Black Sun is a story of prophecy, adventure and intrigue. A rare solar eclipse is due on the winter solstice. A dire prophecy has been foretold of the Crow God who will return on this day and make the eclipse permanent. A holy city, Tova, led by the Sun Priest waits to see what will happen.

Serapio has trained all his life for this moment. His mother set him on a path and then hurled herself off a cliff. Several tutors have come to him as he grew up and taught him many things. Now he must set off on a journey to Tova.

Xiala is a Teek Captain whose own people have turned against her. As a Teek woman, she can calm the waters with her Songs and can twist men's minds. She now must help Serapio on his journey. A journey that will have them cross a very dangerous area of the sea.

Will they make it on time? Will the prophecy be fulfilled? Where is the Sun Priest? Will the world be changed? Read Black Sun to find out!

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Saga Press in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (October 13th, 2020)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Ritual disfigurement, cult themes, poisoning, abandonment, mentions of homophobia, mentions of slavery, death, mass murder, suicide, death of a parent, loss of a loved one, grief, graphic violence, graphic injuries, beheading, trauma, mentions of human sacrifice, physical assault, brief mentions of prostitution, allusions to rape, mentions of anxiety, alcoholism



“A man with a destiny is a man who fears nothing.”


What a wild ride of a read! I have been sitting on my thoughts and feelings for a good chunk of time. I feel that anything I try to write in my review about this book will pale in comparison to the actual contents of this book. Truly, this is a fantastic read and as a reader new to Roanhorse’s writing, I’m very impressed. I also want to put emphasis on a few things before diving into my thoughts. For starters, please practice self-care when reading this book because there are a lot of content warnings (as you can see listed above). These content warnings start from chapter one and proceed throughout the book. The other thing to keep in mind is I’m not an “ownvoice” reviewer for this book. I’m Apache, a Native American reader and reviewer, but this book has pre-Columbian cultures such as Yutatec Maya, Tewan, and Aztec cultures, and I cannot speak about those cultural elements and representation. So please do your own research on those cultures and also read the acknowledgements page.

Set in a high fantasy world with a civilization inspired by pre-Columbian Americas, Black Sun follows four characters who have destinies all intertwined with one another. In Tova, the holy city, Winter Solstice usually means a time of renewal and celebration among all, but this year is different. This year’s winter solstice converged with the solar eclipse, a rare celestial event that dictates unbalance. Here, our story begins with Xiala, a disgraced Teek woman, who has been tasked with an important mission to cross dangerous waters to deliver a supposedly harmless passenger to Tova in time for the Convergence.

✨ Xiala – The bisexual (possibly pansexual), disgraced Teek woman our story begins with, is the hired captain of a ship and tasked with the important mission to deliver Serapio to Tova. Though she originally didn’t want to take on this mission for various reasons, she’s been given too many reasons why she should.

“She instinctively reached for her Song the way another woman would reach for a weapon. She no longer had a dagger at her waist, but even if she had, her Song would have come first.”


✨ Serapio – Stripped of his childhood and destined to become the Crow God, Serapio is placed upon Xiala’s ship, to seek passage straight to Tova for Convergence. Despite everything he’s been through, everything he’s been taught, his time spent on Xiala’s ship and in her company leaves his wondering of what life would be like if he didn’t have a prophecy to fulfill.

✨ Naranpa/Nara – The Sun priest, where we experience the more political side of this world. Nara is in a vulnerable position as the Institution is loosing respect, and will sooner learn there’s a lot more at steak in the game of politics than Nara originally believed.

“She wished that power allowed her to divine her own future, or the future of any of the priests. But it was forbidden, and that was one rule she would never break.”


✨ Okoa – A character that comes into to play later on in our story. Okoa is first introduced to us when we learn about the matron/leader of the Carrion Crow clan being dead. He is oldest child of the leader, who left home to train to become a great warrior. He swift learns that things might not be all it appears to be and returns home to get to the bottom of what has really been happening in his clan since he’s been away.

All of these characters will intertwine throughout this story of destiny, dark magic, prophecy, and sacrifice. They will struggle along the way, face hardships, and try to fill their roles the best they can. For some, they’ll think of what life would have been like if they weren’t walking the path they’re currently on.

“The costliest mistake one can make is to underestimate one’s opponent through low expectations.”


I love the way Roanhorse has crafted and built up her characters. None of these characters are good or evil, they’re simply morally grey. I say it all the time, I love morally grey characters. When characters have multiple layers to them, complex feelings, and backstories that make you crumble. Each pov for the four main characters was designed to build a bigger picture of where they came from, what their objective is, and the events that are currently taking place in that time frame. I definitely think two of the main characters were stronger than the other two and there’s also a lot of things we learn about in each pov that doesn’t have an answer, doesn’t clarifies on certain moments, and definitely leaves the reader wondering. I think the two weaker povs are designed to be more mysterious and I’m hoping we’ll see a little more insight in the second book in this trilogy because there’s some parts I need answers to!

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the world building. In high fantasy, I love the details of the world and the way it gets built up and this book hit a lot of marks for me. Roanhorse did an outstanding job on the world building. There’s so much detail in the world, the history, even with the character development there was such great detail. It truly feels like the author poured a lot into this book to deliver a world that the reader will never forget. Not to mention, the ending of this book, the cliffhanger that it was, fantastic and I’m still not over it. I’m still thinking about how this book ended.

I also have to talk about the representation throughout this book. We are given so much representation and the author does a phenomenal job. I mentioned with Xiala that she’s bisexual (possibly pansexual). As the reader, we learn Xiala has sept with women, but we also see a lot of feelings brewing between her and Serapio. It’s also hinted that Serapio is also bisexual/pansexual. During a flashback and briefly mentioned, Serapio has a relationship with one of his mentors and how special that mentor was to him. Of course, we see the feelings forming for Xiala and him wondering what it would be like to truly be with her. There’s also the past relationship between Nara and Iktan, which I believe was a female and nonbinary relationship. There’s also a transgender side character. We also have disability representation throughout tis book. Serapio is blind, Xiala is missing limbs, and Nara’s brother walks with a limp. So if you wanted diversity, Roanhorse delivered in so many ways.

“If your stories are of the glory of war, then I will know you value power. If your stories are of kinship, then I know you value relationship. If your stories are of many children, I know you value legacy. But if your stories are of adaptation and survival, of long memory and revenge, then I will know you are a Crow like me.”


I also want to remind you, as the reader, to please practice self-care. I don’t think I can emphasize this enough. There are a lot of dark themes throughout this book and it starts immediately in chapter one. There’s a lot of heavy chapters because of the dark themes you have to read through. I’m very much a fantasy reader, I can devour a fantasy, especially a high fantasy, like it’s no one’s business, but this took me longer to read than I expected. There were times where I felt overwhelmed by a lot of the dark themes in this book. I’ve also had a few conversations about this because there were some readers who were genuinely concerned for their mental health. I think as of right now, I’m the only reader who has gone to the extent of being specific with the content/trigger warnings in this book. So please look over them, make sure you’re in the right head space, and take care of yourself while you read this book.

I think my biggest struggle with this book is the multiple povs. I say this so, so much. Multiple povs is not my strong suit with reading. I can handle three max, but once a book goes past that, it becomes a little dicey. That isn’t to say books with multiple povs are bad. For me as a reader, sometimes those povs can bleed together or feel like the book is dragging on more than it needed to. And it definitely affected my reading. So, between the multiple povs and the dark themes, I had to dock a star because it impacted my reading and enjoyment.

“I am the only storm that matters now, and there is no shelter from what I bring.”


Overall, I'm so grateful I got to read an arc of this book! I really enjoyed this book as a whole. I think Roanhorse did a fantastical job creating a world many readers are going to fall into, really enjoy, and there was so much that blew me out of the water. I’m really impressed especially as someone new to her writing. I think my true love lies within the characters because I can’t resist a morally grey character, it’s a weakness of mine! I have no doubt this is a book that’s going to take readers by storm and I have no doubt will end up on many top 2020 lists!



The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

I started this book with very high expectations, and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint.
This is an epic fantasy inspired by pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas which was refreshing to me. The worldbuilding (my favorite part of starting a new fantasy series) was exceptional, and while I like the flowery and overly descriptive writing of say GRRM, I (as more of a plot-driven reader) really enjoyed the straightforward writing here.
The characters were a treat as well. We have 4 POVs; my favorite was Xiala and least favorite Okoa, but I do think he will have more of a prominent role in the next book.
The non-binary representation in this book was a very pleasant surprise, I'm ashamed to say I haven't read many books that feature non-binary characters. Reading the xe/xir pronouns was amazing.

Overall, I would say this is a very strong first book in a series and I intend to read the rest of the books as soon as they come out. Would definitely recommend it.

Magic? Crows!? Mythology? Non-binary characters!? This book has it all.

Opening line: “Today he would become a god. His mother had told him so.”

I’d kill for the skill the write a hook so well baited.

As an aside, Trail of Lightning, also by this author, has been on my TBR for years, recommended to me by several people...but somehow never quite catching my full attention. I finally bought it a few days ago, after Black Sun treated me to an experience I won’t forget any time soon. I’m really looking forward to it.

One of the major strengths of this book is the absolutely spectacular world building, particularly the way it incorporates things like cultural aphorisms, excerpts from local histories, travel diaries, poems, and other similar devices unique to this world. Each chapter heading has a “quote” to set the tone and help build to build the scene, effectively fleshing out the world and building up the ambience as we follow a nonlinear narrative revolving around the mysterious celestial Convergence.

A vast majority of medieval-esque magical worlds that pop up in fantasy lit are more or less variations on a theme—and the flavor is very white and vaguely European. This is definitely not that. With echoes of pre-Colombian America, Black Sun dives headlong into a world of magic, prophesies, and stars. And when I say dives headlong, I mean it. There no water in sight and yet chapter one feels like drowning. The reader is dumped headfirst into deep waters with a truly shocking scene between one of our main characters, Serapio, and his mother. I haven’t been this thrown off balance by an opening scene in ... possibly ever? It’s violent and fascinating in a way that almost compels you to look away even as you desperately want to know more. I spent the entire novel haunted by its first handful of pages.

What it’s about:

This prophecy at the start sums it up quite succinctly:

“A god will return
When the earth and sky converge
Under the black sun”

The plot circles the date of this convergence as if caught in its gravitational pull. What does it mean for a god to rise?

Characters: alternating points of view with four main characters, Serapio, Xiala, Naranpa, Okoa

Serapio - Young, blind, and marked by faith and destiny. He is dedicated, driven by purpose, and yet... though he isn’t looking to shirk his duty, but would probably be tempted to trade that sense of divine purpose for a chance at everyday love, something he has lacked since the death of his mother when he was a child. Unless you count the crows; they love him. I wanted to hug him and give him an easier life. But I also spend the whole book worrying whether he’ll become our villain.

Xiala - A tough as nails ship captain with power over water. Some insight into her character: we meet her in a jail cell, sleeping off a night of drinking. “Disgusted with the double-cross and her sour luck, she’d decided to drink. She would have decided to drink anyway, but it never hurt to have a good excuse.” She loves freely and drinks even more freely, racing through life as if desperate to live as much as possible and escape the parts of her past that haunt her.

Naranpa - Beggar, turned servant, turned priest. She is one of those unlucky idealists who think that faith is enough to help them change the world. “The truth was that as much as she loved the city, the city did not love her back. It had little use for a Maw beggar girl; some use for a clever servant who caught the attention of the aging and eccentric Sun Priest; more use for an unlikely dedicant who had an uncanny ability to read the stars and outshine her society classmates; and a final and blistering use for an idealistic young Sun Priest who thought she could make a change to her beloved city but instead only made enemies.” Nara wants the priesthood to become more progressive, more in tune with the people, and more worthy of their lofty position. People in power always hate people like her.

Okoa - a member of the Carrion Crow clan. His mother was the matron, leader, of their tribe. He is a fighter who trained at the War college, though there have been no wars in the 325 years since the ascension of the sky priesthood...for a given value of ‘peace’ — he and his people are coping with generational trauma in the wake of a massacre that decimated the Carrion Crow tribe a few short generations ago. This, somehow, is not considered by the world at large as a break in their centuries long streak of peace. (A structurally odd choice: Okoa is not introduced until you’re about a third of the way into the book. This is one of my only real complaints about this expertly crafted book, but I personally feel that it may have served the narrative better if we had met him sooner)

Iktan- (xe/xir) (While not one of the POV characters, Istanbul was still my favorite new knife friend.) Naranpa’s friend, former lover, and a member of the tsiyo priesthood, xe serves as a sort of bodyguard/confidant for Naranpa.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for offering me a review copy of this book.

Small note: yay for New Mexican authors! I love when people from my state do cool things.

Content warnings for child abuse, extreme body modification of a child, suicide, ritualized body mutilation, violence,

A fantastic opener to an enthralling new series!!! Naranpa serves as sun priest in the fictional city of Tova but her life is threatened as the solstice approaches and she is unsure who she can trust. Meanwhile, Serapio, a rising crow god has been training for the coming moment when the sun, moon, and earth align. With the help of Xiala, who is part Teek and captain of a small ship, Serapio begins a voyage to fulfill his long-awaited destiny. The world-building in this story is so utterly convincing that I felt completely immersed in the world throughout the entire book. The author’s use of language is beautifully descriptive and gut-wrenchingly emotional. I connected with every single character and I cared about each of their fates even when they stood in opposition. I can’t wait to see how the story progresses. I will be on pins and needles waiting for the release of the next book in this series. A huge thank you to Gallery Books for granting my wish on NetGalley and providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a book, only to find myself physically incapable of putting it down. Black Sun did that for me. Everything about this book, from the characters to the writing to the plot to the worldbuilding were so fascinatingly unique that Black Sun easily makes my Top 5 books of 2020 list.

What struck me first were the characters, and really one in particular: Serapio. Black Sun opens to Serapio being prepared by his mother for “godhood”, the specifics of which are yet unclear. But the almost grotesque, yet fascinating ritual he undergoes in that first chapter paints such a vibrant image that really sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Aside from Serapio, we follow the idealistic, moralistic Sun Priest Naranpa and bisexual Siren-like sailor Xiala. Whiel Naranpa finds herself embroiled in an assassination plot against herself, amidst a crowd of less-than-receptive priests to her populistic reforms, Xiala finds herself forced to deliver a mysterious passenger (guess who) to the holy city of Tova in record time. Of the two, I definitely liked Naranpa less, but that’s largely because I find myself ambivalent to the idealistic types. And also because Xiala’s storyline features Serapio and Serapio is just such an interesting character.

The pacing of this book is surprisingly fast, filled with action plot points and sharp twists as these characters attempt to accomplish seemingly impossible goals. Often, outcomes and revelations are left to context for the reader to interpret. At the same time, this book gives the most important, heavy hitting moments (the slow burn of gaining a new friend, the cutting betrayal of losing an old one) time to simmer and set in the reader’s mind. Overall, the writing in Black Sun is simply superb.

The worldbuilding in this book is inspired by pre-Columbian Americas. I fully admit I have very little knowledge of these cultures, with the majority of what I do know coming from the American school system. Simply put, these are cultures I am entirely unfamiliar with. With my unfamiliarity, I found the worldbuilding to be extremely fascinating. The worlds that we explore are both big and small, given that half the book takes place on a boat, but between the complex political landscape that is Tova and the little we do learn of Cuecola, a city to the south, Roanhorse has built a deep an intricate world that I’m excited to explore more of.

Finally, let’s talk about the ending (in a spoiler-free manner). Namely, the absolutely massive cliffhanger this book ends on. I was legit about to chuck my Kindle at the wall when I turned the page, only be greeted with the Acknowledgements page. You’re telling me that is the ending?? Excuse me??? Anyways, I am now anxiously awaiting book two.

Overall, I rate this book a 5/5. Every part of this book is just so extremely well crafted: the worldbuilding is in-depth and unique, the characters are fascinating, the plot is tight and fast paced. Just fantastic. Despite all the buzz, I never picked up Roanhorse’s debut series because I’m not a big Urban Fantasy person, but having read Black Sun, I’m strongly reconsidering.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly I am down for any book that is based on, inspired by, or populated by a culture that is NOT what already saturates the markets; and unless it's harmful to other races, cultures, etc, I'm going to drop a line for you to read it. Yes, you.

What I LOVED about this book:
1. there is representation across the spectrum of gender including a third pronouns "Xir" that represents a person who doesn't fit the classic "he/she".
2. The crow boy and la sirena---well that's what I called these characters in my mind. In my opinion they carried this book. They were the two I kept coming back to read about. The mysterious power they both held, and then their developing relationship was the most wonderful thing about this book.
3. The world building/culture. I won't say more on this point. You just have to read it and experience it.

Areas for improvement.

The introduction of the side characters. One felt as if her POV was only to provide background without exposition. Her character was already too deep in political intrigue for her character to shine, but by the end she was brilliant! I loved her character, just not the timing of her introduction and circumstances.

There was also a fourth, male character that wasn't involved in the story long enough to have a character arc. There was great family and world set up through his character, but nothing more. I do have a strong feeling he is going to be someone very important in the sequel and I'm excited for this. I wish his time in the book would have reflected that, though, and there would have been more time to see an actual growth/change in this character.

Will I be reading the sequel?
Absolute. No doubt. I would tell you why, but no spoilers.

My thanks to Gallery/Saga Press, Rebecca Roanhorse and Netgalley.
The synopsis of the book free me in. The whole dang story made me stay!
I was expecting Aztecs, or Mayans. What I got was a fantasy quest that sucked me in so fast that I was actually heartbroken to read the final pages. Luckily!! It's not finished! Ms. Roanhorse has my damned attention!
Egads! I love this story!

Black Sun is the second book I’ve read from Rebecca Roanhorse with the first being Race to the Sun. Since that was a middle-grade novel, I had no idea what to expect from a high fantasy by the same author, but I’m very happy to report that I ended up immensely enjoying it! Set in a secondary world inspired by the Pre-Columbian Americas and infused with rich mythology and an undercurrent of political intrigue, Black Sun is an epic fantasy lover’s dream come true.

Serapio is a man destined to become a god, or perhaps a monster. Xiala is a Teek sailor running from her past, whose song can pacify the ocean and twist minds. Naranpa is a priest trying to make her place in a society that’s incredibly prejudiced against her. Their fates will collide in the holy city of Tova on the day of the black sun, a day when a solar eclipse clashes with the winter solstice, and the very balance of the world tilts. 

With a narrative so enchanting that putting down the book halfway through feels like the hardest thing ever, Black Sun was intense from the get-go; and through the entirety of the book, the pace never let up. Roanhorse’s prose is delightful and atmospheric, and the world she has created in Black Sun is expansive and thorough. Her characterisation is on-point too; as she introduces each character, you’d feel like you have known them since forever. The action scenes, despite being few and far between, are exceptionally well-crafted and vividly described. The political aspect of the book is also quite strong, and while that might prove to be a hit or miss situation with many readers, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Black Sun is a fairly character-focused story, with the narrative seamlessly switching back and forth between four POV characters with distinct and powerful voices, Serapio, Xiala, Naranpa, and Okoa, son of the matron of the Carrion Crow clan. Roanhorse treats all her main characters with equal care; they are well fleshed out with compelling, graphic backgrounds. There are frequent flashbacks into their pasts, and the two parallel timelines fuse together effortlessly instead of disrupting the flow of the story at the times of the shifts, which was something I found very satisfying. 

While I enjoyed all four POVs, I’ll admit my personal favourites were definitely those of Serapio and Naranpa’s. Serapio is one of those characters with a tragic, sketchy past and rather dubious manners (he lets his crows peck people he doesn’t like to death) that you just can’t help rooting for. His character arc was captivating to say the least as he is a man who has long since accepted his destiny to become a savage, vengeful god, and yet can’t stop questioning whether his own actions are justified or not every now and then.

On the other hand, there’s Naranpa, the shrewd and resourceful Sun Priest trying to survive and hold on to her seat of power amidst people who’d love nothing more than to see her assassinated. Her journey throughout the story was fascinating, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Although Okoa was the one who had the least amount of screen presence out of the four leads, Xiala is the character who I felt didn’t have a lot to offer, even compared to some of the minor characters. 

The one issue I can think of that I had with the book is the relationship that gradually builds up between Serapio and Xiala. Now, one of my biggest pet peeves as an epic fantasy reader is unnecessary romantic subplots, and unfortunately, that's exactly what Serapio and Xiala’s relationship seemed like to me. I couldn’t help feeling like it kept obstructing the otherwise smooth flow of the story and didn’t really add much when it came to their individual character arcs, or the story overall.

That being said, it definitely wasn’t a major nitpick, and ultimately it didn’t keep me from enjoying the book as a whole. If a historically and politically heavy epic fantasy sounds like your thing, I’ll urge you to pick Black Sun up. Also, if you’re a reader trying to transition from reading YA to adult fantasy, Black Sun might be a great place to start!

Wow, just wow. I loved this book so much and I need a copy on my shelf.

Black Sun was an incredible and original Fantasy story including queer representation. The plot was engaging and from the first chapter, I was immersed with the different characters because yes, this had multiple povs and every one of them was interesting. One of them was just a liiittle less enjoyable but that's only because of a side character that annoyed me. She kept trying to usurp Naranpa, the Sun Priest and I wasn't okay with that.

In this book, you'll meet our four main characters: Naranpa, Oaka, Xiala and Serapio. Not going to lie here, Wiala and Serapio were my favorites. Their relationship was everything and from the beginning I loved each interaction they shared.

Serapio's mother blinded him during a ritual when he was a child because apparently, he's the vessel for the Crow God. Prophecies say that the Crow God would come back and avenge their people against the Priests. Now, his training is over and he's ready for the Convergence, the day his destiny is supposed to happen. For that, he needs to travel to Tova and that's when Xiala comes along.

Xiala is a Teek. She's a sailor and a sea creature who has some power over the sea when she sings. When she's freed from jail on the condition that she sails Serapio to Tova in a matter of days, she knows they'll have to take some risks. She was so likable and she kind of have a piece of my heart now.

Naranpa is the Sun Priest, one of the four Priests of Tova. They're the leaders of this world, contrary to the Sky Clans. Now Naranpa has an interesting background as she is from a place called the Maw. It's a place everyone looks down on and mistreat. Naranpa's little brother was left behind when she left for the Tower and I have to say his story was heartbreaking even though he managed to survive.

Oaka is the last main character we were introduced to. He's the Crow Matron's son. He was away studying at the war college (which is a bad name for a college advocating peace) and now something happened back home and he has to go back. He doesn't really know who to trust and the Cultists (the Crows that pray for the Crow God's return) are growing stronger and stronger as the day of Convergence is almost upon them.

Overall, this book was fantastic. The world building was so strong here and the author gave us a great plot. I know it can sound a little complicated but honestly the author does a really good job of introducing us into this world. So if you're intimidated, you don't have to worry. Just keep reading and everything will be okay :)

--> I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I know it's a common thing to say and we end up not reading the book immediately but here, I'm pretty sure I would dive into book 2 as soon as I have it in my hands.

(Thank you so much for letting me read and review an ARC)

Since I am a fan of Roanhorse from her works in the Star Wars universe, I was very intrigued by this book when I heard it described as a Fantasy based on the "civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas", especially as I am an Indigenous American who loves reading in the Fantasy genre! Sure enough, Black Sun whisked me away and placed me in an epic world full of wonderful characters, strange powers, dark storylines, and incredibly unique and enthralling characters. The remarkable scope of Roanhorse's worldbuilding was jaw-dropping, and I found myself inescapably tied to her wonderful characters - Xiala becoming my very favorite in her many complexities!

Overall, I had so much fun reading Black Sun, and am excited to read what happens next - both in this series, and in Roanhorses' future works! Thank you so much to the publisher for granting my NetGalley wish!

Rebecca Roanhorse crafts an intense and thrilling fantasy in Black Sun. Right from the start of this book, I was trapped in Roanhorse's new world. She knows how to make an impactful start to this new fantasy series. The first chapter was gritty and intense and it stayed with my as I read this book. All I kept thinking was, "is this really happening?". Black Sun is the first book of the Between the Earth and Sky series and I'm willing to bet that the entire series will be phenomenal. Roanhorse's character development and world-building are imaginative and brilliant. Xiala, Serapio and Naranpa are the main characters in this epic story. I love the depth and complexity of these characters.

What I love about Rebecca Roanhorse is that nothing is recycled. It is refreshing to have an author bring something new to the table. I love the diversity in the characters she creates. This is only the second book that I have read from this author but I can already see that she is a game changer and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. Fans of epic fantasy books will love this new series and I highly recommend it.

The cover of this book is bold and simplistic, which I really like. I love the contrast of the black background with the yellow and orange colors of the lettering. The cover artist did a beautiful job creating something that stands out and demands attention.

I want to thank Rebecca Roanhorse, Simon & Schuster, Saga Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

When he was 12, Serapio's mother blinded him and put him through a harrowing ceremony ending in her suicide. Why? Because she claimed it would make him a god that would bring vengeance upon the Sun Priest and the Watchers that massacred her clan, Carrion Crow, many years ago. Now, 10 years and three tutors later, Serapio is making his way to the holy city of Tova to carry out this mission. But the new Sun Priest, Naranpa, is facing plenty of trouble even without Serapio's presence, with her fellow priests and the matrons of the ruling clans clamoring for her power.

While the reader knows from the outset that Nara and Serapio's paths are converging, the way their stories are told is masterfully done. Roanhorse presents us with the mythology, the politics, and the various factions of this world (based loosely on pre-Columbian indigenous folklore) to create an epic fantasy unlike any I've ever read. It's fantastic, it's amazing, and I can't wait for the next volume in this series.

*This book will be released Oct. 13, 2020.

Rebecca Roanhorse has leveled up with this book- it's a new height of writing mastery for her.

I love epic fantasy perhaps the most of any genre, but it's a genre that can feel a bit tired sometimes. We know we'll probably get multiple POV, there will probably be a chosen one who has to save the world, often that world will look a lot like Europe.

There is multiple POV here. I really enjoyed all of the characters but one. I loved Xiala, a rather louche ships' captain who gets a commission to get a mysterious passenger to a distant city by sailing the deep ocean in storm season. Xiala is a Teek, an ocean-dwelling race viewed with suspicion and avarice by the peoples of the Crescent Sea. She's got some extra abilities that end up coming in very handy. Her passenger, Serapio, is indeed a Chosen One, but his mother is the one who chose and marked him for what looks to be a very dark destiny. Being a Chosen One means being the conduit for a powerful and vengeful magic and survival might not be an option.

Naranpa, the high Sun Priestess, was the character I liked least. She supposedly came up from the seedier side of town to become the highest spiritual leader in the land, but this background didn't give her any of the cunningness, realpolitik or acuity that one would think she would need in order to function in this position. She was oblivious to pretty much everything she needed to notice and didn't manage to have much agency at all throughout the entire book. She's probably the biggest reason I didn't give the book 5 stars- she had the idiot ball for most of the book and that's what kept part of the plot moving.

The world itself is absolutely wonderful. It's probably a rough approximation of the Gulf of Mexico, with a complex history of conquest and assimilation and many different cultures. There are giant ravens, eagles, fire snakes and water beetles to ride! There are mermaids and a complex cosmology. The book is full of color symbolism (always something I like) and fantastic city architecture. I loved visiting this world and feel like I've barely scratched the surface of what the author has created. I am so ready to see what happens next!

Roanhorse's novel pulls you in and holds your attention until the last page. The book was spell binding. The plot was fast paced and the characters were well developed.

Thanks to Saga Press for granting my wish for an arc of this book!

Prior to finishing this, I could already tell it would be in my roster of books I won't shut up about. Roanhorse created such a dynamic story following three different POVs. There is such an interesting mix of components.

You've got:
• Prophecies
• Political Intrigue
• Sirens
• Giant Crows and Water beetles
• Underground cultists

I also just loved how she made you feel so strongly for all the characters that regardless of who was the 'hero' or who was the 'villain' you understood their motivations and possibly questionable choices.

Preorder this book. Request your library get a copy of this book. It's that great.

This book is absolutely phenomenal!!! I can't sing enough praise for this book. I never read anything from this author before and I feel like I've been missing out now that I have. I don't want to give the plot away, so you going to need to purchase this book in order to experience the awesomeness. I voluntarily read this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rebecca Roanhorse has once again used her skills in writing to craft a world of beauty and wonder that she then explores with interesting characters and ideas. Black Sun was a great first book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

Thank you to Saga SFF publishing for hosting the giveaway where I won this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Surprisingly queer, and fantastic! This was absolutely phenomenal. I binged 85% of this book in one day because I was obsessed.

Black Sun features an epic fantasy world based on the Ancient societies/mythologies of the Americas. Roanhorse writes a bit about this in her author note, and I was so impressed with the intent and care she took to craft this world.

In the Holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time of renewal and celebration, but this year the day will be marred by a solar eclipse (a black sun). As Naranpa, the newest sun priest, must fight prejudice and mutiny from inside the Priesthood she loves so much, a ship carrying a mysterious passenger sets sail for Tova, set to arrive on the day of the eclipse. The captain, Xiala, is a Teek who's song can calm waters and convince those who hear it to be influenced to her desires. Serapio is the ships passenger and though he is described as harmless, Xiala knows that's not all there is to him. An air of destiny cloaks Serapio, and even though he is blind and scarred, he is also dangerous.

These three main characters are set on a bloody convergence path and not all of them may come out alive. I freaking loved this book so much. Between the characters and the world building, I was blown away. Xiala is also implied pansexual and I was dyingggggg. I love her so much. We do learn a bit about her Teek background, but I want to know more. Her swagger and nonchalance to being thrown in jail or underestimated was my favorite part. Even when the odds are stacked against her, Xiala is ready to come out swinging.

Tova used to be ruled by several clans: Carrion Crow, Water Strider, Golden Eagle and Winged Serpent. But centuries ago they were united by the Priesthood. However, the imperialism of the Sun priests is losing traction and has morphed into something more sinister. Naranpa, the newest sun priest who rose through the ranks from the slums called the Maw, believes wholeheartedly in the Priesthood. What she doesn't always believe in is their methods. The Priesthood has not always been kind to the clans, specifically Carrion Crow and Naranpa wants to find a way to mend the relationship. There are others in the Priesthood who do not feel the same. Naranpa is lucky enough to have a friend in the Priest of Knives, Iktan, as xe is a fierce protector. But will xe be enough? I loved Naranpa's open mindedness to the issues that plagued the Priesthood. I think she would've made some amazing changes had she gotten the chance. I am very curious to see how the end events will come to play as consequences in the second book.

Serapio is blind, but he is never reduced to his disability. We see a lot of flashbacks of Serapio's life as a small child. He was not born blind, but his vision was sacrificed in a ritual his mother performed in an attempt to bring back the Crow God. For a while, Serapio is mainly neglected and forgotten by his father. Then a series of tutors arrive to teach him various skills. Serapio wasn't my favorite, but I loved his quiet strength. He was much more likely to sit and listen than impulsively act. He is also physically strong, but I loved that he relied more on thinking and listening than brute force. Also, he's just so soft and I want to protect him from the harsh destiny that was chosen for him. Cue crying.

I read a physical arc of this so the only thing that would make it better is if the finished copy has a map. Like seriously, that's my only complaint. I loved this book so much and I think I learned a lot about how societies work based on power structures. Also it was super fun!!

"Black Sun" is the first volume of gigantic epic fantasy that is broad in its scope and encompassing in its breadth. Set in a unique fantasy world loosely-inspired by Mayan tradition and in a world we just barely begin to know in this volume, it is filled with sun-priests, warring clans, sailors, drunken captains, sea creatures, river barge pulling monsters, and a young child purposefully blinded by his mother.

Roanhorse brilliantly builds her story from outcast beginnings to an epic battle among the gods and priests for control of the world. Our story starts with a drunken woman sea captain waking up in jail and only barely holding off execution by the intervention of a guardian angel who might just hold the fate of the universe in his hands. Xiala is one of the greatest and most complex characters in literature, bawdy, feisty, a true pirate captain if you ever saw one. But, then again, you will eventually learn that she is from a land where the women swim with the dolphins and sing to the ocean, their mother. She is a power to be reckoned with even if she is tasked with an impossible mission whose true purpose is only hinted at.

As strange and unlikely as Xiala is, Serapio is a few steps stranger, blinded by his mother, all but abandoned by his father, separated from ordinary men and women by a vast gulf. He is surrounded by crows who follow him like the pied piper. And, he is headed on a mission to the sun-priests in Tovah to change the course of history. Trained from a young age, he is beyond fascinating, beyond complex, and set apart from the human race.

Others too are complex characters including Naranpa and the sun-priests and their political intrigue. It has been hundreds of years since the clans battled, but the truce is uneasy and may quickly fade.

One of the great things that Roanhorse does with this epic is set it on a pace to a imposing climax where a total eclipse of the sun sets the stage.