you may find this book a little difficult, as the initial pace is not fast paced but, more measured, establishing the works building, and the cultural and religious background of the novel.

Overall this is a strong debut that sets the premise for an interesting series.

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz take us to the fictional word inspired by South American folklore. This book includes a sapphic romance and a unique point of view on magic.

The pacing of the book did not suit me. Sometimes it was more descriptive or confusing - too much information at once. Some of those parts were not necessary. I did not befriend the characters and often they did not feel realistic to me.

That is the reason I give a 3* to this book. But I truly believe someone else will absolutely adore this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for an eARC!

This book was not if for me. The plot moved at the slowest pace possible, and by the time I hit the 20% mark, I still couldn’t tell if the inciting incident had happened yet. Both the characters read far too similar for my personal liking, and there was no difference or uniqueness in their narrative voice that made me able to differentiate their POV’s. I really think this book could’ve done with a second round of editing, as the descriptions were ridiculously long. Each character had their looks and outfits elaborately described, only for me to forget by the next paragraph. The worldbuilding was very poorly done, with the first quarter being pure info-dumping. Genuinely devastated by this review, as this book was so high on my TBR this year.

I was really looking forward to reading this book but I found it so long winded. The world building was good and I loved the main characters but the story was so repetitive and I soon lost interest. I did finish this book but it was a struggle. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for this eARC

Sun and the void is an epic fantasy story, the book for me was well written and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the development. The world building was just spectacular, the richly immense description created such a vivid image whilst reading. The characters too are created with such details the only downside for me was the female characters seemed to be portrayed weaker than the male counterparts. However that said it did not take away from the story.
This novel is chunky and the pacing is on the slow side, but since this is the start of the series I felt that it established the world building. The ending leaves open to the next book and I can not wait to read it

Thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I would say I have mixed feelings about ’The Sun and the Void’ as there were parts which were very interesting but the parts that lack lowered my rating for this book.

I would say that the strongest part of this book was the background and the big political themes. I like the way that colonial and racial concepts were treated in this novel through the novel’s own interesting set of species: Nozariels and Valcos and the relationships they had with each other, and humans throughout the history of the novel. I also enjoyed the magic system as geomancia is not one I have encountered in a fantasy novel before. South American Folklore also made the novel very intriguing to me as it’s a completely different setting from most fantasy novels, and I was interested in this new setting.

The biggest issue I had with this novel would be the pacing. The first half was especially slow, and at times I would struggle to read through as I felt like nothing was happening. This was disappointing as I felt as if the premise had a lot of potential, with all the exposition on South American folklore, and the cultural and religious background of the novel. Still, I felt as if the narrative was too slow to enjoy.

I enjoyed Reina as a protagonist for the most part, but I still felt as if I was more interested in the side characters than her. The other main character, Eva felt way too similar to Reina for me to really enjoy her, and I was confused about her role in the novel until much later in the text.

The pacing does pick up around the last 25% of the novel, but as for most of the text I was struggling to get through I would have to rate this 2.5 stars.

Wow what a great read. Something completely different to anything I’ve read before. I have to say I really,really enjoyed the characters and the entire story

The writing in this story is absolutely beautiful, and nothing I can say about it will do it justice. The descriptions of the settings felt like I was physically stepping into the world of the book.

Despite feeling like she doesn't belong, Eva is a very strong and formidable person. She tries to keep safe in a world where magic is forbidden, even though her magic is calling her. The magic system itself is very interesting and cleverly created as well, and I loved the inclusion of sapphic relationships.

After the opening, the first 30% is a bit slow as the world is being created and crucial information is being relayed. It picks up after this, but the pacing still felt a bit off at times.

Overall, I think this was a great debut and I can't wait to read the next one.

"In a lush world inspired by the history and folklore of South America, a sweeping epic fantasy of colonialism, ancient magic, and two young women's quest for belonging unfolds."

Reina, living on society's fringes, is desperate. Answering her grandmother's long-lost invitation, she embarks on a treacherous journey. Attacked by menacing creatures, Reina is saved by her dark sorceress grandmother, becoming dependent on her magic to survive. Caught in the whispers of an ancient god, Reina's path takes an unexpected turn.

Eva Kesare, illegitimate and shunned due to her mixed heritage, carries a burden of shame. Striving for perfection while concealing her magical abilities becomes increasingly challenging. Although magic is forbidden and punishable by death, Eva can no longer resist its call. She's treading a perilous path that will transform her in unimaginable ways.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I was so chuffed when I got a copy. 


There were lots of elements I adored: the magic system reminiscent of books like the Mistborn series with the coveted Iridio, the fractured family dynamics, and the thought-provoking colonialist parallels- again remind me of the Mistborn series.

The vivid descriptions of the world and South American folklore were enchanting and have sent me on a deep dive for more.

The writing is lush and beautiful, and the characters hold immense potential. However, I yearned for more of Rosa and Ursalina, each for very different reasons.

Additionally, the intriguing species introduced in the plot left me craving further exploration. The oppression faced by these diverse species was undoubtedly significant, but I couldn't help but wonder if there is more to the enigmatic Nozariels that we'll uncover.

The inclusion of sapphic relationships and the pining were aspects I adored.

But, I struggled the initial 30-40% of the book was really slow following an intense and action-packed opening it ground to a halt. I love extensive world-building and information dumping, but I felt that the book could have been shorter by around 30% without compromising the reading experience.

If not for Buddy reading this one I might have considered giving up. I’m glad I didn’t…

Fortunately, the story gained momentum and provided action, captivating lore, and an excellent foundation for the upcoming trilogy.

Nevertheless, even in the later stages, the pacing faltered again and hindered the overall flow. Despite this, I am committed to picking up the second book in the trilogy. The elements I adored, coupled with the questions I’m left with, are more than enough for me to continue the journey.

I do hope the next book focusses on the pacing concerns and please give me more, go deeper on the Gods, the species, and tI don’t think we’ve seen the end of some of the characters. 
I would rate "The Sun and the Void" 3.5 stars. While it had so many elementsI loved , the initial part of the book proved challenging and it felt at times like I was reading two books at the same time. Nonetheless, I am optimistic about the series and eager to see where the story goes.

3.5/5

I felt really disappointed by this book. I wanted it to feel fresh and a big F U to colonialism, but I just got "eh" instead.

The Sun and the Void is a fantasy adventure, based on Latine folklore. There is a good host of morally grey heroes, which would appeal to fans of Ninth House, The Cruel Prince, and probably Gild. The fantasy world is very lavish, and the characters have quite a bit of diversity to create appeal to any reader.

Overall, my thoughts were quite mixed. The world-building was brilliant, the overall plot was good, and the characters entertaining, I think the book could have benefits with some alteration to the pacing, as it felt very action heavy in the last 50, or so, pages.

However, the book is very impressive, have content not really written about before, and I look forward to seeing what Lacruz writes in the future.

Rating: 3.5/5

This book gave me mixed feelings, so I’ll start with the good: the overall worldbuilding. I’m not one to be scared by stuffy lore, so I enjoyed being thrown right into the details of the world. Seeing a fantasy world inspired by South American culture is a breath of fresh air. The lore is quite complex, and we get a map, a timeline of events, a glossary and a guide to the magic system, basically everything needed for an immersive experience into a fictional world.

The neutral: the characters. I have this thing where, in every book I read, I get attached to the side characters instead of the main characters I’m supposed to root for, and The Sun and The Void was no exception. It didn’t help that, for the bigger part of the story, Reina and Eva were mere puppets controlled by the other characters, and I ended up being more interested in characters like Rosa or Ursulina. It’s my firm belief that this book would have benefitted from an ensemble cast instead of having just two protagonists.
The part I was most dissatisfied with were the relationships between characters, especially the romantic ones, that felt hollow and clearly suffered from an acute case of “tell instead of show”

Now for the bad, with my biggest complaint being that It.Was.Waay.Tooo.Looong. Combined with the uneven pacing this book suffers from, it took me longer than anticipated to go through it. We’re thrown into the plot right in the first chapter, only for it to become secondary to descriptions and infodump until almost 35%into the book. Don’t get me wrong,like I said, I do love this kind of dense lore in books, but there’s a fine line between weaving plot and worldbuilding together and all infodump, no plot and sadly, this book has crossed the line into the latter’s territory.

All in all, I enjoyed this book even though it took me a long time to get through it, and will definitely read the sequel. It’s a nice debut, and I do recommend it; even if it’s a slow story,in the end, it deserves to be read all the way through.