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Between Earth and Sky #3
Mirrored Heavens
The interwoven destinies of the people of Meridian will finally be determined in this stunning conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky trilogy.
Even the sea cannot stay calm before the storm. —Teek saying
Serapio, avatar of the Crow God Reborn and the newly crowned Carrion King, rules Tova. But his enemies gather both on distant shores and within his own city as the matrons of the clans scheme to destroy him. And deep in the alleys of the Maw, a new prophecy is whispered, this one from the Coyote God. It promises Serapio certain doom if its terrible dictates are not fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Xiala is thrust back amongst her people as war comes first to the island of Teek. With their way of life and their magic under threat, she is their last best hope. But the sea won’t talk to her the way it used to, and doubts riddle her mind. She will have to sacrifice the things that matter most to unleash her powers and become the queen they were promised.
And in the far northern wastelands, Naranpa, avatar of the Sun God, seeks a way to save Tova from the visions of fire that engulf her dreams. But another presence has begun stalking her nightmares, and the Jaguar God is on the hunt.
Even the sea cannot stay calm before the storm. —Teek saying
Serapio, avatar of the Crow God Reborn and the newly crowned Carrion King, rules Tova. But his enemies gather both on distant shores and within his own city as the matrons of the clans scheme to destroy him. And deep in the alleys of the Maw, a new prophecy is whispered, this one from the Coyote God. It promises Serapio certain doom if its terrible dictates are not fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Xiala is thrust back amongst her people as war comes first to the island of Teek. With their way of life and their magic under threat, she is their last best hope. But the sea won’t talk to her the way it used to, and doubts riddle her mind. She will have to sacrifice the things that matter most to unleash her powers and become the queen they were promised.
And in the far northern wastelands, Naranpa, avatar of the Sun God, seeks a way to save Tova from the visions of fire that engulf her dreams. But another presence has begun stalking her nightmares, and the Jaguar God is on the hunt.
597 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
About the author
Rebecca Roanhorse
58 books9,490 followersRebecca Roanhorse is a New York Times bestselling and Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Award-winning speculative fiction writer. She has published multiple award-winning short stories and novels, including two novels in The Sixth World Series, Star Wars: Resistance Reborn, Race to the Sun for the Rick Riordan imprint, and the epic fantasy trilogy Between Earth and Sky. She has also written for Marvel Comics and games and for television, including FX’s A Murder at the End of the World, and the Marvel series Echo for Disney+. She has had her own work optioned by Amazon Studios, Netflix, and AMC Studios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 858 reviews
September 4, 2024
It’s always a little nerve-wracking cracking open the final book in a series you’ve fallen head over heels for. You’re either in for a delightful surprise or an existential crisis. With loose threads to be tied up and a wish list of what you hope for your beloved characters, there's always a precarious balance between satisfaction and disappointment.
So, how did this finale stack up?
Well, at the risk of sounding gushy (tbh idgaf), if I could give the entire series more than 5 stars, I’d be throwing handfuls of them around like confetti. Huge thanks to my dearest Ivana, who was a major part of it, and pure joy to read with. This is undoubtedly going on my favourite fantasy series of all-time shelf. Ivana is already on my favourite people of all time shelf, old news.
But in all honesty, I’m still mulling over the ending of Mirrored Heavens. Was it beautifully crafted? Absolutely. Poetic? Without a doubt. Did it leave me fully satisfied? Eh, I’m about as torn as Natalie Imbruglia. I was craving a bit more in a few ways, and there was a trope that I caught myself rolling my eyeballs at, toward the end. (It's my own issue, nothing personal, and I'm sure others will like it—Ivana liked it.)
Nevertheless, let’s talk about the journey because, honestly, that’s where the magic happened. I spent the entire book on the edge of my seat, hanging on every word, every twist, and every single character’s fate. I’ve grown to love them all—well, maybe not the matrons of Tova or Lord Tuun.
As for the rest? Forget good vs. evil—these characters revel in shades of grey, some darker than others, and I’m here for it and the giant crows.
But my highlight is Xiala, our favourite ship-captain mermaid. She’s officially dethroned all my previous favourite FMCs. Sorry, Galadriel Higgins*, Jude Duarte, Inej, Katniss, and Galaxy Stern—I still adore you, but Xiala has blown everyone out of the water.
*(Well, maybe she's tied with Galadriel from The Scholomance. But I digress.)
And so, in conclusion: this entire series has set the bar impossibly high. Thank you, Roanhorse for bringing something so refreshing to the high fantasy genre. You’ve more than succeeded in celebrating the unique beauty of pre-Columbian American cultures and decolonising gender and love in a way that feels genuine and groundbreaking.
Edit: This is now available to purchase in Australia!
1. Black Sun ★★★★★
2. Fevered Star ★★★★★
3. Mirrored Heavens: ★★★★☆
🔹🔹🔹
Practically embarked on my own epic fantasy quest just to get my hands on a copy of Mirrored Heavens in Australia.
Thrilled to finally dive into the final book of this trilogy with my dear friend Ivana.
So, how did this finale stack up?
Well, at the risk of sounding gushy (tbh idgaf), if I could give the entire series more than 5 stars, I’d be throwing handfuls of them around like confetti. Huge thanks to my dearest Ivana, who was a major part of it, and pure joy to read with. This is undoubtedly going on my favourite fantasy series of all-time shelf. Ivana is already on my favourite people of all time shelf, old news.
But in all honesty, I’m still mulling over the ending of Mirrored Heavens. Was it beautifully crafted? Absolutely. Poetic? Without a doubt. Did it leave me fully satisfied? Eh, I’m about as torn as Natalie Imbruglia. I was craving a bit more in a few ways, and there was a trope that I caught myself rolling my eyeballs at, toward the end. (It's my own issue, nothing personal, and I'm sure others will like it—Ivana liked it.)
Nevertheless, let’s talk about the journey because, honestly, that’s where the magic happened. I spent the entire book on the edge of my seat, hanging on every word, every twist, and every single character’s fate. I’ve grown to love them all—well, maybe not the matrons of Tova or Lord Tuun.
As for the rest? Forget good vs. evil—these characters revel in shades of grey, some darker than others, and I’m here for it and the giant crows.
But my highlight is Xiala, our favourite ship-captain mermaid. She’s officially dethroned all my previous favourite FMCs. Sorry, Galadriel Higgins*, Jude Duarte, Inej, Katniss, and Galaxy Stern—I still adore you, but Xiala has blown everyone out of the water.
*(Well, maybe she's tied with Galadriel from The Scholomance. But I digress.)
And so, in conclusion: this entire series has set the bar impossibly high. Thank you, Roanhorse for bringing something so refreshing to the high fantasy genre. You’ve more than succeeded in celebrating the unique beauty of pre-Columbian American cultures and decolonising gender and love in a way that feels genuine and groundbreaking.
Edit: This is now available to purchase in Australia!
1. Black Sun ★★★★★
2. Fevered Star ★★★★★
3. Mirrored Heavens: ★★★★☆
🔹🔹🔹
Practically embarked on my own epic fantasy quest just to get my hands on a copy of Mirrored Heavens in Australia.
Thrilled to finally dive into the final book of this trilogy with my dear friend Ivana.
March 15, 2024
My thanks to Saga Press, Rebecca Roanhorse and Netgalley.
Shoot, ya'll. I have loved this trilogy. Ms. Roanhorse has a new fan.
From the first chapter in this trilogy I was hooked.
Unfortunately, by the end? Honestly, I don't know where it all went wrong. I wanted more. I actually expected more.
The ending was fabulous, "if I was a teenager'.
So much was left unexplained. Damn it! I wanted more.
I expect that most will love Rebecca's end game.
But, then there is me!
I'm going to shut up now. Ms. Roanhorse can write some decent shit! Unfortunately, she can't do endings.
The trilogy as a whole? 5 stars all the way.
However, this last book?
I'll be back! This woman's got some shit to write, and I'm there for that!
Yeah. Duh. If course I'd recommend this book.
Shoot, ya'll. I have loved this trilogy. Ms. Roanhorse has a new fan.
From the first chapter in this trilogy I was hooked.
Unfortunately, by the end? Honestly, I don't know where it all went wrong. I wanted more. I actually expected more.
The ending was fabulous, "if I was a teenager'.
So much was left unexplained. Damn it! I wanted more.
I expect that most will love Rebecca's end game.
But, then there is me!
I'm going to shut up now. Ms. Roanhorse can write some decent shit! Unfortunately, she can't do endings.
The trilogy as a whole? 5 stars all the way.
However, this last book?
I'll be back! This woman's got some shit to write, and I'm there for that!
Yeah. Duh. If course I'd recommend this book.
August 29, 2024
I would like to thank NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Simply put, I'm sad it's over 👑🐦⬛🧜🏾♀️🐦🔥🐉🦅🪲🐆🐾🥷🏽
This was such an extraordinary series, and the journey through it was even more rewarding having done so with the incomparable Esta ! This was a wild one, darling, and thank you for making it special beyond measure!
It took me a while to fashion something cohesive, because along with the breakneck pace of Mirrored Heavens came every emotion, and though it was a bit overwhelming to feel both wired and drained at the same time, i would not trade this feeling for anything!
As an avid fantasy reader, these days an epic has to provide something exceptional to get me to appreciate its value beyond being a good time. And what Roanhorse did with the Between Earth and Sky series was nothing short of extraordinary, one that i'm sure i will be in awe of till the end of time!
Mirrored Heavens, the final opus in this trilogy, opened its first chapter with the Coyote Song prophecy, and the chills that gave me spoke to the myriad future moments where my body, mind and heart would be in motion because of Roanhorse's powerful and evocative narrative. And while I found the whole epic stunning overall, there were aspects of style and layers of engagement that gave this series another level of dynamism to me, beyond plot action and drama!
For instance, I'd really dialed into the epigraphs and felt that there was just something so vital and immersive in the way Roanhorse wrote epic ephemera. The location and dates, the author of the passage, and the overall vibe the clever bit of lyricism ushered in every chapter, fed me more than most books out in the world, if i'm being honest. And because there was a healthy dose of past and present in the way this story unfolded, those epigraphs were invaluable for bringing the energy and marking the location and passage of time, giving me stability and orientation like a steadfast compass. i don't think i've ever felt this strongly about epigraphs before, but Roanhorse made them indispensable to me, and i appreciated them immensely!
Of the 3 books, this one was definitely my favourite. The first two in the series very much adhered to foundation and expansion, and the vicious breaking of the unstable, to be remade with intention and courage beyond duty. But this book came with the fire, and had all the trappings and the energy of violent completion, emotional vulnerability, hope and tragic possibility that had the potential to shred hearts.
And mine was in my mouth from start to finish.
And yes I was decimated like i knew i would be.
I had favourites ofc, and i was a raw nerve from screaming internally and crying fat Chihiro tears as my heart broke and broke and broke. It's such an intense thing to despair over fiction when real life is also kicking my ass. But here we are, still alive and yearning, trauma bonds and all.
The god-touched in this epic were by all accounts the bright and bloody showstoppers. Xiala and Serapio and Nara and Balam, were all breathtaking to read at times. Vessels for their gods, and in constant, bright and dark conversation/song with Sun and Crow and Sea and Dream, these characters were woven with such deft and inspiring vigor, that their tenacity pretty much melted my brain with their transformative, hungry growing.
But it was the humble scion, Okoa, who affected me to the core. His plight was harder than most, because he was the only player on this board of vicious madness who was bereft of malice, and he ended up paying dearly for it. Human, all heart and heroic to the end, i understand WHY things went down the way they had, but I still wanted a different ending for Okoa and his Benundah. I'm still choking up, even as i'm writing this.
Despite my heartbreak, I was happy with the HEAs Roanhorse gave us. And because I'm fairly obsessed and invested down to my marrow, I'm clutching on to the nuggets of hope for continuation, because lbr, a Phoenix is supposed to rise from the ashes! And there's still ample love and magic and secrets, and most importantly, wives to wake up in the world of the Meridian!
And Tova scions will be scions! Because if this series has taught us anything, it's that those vicious apples don't fall far from those carnivorous trees. And those ending yips of the Coyote God gave me hopeful joy that Maw wants a spin at Tova rule, so that's going to be some cunning brutal work ahead and I am here for all of it!
This was a brilliant conclusion to an amazing series, and I'm looking forward to everything Roanhorse brings next to the genre, because I am certain it will be stunning and magnificent and diverse and utterly phenomenal and the best thing for my imagination that i could ever hope for!
-
-
-
✨💖Reading this gem with my super babe Esta who makes the journey through epic fantasy, epic epigraphs, epic ephemera even more, yes, epic. Thanks for the joy, babes!💖✨
-
-
-
OHHHMMMYYYYGGGAWDDD YESSSSSS THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THIS ARC I'M SO HAPPY I HAVEN'T STOPPED SCREAMING 😭💓😭💓😭💓😭💓
Simply put, I'm sad it's over 👑🐦⬛🧜🏾♀️🐦🔥🐉🦅🪲🐆🐾🥷🏽
This was such an extraordinary series, and the journey through it was even more rewarding having done so with the incomparable Esta ! This was a wild one, darling, and thank you for making it special beyond measure!
It took me a while to fashion something cohesive, because along with the breakneck pace of Mirrored Heavens came every emotion, and though it was a bit overwhelming to feel both wired and drained at the same time, i would not trade this feeling for anything!
As an avid fantasy reader, these days an epic has to provide something exceptional to get me to appreciate its value beyond being a good time. And what Roanhorse did with the Between Earth and Sky series was nothing short of extraordinary, one that i'm sure i will be in awe of till the end of time!
Mirrored Heavens, the final opus in this trilogy, opened its first chapter with the Coyote Song prophecy, and the chills that gave me spoke to the myriad future moments where my body, mind and heart would be in motion because of Roanhorse's powerful and evocative narrative. And while I found the whole epic stunning overall, there were aspects of style and layers of engagement that gave this series another level of dynamism to me, beyond plot action and drama!
For instance, I'd really dialed into the epigraphs and felt that there was just something so vital and immersive in the way Roanhorse wrote epic ephemera. The location and dates, the author of the passage, and the overall vibe the clever bit of lyricism ushered in every chapter, fed me more than most books out in the world, if i'm being honest. And because there was a healthy dose of past and present in the way this story unfolded, those epigraphs were invaluable for bringing the energy and marking the location and passage of time, giving me stability and orientation like a steadfast compass. i don't think i've ever felt this strongly about epigraphs before, but Roanhorse made them indispensable to me, and i appreciated them immensely!
Of the 3 books, this one was definitely my favourite. The first two in the series very much adhered to foundation and expansion, and the vicious breaking of the unstable, to be remade with intention and courage beyond duty. But this book came with the fire, and had all the trappings and the energy of violent completion, emotional vulnerability, hope and tragic possibility that had the potential to shred hearts.
And mine was in my mouth from start to finish.
And yes I was decimated like i knew i would be.
I had favourites ofc, and i was a raw nerve from screaming internally and crying fat Chihiro tears as my heart broke and broke and broke. It's such an intense thing to despair over fiction when real life is also kicking my ass. But here we are, still alive and yearning, trauma bonds and all.
The god-touched in this epic were by all accounts the bright and bloody showstoppers. Xiala and Serapio and Nara and Balam, were all breathtaking to read at times. Vessels for their gods, and in constant, bright and dark conversation/song with Sun and Crow and Sea and Dream, these characters were woven with such deft and inspiring vigor, that their tenacity pretty much melted my brain with their transformative, hungry growing.
But it was the humble scion, Okoa, who affected me to the core. His plight was harder than most, because he was the only player on this board of vicious madness who was bereft of malice, and he ended up paying dearly for it. Human, all heart and heroic to the end, i understand WHY things went down the way they had, but I still wanted a different ending for Okoa and his Benundah. I'm still choking up, even as i'm writing this.
Despite my heartbreak, I was happy with the HEAs Roanhorse gave us. And because I'm fairly obsessed and invested down to my marrow, I'm clutching on to the nuggets of hope for continuation, because lbr, a Phoenix is supposed to rise from the ashes! And there's still ample love and magic and secrets, and most importantly, wives to wake up in the world of the Meridian!
And Tova scions will be scions! Because if this series has taught us anything, it's that those vicious apples don't fall far from those carnivorous trees. And those ending yips of the Coyote God gave me hopeful joy that Maw wants a spin at Tova rule, so that's going to be some cunning brutal work ahead and I am here for all of it!
This was a brilliant conclusion to an amazing series, and I'm looking forward to everything Roanhorse brings next to the genre, because I am certain it will be stunning and magnificent and diverse and utterly phenomenal and the best thing for my imagination that i could ever hope for!
-
-
-
✨💖Reading this gem with my super babe Esta who makes the journey through epic fantasy, epic epigraphs, epic ephemera even more, yes, epic. Thanks for the joy, babes!💖✨
-
-
-
OHHHMMMYYYYGGGAWDDD YESSSSSS THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THIS ARC I'M SO HAPPY I HAVEN'T STOPPED SCREAMING 😭💓😭💓😭💓😭💓
Want to read
August 7, 2022I have to wait a WHOLE year?!
June 8, 2024
2.2/5
Black Sun was one of my favourite books from last year. Mirrored Heavens was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. And here I am, absolutely pissed at this book.
The concept, the magic, the world building, religion, different cultures and races of Black Sun was simply amazing. Fevered Star was a huge disappointment because "nothing" happened, a lot of things happened but as a preparation for the coming war, and we were introduced to new characters alongside an expansion of the world building. Second book syndrome, we all know what that is, but the book ended in a way that made you think war was around the corner so I didn't think much of it.
Imagine my face when book 3 starts with the same numb feeling of book 2 and it keeps going for 500 FUCKING PAGES. 500 pages of nothing really going on, of preparation, of characters settling in for the war. All for it to finish in 50 pages. Everything, every drama, every discovery for the war and the involvement of the armies, everything just gone in 50 pages.
It gave me the feeling that the author hated the book and just wanted to be done with it quick to focus on something else.
And the characters? Those are not the characters that we were introduced in book 1. Serapio turned to a monster, Xiala turned to a wimp. Xiala, who was a tough sailor, a daughter of the sea always drunk and confident and getting into arguments, turning into someone whose sole purpose feels like it is coming back to Serapio's lap while crying all the way to Tova. Iktan and Naranpa feel like new characters.
But what pissed me the most was that book 2 introduce us to Coyote clan, the Maw, giving Naranpa and her hometown so much importance in book 2. WHAT FOR? No character from the clan, not even the Maw get more than 5 pages in this book. Only Zataya comes in with a USELESS prophecy that means nothing and only serves to add a bit of unnecessary drama to the story.
And so many things don't make any sense. Tunn coming in to the Teek island serves NO PURPOSE beyond helping Xiala to "develop" her character. All the flashbacks and we still don't know anything about Saya.
This book pissed me off and made me start hating what I believe would be one of my new fantasy series ever. I don't even want to recommend Black Sun anymore.
Black Sun was one of my favourite books from last year. Mirrored Heavens was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. And here I am, absolutely pissed at this book.
The concept, the magic, the world building, religion, different cultures and races of Black Sun was simply amazing. Fevered Star was a huge disappointment because "nothing" happened, a lot of things happened but as a preparation for the coming war, and we were introduced to new characters alongside an expansion of the world building. Second book syndrome, we all know what that is, but the book ended in a way that made you think war was around the corner so I didn't think much of it.
Imagine my face when book 3 starts with the same numb feeling of book 2 and it keeps going for 500 FUCKING PAGES. 500 pages of nothing really going on, of preparation, of characters settling in for the war. All for it to finish in 50 pages. Everything, every drama, every discovery for the war and the involvement of the armies, everything just gone in 50 pages.
It gave me the feeling that the author hated the book and just wanted to be done with it quick to focus on something else.
And the characters? Those are not the characters that we were introduced in book 1. Serapio turned to a monster, Xiala turned to a wimp. Xiala, who was a tough sailor, a daughter of the sea always drunk and confident and getting into arguments, turning into someone whose sole purpose feels like it is coming back to Serapio's lap while crying all the way to Tova. Iktan and Naranpa feel like new characters.
But what pissed me the most was that book 2 introduce us to Coyote clan, the Maw, giving Naranpa and her hometown so much importance in book 2. WHAT FOR? No character from the clan, not even the Maw get more than 5 pages in this book. Only Zataya comes in with a USELESS prophecy that means nothing and only serves to add a bit of unnecessary drama to the story.
And so many things don't make any sense. Tunn coming in to the Teek island serves NO PURPOSE beyond helping Xiala to "develop" her character. All the flashbacks and we still don't know anything about Saya.
This book pissed me off and made me start hating what I believe would be one of my new fantasy series ever. I don't even want to recommend Black Sun anymore.
March 24, 2024
The long awaiting conclusion for this trilogy! Overall, I'm satisfied with how things wrapped up and was glad for more time with Xiala. That said, I do think this was the weakest of the 3 books due to the pacing - I wonder if it had either been extended & there were 4 books OR this had been scaled back, if it would have had been more successful for my tastes.
But that being granted, I just love Rebecca Roanhorse's writing so, so much. The way she paints the setting and builds her characters... chef's kiss! I just was happy to be back in a RR book and had a lovely time seeing this story draw to a close. I can't wait to see what's next!
But that being granted, I just love Rebecca Roanhorse's writing so, so much. The way she paints the setting and builds her characters... chef's kiss! I just was happy to be back in a RR book and had a lovely time seeing this story draw to a close. I can't wait to see what's next!
August 4, 2024
2.5/5
this trilogy is just an exercise in mixed feelings for me.
in some ways, mirrored heavens improved from fevered star and in other ways, it remained the same or got even worse. the pacing is just as bad as in the previous book - way too much build-up was happening for a finale and too much page time was wasted on useless POVs. too many new plot threads were introduced - dreamwalking, serapio's prophecy, xiala's teek arc - and they weren't really resolved in satisfying ways (except for the prophecy which made sense thematically for serapio's character). balam's POV chapters were interesting but felt like second book material to me - did we really need this much backstory and exposition in a final book?
serapio's character arc remained the most well-written, coherent aspect of this series. his struggle between following a pre-determined destiny and taking fate in his own hands is just as compelling here and i think the prophecy plotline was a good way to highlight that internal struggle. i just feel like the author chickened out a bit towards the end from really confronting serapio's terrible actions and kinda waved them away instead.
what this book improves upon (sort of) is xiala's and okoa's characters. at long last, xiala gets her own space in the story, her own goals separate from serapio, and comes into her own powers (although we never learned why the teek lost their magic??? it seemed like the author just needed a reason for xiala to be the super special chosen one). i was just happy to see that, for once, xiala's world didn't revolve around serapio and she got to do her own thing for a while. i also think her personal resolution was the most satisfying out of all the characters.
as for okoa, i was pleasantly surprised that his chapters weren't a complete bore for me like before. his inner conflict between his duty to his clan and his bond with serapio finally made sense and i actually started sympathizing with him. i also really liked his relationship with serapio and i was looking forward to seeing how it would evolve - until the author completely fucked things up of course. so yeah, i hated how his arc wrapped up and the resolution given to carrion crow.
naranpa was done so dirty in this book, i was kinda shocked. her arc really peaked in fevered star and honestly, if THIS is what the author gave her in the final book, i'd rather naranpa's arc ended in fevered star. we had to watch her go on this inane side quest that was not only divorced from the main plot but was eventually rendered completely useless. and her main conflict in this book is with BALAM? that was so out of left field for me. hated everything about her chapters except her relationship with iktan.
the main plot with the war between tova and the other cities had a pretty good build-up and i liked seeing serapio as a war leader - but of course, this author is allergic to satisfying resolutions so the war plot we spend significant page time on is concluded in the most anti-climactic battle ever with the most anti-climactic final confrontation between serapio and balam.
also, i absolutely hate that we didn't get serapio's POV in the last couple chapters. i wanted HIS reflections on everything - it felt like his character arc was just left hanging in the air towards the end. the last chapter with him and xiala felt like such a cop-out to me and showed me that the author just didn't want to deal with any actual consequences of serapio's actions or figure out what a viable future between him and xiala would look like. we had to see them constantly pine over each other and make these huge love declarations just for that?
overall, this book had way too many things going on and nothing actually happening at the same time. i wasn't happy with where any of the characters ended up, except for xiala. the more i think about it, the more i want to lower my rating but i'll leave it at this for now.
this trilogy is just an exercise in mixed feelings for me.
in some ways, mirrored heavens improved from fevered star and in other ways, it remained the same or got even worse. the pacing is just as bad as in the previous book - way too much build-up was happening for a finale and too much page time was wasted on useless POVs. too many new plot threads were introduced - dreamwalking, serapio's prophecy, xiala's teek arc - and they weren't really resolved in satisfying ways (except for the prophecy which made sense thematically for serapio's character). balam's POV chapters were interesting but felt like second book material to me - did we really need this much backstory and exposition in a final book?
serapio's character arc remained the most well-written, coherent aspect of this series. his struggle between following a pre-determined destiny and taking fate in his own hands is just as compelling here and i think the prophecy plotline was a good way to highlight that internal struggle. i just feel like the author chickened out a bit towards the end from really confronting serapio's terrible actions and kinda waved them away instead.
what this book improves upon (sort of) is xiala's and okoa's characters. at long last, xiala gets her own space in the story, her own goals separate from serapio, and comes into her own powers (although we never learned why the teek lost their magic??? it seemed like the author just needed a reason for xiala to be the super special chosen one). i was just happy to see that, for once, xiala's world didn't revolve around serapio and she got to do her own thing for a while. i also think her personal resolution was the most satisfying out of all the characters.
as for okoa, i was pleasantly surprised that his chapters weren't a complete bore for me like before. his inner conflict between his duty to his clan and his bond with serapio finally made sense and i actually started sympathizing with him. i also really liked his relationship with serapio and i was looking forward to seeing how it would evolve - until the author completely fucked things up of course. so yeah, i hated how his arc wrapped up and the resolution given to carrion crow.
naranpa was done so dirty in this book, i was kinda shocked. her arc really peaked in fevered star and honestly, if THIS is what the author gave her in the final book, i'd rather naranpa's arc ended in fevered star. we had to watch her go on this inane side quest that was not only divorced from the main plot but was eventually rendered completely useless. and her main conflict in this book is with BALAM? that was so out of left field for me. hated everything about her chapters except her relationship with iktan.
the main plot with the war between tova and the other cities had a pretty good build-up and i liked seeing serapio as a war leader - but of course, this author is allergic to satisfying resolutions so the war plot we spend significant page time on is concluded in the most anti-climactic battle ever with the most anti-climactic final confrontation between serapio and balam.
also, i absolutely hate that we didn't get serapio's POV in the last couple chapters. i wanted HIS reflections on everything - it felt like his character arc was just left hanging in the air towards the end. the last chapter with him and xiala felt like such a cop-out to me and showed me that the author just didn't want to deal with any actual consequences of serapio's actions or figure out what a viable future between him and xiala would look like. we had to see them constantly pine over each other and make these huge love declarations just for that?
overall, this book had way too many things going on and nothing actually happening at the same time. i wasn't happy with where any of the characters ended up, except for xiala. the more i think about it, the more i want to lower my rating but i'll leave it at this for now.
August 17, 2024
at the end of the day, it's really just you and your situationship against the world
Want to read
January 30, 2023still gonna read this even tho fevered star is so mid
June 9, 2024
4.0 Stars
I loved Black Sun and so now I am happy to have completed this trilogy. If you enjoy the previous two books, you will very likely this one too.
I enjoyed spending more time with the characters in this lush world. Some of the relationship dynamics were a bit predictable and cliche, but I didn't mind going along for the ride. If you are interested in this series, then you must start back into the beginning with Black Sun.
I loved Black Sun and so now I am happy to have completed this trilogy. If you enjoy the previous two books, you will very likely this one too.
I enjoyed spending more time with the characters in this lush world. Some of the relationship dynamics were a bit predictable and cliche, but I didn't mind going along for the ride. If you are interested in this series, then you must start back into the beginning with Black Sun.
July 5, 2024
All that build-up for exactly zero actual payoff. After an amazing first novel (one of the most original, riveting things I've read in years in an "oh my god I need everyone I know to read this book RIGHT NOW!" kind of way), the second and third installments ended up as disappointments. I can forgive this in book 2 due to "middle book syndrome" in a trilogy, where much of the time is spent moving everyone into position for Book 3 and building up to a spectacular series climax, but the final installment of Between Earth and Sky fizzles where it should have been resplendent.
Nara and Serapio are wasted as characters. Major setups in the second and third book end up going absolutely nowhere, and most of the big climaxes either take place off page or are left to reader imagination.
I wanted great things from this series, but it almost seems like the author was afraid to give it the ending it deserved, which would have included
(SPOILERS FOR ALL MAJOR PLOT POINTS AHEAD):
I swear, I thought I fell asleep during the end of the audio and missed the important parts of the final act. But it turns out, they just aren't there at all. I feel like Writing 101 should be "never, ever, ever under any circumstances let the damn climax of your series primarily occur off-page, or leave it to the readers imagination" but I'm also not a published author, so what do I know?
I'm just a frustrated, disappointed reader.
Nara and Serapio are wasted as characters. Major setups in the second and third book end up going absolutely nowhere, and most of the big climaxes either take place off page or are left to reader imagination.
I wanted great things from this series, but it almost seems like the author was afraid to give it the ending it deserved, which would have included
(SPOILERS FOR ALL MAJOR PLOT POINTS AHEAD):
I swear, I thought I fell asleep during the end of the audio and missed the important parts of the final act. But it turns out, they just aren't there at all. I feel like Writing 101 should be "never, ever, ever under any circumstances let the damn climax of your series primarily occur off-page, or leave it to the readers imagination" but I'm also not a published author, so what do I know?
I'm just a frustrated, disappointed reader.
June 28, 2024
The perfect ending to this trilogy! Best book of the three. Realizing that's Xiala on the cover, I went back to look at the prior covers of Serapio and Naranpa, now that I know it's them.
There were slow sections in the first half, but the second half was full speed. We dealt with the occupation of Teek by Tun, at Balam's behest; we had the duplicity of Serapio toward... well, I'll keep that one a secret :). And then there's Xiala, who is forced to grow from gullible to kickass after a series of tragic events befall her people.
What I like best about this series is that the bad guys are bad, and the good guys are bad, too. With each of the MCs the embodiment of a different meso-American god, what else could you expect? They are benevolent and cruel in turns as it serves their cause, so you better hope their cause is aligned with yours. Still, you can't help rooting for and liking them, even though you know all three are at odds with their goals. They can't all win this war.
I loved it, and I love Rebecca Roanhorse! I look forward to seeing what she dreams up next.
Check you out, seeing what's at the bottom of all this blank space! Just between us, I deserve a gold star: I didn't bitch once about the unbelievable pronoun insanity! I bet if I'd read this with my eyes instead of my ears, it would've tripped me up to frustration. I bet I would've DNF'd it - and I wound up giving this audiobook FIVE STARS! That's how much of it there was. On the other hand, bigtime credit to Rebecca Roanhorse for filling this trilogy with more than one nonbinary character with substance! In the 20-teens I got so sick of books with 1 completely useless gay/trans/whatever character that was just there so the author could claim representation. That's a cheap move, authors.
I bet you're the last to leave the theater, in case there's a scene after the credits.
There were slow sections in the first half, but the second half was full speed. We dealt with the occupation of Teek by Tun, at Balam's behest; we had the duplicity of Serapio toward... well, I'll keep that one a secret :). And then there's Xiala, who is forced to grow from gullible to kickass after a series of tragic events befall her people.
What I like best about this series is that the bad guys are bad, and the good guys are bad, too. With each of the MCs the embodiment of a different meso-American god, what else could you expect? They are benevolent and cruel in turns as it serves their cause, so you better hope their cause is aligned with yours. Still, you can't help rooting for and liking them, even though you know all three are at odds with their goals. They can't all win this war.
I loved it, and I love Rebecca Roanhorse! I look forward to seeing what she dreams up next.
Check you out, seeing what's at the bottom of all this blank space! Just between us, I deserve a gold star: I didn't bitch once about the unbelievable pronoun insanity! I bet if I'd read this with my eyes instead of my ears, it would've tripped me up to frustration. I bet I would've DNF'd it - and I wound up giving this audiobook FIVE STARS! That's how much of it there was. On the other hand, bigtime credit to Rebecca Roanhorse for filling this trilogy with more than one nonbinary character with substance! In the 20-teens I got so sick of books with 1 completely useless gay/trans/whatever character that was just there so the author could claim representation. That's a cheap move, authors.
I bet you're the last to leave the theater, in case there's a scene after the credits.
May 28, 2024
Really solid conclusion to this trilogy. There were without question some 5⭐️ moments for me in this series. Xiala????????? Are you kidding me????? I liked how the series wrapped up overall and I was left on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book (as with most of this Roanhorse’s catalogue!).
My biggest drawback on this book in particular and the series as a whole is that the books are too short. While it leads to very fast paced moments, I felt like we glossed over what could have been epic moments and didn’t have the time to spend on some really key emotional beats.
My biggest drawback on this book in particular and the series as a whole is that the books are too short. While it leads to very fast paced moments, I felt like we glossed over what could have been epic moments and didn’t have the time to spend on some really key emotional beats.
June 25, 2024
3.5 stars
Full of complicated characters, even more complicated relationships, devastating prophecies, and incredibly high stakes, Mirrored Heavens is an impressive yet very messy finale to the Between Earth and Sky series.
For me, this series unfortunately peaked in book 1, but it is a testament to Roanhorse's incredible storytelling skills that I was still absolutely glued to the page throughout the entire series. You see, some of these characters just captured my heart on the very first page, and they never let me go.
Especially Xiala will be an all-time favourite for me from now on, and I loved her journey in this finale. To be fair, I could have done without her undying obsession with Serapio, but by the end I loved how their dynamic developed and played out. And oh my boy Serapio... his entire storyline is just drenched in melancholy, and I love how Roanhorse played around with fate, divinity, and destiny through his character.
Moreover, I was completely blown away by how much I came to enjoy Balam's perspective in this story, especially with the flashbacks. Naranpa, on the other hand, felt more like an afterthought in this finale to me, which I found very unfortunate. However, we did finally get an Iktan POV, so I guess I will take that win. Xe is honestly the MVP of this series, and I still want a spin-off series about xir!
All that said, I feel like this finale just did not deliver on what was promised. There is such a sense of anticipatory dread being built up all the way through, only for it to conclude with the most anti-climax to have ever anti-climaxed. Look, I am all for subverting expectations and taking risks in storytelling, but I feel like so many of the incredibly cool concepts of this story just did not live up to their potential in the end. All the talk about the prophecy just resulted in nothing, and I honestly think the increasing romantic elements of the story started to negatively impact the other aspects of this story.
Though, I do still absolutely adore this world, and I am incredibly grateful that such a diverse and refreshing fantasy story exists. Ultimately, I think the series is well worth the read, but be aware that you are going to be in for a messy and wild ride!
Full of complicated characters, even more complicated relationships, devastating prophecies, and incredibly high stakes, Mirrored Heavens is an impressive yet very messy finale to the Between Earth and Sky series.
For me, this series unfortunately peaked in book 1, but it is a testament to Roanhorse's incredible storytelling skills that I was still absolutely glued to the page throughout the entire series. You see, some of these characters just captured my heart on the very first page, and they never let me go.
Especially Xiala will be an all-time favourite for me from now on, and I loved her journey in this finale. To be fair, I could have done without her undying obsession with Serapio, but by the end I loved how their dynamic developed and played out. And oh my boy Serapio... his entire storyline is just drenched in melancholy, and I love how Roanhorse played around with fate, divinity, and destiny through his character.
Moreover, I was completely blown away by how much I came to enjoy Balam's perspective in this story, especially with the flashbacks. Naranpa, on the other hand, felt more like an afterthought in this finale to me, which I found very unfortunate. However, we did finally get an Iktan POV, so I guess I will take that win. Xe is honestly the MVP of this series, and I still want a spin-off series about xir!
All that said, I feel like this finale just did not deliver on what was promised. There is such a sense of anticipatory dread being built up all the way through, only for it to conclude with the most anti-climax to have ever anti-climaxed. Look, I am all for subverting expectations and taking risks in storytelling, but I feel like so many of the incredibly cool concepts of this story just did not live up to their potential in the end. All the talk about the prophecy just resulted in nothing, and I honestly think the increasing romantic elements of the story started to negatively impact the other aspects of this story.
Though, I do still absolutely adore this world, and I am incredibly grateful that such a diverse and refreshing fantasy story exists. Ultimately, I think the series is well worth the read, but be aware that you are going to be in for a messy and wild ride!
Want to read
July 15, 2024
June 13, 2024
currently sobbing. this was fucking spectacular and i can’t believe im saying goodbye to these characters 🥺
July 19, 2024
I am truly in awe of how much the landing was not stuck.
Truly, the only thing the author seems to care about is Serapio and Xiala's romance, and yet that somehow still remains MASSIVELY underdeveloped. They both do horrible things that are completely brushed under the rug, but they feel kinda bad about it so that's... okay? (It is not okay). And then Serapio The cool and confident Xiala of Black Sun was already reduced in Fevered Star to basically being the love interest and now she is further reduced to just being pathetic and lovesick for the most part. Serapio does not change or grow either (he ) And there is a prophecy for Serapio that we are beaten over the head with that never really makes any sense or leads to anything.
And everyone else just might as well not be here! Poor Naranpa is reduced to NOTHING. The antagonism between her sun god and Serapio's crow god that was set up in Fevered Star leads to absolutely nothing. Instead, she ends up having some kind of shallow antagonism with Balam which, surprise surprise, also leads nowhere with Naranpa spends a good chunk of the book training only to immediately
Okoa also
Like was there originally supposed to be a fourth book and it all got condensed?? Did the author just get bored and want to wrap it up no matter what? I am truly gobsmacked with how sloppy it is. In the end, it was a waste of a cool setting/premise.
Truly, the only thing the author seems to care about is Serapio and Xiala's romance, and yet that somehow still remains MASSIVELY underdeveloped. They both do horrible things that are completely brushed under the rug, but they feel kinda bad about it so that's... okay? (It is not okay). And then Serapio The cool and confident Xiala of Black Sun was already reduced in Fevered Star to basically being the love interest and now she is further reduced to just being pathetic and lovesick for the most part. Serapio does not change or grow either (he ) And there is a prophecy for Serapio that we are beaten over the head with that never really makes any sense or leads to anything.
And everyone else just might as well not be here! Poor Naranpa is reduced to NOTHING. The antagonism between her sun god and Serapio's crow god that was set up in Fevered Star leads to absolutely nothing. Instead, she ends up having some kind of shallow antagonism with Balam which, surprise surprise, also leads nowhere with Naranpa spends a good chunk of the book training only to immediately
Okoa also
Like was there originally supposed to be a fourth book and it all got condensed?? Did the author just get bored and want to wrap it up no matter what? I am truly gobsmacked with how sloppy it is. In the end, it was a waste of a cool setting/premise.
Read
June 12, 2024I'm done with the series and I still don't like Xiala/Serapio as a pairing ✌️
I'm going to write a longer review but ultimately I felt let down by the main conflict of the book, especially with the introduction of two cartoon evil villains to avoid juggling with the main characters grey morality and especially with the non-resolution of Serapio and Naranpa's arcs as narrative foils like this was a major part of book 2 that felt completely dropped as Naranpa spent the entire book isolated on her weak little side quest. Instead we got way too many Balam and Okoa POV chapters (Okoa who after 3 books is still useless + he's not even cited as a main 4 in the acknowledgement, wasted potential type of character). I jokingly say that it's transphobic that Serapio/Xiala got an explicit scene over Iktan/Nara fade to black to but the ending confirmed the favoritism with its weird open ended-ness.
I don't think foreshadowing is necessary but at the same time this whole book felt like a different direction from book 1 or two with many dropped plotlines and complicated threads in favor of a much simpler narrative that ultimately didn't deliver what I was expecting.
Xiala was the one character I felt was letdown by Fevered Sun where she basically only moped over Serapio and I was pleased to see her arc in Mirrored Heavens, it might be the only satisfying one in this book
The Iktan/Nara content did feed me well so you know I can't be too harsh on a book that has the most them content out of the three
I'm going to write a longer review but ultimately I felt let down by the main conflict of the book, especially with the introduction of two cartoon evil villains to avoid juggling with the main characters grey morality and especially with the non-resolution of Serapio and Naranpa's arcs as narrative foils like this was a major part of book 2 that felt completely dropped as Naranpa spent the entire book isolated on her weak little side quest. Instead we got way too many Balam and Okoa POV chapters (Okoa who after 3 books is still useless + he's not even cited as a main 4 in the acknowledgement, wasted potential type of character). I jokingly say that it's transphobic that Serapio/Xiala got an explicit scene over Iktan/Nara fade to black to but the ending confirmed the favoritism with its weird open ended-ness.
I don't think foreshadowing is necessary but at the same time this whole book felt like a different direction from book 1 or two with many dropped plotlines and complicated threads in favor of a much simpler narrative that ultimately didn't deliver what I was expecting.
Xiala was the one character I felt was letdown by Fevered Sun where she basically only moped over Serapio and I was pleased to see her arc in Mirrored Heavens, it might be the only satisfying one in this book
The Iktan/Nara content did feed me well so you know I can't be too harsh on a book that has the most them content out of the three
June 9, 2024
This was a stunning conclusion to a dark, gut-wrenching, utterly unique fantasy trilogy. Everything paid off in the best way, and there's one scene in particular that made me cry. How Rebecca creates characters who do such violent things and also are so tender to one another, I do not know. MIRRORED HEAVENS really nails the landing.
I did a mix of audiobook and e-galley and the cast of the audiobook was fantastic. Thanks to the publisher for my e-ARCs.
I did a mix of audiobook and e-galley and the cast of the audiobook was fantastic. Thanks to the publisher for my e-ARCs.
Want to read
September 27, 2023 I LOVE THIS COVER
much better than Fevered Star omg no offense
much better than Fevered Star omg no offense
August 5, 2024
*2.5 stars
I was just along for the ride. I said I was only reading to find out what happened to Xiala and Serapio.
Like book 2, book 3 is poorly paced and loosely plotted. NO emotional gravitas whatsoever (even with quite a few major character deaths) and the execution on the "war" really falls through. Everything wraps up too quickly and too conveniently. I'm not even sure if the prophecy was accurately fulfilled if we start tallying up the events. Embarassingly clear that Rebecca was just putting obstacles in Xiala and Serapio's path to keep them from reuniting and draw it out until the last possible moment, which I fully expected her to do but it was still exasperating. It feels like she was very wasteful with this book's time. I also didn't like how a month would pass in one character's POV but then you'd jump to another and it'd be the same day. Unnecessary.
Anyway, glad to close the chapter on this one and I will forever remember Black Sun fondly, but I don't know if I'd pick up another series by RR unless I can be convinced that she learned how to plot in the intervening time.
I was just along for the ride. I said I was only reading to find out what happened to Xiala and Serapio.
Like book 2, book 3 is poorly paced and loosely plotted. NO emotional gravitas whatsoever (even with quite a few major character deaths) and the execution on the "war" really falls through. Everything wraps up too quickly and too conveniently. I'm not even sure if the prophecy was accurately fulfilled if we start tallying up the events. Embarassingly clear that Rebecca was just putting obstacles in Xiala and Serapio's path to keep them from reuniting and draw it out until the last possible moment, which I fully expected her to do but it was still exasperating. It feels like she was very wasteful with this book's time. I also didn't like how a month would pass in one character's POV but then you'd jump to another and it'd be the same day. Unnecessary.
Anyway, glad to close the chapter on this one and I will forever remember Black Sun fondly, but I don't know if I'd pick up another series by RR unless I can be convinced that she learned how to plot in the intervening time.
December 24, 2023
(Note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
And so just like that, Rebecca Roanhorse finally brings her "Between Earth and Sky" trilogy to an end that does not disappoint. Mirrored Heavens is filled close to bursting with action and intrigue, making for a thrilling and fast-paced read. However, I will say that above else, my favorite was the same as with the previous two books in the series - Roanhorse's setting based upon the pre-Colombian Americas. It really is unlike any other fantasy world I've ever encountered before. And so while I'm glad that I no longer have to wait impatiently for the next in this epic trilogy, I will say that I would not at all be opposed to Roanhorse repurposing the world of the Meridian for feature stories. In the meantime - fans who have been with this series ever since Black Sun should be quite pleased with its jam-packed conclusion.
And so just like that, Rebecca Roanhorse finally brings her "Between Earth and Sky" trilogy to an end that does not disappoint. Mirrored Heavens is filled close to bursting with action and intrigue, making for a thrilling and fast-paced read. However, I will say that above else, my favorite was the same as with the previous two books in the series - Roanhorse's setting based upon the pre-Colombian Americas. It really is unlike any other fantasy world I've ever encountered before. And so while I'm glad that I no longer have to wait impatiently for the next in this epic trilogy, I will say that I would not at all be opposed to Roanhorse repurposing the world of the Meridian for feature stories. In the meantime - fans who have been with this series ever since Black Sun should be quite pleased with its jam-packed conclusion.
July 12, 2024
THANK YOU, Library, for getting more copies of this book so I did not have to wait twelve weeks to read it! I only had to wait ~1 month after release date, hooray! And I am also glad I didn't buy this book right away, sorry to say. I read Black Sun as a physical copy that I got cheap from book outlet, and then both Fevered Sun and Mirrored Heavens as library ebooks and I think that is fine for how much I liked them. I enjoyed this series as a whole, buuuuut... I am not sure I'll be reaching for these as a reread (never say never, though!). That said: let's do this old school with some Good, Bad and Spoilers!
The Good!
Rebecca Roanhorse is a great writer; her writing is beautiful but also flows so easily. The prose sits in the background for me (ideal!) but sometimes beautiful phrases, sentiments, dialogue just jumps out. I highlighted SO many things in this book (53 highlights! might be a record!). I feel like as a writer, you don't want the reader THINKING about the writing unless it's something good that pops out, and here Rebecca Roanhorse succeeds for me.
Example: (Flashback dialogue, not really a spoiler; but beautiful and uh... very intense sentiment.)
“You never loved her,” Balam hissed. “Not truly. That is why she chose me over you. You wanted to own her, a beautiful thing to preserve. I only want to stand beside her and watch her become a force of nature. She is not mine, I see that. But I am hers, and I will do whatever she wants, even if she asks me to tear out my heart so that she may crush it under her heel. Will it hurt? I do not doubt that it will break me. But I will do it anyway. Once or a thousand times. Because that is what love is.”
I also loved the prophecy element in this. Every time it came up, I was like "Hmm I think it means this... or this!" And ultimately it plays well in the plot and character dynamics. I usually am pretty meh about prophecies, but this one works well with the way Roanhorse utilizes it.
And I also liked the overall characters arcs in this (with a couple exceptions). I was a little meh on it around 85% but the last 1-2 chapters, I made peace with it because of the "after" scenes that we got. I like how it finally ends up, even if I think there are other endings that would have been more powerful (see spoiler section for more details!).
Ultimately, I had a good time reading this book. Every time I picked it up, pages were flying (so to speak; it was an ebook) and I was reading like, 100 pages at a time, easy peasy. It's a good 3 stars, but I do have quite a few complaints (in the bad and spoilers) about this book as well as the series as a whole.
The Bad!
Whoever decided to timestamp every single chapter of this book (except flashbacks) as "Year 1 of the Crow" is so annoying to me. Why couldn't they have been X days since Convergence or X days into Year 1 of the Crow or something so that we could track the characters' timelines better?!!? I complained about this in Fevered Star also and it continued to drive me nuts in this book because the timeline felt very vague. Also... the second two books both took place inside ONE YEAR?! Or I guess like, six months, from winter to summer solstice?! THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS.
Somehow I read three books, approximately 1400 pages set in this world, and yet I understand so little of the gods and the magic in this world. The politics and culture were just vague concepts that I understood by context. I just kind of rolled with the punches, but every time I put the book down I felt like I forgot 50% of what I'd just been reminded of. I was never sure exactly what Serapio's powers/limits were, nor Xiala's. There were sorcerers, but I was not sure how their magic worked or what their limits were other than "they need blood to feed it" so there's obviously a limit there but we never see anyone reach that limit? I had a hard time keeping the political/regional factions straight, or understand why they were aligned. I did not understand Balam as a villain at all; he coordinated with Saaya to create an avatar for the Crow God, but then... aligns with the Eagle people to take over Tova? But why would he want Eagles to take over, when this was vengeance for the slaughter of the Crows? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. If this was ever explained, it either didn't make sense to me or didn't stick in my brain.
I also did not like the ships in this story. For 2.5 books, we've had Xiala and Serapio forced on us, but I never read their chemistry as romantic or sexual except for literally one time in Black Sun. I never thought Xiala's Serapio-focused motivations in Fevered Star made sense, and I would have loved for them to have this depth of loyalty and love but PLATONICALLY. That was the vibe! Because also... OKOA AND SERAPIO HAD WILD CHEMISTRY. Every single scene of the two of them together, I was like "You are boyfriends! Just kiss!" (More details on this in the spoilers section; I'll never get over it!) It was wild that Roanhorse was pushing such a het couple (X/S) on us, in a series that is so queer normative, and she wrote bonkers good chemistry between two male characters, and they never even CONSIDER it?! Ma'am, please, you are killing me!
There are also two characters who get together later in the book that I was just very meh on. I felt like they could have been platonic as well, but I don't mind their coupling up as much because the vibe was sort of simmering. Whatever.
But one of my other big complaints is how Roanhorse had characters she obviously saw as expendable plot fodder. Repeatedly, characters were briefly introduced and we were told that X character cared about them, and then they died soon thereafter, so that main character would be sad. This happened mostly with Xiala. And it always falls flat when authors do this. I do not have any context for this character, no on-page backstory that I've witnessed, and so I am like, "Oh. Ok." I think a similar motivation could be made for the MCs without randomly killing people.
And last, I felt like Naranpa had almost no use in this book. She was a fave of mine in Black Sun, was boring in Fevered Star, and had so little to do in Mirrored Heavens. Like, girl, why was she here? And then I did not understand her role at the end at all, it was so weirdly portrayed. Her arc could have been SO good but it fell really flat for me.
And now spoilers!
The Spoilers!
I have a lot of complaints and nitpicks (spoilers are 50% my ranting about a ship that the author didn't let sail, SO rude), but that is only because this series had SUCH potential and the second two books just didn't totally live up to the set up of the first. I find that 3 star books like this give me such review fodder because while I enjoyed it and would recommend this series, I also want it to be BETTER! I want some stronger writing on the worldbuild/character motivation front and bolder choices for the ending so that I can give it that 4-5 star rating I think it could deserve. But overall, this is a good read, and a really interesting premise and a really novel world, so I'd still recommend it, especially now that the series is complete and readers can binge them one after another.
The Good!
Rebecca Roanhorse is a great writer; her writing is beautiful but also flows so easily. The prose sits in the background for me (ideal!) but sometimes beautiful phrases, sentiments, dialogue just jumps out. I highlighted SO many things in this book (53 highlights! might be a record!). I feel like as a writer, you don't want the reader THINKING about the writing unless it's something good that pops out, and here Rebecca Roanhorse succeeds for me.
Example: (Flashback dialogue, not really a spoiler; but beautiful and uh... very intense sentiment.)
“You never loved her,” Balam hissed. “Not truly. That is why she chose me over you. You wanted to own her, a beautiful thing to preserve. I only want to stand beside her and watch her become a force of nature. She is not mine, I see that. But I am hers, and I will do whatever she wants, even if she asks me to tear out my heart so that she may crush it under her heel. Will it hurt? I do not doubt that it will break me. But I will do it anyway. Once or a thousand times. Because that is what love is.”
I also loved the prophecy element in this. Every time it came up, I was like "Hmm I think it means this... or this!" And ultimately it plays well in the plot and character dynamics. I usually am pretty meh about prophecies, but this one works well with the way Roanhorse utilizes it.
And I also liked the overall characters arcs in this (with a couple exceptions). I was a little meh on it around 85% but the last 1-2 chapters, I made peace with it because of the "after" scenes that we got. I like how it finally ends up, even if I think there are other endings that would have been more powerful (see spoiler section for more details!).
Ultimately, I had a good time reading this book. Every time I picked it up, pages were flying (so to speak; it was an ebook) and I was reading like, 100 pages at a time, easy peasy. It's a good 3 stars, but I do have quite a few complaints (in the bad and spoilers) about this book as well as the series as a whole.
The Bad!
Whoever decided to timestamp every single chapter of this book (except flashbacks) as "Year 1 of the Crow" is so annoying to me. Why couldn't they have been X days since Convergence or X days into Year 1 of the Crow or something so that we could track the characters' timelines better?!!? I complained about this in Fevered Star also and it continued to drive me nuts in this book because the timeline felt very vague. Also... the second two books both took place inside ONE YEAR?! Or I guess like, six months, from winter to summer solstice?! THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS.
Somehow I read three books, approximately 1400 pages set in this world, and yet I understand so little of the gods and the magic in this world. The politics and culture were just vague concepts that I understood by context. I just kind of rolled with the punches, but every time I put the book down I felt like I forgot 50% of what I'd just been reminded of. I was never sure exactly what Serapio's powers/limits were, nor Xiala's. There were sorcerers, but I was not sure how their magic worked or what their limits were other than "they need blood to feed it" so there's obviously a limit there but we never see anyone reach that limit? I had a hard time keeping the political/regional factions straight, or understand why they were aligned. I did not understand Balam as a villain at all; he coordinated with Saaya to create an avatar for the Crow God, but then... aligns with the Eagle people to take over Tova? But why would he want Eagles to take over, when this was vengeance for the slaughter of the Crows? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. If this was ever explained, it either didn't make sense to me or didn't stick in my brain.
I also did not like the ships in this story. For 2.5 books, we've had Xiala and Serapio forced on us, but I never read their chemistry as romantic or sexual except for literally one time in Black Sun. I never thought Xiala's Serapio-focused motivations in Fevered Star made sense, and I would have loved for them to have this depth of loyalty and love but PLATONICALLY. That was the vibe! Because also... OKOA AND SERAPIO HAD WILD CHEMISTRY. Every single scene of the two of them together, I was like "You are boyfriends! Just kiss!" (More details on this in the spoilers section; I'll never get over it!) It was wild that Roanhorse was pushing such a het couple (X/S) on us, in a series that is so queer normative, and she wrote bonkers good chemistry between two male characters, and they never even CONSIDER it?! Ma'am, please, you are killing me!
There are also two characters who get together later in the book that I was just very meh on. I felt like they could have been platonic as well, but I don't mind their coupling up as much because the vibe was sort of simmering. Whatever.
But one of my other big complaints is how Roanhorse had characters she obviously saw as expendable plot fodder. Repeatedly, characters were briefly introduced and we were told that X character cared about them, and then they died soon thereafter, so that main character would be sad. This happened mostly with Xiala. And it always falls flat when authors do this. I do not have any context for this character, no on-page backstory that I've witnessed, and so I am like, "Oh. Ok." I think a similar motivation could be made for the MCs without randomly killing people.
And last, I felt like Naranpa had almost no use in this book. She was a fave of mine in Black Sun, was boring in Fevered Star, and had so little to do in Mirrored Heavens. Like, girl, why was she here? And then I did not understand her role at the end at all, it was so weirdly portrayed. Her arc could have been SO good but it fell really flat for me.
And now spoilers!
The Spoilers!
I have a lot of complaints and nitpicks (spoilers are 50% my ranting about a ship that the author didn't let sail, SO rude), but that is only because this series had SUCH potential and the second two books just didn't totally live up to the set up of the first. I find that 3 star books like this give me such review fodder because while I enjoyed it and would recommend this series, I also want it to be BETTER! I want some stronger writing on the worldbuild/character motivation front and bolder choices for the ending so that I can give it that 4-5 star rating I think it could deserve. But overall, this is a good read, and a really interesting premise and a really novel world, so I'd still recommend it, especially now that the series is complete and readers can binge them one after another.
June 30, 2024
A stunning conclusion to an epic fantasy series. Everything I needed to read and more. Highly recommended.
May 29, 2024
If you like plotting, if you like scheming, if you like chaos, and if you like your characters with a little side of human sacrifice, welcome to the Between Earth and Sky trilogy. It's a bloody shit show and I mean that so lovingly.
For those of you who aren't familiar, this series starts of with Black Sun, which hits the ground running with a scene that will makes your eyes water and speeds along at a relentless pace toward something called The Convergence. And then Fevered Star and Mirrored Heavens are the aftermath of The Convergence, the absolute chaos and insanity and political scheming as everyone tries to pick up the remnants of their lives and take advantage of what happened.
This series has it all: cults, backstabbing, daddy issues, mommy issues, love triangles, magic, racist coworkers, found family, family that should have remained hidden, and mermaids.
Anyway, clap for me because I finished a trilogy! Go me!
Thank you so much SAGA for the #gifted copy!
For those of you who aren't familiar, this series starts of with Black Sun, which hits the ground running with a scene that will makes your eyes water and speeds along at a relentless pace toward something called The Convergence. And then Fevered Star and Mirrored Heavens are the aftermath of The Convergence, the absolute chaos and insanity and political scheming as everyone tries to pick up the remnants of their lives and take advantage of what happened.
This series has it all: cults, backstabbing, daddy issues, mommy issues, love triangles, magic, racist coworkers, found family, family that should have remained hidden, and mermaids.
Anyway, clap for me because I finished a trilogy! Go me!
Thank you so much SAGA for the #gifted copy!
March 29, 2024
A very satisfying ending to this trilogy! This book is very action-packed and fast-paced; I really enjoyed it. If you are into plot based, political, war themed fantasy books, you will really love this conclusion!
I enjoyed the character stories and felt like I got to know them a bit more but did find that I didn't quite connect to them as much as I would have liked. It was so plot based that I found it a bit hard to connect the characters' decisions to them as individuals and not just as plot lines to advance the story. Xiala and Seripio's stories were definitely my favorite.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the character stories and felt like I got to know them a bit more but did find that I didn't quite connect to them as much as I would have liked. It was so plot based that I found it a bit hard to connect the characters' decisions to them as individuals and not just as plot lines to advance the story. Xiala and Seripio's stories were definitely my favorite.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2024
the more time that passes the more pissed off i get actually
i keep lowering this 😭 i just think the ending is disappointing for everyone except for xialaserapio truthers (and i am one but more importantly im a nara enthusiast and her arc is so terrible in this)
pacing issues aside. i’m happy with how this story wrapped up for serapio and xiala . poor okoa, also a little unsatisfied with how naranpa’s arc is kinda not that important in this book
i keep lowering this 😭 i just think the ending is disappointing for everyone except for xialaserapio truthers (and i am one but more importantly im a nara enthusiast and her arc is so terrible in this)
pacing issues aside. i’m happy with how this story wrapped up for serapio and xiala . poor okoa, also a little unsatisfied with how naranpa’s arc is kinda not that important in this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2024
This is probably my favorite trilogy ever, I am so elated and so sad that it's over. This was a beautiful conclusion to what felt like a perfect trilogy, to me. This fantasy takes place in a pre-Columbian setting, it has a celestial pantheon, and it has such a vast cast of characters with multiple POVs. I read Black Sun and Fevered Star earlier this year and they immediately become favorites. There are some series that are more character driven, and some that are more plot driven, this is s perfect combination of both. The way that the characters grow over the course of the three books, the things that they have endured and the way that everything came together was so beautiful. There was so much intention, and sometimes you can be very wary about how a trilogy or a series in general, how those ends get tied up but this was perfect. In Black Sun we are introduced to the characters; we learn about Serapio who is the scion of the Carrion Crow God, Narampa who is the Sun Priest, Okoa who is apart of the crow clan, as well as Xiala who is a pirate. They are four individuals that are living in different areas of this pre-Columbian world, and they are each a representative of different dieties within the celestial pantheon. This has political intrigue, but it's not just the politics of the world its politics on multiple planes. In the first book you learn about the characters, in book two you start to see how theyre connected and in this final book you see how their destinies are fulfilled. They will stay with me forever. I appreciated so much how gender was decolonized and love is love. This is a perfect series to read during Pride if you haven't already. If you love fantasy, character driven stories, romance, political intrigue, difficult family dynamics I recommend this series.
August 16, 2024
one of the best first books in a series yet the finale fell short and landed in underwhelming. that isn’t to say i didn’t enjoy some parts and i was definitely looking forward to certain characters reuniting, but my main point behind my rating is how the plot drives the characters. it felt like the characters’ decisions did not come from within themselves, but because that’s the way the plot is going. it made the flow weird and is such an opposite from book 1. no memorable, impactful character deaths that felt right or moved the story along, everything felt convenient for our main characters, and there were no stakes high enough that got me on the edge of my seat. i will forever love serapio and xiala, but will definitely remember them most vividly in book one.
thank you to the publisher for providing me an arc for an honest review.
thank you to the publisher for providing me an arc for an honest review.
June 20, 2024
Boom shakalakabam.
A worthy end to a spectacular trilogy.
A worthy end to a spectacular trilogy.
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