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mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Cursing
annalisaely's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The world building is awesome, I got very attached to several of the perspective characters even though their motivations/goals were often opposed. Xialla is my favorite, but Okoa turned out to be more sympathetic than I thought he would. I liked hearing about the magic/supernatural powers of the characters who had them and all the stuff about living on the sea/navigating a ship. The various plans, resources, and allies of the main characters coming together was fascinating and made more sense than a lot of the epic fantasy I read. I am very excited for the sequel!
We have a fair number of bisexual characters, several nonbinary characters, and many women in positions of power.
We have a fair number of bisexual characters, several nonbinary characters, and many women in positions of power.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gore
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Grief
bookishbutch'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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Genocide, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Biphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
emptykingdom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Black Sun is an epic fantasy adventure unlike anything I've ever read. This pre-Columbian inspired fantasy will take you on a high stakes ride with bisexual mermaids, crow gods, sun priest, sailors on a voyage, forbidden magic, political intrigue, and a celestial prophecy with our four diverse cast of main characters on a mystical quest.
Reasons to add to your TBR:
☀ It's a high stakes political intrigue and rivalries
☀ The worldbuilding, inspired by various Indigenous cultural influences, is excellent, sharp, innovative and expansive. And the prose is absolutely vivid and vibrant which really brings this fantasy to life. Rebecca Roanhorse proves she has the range.
☀ Complex and fully developed (morally grey) characters
☀ The rep. One of the MCs is nonbinary whom prefers neo-pronouns (xe/xir) to which the characters respect. Another MC is bisexual. The casual queerness is commonplace in their non-cis/heteronormative society and it's very much appreciated. There's nuanced disability rep as well which was also handled with care (i.e. the author hired sensitivity readers).
☀ The story revolves around the winter solstice, a time for celebration and renewal, however this one will coincide with a solar eclipse which is a rare celestial event that tips the balance of their world.
Find out more about why Black Sun is one of the best books I've read this year, or of all time:
Find out more about why Black Sun is one of the best books I've read this year, or of all time:
https://www.emptyxkingdom.com/2020/10/story-diary-black-sun-by-rebecca-roanhorse.html
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Homophobia and Slavery
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to Saga Press for the free advance copy of this book.
✨MINI REVIEW✨
A ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and 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. (via Goodreads) 📚
•
Things I liked:
📚 Casual queerness - pansexuality, gender neutral pronouns, trans characters, and none of it even factors into the main plot
📚 A big, sprawling world with intricate tribal history and relations
📚 Political intrigue, but not too much
📚 Visceral images - I could feel and smell and taste this world
•
Things I didn't like:
📚 THAT CLIFFHANGER, I NEED BOOK 2 NOW!
•
Content warnings: suicide, sexual harassment, substance abuse, gambling, murder, death.
✨MINI REVIEW✨
A ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and 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. (via Goodreads) 📚
•
Things I liked:
📚 Casual queerness - pansexuality, gender neutral pronouns, trans characters, and none of it even factors into the main plot
📚 A big, sprawling world with intricate tribal history and relations
📚 Political intrigue, but not too much
📚 Visceral images - I could feel and smell and taste this world
•
Things I didn't like:
📚 THAT CLIFFHANGER, I NEED BOOK 2 NOW!
•
Content warnings: suicide, sexual harassment, substance abuse, gambling, murder, death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual assault, and Suicide