What do you think?
Rate this book
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
59 books9,417 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 764 reviews
August 28, 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.
And to Australian publishers—if you’re listening, please get this brilliant conclusion published in Australia for everyone's benefit.
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.
And to Australian publishers—if you’re listening, please get this brilliant conclusion published in Australia for everyone's benefit.
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?!
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!
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.
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 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.
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
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
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.
June 30, 2024
A stunning conclusion to an epic fantasy series. Everything I needed to read and more. Highly recommended.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
June 4, 2024
★ 4.75 / 5
"For what was earth but a mirror of heaven?"
And another trilogy concludes with vengeance and love wrapped tightly around its center.
"People misunderstand. Love is the most powerful force in the world. It can change minds, change hearts, reshape the heavens and the earth. That is why people condemn it, say a woman is stronger without it, but that's their own fear talking. If you are lucky enough to find love, Xiala, you hold on to it with all you have. It is a rare thing."
I was—still am honestly—terrified of this finale. Mirrored Heavens was the first book in YEARS that gave me the sort of reading anxiety that only authors like Fonda Lee and George R. R. Martin invoke with their ruthlessness. While the series didn't end quite in a way I feared, it definitely slid the knife into my side and left me gasping for breath. I loved all of the original POVs so much, and I think back to 2020 me who first read an ARC of Black Sun and fell head first for these characters. They comforted me in a scary year, so this finale means more than I can express. But... Fevered Star was a disappointment, so I was torn on whether this finale would satisfy me or not.
"The Mother gives, and the Mother takes away. Life began in the sea, and it would end them, and that was a comfort, even now."
Spoiler alert: it did.
"The only free thing in life is the sea. Everything else costs."
I'm going to immediately begin discussing spoilers, so beware of everything beyond this point. If you want the basics, know that this finale is well worth the longer wait and also the effort to read its high page count.
"Power was an illusion often disabused at the edge of a blade."
Xiala has always been my girl. She is my absolute favorite character in this trilogy, and I would quite frankly murder all of the other characters to keep her safe. My Pirates of the Caribbean nostalgic self latched onto her with the ferocity of Gorilla Glue. Plus, she's the first siren character that I loved! Therefore, I was most scared for her fate, but another separate part of me refused to believe Rebecca would kill her off. She's too iconic, too central to the plot. I had trouble reading the first 100 pages of Mirrored Heavens because I just wanted straight Xiala chapters. Not to mention that was because it was our first time seeing the Teek in their homeland, which was my most anticipated scene in this whole series. But—OH YEAH near immediately a fucking massacre starts on the Teek people, and I NEEDED to find out more PRONTO. This led me to take over a month to continue reading because I was stubborn and grumpy due to the lack of Xiala. Once I got over that, I finished the finale in three days haha.
"I would know you in the dark, the reflection of my heart, the mirror to my soul."
Second spoiler alert: Xiala survives each and every attempt on her life and then, fully accepts her god and abilities. Thus, she becomes a true siren and wreaks oceanic vengeance on those who harmed her people, destroyed her land, and murdered her mother. It made sense that it took the loss of her childhood best friend for her to fully confront the siren side of herself. She'd already lost her aunt and mother, and she had zero clue what was happening to Serapio. It was the final nail in the coffin. She was afraid, not fully committed before, but in times of war, nobody has time to be uncertain. And, of course, Xiala does not disappoint in her power.
"I have not told you everything that happened when we were apart. Of the Cuecolan who killed our wise women, of the slavery she wished to impose on us, and how my mother, our queen, was betrayed by those who were meant to be her allies. This is very much my war, and if I can help bring these monsters to ruin, then I will do it."
My only gripe about Xiala's storyline is that I wish we could've seen her in action more with her full abilities. There's only one scene where she's hunting the Cuecolan cowards who fled her homeland once the Teek overthrow them, and we get to see Xiala at her most powerful via commanding a kraken (POTC fangirling 1000%). It was definitely my favorite scene of the entire book. Every word, every emotion was perfect. Xiala's tiny bit of empathy creeping in at the destruction and grotesque ruthlessness of the kraken vs. her pushing her empathy away because they DID. NOT. CARE. about the Teek women and children's pain. They did not care about her mother, and also, they're a part of the group willing to harm Serapio. Three outs, you're outta here!
"They do not see the inevitability of you... You are the storm they cannot fight, and yet they resist. Those women will always refuse what the gods have ordained, thinking themselves their own deities on earth. But it is earth that mirrors the heavens, not the inverse. What are humans in the face of a god reborn?"
Oh, Serapio. His storyline definitely reached its true potential. I was waiting for him and Xiala to reunite. It felt like coming back home to see them empowered together. Serapio is a very different person with Xiala around, and all of his attendants and allies notice it. Xiala is even told she makes him an even better god because he's happier when she's around.
"We are children teasing a predator who will cry when we are devoured."
Now I didn't expect the last, climactic scene to take place in the Shadow Palace. I was thinking one of the battlefields as Balam's group were invading, but I was wrong. Xiala and Serapio (after using the shadowgate after Balam to return back to the tower) are forced to confront Balam as he fully descends into his insanity due to magical and drug abuse. Serapio finally knows Balam is his father, and he is terrified of fulfilling the prophecy the Coyote representative gave him where he loses everything. Simultaneously, the Crow god senses Naranpa/ the Sun god destroying Tova outside, and he starts to completely overtake Serapio to attack them. Serapio is fighting himself on the ground while Xiala has to fend off Balam. She's cut off from the ocean whereas his blood magic is fed from not only himself but also the blood from Xiala and Serapio. It's in this moment when Xiala does yet another badass new ability. It may be one of the smartest fantasy powers (perfect for a siren) because she turns her song, sound essentially, into a weapon. She screams at Balam and shatters him into infinite pieces.
"What is the point of winning the world if you lose yourself in the process?"
With her delivering the killing blow, the prophecy for Serapio is left uncertain because he seemingly had to be the one to end his father. But the Crow god only continues to destroy Serapio, so the god can harm his godly enemy. In these final moments, Serapio tells Xiala to kill him to keep Tova safe because he no longer can control the god, can control himself. In a tear-jerking instant, Xiala comforts him and does stab Serapio in the heart with the Sun dagger, thereby freeing and bringing Serapio peace. It was the only end scene for Serapio, in my head. After all he's been through, the lack of love and connection, he deserved to have his love save him. His body is never found even because before Xiala's eyes, he turns into a murder of crows, who gaze at her but soon soar away into the sky.
"You are my home, Xiala. My present and my future, and in the face of that, what is the past but the dust of memories best forgotten?.. You can back when you did not have to, risked your own life, sacrificed so much. You are my heart, my home. I want for nothing else."
Of the POVs, Okoa's in definitely the weakest. It's not bad by any means. His storyline is just ebtrayal after betrayal, backstab after backstab. He's conflicted about Serapio but overall, he commits to his side more than anyone besides Xiala. He actually meets Xiala after she pretends to be a citizen working under Balam's group, and he sacrifices himself to their opponent to allow her to escape to warn Serapio of the impending invasion. He jumps from Benundah's back (very Daemon Targaryen of him) onto the Golden Eagle heir's ride and murders her. Somehow he manages to survive this and reunite with Serapio to inform him of what he's learned. They separate to continue destroying Balam's camp when he is murdered from behind by a Carrion Crow soldier sent by his sister. Now they end on horrible terms for many reasons, but this death felt very left field to me. I don't know. Even thinking about it now, weeks later, it doesn't feel completely right. I would've rather he died sacrificing himself for Xiala than this. I guess it's important because it shows the downfall of his sister later on because she's untrustworthy and horrible, but I just didn't like it. It reminded me a lot of Matthias' death actually but not as successfully done.
"The old ways are dead... I bring a new order, and those who do not submit will know only suffering."
Switching POVs, Naranpa's storyline focuses a ton on a new ability where she essentially walks into people's dreams after consuming godsflesh, a powerful plant that allows people to walk the dreamworld. Like Xiala's siren complete abilities, I wish we could have seen this part of Naranpa's power sooner. Her storyline is first learning this ability before leaving to save Iktan after xe nearly dies from attempting to assassinate Balam and successfully assassinating the leaders of Golden Eagle. From the get-go in Black Sun I loved their interactions, but I was not sure if Rebecca would pair them together. Well, she does in this finale, and I was LIVING through their yearning and loving of one another. It was their moments that kept me going while Xiala was seeking vengeance and Serapio either almost marrying or worrying about his prophecy. Naranpa and Iktan's reunion and marriage are by far my favorite moments.
"Perhaps you do not need to protect me... Perhaps you only need to love me, and that is enough."
But their ending is the most complicated, arguably, of the entire cast. Naranpa plans to use the godsflesh to try to infiltrate Balam. She wants to protect Tova, so she plans with her mentor Kupshu and Iktan to use the Graveyard of the Gods (strong physical location to the gods and magic) to dream walk. Before their plan even begins, they are attacked by zombie-like beings of magic who drag Iktan and Kupshu away. Naranpa only survives because she burns everything in her surroundings to protect herself. She realizes Iktan and her mentor are dead, and due to the graveyard and godsflesh heightening her abilities, she fully connects with her god and magically travels to Tova where she proceeds to burn it to the ground. Or try to, at least. Iktan was supposed to be her anchor to the world, but with xir gone, she sees no reason to fight for her way back to control and allows the god to fully consume her mind. Ultimately, her body is found after the events, and she is in a seemingly sleep-like state. Her body does not perish, but she seems to have lost her mind to the dreamworld. To my absolute horror and probably other readers, Iktan is actually alive and protecting her body. We don't know exactly what happened to Iktan in the graveyard, but xe's alive. Their story ends with Iktan guarding Naranpa as they move her body back to her tower to be with her books in her endless sleep. Somehow this ending obliterated my heart more than either of them dying because the yearning from Iktan HURTS.
"Some women are born to always stay in sight of the shore. Others are meant to cross the ocean."
Although, the one thing keeping me afloat after their ending is my theory that Rebecca Roanhorse may be setting up a companion/spin-off series about these two. The epilogue shows Iktan talking to Xiala about xir continuous research/efforts to bring Naranpa back from the dreamworld. I could see a whole series or standalone being dedicated to both of them via this quest. SIGN ME UP, REBECCA!! PLEASE!!
"I would have found you anyway. Even if I had to cross the continent a dozen times. If my way is death and yours is life, then you are my other half."
And that spark of hope is not the only one. Xiala is told by Iktan of a man who lives up in the cold mountains and creates the most beautiful wooden art pieces. Xiala immediately is desperate to find out if it could be Serapio, but readers learn, 9 months after Serapio died, she had their son Akona, meaning black-winged in Teek... I was deadass sobbing at this point y'all. I could not handle the implications because we know the Teek do not approve of males in their community, but Xiala is now the Queen of the Teek. She makes the rules and obviously voids this one not only because of her love for her son but also him being her last remnant of Serapio. *sigh* And don't even get me started on her journey to the mountain and the confirmation that is is Serapio—more tears. He was a murder of crows for years, but eventually, he found his way back to his human form. Possibly found his way back because of Xiala and his desire to be human and with her again? Romance is alive and thriving you guys. I could not get enough of this epilogue.
"Love me. And let fate do its damnedest to get around that."
Overall, besides the incredibly slow first 100ish pages, this book was everything I wanted it to be. Even my small critiques above are not enough to harm this finale's rating because it was a wild ride. I'm just super content with the ending because of my possible spin-offs theory. I'm going to be recommending this book for the rest of eternity because it's a damn good epic fantasy. I cannot wait to see what Rebecca releases next!!
"Perhaps, while we wait, I can tell you a story. I know a great one, about a crow and a mermaid."
Thank you to Saga Press for the gifted ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"For what was earth but a mirror of heaven?"
And another trilogy concludes with vengeance and love wrapped tightly around its center.
"People misunderstand. Love is the most powerful force in the world. It can change minds, change hearts, reshape the heavens and the earth. That is why people condemn it, say a woman is stronger without it, but that's their own fear talking. If you are lucky enough to find love, Xiala, you hold on to it with all you have. It is a rare thing."
I was—still am honestly—terrified of this finale. Mirrored Heavens was the first book in YEARS that gave me the sort of reading anxiety that only authors like Fonda Lee and George R. R. Martin invoke with their ruthlessness. While the series didn't end quite in a way I feared, it definitely slid the knife into my side and left me gasping for breath. I loved all of the original POVs so much, and I think back to 2020 me who first read an ARC of Black Sun and fell head first for these characters. They comforted me in a scary year, so this finale means more than I can express. But... Fevered Star was a disappointment, so I was torn on whether this finale would satisfy me or not.
"The Mother gives, and the Mother takes away. Life began in the sea, and it would end them, and that was a comfort, even now."
Spoiler alert: it did.
"The only free thing in life is the sea. Everything else costs."
I'm going to immediately begin discussing spoilers, so beware of everything beyond this point. If you want the basics, know that this finale is well worth the longer wait and also the effort to read its high page count.
"Power was an illusion often disabused at the edge of a blade."
Xiala has always been my girl. She is my absolute favorite character in this trilogy, and I would quite frankly murder all of the other characters to keep her safe. My Pirates of the Caribbean nostalgic self latched onto her with the ferocity of Gorilla Glue. Plus, she's the first siren character that I loved! Therefore, I was most scared for her fate, but another separate part of me refused to believe Rebecca would kill her off. She's too iconic, too central to the plot. I had trouble reading the first 100 pages of Mirrored Heavens because I just wanted straight Xiala chapters. Not to mention that was because it was our first time seeing the Teek in their homeland, which was my most anticipated scene in this whole series. But—OH YEAH near immediately a fucking massacre starts on the Teek people, and I NEEDED to find out more PRONTO. This led me to take over a month to continue reading because I was stubborn and grumpy due to the lack of Xiala. Once I got over that, I finished the finale in three days haha.
"I would know you in the dark, the reflection of my heart, the mirror to my soul."
Second spoiler alert: Xiala survives each and every attempt on her life and then, fully accepts her god and abilities. Thus, she becomes a true siren and wreaks oceanic vengeance on those who harmed her people, destroyed her land, and murdered her mother. It made sense that it took the loss of her childhood best friend for her to fully confront the siren side of herself. She'd already lost her aunt and mother, and she had zero clue what was happening to Serapio. It was the final nail in the coffin. She was afraid, not fully committed before, but in times of war, nobody has time to be uncertain. And, of course, Xiala does not disappoint in her power.
"I have not told you everything that happened when we were apart. Of the Cuecolan who killed our wise women, of the slavery she wished to impose on us, and how my mother, our queen, was betrayed by those who were meant to be her allies. This is very much my war, and if I can help bring these monsters to ruin, then I will do it."
My only gripe about Xiala's storyline is that I wish we could've seen her in action more with her full abilities. There's only one scene where she's hunting the Cuecolan cowards who fled her homeland once the Teek overthrow them, and we get to see Xiala at her most powerful via commanding a kraken (POTC fangirling 1000%). It was definitely my favorite scene of the entire book. Every word, every emotion was perfect. Xiala's tiny bit of empathy creeping in at the destruction and grotesque ruthlessness of the kraken vs. her pushing her empathy away because they DID. NOT. CARE. about the Teek women and children's pain. They did not care about her mother, and also, they're a part of the group willing to harm Serapio. Three outs, you're outta here!
"They do not see the inevitability of you... You are the storm they cannot fight, and yet they resist. Those women will always refuse what the gods have ordained, thinking themselves their own deities on earth. But it is earth that mirrors the heavens, not the inverse. What are humans in the face of a god reborn?"
Oh, Serapio. His storyline definitely reached its true potential. I was waiting for him and Xiala to reunite. It felt like coming back home to see them empowered together. Serapio is a very different person with Xiala around, and all of his attendants and allies notice it. Xiala is even told she makes him an even better god because he's happier when she's around.
"We are children teasing a predator who will cry when we are devoured."
Now I didn't expect the last, climactic scene to take place in the Shadow Palace. I was thinking one of the battlefields as Balam's group were invading, but I was wrong. Xiala and Serapio (after using the shadowgate after Balam to return back to the tower) are forced to confront Balam as he fully descends into his insanity due to magical and drug abuse. Serapio finally knows Balam is his father, and he is terrified of fulfilling the prophecy the Coyote representative gave him where he loses everything. Simultaneously, the Crow god senses Naranpa/ the Sun god destroying Tova outside, and he starts to completely overtake Serapio to attack them. Serapio is fighting himself on the ground while Xiala has to fend off Balam. She's cut off from the ocean whereas his blood magic is fed from not only himself but also the blood from Xiala and Serapio. It's in this moment when Xiala does yet another badass new ability. It may be one of the smartest fantasy powers (perfect for a siren) because she turns her song, sound essentially, into a weapon. She screams at Balam and shatters him into infinite pieces.
"What is the point of winning the world if you lose yourself in the process?"
With her delivering the killing blow, the prophecy for Serapio is left uncertain because he seemingly had to be the one to end his father. But the Crow god only continues to destroy Serapio, so the god can harm his godly enemy. In these final moments, Serapio tells Xiala to kill him to keep Tova safe because he no longer can control the god, can control himself. In a tear-jerking instant, Xiala comforts him and does stab Serapio in the heart with the Sun dagger, thereby freeing and bringing Serapio peace. It was the only end scene for Serapio, in my head. After all he's been through, the lack of love and connection, he deserved to have his love save him. His body is never found even because before Xiala's eyes, he turns into a murder of crows, who gaze at her but soon soar away into the sky.
"You are my home, Xiala. My present and my future, and in the face of that, what is the past but the dust of memories best forgotten?.. You can back when you did not have to, risked your own life, sacrificed so much. You are my heart, my home. I want for nothing else."
Of the POVs, Okoa's in definitely the weakest. It's not bad by any means. His storyline is just ebtrayal after betrayal, backstab after backstab. He's conflicted about Serapio but overall, he commits to his side more than anyone besides Xiala. He actually meets Xiala after she pretends to be a citizen working under Balam's group, and he sacrifices himself to their opponent to allow her to escape to warn Serapio of the impending invasion. He jumps from Benundah's back (very Daemon Targaryen of him) onto the Golden Eagle heir's ride and murders her. Somehow he manages to survive this and reunite with Serapio to inform him of what he's learned. They separate to continue destroying Balam's camp when he is murdered from behind by a Carrion Crow soldier sent by his sister. Now they end on horrible terms for many reasons, but this death felt very left field to me. I don't know. Even thinking about it now, weeks later, it doesn't feel completely right. I would've rather he died sacrificing himself for Xiala than this. I guess it's important because it shows the downfall of his sister later on because she's untrustworthy and horrible, but I just didn't like it. It reminded me a lot of Matthias' death actually but not as successfully done.
"The old ways are dead... I bring a new order, and those who do not submit will know only suffering."
Switching POVs, Naranpa's storyline focuses a ton on a new ability where she essentially walks into people's dreams after consuming godsflesh, a powerful plant that allows people to walk the dreamworld. Like Xiala's siren complete abilities, I wish we could have seen this part of Naranpa's power sooner. Her storyline is first learning this ability before leaving to save Iktan after xe nearly dies from attempting to assassinate Balam and successfully assassinating the leaders of Golden Eagle. From the get-go in Black Sun I loved their interactions, but I was not sure if Rebecca would pair them together. Well, she does in this finale, and I was LIVING through their yearning and loving of one another. It was their moments that kept me going while Xiala was seeking vengeance and Serapio either almost marrying or worrying about his prophecy. Naranpa and Iktan's reunion and marriage are by far my favorite moments.
"Perhaps you do not need to protect me... Perhaps you only need to love me, and that is enough."
But their ending is the most complicated, arguably, of the entire cast. Naranpa plans to use the godsflesh to try to infiltrate Balam. She wants to protect Tova, so she plans with her mentor Kupshu and Iktan to use the Graveyard of the Gods (strong physical location to the gods and magic) to dream walk. Before their plan even begins, they are attacked by zombie-like beings of magic who drag Iktan and Kupshu away. Naranpa only survives because she burns everything in her surroundings to protect herself. She realizes Iktan and her mentor are dead, and due to the graveyard and godsflesh heightening her abilities, she fully connects with her god and magically travels to Tova where she proceeds to burn it to the ground. Or try to, at least. Iktan was supposed to be her anchor to the world, but with xir gone, she sees no reason to fight for her way back to control and allows the god to fully consume her mind. Ultimately, her body is found after the events, and she is in a seemingly sleep-like state. Her body does not perish, but she seems to have lost her mind to the dreamworld. To my absolute horror and probably other readers, Iktan is actually alive and protecting her body. We don't know exactly what happened to Iktan in the graveyard, but xe's alive. Their story ends with Iktan guarding Naranpa as they move her body back to her tower to be with her books in her endless sleep. Somehow this ending obliterated my heart more than either of them dying because the yearning from Iktan HURTS.
"Some women are born to always stay in sight of the shore. Others are meant to cross the ocean."
Although, the one thing keeping me afloat after their ending is my theory that Rebecca Roanhorse may be setting up a companion/spin-off series about these two. The epilogue shows Iktan talking to Xiala about xir continuous research/efforts to bring Naranpa back from the dreamworld. I could see a whole series or standalone being dedicated to both of them via this quest. SIGN ME UP, REBECCA!! PLEASE!!
"I would have found you anyway. Even if I had to cross the continent a dozen times. If my way is death and yours is life, then you are my other half."
And that spark of hope is not the only one. Xiala is told by Iktan of a man who lives up in the cold mountains and creates the most beautiful wooden art pieces. Xiala immediately is desperate to find out if it could be Serapio, but readers learn, 9 months after Serapio died, she had their son Akona, meaning black-winged in Teek... I was deadass sobbing at this point y'all. I could not handle the implications because we know the Teek do not approve of males in their community, but Xiala is now the Queen of the Teek. She makes the rules and obviously voids this one not only because of her love for her son but also him being her last remnant of Serapio. *sigh* And don't even get me started on her journey to the mountain and the confirmation that is is Serapio—more tears. He was a murder of crows for years, but eventually, he found his way back to his human form. Possibly found his way back because of Xiala and his desire to be human and with her again? Romance is alive and thriving you guys. I could not get enough of this epilogue.
"Love me. And let fate do its damnedest to get around that."
Overall, besides the incredibly slow first 100ish pages, this book was everything I wanted it to be. Even my small critiques above are not enough to harm this finale's rating because it was a wild ride. I'm just super content with the ending because of my possible spin-offs theory. I'm going to be recommending this book for the rest of eternity because it's a damn good epic fantasy. I cannot wait to see what Rebecca releases next!!
"Perhaps, while we wait, I can tell you a story. I know a great one, about a crow and a mermaid."
Thank you to Saga Press for the gifted ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 20, 2024
Boom shakalakabam.
A worthy end to a spectacular trilogy.
A worthy end to a spectacular trilogy.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 764 reviews