Their blood is the power that protects their people.
Mayana, a demigod with the gift of water, is our compassionate and empathetic main character of The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes. I took to Mayana quickly because of those two qualities that are so apparent. Living in a society that doesn’t blink at sacrificing life for meals and festivals, she is continuously fighting an internal battle – to please the Gods’ sacred rituals, or remain true to her own ideals.

As the only daughter of their royal family, Mayana must court Prince Ahkin of Chicome. The Prince is responsible for raising the sun in the sky with his blood every morning. No big deal, right?

The chosen princess will live, the others will die.
It’s no surprise that the impending deaths of her fellow princesses weighs heavy on Mayana’s mind. Caught up in the charms of Prince Ahkin, Mayana battles with how to save the other women courting him. The codex requires their deaths to bless the Prince’s reign and honor the Gods.

Sun Rise - The Seventh Sun Lani ForbesI was immediately drawn to this story after reading the synopsis because of my true interest in Aztec history. History portrays them with large temples, animal and human sacrifices, and worship of the sun. The Aztec belief system has been painted cold and murderous. It’s a steep challenge for Lani Forbes to unwind our preconceived ideas about this culture. Forbes took an appropriate amount of creative license with the facts, added in some relatable perspectives, and out came an impressive story.

This series is sure to be an exciting adventure.
I can’t wait for the next one!

This one reminded me of the Selection series (which I loathed) except without as much lazy writing and with some actual world building. Unfortunately it still fell flat for me in several areas.

I didn’t love the setup... author creates obvious moral issue, puts all characters except one on the wrong side in order to endear the main character to the audience. It was too black and white and frankly a bit pedantic. The god system was incredibly derivative as well.

There’s so much rich Aztec culture that could’ve been explored here too but it fell to the wayside. I found myself comparing it to Gods of Jade and Shadow which was far superior in this regard.

Finally, it ended too abruptly and in a way that doesn’t make me interested in continuing the series.

You don't really ever see YA novels based on Aztec/Mayan myths and I didn't realize how disappointed I was by that until I finished this book. This is a great YA love story and light read, it was an easy 1 day binge for me. I highly recommend this to those readers who liked The Selection series (or similar) and want a new setting for their YA love stories.

Outstanding - my pick for one of the top YA books of next year.

I don't think that I have ever read a YA book that centred on the Aztec culture, something that fascinated me so much as a child, and I adored this.

There have been so many stories over the last year or so revolving around arranged marriages, or winning princes hearts ect. that I must admit, I entered this book a little jaded. However Lani has woven this magical world with such finesse that it drew me in and I couldn't put it down.

Rich culture interwoven with demi gods, friendship, romance, betrayal, secrets, plots, war and tested loyalties. This has everything I love and more.

Word to the wise though, this story will suck you in and you will be left as desperate as I am for the sequel. I cannot wait to follow these characters on the next step of their journey.

With a little bit of The Selection, a dash of The Wrath and the Dawn, and a whole lot of incredible Mexican/Aztec/Mayan influence, this is definitely not a story you want to miss out on. Mayana and Ahkin live in a world driven by sacrifice and ritual, constantly working to appease the gods and ensure the wellbeing of their people. As members of the noble families, their blood has the power to call forth different elements. And together they're going to bring change to their land.

Ahkin wakes up to find his father dead, his mother sacrificing herself to join him, as custom dictates she must. He is suddenly the emperor, with the weight of his people on his shoulders, and he must find a wife in two weeks before he can fully be granted his power. Mayana is the daughter of a lower noble house who doesn't believe in the sacrifices. She does not think the gods have ordered they kill to make them happy. and she knew this heretical belief could get her killed, but she can no longer hide it as she is forced to go to the palace to take part in the challenge to win the prince's hand. The consequence of losing is death, as the noble daughter not chosen will be sacrificed to ensure a happy and prosperous rule for the prince and the girl who is chosen.

Mayan must keep her secret and expects to not stand a chance with the prince. But he is drawn to her from the moment she is introduced, and the two of them start falling for one another. Mayana hopes to change things for their people, finding proof that the gods do not ask for sacrifices, as well as stumbling upon a conspiracy to kill the new emperor. She must do whatever she can to keep him safe and convince him to understand her argument against the sacrifices.

This book is amazing and the ending leaves you needing the next book as soon as possible. I definitely recommend getting your hands on a copy as soon as it releases, because you do not want to miss out on this epic story!

I think when I requested this book, the only bit I knew about it was "The sun of the Chicome people has been destroyed six times.". Because when I opened this book and started reading it, I was delightfully surprised. And hooked.

This actually feels like a more mature, and darker, version of the Falling Kingdoms series. We have multiple POVs and the main characters overlap and connect in various ways.
As you all know that I’m a sucker for well written characters, this book was a joy to read for me. Each of the characters is well rounded, we get to know where they are coming from, where they might be heading towards and what’s the justification behind their actions. We really get to know all of them very intimately and I loved that. And it was the way every one of them was different that I found compelling - some are driven for the sake of family, some just want to survive and others are bound by duty - but they all converge in unexpected ways and I thoroughly enjoyed the various dynamics that formed in the process.
I'm not sure I have favorites yet but more importantly there wasn't a single POV I disliked. I loved how the plot played out, the betrayals, the reveals, the mystery that still lies heavy over everything. Again, I hate to make the comparison because plot-wise and theme-wise they aren’t the same, but this is exactly what I wanted when I picked up the Falling Kingdoms series.

I found the world building in this book to be very well written, giving us enough information at the right times so we know what’s happening, but also maintaining an air of mystery throughout which is definitely what’s gonna make me read the next one.

In the end, I want to conclude by saying that if you are a YA fantasy fan and love the idea of aztec/maya culture, you'll love this one.

The Seventh Sun - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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I have to admit, I was brought in by all the Aztec and Mayan richness that this debut novel exuded. And although there were parts I adored (the culture, the mythology, the writing) there were also parts I did not enjoy as much (the characters, the plot for about 3/4’s). However I did appreciate the pros more than the cons.

I am always fascinated with a book so full of mythology and teachings that I get swept up in all that extravagant lore, Lani does this so very well which makes The Seventh Sun for the most part a joy to read. However, apart from Ahkin, my love for the characters wears a little thin. I found the first half to be monotonous and predictable whereas the second half is where the plot truly grows and I think displays Lani’s imagination in the best way.

Overall it was an enjoyable read and I shall certainly be getting myself a physical copy when this book is released. I love how Lani has delved into this Aztec mythology with a fantastical twist, it is certainly something for a debut novel and totally worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this highly anticipated and original book!

I first saw THE SEVENTH SUN on Instagram reposted by another Blackstone author. I am a huge follower of this publishing company because they churn out some really unique stories. This book was no different.

When the young prince is declared king after his parent's death, he immediately sends out word to find a bride for he cannot officially be crowned without a queen by his side. Enter Mayana, daughter of a lord. She's sent to the palace to compete with other girls to win the prince's heart. But this isn't a SELECTION type contest. This is gritty and violent and Mayana thinks she doesn't have the heart for it but soon realizes that she may have a shot, lies to the prince and carries on a love affair with him. This doesn't bode well with the other girls and others within the court alike. Corruption wriggles underfoot like a snake and Mayana has to figure out where her loyalties lie.

I loved the Mayan history and mythology in this book. It is something we don't see too often. Mayana was a heroine to root for. The writing was excellent and kept me engaged.

A few things I didn't like was that I wanted more on the other girls. They were introduced and then fell into the background. I wanted more girl power, perhaps. Another thing was almost instant-love. I understand authors only have a certain number of pages to get their point across but this one seemed oh so quick. These things were minor though and did not affect my rating too much.

Overall, I liked this book and I will read the second for sure. I had a great time reading it and that is what matters most to me.

Recommended: Yes!
For a fantastic Mayan-esque fantasy, for a ripe and unique world of belief and gods, for anyone who wants to imagine more about the world in the movie The Road to El Dorado

Thoughts:
I have noticed that I don't read much with Central or South American styles or themes to it. However, The Road to El Dorado is one of my favorite movies, and I couldn't help but be reminded of that fact as I was reading descriptions of huge towering golden temples with countless steps, of lush jungles where panthers stalk, and of blood sacrifices that allow the demigods to wield incredible magic. And so, perhaps it's not that surprising that I somewhat fell in love with this world. 😍

Complex belief systems, especially when coupled with gods and myths, always suck me in. I loved learning the lore of this world, and the absolutely gorgeous setting didn't hurt either! I wanted to know more about the other princesses, particularly the storm princess, as several hints were dropped but never built upon.

The story felt a bit rushed to me around the middle. Mayana being chosen after a day and a half, with two interactions directly with Ahkin that consisted of him coming to spy on her while she's swimming naked, and him coming to make out with her and try to get her naked again. That's a bit of a generalization, but honestly the romance and draw between them felt very weak and unconvincing. THAT IS, until we got to the last few chapters and learned some very important details. Honestly the way it was all tied together towards the end resolved most of the issues I had been having, because it was so well done and so EXCITING. I can't wait to read the next one, but unfortunately, I'll have to.

Some questions for the author:
- Does menstrual blood count for the sacrifices? Are the women just mad powerful for a week each month? Or is that just discreetly not a thing for these women?

- Do they have any blood-based diseases? Because those people were definitely sharing knives and I'm thinking there's no way that's sterile.

Yes… this is what I think about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book has an unique supernatural world that I enjoyed reading about. A well-plotted and interesting story moves along the action and makes it a fast read you won't want to put down.

This book was beautiful. I felt for the main characters and I was rooting for them the entire time. I also love how the world was inspired by the Aztec and Mayan traditions. It was a very enjoyable read.

This was the perfect mix between The Selection and ancient Aztec/Maya/Inca mythology. I loved it from the beginning to the end, with one slight exception.

We have Prince Ahkin, whose father, the emperor of the Chicome has just died unexpectedly, and who must now become emperor himself, choose a bride among several royal daughters and deal with the empire's looming war. On the other side, we have Mayana (I LOVE that name !), one of the royal daughters sent to Prince Ahkin, capable of mastering water and possessing quite a strong mind.

Mayana must take part in several trials to hope to become the Chicome's next empress. If she fails, she dies.
Among all that, some political plots blossom , the enemies of the empire taking advantage of the death of the emperor.

The whole book is set in an ancient Aztec etc... like world. I don't think I have read one before, and what a shame it is. I really loved that setting, and even though I'm sure all the traditions depicted in the book are not all real, it was like diving in a parallel ancient world reminding me a lot of Tomb Raider.

All in all, the trials for a prince trope reminded me of The Selection series by Kiera Cass, and I had loved that specific trope. Mayana was really a loveable character, and I thought she handled the competition really well. Of course, competition means competitors. And if there are competitors, there's jealousy, and where there's jealousy, there's a mean girl.

Yes, it was probably expected with that trope, but I was disappointed by how cliché this was. We have that one girl who really dislikes Mayana because she's great, and who does everything in her power to put Mayana in tricky positions. That was just overdone in my opinion.

However, the cliché aspect of things is the only thing I disliked about the book. My guilty pleasure is reading about royalty falling in love, so I awwww-ed while reading all the cute moments between Ahkin and Mayana (which is a lot in the book) so I was more than happy with the book.

The rythm of the story flowed nicely, nothing was rushed, and it introduced quite smoothly a deeper plot for the following book. I don't know how many sequels there will be, but I know I'll probably make sure to read them. I definitely want more of Ahkin and Mayana, and the cliffhanger the book leaves us with is so gripping I can't do anything else than wait impatiently for the next book !

Beautifully written, designed and executed book. The synopsis drew me in immediately and the cultural aspects kept pushing the envelope with world building. There was one certain trope that kept it from being a 5 star read for me but loved this book!!! Thankyou so much for approving me to review it!! Exciting, adventurous and romantic book. Looking forward fo getting a hard copy as well.

In this engaging story, every single detail is a delicious addition to a unique plot. Though full of nostalgia, this book offers an original story about a strong princess. I was hooked very early on as I read about a setting that was vivid and came enticingly to life with its beautiful cultural descriptions. The world that is built by Forbes is exceptional and you are sure to find yourself immediately immersed in the world as you follow characters throughout a wonderful adventure. The appeal in this story is parallel to the magic created by the mythological worlds of Percy Jackson and other creatures. I believe this book was inspired by Aztec and Mayan beliefs, which are naturally interesting and fantasy driven. This story is sure to be an enjoyable read that will appeal to a wide variety of readers sure to find it easy to devour upon first beginning to read.

Six daughters vie to become Empress of the Chicome people in a competition only one will survive. Rich in imagination and romance, and based on the legends and history of the Aztec and Maya people,
The emperor of Chicome has died, leaving his son Ahkin to take over as emperor and to raise the sun each day. Through studying the skies and the sun setting earlier and earlier each day, hints of chaos looming over his nation. He also cannot fully inherit the title of emperor until he chooses a noble wife, one is of descendant of one gods who are continually worshiped for the sacrifices to keep the Chicome people alive.
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. Mayana, is descended from the water goddess, she must prove her worth, before Ahkin will except her hand in marriage. Mayana, harbors a secret, her beliefs differs from that of the people.Prince Ahkin, is struggling under the weight of the position he has been thrust into. Even 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.
Loved the twists and turns, the setting, and the ending leaves me wanting book 2 now!

This book was received as an ARC from Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have never read a book so intense and to categorized it as a historic fairy tale and be violently intense. The best way to describe this book as if Red Queen and Kingdom of Ash meshed together in the Aztec/Mayan times and all the sisters had to win the heart of the king or else they die. I was screaming with excitement due to complete shock and I could not put this book down because I have never felt this intense of an experience like I ever had before. All of my internal organs froze with excitement and I almost lost my breath because I could not get enough of this book. This book is different from the rest and I know our teen book club will love it and go crazy for it.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

The Seventh Sun sounds amazing. I'm really excited to read it at a later date. Hopefully before publication. 🤞 I've tried starting it a few times lately, and it's just a bit 'much' for right now. It's heavy on the Fantasy and the world-building and I while I love that at times, I'm not in the headspace for it currently.

*Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing for approving me for this title. Thank you for your and your consideration.*

Brilliant fantasy based on Mayan/ Aztec mythology and history. I really enjoyed this fast paced and intriguing tale, set in a well imagined world with an engaging MC. Not a massive fan of the romance but it didn’t bother me as much as insta love has done in other books in the genre. This is definitely a bit different. Highly recommend.

There have been 6 apocalypses, 6 suns that have died and were brought back alive by sacrifice of the gods. The seventh sun has been in the sky for hundreds of years, but the days grow shorter... But that might be the least of prince Ahkin’s worries, as his father has suddenly passed away and his mother joined him, and he is crowned emperor. And the emperor must have a wife... 6 princesses, all descendants of one specific god, are summoned, and one will become the empress, the other six will be sacrificed in a ritual to bless the marriage.

I have to say, I know this book deals with sacrifice as it’s based on the Mayan/South American culture, and I wasn’t keen on that aspect. The book starts rather unpleasant with the death of the emperor, but mostly the ritual that his wife must join him and commit suicide, and it was described quite graphic, and tbh I wanted to put the book down at that point because it was horrific, and as it was a bit brushed over I assumed it was gonna get worse. But as it was an ARC, I read on and I do not regret that.

I absolutely love that this is such a different culture! It’s a fresh breath of air and the legend and worldbuilding spoke to me. The magic system is very intruiging, as you need to shed blood to be able to perform magic, and it can only be done when you’re a descendant of a god (there’s light, water, fire, wind, animals and plants). The religion is also very elaborate and full of rules that help give people stability (but at what cost?). The golden city is described so inspired I really wanted to see it for real... AND THAT PLOTTWIST. I definitely didn’t see it coming.

It also was quite an addictive read, partly because it’s such a different setting, partly because of the writing style that you just keep turning pages. I even tried to read during cooking, which is not recommended. There is so much going on, so much tension and interesting side characters and impeding doom... and I really felt for all the 6 princesses. It’s kinda the Bachelor in Hunger Games style, all knew only the victor would live. They all had different coping mechanisms, and it was heartbreaking, yet I would have liked to see it being explored more. When you know you’ll live two weeks tops of course you want to win, but I think there would be more bonding and less cattiness tbh. And resentment to the prince, I know I would silently hate him surely, at least at the beginning, but Mayana, the MC, takes one look at him and is swooned despite her 5/6th chance of a death sentence going on.

That is one of the bigger issues I have with this book: instalove. Sure, there isn’t room for more development because of the time frame, but even so they fell in love in a day. I wished we’d had more conversations, and I did like when everyone around them eyerolled at their instalove, as I eyerolled along. But it’s a really sweet romance. And Ahkin is a catch, he’s introverted and intelligent, but his introspective character is amazing and when he opens up he becomes a whole other person instead the person he’s supposed to be - which I loved to see. He’s trying so hard to do the right thing but it doesn’t always work that way.

The other issue I have is of course the sacrifices. I am with Mayana on this one, because it made me nauseous. So many animal sacrifices, it was too much for me, especially one special case that left me crying.

Ok, back to what I love. Mayana. She’s an empath and she feels so many things, and I loved being inside her head. She has love for anyone, and proofs that you don’t need to be a fighter to be a badass woman (though she definitely can be that too, if need arises, she’s a hufflepuff at heart). It’s always great to read about a strong woman with clear convictions that go against society, and still stands strong and hands out kindness to everyone, that’s the kind of strength I like and am drawn to.

The antagonist was not really an antagonist to me as she tries to save her own skin desperately, though she does have a mean streak. I’m not a fan of the catfight trope (for lack of a better word), and I think the antagonist was described too many times as having animalistic traits, it was a bit too much. Plus animals are cute.

Sooo this review is a bit of a roller coaster. There were some issues for me, but overall I really, really enjoyed this fast and addictive read. If I need to compare it, I think this is a bit like the Selection, but with higher stakes and more feels. And an ending that’ll make you wish for book 2 immediately..

When I saw the cover of The Seventh Sun, Lani Forbes debut YA fantasy, I knew I had to read it and was thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley.

But where to start with this story? First of all, I can’t remember the last time I stayed up past midnight to finish one! It was a page turner, and I was simultaneously reading as fast as I could and slowing down to savour each sentence.

The main characters, Mayana and Ahkin are well-written and believable, and I enjoyed the dual narrative, empathising with each of their struggles. The supporting characters each have distinct personalities, add to the conflict, and reflect a different facet of the magical system Forbes developed.

Forbes’s real strengths, however, are the vivid and intricate descriptions that bring the fantasy empire of Chicome to life. Every page is full of lush details that absolutely immersed me in this unique world. I enjoyed the blending of fantasy and Mesoamerican history for a truly unique story.

In every way, this story satisfied my thirst for adventure, romance, and stunning world-building. I will leave you with one warning: the ending is a cliffhanger. Like Mayana, I’m not quite sure how I’ll survive until the next one!