Nov 22

Nov 22 Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse

A god will return
When the earth and sky converge
Under the black sun

It is rare to read fantasy books that are not based on Western themes and tropes. Black Sun is definitely one of those books, relying on pre-Colombian history and folklore to weave a story that ended in one hell of a cliffhanger.

In this book, we meet three main characters, each one different from the other and from the ones who know them. First, there’s Naranpa, a former resident of the Maw, which is basically the wrong side of Tova. Where the Dry Earthers are doing what they can to survive and the Sky Made (basically the rich) come to slum it with the poor. Naranpa has big plans to become the Sun Priest, the top of the heap of priests who live in the celestial tower (the deluxe apartment in the sky, in other words). But Nara is reminded every day that although she is the Sun Priest, she is not Sky Made and never will be.

Second, we have Xiala, a Teek sailor who is beautiful, smart and lives her life the way she wants. Xiala plays hard, but works hard, too. After being arrested for yet another drunken brawl, she is sprung by a rich lord who wants her to deliver a mysterious stranger to Tova by the time of the Convergence, a celestial event that holds a significance for so many.

And then there’s Serapio, the mysterious blind man who holds the key to everything. Trained from a young age by cruel tutors, Serapio must get to Tova in time for the solstice to fulfill his destiny.

I really enjoyed this book because the main characters all seemed to have one thing in common: being seen as different when all you want to be is normal. For Nara, being a Sun Priest who is not Sky Made kept her at odds with her fellow priests and some of the clans. She doesn’t fit in and is second-guessed at every turn, something I and many readers can relate to. In another life, she would be a servant to the Tovans.

For Xiala, she is a Teek who can use her Song to calm the waters. Her body, especially her bones are valuable on the black market, but as a person she is feared by many. And with her extra special gift (I won’t spoil it), the fear is raised exponentially. She is seen as dangerous, only having worth as a dead Teek.

And with Serapio, he is blind, which could have been written with pity. Instead, he is skilled in so many other ways and can survive on his own. Although his tutors were cruel, they made sure he mastered what was needed for him to fulfill his destiny and become who he is meant to be.

The chemistry between Xiala and Serapio is palpable and gods help us all if this book is adapted for the screen or television with the right casting. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series, as the ending is truly a cliffhanger and I literally bit my thumb in frustration (yes, I really did that) when I got to the last page. I definitely recommend Black Sun.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Where to buy: The Lit. Bar Loyalty Bookstores Indiebound Amazon