A sapphic fantasy with complex world-building and richly detailed prose. It was quite a dense book to first get into but I quickly became immersed in the story. Engaging and rewarding.

The Sun and the Void was such an incredible book! I loved the magic, the politics, the world building and the development of the characters, they just felt very real and complete. I loved learning about the folklore and religion. I do think the pace of the book as a bit slow which is why I can't give 5 stars but it's still an amazing debut and I'm excited to continue reading the series.

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.

3.5 stars

disclaimer : I received a copy free from the publishers via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

rep: venezuelan and columbian inspired setting & characters, sapphic characters, f/f romance

content warnings: violence, death, child death, abuse, emotional abuse, gore, racism and slavery, kidnapping

The Sun and the Void is a venezuelan and columbian inspired fantasy about two women fighting to find their place in the world. My favourite thing about this novel are the characters and the development that they went through throughout the novel, from niave girls to strong and powerful women in different ways either through magic or through fighting prowess. There were plenty of warrior women, but also plenty of soft women too. Plenty of sapphic characters & a central f/f romance. Plenty of mythology and folklore and magic to keep most fantasy readers interested. My only issue with this novel was the plot in places just felt lacklustre and struggled to hold my attention for most of the novel but truly ended on a really strong note hence the 3.5 rating.

Disclaimer: e-Arc provided by Daphne Press, via Net Galley for Review. All thoughts are my own. My thanks to Daphne Press, for providing me with the arc for review.

DNF’d at 30%

Thoughts
I gave up on this book at about 30%, I just wasn’t enjoying it and couldn’t follow what was happening. The only thing I could keep track of was the romantic vibes between the main couple. I tried the ebook of the Arc, the physical copy from illumicrate and the audiobook from my library, this book just isn’t for me.

Sorry, but this one didn't work for me. It was a slow paced read, and I didn't connect with the characters. I also didn't love some of the themes seen in this book. Please check the trigger warmings before going into this one.

Thanks for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I am a firm believer that no one reads the same book, so if this book interests you, give it a shot. Make your own judgement.

Happy reading!

I really wanted to love this book, it sounded so interesting but it just didn’t work for me. It was really slow to start and i just didn’t feel invested in the characters. But I know that others will enjoy it..

Where to start with this wonderfully written world.

This story is quite slow in pace, and it takes time to draw the characters and create the world around you to help you immerse yourself, this doesn't suit everyone but I am used to these sort of books, and the detailed descriptions really help, but stick with it and it picks up.

There are some difficult themes with this book, but they are done in such a way that it does not distract from the story, in particular the approach to racism.

The characters are not lovable in the traditional sense, they are volatile and come across as evil especially towards people they "love". however that is quite refreshing to the typical story I read, in my opinion.

I went in with no expectations and I am leaving wanting more.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC.

I dnfed when I read about the absurd, unrealistic magic system. The writing didn't do enough to hold my interest so that I could overlook that.

I have heard so many fantastic things about this book and it did not disappoint. The world building was brilliant, the characters were loveable and relatable. Would definitely recommend!

The Sun and The Void is a sweeping epic fantasy that draws your eye into the fantastical world of magic, belief systems and comparable lines of worldly pasts of colonialism. It shows Reina's desperation for something new and frustrations of being dependent of Dona's magic. Eva's storyline is a bit more complex, being a child of illegitimacy and of mixed race. It shows how far the real world has changed. The trepidations of adventure and magic are the more enthralling parts that keeps you wanting to read onwards and is its main strengths. Aside from this, it is a slow-burn, that doesn't quite catch the full force being a blazing page-turner, but worth reading onwards to become involved in the world and the magic and creatures it holds.

I had high hope when I read the description for this book, however the book itself is lackluster in comparison to l my expectations going into reading it. I found that the pacing was way too slow, and while the worldbuilding was interesting, it could not make up for it.

I enjoyed the world that this book is set in, and the magic system is quite interesting, but it never really gripped me. I loved the South American folklore inspiration, and I think this had such strong potential, but it wasn't particularly engaging and the characters in particular all tended to blur into one. I really struggled continually throughout the book to distinguish between Reina and Eva's perspectives. The pacing was also incredibly off - somehow within the first 150 pages, 2 years have passed, which completely threw me as the way it had been reading felt as though only a month or so should have passed. The story dragged a LOT, and I feel that a lot of this book could have been cut and it wouldn't have made a difference to the plot. I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters, so I didn't care about anything that happened to them. Unfortunately I won't be continuing with the series, which is such a shame because this sounded so fantastic.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for accepting my request to read and review this book

The sun and the void started with and interesting premise, and was quick to to start. However, the biggest downfall of this book was the strange and often slow pacing overall.

Honestly, this book was way too big for what it was trying to do, I was quite often flipping pages without having really taken much in as it got boring. Atleast 100 pages could have been entirely cut out.

It took me so long to get through that by the end I was skimming. The ending was okay but it probably wasn’t enough to make me want to read the next book.

This is a 2.5 but I’m rating it up to 3 as it wasn’t bad it was just long.

I recently read a book with a lot of promise in plot and worldbuilding. What makes it even better is that it draws inspiration from the history and folklore of South America. The book has a lot of original ideas and elements that are not commonly found in other books. However, it also deals with darker aspects of the natural world's history. The two main female characters in the story start as suppressed beings, but by the end of the book, they begin to fight for their freedom. I'm curious to see what the next book has for them.

The book also has an intriguing magic system, which adds to its appeal. In addition, there is an epic quest, enemies, betrayal, and themes of accepting one's strengths, not letting others determine one's worth, and developing strong friendships. The book also features a small amount of romance, mythology, and villains and oppressors you'll hate. Multiple thrilling action scenes keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, these elements make for a great novel.
The book has one significant downside: its pacing. The narration could be more descriptive and faster-paced, making the book longer than necessary. It takes until halfway through the book before it becomes challenging to put down. However, some pieces or events feel more abrupt and less well-developed. A better balance could be struck here, resulting in a higher rating of 4 or even 4.25 stars. Despite this, I do have high hopes for the next book.

I DNFd The Sun and The Void as I wasn't able to connect to the writing.

However, when the people who will appreciate a really cool concept find this book they will love it. There is a huge, passionate market for sapphic epic fantasy and this will sit with its sisters on many people's 'favourites' shelf. It just really wasn't for me.

DNF at 53%

I loved the premise for this book and was super excited to receive it as an ARC but unfortunately it was just way too slow for me and I found myself losing interest fast.

This was a very interesting and different book, I see why some people would dislike it but i kinda enjoy it

full review here: https://youtu.be/La7yBtiR-yg

3.75/5 ⭐
This book is really promising in plot and worldbuilding, the fact that it’s inspired by the history and folklore of South America makes it even better. It’s filled with original elements and ideas you don’t often encounter in other books. Yet there are also a lot of elements integrated that are sadly part of the real world’s history as well. The two FMC start as supressed beings but towards the end of the book they finally start to fight themselves free. Because of this, I’m really curious about what the next book will have in store for them. Add an intriguing magic system to this mix and you’re holding a lot of great ingredients in your hands for a great novel. There is also an epic quest, enemies and betrayal lurking around the corner, learning to accept one’s strengths, not letting others determine your worth, blossoming friendships, a small drop of romance, lots of mythology, villains and oppressors you’ll absolutely hate, multiple thrilling action scenes, …
However, there is one big downside to this book: the pacing. This book could’ve easily been told in at least 100 pages less. The writing style is absolutely pleasant, but too descriptive and too slow paced. It takes until halfway through the book before it becomes somewhat hard to put this book down. And yet there are pieces or events that feel more abrupt, less well-developed. So perhaps a better balance could be struck here (this would result in this book getting 4 or even 4,25 stars for me). Nevertheless I have really high hopes for the next book.

3.5 Stars

I read this book in the summer and completely forgot to post my review of it.

This was an interesting read for me and I did find it took me a couple of chapters to get into this book.
The world building was intricate and complex but I also found it easy to follow. I enjoyed the history and explanations as I felt this helped us understand more.
The plot did seem a little off in a couple of places but I did push through.
I really enjoy it when books have their own unique magic system and this one was great.
I enjoyed the characters and felt that they were developed ok but could have done with some more depth to them.
I don’t know what it was but I felt this book was missing something as usually Im hooked when it comes to fantasy book but this one I struggled with unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.