On the one hand, if BLACK SUN was fresh in my brain, if I’d given it a reread, I probably would have had a better time with FEVERED STAR. I wrestle with how much to attribute that as a flaw of the book versus my own failing. After considerable skim-reading of the ending of BLACK SUN, I was able to get myself situated, but my enjoyment of FEVERED STAR likely would have been a lot higher if I hadn’t spent so much time trying to reorient myself. It’s been over a year and a half since I read the first book, and upon diving into FEVERED STAR, I immediately found myself floundering to recall the political structure of Tova, as well as who was allied with who and what schemes were already underfoot. My struggles with FEVERED STAR may be a huge case of “it’s not you, its me.” While the book does include a cast of characters up front, it pretty much picks up from the ending of BLACK SUN without any kind of recap or hand-holding in the early chapters.

It likely didn’t help that Okoa and Naranpa take more of a lead role this time, with my favorites Serapio and Xiala coming in secondary. Yet here, I just couldn’t connect to anyone. BLACK SUN made a notable impression on me and Roanhorse has been a favorite author of mine since her captivating character work in TRAIL OF LIGHTNING. I couldn’t be more shocked by my reaction – or rather – lack of reaction to this entry. But unbeknownst to Tova, the city’s fate may not be decided by its inhabitants, but by a summit happening in a few weeks time – the same day as a comet that signifies the death of a leader and the rise of a new order.įEVERED SUN is a meandering follow-up to the stellar BLACK SUN, a sequel that left me a bit perplexed at how little it made me feel. A power vacuum in the city has left the clans scrambling to try and consolidate their power, while new factions emerge from the shadows. A permanent eclipse hangs over the city, and rumor says it’s the result of the Crow God’s return. After the massacre at Sun Rock, the city of Tova is in chaos.

Fevered sun rebecca roanhorse