A great start to a vibrant epic fantasy series. I really enjoyed this, loved the development of the characters, the intrigue and the setting and am very much looking forward to reading the next one.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

This book is beautiful, and grabs the reader from the start. A unique fantasy setting, deep characters that I cared about - both of which I loved exploring. The story unfolds slowly and then with sudden bursts, which kept me on my toes! But I'm looking forward to the sequel, and am already seeking out other work by the author.

It has been a while since I read the book, but I thoroughly enjoyed Black Sun.

The world was exceptional, really fascinating and vivid imagery. It was a breath of fresh air in a genre that can all too often be tropey. And had great representation (disability rep for one of the main protagonists) whuhc allowed me to choose it for one of my readathon prompts

I found myself page turning to find out more about both the main POV characters, culminating in an epic climax that makes you want go pick up Fevered Star immediately upon finishing.

Will definitely look forward to the second book! And also abutting else that Rebecca Roanhorse manages to release in the future.

This book is incredible! Black Sun begins a brilliantly unique series. The world building is so detailed and immersive. I couldn't put this book down, every character was my favourite and I loved every perspective.

The world, concept and plot of this novel was like a breath of fresh air for someone who reads a lot of fantasy. The plot was dark and complex, but at times felt unnecessarily confusing and this made it a slower read than I would've liked. The characters were engaging enough despite their morally grey natures but I didn't truly believe in any of the relationships panning out in the novel so the main emotional crux didn't hit me like I think it was supposed to. However the world building was so good, so clear and detailed and easy to follow that it made up for everything that I was unsure of character wise (which is not usually how I enjoy my books so it was a novel adventure for me!). My best description of the way I felt about this book is that it felt like a prequel, there was so much set up in this story that will no doubt come around in the next installment but there wasn't enough satifying conclusions for me to be completely obsessed with the narrative from this book alone. I would definitely recommend this to people who already love fantasy as it is a fresh new story into a genre that can often feel saturated with westernised medieval fantasy stories; it's diverse, it's new, it's fun and dark and fresh. Can't wait to see where this goes next.

https://youtu.be/eQgLM2-o5_o

https://katjaweinert.com/2021/12/12/thoughts-on-black-sun-by-rebecca-roanhorse/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50892360-black-sun

This book has a riveting plot and excellent character development. Told through multiple points of view, the protagonists manage to have distinct 0voices and personalities. At the same time, the story elements fit
together beautifully as a whole.
The points of view come from four characters.
Xiala: a hardened sea captain who is all discipline offshore and a bit of a loose cannon onshore. She comes with a fascinating backstory and is tasked with transporting the mysterious Serapio: around whom the
threads of the main plot revolve and who provides our second point ofview.
The sub-plots that tie in have got two further narrators: Naranpa the sun priest in Tova and Okoa, the son of the leader of the Crow clan. His voice joins the others toward the last part of the book.
I consider this to be a medium paced novel; there is a good balance between character reflection, flashbacks, and real-time action. The worldbuilding seems inspired by a blend of the Mayan, Aztec and Inca civilisations. The cast of characters is diverse with LGBTQ+ representation and the author's clear writing style make even the more complex parts of this story easy to follow.
I thoroughly enjoyed Black Sun and am looking forward to reading the sequel, Fevered Sun, when it comes out in April 2022

I previously thought that no fantasy book could ever have it all but along came Black Sun.
Fantastic storytelling and world-building?
A diverse cast with characters that will fill you with sheer joy?
Incredible disability rep?
Check, check and, you guessed it, check!

In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world.

Initially, I found the plot a little confusing as the POV jumped around quite a bit, but once I had a grasp on who was who, the story grabbed hold and never let go. It had everything I love. The storytelling was gorgeous and the world-building was so well crafted. To read a fantasy book that follows a disabled character was a breath of fresh air, especially when I realised that there wasn't going to be the whole dreaded "fixing of disability to unlock the true potential" trope. No, instead it was handled perfectly and I loved every second of it.

If you are a fantasy lover then I highly recommend reading this one. I'm so excited to read the next book!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I found it almost impossible to put this down. Beautifully written and exciting from the start to the end. I can't wait for the next in the series!

This was a wonderful fantasy story; full of gripping characters, lush writing and an achingly beautiful story, this book has found a place in my heart forever.

I'm so late with this review. It will be a short one,

This book definitely deserves all the hype it's gotten. The story is amazing, the characters are well-written and I just want more.

I can't believe how long it took me to read it, it was actually amazing and once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I can't even write coherently right now.

An awe-inspiring new fantasy that breaks new ground for indigenous SFF. Rebecca Roanhorse writes brilliantly clever fantasy and Black Sun is her very best.

Black Sun is the first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy. The story is told through multiple perspectives/timelines and is inspired by the civilization of Pre-Columbian Americas. The world is an interesting one, the characters are all well written and the story is compelling throughout. I definitely recommend checking this book out.

This story is a fantastic start to a promising series. Complex storyline and unique characters are just a few of the things that make it memorable. I heard some opinions about this book being a very long prologue and I do understand why. However, this build up to a very specific and rare event was the thing that got me hooked! I never re-read books, but with this one I am tempted.

Black Sun was one of my top 10 books from last year. I had never read anything by Roanhorse before, but I feel like I can confidently say I am a huge fan now. Black Sun is a gorgeous book with stunning world building, complex and morally grey characters, and a story that is totally unputdownable. I cannot wait for the second book!

Wow does this book pack a punch! This is the first book I have read from Rebecca Roanhorse, but if this is anything to go by then I expect her back catalogue is full of gripping, innovative, creative world building with dynamic and powerful stories and characters to root for, characters to rally against and everything in between.

This is the first in a series, and I must say I'm really looking forward to reading the next book, I need to know where this story goes!

There are a lot of fantasy stories out there, but none of them are doing what Roanhorse does here, (and none of them doing it so well either) this is an accomplished novel for sure. I adored the history and mythology woven in to this tale, as an integral part of the story. This world wouldn't have been whole or complete without it, and I adore that.

Highly recommend this one for when you want to be swept away into another world, with new rules, and a killer plot. This one takes you along for the ride!

4 powerful stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rebellion/Solaris for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To begin with l opened the book, saw the character list and map and wondered what tangled web of fantasy I had gotten myself into, but surprisingly itwas very easy to follow. Each point of view was very individual, witha very clear voices and each setting was completely different. And although I did enjoy the book as I was reading it, afterwards I was left feeling let down and disappointed by the lack of action. The whole book felt like a set up for the next book.
I will continue the series but fingers crossed the whole book set up and wait will be worth it.

In the holy city of Tova, the city is preparing for winter solstice celebrations. It's a time for remembering the past sacrifices of their ancestors, and recognising the absolute rule of the Sun Priest. However, this year the celebrations coincide with a solar eclipse - an event that has been prophesied to bring about the end of times. As we count down to the eclipse, we see several characters move into place as their destinies interweave and powers emerge.

This blew me away with its originality and inventiveness. Roanhorse manages to bring to life several distinct characters that all have their own agendas and plots, yet interweave flawlessly. We have Xiala, the pirate Captain with a magical secret. A lover of life and stories, she bounces from one deadly situation to another, surviving by the skin of her teeth. She has such a joy for living, and being by the water, that you can't help to warm to her. Alongside her we have Serapio. A tortured soul with a preordained destiny, he has a lot on his shoulders and a dark secret of his own. I loved his interactions with Xiala. The pair are almost like two sides of a new coin, and this familiarity and their shared love of stories draws them to each other. It's full of tension, and angst and just wonderful scenes that I can't wait to reread. For me there's nothing like a tortured soul who can't express how they feel.

Our other main character is also just as exciting. Naranpa, the unorthodox Sun Priest who came from nothing to be the most powerful figurehead in the world is deeply facinating as a character. She's plucky, determined and progressive and in her heart she only wants to do what's best. Growing up in the poorest part of the city, she has the grit and willpower to succeed. However she's also rather naive in her handling of the underhanded fellow Watchers, who are desperate to dispose her, often falling on the help of former lover Itkan for support. Itkan is suitably mysterious in their feelings towards Naranpa. You're never quite sure what they are planning or thinking, and this only added to the build up of tension and drama for Naranpa's story. She goes through a lot of growth throughout her character arc, and I'm excited to see where she goes in the next one.

The way the story is set out lends itself well to a build up of tension and atmosphere. We start with a countdown towards the eclipse with events building and building towards an epic ending that you know is coming, yet still takes you by surprise. It's by no means fast paced, preferring to introduce the reader's to these complicated characters first, making you feel really invested in them, before building on the plot and action. The world building, as a result, is really well done. We have several sections of the world that we explore here, concentrating mainly on the city of Tova which is separated into different clans with their own leaders and lore, living within separate islands. The magic system is also subtle yet effective. We have mermaids, giant crows and water beasts, and forgotten Gods reborn. By unveiling bits of this knowledge and lore in small doses over the course of the novel it adds substance to the world, adding a richness to the stories Xiala tells, or the history Naranpa knows. It's their to enhance the characters and the world they inhabit, but it never overshadows the story arc.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. Unique magic system and world that is well written with highly complicated and morally ambiguous characters that come to life on the page. I haven't even touched on the amazing representation that is prominent in this either. One do the best fantasy books I've read in a long time.

Really enjoyed this, the world building, story telling and tension building fight scenes were absolutely fantastic, had to buy an audio copy to listen to it again whilst working. Recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review :)

The first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic. This is a unique book for the fantastical aspects and the inspiration. I have never read anything inspired by these civilizations and their mythology. It is so interesting and fascinating.

The whole idea of the celestial prophecy and the gods involved in this world is one of my favourite aspects of this story. There were aspects that terrified me for sure, but everything was done to perfection. I am so intrigued by what happens next.

The political issues were a little harder to understand from the beginning because there so many clans, new cities, different groups, different religions, different believes - that it made it hard to understand which were just political movements and which were related to the magic. But by the end, when I could make the connection properly, I could look back at some moments and enjoy the beauty of that political movement.

The characters are so well done. Not sure if I can say the book has a villain and a hero, it is way more complex and intertwined than this and I really appreciated this. You follow 4 main points of view: Nara (a Sun Priest who wants to help the people), Serapio (blind and stuck with a prophecy he hasn't properly chosen - he is the character that raised the most philosophical questions), Xiala (captain of a ship with some interesting magic of her own, very strong, stubborn and my favourite character in the book) and Okoa (lost his mother and is caught in a political plot). All of them have very interesting backgrounds and are incredibly complex.

It was a surprise and it will stay with me for a while. I cannot wait for the next book in the trilogy!

I loved this book!

It’s been a while since a new author (to me) has captured my heart, but Rebecca Roanhorse did.

Black Sun had everything I love in an epic fantasy. It’s going to be hard not to spend this review gushing, but just know it’s a definite recommendation!

Xiala is my favourite character. A captain of a ship with a mistrusting crew thanks to her magical heritage, she doesn’t roll over for anyone. She’s strong and tough, but we see her vulnerabilities and caring nature.

Serapio is a mystery: marked for destiny since a small child, even he isn’t aware of how deep his power runs. He has a mission to complete, and his determination makes him instantly likeable. But he’s not above emotions either, and his inner turmoil makes him human.

Nara has carved a path for herself from a childhood of poverty. She’s not as strong as the others, but she does find her strength as she develops, and you want to protect her from her own naivety at times.

As relationships ebb and flow and the fate of the world rests on magic and alliances, you root for all of them at the same time.

Black Sun works so well for me because of the intricate world-building. It’s pure fantasy, but you glimpse the deep history behind this place. There’s conflicting beliefs, magic and opinions, and it creates an in-depth world. As a reader, you accept what you’re told: you understand the boundaries of this world, and it makes it real.

There’re also various forms of magic, depending on your ancestors and beliefs. It adds an almost-spiritual element to the world: the physical danger is bad; the magical danger is even worse. Mixing religious beliefs and magic is always going to be an explosive mix.

Roanhorse is a new author to me, but I adore her writing style and would love to read more. Despite the fantastical elements of this world, you’re drawn in to both the places and the people with ease.

The narration is split between two time-lines and four points of view. After the first few chapters, you’re immersed in these stories and there’s no confusion what’s happening at any time.

This book is full of tension. The pacing is strong throughout and the changing narration builds suspense as each story-arc unfolds and builds. Not one you can put down with ease.

In case you haven’t guessed, I loved this! A high recommendation for anyone who is a fan of epic fantasy, but also those looking for good character development, strong world-building and a gripping plot. Black Sun had everything I enjoy in a fantasy book, and I look forward to more.