I bought this book the second I turned the last page of Black Sun and have read this in a few days. Roanhorse has artfully sculpted this book and there is much about it that I will enjoy pondering over for time to come. At its simplest, this is a really well written novel that carries the reader through multiple characters' experiences without losing pace or purpose at the transitions. But there's something much deeper to these books that I can't quite articulate and certainly not without spoilers, which I hate in reviews. So I will simply recommend these two books and highly commend the writer.

These are fun. It’s a good series. Not up to mistborn / storm light etc., but enjoyable

I am a fan, I admit, but I find Ms Roanhorse wonderful in her use of language and imaginative tales.

A couple of days have passed since I finished reading this and the more I think about it, the more I realise that I enjoyed it a little less than I said I initially did. That's not to say this was a bad book and I'm still rating it 3.5-4 stars (rounded up!) but compared to the intensity, action and excitement that book 1 roused in me, this one fell quite flat. The story in this book was very much a filler and "setting the scene" for book 3 and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, I expected more.

One thing that Roanhorse never fails to do is reel me in. As the story picks up immediately where book 1 ends—with the world shrouded in a darkness that leaves everyone feeling uneasy and restless, I found myself falling easily back into this world, the character's lives and their stories. I loved that we got more world-building. We learned in greater detail the history of Tova and the Meridian, and how this world as we know it today came to be formed. There was a new type of magic that was introduced that I found cool, especially after it was thought to be a lost art due to its banishment following the Treaty. In this book, we're also treated to some old perspectives from Xiala, Naranpa, Okoa and (partially) Serapio, and we also learn more about certain characters such as a certain assassin priest... 👀 I loved Iktan. For me, xe was probably the most interesting of characters to follow and even though I'm still trying to figure out xir true motives and end goal, I'm glad that we got to know more about xir in this book as xe is quite an interesting character! Naranpa's character got the most focus in Fevered Star and I understand why, I'm admittedly bummed that Serapio, Okoa and Xiala did not get as much of the focus, although Xiala was more present than the former two. I'm looking forward to seeing what becomes of Xiala—who is still as sassy, snarky and sharp—and if the cover is any indication, I have a feeling she will be the main focus of the finale. I'm both scared and excited for it!

Turning to the things that didn't entirely work for me the biggest issue I had was with the pacing. The first half of the book is fleshed out with a lot of character exploration and I loved that but it made the pace feel slower and like the story was building up to something greater. However, while the second half was full of shocking events and revelations, it was almost too much in too little time and it very much felt like the payoff of the big build-up didn't come through in the way the author intended (possibly?). With one big thing happening after the other, with little time to absorb and process it all properly, it made the story feel imbalanced. The ending in particular was slightly disappointing because I most definitely expected more from it but it just kind of... Ended and that was it. 😂 But knowing that I don't have to wait to continue with the final book softens that blow significantly (if I had to wait I'd probably be well peeved about it)!

Despite this disappointment, I'm keen to finish the series. I'm invested in these characters and what happens to them but, as always, Roanhorse leaves me with so many more questions than when I started! 😂 I'm hoping they will be satisfyingly answered in the conclusion to her trilogy and that the final big build-up that she has brought to us will ultimately pay off in the end.

A slower, more political sequel that expands Roanhorse’s brilliant world. The characters are rich, the mythology breathtaking, and the tension between faith and free will is beautifully written. Not quite as sharp as Black Sun, but still a fantastic continuation that has me desperate for book three.

I loved the deeper world building, with the places feeling real and lived in. The characters, both old and new were as interesting as ever. The story beats kept me reading, and I enjoyed the twists and the ending was unexpected, but was still good.

I enjoyed Serapio and Naranpa's chapters who I felt were shaping the overall story beats. Okoa and Xiala's were my favourite chapters, as they had to react to the actions of Serapio and Naranpa. Balan was also enjoyable as he seems to be playing a very different game to everyone else.

I look forward to the next in the series.

I really loved the world building, and the characters motivations were also nice. I liked that Serapio is a fleshed out character with a very human nature, instead of just being a one note shadows guy. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Narampa, which is more akin to a dead leave that is tossed around by the wind, in this case, the plot.

The book has good strong points, but also glaring flaws.

Unlike books with “flawless” narratives, this one made me a much better reader. I didn’t expect it, so that makes me appreciate it on a different way. It was an endearing experience for me.

La secuela no decepciona, muy entretenida con personales complejos y con mucha personalidad. Esperando con ansias la siguiente entrega de la saga.

in Tova, winged serpents, golden eagles and crows fly the skies as water striders take to the waters below. alliances are born, war is looming, clan matriarchs clamor for control, magics are wielded, Gods are reborn and remade, assassins plot, love is torn and complex, friendships and families blossom and implode, political intrigue is rampant, plotting is thick and our guides from their varied points of view take us on journeys through it all - intermingling at the perfect moments.

in Fevered Sun we’re brought back to see how our characters, only hours later, are dealing with the aftermath of Black Sun’s blood soaked finale. we watch throughout as they scramble to find their places, their people, and purpose in a now darkened city. we’re also given new, clearer perspectives of characters who were more aptly sidelined in the first novel.

as invested as i became in our lead Serapio and his equal, Xiala, and their part of the story, i was hungry for and devoured Naranpas chapters. fleshing out her character was one of the absolute highlights of this book. i had my vague opinions on her in Black Sun, but this sequel brought her to a whole other level and shone a truly bright light on her abilities and political prowess. i can not wait to see what she becomes, quite literally, in the next installment of this series.

one of Roanhorse’s strongest abilities is to write her characters as complex and gray as people, fictional and real, truly are. you are hard pressed to find specific “villains” and “heroes” as each person contains the traits of both and the decisions and paths they follow determine their actions that can be seen as either “good” or “bad” depending on circumstances as they themselves, and we, see them. many are put to the test and stretched to their limits in these 388 pages and i was invested in them all.

Roanhorse is a powerhouse of a writer. if you are a reader who appreciates and enjoys a slow and precise build of a rich story, complex characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, a fully realized and detailed world, magic systems, politics and a truly epic journey - the Between Earth and Sky series is for you and i could not recommend it more highly.

I can confirm Fevered Star is an apt title for this book, because it's intense, dazzling, and it left me both starstruck and slightly singed around the edges.

Firstly, Fevered Star didn’t suffer from middle book syndrome. While Black Sun laid the groundwork, Fevered Star took off and soared (like a giant crow). It introduced new characters and revealed deeper backstories, making me even more attached to the original cast. I'm wildly obsessed with Serapio (Crow God dude) and Xiala (exiled mermaid ship captain), and now I adore them even more. This book also made me grow to care for Nara, who I felt neutral towards in the first book. I relished learning more about her past and watching her character grow. Neutral no more!

Two characters really stood out to me, who weren't spotlighted in the first book, but definitely were here: Iktan and Denaochi. Iktan is utterly intriguing and every time xe was on the page I was riveted, and Ochi—what a cinnamon roll.

It’s hard to say more because it'd be too spoilery, also mere words don't do this series justice anyway so I will conclude with this:

I adore this world, this story, and these characters. It’s everything I never knew I needed in an epic fantasy (refreshing diversity, unique magic, giant corvids). I will accept no criticism of this series. It’s possibly now my favourite high fantasy series ever, overtaking icons like Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, and I haven’t even read the third book of this trilogy yet. So take from that what you will.

Obviously, I highly recommend this to anyone who loves an epic fantasy series, but with tonnes more diversity and political equality of the sexes/outside of the binary. I can't wait to read Mirrored Heavens although it's bittersweet because I don't want the series to end.

Jag älskade allt. Och mer därtill.