I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero LacruzPublished by Orbit on July 25, 2023
Genres: Action & Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Epic, fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 576
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
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"Evocative and captivating. An enthralling tale of ancient gods, dangerous magic, family and love." ―Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Two women embark on a unforgettable quest that draws them into a world of dark gods and ancient magic in this sweeping fantasy debut inspired by the history and folklore of colonial South America.
Reina is desperate.
Stuck on the edges of society, Reina’s only hope lies in an invitation from a grandmother she’s never met. But the journey to her is dangerous, and prayer can’t always avert disaster.
Attacked by creatures that stalk the mountains, Reina is on the verge of death until her grandmother, a dark sorceress, intervenes. Now dependent on the Doña’s magic for her life, Reina will do anything to earn—and keep—her favor. Even the bidding of an ancient god who whispers to her at night. Eva Kesaré is unwanted.
Illegitimate and of mixed heritage, Eva is her family’s shame. She tries to be the perfect daughter, but Eva is hiding a secret: Magic calls to her.
Eva knows she should fight the temptation. Magic is the sign of the dark god, and using it is punishable by death. Yet it’s hard to ignore power when it has always been denied you. Eva is walking a dangerous path. And in the end, she’ll become something she never imagined.
Praise for The Sun and the Void:
"A rich, enchanting read and an impressive debut.”―Ava Reid, award-winning author of Juniper & Thorn
"A gorgeous epic of family and power, gods and magic, longing and betrayal." ―Melissa Caruso, author of the Rooks and Ruin series
The Warring GodsThe Sun and the Void
I can’t lie, I’ve been a fan of Gabriela Romero Lacruz since before she was an author and before I even knew her name. I ran across her shop from a social media post ages ago, and the tiger mug I drink my coffee out of makes me smile every time I use it. I may have gotten this review copy via NetGalley, but I’ve had this book preordered for ages (I’m a sucker for preorder swag, and this one comes with a pin.)
I’m going to be honest and say I haven’t finished this one yet, because I’ve found what happens to the main characters so brutal. Colonization, stigmatization, murder, abuse, attacks… It’s a hard thing to read. There’s also some body horror, so if you’re sensitive to that, please keep it in mind. Both Reina and Eva are forced into making their choices by the world and people around them, and they’re not always good ones.
I assume, as the marketing material says, that some of the fantastic and magical people included in this story are from South American history and folktales, but since I don’t have any background in that, I can’t really say for sure what pieces are which. I can say that I find it all fascinating, and it’s certainly different from the usual Europe-centric mythology that you run across. It makes me want to pick up more of both the history and mythology of South America (something that is severely lacking in schools up here on the northern continent.)
I will say that while I wish both Reina and Eva took more control over their own power and lives, I understand the choices they’ve made (so far) in the book. I had to put this down for a break to read something a bit lighter, but I plan to return to it quickly as soon as I’m ready. I hope you’ll give this one a chance, because I really hope there’s a sequel.
