acopytopy's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The main issue with this book is the way it is told through multiple viewpoints, jumping back and forth through time. One of the characters' viewpoints feels nonessential to the plot, and having so many different viewpoint characters prevents the reader from growing easily attached to any of them. The jumping through time also necessitates that some information is told twice so the reader doesn't get confused. Off the top of my head, I remember a scene near the beginning of the book that is told twice through two different perspectives in two subsequent chapters. The scenes the author chose to dedicate time to could have been chosen with more care.
Aside from that, this book has LGTBQ+ representation and a fantasy setting based off of countries outside Europe. These are things to appreciate, though I will note that the fantastical/magical aspects of the story aren't as strong as I expected.
Minor spoilers:
Aside from that, this book has LGTBQ+ representation and a fantasy setting based off of countries outside Europe. These are things to appreciate, though I will note that the fantastical/magical aspects of the story aren't as strong as I expected.
Minor spoilers:
Spoiler
I understand that this is the first book in a series, but the climax and ending were anticlimactic. I would have liked to see a satisfying conclusion to any of the characters' arcs. The event that is mentioned at the beginning of every single chapter happens... and everything happened nearly exactly as I predicted it would. I wouldn't describe this book or its ending as "bad", but they didn't impress me enough for me to continue this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
meggs1005's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ngrove87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
adwebb's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
neilsef's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Having read just over half of this book I was becoming irritated by what I thought were several recurring typos, which I posted an inquiry about in a Facebook book club I am a member of.
The words in question were
Xer which I assumed should be Her
Xim which I assumed should be Him
Xe which I assumed should be He
From the responses I received I learnt that these are in fact not typos, but words to indicate a person of neutral gender, something which is not made clear in the book as either footnotes or a glossary and something I would never have considered, having no experience of such things.
For reference, if you do decide to read this book, I also learnt that the X should be pronounced as SH.
There was also another word that seemed to be spelt wrong, this being Cay, which I assumed should have been Bay. However, I was informed that this is an actual word that can be used instead of Bay and would be pronounced as Key.
Apart from this faux par on my part, which turned out to be quite educational and eye-opening, I was and did enjoy the story that unfolded, which I found to be one of those that just grows on you the more you read, going from mildly interesting at the beginning to very engaging by the end, with most of this engagement relating to the characters, which are constantly evolving and developing.
The words in question were
Xer which I assumed should be Her
Xim which I assumed should be Him
Xe which I assumed should be He
From the responses I received I learnt that these are in fact not typos, but words to indicate a person of neutral gender, something which is not made clear in the book as either footnotes or a glossary and something I would never have considered, having no experience of such things.
For reference, if you do decide to read this book, I also learnt that the X should be pronounced as SH.
There was also another word that seemed to be spelt wrong, this being Cay, which I assumed should have been Bay. However, I was informed that this is an actual word that can be used instead of Bay and would be pronounced as Key.
Apart from this faux par on my part, which turned out to be quite educational and eye-opening, I was and did enjoy the story that unfolded, which I found to be one of those that just grows on you the more you read, going from mildly interesting at the beginning to very engaging by the end, with most of this engagement relating to the characters, which are constantly evolving and developing.
intothewoods's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alexysreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
BLACK SUN 🌑☀️by Rebecca Roanhorse was absolutely everything! This book captured my attention as soon as I read that it was a fantasy novel in a pre-Columbian America setting!
There are trans and non-binary characters (who get to live in a world without homophobia/transphobia). Gender-neutral pronouns (xe, xir), politics mixed with religion, class divide, genocide, generation trama, betrayal, survival, revenge, magic, and oppression. I mean, this is Adult EPIC FANTASY at its finest 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
When reading Black Sun, I wanted to make sure I was pronouncing the character names correctly. It was also my first time reading characters that used gender-neutral pronouns, so I used the audiobook to get me through the first chapters with pronunciation. It was so worth it!
Take your time with this book. It will not disappoint! The story jumps from Multiple viewpoints and timelines to tie into an incredible layered world.
There are trans and non-binary characters (who get to live in a world without homophobia/transphobia). Gender-neutral pronouns (xe, xir), politics mixed with religion, class divide, genocide, generation trama, betrayal, survival, revenge, magic, and oppression. I mean, this is Adult EPIC FANTASY at its finest 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
When reading Black Sun, I wanted to make sure I was pronouncing the character names correctly. It was also my first time reading characters that used gender-neutral pronouns, so I used the audiobook to get me through the first chapters with pronunciation. It was so worth it!
Take your time with this book. It will not disappoint! The story jumps from Multiple viewpoints and timelines to tie into an incredible layered world.
vanesdigregorio's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rsherlock's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rosiecheeks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75