Review: Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, Book 1)

This book was gifted to me by Saga Press #SagaSaysCrew. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Black Sun	Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Series: Between Earth and Sky	Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Publisher: Saga Press	Page Count: 464

Content Warnings:

• Graphic: blood, death, violence

• Moderate: child abuse, death of a parent, suicide

• Minor: 

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. A god will return When the earth and sky converge Under the black sun 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. Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man's mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.

Black Sun, despite its strengths in world-building and plot, falls short due to underdeveloped characters. The setting, heavily influenced by Pre-Columbian South American cultures, is intricately designed, creating a captivating backdrop for the story. The plot keeps pace with an effective countdown mechanism, keeping readers engaged.

However, the characters are less compelling. Naranpa, a character in a position of authority, fails to understand and navigate her power effectively, making her difficult to relate to. Xaila, a world-wise sailor, is an okay character but leans heavily into tropes. Serapio stands out as the strongest character, walking the line between purpose and trauma.

Unfortunately, the prose lacks the allure that critics rave about. While it accomplishes its task, it doesn't stand out as particularly beautiful or memorable.

The book's strength in world-building and plot, unfortunately, can't carry the rest of the story. Characters like Serapio and Xaila do their part, but Naranpa falls short.

Despite these shortcomings, there are elements that make Black Sun a worthwhile read. The author's use of time jumps in storytelling is clever and engaging. The world-building is smooth and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The multi-POV storytelling adds depth and complexity to the story, allowing readers to sympathize with characters on opposing sides.

Overall, Black Sun is a mixed bag. The fantastic world and intriguing plot are unfortunately let down by underdeveloped characters and uninspiring prose. However, the clever narrative structure and multi-POV storytelling make it a book worth checking out for those interested in a fresh take on fantasy inspired by non-European cultures.