The setting of the book was definitely my favorite part. I am interested in all ancient cultures and mesoamerican is very underrepresented in fiction. The ending had a bit of a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Unfortunately, The Seventh Sun was my biggest bookish disappointment of the year.

And *whispers* it is not an Own Voices book.

As a history lover, particularly about my own culture (I am Mexican and I live in Mexico), The Seventh Sun just did not do my people's rich culture & history justice. In fact, this book tried to erase Mexicas. Won't even start on the plot itself (the trials were only TWO and super weak?!?!) and it's the typical storyline with girl-on-girl hate and a perfect main character (Mayana) who is ALWAYS right and has a Christian mentality that doesn't fit AT ALL the time and place of the book.

This is another *gentle* reminder that you CANNOT insert Christian morality/values into a book about ancient civilizations because that is the CONQUEROR'S POV (aka colonialists). This is not right, particularly when the main character is supposedly from those cultures. Again, it's a big NOPE.

And quick history lesson: this story says it is inspired by Aztec mythology, but that's actually wrong. MEXICA mythology inspired this book. It's actually a disservice to call Mexicas "Aztecs" since, in short words, Mexicas were Aztec descendants who were oppressed by them, which led them to abandon their oppressors and later on build their own empire (Tenochtitlán​​).

But *sigh*, history loves to erase Mexicas and call them Aztecs. They are not interchangeable. And it's sad how everyone keeps making this mistake.

The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes was a dream to read. It is just the fantasy book I have been looking forward to reading. what a complete surprise this story was. The Mayan and Inca era and Mesoamerican culture intrigues me a lot and I have always been interested in this part of history. So I knew when I saw this was based in that era, I had to read this book straight away. What a joy! I am excited for the next installment of this book because the ending was frightening, enriching and exciting. 
The different powers were so interesting and different, I have never come across this type of magic system before. I loved it.

I received an electronic ARC of this novel via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

4/5 stars

Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes is a tale based on Mayan lore with magical elements and a love story to change the rules of the world. 

I unfortunately wasn’t able to read the entire book before it became archived :( but what I did read I quite liked! I read basically half of the book and it was just getting juicy with the main female protagonist. I wished I could have finished it! I was so excited to see where the story would go. So I’m giving the book the benefit of the doubt with 4 out of 5 stars. 

I liked the relationship of Ahkin and his sister. I also really liked the portrayal of the royal families, how they were humble because they knew they weren’t the gods but just faded descendants. 

Really interesting and great world building  I’m definitely going to pick up a copy and finish this dang book!!!

What originally made me picknthismup what the idea that ladies had to fight for themselves otherwise they were sacrificed, and wasn't disappointed in the tension that this created. I also liked the political ideas in here. Although similar and resonant to other books in have read, this was different enough to keep me hooked. 

The only thing that stopped me from giving this 5 stars is that the descriptions of people of color didn't seem very varied I.e. tanned was a frequent word. It made me wonder if the author could've benefitted from an own voice reader having a quick look.

I loved this book! The atmosphere was great and it really drew me in. I will definitely be recommending this book to others!

This book was beautifully written; with heavy Aztec Mayan culture at its core. It follows a prince Ahkin and a water elemental Mayana. Full of of rituals and adventure, And with a killer of a cliff hanger; this is a must read for 2020.

Unable to read as the "Send to Kindle" feature malfunctioned. 

Interested enough that I plan to buy the book

Inspired by Aztec and other Mesoamerican myths and legends, The Seventh Sun is a fantastic debut by author Lani Forbes. The story of a young emperor who has lost his parents and must now choose a wife and a princess who questions the dictates of her faith, this is a novel that I could hardly put down. This story of pain and love plays out against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized and captivating world. Forbes does world building incredibly well and takes inspiration from myths and legends used too rarely in fantasy. It's a fresh read that keeps you on the edge of an obsidian knife.

The Seventh Sun is a phenomenal novel. I had trouble finding places to put it down and continue on with normal life. I always love that feeling and being completely drawn into a book, and that was certainly the case with Forbes' debut. One of the things that made the novel work so well for me was the unique setting. It's not every day that you come across a fantasy novel with an authentically realized Aztec-inspired world. Beyond this though, Forbes does so much of her world building in very subtle ways. A description of clothes or food here, a half a sentence over there, combine to create this world that you can almost see and smell and taste. It's wonderfully vibrant and unique and fresh. The subtly doesn't end there, either. The characters in this story, especially Mayana are asking important questions about faith and belief and whether one should uncritically accept what one is told. Is it faith to believe what has always been believed, or is it more faithful to investigate yourself and perhaps come to different conclusions? I appreciate this subtle and authentic take on personal faith, which is an element all too commonly lacking in fantasy, even fantasy that deals with gods and myths. Forbes gives us great ruminations on religion and faith. The main characters wrestle in true-to-life ways with their emotions, their experiences, and what decisions they ought to make moving forward. Several of the side characters are also well developed, though I was particularly engaged by Princess Yoli, who has the aesthetic of a modern goth without becoming a caricature. It's impressive that I've made it this far in and haven't yet mentioned the wonderful magic system in this novel! It's multi-faceted, has important costs, and plays a huge role in the culture and world. It's nearly everything I love about magic in fantasy! The final ten or fifteen percent of the novel rushes to a conclusion that is a cliffhanger, but manages to be so in a satisfying way - but I still really need that next novel.

In terms of weaknesses, there are a couple that warrant mentioning. First, and this is very much an issue of preference, the story - particularly in the back half - makes extensive use of the keeping-things-from-your-significant-other trope. I'm constantly irritated by this trope, because I'm a big believer that most things can be solved by simply telling the truth, being honest with one another, and working through it. I find the idea of essentially lying to one's significant other to be incredibly juvenile. I suppose I can grant that it makes sense for young adults to behave juvenilely, but I don't like it. Second, and this has less to do with my own preferences, I did find a few of the plot elements somewhat predictable. This is particularly true of a sequence that sets up the endgame. The finale does redeem that predictability somewhat. Even with those two criticisms, this is still one that I enjoyed immensely.

The Seventh Sun is the start of something special. An incredibly unique world, characters you care for, and authentic grappling with personal faith all combine to make this a captivating read. Fans of YA fantasy, those looking for unique and interesting worlds, and readers who love legends and myths are sure to enjoy this. I'm confident that when you finish, you'll be looking forward to the next book as much as I am!

Okay, I loved this! Starting the book, I wasn’t sure I would stick with it. But I continued on, and by the third chapter I was hooked! The dark fantasy of the book reminds me of Girls of Paper and Fire mixed with the romance of The Selection! A perfect mix of romance and suspense! 
Full review to come on my blog!

A story based in the legends of the Aztec and Mayans, set in a post apocalyptic world with archaic rules, the book gave me the two lead characters Mayana and Ahkin, two lost souls trying to find their way back.
Akhin was raised to the throne, he wanted a bride. Mayana was sent to him, who tries to win him over Sounds quite romantic, but it wasn't only that. Other politics soon entered the gray, and it became a test for the lead characters. 

My first book by author Lani Forbes, the world building blew me away with its powerful imagery. The book was slightly slow paced for me initially, or perhaps I was too eager, but that was due to detailed laying down the foundations of the story and the development of characters.

The book had everything, and it evoked so many emotions. Anger to romance to action to a cliffhanger, the story kept me gripped in its pages. Lani Forbes is a brilliant author, the powerful streaks of her imagination could be well seen in the descriptions and layers of subplots within the story.

Overall, a great read.

Title provided via Netgalley for an honest review

The summary of this book is what drew me in. I love books that delve into other cultural fantasy worlds besides Eurocentric (Celtic, Roman, Greek etc...). The adventure and just the newness of the type of world itself really propels this book. An interesting thing I found was the third person alternating points of view. I don't tend to like that, but since the story was still told from a third party perspective, how it read didn't feel interrupted. 

Early Aztec mythology and history is something I've never read in teen books or YA titles in general, so I was very intrigued to see how the author would pull it all together. This read also very much like old mythology tales would, in what the characters had to do - very similar to your "hero's quest/journey" archetype, but not with Greek or Roman mythology, and a little romance sprinkled in.

I struggled with this book. The ancient Latin American cultures and the ritualistic blood magic were fascinating and completely unlike anything I've ever read before. However, the mediocre main characters and the tropey interactions were enough to make me cringe and roll my eyes almost constantly. I wanted a badass magic-wielding princess and instead I got a whiny, self-conscious weak-hearted child who barely knows how her own magic works. And it was frustrating and disappointing when the world around her is SO COOL. But all of the focus is on her and her stereotypical brooding, serious but-with-a-heart-of-gold love interest. The characters behave like children and - while they are from our modern viewpoint - in these cultures, they would have been decision-making adults by this age.

As excited as I was to start this book, I ended up dismayed by the very apparent cultural appropriation of the world. The cover is pretty and the premise is captivating, and I found the writing style very compelling. But combining real, historical cultures (especially when not from an #ownvoices perspective) gives me pause, especially as I talked to a friend who pointed out all the harmful cultural inaccuracies. And honestly, even looking past that on grounds of it being a magical fantasy world...the storyline was full of instalove, girl-on-girl hate, the religion felt christianized by the end, and the high-stakes trials literally ended up being girls gossiping in a hot tub at one stage. Mayana judged and snobbed every girl she came across, because the only appropriate personality for a girl is demure and pure I guess (??), and I can't even sum up Ahkin because he didn't do anything except be worried he wasn't a good enough emperor.

It wasn't for me, but I also think it's inappropriate to otherize real POC cultures because they seem "fascinating".

4.5 stars!

One of the things this book did very strongly was weave together a fantastical, post-apocalyptic fantasy land with the legends of the mayan, aztec, and inca civilizations. That right there is almost reason enough to pick up this book. The world building was complex and incredible. The characters are diverse and compelling. I found myself getting attached, which to me is always the mark of a good book. Characters first, then plot.

Well, the plot happened to be fantastic too.

In Seventh Sun, there is the Chicome Empire, a land that has been thrashed by six apocalypses to date, each one of a different nature- water, storm, fire, famine, sickness, and beasts. In order to appease their goddess, the people hold rituals, rites, and sacrifices in an effort to gain her favor and her mercy. However, in the present day, the sun is setting earlier and earlier each day, indicating that a seventh apocalypse is on the horizon.

The characters here are, overall, strong! I did find the main protagonist to be a bit cookie-cutter, typical YA heroine-esque, but you know what? I didn't mind it. The story was strong, the other characters strong. I found myself being whisked from page to page at a pace that I haven't been reading at in months. And I have a newfound interest in the mayan, aztec, and incan cultures!

I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I can't believe the ending of this book! The sequel couldn't come fast enough! Oh how I want to know more about Ahkin and Mayana, and see how this story will continue! Can't wait to see how everything will unfold. 

This book is a perfect mix of romance, fantasy, and history of the Aztec and Maya people. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

<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.

The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes is a wonderful mix of romance, myth and adventure. It follows two main characters- Mayana and Prince Ahkin- from how they met, how they fall in lust love and everything in between. Their romance is set at a time where turmoil and change is brewing. There's people whose eyes are set on being the most powerful of the land and these two lovers have to decide whether to trust their newfound feelings for each other or trust the rules of tradition.

If her mother had taught her anything, it was that just because others may treat you poorly, it never gives you the right to treat them poorly in return.

I didn't have much expectations when I requested for The Seventh Sun. I was merely curious how Aztec mythology would be used as basis for this fantasy romance. So it was such a delight when I found myself very engrossed and racing through the pages. It was such a delightful, enjoyable read. The world building was solid, I didn't feel any info dumping despite all the background stories. They were effectively incorporated in the scenes at a pacing that was barely noticeable. The storytelling also flowed flawlessly making it so easy for me to just lose myself in the story. What surprised me the most though, was how I didn't hate the romance. I hate, hate instalove in my books but I didn't mind it this time. I am still unsure whether it was the circumstance surrounding their romance that convinced me to be accepting of it or it was the skillful way the characters were written so when they acted on their attraction, it didn't feel forced. I was surprisingly rooting for them.

From the moment you opened your eyes you have always been such a sour little thing. Find someone who brings you joy. Someone who can bring color and light into your rigid black-and-white world.

So, let's talk about the characters.

She was sick of the stifling and suffocating shackles of the rituals. She had fought against her heart for years to submit to them, constantly wrestling between what she wanted to do and what she should do. They had stolen the joy from her life. Now, they demanded her actual life.

Mayana might not make it to my list of favorite characters but it's okay. She is someone whom a lot of us can relate to because we've all gone through a stage where we want to be seen for who we really are but at the same time so scared to be seen for who we really are because people might not like the real us. Mayana, as a daughter of a noble lord, is expected to lead the sacrifices and it is a responsibility that she hates. She believes that the animals lives are also precious and this belief of hers made others perceive her as weak. And so when she arrives at the capital, she tried to hard to conceal how much she is against sacrifices. When she caught the Prince's eye, then she became more afraid of letting people know how different she was. Thus, she was torn between love and her convictions. It was interesting to read of her internal struggles. The turmoil over her feelings for the Prince and the desire to be honest about her convictions was one of the source of conflicts.

How coul dhe endure so much change without his parents? He would never again seek his father's wise counsel. His mother would never know the joy of grandchildren.

There wasn't anything memorable about Prince Ahkin either. I guess you could say he was any other male main characters in every YA fantasy romance you have read. Even the difference in Mayana and Ahkin's characters were like most couples you've probably read. But the book got it so right with how their differences complemented each other and that's how their love story clicks. Ahkin was rooted in tradition, dictated by logic while Mayana follows tradition but mostly dictated by her compassion and empathy for living beings.

One of my favorite thing about this book is the brood of princesses. I admit there were a lot of times I wished they formed a group and work together. It would be so much fun! Imagine the mix of powers they have- air, earth, fire, water, animals and healing. Maybe in the second book, the author makes a way for these ladies to work out their differences and work together for the greater good?

If there's anything I'd change...

I would have liked it to be less on the process of picking the empress and more on the conflict surrounding the kingdom. I really loved the magical system in this book and would have loved to have more scenes where these powers were used and not just mentioned. More show and less tell? Like Ahkin's ability with the light for example. So far he's only made the sun rise (his responsibility), made himself invisible (playing with how light reflects) and a small demonstration in one short fight scene. More action please!

I recommend this book to

Everyone who appreciates a colorful mythological world with powers drawn from nature. Or just anyone who would likes to read YA and romance. If you're looking for a fantasy steeped in mythology and a lot of action, this is not the one to read. There's fantasy, there's mythology, but there's not much action and there's a lot of romance.

Something else I think you should also know

The synopsis says apocalyptic disaster... I think you should take that description with a grain of salt.Yes, there was a lot of tension because of the leadership change and the upcoming calendar change which they firmly believe are the unluckiest days of the year, but I did not pick any of that "apocalyptic" vibe at all. But that was me! Let me know if you have different opinions on that one.

P.S. I know it's branded as YA. I agree but then there are kids around 10-13 picking books from the YA section and I think there are scenes that are not appropriate for that age group. The publishing houses should do something about that. Or the bookstores? I dunno.