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ebp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
ivereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I am beyond words, I recently got back into reading after having over a 8-10 year slump, and I read this over the course of just 6 days. (That is insanely impressive for my slump) The storyline is phenomenal and I am absolutely in love with everything the author did. Rebecca Roanhorse did her mfing research and made the whole world building amazing. I am autistic so I have some biases for loving this stuff because it's a personal special interest. But she did a great job of bringing Indigenous history into a fantastical world full of magic and I beg that the second book is just as good and thoughtful. (Going to read that next) If you don't mind the talk of occasional violence and you love culture rich and diverse casts in a fantastical setting, i one million times over recommend this. Thanking and bowing to my friend who recommended me this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, and War
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The full-cast audio production of Black Sun is phenomenal and I highly recommend! Each character felt so distinct, making this large cast of characters in rotating POV easy to follow. I loved the pacing of this story, the slow-burn countdown to Convergence blended with character flashbacks. It created a unique tension and building sense of dread. The chapter starts and excerpts from fictional historical accounts were so well done and added depth to the world building. I particularly loved the dynamic between Xiala and Serapio and was so grateful I could immediately jump into book two after that ending!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide and War
readsandsuch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Loved the world building and characters. Although the plot was sometimes a bit of a slog, everyone had interesting story lines. I liked Okoa a lot and wished he had more of an active role. Xiala and Serapio’s romance was rather flat and felt like they were just smooshed together because they’re both outcasts. Individually they were stellar and had my favorite chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Rape and War
hottamolly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Holy crap this was so good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and War
readersbutterfly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is a read that I will want to devour again and again. It is fantasy separated from its traditionally colorblind ways, with remarkable world building and character creation. It is fun, daring, gory, sexy, queer, and brown! I enjoyed my trip thoroughly!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, War, and Injury/Injury detail
brooketreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Did anyone else get The Broken Earth Trilogy feels?
This book was fast paced and had me gripped from that opening chapter with Serapio. Multiple times throughout the book I said, holy sh*t (out loud). It was all a build up and the ending went very fast. I didn’t mind the speedy ending. Would I have loved and been happy to read a longer ending, yes. But, do I feel like it lessened my feelings, no. I enjoyed this so much I want to re-read and take notes. And this is something I don’t do anymore since the time I re-read the first Harry Potter book for a book club and took 14 pages of notes…front and back. It was a very, I have a problem moment.
Anywayyyyy, don’t read beyond this if you don’t want spoilers:
The storm on the sea and the mutiny…!!! That dang guy that Xiala saved in the water, then he lied and tried to have her killed… I hate that guy.
When Naranpa is getting taken from the tower!!!! I was hot! I wanted to fight someone. Naranpa’s talk with her brother was very heart rending.
Little note on the author:
Roanhorse was adopted out of her culture, her birth mother was Ohkay Owingeh. I did read an article from The Mixed Space about controversy surrounding the authors heritage and use of cultural stories. I still loved the book. I just want to be transparent.
This book was fast paced and had me gripped from that opening chapter with Serapio. Multiple times throughout the book I said, holy sh*t (out loud). It was all a build up and the ending went very fast. I didn’t mind the speedy ending. Would I have loved and been happy to read a longer ending, yes. But, do I feel like it lessened my feelings, no. I enjoyed this so much I want to re-read and take notes. And this is something I don’t do anymore since the time I re-read the first Harry Potter book for a book club and took 14 pages of notes…front and back. It was a very, I have a problem moment.
Anywayyyyy, don’t read beyond this if you don’t want spoilers:
The storm on the sea and the mutiny…!!! That dang guy that Xiala saved in the water, then he lied and tried to have her killed… I hate that guy.
When Naranpa is getting taken from the tower!!!! I was hot! I wanted to fight someone. Naranpa’s talk with her brother was very heart rending.
Little note on the author:
Roanhorse was adopted out of her culture, her birth mother was Ohkay Owingeh. I did read an article from The Mixed Space about controversy surrounding the authors heritage and use of cultural stories. I still loved the book. I just want to be transparent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood
Minor: War
that_boi_eliza's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism and Confinement
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
5.0
“Today he would become a god. His mother had told him so.” pg 1
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.
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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Confinement, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Lesbophobia, and War
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, and Abandonment
ameliabee33's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Easily this is going to become my new high fantasy obsession. There is depth to the characters that we get pov chapters from, Xiala, Serapio, Okoa, and Naranpa. I would literally protect all of them with my life, like oh my God the author makes all of their individual life struggles and goals easy to root for. This book is great if you're looking for a new take on high fantasy, as the author states in the author's note the setting for fantasy is typically a rendition of England and various western European countries. It is another book that has multiple pov's in chapters- which I have always liked having more than one character tell a story because you can get more depth about the world and context the book is set in (I think it's a remnant of my Warrior Cats days 😋).
Xiala, I would die for Xiala. She is a boat captain, a lover of beautiful things and people, and with a hidden past that readers just get a glimpse of. She is also a Teek, legendary women known to use their Song to manipulate the sea and men alike. She was such a strong, resilient chatacter throughout the book that I just kept wanting more and more chapters about her.
Serapio is the avatar for the crow god. Grandfather Crow. Blinded by his mother at a young age, he has grown up and taught that his purpose is to be the vessel for the crow god, which will emerge during the Convergence. I just wanted to protect Serapio this entire time 😭 He wanted human connection and love and so much was standing in his way. I will support him always.
Naranpa is the Sun Priest from the wrong side of the tracks, for lack of a better phrase. As a part and leader of the religious order of Watchers, Naranpa tries to implement institutional change in the order, which has a bloody past and prejudice riddled everywhere. I was left wanting more from her chapters, just more history of her ascension to Sun Priest as well as a more in depth description of her tried and failed changes.
Okoa is the head of the Shied for the matron of clan Carrion Crow. He is a fighter and rider of a raven named Benunda. While he grieves the murder of his mother he gets involved with Grandfather Crow cultists, which want the Watchers killed and their power stripped from them. We had the least amount of chapters from this character, but I have a feeling he will play a more important role in the upcoming books.
Overall there was rich storytelling and great world building inspired by cultures in the pre-Columbian Americas as well as Polynesian. I am so glad I picked this one up for Native American Heritage Month 😊
Xiala, I would die for Xiala. She is a boat captain, a lover of beautiful things and people, and with a hidden past that readers just get a glimpse of. She is also a Teek, legendary women known to use their Song to manipulate the sea and men alike. She was such a strong, resilient chatacter throughout the book that I just kept wanting more and more chapters about her.
Serapio is the avatar for the crow god. Grandfather Crow. Blinded by his mother at a young age, he has grown up and taught that his purpose is to be the vessel for the crow god, which will emerge during the Convergence. I just wanted to protect Serapio this entire time 😭 He wanted human connection and love and so much was standing in his way. I will support him always.
Naranpa is the Sun Priest from the wrong side of the tracks, for lack of a better phrase. As a part and leader of the religious order of Watchers, Naranpa tries to implement institutional change in the order, which has a bloody past and prejudice riddled everywhere. I was left wanting more from her chapters, just more history of her ascension to Sun Priest as well as a more in depth description of her tried and failed changes.
Okoa is the head of the Shied for the matron of clan Carrion Crow. He is a fighter and rider of a raven named Benunda. While he grieves the murder of his mother he gets involved with Grandfather Crow cultists, which want the Watchers killed and their power stripped from them. We had the least amount of chapters from this character, but I have a feeling he will play a more important role in the upcoming books.
Overall there was rich storytelling and great world building inspired by cultures in the pre-Columbian Americas as well as Polynesian. I am so glad I picked this one up for Native American Heritage Month 😊
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content and War