3.5 stars
I was impressed with this opening salvo in a new trilogy. Author Roanhorse has chosen to take inspiration from the pre-Columbia Americas in this fantasy. The exotic setting around the Crescent Sea is backed up by meticulous worldbuilding and mythology, and by strong lead characters, with a well fleshed out supporting cast (plus giant crows which can be ridden, and giant insects which tow barges!).
As a child, Serapio is destined to be the vessel for the return and revenge of the Crow God. How this comes to be is the subject of a brutal opening chapter.
Years later, sea captain Xiala, in the port city of Cuecola gets a tempting commission from a local Lord. In return for a grand ship and crew, she must deliver a pilgrim to the holy city of Tova, there to meet his destiny in time for the convergence of the winter solstice and a portentous eclipse. And she must make the journey in less than 20 days, in a season not suited to sea travel. But as one of the mysterious Teek, she has abilities which equip her for the challenge.
In Tova, the recently installed Sun Priest Naranpa, raised from humble origins in the slums of the Maw is meeting resistance to her ambition to modernise the moribund Watchers of the Celestial Tower, whose power and influence have long declined. Her problems just get worse as the ritual Shuttering of the Tower for the Convergence approaches.
The well paced build of tension to the Convergence won me over, though I'd usually be on the side of humans casting down and defeating gods, rather than the other way around, which is the way this narrative progresses.
It is the opening book of a trilogy and ends suddenly, with a resounding climax, and mystery over the respective fates of Serapio, Naranpa and Xiala.
I was impressed with this opening salvo in a new trilogy. Author Roanhorse has chosen to take inspiration from the pre-Columbia Americas in this fantasy. The exotic setting around the Crescent Sea is backed up by meticulous worldbuilding and mythology, and by strong lead characters, with a well fleshed out supporting cast (plus giant crows which can be ridden, and giant insects which tow barges!).
As a child, Serapio is destined to be the vessel for the return and revenge of the Crow God. How this comes to be is the subject of a brutal opening chapter.
Years later, sea captain Xiala, in the port city of Cuecola gets a tempting commission from a local Lord. In return for a grand ship and crew, she must deliver a pilgrim to the holy city of Tova, there to meet his destiny in time for the convergence of the winter solstice and a portentous eclipse. And she must make the journey in less than 20 days, in a season not suited to sea travel. But as one of the mysterious Teek, she has abilities which equip her for the challenge.
In Tova, the recently installed Sun Priest Naranpa, raised from humble origins in the slums of the Maw is meeting resistance to her ambition to modernise the moribund Watchers of the Celestial Tower, whose power and influence have long declined. Her problems just get worse as the ritual Shuttering of the Tower for the Convergence approaches.
The well paced build of tension to the Convergence won me over, though I'd usually be on the side of humans casting down and defeating gods, rather than the other way around, which is the way this narrative progresses.
It is the opening book of a trilogy and ends suddenly, with a resounding climax, and mystery over the respective fates of Serapio, Naranpa and Xiala.