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ivereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I am beyond words, I recently got back into reading after having over a 8-10 year slump, and I read this over the course of just 6 days. (That is insanely impressive for my slump) The storyline is phenomenal and I am absolutely in love with everything the author did. Rebecca Roanhorse did her mfing research and made the whole world building amazing. I am autistic so I have some biases for loving this stuff because it's a personal special interest. But she did a great job of bringing Indigenous history into a fantastical world full of magic and I beg that the second book is just as good and thoughtful. (Going to read that next) If you don't mind the talk of occasional violence and you love culture rich and diverse casts in a fantastical setting, i one million times over recommend this. Thanking and bowing to my friend who recommended me this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Torture, Alcoholism, Body horror, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, War, Xenophobia, Grief, and Sexual content
akaspiderlily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is a read that I will want to devour again and again. It is fantasy separated from its traditionally colorblind ways, with remarkable world building and character creation. It is fun, daring, gory, sexy, queer, and brown! I enjoyed my trip thoroughly!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Gore, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual content
barda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
It was a broadly enjoyable book, though with some issues with pacing and characterisation, and a very slow start.
I loved the indigenous Americas-inspired setting, and the worldbuilding was fascinating. It offered up enough hints to form a relatively complete picture of the world, but holds back when it needs to to build up a sense of mystery. In particular I loved the Carrion Crows and how their culture and religion was portrayed, I really hope that the giant crows and the people that ride them are put more into the spotlight as the series goes on.
In terms of characters, I really enjoyed Xiala and found Serapio to be a really interesting character. Their journey together was heartwarming and tragic and I found them to be the best part of the book. However, felt like the other POV's in the book really contributed much to the overall story. Nara could have been a fascinating character, but she didn't do anything meaningful over the course of the book and from the ending it seems like the main bulk of her characterisation and actions may be saved for the second book. Okoa was simply boring, and he had so little screen time that I'm not quite sure why he was a POV in the book instead of being a secondary character (perhaps from the perspective of Nara).
The book also suffered from some very uneven pacing, with the beginning being quite slow with the action suddenly ramping up to be almost too fast in the last third of the book. I did quite enjoy the ending, however; it was a very grim ending with some huge implications for the world as a whole which I look forward to being explored in the next book.
Overall, the book was sometimes a too-slow read that could have benefitted with a change in who the POV characters were, but the worldbuilding made it a generally interesting read.
I loved the indigenous Americas-inspired setting, and the worldbuilding was fascinating. It offered up enough hints to form a relatively complete picture of the world, but holds back when it needs to to build up a sense of mystery. In particular I loved the Carrion Crows and how their culture and religion was portrayed, I really hope that the giant crows and the people that ride them are put more into the spotlight as the series goes on.
In terms of characters, I really enjoyed Xiala and found Serapio to be a really interesting character. Their journey together was heartwarming and tragic and I found them to be the best part of the book. However, felt like the other POV's in the book really contributed much to the overall story. Nara could have been a fascinating character, but she didn't do anything meaningful over the course of the book and from the ending it seems like the main bulk of her characterisation and actions may be saved for the second book. Okoa was simply boring, and he had so little screen time that I'm not quite sure why he was a POV in the book instead of being a secondary character (perhaps from the perspective of Nara).
The book also suffered from some very uneven pacing, with the beginning being quite slow with the action suddenly ramping up to be almost too fast in the last third of the book. I did quite enjoy the ending, however; it was a very grim ending with some huge implications for the world as a whole which I look forward to being explored in the next book.
Overall, the book was sometimes a too-slow read that could have benefitted with a change in who the POV characters were, but the worldbuilding made it a generally interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Self harm
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Death, and Murder
Minor: Sexism, Xenophobia, and Cursing
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was utterly phenomenal, holy cow. Gripping from beginning to end, and I cared so deeply for each of the characters. Serapio and Xiala’s story arc especially just ripped at my heart. I cannot wait to find out what happens in the second book, even if I am moderately terrified it’s going to be painful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, Murder, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Gore, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Classism and Racism
Minor: Trafficking, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Slavery
tinysierra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Today he would become a god. His mother had told him so.” pg 1
An amazing epic fantasy with intriguing diverse characters. Wow. Also… mermaids! Giant crows!
There was a mix of character driven and plot driven moments. I felt like there was a lot of slow/medium paced moments where there was more focus on character development/interactions but it did pick up in some places with more plot related aspects. It kept my attention either way.
The timeline hopped around a bit, jumping back into the past and then forward into the present. Slowly putting the pieces together. The chapters had the date along with experts from in world media (like journal entries), which really added to my immersion.
I liked Xiala and Serapio’s chapters the most. It was nice to see the story through a blind characters perspective. I hope to see more about Xiala’s powers in the next book.
In this book, queer characters are accepted in some of the societies but not others. There are characters that use neopronouns (xe/xir)! Xiala mentions that she takes pleasure with “men, women, and other genders” which I assume means that she’s bi or pan.
The ending was fast and admittedly a little anticlimactic but I don’t find myself feeling disappointed. I’m curious about where the story is going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Colonisation, Death, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Classism, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, War, Biphobia, Drug use, Confinement, Suicide, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Abandonment, Sexual content, Animal death, Vomit, and Infidelity
catsy2022's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Animal death, Confinement, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide, Sexual content, and Death of parent
acopytopy's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
(This is not a sci-fi book. If you see it tagged as that, don't believe it.)
This book has LGTBQ+ representation and a fantasy setting based off of non-European countries. I wanted to like it so badly, but unfortunately, I didn't.
Off the top of my head, I recall a scene near the beginning of the book that is told twice through 2 different perspectives in 2 subsequent chapters. Immediately, not a good sign.
The main issue with the plot is well summed-up by an editor's comment that was mentioned in the author's note: "It's okay, but not great." (Apparently, the author completely rewrote the book because of this comment. It feels mean to write this, but that was not enough.) The plot of this book felt aimless the second I opened it. Scenes and characters appear and disappear, constantly jumping through time and switching POVs. On a surface level, this seems to lend complexity, but in reality, it makes the characters harder to be invested in and the plot simpler by necessity.
I understand that this is the first book in a series, but there isn't nearly enough in this 1st book. I would've liked to see a satisfying conclusion to any of the character arcs... Or, you know, a satisfying conclusion.
At the end, the event that is mentioned at the beginning of every single chapter happens...
and everything happened nearly exactly the way it was said it would. Needless to say, I won't be continuing this series.
This book has LGTBQ+ representation and a fantasy setting based off of non-European countries. I wanted to like it so badly, but unfortunately, I didn't.
Off the top of my head, I recall a scene near the beginning of the book that is told twice through 2 different perspectives in 2 subsequent chapters. Immediately, not a good sign.
The main issue with the plot is well summed-up by an editor's comment that was mentioned in the author's note: "It's okay, but not great." (Apparently, the author completely rewrote the book because of this comment. It feels mean to write this, but that was not enough.) The plot of this book felt aimless the second I opened it. Scenes and characters appear and disappear, constantly jumping through time and switching POVs. On a surface level, this seems to lend complexity, but in reality, it makes the characters harder to be invested in and the plot simpler by necessity.
I understand that this is the first book in a series, but there isn't nearly enough in this 1st book. I would've liked to see a satisfying conclusion to any of the character arcs... Or, you know, a satisfying conclusion.
At the end, the event that is mentioned at the beginning of every single chapter happens...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
char42's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
I wanted to finish Black Sun in one sitting. Roanhorse has depicted a world I’ve never seen in fantasy fiction before with characters I always wanted to see more of. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There are dark themes but always balanced against a wonder for the beauty, both grand and simple, of the universe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Sexual content, Death, and Animal death
devlev7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
This book was so much fun! It starts slow, and with a lot of characters to keep track of, but by the end it will have you on the edge of your seat. A wonderful example of diverse, creative fantasy, with excellent and unique world-building. This book will satisfy a fantasy lover who has been looking for a world of clan rivalry, mysterious powers, and bold flawed adventurers, not based on a Western/European history. The colors, the landscapes, the foods, the beasts, and the characters are so entertaining to imagine. The plot is dark and mysterious and interesting - it will keep you speculating as to what will
happen next, or who will betray whom. If you’ve read any of Roanhorse’s other series, The Sixth World, you’ll find Black Sun has similar complicated but endearing characters, thoughtful themes with references to indigenous history and folklore, and far more diversity than most fantasy, in terms of not only race/culture, but gender and sexuality, in a way that feels incorporated completely into the world and story without being forced. However, Black Sun takes these commonalities to a different, exciting place, by weaving not a post-apocalyptic world, but a wonderfully fantastical alternative imagination of a world outside our own. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
happen next, or who will betray whom. If you’ve read any of Roanhorse’s other series, The Sixth World, you’ll find Black Sun has similar complicated but endearing characters, thoughtful themes with references to indigenous history and folklore, and far more diversity than most fantasy, in terms of not only race/culture, but gender and sexuality, in a way that feels incorporated completely into the world and story without being forced. However, Black Sun takes these commonalities to a different, exciting place, by weaving not a post-apocalyptic world, but a wonderfully fantastical alternative imagination of a world outside our own. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content