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kristenelle's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
I was super looking forward to this one mostly because it is set in the pre-Columbian americas and also because the cover is quite stunning. I ended up feeling a little let down. It was fine and had some things going for it, but I didn't feel very attached to the story or characters. The pace was slow at times and the character development was boring. The world is the most interesting part of this story. I wish I loved it more. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series.
Sexual violence? I don't remember any. Other triggers? Child abuse, animal abuse, murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Animal death, and Death of parent
thebookfinch's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
blindforest's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
a breathtaking ride from start to finish. i love that the worldbuilding manages to balance between the usual epic fantasy fare and a looming sinister edge that makes the story doubly intriguing. most of the cast and povs introduced instantly have my attention and keeps me engaged until the last page. if there were any minor gripes, it would be that the ending lacked a bit of a punch to it; and naranpa, despite being one of the main characters, doesn’t have the same spark compared to the rest. i really hope she will get a bigger role in the next book, as she has potential to be interesting but was very much underutilized. but all in all, these flaws still didn’t take away my enjoyment at the very least, and now i guess i just have to settle in for the arduous wait for the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, and Physical abuse
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
'Black Sun' by Rebecca Roanhorse is the start of an imaginative new fantasy series that explores the lives of four people as their paths draw closer to one fated day.
At the center of 'Black Sun' is the day of convergence, when the winter solstice coincides with a solar eclipse. We follow four characters whose lives all hinge around the events that will take place on the day of convergence. We follow the sun priestess, the son of a recently deceased community elder, a ship captain with a mystical voice, and a blind young man who can communicate with crows. As we move closer to the fated day, we uncover more about each character's past as their futures start to entwine.
Roanhorse does a great job of slowly but enticingly exploring each of her characters as we learn more about the mythology of her world and where those myths step into reality. The pacing is superb, except for one hiccup at the end. Roanhorse gives ample time with each character, though we do get less time with one that is introduced later in the story, as she slowly uncovers their backstories and how they are connected to the day of convergence. At the climax of the book, there is a moment of extremely fast paced action/events that happened so quickly, and in contrast to the rest of the story, that I found it disorienting. Perhaps this is precisely what Roanhorse wants us to feel.
I'm fascinated for where this story will go next though I don't have any concrete guesses on where the next books will take us. What I do know, is that I care for these characters and will happily follow them into their next set of adventures.
At the center of 'Black Sun' is the day of convergence, when the winter solstice coincides with a solar eclipse. We follow four characters whose lives all hinge around the events that will take place on the day of convergence. We follow the sun priestess, the son of a recently deceased community elder, a ship captain with a mystical voice, and a blind young man who can communicate with crows. As we move closer to the fated day, we uncover more about each character's past as their futures start to entwine.
Roanhorse does a great job of slowly but enticingly exploring each of her characters as we learn more about the mythology of her world and where those myths step into reality. The pacing is superb, except for one hiccup at the end. Roanhorse gives ample time with each character, though we do get less time with one that is introduced later in the story, as she slowly uncovers their backstories and how they are connected to the day of convergence. At the climax of the book, there is a moment of extremely fast paced action/events that happened so quickly, and in contrast to the rest of the story, that I found it disorienting. Perhaps this is precisely what Roanhorse wants us to feel.
I'm fascinated for where this story will go next though I don't have any concrete guesses on where the next books will take us. What I do know, is that I care for these characters and will happily follow them into their next set of adventures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Death
Minor: Suicide and Sexual content
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Vomit, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
maddiebusick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really loved the world the author built. I found myself liking the "villain" better than many of the other main characters who I didn't connect with very much. The ending is a cliffhanger, I'm intrigued to see if the author will come out with a sequel anytime soon. If not a bit of a disappointing ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Kidnapping
anigoose's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
I loved this very much.
The audiobook narrators were excellent and absolutely enhanced the whole reading experience.
The audiobook narrators were excellent and absolutely enhanced the whole reading experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Death and Animal death
kelseyland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An intriguing fantasy with a richly imagined world inspired by pre-Columbian America. This book has it all: badass characters, compelling quests, and even a healthy dose of political scheming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Gore, Animal death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide
It's the first book of a series and there are lots of loose ends, so if you're looking for a self-contained/standalone story, this might not be the novel to go with.okays1331's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am so upset that I didn't realize this was the first in a series until I was halfway through. And the second book doesn't even have so much as a release date yet! I devoured it finishing it in two days only by necessity of sleep. I was 90% done with the book at 1 AM.
Dark and beautiful and complicated. Each character is compelling and haunting. Through the perspective shifts you can see the steady marching towards the day of reckoning. It is not until that point that all of the stories converge. The author shows you how to love each of them and want them to succeed, but it is obvious from the beginning that they are all on different sides of the conflict. There is no way the culmination can go well for all of them. And I did not know who I was rooting for or what would be "right".
Serapio's story has impaled my heart with a hundred crow feathers. His innocence of life and intense trauma, his discovery of the every day along side his wisdom of the ancient. The singularity of purpose he has cuts through the political intrigue and backstabbing and plans of humans blazing an inevitable trail to the climax of the book. You see him coming like the great storm he is far off in the distance but there is nothing to be done to halt it or even get out of the way. At the same time, he is tasting fish for the first time and learning about the stars and making his first friend.
While we wait on the next book, I need someone to make gorgeous fan art of these characters, so I can obsess over how beautiful this world is.
Dark and beautiful and complicated. Each character is compelling and haunting. Through the perspective shifts you can see the steady marching towards the day of reckoning. It is not until that point that all of the stories converge. The author shows you how to love each of them and want them to succeed, but it is obvious from the beginning that they are all on different sides of the conflict. There is no way the culmination can go well for all of them. And I did not know who I was rooting for or what would be "right".
Serapio's story has impaled my heart with a hundred crow feathers. His innocence of life and intense trauma, his discovery of the every day along side his wisdom of the ancient. The singularity of purpose he has cuts through the political intrigue and backstabbing and plans of humans blazing an inevitable trail to the climax of the book. You see him coming like the great storm he is far off in the distance but there is nothing to be done to halt it or even get out of the way. At the same time, he is tasting fish for the first time and learning about the stars and making his first friend.
While we wait on the next book, I need someone to make gorgeous fan art of these characters, so I can obsess over how beautiful this world is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'd give this one more than 5 stars if I could.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Grief, Sexual content, and Violence