Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

68 reviews

2treads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

Absolutely amazing. Mybs3cond time reading this book and I am still in love with how Roanhorse has built this story. The cagracywrs are compelling, the plot moves well and keeps me engaged and immersed. The influence of the Meso-American peoples can be seen in the festivals, dress, beliefs, and clan groupings. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol

norspider's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Revenge is a buffet served cold.

Black Sun has a deep, rich world that is explored more deeply in each chapter. The pre-Columbian inspiration for the setting is utilized expertly; each faction and sub-faction is given their due. 

The pace, dialogue, and plot all kept me wanting to read. 

I found myself cheering for each of our POV characters, which is very rare for me. I want Xiala to live rich and well. I want Naranpa to bring honor back to her station. I want Okoa to avenge his mother. And I want Serapio to fulfill his destiny. 

There is wonderful LGBTQIA2S+ representation! Not caricatures or jokes, just people living in the world as part of the story. Beautifully done. 

The only reason I didn't give Black Sun a full 5/5 is because none of its plots conclude; this is an incomplete book. But I knew this was the start of a series when I picked it up so I can (mostly)look beyond that. And Roanhorse has found a passionate new fan in me! 

I can't wait to read book 2!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Drug use, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Excrement

moonytoast's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Sexism, and Vomit

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

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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

camrich's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

I’m usually not much of a high fantasy reader, but I had heard so many great things about this book that I had to give it a shot. Overall I thought it was great! It took me a little bit to get into all of the world building, but the characters (especially Serapio and XIALA!!) had me hooked from the start. I actually grew to love learning about all of the cultures and the tensions between them as the book progressed, especially the political state of Tova and tensions between the clans/the clans and the priesthood/within the priesthood. Another thing I loved was all of the representation, especially regarding trans & non-binary identities and visual disability.
Now for a bit of the negative points of this book for me. The main one was that the book spent all its time building up to this major event only for it to actually happen across 2, maybe 3 pages; I was obviously disappointed. That being said, I did think that it was cool to read about the effects of this event from the different character perspectives which softened the blow a bit. Another was how underdeveloped one of the main character’s story was, especially in comparison to another character who got lots of page time but had very little development (

*cough* Narampa *cough*

) I was actually really interested in expanding on Okoa and

the mystery behind his mother’s death/murder

but unfortunately it seemed like that plot point was abandoned (hoping the author further develops that in the second book!).
Overall a solid start to the trilogy, will definitely be picking up Fevered Star and Mirrored Heavens to see how everything plays out!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Genocide, Sexual content, and Alcohol

read_with_riley's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

4.0

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  I liked the 4 character POVs we get, and was rooting for them all, even though some of them were opposed to each other.  I felt a bit sad for a couple of them.  But I don't think I really loved any of them.  They felt like full characters, but I don't think they really changed much from beginning to end.  The pacing was a little bit odd.  The ending is pretty abrupt; this is definitely 1st in a trilogy, so don't expect any resolution.  I do give props to the world building here, it was very interesting setting (a fantasy world inspired by Pre-Columbus Americas).  For me personally, I was into the book when reading it, but often forgot about it when not reading.  I will definitely pick up the sequel at some point.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

ash_ton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Homophobia, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol

casdelvo'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol

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

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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