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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
The end leaves us off with the potential for a strong third book. This book managed to side step the issue of the middle book syndrome by focusing on the characters almost exclusively, much like the first. Unlike the first, though, the insular focus was at ends with the narrative.
We pick up a day or two after the last book ends and it's supposed to be heavy. Serapio just slaughtered the watchers and brought about a standing eclipse over the city. World wise, that's about where we leave too. Xiala has her journey but everything else that occurs is largely within each character.
I found nothing compelling about what should be such a cool setting. There's mention of preparations for war and how Tova will need to stockpile food. How does a city do that without sun? Naranpa mentions throughout how dangerous the Maw is and how moving between the districts into and out of the Maw leaves her vulnerable. Why are there no scenes of her witnessing a crime or looting or someone abusing their power? The city feels sterile. The one place where people are congregating, in Odo, is written around. Okoa and Esa talk about numbers in the low to middle hundreds; is that a lot? Are they just loitering or will Carrion Crow lose control of them? We can assume they're fanatics as they remain after being attacked by Serapio but there's little inclination of what their goal is. Tova feels lifeless. Not as in the city is on the eye of a needle and could tip into disarray if a wrong move is made. It's written without life. There isn't a response to the characters' actions. The only information we receive is the bare minimum to the character's immediate surroundings, if that, and it fundamentally weakens the impacts of any story being told.
Structure-wise, Okoa and Balam served no purpose as POV characters. Roanhorse didn't even take the time to give either a concluding chapter. The latter particularly peeved me as Balam introduces a new magic that we never see in action. It's just disappointing. Anything unique that happened to them could have easily been explored from the perspective of one of the main characters. Serapio still has the strongest voice and it's clear she's most comfortable writing him. Naranpa develops more in this one and Xiala is given a different story than I expected. Neither is structured particularly well. The dialogue is clunky and there are too many attempts at subtext that reads as text for my tastes.
Hopefully she's able to write a more compelling hook with the ending in sight.
We pick up a day or two after the last book ends and it's supposed to be heavy. Serapio just slaughtered the watchers and brought about a standing eclipse over the city. World wise, that's about where we leave too. Xiala has her journey but everything else that occurs is largely within each character.
I found nothing compelling about what should be such a cool setting. There's mention of preparations for war and how Tova will need to stockpile food. How does a city do that without sun? Naranpa mentions throughout how dangerous the Maw is and how moving between the districts into and out of the Maw leaves her vulnerable. Why are there no scenes of her witnessing a crime or looting or someone abusing their power? The city feels sterile. The one place where people are congregating, in Odo, is written around. Okoa and Esa talk about numbers in the low to middle hundreds; is that a lot? Are they just loitering or will Carrion Crow lose control of them? We can assume they're fanatics as they remain after being attacked by Serapio but there's little inclination of what their goal is. Tova feels lifeless. Not as in the city is on the eye of a needle and could tip into disarray if a wrong move is made. It's written without life. There isn't a response to the characters' actions. The only information we receive is the bare minimum to the character's immediate surroundings, if that, and it fundamentally weakens the impacts of any story being told.
Structure-wise, Okoa and Balam served no purpose as POV characters. Roanhorse didn't even take the time to give either a concluding chapter. The latter particularly peeved me as Balam introduces a new magic that we never see in action. It's just disappointing. Anything unique that happened to them could have easily been explored from the perspective of one of the main characters. Serapio still has the strongest voice and it's clear she's most comfortable writing him. Naranpa develops more in this one and Xiala is given a different story than I expected. Neither is structured particularly well. The dialogue is clunky and there are too many attempts at subtext that reads as text for my tastes.
Hopefully she's able to write a more compelling hook with the ending in sight.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great sequel. We have mounting intrigue that continues to be slowly revealed all mixed with our characters growing in the understanding of their magics. I am curious what the next book holds and how the story will end.
Following the politics and who is stabbing who in the back is challenging, but I still loved this. I think some of my like for this is because I really enjoy the audiobook narrators. This is good enough and complex enough that I will go back to read the text to try to sort out all of the plot points before the next book comes out.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
i found several editing errors in this book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Clear case of second-book syndrome. Could've really been a better sequel, especially when the first one was so good.
Here are the main things that did not work for me plot-wise:
- Why does the whole plotline of the badass exiled bisexual pirate-mermaid with magic powers and alcohol abuse issues revolves around her being in love with a man to the point that it was her only personality trait for the first 150 pages?
- Why does Naranpa, a scholar who ascended to the highest political office in her order, only now learn the secrets that are apparently so fundamental to her order?
- Denaochi's death was rushed - it could've happened later or in book 3. It felt too sudden, and like it was there purely for shock value, and therefore it kind of fell flat. Denaochi's presence was also essential to Naranpa becoming matron of Coyote's Maw, so he should definitely have lived longer, because it would've finally meant that Naranpa ENGAGED with the politics of the books instead of fleeing them, which would be SO COOL
- Xiala's ending - I really am not sure about that one, depends what happens in book 3
- The final fight: why did it not happen? Well, I understand why, but it came out of NOWHERE - even Naranpa in her thoughts acknowledge that she just gets that idea on the spot. The build-up for a fight was great, so why not use it? I understand going against reader's expectations but this did not feel organic and was definitely not the right way to do it, imho
- Naranpa's ending: wtf? Like, really? She just flees the city that always was her world, abandons the matronship she just acquired, and for what? To find a TEACHER? Something that she never even thought of before? Something that, given the sudden mastery of her powers she displays, she likely does not really need? Someone whose existence we lack any hints of??? Naranpa's intrigue would just be better if it would engage with the politics, or at least with the violent displays of magic, like Serapio's
Serapio's intrigue was definitely the most interesting because it did engage with what make him more interesting (the violence at the core of its being). I liked Okoa's too, but for the politics/worldbuilding more than for his inner self, which was not as interesting as it could've been. Xiala's intrigue became better once it was no longer just her saying ten times per chapter how her only objective was to find again the man she loves - I liked how it showed us Iktan, Golden Eagle plotting, etc. Naranpa's intrigue was not bad but, as I said, should've engaged more with the politics. I would not have minded seeing more of Balam and his scheming. I do hope book 3 is more politics, and less travel, and that the Naranpa finding-a-teacher nonsense will be short-lived.
I also feel like the first book was better written. The writing here felt a bit underwhelming at time, too on the nose, lacking a bit of subtlety. It almost felt like she wanted to be writing a film or a show instead of a book, because of all those one-liners/badass line that made the dialogues feel unrealistic/not organic. (the correct way to adapt Black Sun is a movie - I am right on this one) One thing that I'm 100% sure was better in book 1 are all the little epigraphs at the start of chapters. I remember loving those in book 1 bc they really got us into the worldbuilding. Here they felt more like punchlines that were obviously linked to the chapter but not in an organic way, more like a trailer lacking subtlety.
I still look forward to reading book 3 in June. This was a quick, enjoyable read with interesting politics, excellent worldbuilding, good characters that I did like from book 1, and the plot was enjoyable, despite its many flaws - even the fantasy travel thing was well done. So book 3 has great potential and even some parts of the ending that I'm skeptical of rn could actually be good if book 3 is well executed.
Here are the main things that did not work for me plot-wise:
- Why does the whole plotline of the badass exiled bisexual pirate-mermaid with magic powers and alcohol abuse issues revolves around her being in love with a man to the point that it was her only personality trait for the first 150 pages?
- Why does Naranpa, a scholar who ascended to the highest political office in her order, only now learn the secrets that are apparently so fundamental to her order?
- Denaochi's death was rushed - it could've happened later or in book 3. It felt too sudden, and like it was there purely for shock value, and therefore it kind of fell flat. Denaochi's presence was also essential to Naranpa becoming matron of Coyote's Maw, so he should definitely have lived longer, because it would've finally meant that Naranpa ENGAGED with the politics of the books instead of fleeing them, which would be SO COOL
- Xiala's ending - I really am not sure about that one, depends what happens in book 3
- The final fight: why did it not happen? Well, I understand why, but it came out of NOWHERE - even Naranpa in her thoughts acknowledge that she just gets that idea on the spot. The build-up for a fight was great, so why not use it? I understand going against reader's expectations but this did not feel organic and was definitely not the right way to do it, imho
- Naranpa's ending: wtf? Like, really? She just flees the city that always was her world, abandons the matronship she just acquired, and for what? To find a TEACHER? Something that she never even thought of before? Something that, given the sudden mastery of her powers she displays, she likely does not really need? Someone whose existence we lack any hints of??? Naranpa's intrigue would just be better if it would engage with the politics, or at least with the violent displays of magic, like Serapio's
Serapio's intrigue was definitely the most interesting because it did engage with what make him more interesting (the violence at the core of its being). I liked Okoa's too, but for the politics/worldbuilding more than for his inner self, which was not as interesting as it could've been. Xiala's intrigue became better once it was no longer just her saying ten times per chapter how her only objective was to find again the man she loves - I liked how it showed us Iktan, Golden Eagle plotting, etc. Naranpa's intrigue was not bad but, as I said, should've engaged more with the politics. I would not have minded seeing more of Balam and his scheming. I do hope book 3 is more politics, and less travel, and that the Naranpa finding-a-teacher nonsense will be short-lived.
I also feel like the first book was better written. The writing here felt a bit underwhelming at time, too on the nose, lacking a bit of subtlety. It almost felt like she wanted to be writing a film or a show instead of a book, because of all those one-liners/badass line that made the dialogues feel unrealistic/not organic. (the correct way to adapt Black Sun is a movie - I am right on this one) One thing that I'm 100% sure was better in book 1 are all the little epigraphs at the start of chapters. I remember loving those in book 1 bc they really got us into the worldbuilding. Here they felt more like punchlines that were obviously linked to the chapter but not in an organic way, more like a trailer lacking subtlety.
I still look forward to reading book 3 in June. This was a quick, enjoyable read with interesting politics, excellent worldbuilding, good characters that I did like from book 1, and the plot was enjoyable, despite its many flaws - even the fantasy travel thing was well done. So book 3 has great potential and even some parts of the ending that I'm skeptical of rn could actually be good if book 3 is well executed.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A fantastic continuation of this epic fantasy. We stay with our three main characters for most of the book but we learn more about some side characters from Black Sun as well as meet new ones. One thing that works so well is the balance between world building and character growth. There is a lot for the characters to learn about their past to explain their present and prepare for their future but it's done in a way that avoids information dumping and feels natural. The pacing in the book works so well to keep you reading (and wanting to set aside everything else to keep reading).
The only problem is the need for the next book right now. Like Black Sun, we are left at a turning point with so many questions.
The only problem is the need for the next book right now. Like Black Sun, we are left at a turning point with so many questions.