Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Black Sun” is not a book that whispers; it roars. It is a breathtakingly ambitious and deeply resonant epic fantasy that plunges readers into a vividly imagined world inspired by pre-Columbian Americas, offering a potent blend of intricate mythology, compelling characters, and a visceral exploration of power, destiny, and the shattering of old orders. It is a book that demands your attention, rewards your investment, and lingers long after the final page.
At its heart, “Black Sun” revolves around a prophesied celestial event – the “Black Sun” – that portends great upheaval and the potential end of an era. This looming astronomical spectacle serves as the backdrop and catalyst for the intertwined destinies of three central characters: Seraphina, a vessel for a deity who struggles with the immense power she carries and the prophecy she is bound to; Xiala, a disgraced celestial navigator with a shadowed past and a formidable, defiant spirit; and Nibu, a young priest of the Sun Temple, whose ambition and ruthlessness are masked by his youthful appearance.
Roanhorse masterfully constructs her world, the continent of Teca, with a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and deeply ingrained beliefs. The city of Orizon, a sprawling metropolis of canals and soaring towers, feels both alien and familiar, a testament to Roanhorse’s immersive world-building. The magic systems are deeply embedded in the spiritual and cosmological beliefs of the people, feeling organic rather than tacked on. The reverence for the celestial bodies, the intricate rituals, and the omnipresence of the gods are not mere details; they are the very fabric of this world, influencing every decision and shaping every character’s journey.
What truly elevates “Black Sun” is its character work. Seraphina’s internal struggle with her divine inheritance is a deeply human portrayal of immense pressure and the fear of losing oneself. Her journey from reluctant participant to someone grappling with agency is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Xiala, a queer, gender-nonconforming sailor, is a revelation. Her cynicism, her pragmatism, and her fierce loyalty (once earned) make her an incredibly compelling and refreshing protagonist. Her dialogue crackles with wit and a world-weariness that feels hard-won. Nibu, while initially the villainous figure, is presented with a chilling complexity. His ambition is a driving force, but Roanhorse hints at the vulnerabilities and justifications that fuel his descent. The dynamic between these three, their initial antagonism and the gradual threads of connection that begin to bind them, is a significant strength of the narrative.
Roanhorse doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of her story. Themes of colonialism, religious fanaticism, political intrigue, and the brutal consequences of power are woven throughout the narrative. The world of Teca, while beautiful, is also a place of simmering tensions and ancient grievances. The impending Black Sun is not just a celestial event; it’s a catalyst for both destruction and rebirth, mirroring the internal and external conflicts faced by the characters. The prose is often stark and powerful, capable of conveying both awe-inspiring beauty and gut-wrenching violence.
“Black Sun” is a book that challenges expectations. It eschews traditional fantasy tropes in favor of a more nuanced and complex exploration of power dynamics and societal structures. The pacing can be deliberate at times, allowing for ample character development and world-building, but the moments of action and revelation are impactful and electrifying.
While the ending leaves certain threads tantalizingly unresolved, this is clearly by design, setting the stage for the next installment in the “Between Earth and Sky” series. This is not a standalone read, and readers who crave immediate closure might feel a pang of anticipation for the future, but the journey itself is so rich and satisfying that the wait for more is a welcome, rather than frustrating, prospect.
In conclusion, “Black Sun” by Rebecca Roanhorse is a triumph of speculative fiction. It is a story that is both deeply rooted in a fascinating mythology and remarkably relevant in its exploration of power, identity, and the ever-present forces of change. It is a book for those who crave immersive worlds, complex characters, and stories that dare to be bold and unapologetically original. Prepare to be swept away by the intoxicating blend of myth, magic, and the dawning of a new, uncertain, but undeniably powerful era. This is a must-read for any fantasy enthusiast seeking something fresh, potent, and unforgettable.
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I made it half way through the book and hadn't read a single line about racial solidarity, or the rise of the Aryan spirit. Turns out I bought the wrong book. 🫤
Why was daniel attacked, did he get blackmailed to review this. You have a lot to answer for Rebecca
I didn't like this book. I had a feeling that the world building was very surface level, and that the author would actually feel more comfortable in medieval fantasy. Hence they leaned into medieval the moment they were not paying attention. It is not enough to drop few dishes and clothing details (interestingly more traditional Aztec outfits are described in detail only on the characters that we are not supposed to see as attractive) to make the world seem genuinely original. Even the landscape and climate seemed not in any real way connected with the supposed Meso american location. I read this book just after Aztec by Jennings, and the difference in world building quality was impossible to ignore. One book creates a vivid and extremely detailed vision of a pre colonial Mexico, and the other one just drops cocoa and feathers here and there on top of very generic world building. At one point, from what I remember, characters drink lavender tea which really made me think, that the author wrote this story in a specific, cool esthetic, but they actually visualized it themselves as a classic European fantasy.
The plot is non existent for most of the story and starts with kind of odd premise (If you are in a hurry, Serapio, why didn't you depart earlier? Is this ever explained? It clearly should be), the politics are beyond surface level and pretty boring, the romance is insta love. The only character, that I found genuinely interesting was Iktan (?), but we don't get much of xe (?). I DNFed somewhere around 85% of this book which means that I really tried, but gave up once I realized I could not care less about how the plot develops, because I kind of know already, and it will probably be worse than what I imagined.
Ah yes, almost can't get published these days without it being LGBTQ+
Unfortunately it shares the same name as the Slavic swastika
I really liked this book but unfortunately I felt like the second book dropped the ball. I read the whole first book in two hours and then just could not get myself through the last one idk why? I really like Roanhorse’s other series like the trail of lightning and race to the sun but something abt fevered star just fell flat to me
So what cultures inspired this? I'm familiar with Aztec and Mayan mythology and a little bit of incan cosmology. It just seemed kinda generically inspired by Latin America
Could not get into the book, to me it was pretty boring, read half of it then gave up
3:40 that's enough goblin… you've convinced me to read it!
Just added to my TBR
Do I need another book? According to my finances, no
Am I getting the book anyways? Yes
I'm looking forward to reading Black Sun, thank you for a great review! And how did I miss your coming out previously?! Congrats and, if you've not heard it yet (or often enough), welcome to the community, you bright and adorkable you! 🦄🏳🌈😀
Hey, casual viewer of your channel so I had no idea you were bi! Not sure if you've heard about the books, but Linden A Lewis' First Sister trilogy is EXCELLENT in terms of making queer identities feel like important facets of character without that being all there is to them, not to mention the narrative flavor is Dune but queer and feminist. The writer is non-binary, and the core cast consists of a bi woman, an ace man and an enby person. Would highly recommend unless you've read it/it's not your thing. If not, carry about thine endeavors as planned, milord goblin! I enjoy them immensely.
I KNEW there was a reason you used to always wear that beautiful rainbow watch in your videos! So happy for and proud of you 🏳️🌈
Also, I can't wait to read this book! You totally put it on my radar. .
I was having plenty of issue in regards to writing lgbt characters in my story, being gay myself.
Thanks to this I've noticed how on the nose I was being instead of leaving space for the characters to just exist as characters and to naturaly have them bond with each other.
Honestly this has applied to romance in general, that I've made it too on the nose without really thinking it was such.
what happened to your face
I'm always very skeptical about mesoamerican fantasy because often times it doesn't feel authentic but I'm curious about it. My favorite book growing up was called "Oros Viejos" and it was a collection of Mesoamerican Folk tales. So I'm really looking forward reading something like this.
This sounds like something I can enjoy I'll try to check it out
Congratulations on joining the Illuminati, I hope the black eye the rabbi gave you didn't hurt too much.
I kept yelling 'Its Xiala!!!' (Zee-a-la) whenever he would pronounce Xailia 😂
You give a strong recommendation, I buy easy
Really wanted to like this book but the end killed it for me. A lot of buildup then…. Just sort of over? The plot lines didn’t really come together. It felt like it ended halfway through the story.
Also the forward moment keeps getting derailed with the flashbacks.
I hadn't heard about the "official" announcment, but let me say welcome to the queer community, then! 🙂 Love your channel, you were partly the reason I got back to reading and updating my view of what I should look for in a good (fantasy) story/book! Thanks a lot! And this one is an insta-buy for me. 😀
And the second book gets even better and bigger.
Oh crazy I just finished this a few months ago
Nice, you got the lgtbq+ box checked. Good work.
I got this book as a "Blind Date with a Book" a couple of years ago. I guess I need to move it up on my TBR!
Also, I just wanted to say that I loved how you mentioned that representation should be a key part of the character, but not a core part of the character. It's so off-putting when an author tries to show representation, but they either make it the character's entire identity or it's randomly thrown in there as an, "oh… BTDubs… the character is this" without it actually adding substance to the story. At that point, authors seem to be just throwing those elements in there because it's the "thing to do" which seems worse than not doing it at all.
YES YES YES, an engaged audience absolutely imagines far more than what's there.
Beginning singers, trying to reproduce a skilled performance from memory, will use way too many notes. Beginning dancers over-dance because they remember more than what happened. I believe Daniel is 100% correct about how excellent worldbuilding invites the audience to run with it; I'm only offering non-book examples because imo they're easier to observe.
3/5 for me.
It was a bit too on-the-nose. Felt a little preachy.
The world-building was the best part.
being lgbt+ isn't a pro but a cons
I'll have to pick this one up. I've avoided it because everything I've seen about it has focused solely on the LGBTQ aspect of it. I don't have a problem with representation but like you, I don't like representation done poorly. And no hate, but when the entire character exists just to be insert thing being represented here I know it's going to be a story I will have a hard time connecting with because it's meant to be someone else's escape not mine.
I think of books like that as being kind of like gay bars. As a straight person I'm welcome to go there, I have no problem going there, but it's not a space meant for me. Which is cool. Just means it's not my go to when I want to go chill and have a drink.
Who gave Daniel that shiner?
I thought he was gonna say Rebecca Rose Rushmore. “It’s a shame about Marshall Nevada’s emotional unavailability.”
Coming here after unresolved textual tension
The fact that the book is showed down the throat with LGBT is a turn off for me. If it was normalized as a romance where MC likes both genders I wouldn't care but focusing so hard on one ontroversial aspect is annoying.
Imagine for example if book was widely promoted as one that has fat protagonist. Look everybody MC is obese wohoo! The only good characteristic is that MC is fat the rest of the things like worldbuilding or plot doesn't matter.
Solid review dude!
You might want to check out Legacy of the Brightwash for more good bisexual rep. SPFBO finalist too.
This book really wasn't for me. Did not care at all about 2 of the 4 POV characters and specially the last few chapters felt so rushed.
Interesting that you thought Xiala was the main character. I saw her as a secondary to Serapio's perspective. I saw Serapio as the main character and Narampa as a co-main. It seemed like all perspectives were part of those two narratives.
Bro put lgbt in the thumbnail
Yay I'm glad to hear this gets your thumbs up. I picked up this book a few months ago based on the recommendation from the bookseller, but it's still in my TBR pile. Same bookseller also recommended The Tiger's Daughter by K Arsenault Rivera which I also haven't read, but it apparently has LGBTQ rep as well.
PS thank you for bringing that song back to my attention, I used to listen to it a lot back in the day!
daniel, when a "novella recomendations" will come out?? :v