Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Gallery / Saga Press (2020), Edition: 1st Edition, 464 pages
Description
"In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world. Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and is set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man's mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.A god will return when the earth and sky converge under the black sun in the holy city of Tova."--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member rivkat
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member adzebill
21st century high fantasy that ticked the diversity/inclusion boxes and was non-Eurocentric, and…just didn't grab me. My heart sank as the ending set up Book II. Ugh, I sound like a horrid reactionary, but this is the second recent prize-winning SF/F book set in a version of Mesoamerica, with
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sexually fluid female protagonists. This one also has a disabled lead character, and a non-binary character with x pronouns, and it's all FINE, yay casting off the shackles of Tolkien. But it's all so po-faced and earnest, not a single joke – like Tolkien – with explanatory notes pointing out how much research the writer did in depicting blind characters (although this one can see through the eyes of crows whenever the plot demands it, plus he has superpowers, so not all that hampered it turns out). Show Less
LibraryThing member juniperSun
Quite a few characters, places, and relationships are introduced in the first chapters, which is a little confusing. Fortunately, the chapter epigraphs give clues about the time sequence, and the main protagonists are given full lives in the subsequent book to help solidify their personalities.
This
The ending is a cliffhanger.
This
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tale is an interesting mix of magic and ancient cultures. While the top tier is busy with political intrigues, the everyday folk go about their lives with a standard amount of greed, lust, amusement, prejudice...i.e. people aren't any different than we encounter in our own lives. I do like how Serapio & Xiala's relationship is depicted.The ending is a cliffhanger.
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LibraryThing member Dokfintong
Again it is the plural POV that got to me. Ms Roanhorse smoothly manages to intertwine the first two, largely by carefully not alternating them, but letting the story push toward one voice or the other. I was very impressed with her skill. Then she introduced a third speaker that clanged like a
I received a review copy of "Black Sun" by Rebecca Roanhorse from Gallery Press through NetGalley.com.
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dropped tin plate, unnecessary and graceless. Good story but I stopped reading.I received a review copy of "Black Sun" by Rebecca Roanhorse from Gallery Press through NetGalley.com.
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LibraryThing member Allison_Krajewski
Rebecca Roanhorse has been on my radar for a while. I've been meaning to read Trail of Lightning since BookCon 2019 but haven't gotten around to it. When I saw Roanhorse was coming out with a fantasy novel set in the Pre-Columbian Americas, I was intrigued and excited.
Throughout the book, we follow
-Naranpa, the Sun Priest in the holy city of Tova.
-Serapio, "a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny."
-Xiala, "a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind."
-Okoa, a student who must travel home to bury his recently-deceased mother.
I thought the structure of the plot was really interesting. From page one, the chapters are counting down the days to the Convergence, or the winter solstice; while usually cause for celebration, this solstice also coincides with a solar eclipse, which is going to bring imbalance to Tova and to the world. We follow each of these characters - Naranpa in Tova; Serapio and Xiala on the seas as they journey toward Tova - as time inches closer and closer to the inevitable. This worked really well because each day that elapsed brought a greater sense of urgency and suspense, all ultimately leading to the chaos of the day of Convergence.
I also loved the characters themselves. They were complex and intricately wrought. I also loved the queer-norm world that Roanhorse built. Roanhorse treated each of the characters with respect, and I loved the inclusion, including the casual mention of f/f relationships and the use of nonbinary pronouns xe/xir for several characters.
I knew this was the start to a series, but I still can't get over that cliffhanger. I really can't wait for the release of the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Throughout the book, we follow
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four characters:-Naranpa, the Sun Priest in the holy city of Tova.
-Serapio, "a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny."
-Xiala, "a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind."
-Okoa, a student who must travel home to bury his recently-deceased mother.
I thought the structure of the plot was really interesting. From page one, the chapters are counting down the days to the Convergence, or the winter solstice; while usually cause for celebration, this solstice also coincides with a solar eclipse, which is going to bring imbalance to Tova and to the world. We follow each of these characters - Naranpa in Tova; Serapio and Xiala on the seas as they journey toward Tova - as time inches closer and closer to the inevitable. This worked really well because each day that elapsed brought a greater sense of urgency and suspense, all ultimately leading to the chaos of the day of Convergence.
I also loved the characters themselves. They were complex and intricately wrought. I also loved the queer-norm world that Roanhorse built. Roanhorse treated each of the characters with respect, and I loved the inclusion, including the casual mention of f/f relationships and the use of nonbinary pronouns xe/xir for several characters.
I knew this was the start to a series, but I still can't get over that cliffhanger. I really can't wait for the release of the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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LibraryThing member DidIReallyReadThat
This is one of the better fantasy books that I have read so far this year. Roanhorse blends fantasy, aboriginal traditions and pre-Columbian culture into a book that was hard to put down. Her characters are complex and the world she creates is well-developed. The pace of the book keeps moving as
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she leads us towards a solar eclipse where you know that something momentous will occur. My only nitpick is that the book ended right at a climax of which the outcomes won't be clear until the next book is out. Show Less
LibraryThing member Charliwriter
OMG!!!! I absolutely love this book! I want to know when the next book comes out. I have put in for this book several times and I am glad I received one and will also go out and purchase this book. I have to say, so far this year, this book is my favorite read. There was a bit of confusion in the
There are three main characters and stories in this book. I love all three and cannot pick which one I would consider my favorite. The author intertwines these characters with one another even when one does not realize this until the end. These three characters are well rounded and beautifully written. Each character has their flaws and I can see the growth in them as I got further to the end. I cannot wait to learn and see these characters again in the next book!
Serapio is the main character we are following. We learn from the first chapter, his destiny, which is to bring the Crow God alive and bring justice for the Crow Clan. He learns many ways to survive as a blind person to transition from boy to man, from man to god. It intertwines his destiny with the priesthood and the sun priest. You watch him grow as a character in the book.
Xiala is an interesting and for me the most mysterious out of our three characters. Her story is not fully revealed because I think there is more than what was told. She is an alcoholic captain and a teek, which seems to be a siren like character. In this book, the author intertwines her story with Serapio. She agrees to give him passage to Tova, not knowing who or what he is until halfway through the voyage. He intrigues Xiala and Xiala intrigues Serapio.
Naranpa is the last main character. She is the new sun priest and has ideas to change the priesthood for the good. Sadly, she came at a time where there was a lot on her shoulders. She is part of Serapio’s destiny. She is a noble character and someone you want to be on their side. I can feel she is a good person who wants to do great things for the people, but there are others who do not see her position as a good. Maybe she is my favorite.
What pulled me into this book is its mythology and world building. I felt the realism and was immediately sucked into this book. The different clans with their the old religious faiths battling the new beliefs of the priesthood are frankly no different from what has happened in this world. The old religious faith drew and created Serapio’s destiny.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology, dark fantasy, great world building and writing. I cannot wait till the next book comes out.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
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beginning on the book set up, but after finally getting it, I could not put this book down.There are three main characters and stories in this book. I love all three and cannot pick which one I would consider my favorite. The author intertwines these characters with one another even when one does not realize this until the end. These three characters are well rounded and beautifully written. Each character has their flaws and I can see the growth in them as I got further to the end. I cannot wait to learn and see these characters again in the next book!
Serapio is the main character we are following. We learn from the first chapter, his destiny, which is to bring the Crow God alive and bring justice for the Crow Clan. He learns many ways to survive as a blind person to transition from boy to man, from man to god. It intertwines his destiny with the priesthood and the sun priest. You watch him grow as a character in the book.
Xiala is an interesting and for me the most mysterious out of our three characters. Her story is not fully revealed because I think there is more than what was told. She is an alcoholic captain and a teek, which seems to be a siren like character. In this book, the author intertwines her story with Serapio. She agrees to give him passage to Tova, not knowing who or what he is until halfway through the voyage. He intrigues Xiala and Xiala intrigues Serapio.
Naranpa is the last main character. She is the new sun priest and has ideas to change the priesthood for the good. Sadly, she came at a time where there was a lot on her shoulders. She is part of Serapio’s destiny. She is a noble character and someone you want to be on their side. I can feel she is a good person who wants to do great things for the people, but there are others who do not see her position as a good. Maybe she is my favorite.
What pulled me into this book is its mythology and world building. I felt the realism and was immediately sucked into this book. The different clans with their the old religious faiths battling the new beliefs of the priesthood are frankly no different from what has happened in this world. The old religious faith drew and created Serapio’s destiny.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology, dark fantasy, great world building and writing. I cannot wait till the next book comes out.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
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LibraryThing member SpaceandSorcery
Thanks to the previous two books I read by Rebecca Roanhorse, both part of her Sixth World series, I had come to expect a good, absorbing story from her newest work, but Black Sun proved to be so much more than I had anticipated and it took me completely by surprise. An enthralling, delightful
Xiala is a mercenary sea captain and a Teek, which means she comes from a matriarchal seafaring society from which she was exiled after a tragic event: imprisoned after a violent altercation with her former employer and a drunken night on the town, she is released after accepting to transport a young man to the city of Tova in time for Convergence, the winter solstice that this year will also see the alignment of Earth, Sun and Moon. The passenger is Serapio, molded from infancy to be the vessel of a vengeful god and for this reason deeply scarred and blinded - but not helpless, not at all. Naranpa is the highest priest in the city of Tova, but her role is in constant jeopardy because of the inner political maneuvers inside the priesthood, and their inability to accept her humble origins. And then there is Okoa, son of the Carrion Crow clan’s matron: back in Tova from the military academy, he finds himself dealing with family problems and uneasy alliances.
The novel unfolds through time jumps that don’t feel at all confusing as they are wielded with great skill and keep adding new information to the very complex tapestry that is this story: seeing this world through the different points of view also confers great depth to it and its history, turning it into a vivid, three-dimensional creation that is very easy to slip into, just as it’s difficult to move out of, because it tends to entangle you into its awesome complexity. Moreover, the time jumps keep enhancing the sense of impending doom that becomes more and more palpable as the day of Convergence draws near.
The setting is indeed fascinating, not just because of the different locations visited as the characters engage in their travels, but because it’s created through a blend of vivid descriptions and fascinating legends that shape the world into something tangible and vibrant, gifted with a definite cinematic quality. If this is true for all descriptions in the novel, it is even more so where the city of Tova is concerned: a place of high peaks and deep chasms spanned by aerial bridges that can give you vertigo by proxy, a city teeming with life and at the same time rife with the danger of death, a death that can come through accidents - like slipping down an icy bridge into a bottomless ravine - or through malice - like being killed by a hired assassin or the member of a rival clan. There is a definite sense of urgency in Tovan day-to-day activities, be they the comfortable kind enjoyed by the elite or the hand-to-mouth existence of the dwellers in the Maw, the lowest level of the city where poverty, crime and the offer of illicit pleasures are a way of life. It does not take long for the reader to perceive that Tova is like a pressure cooker ready to explode, that social strain and the priesthood’s iron rule and inner conflicts, together with never-ending clan rivalries, are bringing that pressure to the boiling point: add to that the long-held thirst for revenge harbored by Carrion Crow for the Night of Knives, when the priesthood tried to exterminate the clan, and you know it’s all fated to end in blood.
In this tense but intriguing situation the characters shine and add a further level of allure to the story, even though Okoa is mostly kept on the sidelines in favor of the other three, with some hope he will play a bigger role as the story moves forward. Naranpa is the one who required more time for me to truly appreciate her, but I guess it was mostly because I was still orienting myself in this world: once I got to know her better I could only admire her tenacity in clinging to her exalted post, despite her own self-doubts and the insecurities carried over from an impoverished childhood. Nara, as she’s often called, does not care so much for power in itself or for politics, but rather for the good of the city: she understands that to bring peace and prosperity to Tova things have to change, and for that she is challenged every step of the way by her fellow priests, when she is not actually threatened with death. Nara’s journey throughout Black Sun is a hard one, and while many times I felt frustrated in witnessing the obstacles she had to face, I cannot wait to see what Rebecca Roanhorse has in store for her along the way.
If Nara is an outsider with little chances of ever blending in, Xiala and Serapio are just as isolated, even though in different ways. I liked Xiala from the very beginning: her personality is a mix of defiance and vulnerability, accentuated by the way people relate to her as a Teek, a woman whose mysterious Song can placate stormy waters, call favorable winds and keep at bay dangerous creatures. For this reason Teeks are highly sought after, but at the same time despised and feared, and even killed for their precious bones gifted with magical properties: all this comes to the fore in the course of the sea voyage to Tova, when Xiala shows a very peculiar talent and the crew mutinies out of fear. It’s therefore not surprising when she forms a bond with Serapio, an outcast like herself, and that they can understand each other on a deeper level, as shown by the exchange of stories and myths during the long nights over the sea.
Serapio might very well be the central character here, a sort of anti-hero who is at the same time powerful and vulnerable: shaped from childhood to be an instrument of vengeance, leading a loveless life as he was being molded into the desired weapon, he nonetheless shows a form of quiet humanity, a sort of sad gentleness that managed to break my heart, particularly when he contemplates what will be his ultimate destiny,
[he] hoped that the pain would not be too great. He had made friends with it, yes, but it was a wary friendship.
a destiny he did not choose himself but at the same time one he has accepted as the only possible one. The author describes his journey in such a way that even as he fulfills his preordained role in a frenzied dance of violence and blood I could not help myself and felt only pity for him.
When all is said and done, Black Sun will certainly attract you because of the exotic background that sets it apart from the usual epic fantasy offerings, but it’s through the strength and human depth of its characters that it will keep you coming back for more.
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surprise. Set in a world that takes inspiration from pre-colombian cultures and then adds many original details, combining them into a fascinating, complex background, Black Sun follows the journey of four main characters destined to converge in the city of Tova on a very special day, as yearly festivities and an ominous prophecy will merge with unpredictable results.Xiala is a mercenary sea captain and a Teek, which means she comes from a matriarchal seafaring society from which she was exiled after a tragic event: imprisoned after a violent altercation with her former employer and a drunken night on the town, she is released after accepting to transport a young man to the city of Tova in time for Convergence, the winter solstice that this year will also see the alignment of Earth, Sun and Moon. The passenger is Serapio, molded from infancy to be the vessel of a vengeful god and for this reason deeply scarred and blinded - but not helpless, not at all. Naranpa is the highest priest in the city of Tova, but her role is in constant jeopardy because of the inner political maneuvers inside the priesthood, and their inability to accept her humble origins. And then there is Okoa, son of the Carrion Crow clan’s matron: back in Tova from the military academy, he finds himself dealing with family problems and uneasy alliances.
The novel unfolds through time jumps that don’t feel at all confusing as they are wielded with great skill and keep adding new information to the very complex tapestry that is this story: seeing this world through the different points of view also confers great depth to it and its history, turning it into a vivid, three-dimensional creation that is very easy to slip into, just as it’s difficult to move out of, because it tends to entangle you into its awesome complexity. Moreover, the time jumps keep enhancing the sense of impending doom that becomes more and more palpable as the day of Convergence draws near.
The setting is indeed fascinating, not just because of the different locations visited as the characters engage in their travels, but because it’s created through a blend of vivid descriptions and fascinating legends that shape the world into something tangible and vibrant, gifted with a definite cinematic quality. If this is true for all descriptions in the novel, it is even more so where the city of Tova is concerned: a place of high peaks and deep chasms spanned by aerial bridges that can give you vertigo by proxy, a city teeming with life and at the same time rife with the danger of death, a death that can come through accidents - like slipping down an icy bridge into a bottomless ravine - or through malice - like being killed by a hired assassin or the member of a rival clan. There is a definite sense of urgency in Tovan day-to-day activities, be they the comfortable kind enjoyed by the elite or the hand-to-mouth existence of the dwellers in the Maw, the lowest level of the city where poverty, crime and the offer of illicit pleasures are a way of life. It does not take long for the reader to perceive that Tova is like a pressure cooker ready to explode, that social strain and the priesthood’s iron rule and inner conflicts, together with never-ending clan rivalries, are bringing that pressure to the boiling point: add to that the long-held thirst for revenge harbored by Carrion Crow for the Night of Knives, when the priesthood tried to exterminate the clan, and you know it’s all fated to end in blood.
In this tense but intriguing situation the characters shine and add a further level of allure to the story, even though Okoa is mostly kept on the sidelines in favor of the other three, with some hope he will play a bigger role as the story moves forward. Naranpa is the one who required more time for me to truly appreciate her, but I guess it was mostly because I was still orienting myself in this world: once I got to know her better I could only admire her tenacity in clinging to her exalted post, despite her own self-doubts and the insecurities carried over from an impoverished childhood. Nara, as she’s often called, does not care so much for power in itself or for politics, but rather for the good of the city: she understands that to bring peace and prosperity to Tova things have to change, and for that she is challenged every step of the way by her fellow priests, when she is not actually threatened with death. Nara’s journey throughout Black Sun is a hard one, and while many times I felt frustrated in witnessing the obstacles she had to face, I cannot wait to see what Rebecca Roanhorse has in store for her along the way.
If Nara is an outsider with little chances of ever blending in, Xiala and Serapio are just as isolated, even though in different ways. I liked Xiala from the very beginning: her personality is a mix of defiance and vulnerability, accentuated by the way people relate to her as a Teek, a woman whose mysterious Song can placate stormy waters, call favorable winds and keep at bay dangerous creatures. For this reason Teeks are highly sought after, but at the same time despised and feared, and even killed for their precious bones gifted with magical properties: all this comes to the fore in the course of the sea voyage to Tova, when Xiala shows a very peculiar talent and the crew mutinies out of fear. It’s therefore not surprising when she forms a bond with Serapio, an outcast like herself, and that they can understand each other on a deeper level, as shown by the exchange of stories and myths during the long nights over the sea.
Serapio might very well be the central character here, a sort of anti-hero who is at the same time powerful and vulnerable: shaped from childhood to be an instrument of vengeance, leading a loveless life as he was being molded into the desired weapon, he nonetheless shows a form of quiet humanity, a sort of sad gentleness that managed to break my heart, particularly when he contemplates what will be his ultimate destiny,
[he] hoped that the pain would not be too great. He had made friends with it, yes, but it was a wary friendship.
a destiny he did not choose himself but at the same time one he has accepted as the only possible one. The author describes his journey in such a way that even as he fulfills his preordained role in a frenzied dance of violence and blood I could not help myself and felt only pity for him.
When all is said and done, Black Sun will certainly attract you because of the exotic background that sets it apart from the usual epic fantasy offerings, but it’s through the strength and human depth of its characters that it will keep you coming back for more.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Serapio has been made into a vessel for the Crow God. Xiala is a Teek captain, feared, alcoholic and bisexual, who is brought out of prison by a rich lord to bring a mysterious passenger to Tova. And in the city of Tova, Narapa is a young sun priest who is determined to lift the priesthood's
These three young people's lives converge in this story, a highly inventive epic fantasy with pre-Columbian cultural influences. It's a little on the dark side, and can get violent, including a tough scene right from the get-go in the prologue. But the world-building and characters are fantastic, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
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prestige, but do so for good.These three young people's lives converge in this story, a highly inventive epic fantasy with pre-Columbian cultural influences. It's a little on the dark side, and can get violent, including a tough scene right from the get-go in the prologue. But the world-building and characters are fantastic, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
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LibraryThing member KittyCunningham
This damn thing is a cliffhanger.
LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
That was SO GOOD. So good. The characters, the world building, the plot, the multiple POVs. I was intimidated at first by the length, epic fantasy status, and multitude of characters, but none of that mattered as soon as I read the first page. Now I'm just mad that I can't immediately pick up the
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next installment. I cannot bear the wait! Show Less
LibraryThing member lavaturtle
I loved the setting of this book, with the rich geography and different peoples and magics. All three of the POV characters are super compelling, and I look forward to finding out what happens next!
LibraryThing member Shrike58
At the time this novel was announced my honest reaction was should I even care. For me, there was sufficient diminishing returns between "Trail of Lightning" and "Storm of Locusts" that a new novel by Roanhorse did not peak my interest, considering the constant onslaught of new books that one has
So then, what one has here is a major advance in the author's craft and I really liked it. What Roanhorse really has going for her is the ability to come up with compelling POV characters and Naranpa (a senior cleric trying to reform her order), Xiala (a sea captain given an offer they can't refuse), Serapio (destined from birth to be the avatar of a god) are good ones. I had also been a little bit dubious about the mix of cultures that Roanhorse talked about using in this book, but she does a good job of filing off the serial numbers and making those influences her own. The result being that I'm really looking forward to the second book.
What, if anything, would I mark down this novel for? Very little actually. The effort of Xiala to get Serapio to a given city in a fixed span of time, as a means of building suspense, seemed a little contrived. Also, not really a fault, but the first chapter should come with a fistful of trigger warnings, and I suspect that a lot of readers are going to put down the book and not continue right after that. Then again, the level of violence George R.R. Martin has/had (presuming we ever see the concluding books) deployed in "A Song of Fire and Ice" hasn't hurt his bank account.
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to read. I figured that the only reason I was going to give it a try is if it made the cut for one of the major awards.So then, what one has here is a major advance in the author's craft and I really liked it. What Roanhorse really has going for her is the ability to come up with compelling POV characters and Naranpa (a senior cleric trying to reform her order), Xiala (a sea captain given an offer they can't refuse), Serapio (destined from birth to be the avatar of a god) are good ones. I had also been a little bit dubious about the mix of cultures that Roanhorse talked about using in this book, but she does a good job of filing off the serial numbers and making those influences her own. The result being that I'm really looking forward to the second book.
What, if anything, would I mark down this novel for? Very little actually. The effort of Xiala to get Serapio to a given city in a fixed span of time, as a means of building suspense, seemed a little contrived. Also, not really a fault, but the first chapter should come with a fistful of trigger warnings, and I suspect that a lot of readers are going to put down the book and not continue right after that. Then again, the level of violence George R.R. Martin has/had (presuming we ever see the concluding books) deployed in "A Song of Fire and Ice" hasn't hurt his bank account.
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LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
I'm pleased that so many authors are moving away from Euro-centric fantasy. I don't have a problem with the Euro/Celtic works, but it's nice to read stories based on more diverse cultures. There's Xiala, a sea captain of the Teek race, Narapa, the Sun priest who is an exception to the rule of
The author does a nice job in world-building and describing her settings. Her characters are different and mostly compelling; Okoa gets short shrift in this volume but I expect we may see more of him in the next book. I'm definitely hooked and have already pre-ordered Fevered Star.
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class, Serapio, a young man maimed to become a god, and Okoa, the Shield of the matron of the Crow clan. The author slips between these four POVs to provide different aspects of this enthralling book based on pre-Columbian Central America. The author does a nice job in world-building and describing her settings. Her characters are different and mostly compelling; Okoa gets short shrift in this volume but I expect we may see more of him in the next book. I'm definitely hooked and have already pre-ordered Fevered Star.
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LibraryThing member eas7788
A very interesting world and characters. The political storyline wasn’t as innovative. I liked that Serapio was a villain/hero. Hope next book deepens the characterization.
LibraryThing member electrascaife
Follows several characters - a sun priest with a shaky hold on her power, a sailor with hidden magic, a warrior mourning his mother's death/possible murder, and a young man who has been groomed as a vessel for a god - as they all make their way to the same city at the time of a significant solar
This one started out a little slow for me, but that tends to be the case when I listen to fantasy novels. Once the groundwork was taken care of, though, and the story started in earnest, it became much more interesting and I enjoyed the story and how it was told. My one quibble is that there are a couple of nonbinary characters, which is great, but it felt tacked on for good measure instead of being made a meaningful part of the story; both characters are, at least in this first book of the series, sideline characters, and so it's hard not to think that they're included just for the show of the thing, to give the feel of inclusivity without the actual work of such. Roanhorse makes a show of using a different set of pronouns (xe/xir) for these two characters as well, and again, it's great that there is more and more representation in fiction like this, but it felt performative more than meaningful. Part of that is very possibly because the narrators tended to put too much emphasis on those pronouns, when pronouns, when people speak normally, are very much non-emphatic. Think of a sentence like, "She tied her shoes" and think about where the stress goes. It's certainly not on the "she" and the "her," but in this recording, the corresponding pronouns were always too stressed, which made such sentences sound like, "SHE tied HER shoes," which was incredibly distracting and more than a little annoying, to be honest. Anyway, it very well could be the case that all that performative flavor comes from the less-than-stellar recording, although I do wish Roanhorse had done more with those characters, and hopefully she will in the rest of the series. Am I fixating on this too much? Possibly. I will say that the rest of the story is pretty good, even if the ending didn't leave me completely on the edge of my seat for the next one.
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eclipse and as their stories all collide.This one started out a little slow for me, but that tends to be the case when I listen to fantasy novels. Once the groundwork was taken care of, though, and the story started in earnest, it became much more interesting and I enjoyed the story and how it was told. My one quibble is that there are a couple of nonbinary characters, which is great, but it felt tacked on for good measure instead of being made a meaningful part of the story; both characters are, at least in this first book of the series, sideline characters, and so it's hard not to think that they're included just for the show of the thing, to give the feel of inclusivity without the actual work of such. Roanhorse makes a show of using a different set of pronouns (xe/xir) for these two characters as well, and again, it's great that there is more and more representation in fiction like this, but it felt performative more than meaningful. Part of that is very possibly because the narrators tended to put too much emphasis on those pronouns, when pronouns, when people speak normally, are very much non-emphatic. Think of a sentence like, "She tied her shoes" and think about where the stress goes. It's certainly not on the "she" and the "her," but in this recording, the corresponding pronouns were always too stressed, which made such sentences sound like, "SHE tied HER shoes," which was incredibly distracting and more than a little annoying, to be honest. Anyway, it very well could be the case that all that performative flavor comes from the less-than-stellar recording, although I do wish Roanhorse had done more with those characters, and hopefully she will in the rest of the series. Am I fixating on this too much? Possibly. I will say that the rest of the story is pretty good, even if the ending didn't leave me completely on the edge of my seat for the next one.
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LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
This is a sprawling, powerful read, and I'm glad to have discovered the author. Roanhorse's prose is gorgeous, and the blending of fantasy with concrete reality here is masterful in every detail, from textures and nature down to human nature and prejudices. It did take me some time to get into the
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book for the same reason that this ended up being a slightly uneven read for me--I found two of the POV characters' stories and voices incredibly compelling. The third, though, introduced the reader to so many different characters and cultural details, I found that that particular POV character's sections felt more like work and simply weren't as enjoyable. I suspect that if I'd been given more time to get to know that character, rather than learning so much through her, this would have been a five-star read for me, but as it was, those sections did make the read rather uneven for me. That said, I think I will probably pick up the next book in the series, and I'll certainly pick up more of Roanhorse's work. Show Less
LibraryThing member yvesapples
Beautifully written, descriptive but not too much. Listened to the audio book, narraters did a brilliant job. So many characters which I was a bit wary of at first but the narraters gave you a sense of each one making it easy to follow. Looking forward to the next book in the series and the further
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development of these amazing characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
I love that we are getting more Fantasy stories set in different cultures other than just Western European. The author already showed her skill using Navajo myths in her Sixth World books and now takes us to Pre-Columbian America in the first book of her new trilogy. Expertly weaving multiple POVs
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while moving back and forth in time, she is able to build characters that we instantly fall in love with and genuinely care about what happens to them. She is also brings alive the world they live in without ever bogging us down with too much detail. Then she leaves us with that ending that makes you want to scream when you realize you now have to wait a long time until book 2 to find out what happens next! Librarians take note--this is a book any Fantasy fan would love and a great title to give to someone looking to try a book in the genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
It's not enough to want to write something different, it should b be different to some point. The characters are interesting enough and the world building is decorative but not quite convincing. This doesn't set up to be a good against evil scenario, more like rebound by one viciously murderous
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cabal against a barely in living memory atrocity, the motive for the severity of which isn't even hinted at. Also people playing politics while the house burns, like we need more of that. Show Less
LibraryThing member BethYacoub
I tried reading this book many times and just couldn't get into it. I then bought it on Audible hoping that listening to it would rectify some of the pacing problems I was having... my go to remedy when a physical novel is giving me some difficulties BUT no luck. I returned the audiobook unfinished
*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
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which is something just not done en mi casa but I think that speaks to how poorly we vibed. This book is getting rave reviews. I read a review that went so far as to call this Mrs Roanhorse's Magnum Opus... I didn't get that AT ALL. Now, maybe it is a me thing (quite possible), maybe I'm in the wrong headspace for this book right now but I tried it on 2 different platforms and I just couldn't see it through... a travesty but unavoidable. *** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
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LibraryThing member Arkrayder
Interesting read. A fantasy tale based on the Maya and Aztecs. I don’t know of any other fantasy story’s based on those two cultures. The characters are fairly fleshed out and the story builds to a climactic ending and delivers that ending. I hope the series continues to be worth reading.
LibraryThing member jshillingford
This is one of those books that stays with you long after the last page. The worldbuilding is incredible - so good you can almost smell the incense and hear the caw of crows. The author's Native American heritage is strongly felt, weaving a rich tapestry that is familiar but also fresh and unique
Black Sun opens with a mother blinding her own son in a dark ritual before hurling herself off a balcony. It is a shocking and disturbing introduction to Sarapio, a man bred to be the vessel for vengeance upon the ruling Priests of Tova, whose order is responsible for a heinous crime against his mother's people.
The book alternates between events in the city of Tova, where low born Nara has risen to become Sun Priest, Sarapio's childhood, trained by tutors chosen by his mother, and the Teek sailor Xialla, who has power to sing the sea to aid her. Xialla is by far the most compelling character. Sarapio is shrouded in mystery; Nara is too naive to be believable, but Xialla feels real.
I'm not a fan of the story structure: skipping back and forth through time weakens character development. But the worldbuilding was so well done it carried the novel until the three protagonists converged toward the end. By then, I cared about them. I am eager for the sequel.
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in fantasy.Black Sun opens with a mother blinding her own son in a dark ritual before hurling herself off a balcony. It is a shocking and disturbing introduction to Sarapio, a man bred to be the vessel for vengeance upon the ruling Priests of Tova, whose order is responsible for a heinous crime against his mother's people.
The book alternates between events in the city of Tova, where low born Nara has risen to become Sun Priest, Sarapio's childhood, trained by tutors chosen by his mother, and the Teek sailor Xialla, who has power to sing the sea to aid her. Xialla is by far the most compelling character. Sarapio is shrouded in mystery; Nara is too naive to be believable, but Xialla feels real.
I'm not a fan of the story structure: skipping back and forth through time weakens character development. But the worldbuilding was so well done it carried the novel until the three protagonists converged toward the end. By then, I cared about them. I am eager for the sequel.
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LibraryThing member rdwhitenack
Really not a fan. Supposed to be an adult book that appeals to YA, but it had more the form of a YA book with overwrought, pre-scripted, over-celebrated violence (with one sex scene and discussions of sex). The author also had a non-binary character known for her strength throughout the entire
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book, and referred to with non-gendered pronouns but then at the end as this character was dying the author used female pronouns to identify her. Was that purposeful, and why? The book was sort of a slog that lacked action, and when action did exist the problems were solved by use of convenient magic that often had no further reoccurrence in the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member JohnFromGR
I really liked this book. Until now I had not read a fantasy story - or indeed any fiction at all, that I recall, that was centered in pre-colonial America. The characters are vivid and immediately interesting, the descriptions are both grand and intimate. Roanhorse writes very well and I look
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forward to reading the sequel, Fevered Star. Show Less
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2021)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 2020)
Lambda Literary Award (Finalist — 2021)
Alex Award (2021)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2021)
Chesley Award (Nominee — 2021)
Ignyte Award (Shortlist — 2021)
Reading the West Book Award (Winner — Fiction — 2021)
Dragon Award (Finalist — Science Fiction Novel — 2021)
NPR: Books We Love (2020)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2020)
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — October 2020)
Language
Original language
English