Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

6 reviews

cryosphinx's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

The strength of this book comes from the world building and the diversity of the characters. There's a complexity between the characters and the world and it tackles themes such as colonization in a high\epic fantasy setting. Where it loses is that it feels like a really long prologue to the next book. The pinnacle comes together at the end but the ending isn't super satisfying since it it does read like a prologue. The beginning was also slow especially after that first hard hitting first chapter. I've only read one or two short stories by Roanhorse but I do really love her writing story and I hope for more indigenous authors to enter the fantasy space.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Colonisation

Minor: Animal death, Vomit, and Alcohol

tommelisesofia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

calmk's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A wonderful indigenous-inspired fantasy world, full of intrigue and unique, flawed characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Genocide, Infidelity, Slavery, and Abandonment

tinysierra's review

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.

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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

itendswithe's review

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

[-0.25 star for a cliffhanger first book. I feel strongly that first books in series should be able to stand on their own].

A dark fantasy set in a pre-Columbus America that hooked me within the first few pages.

Four character perspectives (and in the audiobook, by 4 narrators) converging together in a battle between the old crow god and the new sun god. This book has magic, adventure, and a dose of blood - it's one of the best books I've read so far this year.

Covers some heavy topics, so check out the content warnings.

I would recommend if you like: diverse fantasy stories, characters with some edges, queer rep, and old magic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence and Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, and Death of parent

robliophile's review

adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Black Sun kicks off a fantasy trilogy set in a fantasy-analog of the indigenous Americas. The prose delivers on the familiar story beats of many modern scifi/fantasy series, evidencing Roanhorse's experience in the genre.

The intermingling plot threads of Serapio's determined journey of annihilation, Xiala's aimlessness-turned-purpose, and the fragile balance of power's scales being tipped in Tova dance around one another until the pivotal climax that sets up Fevered Star, the sequel. For all of the exciting build-up to that climax, these books would be nothing without their characters. Serapio, Xiala, and Naranpa feel distinct and deserving each of the screen time they get. Even the supporting cast oozes originality and subverts expectations more than once.

A great start to a trilogy that promises to be a breath of fresh air!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Torture, and Xenophobia

Minor: Colonisation

Shoutout for a fantastic use of non-binary characters as part of a cultural setting and allowing them to feel like authentic, real people instead of caricatures of inclusivity!