Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

57 reviews

norspider's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Revenge is a buffet served cold.

Black Sun has a deep, rich world that is explored more deeply in each chapter. The pre-Columbian inspiration for the setting is utilized expertly; each faction and sub-faction is given their due. 

The pace, dialogue, and plot all kept me wanting to read. 

I found myself cheering for each of our POV characters, which is very rare for me. I want Xiala to live rich and well. I want Naranpa to bring honor back to her station. I want Okoa to avenge his mother. And I want Serapio to fulfill his destiny. 

There is wonderful LGBTQIA2S+ representation! Not caricatures or jokes, just people living in the world as part of the story. Beautifully done. 

The only reason I didn't give Black Sun a full 5/5 is because none of its plots conclude; this is an incomplete book. But I knew this was the start of a series when I picked it up so I can (mostly)look beyond that. And Roanhorse has found a passionate new fan in me! 

I can't wait to read book 2!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, and Sexual content

Minor: Excrement

moonytoast's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Gore, Sexism, Vomit, Body horror, and Cursing

ebp's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Classism, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Alcohol, Murder, Suicide, and Death

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: War

camrich's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

I’m usually not much of a high fantasy reader, but I had heard so many great things about this book that I had to give it a shot. Overall I thought it was great! It took me a little bit to get into all of the world building, but the characters (especially Serapio and XIALA!!) had me hooked from the start. I actually grew to love learning about all of the cultures and the tensions between them as the book progressed, especially the political state of Tova and tensions between the clans/the clans and the priesthood/within the priesthood. Another thing I loved was all of the representation, especially regarding trans & non-binary identities and visual disability.
Now for a bit of the negative points of this book for me. The main one was that the book spent all its time building up to this major event only for it to actually happen across 2, maybe 3 pages; I was obviously disappointed. That being said, I did think that it was cool to read about the effects of this event from the different character perspectives which softened the blow a bit. Another was how underdeveloped one of the main character’s story was, especially in comparison to another character who got lots of page time but had very little development (

*cough* Narampa *cough*

) I was actually really interested in expanding on Okoa and

the mystery behind his mother’s death/murder

but unfortunately it seemed like that plot point was abandoned (hoping the author further develops that in the second book!).
Overall a solid start to the trilogy, will definitely be picking up Fevered Star and Mirrored Heavens to see how everything plays out!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Suicide, and Xenophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Animal death, and Genocide

read_with_riley's review

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Violence, Blood, Gore, Alcohol, and Slavery

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-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

4.0

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  I liked the 4 character POVs we get, and was rooting for them all, even though some of them were opposed to each other.  I felt a bit sad for a couple of them.  But I don't think I really loved any of them.  They felt like full characters, but I don't think they really changed much from beginning to end.  The pacing was a little bit odd.  The ending is pretty abrupt; this is definitely 1st in a trilogy, so don't expect any resolution.  I do give props to the world building here, it was very interesting setting (a fantasy world inspired by Pre-Columbus Americas).  For me personally, I was into the book when reading it, but often forgot about it when not reading.  I will definitely pick up the sequel at some point.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Classism, Death, Child abuse, Suicide, Violence, Gore, Abandonment, and Alcohol

ash_ton's review

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

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

casdelvo's review

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Body horror

Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Animal death, and Confinement

that_boi_eliza's review

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Suicide, Alcoholism, Blood, Violence, Xenophobia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Trafficking, Classism, Misogyny, Rape, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Animal death, Cursing, Gore, Drug use, and Death

Minor: Ableism and Confinement

killeenm18's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Alcohol