The first book in the Between Earth and Sky trilogy, inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas and woven into a tale of celestial prophecies, political intrigue, and forbidden magic.

A god will return
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.

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“Usually,” Xiala said carefully, “when someone describes a man as harmless, he ends up being a villain.”

I enjoyed the promise this book offered from the beginning. The quality of the writing seemed fantastic, as did some of the characters and their interactions. Additionally, the fantasy world it presents is fascinating, especially in its magical elements. Plus: inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas!

Some aspects of the story didn’t completely convince me. While well-written, the narrative doesn’t flow as smoothly as I expected. I had difficulty understanding what was happening, perhaps due to the complexity of the plot and dense explanations at the start. The information overload at the beginning can also be overwhelming for the reader. I completely understand that this may be the author’s way of emphasizing ideas and engaging us as we read, but at times, it can be a bit challenging to navigate.

I fully understand the introduction of a huge variety of characters at the beginning of the book; in fact, we all know it’s common in fantasy novels. However, here, I felt like all characters were thrown at me at once, making it hard to remember who was who and which name belonged to whom. Moreover, the choice of third-person narrative could have benefited from a more gradual approach, allowing certain characters to shine more with first-person chapters, providing a more intimate perspective and perhaps a smoother reading experience.

What I truly appreciate about this work, especially in the genre, is the meticulous attention to every detail. It’s evident that the author invested time in crafting the world, political intrigue, and social development, with diverse societies and cultures representing distinct concepts . Although the execution wasn’t entirely to my liking, I positively highlight the magical system, as it is truly unique.

Regarding the characters, they’re robust and well-developed. Lord Balam and Xiala stand out for their depth and originality. Xiala, in particular, defied my expectations for such a crucial character in the story. She’s honest from the beginning, deeply rooted in her beliefs, defends her opinions well, and her actions are coherent. On the other hand, characters like Serapio and Narampa failed to connect with me in the same way.

I think where I noticed the flaw or the weakest point in the reading was towards the end. While intriguing, it lacks a satisfying climax for a first book in a series. Personally, I needed something with a higher impact to fully convince me to pick up the next installment. This is a point that, if different, could have increased my desire to continue the series.

The romantic aspect didn’t capture my interest as much as the friendships did, and in such a complex plot, I feel that romance could have taken a back seat to make room for other elements. This isn’t an unusual opinion for me, as I tend to avoid heavy romance plots, especially when seeking a fantasy experience. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy a good romance any time of day, just in this particular story, I found it lacking, unable to captivate me. Therefore, by the end, it felt more like an impediment or something forced into the narrative rather than a meaningful contribution.

In summary, while it’s a good book, it didn’t meet my expectations. This might be more due to my personal expectations than the book’s quality, that’s for sure. Although I don’t plan to continue with the series, I must praise the incredible book covers!! OMG, that alone might tempt me to buy more books from the series #shameonme.

Do I recommend this book?: YES! I think it is a worthwhile fantasy, it has some very compelling and unique aspects. It may be a bit disorganized in its totality and it lacks a shocking ending but I think it’s worth it just for the magic system and the socio-cultural plot. Go for it! I’ll definitely be trying more of the author’s work in the future, I think maybe with another genre I can explore and enjoy more of her writing style.

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