<p><em>The Seventh Sun</em> is an intricately woven story about the duality of heart and mind, and passion and duty. I personally haven't read many stories about Mesoamerican mythology, but this was such a beautiful blend of the different cultures that it has definitely piqued my interest. I wanted to start by commending Lani Forbes not only for her deep dive into the history of several of these cultures, but for creating what feels like both a celebration of Mayan, Aztecan, etc. culture and religion, as well as a revitalization of history that is both modern and relevant.

I am a <em>huge sucker</em> for any book that draws inspiration from mythology, but for this to also highlight the complexities of religion and tradition was truly the cherry on top, and I feel like that's what made it different than other mythology stories I've read before. Between Mayana's constant struggle to keep her heretic thoughts hidden, the Chicome version of <em>The Bachelor</em> going on, and the world potentially coming to an end, <em>The Seventh Sun</em> was endlessly captivating with twists at every turn.

One of the things I loved the most was watching the whirlwind that is Mayana and Ahkin's developing relationship. Mayana, daughter of water, too compassionate to sacrifice what the gods demand of her. From the start, Mayana's inability to follow through with her duty to her people is an obstacle, and it only gets more complicated when she has to prove her dedication to the gods when she competes for Ahkin's heart. Mayana's acute sense of compassion was admirable, but there were some parts that it went too far, which is why I found it so genius. Her emphatic emotional intuition left her easily impressionable, and once others began to doubt her selflessness, so did she.

Ahkin, the prince of light, trying to fill shoes he isn't ready for, even if it means sacrificing everything. After losing his father, and his mother right after due to the very traditions he is bound to follow, Ahkin shoves down every gut feeling he has about the codex being semi-wrong and blindly succumbs to his duty. He's always calculating, but he also internalizes everything, so when the sun starts setting earlier than it's supposed to, he automatically blames it on his own perceived weakness.

<em>And then </em>there's the other five princesses to deal with. Each of the noble daughters has an underlying story that almost becomes a subplot (and I'm hoping that Lani pursues these dynamics more in the next book) because they each represent their kingdoms. The daughter who marries the prince not only becomes the empress, but also forms a bond between the two kingdoms. BUT, with yet another apocalypse on the horizon (literally), and a young, inexperienced prince on the throne, Tollan is fragile enough as it is; they have to make and maintain the right alliances.

Despite all the pressures both Mayana and Ahkin face, I especially love the fluff moments that allow them to be teenagers. Yes, they are 17-18 year olds who are trying to work through some political transitions as well as the issues that come with going against the grain, but they're ultimately <em>teenagers</em>, which means they feel giddy when they have a crush, and they tease their siblings. What Lani does is showcase both the other-worldly power <em>and </em>the incredibly human moments of these teenage demigods. The complicated romance tied in with the heavy socio-political implications behind every decision makes for an entertaining read.

What <em>really</em> hooked me was the conflict between unquestionable traditions and the girl who found that they just didn't make sense. Mayana's whole rationale for not fully believing in the codex is that the Mother/Father god, Ometeotl, sacrificed their children over and over so that the people may live, and they still demanded <em>more</em> blood??? In her mind, unconditional love doesn't demand sacrifice and pain, and Mayana's unique sense of empathy pushes her to look past the rituals that others have blindly followed for centuries.

I think in some places the writing felt like it was lacking something, but this was still such a joy to read. I've been in a bit of a rut lately and this reminded me why I love doing this. I think that religion truly can be a beautiful thing, but a lot of that beauty gets lost in the ritualization of it all, especially as time goes on. <em>The Seventh Sun</em> reminded me of the internal struggles we all face as humans when it comes to what we <em>should</em> do, so much so that we forget <em>why</em> we "should" do them.

Even if you don't read this book or decide that it isn't for you, I urge you to <strong>question everything</strong>. I can't speak for everyone, but I know how easy it is to get stuck in ways that you've been conditioned to think (like Ahkin), and sometimes it just takes a little disruption. That being said, sometimes that disruption is being able to "<strong>trust the process</strong>," whether that means trusting that some people are actually good and are looking out for you, or trusting that whatever will be will be. All in all, this book (and, you know, <em>life</em>), is about balancing the duality that exists in all of us.

➝ Sum it up in points!

✔ based on Aztec & Mayan civilisation
✔ slight inspiration from Egyptian cultures
✔ do-or-die obstacles to be faced
✔ mesoamerican culture and myths
✔ royalty romance
✔ sacrificial blood magic
✔ an empathetic princess meets a young emperor

The Seventh Sun rises against a backdrop of culture, legacy, and magic. With an apocalyptic legend worrying this world, an eighteen-year-old prince who has just lost his parents shines to bring some hope. Though, this golden city also expects him to bring an empress, which leads to a survival competition between princesses of the other cities. Painting the sky with romantic strokes, the book also offers the insta-love trope for the two royalties, making the readers fall in love with the new strong headed empress too. A magic system that asks for blood sacrifice builds on the inspired mythology and the great writing is bound to captivate the readers.

➝ Trigger Warnings

✔ human & animal sacrifice
✔ death of parents
✔ witnessing a suicide
✔ frequent self-harming (cutting)
✔ blood spilling & mentions

4*
Pros: Beautiful portrait of Mayan culture, full of folklore and mythology. Fantastic magic system. Detailed world-building, depicting different peoples, customs, and lands under the same belief system. Great description and narrative style. Good focus on family and societal expectations. Brings to light some issues with religion that I share in this day and age.
.
Cons: Insta-love. The Bachelor-type of trope, with various girls competing to be chosen by one man. One-dimensional and cliche characters.

This book was very good, I enjoyed the world building and overall flow of the plot. The characters were a bit boring at times but other than that it was a quick and fun read for me!

This was an interesting read, it opened up the Mayan/ Aztec civilization to me. The insight into how importabt rituals were to this society was fascinating.

Centre of it is Ahkin, a prince thrust into the role of emperor before he is ready due to the untimely death of his father. We see his struggles with insecurities and self doubt. As part of his ascension to the throne he is required to marry.
So enters Mayana, not only a princess but also a contender in a competition for the right to be Ahkin's empress, a competition that she needs to win at all costs, for the alternative is death.

What follows is a rich world of romance(slow burn) betrayals and tensions between old customs and new ideas. A unique magic system full of elemental and blood magic. The myths and lore is fascinating and really works to pull the story together. I am normally not a fan of a cliff-hanger ending, but this one was done well with a resolution I was happy with. Excited to see where Lani Forbes takes this story next. Reading the authors note at the end was particularly insightful, as she talks about her research into the South American civilisations this book was based on. I would recommend checking it out.

I haven’t read a lot of fantasy books based on ancient Aztec and Maya mythology and culture, so it’s a refreshing to see a new fantasy book that is inspired from Mesoamerican heritage. Funny thing about reading a fantasy book where it’s inspired by other mythology and culture that isn’t mine is; I ended up browsing through articles after articles—trying to learn more about Mesoamerican mythology and culture. I learn new things from this book alone, and that’s a good thing.

The Seventh Sun is really rich in culture and it’s always nice to see other people’s culture being represented in a book. Forbes really took her time to build an imaginative world that will capture her readers’ imagination and heart.

A kingdom that is influenced by Aztec and Maya geography, the Chicome Empire is divided to six cities with noble family that could perform different magic; water, healing, control over animal, wind, fire and sun summoner. I’m intrigued with how magic works in Chicome Kingdom, that people have to sacrifice their own blood to summon their magical power. I like the fact that there’s a limitation of magic here, because a powerful character could into a Gary Stu/Mary Sue character and we’ve had a lot of those characters in YA Fantasy book.

With religion and politic as the center point of the story, Forbes leads us deeper to Chicome custom and structure. These aspects are important if you want to build a good world building that’ll give your readers a better understanding of the world these characters live in, so, kudos for Forbes!

Whereas complex world building could be overwhelming to some people, The Seventh Sun will leave you craving for more adventure, for more places to explore. Prepare to be traveled back to Aztec and Maya civilizations while reading this book.

Despite how cliche and stereotypical the characters are, Forbes fixed it with cute romance in The Seventh Sun. If you’re type of people who thinks romance ruin a book, I think this book is not for you. But, if you’re like me, who likes to read about people falling in love, then you’re going to love this book!

Yes, this book is about Prince Ahkin choosing a wife so he could rule the empire together with his empress, but believe me, Ahkin’s and Mayana’s moments are so cute.

I was afraid that I wouldn’t finish this book on time, but here I am! YA Fantasy with complex world building tends to be really slow and lasts for more than 400 pages, so I appreciate how fast this book goes.

One second, I heard that Prince Ahkin’s father had passed away, and the next second, I watched Mayana traveled from Atl to Tollan, to prove herself worthy as an empress. So, if you’re looking for a short fantasy novel, The Seventh Sun is for you!

I honestly don’t know how to start this review. In fact, I’m not even sure if my brain is properly working right now because guess what? I stayed until 5 AM to finish this book. I wanted to finish it so badly that I couldn’t even wait for another day.

To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations for this. Sure, the premise sounded exciting. It’s not every day that you stumble upon a fantasy book based on the Aztec and Mayan legends. But the human sacrifice aspect of the plot reminded me of Gravemaidens and that was, unfortunately, a bit disappointing.

However, a few chapters in and I was hooked. I’m not sure if it’s the plot, Ahkin (I have a weak spot for princes), or the writing but it was the type of book that I really wanted to finish fast. It was interesting and intriguing enough that I didn’t want to put it down. And when I got to the conflict, I wanted to finish it even faster. It is the kind that feels like removing band-aid on a wound. You know it’s painful but also inevitable so you just have to go through it as quickly as possible.

What I really liked about this book is the romance. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge shipper. When I like a couple, I don’t mind if they have too many sweet moments. In fact, the longer it is, the happier my heart will be. I really shipped Mayana and Ahkin so I was quite happy that they had so many moments together. Technically, theirs was a whirlwind romance that happened in a few days. But it was understandable because there was a time constraint so I didn’t have a problem with it. It felt like they've known each other forever.

Another thing I liked about this book is how it was unpredictable. The reason the sun was fading was unexpected and not something I even considered. I also liked how Laini incorporated magical elements into the story and didn’t just base everything from Aztec and Mayan history and rituals. It made things a lot more interesting.

The only minor problem I had with this book are the names. I have no idea how to pronounce them. Atl, Yaotl, Ehecatl... Please, can someone enlighten me?

The ending definitely hints at a second book but it is not the kind of cliffhanger that’s infuriating. It was satisfying but at the same time, makes you want more. I am really excited about what’s in store for this series. Based on what happened in the last chapter, it will get even more interesting.

"A lifetime ago, she had gripped the handle of her knife as the only steady thing in a world shifting beneath her feet. Now, his hand would be that anchor."

Going to use the official description because I could describe without spoiling:
Thrust into leadership upon the death of his emperor father, young Prince Ahkin feels completely unready for his new position. Though his royal blood controls the power of the sun, he’s now responsible for the lives of all the Chicome people. And despite all Ahkin’s efforts, the sun is fading—and the end of the world may be at hand.
For Mayana, the only daughter of the Chicome family whose blood controls the power of water, the old emperor’s death may mean that she is next. Prince Ahkin must be married before he can ascend the throne, and Mayana is one of six noble daughters presented to him as a possible wife. Those who are not chosen will be sacrificed to the gods.
Only one girl can become Ahkin’s bride. Mayana and Ahkin feel an immediate connection, but the gods themselves may be against them. Both recognize that the ancient rites of blood that keep the gods appeased may be harming the Chicome more than they help. As a bloodred comet and the fading sun bring a growing sense of dread, only two young people may hope to change their world.
Rich in imagination and romance, and based on the legends and history of the Aztec and Maya people, The Seventh Sun brings to vivid life a world on the edge of an apocalyptic disaster.

Well, well, well. My most anticipated fantasy read, right after 'Children Of Virtue and Vengeance'. And how dare it be so mind-blowingly fantastic, riveting, elegant and enthralling that it is now threatening the position 'Legacy of Orisha' series holds?
Oh good lord! The plot is just so original and demands rapt attention. I have become a very critical reader since the time I started reviewing and this story contains twists that come out of nowhere like 'Quicksilver' and slaps you right across your face so hard. But does that dimish the joy this book gives? NO!
There is just something so magical, dreamy and brilliant about the romance between Prince Akhin and Lady Mayana! The writing style makes the reader experience the entirety so evocatively and 12 hours have gone past and it still is so vivid in my head! Every single character in the book plays such an important role and the power each character holds in their own way is just too empowering and heart touching. The world-building is done with great splendour and it makes you want to explore more about it! There are a few chapters that just made me bite my nails and lips so hard that it is bleeding. I am also sure I have given myself a bald spot.

*start rant*
Do you know what breaks my heart about this book?
1. The fact that I have to wait, I don't know for how much longer, for the second book to come out. I know it's not a nice thing of me to expect the second one right now when the first one is still impending for its release in 4 more days.
2. I am not finding a physical copy in any online web stores so I can save up and gift this to myself on my birthday. And none of the stores in my region has an idea about this book. I am about to commit a crime because how dare they tell it to my face that they don't know about this book?
*end rant*

I can never be more thankful for being part of NetGalley because:
1. If it weren't for it I wouldn't have come across this book until it was racing up to take the spots on the best sellers list.
2. I have a new friend, thanks to this book! We call ourselves 'The Seventh Sisters'! YAY!
3. I wouldn't have experienced the immense joy this book gave me, even though there were moments so poignant and heart-wrenching!

This book was archived before I could download it and that twisted my heart. But thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for extending the archive date after I requested you!

The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes is unique in the fact that it focuses on South American cultures. It has a bit of Mayan, Aztec, and Egyptian cultures within it. I found that to be quite fascinating. This book starts off with a very dramatic bang. Ahkin’s father has died. Ahkin’s mother is off to kill herself per the tradition of their culture. His mother kills herself so that her son is able to marry and the new wife will be the next incarnation of the goddess. I mean what a way to start the beginning of a novel. Ahkin has to find a wife before he can inherit the title of emperor.

Wow! There are so many rules for finding a wife. They have to be of noble descendant of one fo the gods. These gods are continually worshiped for the sacrifices to keep the people alive. The woman must prove themselves worthy of the marriage. The women that are not picked are sacrificed as a ceremonial blessing for the emperor’s rule and marriage. Quite intense right?

Then we have Mayana who doesn’t believe in tradition and rituals. The beliefs she has about these traditions and rituals could get her killed if anyone found out. Mayana is an empath. She has a hard time with the sacrifices both human and animal. She doesn’t want to do them anymore and she questions why they are being done in the first place. All she truly feels is that she is letting her father down all the time because she has such a chard time with their way of life.

I really liked the magic system in this book. I thought it was fitting. In order for someone with magic (or power) to be able to use it, they have to first cut themselves and spill their blood. There is also a fine line because they can’t spill too much blood or they will die. I feel like this book covers a lot of ground. You have Ahkin looking for a wife. You have Mayana falling in love with Ahkin but being conflicted due to her beliefs. You have conspiracies and traditions. So much information is dumped on you. This book is very hard to put down. It goes by fairly quickly.

I was given a free advanced e-book copy of this book by Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine a world where every ceremony or right of passage was celebrated with a blood sacrifice to gods, to honor their sacrifices that built your world. Your society is built on an extremely detailed and ridged set of codes that dictate how and when sacrifices must be made. And now, you find yourself in the middle of one such ceremony, where a new emperor must choose a new wife from between six daughters, but the ones who aren't chosen become sacrifices to honor the new union. Mayana, daughter of Alt, with the power of water in her blood is one of the six chosen to be presented to the new Emperor Ankin. She must stand out and capture the new emperor's heart, or die. Ahkin is still grieving the sudden loss of his parents and along with establishing himself as worthy of leading his people, he must also choose a wife and sentence innocent lives to the death. Through these trials, Mayana and Ahkin are able to form a deep connection and uncover a dangerous plot that may destroy the world as they know it.
The mesoamerican influences in this book are extravagant. From the awe-inspiring stepped temples to the traditional garb, crowns and accessories the characters would proudly and lovingly display during ceremonies, it really felt like you took a step into a time long before any European influences. The garb was described with such detail that you could tell the author was passionate about what she thought was important to these characters and these ceremonies. I loved the element of the obsidian dangers, they were so symbolic, not only of rank and ability but the dedication it took to perform their God-given abilities. The importance of blood ran so deep in so many cultures, but the tie to blood in this world was intriguing. Imagine being told you have the blood of a god inside your veins, and you can use that blood to perform with or manipulate different elements, the only thing is you have to actually draw that blood, and the bigger the act the more blood is required. While you are not a god, your life force is what you use to prove your dedication.
The characters in this book blew me out of the water. There were six princesses, all from different villages, all with different god-like powers. Their personalities could not have been more different. We had Fire, Air, Healing, Water, Plants, and Animals all represented by the different villages, with the Sun ruling over all. Mayana was descended from the water god, so with her blood she could control water, using it to help fight off drought, manage floods and rains and she could swim. Ahkin was descended from the sun god, it was his duty as emperor to raise the sun every day. Some of the princesses got a little stereotypical, such as the healing princess was very caring and meek, the animal princess was fierce and cruel, the fire princess was quick to temper. We didn't get to spend as much time with the different princesses as I wanted to, so I really hope they continue to be part of the story!
I was so excited to see how the trials for Ahkin to choose his bride would play out, and believe me I was not disappointed! I swooned, I was anxious, and I was straight up ready to jump in this book and smack some people around. The romance was a treat, when you only have two weeks to pick your future wife, things are sure to move a little (a lot) quickly. I did enjoy the interactions between all the different princesses, I tried to think how I would act in this situation, it is like the deadliest version of "The Bachelor" with fewer group dates and more assassination attempts. I don't think I could help wanting to find someone to be a friend during that terrifying experience.
That ending though. The last 85% I was certain I knew where things were gonna go and everyone was gonna get what they had coming to them, good or bad, but boy. was. i. wrong. This came out of nowhere! I couldn't believe the last 5% of this book, I was just manically reading as fast as I could to find out what would happen! Lani Forbes has managed to make my stomach leap but my heart sink, all in a single chapter.

These are my initial thoughts and will be more expanded on my blog review that will be posted on Feb 14, 2020 at biblioxytocin.wordpress.com

OH MY GODS. This beautiful, rich, and majestic world that Lani Forbes created was just so breathtaking. I literally planted myself in a coffee shop, and was dragged home as I glued my eyes on this book. The rich world building and Lani Forbes' descriptive writing got me so hooked I didn't even notice the time pass by. Whenever the descriptions of the cities were told, I can literally imagine myself walking beside Mayana, experiencing it all. The magic system was fantastic! Elemental magic that is manipulated by blood!! how wonderful. The structure and rules were clearly defined too.

The characters were also well developed and well written. Although, I would have loved to get to know the other girls as well. I absolutely loved Mayana and her questioning their customs and religious ways. I believe that each book needs amazing morally gray characters and the gods heard me and gave me Mayana. Prince Ahkin's character was my favorite though. He felt like he was not enough and wanted to fill in his father's shoes at such a young age, he was persistent and he was noble, and just overall wonderful.

Now, on to waiting for book 2!

I didn't want to stop reading this book, it's that simple. Once I opened it I was immediately hooked and kept reading until the book ended. This is a very vivid world filled with plot twists, badass princesses, and penty of plot twists.

My one real complaint about this book is just how instalovey the romance is. I know the context is a short timeframe, but for the characters to already be in love after something like 1-2 weeks? No thanks, wasn't really believing it. That being said, I am definitely supportive of the romance and hope it continues to develop, just maybe at a more believable pace.

The rest of the book is really good. I liked the attention given to mesoamerica, how the practices of the Mayan and Aztec people were looked at through a non-judgemental eye by the author and were instead shown with respect through a historical viewpoint. The plot was interesting and the emphasis on religion and the value of one's beliefs was a great aspect of this book.

I'm really looking forward to book two, partially because this book ended on a cliffhanger but mostly because I want everything that felt dialed down to be amped up in the next book. I want more of an intense plot, more revolutionary thinking, etc. I think the author can do a lot with this world and I'm excited to see what's next!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes. I've voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Seventh Sun is a story about Mayana, one of the six noble daughters presented to Prince Ahkin as a future wife. Mayana has to win the Prince's heart or be sacrificed. As Mayana and Ahkin's connection grows, Mayana's secret might ruin her chance at survival.

I've read The Seventh Sun in one sitting. It's absolutely captivating. The world-building is super rich and the magic system is interesting with an unique spin. The stakes are high. The characters are real and all of them are fleshed out really well. Mayana and Ahkin's connection is written beautifully and gives you all the flutters. The various noble daughters are all very interesting in their own right. To top that, it has a great spin on mythology.

The Seventh Sun had me on the edge of my seat, brimming with curiosity to discover how it would end. And wow.... the ending was incredibly well-written, surprising and leaves room for a great sequel. Get your hands on a copy if you can!

I'm speechless. This book was incredible. I was hooked from the first page and didn't want to put it down. I loved it so much I read it in a 48hr period 🙈

SO. The seventh sun is set in a fantasy world based on MesoAmerican culture. The world is beautifully developed and the magic system not only makes sense but is fantastically fleshed out.

I felt like I was missing the book not reading it. It takes a brilliant author to make you forget you're even reading and drag you straight into their world but Lani did this seemingly effortlessly ❤

Our protagonists are both strong wonderful characters in their own ways and act as dualities to each other 👥 you get a great sense for who they are with their internal dialogues and at no point did I feel overwhelmed or bored or confused 💪

The plot line takes a common YA fantasy trope of a competition to win a place as royalty/safety/love but the way it's written makes it completely unique, believable and an absolute pleasure to read 😍

Honestly, 5 stars is not enough for this book. I love, love LOVE this book so much and cannot wait to hear more about Mayana and Ahkin (our protagonists) story ❤

Review will be live on instagram, twitter, tumblr and facebook by 8th Feb.

**Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Thoughts:
The story takes place in the Chicome Empire, which is inspired by ancient Aztec, Maya, and Inca civilizations and cultures. It has a rich and vivid setting, kind of reminded me of the Aladdin movie. The story happens in the midst of the churning of a new apocalypse. After having endured six apocalypse, the Chicome Empire is about to endure the seventh one. Every day the sun is setting early than the last, until there threatens to be no more light left. Hence, the novel takes place over the course of two weeks. It’s a fast-paced novel with action at every turn of the page and intensity for the readers as the clock ticks down.
The characters were really well fleshed out. Mayana was such a pure soul, it was impossible not to love her. I also appreciated how much depth was given into the personalities of the other 5 girls. Each one is so distinct, and despite the competition and the high stakes present, you want them all to live. Some people might consider the romance a little bit unrealistic, considering that it builds up very quickly, but I personally think the author executed it very well.
Lani Forbes succeeds in concocting an exciting plot to keep you on your toes and an ending that leaves you aching for more. I'm looking forward to reading the second book!

Read if you liked:
The Selection, Spin the Dawn, The Heroes of Olympus

The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes was great! I loved the main characters of Prince Ahkin and Mayana and their individual journey!

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why I read this book. I think I saw the words Maya and Aztec and was on board.

The first few chapters were not my thing. I pushed reading this book all the way from October (it is January). But since my ARCs just kept piling up, I thought "just read it and you'll be done with it".
I was pleasantly surprised, though. The story really picks up later on and there's a lot of cool things happening. Mayana, our main character, is basically a water-bender, while Ahkin, the prince, is a descendant of the god of the sun and can bend light. Sounds dope, doesn't it?

I described the plot as "The Selection AU set in Aztec/Maya mythology (because I can't tell which one this is, sue me) with gods", which is pretty fitting. So, if you liked The Selection, or all it's look-alikes, you're going to enjoy this!
I didn't like The Selection.
But! This book was good nonetheless!

The only big thing I had trouble with, was how the plot developed in like a week or two. These two were in love the second they got to be alone and without even really knowing each other. It felt a lot like insta love, and considering how they knew each other for like ten days, Five of which they spent apart, the finale was just... not my thing.
I also believed this to be a standalone, only to be left with a cliffhanger, did not appreciate that. But if you know that's coming, it was a pretty good read.


@Blackstone Publishing: Thanks for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Well...wow. I really, really enjoyed this book. Like I mean, really enjoyed.

The writing is very good and the author keeps your interest throughout the entire thing. It was one of those books where I was constantly thinking about it when I didn't have time to read.

When I first read the synopsis and saw that it sort of sounded like the YA series The Selection with girls competing to win the Prince's hand, I wasn't too sure about reading it. While I enjoyed The Selection series, I really didn't want another book that reminded me of The Bachelor. This book did not remind me at all of that.

The book follows Mayana, a nobleman daughter who is sent to compete with other girls. It also switches to the Prince's POV, which was nice to see things in his perspective. The ending definitely has me wanting more. Mayana and Prince Ahken's story is not over yet!

I would definitely recommend this book and I will be picking up a hard copy for preorder.

“Well, I believe that if you ignore the heart for too long, when it finally does grab your attention, it often screams and demands that you listen.”
•
•
The setting of this story is extremely interesting. The Sun has been destroyed Six times by calamities, like floods and storms. Every time a Sun is destroyed a God sacrifices himself to create a new one and the descendants of these Gods are nobles with great powers. Ahkin is the son of the emperor and when his father suddenly dies he has the task to rise the Sun every day. But he has so many responsibilities that risk to submerge him; indeed the Sun is setting earlier and earlier every day and Priests suspect his blood is not strong enough to accomplish his mission.. not to mention he has to choose a wife. According to tradition he can choose between six beautiful nobles and the ones that are not chosen will be sacrificed. One of them is Mayana, who needs to seduce the prince, without letting him know she hates animal and human sacrifices. Indeed in their culture they are essential to please the Gods, but she is sure they would never demand so much blood in return for their own sacrifices, which had been made out of love.

Aztecan end Egyptian cultures has influenced this book and the result is an innovative setting with a very capturing story. In particular I loved how Mayana is not affected by traditions and rituals and she wants to choose for herself what it’s right. Even nowdays sometimes religion is used to control people and make them do things that a good God would never demand! Unfortunately I struggled getting involved in the romance, indeed instalove is definitely not my favorite trope, even if I must admit it has been treated quite well by the author. Indeed Mayana recognizes that Ahkin’s affection is mainly lead by the fact that he is idealizing her and not seeing the real her. Nonetheless I am really curious to see how the two guys will face all the difficulties to save themselves and their world in the following book.

The Seventh Sun follows two equally lost souls, conflicted in a world where one minuscule transgression might mean perpetual damnation. Inspired by ancient Aztec, Maya, and Inca civilisations and cultures, the novel is situated in the Chicome Empire, a land that has been devastated by six individual apocalypses; by water, storm, fire, famine, sickness, and beasts. It is because of this that the Chicome people endeavour to uphold the sacred sacraments of the creator goddess, either through blood or sacrifice. This fresh perspective on religion was refreshing, adding a new dimension to Forbes’ world-building, however, I did find the followers unsettling to the say the least—almost reminding me of the Ku Klux Klan because of the pathological devotement instilled into the society from birth.

In the opening chapter, the reader is introduced to the plagued notion that Chicome might be on the threshold of another apocalypse, as the sun sets earlier with each passing day. This imposes a short timeframe for which the novel spans, with the events of the storyline occurring within a mere two weeks. Due to this, I found that some negatives did eventuate from this, namely the unrealistic relationship between the main characters that progressed from like to love in a matter of days. However, there were positives, for instance, the time pressure subjected a certain amount of weight to each respective action of the characters and provoked a sense of distress for the welfare of the Chicome Empire.

Although, because of this brief timeline, I felt a portion of the chapters were unnecessary and rather out of place. Case in point, the battle that transpired against the Miquitz (who were kidnapping outskirt villagers for their own sacrifices) appeared as a foolish ploy for Prince Ahkin to validate his worth as a soldier. Moreover, the battle ensued far too hastily, with little show for war room strategies and tactics upon the field, both of which are significant factors of war.

Moving on to the primary protagonists, the plot reflected the perspectives of Mayana of Atl and Prince Ahkin of Chicome, both of whom followed expected tropes of the genre. Mayana represented the cliche nice girl, someone who is delicate, beautiful, and sympathetic to all, with an innocence to be unparalleled. She is someone who can do no wrong. Whilst Mayana is somewhat weak-minded, she does show a significant amount of resolve in refusing the ritual sacrifices of animals, something that I can respect in her character. However, I find this to be the only thing I can really connect with her on and have difficulties not showing disappoint towards the typical company Mayana keeps.

Firstly, she is surrounded by mostly vague side characters, such as Yoli, someone who is alleged to appear badass, but because of limited development and scant information provided, it’s tough to regard her as anything more than a blank canvas. Secondly, the other princesses selected for the chance at empress from their respective regions portray stereotypical behaviours, where there is one that exists solely to despise Mayana, attempting by any means to destroy Mayana’s social upstanding. Then, there is the compliant, feeble one, the one that Mayana coddles and protects, and yet inevitably hurts in her pursuit of empress. Despite this, I found each individual princess fascinating for their unique ability to employ elemental magic through the drawing of blood — taking the use of magic to a whole other level.

Otherwise, in analysing Prince Ahkin, his temperament indicated that of a usual fictional prince, with his prowess asserted at any given chance. However, there was one deviation, where Ahkin was actually shown to be unsure, to be indecisive and fear failure, a trait that is rarely acknowledged. This made Akin very much understandable as everyone throughout their lifetime worries that they are not enough or that their ability is not enough. In other respects, I would have preferred to see more of Prince Ahkin in the political field and the politics both within Chicome and outside its borders as I felt the novel lacked in this area. Moreover, I felt Ahkin advisors were not well suited or rather inconsequential in the Prince’s decisions, having let Ahkin trust the word of Miquitz soldiers, which displays an obvious absence of expertise on part of the council members. Apart from this, there also should have been a justification for the evident fear of servants whom surrounded Ahkin, as they always stumbled, mumbled, and stuttered in their speech, sweating even at the presence of their Prince. To me, this kind of dread should not be condoned, as it indicates the servants are used to some degree of hostile treatment and thus are anxious around their perpetrators. In summary, although, Prince Ahkin’s personal development is one of my more favoured aspects of the book, with appealing prospects for future novels in Ahkin’s religious, personal and political stances.

Overall, I would have loved more description within the writing, but this was balanced by the compelling attention to detail in the world-building. With the politics, the gods, the magic system, and the societal structure all instrumental in the orchestration of the plot. So if you are one for world-building, then this is the story for you. In conclusion, in spite of the flaws in this novel, I found myself up all night reading The Seventh Sun, with each chapter leaving me wanting to know more.

- Review to be published January 15th 2020