Welcome to Litsy!

(2022) Second in the trilogy beginning with “Black Sun,“ this is a fantasy set in a would inspired by pre-Columbian America. This entry develops the worldbuilding and the political maneuvering. It's a fun world, and this is a fun visit, but it also feels a little directionless to me, like moving people around for the sake of filling Book Two. Looking forward to a grand showdown in Book Three.

The sun had not yet risen on the first day after the new year's winter solstice, and it felt not at all as if an age had ended, but Balam knew better.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

I loved the first book in the series. Book two was not quite as good, but still a great read. I love the world building. The politics get a little hard for me to follow at times, but when we are following the main characters, it's very enjoyable. Currently they are spread apart, but I am looking forward to when everyone comes together.

Another excellent read! There is so much going on in this book, between the political strife forming between the clans, the journey of the sea captain, and the emotional hurricane of the new god avatars, but it all works together quite well. I love visiting this world Roanhorse has built. #Fantasy #Indigenous #LGBTQIA #Crows

Welp this was supposed to be just for my commute but I kept listening after I got home today because I was invested in the outcome. It took a few chapters but once I knew how my faves were faring I was all in.

There are no tides more treacherous than those of the heart. —Teek saying

Black Sun was my favorite book of 2023. Really looking forward to this second book in the series. Huey‘s making sure it smells like him. 😹 #huey #catsoflitsy

It‘s no secret that I love @pangobooks. I‘ve used their app for years. Today I‘ve listed a few more books. I‘m slowly getting my physical tbr to a manageable level. If you‘re interested in any of these check out my shop. I‘m Wildwood Reads there too.

And if you‘re not familiar with Pangobooks you can learn more here.

https://pangobooks.com/WILDWOODREADS

3 out of 5

Almost forgotten gods and clan matrons vie for control across fantasy lands inspired by the pre-Colombian Americas. Sun goddess Nara, Teek “princess” Xiala, crafty spy/warrior Iktan, crime boss Ochi and many others flesh out this rich world with its own rules of sorcery, family, and society. The characters are easy to root for (even if they are at odds with each other). Loved this sequel to Black Sun.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

“I have done great deeds both good and evil, and who is to judge me but the gods, and what shall they say to me but that I dared?”

Went by our little library today! Picked up the book that follows Black Sun, Fevered Star.

Great follow up to Black Sun! Serapio‘s development as the Crow God was fascinating and also heart wrenching. Same with Naranpa moving deeper into her destiny as Sun Priest. So many characters had life changing events. I look forward to book 3, maybe next year?

Venkman is clearly glad I‘m finished, as the Cat God he demands his Devine Snuggle Time now. 😸🖤

Yay, beautiful book map! I‘ve been looking forward to this book since I read Black Sun in January. 😁📚

The second book in this series - was not as good as the first, but still going to read the third when it comes out!

I didn't quite manage a #bookspinbingo since February wasn't a great reading month for me, but I still managed to finish my #bookspin and #doublebookspin

@TheAromaofBooks

4.5/5

For some reason I kept forgetting this was a trilogy and not a duology, so when I got close to the end I grew increasingly concerned with how unresolved most things were. I felt like this was a very good, but fairly classic middle fantasy book: all the characters begin moving in new directions and expand the world as they are separated by circumstances. I look forward to seeing how everything comes together again in the next book.

The sun had not yet risen on the first day after the new year's winter solstice, and it felt not at all as if an age had ended, but Balam knew better.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

An interesting story with gorgeous description & rich characters, but the plot doesn't move very much. Roanhorse is great at creating a world & there is so much that is unique about this series. The world-building is incredibly complex & the political tension is deftly woven. I'm hoping for a bit more of a moving and shaking conclusion to the trilogy, but Fevered Star did draw me back into this fabulous world & reminded me how much I loved it.

This was basically a set up for book 3. Nothing happened. Characters were manoeuvred into place, alliances were created, characters were explored a bit more but it was still a slog and boring.

The world building is amazing. The writing is excellent. I just got bored. I gave up and had to really force myself to read the last 200 pages. I am really disappointed because the first book was amazing.

Not quite as quick a read as the first book, at least not for me, but still a killer story. A lot more character development, and a deeper exploration of the universe‘s magics, with more death, destruction, plotting and mayhem. The main characters are somehow BOTH tragic figures, and the drive to see just what will happen to them is what really pushes the story along. A truly excellent read.

My favorite read of August is definitely the tagged book!

July & August‘s books are so very different, but I just loved Fevered Star more and can see myself rereading it! (I mean I will when the next book comes out)

And sorry, but I definitely liked it more than Sea of Tranquility! 2022 has been a crazy reading year for me!

Oh man. I wanted so bad to love this book as much as I did as the first one. And, to be honest there wasn‘t anything inherently wrong with Fevered Star. The second book in the series had a great plot, strong character development and excellent world building. I just personally couldn‘t get lost in the stories like I could in the first book.
For that reason along I have to give this book:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

This was a random pick a while back and IM SO GLAD it came my way. Now it‘s gonna be months of suffering waiting for the next book. Worth it tho. The whole time I‘ve been reading this I kept thinking “I‘ve never read or seen GoT but I bet this is infinitely better”. SOMEONE PUT THIS WORLD ON TV!!! (and beyond!)

All the stars!! I loved this book! It was just as good as the first book. I don‘t want to say I loved it more but it‘s close! I loved that we got more of the world building and a deeper dive into some of the characters. The cover does freak me out a bit though. It makes sense, but I don‘t love it.

#BookSpin

I was blown away by Ms Roanhorse‘s first book in the Between the Earth and Sky series: Black Sun. This second title not as much, but maybe only because I was more familiar with the world she built. I loved the additional character development of the Serapio and Naranpa, both now living gods, and of Xiala and Iktan who love the humans they once were. Can‘t wait for the next in the series!

Good sequel to the first book! I wish we could spend a little bit more time with each of the characters to see more of how they think and feel. Ends better than the first one but still a bit of cliffhanger, can‘t wait to read the next entry in the series. Very exciting imagery, lore could definitely see this as a tv show.

A strong second book in the series with the lens pulled back to view the deeper political conflicts driving the characters. I was a little confused here and there on some of the characters' motivations, but it didn't negatively impact the story. Overall though, I enjoyed the book and can't wait for the third.

What a great email to wake up to this morning!

Let‘s see if I actually get this book in the mail though!

The one other goodreads giveaway I won, I never got the book!

This was not quite as gripping as book 1. Far more character building and political maneuvering. Definitely a middle book. This absolutely does not work as a standalone. Still very fast paced and a quick read. I look forward to book 3! 3.5⭐️
#bookspinbingo bingo!
#20in4 #readathon book 3

A truly remarkable follow in this epic fantasy series. I love the unique, in depth world-building and the nuanced characters. They're all neither hero nor villain. There is a lot political scheming and assassination in this installment! I especially loved the direction Naranpa's character took and the unexpected pairing of Ichtan and Xiala. Amazing in audio! Each character is voiced by a different actor. Cara Gee is truly incredible as Naranpa.

Everything I look for in Epic Fantasy. Great world building and characters that I care about. Can't wait to see where this story goes. Wonderful audio book with a strong cast. 4 🌟

#Two4Tuesday
1. Tagged for sure, which I have posted before. It is coming up next on my physical TBR.
2. Yes, but only instrumental music. Music with lyrics distracts me.

What a spectacular second book that leads to what I think is going to be an unbelievable finale. I hope that 3rd book comes soon.

Loved the first book and half way in, I'm equally enamored with book two! 🙌

I read 10 books in February. No bingo for #BookSpinBingo, but I did read my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin books.

My favorites were The League of Gentlewomen Witches, Fevered Star, and Book of Night.

I finished this ARC last night. Absolutely loved. Just as riveting as the 1st book, Black Sun. This is a Pre-Columbian Americas fantasy. This book really focuses on the characters while building up the plot. She isn't afraid to let her characters make mistakes. Also I want to ride on a giant crow. I'm so ready for book 3! Fevered Star is out 4/19.

This was also my February #BookSpin.😁

#currentlyreading

In between cleaning this weekend (I cleaned out closets!), I was able to get about 45% of this ARC read.

I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 319.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

The sequel to Black Sun is every bit as good as the first book & I cannot wait to see where Roanhorse takes things. The story picks up right after the events at the end of Black Sun & before you have time to draw a deep breath, things get even more complicated & deadly & very, very interesting. Love the world & the characters. This epic fantasy inspired by pre-Columbian civilizations of the Americas is excellent. More please! On sale 4/22.

Black Sun was one of my favorite reads of 2020, an epic fantasy that read and felt like a huge evolutionary step forward for the genre. So yes, I may have screeched with excitement—drawing the bewildered attention of my daughter—when a friend texted to say she had an ARC of the sequel for me. Needless to say, this one is leaping right over my TBR stacks and straight into my hands for my greedy eyeballs to feast on. So. Excited.