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avacadosocks's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Grief, and Gore
Minor: Sexual content
salemander's review
5.0
god i love a well made fantasy world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Grief, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
As a second book in a trilogy, Fevered Star does a lot of the things that middle books do - a lot of traveling back and forth as characters have to get to new places and discover new backstory, small expansions in the magic system, moments that begin to deepen the world building and conflict, etc. It felt less intentional than the first book, but likely just because we are no longer counting down toward a specific event, and have to navigate the "after." I loved the symmetry of the starting and ending action on sun rock and our expanded understanding of the gods and god powers.
There were a few POVs I wanted more of, but I ultimately understand why we had the characters we did in this installment and appreciate where we ended and where we will likely go from here.
Again, the full-cast audio production is excellent and I highly recommend!
There were a few POVs I wanted more of, but I ultimately understand why we had the characters we did in this installment and appreciate where we ended and where we will likely go from here.
Again, the full-cast audio production is excellent and I highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Medical content, Abandonment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Body horror, Medical trauma, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Some pretty gross eyeball moments!bookishmillennial's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This sequel acts as a character and worldbuilding exploration, and it works really well (at least for me). We get more of Naranpa, Xiala, and Serapio’s journeys in grappling with their new realities, which forces them all to rediscover themselves, their histories, and their purposes. Okoa also takes a bit more center stage in this book than in Black Sun in wanting the best for his people (Carrion Crow), which was fine but my favorites really are Xiala and Serapio.
I thoroughly enjoyed the big reveal in Xiala’s storyline, and am so satisfied with how that unraveled. It seems as if RR provides commentary on how these characters perceive themselves, and then flips that on its head by building up to a shocking twist that makes Xiala question her memories and the story she’s been harboring and wallowing in about herself. There’s nothing more universal than an existential reckoning that challenges everything you thought you knew about yourself! Been there✅
By the way, I love the fantasy aspects in this world! I am enamored with it and Xiala’s magic in particular is just so wild — every time she uses it, I’m like “yeah I support women’s wrongs, so WHAT?” Xiala’s wistful ending line (feeling longing towards a certain someone) had me in the feels though lol.
RR also provides mirrors for the characters to self-examine even further, such as the stark differences between what Naranpa and Serapio believe regarding where their duties and goals lie as avatars of gods. I appreciated their final solemn but resigned interaction in this book too, and I am quite curious to see where the final book takes them. I love an agree-to-disagree moment, and yet I don’t see it lasting.
I’m not going to spoil anything but I will say that I thoroughly appreciate a fraught mother-daughter dynamic, and the fact that this fantasy world is full of magic and gods, yet some of our characters are still haunted by their parents? That is *so real* — nothing articulate to say about this other than you cannot rid people of mommy or daddy issues regardless of what world you’re in😂
I adored the little excerpts in the beginning of each chapter — some are cornier than others, like “even a shark must sleep,” but I still fuck with it because *I* am a corny mf. Mother waters! hehehehe
Can someone explain to me what is going on with Iktan? Is xe conspiring? Someone we can trust? I have no idea and it’s going to keep me up at night lol.
Overall, this was a really fascinating character study and sets us up nicely for the final book, which I can’t wait for!
cw: Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder
This sequel acts as a character and worldbuilding exploration, and it works really well (at least for me). We get more of Naranpa, Xiala, and Serapio’s journeys in grappling with their new realities, which forces them all to rediscover themselves, their histories, and their purposes. Okoa also takes a bit more center stage in this book than in Black Sun in wanting the best for his people (Carrion Crow), which was fine but my favorites really are Xiala and Serapio.
I thoroughly enjoyed the big reveal in Xiala’s storyline, and am so satisfied with how that unraveled. It seems as if RR provides commentary on how these characters perceive themselves, and then flips that on its head by building up to a shocking twist that makes Xiala question her memories and the story she’s been harboring and wallowing in about herself. There’s nothing more universal than an existential reckoning that challenges everything you thought you knew about yourself! Been there✅
By the way, I love the fantasy aspects in this world! I am enamored with it and Xiala’s magic in particular is just so wild — every time she uses it, I’m like “yeah I support women’s wrongs, so WHAT?” Xiala’s wistful ending line (feeling longing towards a certain someone) had me in the feels though lol.
RR also provides mirrors for the characters to self-examine even further, such as the stark differences between what Naranpa and Serapio believe regarding where their duties and goals lie as avatars of gods. I appreciated their final solemn but resigned interaction in this book too, and I am quite curious to see where the final book takes them. I love an agree-to-disagree moment, and yet I don’t see it lasting.
I’m not going to spoil anything but I will say that I thoroughly appreciate a fraught mother-daughter dynamic, and the fact that this fantasy world is full of magic and gods, yet some of our characters are still haunted by their parents? That is *so real* — nothing articulate to say about this other than you cannot rid people of mommy or daddy issues regardless of what world you’re in😂
I adored the little excerpts in the beginning of each chapter — some are cornier than others, like “even a shark must sleep,” but I still fuck with it because *I* am a corny mf. Mother waters! hehehehe
Can someone explain to me what is going on with Iktan? Is xe conspiring? Someone we can trust? I have no idea and it’s going to keep me up at night lol.
Overall, this was a really fascinating character study and sets us up nicely for the final book, which I can’t wait for!
cw: Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Grief, and Violence
guessgreenleaf's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Body horror, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, and Gore
booksandteatime's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Grief, Gore, Murder, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Death of parent
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
FEVERED STAR picks up where BLACK SUN left off, handling multiple perspectives in an excellently crafted way that was easy to follow. Now that Serapio is the embodiment of the Crow God, separated from Xiala, Serapio is dealing with the sudden change from being an isolated person to a religious figurehead, having lost everything that grounded him even as he gains immense power. Xiala is trying to rejoin Serapio, but gets caught up with a charismatic ex-priest, who has xer own agenda. Naranpa is an avatar without a temple, trying to connect to the brother she left behind years ago and figure out whether there's a life where she can fit. The worldbuilding focuses on different areas than what was established in BLACK SUN. No longer insular, many factions have moved in order to take advantage of alliances, and set up for the conflict that seems inevitable.
FEVERED STAR is lull between storms, the midgame when all the players trade promises and pledge loyalties. The Sky Made has several factions, but most of the perspective characters are on the outside in some way, removed from the major factions by training, distance, or a estrangement. This is one of the best examples I’ve read in a while of intricate but understandable politics in fiction, with many factions who all have slightly different goals and motivations. It also does an excellent job of allowing people within the factions to disagree, each having their own motivations. I love political wrangling and intricacy in fantasy and so I enjoyed this middle book of a trilogy where everyone’s trying to reposition after the gods are returned to the world. It could be said that either every character has a new storyline, or no character has a new story of their own that wasn’t present to the previous book. Everyone in their own way of dealing with what happened on the day of Black Sun, it represents such a monumental shift that even ignoring it would have to be a deliberate choice (albeit it one that I cannot recall any characters making). Several people’s access to power has changed either in a political or magical sense, and some minor characters from BLACK SUN gain new importance as they hatch their own schemes, taking advantage of the shifts caused by the eclipse.
This would mostly makes sense to someone who read the first book a while ago, but if they tried to start here without having read BLACK SUN at all, it would likely be confusing for a while. It's a well-told story, but one which fundamentally is concerned with moving things in place for whatever is to come in the third book. Part of how it maintains that balance is that many of the characters have a sense of this as a lull between conflicts, whether literal or metaphorical. Almost everyone is making moves to position themselves better for what is to come, or to control what the next change might end up being.
This is an excellent continuation of the series, and I'm excited to read how it all turns out.
FEVERED STAR is lull between storms, the midgame when all the players trade promises and pledge loyalties. The Sky Made has several factions, but most of the perspective characters are on the outside in some way, removed from the major factions by training, distance, or a estrangement. This is one of the best examples I’ve read in a while of intricate but understandable politics in fiction, with many factions who all have slightly different goals and motivations. It also does an excellent job of allowing people within the factions to disagree, each having their own motivations. I love political wrangling and intricacy in fantasy and so I enjoyed this middle book of a trilogy where everyone’s trying to reposition after the gods are returned to the world. It could be said that either every character has a new storyline, or no character has a new story of their own that wasn’t present to the previous book. Everyone in their own way of dealing with what happened on the day of Black Sun, it represents such a monumental shift that even ignoring it would have to be a deliberate choice (albeit it one that I cannot recall any characters making). Several people’s access to power has changed either in a political or magical sense, and some minor characters from BLACK SUN gain new importance as they hatch their own schemes, taking advantage of the shifts caused by the eclipse.
This would mostly makes sense to someone who read the first book a while ago, but if they tried to start here without having read BLACK SUN at all, it would likely be confusing for a while. It's a well-told story, but one which fundamentally is concerned with moving things in place for whatever is to come in the third book. Part of how it maintains that balance is that many of the characters have a sense of this as a lull between conflicts, whether literal or metaphorical. Almost everyone is making moves to position themselves better for what is to come, or to control what the next change might end up being.
This is an excellent continuation of the series, and I'm excited to read how it all turns out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide, Racism, Alcoholism, Violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Murder, Death, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Animal death, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, and Ableism
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As in Black Sun, Roanhorse does a masterful job of bringing to life such a rich and complicated world in this second installment.
I always struggle a little bit with the second book in ANY fantasy series, simply because once the novelty of stepping into a new world and getting to know the characters fades, it becomes harder for me to keep track of (and therefore care about) all the complicated machinations of the plot.
But my investment in these characters kept me wanting to continue, even when all the politics and strategizing sometimes went over my head. I definitely appreciated that we got to spend more time with Iktan, because I found xir so interesting in the first book.
Where I tended to have the most trouble was understanding the characters’ wants and motivations, especially Iktan and Serapio. I wasn’t sure why they were doing what they were doing—what it was they were trying to achieve or what they were seeking (though this was eventually revealed pretty explicitly in Serapio’s case by the end)—and that took me out of the story a few times.
Other than that though, this really was great. I didn’t realize when I started that this isn’t a completed series, and I wish I’d thought to check because now I don’t want to have to wait to find out what happens next!! 😭
I always struggle a little bit with the second book in ANY fantasy series, simply because once the novelty of stepping into a new world and getting to know the characters fades, it becomes harder for me to keep track of (and therefore care about) all the complicated machinations of the plot.
But my investment in these characters kept me wanting to continue, even when all the politics and strategizing sometimes went over my head. I definitely appreciated that we got to spend more time with Iktan, because I found xir so interesting in the first book.
Where I tended to have the most trouble was understanding the characters’ wants and motivations, especially Iktan and Serapio. I wasn’t sure why they were doing what they were doing—what it was they were trying to achieve or what they were seeking (though this was eventually revealed pretty explicitly in Serapio’s case by the end)—and that took me out of the story a few times.
Other than that though, this really was great. I didn’t realize when I started that this isn’t a completed series, and I wish I’d thought to check because now I don’t want to have to wait to find out what happens next!! 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Vomit
sealegs's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Grief
macknificent's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This suffered a bit of Second Book Syndrome, but I still enjoyed it. Crow Daddy and Ocean Bae still rule my heart so I cannot wait for Book 3! Mark my words, Roanhorse, I will never forgive you if they don't have a happy ending. Together.
As for Sun Skank, she continues to be a thorn in my side. I spent the entire book exasperated by her choices and wishing for her death.
All the other characters were interesting and fully fleshed. I live Roanhorse's world building, though I would like a little more of the history explained. I think that will happen in book 3.
Anyway, definitely will be continuing the series!
As for Sun Skank, she continues to be a thorn in my side. I spent the entire book exasperated by her choices and wishing for her death.
All the other characters were interesting and fully fleshed. I live Roanhorse's world building, though I would like a little more of the history explained. I think that will happen in book 3.
Anyway, definitely will be continuing the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Self harm
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Grief, and Death of parent