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.
OMG!!!! I absolutely love this book! I want to know when the next book comes out. I have put in for this book several times and I am glad I received one and will also go out and purchase this book. I have to say, so far this year, this book is my favorite read. There was a bit of confusion in the beginning on the book set up, but after finally getting it, I could not put this book down.
There are three main characters and stories in this book. I love all three and cannot pick which one I would consider my favorite. The author intertwines these characters with one another even when one does not realize this until the end. These three characters are well rounded and beautifully written. Each character has their flaws and I can see the growth in them as I got further to the end. I cannot wait to learn and see these characters again in the next book!
Serapio is the main character we are following. We learn from the first chapter, his destiny, which is to bring the Crow God alive and bring justice for the Crow Clan. He learns many ways to survive as a blind person to transition from boy to man, from man to god. It intertwines his destiny with the priesthood and the sun priest. You watch him grow as a character in the book.
Xiala is an interesting and for me the most mysterious out of our three characters. Her story is not fully revealed because I think there is more than what was told. She is an alcoholic captain and a teek, which seems to be a siren like character. In this book, the author intertwines her story with Serapio. She agrees to give him passage to Tova, not knowing who or what he is until halfway through the voyage. He intrigues Xiala and Xiala intrigues Serapio.
Naranpa is the last main character. She is the new sun priest and has ideas to change the priesthood for the good. Sadly, she came at a time where there was a lot on her shoulders. She is part of Serapio’s destiny. She is a noble character and someone you want to be on their side. I can feel she is a good person who wants to do great things for the people, but there are others who do not see her position as a good. Maybe she is my favorite.
What pulled me into this book is its mythology and world building. I felt the realism and was immediately sucked into this book. The different clans with the old religious faiths battling the new beliefs of the priesthood are frankly no different from what has happened in this world. The old religious faith drew and created Serapio’s destiny.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology, dark fantasy, great world building and writing. I cannot wait till the next book comes out.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
I give this book a 10/5? okay a 5/5
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