casthefanby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Homophobia, Animal death, and Confinement
samseyz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so unique and I really was hooked on the last half. I initially was intimidated looking at the contents page and seeing all the different POVs but I thought it was actually pretty easy to follow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Murder, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Animal death
Minor: Kidnapping
rkfmiller's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Body horror, Death of parent, Violence, and Gore
ashley_mrose530's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
This book surprised me so much, in such a good way. I found myself not knowing who to really root for but I loved Serapio and Xiala together. They make space for each other and actively try to learn more about the other person. I thought their love story was beautifully written. They're both such interesting characters on their own too. Xiala being an outcast with a magical power who loves sailing gives all of the pirate vibes. And Serapio's childhood with his mom and knowing he's destined to be this terrible god is kind of heartbreaking.
Naranpa was interesting, though I wasn't as invested in her side of the story as I was in Xiala and Serapio's. But her struggle to change the priests from within while also being stabbed in the back by those she trusted most was fascinating, if a little predictable. I also liked her dynamic with her bodyguard and I wish we got more of that relationship.
And then when everything came together at the end, it was beautiful and terrible at the same time. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
Naranpa was interesting, though I wasn't as invested in her side of the story as I was in Xiala and Serapio's. But her struggle to change the priests from within while also being stabbed in the back by those she trusted most was fascinating, if a little predictable. I also liked her dynamic with her bodyguard and I wish we got more of that relationship.
And then when everything came together at the end, it was beautiful and terrible at the same time. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
jaynovara's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Self harm, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Religious bigotry, Cursing, and Sexual violence
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was utterly phenomenal, holy cow. Gripping from beginning to end, and I cared so deeply for each of the characters. Serapio and Xiala’s story arc especially just ripped at my heart. I cannot wait to find out what happens in the second book, even if I am moderately terrified it’s going to be painful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, Murder, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Gore, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Classism and Racism
Minor: Trafficking, Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Slavery
trips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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
2.5
I read about 50% of this book in 2021, and put it down due to life. Things got busy, knew I wouldn't finish it anytime soon, so I returned it to my library. Decided to read it again as I needed a book with a "weather" word in the title. And..well.
I'm happy I finally finished the book, but the plot left me wanting so much more. The world was lush and exciting, I loved the introductions to all of the characters but then...it felt like I was reading a lead up to a climax that didn't totally happen. I understand this is a series, but some of the events in this book felt completely unnecessary, and the plot probably could've been condensed for better flow.
Serapio's backstory bits were a bit to tell and no show for me, and I felt like we didn't get enough points from his POV in the current plot and instead we got a few chapters with Okoa. Okoa is perfectly fine character, but his chapters were the snooziest and the tell instead of show of them all I felt.
Xiala's great though, definitely the best character.
In any case, TL;DR I wanted to like this book because it has a great setting, but the plot just did nothing for me and left me without feeling like I got a whole lot out of it.
I'm happy I finally finished the book, but the plot left me wanting so much more. The world was lush and exciting, I loved the introductions to all of the characters but then...it felt like I was reading a lead up to a climax that didn't totally happen. I understand this is a series, but some of the events in this book felt completely unnecessary, and the plot probably could've been condensed for better flow.
Serapio's backstory bits were a bit to tell and no show for me, and I felt like we didn't get enough points from his POV in the current plot and instead we got a few chapters with Okoa. Okoa is perfectly fine character, but his chapters were the snooziest and the tell instead of show of them all I felt.
Xiala's great though, definitely the best character.
In any case, TL;DR I wanted to like this book because it has a great setting, but the plot just did nothing for me and left me without feeling like I got a whole lot out of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Blood
tinysierra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
An amazing epic fantasy with intriguing diverse characters. Wow. Also… mermaids! Giant crows!
There was a mix of character driven and plot driven moments. I felt like there was a lot of slow/medium paced moments where there was more focus on character development/interactions but it did pick up in some places with more plot related aspects. It kept my attention either way.
The timeline hopped around a bit, jumping back into the past and then forward into the present. Slowly putting the pieces together. The chapters had the date along with experts from in world media (like journal entries), which really added to my immersion.
I liked Xiala and Serapio’s chapters the most. It was nice to see the story through a blind characters perspective. I hope to see more about Xiala’s powers in the next book.
In this book, queer characters are accepted in some of the societies but not others. There are characters that use neopronouns (xe/xir)! Xiala mentions that she takes pleasure with “men, women, and other genders” which I assume means that she’s bi or pan.
I guess I didn’t expect to see fuck and shit in a fantasy book because they usually have fantasy curses. Xiala even says “Mother Seas” instead of “God” so that part felt… kind of jarring?
The ending was fast and admittedly a little anticlimactic but I don’t find myself feeling disappointed. I’m curious about where the story is going.
There was a mix of character driven and plot driven moments. I felt like there was a lot of slow/medium paced moments where there was more focus on character development/interactions but it did pick up in some places with more plot related aspects. It kept my attention either way.
The timeline hopped around a bit, jumping back into the past and then forward into the present. Slowly putting the pieces together. The chapters had the date along with experts from in world media (like journal entries), which really added to my immersion.
I liked Xiala and Serapio’s chapters the most. It was nice to see the story through a blind characters perspective. I hope to see more about Xiala’s powers in the next book.
In this book, queer characters are accepted in some of the societies but not others. There are characters that use neopronouns (xe/xir)! Xiala mentions that she takes pleasure with “men, women, and other genders” which I assume means that she’s bi or pan.
I guess I didn’t expect to see fuck and shit in a fantasy book because they usually have fantasy curses. Xiala even says “Mother Seas” instead of “God” so that part felt… kind of jarring?
The ending was fast and admittedly a little anticlimactic but I don’t find myself feeling disappointed. I’m curious about where the story is going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Violence, Classism, Murder, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, War, Suicide, Homophobia, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, and Abandonment
itisnatal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Suicide, Child abuse, Confinement, and Drug use
bookycnidaria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? No
4.0
Note: My full review is here.
This was a really interesting read. If there's one thing I want to read more of, it's pre-Columbian fiction/nonfiction/fantasy/what have you, (1) because pre-Columbian cultures and histories are fascinating and (2) because I know very little about said cultures and histories and would like to learn more.
Black Sun is the first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, an epic fantasy set in a world inspired by the pre-Columbian Americas. This is a world where music has power and mermaids are real, where giant crows are bred as warrior mounts and no one is disturbed by the idea of a third gender. They do have a lot of problems based on class and race, but, well, nobody's perfect. The story is narrated by turns by Xiala, a Teek ship captain who can manipulate the sea with her Song; Naranpa, the reigning Sun Priest, who bootstrapped her way to the top but now finds her life under constant threat; Serapio, a blind man burdened with glorious purpose; and Okoa, a crow-riding warrior from Serapio's mother's clan, who finds himself in the middle of a religious uprising despite his best attempts to avoid it. Along with the chaos of their everyday lives, they have to deal with the Convergence, an upcoming solar eclipse that will affect all of them in different ways.
One of the most wonderful things about this book is its sheer diversity. Though it takes place on one continent, there are several different ethnic groups, orientations, and identities, including a nonbinary gender called bayeki, which uses the pronouns xe/xir. This whole world was incredibly detailed, but the world-building never distracted from the story. Overall this was a really intriguing first installment, and I am now in wait mode for book two, particularly as Black Sun ended on a rather cruel cliffhanger. I am seriously considering reading it again. Now that we've been introduced to the characters and the world, I fully anticipate that books two and three will be even better than book one, and I can't wait to see what they have in store.
This was a really interesting read. If there's one thing I want to read more of, it's pre-Columbian fiction/nonfiction/fantasy/what have you, (1) because pre-Columbian cultures and histories are fascinating and (2) because I know very little about said cultures and histories and would like to learn more.
Black Sun is the first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, an epic fantasy set in a world inspired by the pre-Columbian Americas. This is a world where music has power and mermaids are real, where giant crows are bred as warrior mounts and no one is disturbed by the idea of a third gender. They do have a lot of problems based on class and race, but, well, nobody's perfect. The story is narrated by turns by Xiala, a Teek ship captain who can manipulate the sea with her Song; Naranpa, the reigning Sun Priest, who bootstrapped her way to the top but now finds her life under constant threat; Serapio, a blind man burdened with glorious purpose; and Okoa, a crow-riding warrior from Serapio's mother's clan, who finds himself in the middle of a religious uprising despite his best attempts to avoid it. Along with the chaos of their everyday lives, they have to deal with the Convergence, an upcoming solar eclipse that will affect all of them in different ways.
One of the most wonderful things about this book is its sheer diversity. Though it takes place on one continent, there are several different ethnic groups, orientations, and identities, including a nonbinary gender called bayeki, which uses the pronouns xe/xir. This whole world was incredibly detailed, but the world-building never distracted from the story. Overall this was a really intriguing first installment, and I am now in wait mode for book two, particularly as Black Sun ended on a rather cruel cliffhanger. I am seriously considering reading it again. Now that we've been introduced to the characters and the world, I fully anticipate that books two and three will be even better than book one, and I can't wait to see what they have in store.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Child abuse, Classism, Genocide, and Violence