Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

27 reviews

the_literarylinguist's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Murder, Self harm, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, and Xenophobia

christalbotheindl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexism

brianareads's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug use, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Grief, Self harm, and Trafficking

aclaman'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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Vomit, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death

tqlikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“The sea herself," she said. "I am her daughter, and when I'm with my mother"--she exhaled gustily--"nobody fucks with her children.”

4.5 stars
A stunning and lavish epic fantasy inspired by the myths and culture of the Pre-Columbian Americas. I found Black Sun a refreshing take on the usual magic and mystery of epic fantasy stories. With intriguing and well-developed characters and an equally fascinating and lush setting, Black Sun had me hooked from the first chapter. I found the pacing was very well balanced given that there are multiple POV's. I definitely appreciated the representation of gender and sexualities, with a MC that shows attraction to men and women (possibly either bi or pansexual), as well as the inclusion of a third gender.

Overall, a highly enjoyable story- I am eager to see what is next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Gore, Self harm, and Blood

mezzarella's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

Black Sun separates itself from other novels in its genre through its bold reclassifying of what fantasy is supposed to look like. Instead of European castles or gritty cities, Roanhorse looks to pre-Columbian American cultures and civilizations for inspiration. From an outside perspective, each of the fantastical tribes are respectful of their source material and are portrayed with beauty, nuance, and depth.

I was drawn to a reimaging of what fantasy could be, and was rejuvenated by concepts which were foreign to me. I was a visitor in Roanhorse's world, and it was easy to be sucked in within it. Multiple main characters and a shifting perspective between the past and present provided a deep understanding of the world and what was occurring from many different perspectives. While action is not as frequent as other examples of the genre, it makes up for it in deep characterization and complex relationships which grow naturally throughout the story. The prose is beautiful. The story, although predictable, was enjoyable and engaging.

Roanhorse is Native American and an "Own Voices" author, but it is important to consider she there are tribes which she is not related to by blood represented in the novel. Additionally, her reviews have been mixed in indigenous circles, including reviews for Black Sun and earlier work highlighting Navajo cultures. It is important to mention that while Roanhorse is Native American by blood, she is not a citizen of the nationally recognized tribe she belongs to. Additionally, she has appropriated and represented herself as an Own Voices author for Navajo nations in novels such as The Trail of Lightning and Race to the Sun. To date, she still has not written a book about her own people or culture (Ohkay Owingeh of New Mexico). In addition to the already present controversies, Black Sun is rich with outsiders, rather than loved participants of the culture they reside in. This may also add to the tension between this particular "Own Voices" author and "Own Voices" reviewers.

Due to the mixed reviews of authentic representation written by Roanhorse's work, it feels odd to call Black Sun an Own Voices narrative. And although the book is thrilling and beautiful, the controversy mars this inclusive story with a problem which has long been ingrained in fantasy: cultural appropriation. Readers specifically looking for an authentic Own Voices fantasy may want to look through the TBR list a little more before choosing this one to read and learn from. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Genocide, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, and Self harm

This story's most central main character is a man who as a boy was created and trained to be a holy figure for his nation. Child abuse: His mother

sewed his eyes shut and prepared his body with marks in order for him to become a vessel for his god.

. Drug use: There is a stimulant mentioned in the book which is used to heighten magical talents and skills. This drug is used several times throughout the story. Blood, Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence: One of the main character's

purpose is to bring his people into political and religious power; this is done by slaughtering people at the capital. There is also a murder of an entire ship crew, done by a character to protect the ship's captain.

. Suicide: One of the main character's

goals needs suicide in order to be completed. This includes a blood ritual.

Self harm: See Suicide for details.

maddiehansen's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Self harm

Moderate: Suicide