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ash_ton's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Addiction, Biphobia, Vomit, Alcohol, and Suicide
tinysierra's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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.
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Addiction, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Classism, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Confinement, Homophobia, Suicide, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Abandonment, Animal death, Vomit, and Sexual content
drinaiscold's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Classism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Misogyny, and Murder
itendswithe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
A dark fantasy set in a pre-Columbus America that hooked me within the first few pages.
Four character perspectives (and in the audiobook, by 4 narrators) converging together in a battle between the old crow god and the new sun god. This book has magic, adventure, and a dose of blood - it's one of the best books I've read so far this year.
Covers some heavy topics, so check out the content warnings.
I would recommend if you like: diverse fantasy stories, characters with some edges, queer rep, and old magic.
Graphic: Colonisation, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Biphobia, and Death of parent
maritareads's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
It’s always nice to finish a book and go ah, that was a good book! Set in pre-Colombian of the Americas, it is about a Crow God who travels to seek vengeance on the Sun Priest who destroyed his clan and a Teek who helps him to his destination.
I loved both Serapio and Xiala, they deserve everything good in the world. I say this while also adding that Serapio is the embodiment of that tweet that says “oh he murdered people? what do you want me to do about that. he looked good doing it”. I love that he’s the kind of protagonist-antagonist who is clear in his motives, his actions are not prettied up nor does the author show him to have self pity about it. Fantasy authors, this is how to write complex characters! I’ve only come across three of such characters this year.
Xiala is a bi babe! I don’t know if I wanna be her or with her. All her scenes with Serapio were precious and I wanted to stay with them forever. The angst! The longing! At one point I noted, “Is this not love? A love so devastating in its gentleness, and tragedy?”
While the book moved very quickly when we are with Serapio and Xiala, it seemed to crawl when we switch to Naranpa and Okoa’s povs. These two were as dry as a biscuit from a fast food place. A lot of the world building was confusing in my opinion but I don’t wholly blame the author because it seems she did that thing where she wrote to a specific audience and those that get it, get it. It’s what I ask from African authors. I’ll probably reread but I’m sorry their povs were so boring. Unfortunately we have to slog through them in the next one. I don’t understand how Roanhoarse can write two characters so beautifully and two others so blandly. I did not care about Naranpa’s feelings for Iktan though I liked how Roanhoarse weaved in non-binary characters in the tale seemlessly. Compared to Xiala, Naranpa better style up fast.
Last thing, I wish we could have more time with Xiala’s background but I guess this one was mostly Serapio and to an extent Naranpa focused, since they are the windows to most of the world building needed for now. I haven’t liked some books which seemed like a set up for a next one but I think what needed to be accomplished was accomplished in this one. I will eagerly await the next. If you liked this book you should read Gods of Jade and Shadow. Serapio and Xiala remind me strongly of Hun-Kamé and Casiopea, both fantasy tales with (wonderful) indigenous characters from the Americas.
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Drug use
Minor: Transphobia, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
julia87's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I struggled to find all of the different povs interesting. I loved Xiala, she comes from such an interesting culture I wish I could’ve learned more about. Serapio was also an intriguing character with a lot of potential for development. He has such a crazy backstory that I also wish came to more in the end. His development just felt rushed and didn’t really result in anything astronautical. Naranpa and Oakoa were definitely my least favorite point of views, though they too have cultures and backgrounds I find incredible, I just couldn’t feel empathic for them? I can’t quite figure out why I just didn’t love their chapters as much.
The plot was very meh. There was sooooo much build up and for what? There really was nothing exciting at the end that made me want to read the next book. I understand the build up will probably take hold later, but the plot had so much potential the execution just wasn’t there.
I give this book three stars because it definitely has its pros and cons. The representation is wonderful and I feel that within this genre (and almost every genre of book) there needs more representation like this. The settings were well written, the characters as well though some definitely more than others. The world building was magnificent, very well done. The plot on the other had was sub par, and as someone who loves an explosive ending, this just wasn’t for me. The writing style was fine, however again, not for me.
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, and Child abuse
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
bugthebard's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death and Sexual content
unwise_samwise's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Biphobia, Body horror, Misogyny, and Transphobia
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Vomit
eininthebird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Body horror, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, Self harm, Murder, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Child abuse
yvonne_cl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism and Sexual content