Black Sun: Intriguing New Fantasy Alert

Black Sun

By: Rebecca Roanhorse

Black Sun is the first novel in a new fantasy series set in the pre-Columbia Americas. I had enjoyed the authors first work (Trail of Lightening) and never read anything in the setting before so was super excited to give this a go.

And the world does make for a truly different and intriguing read.

Serapio was blinded by his mother as a young boy so he could become the vessel of the crow God. One whose return to Earth- as his mother and others believe will bring vengeance upon the Sun Priest and the Watchers of the Holy City of Tovahs who once massacred his people.

So he’s on a collision course with the Sun Priest but the current and new one Nara has her own problems in the Temple and her own possible betrayals to deal with even before the God gets to her. She’s not only new she’s raised up from the lowest of the city and that makes her very unpopular along with the fact she very much wants to have peace and make amends for the previous brutality.

In the middle of it all is Xiala a young, troubled Teek Captain. She’s freed from jail and worse by a rich Lord who gives her the task of getting Serapio to his destiny in time.

Loved the world building and the magic. (I wondered a few times if movie rights hadn’t been sold.) The story at the heart of it is interesting. The idea of violence and revenge being handed down. You may actually want Serapio to do what they say he’s destined to do but at the same time Nara is actually trying to change the institution she inherited. Is it too late? Should she and the other younger Temple people pay for an act that many of them weren’t even born at the time it happened?

I really don’t want to give say too much about the book because I don’t want to give anything away. I did appreciate that Roanhorse doesn’t hold anything back.

For downsides- I will say I wasn’t big on the romantic relationship that pops up. I didn’t buy it especially on the part of one character. But I’m in for book two regardless.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC. It hasn’t changed my opinion or review of the book. Black Sun will be available for purchase Oct. 6th.

Recommend: Yes.