Reviews with content warning for War - Black Sun

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

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

The full-cast audio production of Black Sun is phenomenal and I highly recommend! Each character felt so distinct, making this large cast of characters in rotating POV easy to follow. I loved the pacing of this story, the slow-burn countdown to Convergence blended with character flashbacks. It created a unique tension and building sense of dread. The chapter starts and excerpts from fictional historical accounts were so well done and added depth to the world building. I particularly loved the dynamic between Xiala and Serapio and was so grateful I could immediately jump into book two after that ending!

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emzhay's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Loved the world building and characters. Although the plot was sometimes a bit of a slog, everyone had interesting story lines. I liked Okoa a lot and wished he had more of an active role. Xiala and Serapio’s romance was rather flat and felt like they were just smooshed together because they’re both outcasts. Individually they were stellar and had my favorite chapters.

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hottamolly's review

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad 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? No

5.0

Holy crap this was so good

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akaspiderlily's review

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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!

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brooketreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Did anyone else get The Broken Earth Trilogy feels?
This book was fast paced and had me gripped from that opening chapter with Serapio. Multiple times throughout the book I said, holy sh*t (out loud). It was all a build up and the ending went very fast. I didn’t mind the speedy ending. Would I have loved and been happy to read a longer ending, yes. But, do I feel like it lessened my feelings, no. I enjoyed this so much I want to re-read and take notes. And this is something I don’t do anymore since the time I re-read the first Harry Potter book for a book club and took 14 pages of notes…front and back. It was a very, I have a problem moment.

Anywayyyyy, don’t read beyond this if you don’t want spoilers:

The storm on the sea and the mutiny…!!! That dang guy that Xiala saved in the water, then he lied and tried to have her killed… I hate that guy.
When Naranpa is getting taken from the tower!!!! I was hot! I wanted to fight someone. Naranpa’s talk with her brother was very heart rending.

Little note on the author:
Roanhorse was adopted out of her culture, her birth mother was Ohkay Owingeh. I did read an article from The Mixed Space about controversy surrounding the authors heritage and use of cultural stories. I still loved the book. I just want to be transparent.

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that_boi_eliza's review

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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tinysierra's review

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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

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.

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