Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Fevered Star (2) (Between Earth and Sky)
Return to The Meridian with New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse's sequel to the most critically hailed epic fantasy of 2020 Black Sun-finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Lambda, and Locus awards.
There are no tides more treacherous than those of the heart. -Teek saying
The great city of Tova is shattered. The sun is held within the smothering grip of the Crow God's eclipse, but a comet that marks the death of a ruler and heralds the rise of a new order is imminent.
The Meridian: a land where magic has been codified and the worship of gods suppressed. How do you live when legends come to life, and the faith you had is rewarded?
As sea captain Xiala is swept up in the chaos and currents of change, she finds an unexpected ally in the former Priest of Knives. For the Clan Matriarchs of Tova, tense alliances form as far-flung enemies gather and the war in the heavens is reflected upon the earth.
And for Serapio and Naranpa, both now living avatars, the struggle for free will and personhood in the face of destiny rages. How will Serapio stay human when he is steeped in prophecy and surrounded by those who desire only his power? Is there a future for Naranpa in a transformed Tova without her total destruction?
Welcome back to the fantasy series of the decade in Fevered Star-book two of Between Earth and Sky.
There are no tides more treacherous than those of the heart. -Teek saying
The great city of Tova is shattered. The sun is held within the smothering grip of the Crow God's eclipse, but a comet that marks the death of a ruler and heralds the rise of a new order is imminent.
The Meridian: a land where magic has been codified and the worship of gods suppressed. How do you live when legends come to life, and the faith you had is rewarded?
As sea captain Xiala is swept up in the chaos and currents of change, she finds an unexpected ally in the former Priest of Knives. For the Clan Matriarchs of Tova, tense alliances form as far-flung enemies gather and the war in the heavens is reflected upon the earth.
And for Serapio and Naranpa, both now living avatars, the struggle for free will and personhood in the face of destiny rages. How will Serapio stay human when he is steeped in prophecy and surrounded by those who desire only his power? Is there a future for Naranpa in a transformed Tova without her total destruction?
Welcome back to the fantasy series of the decade in Fevered Star-book two of Between Earth and Sky.
Editorial Reviews
"Rebecca Roanhorse… [is one] of the Indigenous novelists reshaping North American science fiction, horror and fantasy - genres in which Native writers have long been overlooked." ― The New York Times
"The pages turn themselves. A beautifully crafted setting with complex character dynamics and layers of political intrigue? Perfection. Mark your calendars, this is the next big thing." -- Kirkus, starred review
"A a razor-sharp examination of politics, generational trauma, and the path to redemption...Roanhorse strikes a perfect balance between powerful worldbuilding and rich thematic exploration as the protagonists struggle against their fates. Fantasy fans will be wowed."
― Publishers Weekly, starred review
"I emerged from Black Sun bleary-eyed, tongue-tied, heart-swollen. This is a brilliant world that shows the full panoply of human grace and depravity. Rebecca Roanhorse is the epic voice of our continent and time."-Ken Liu, award-winning author of The Grace of Kings, and The Hidden Girl and Other Stories.
"This is the novel I've been waiting for. This is the novel we've all been waiting for. Everything's different now, with Black Sun. Different and better. Stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best fantasy out there. There's Martin, there's Jemisin, and now there's Roanhorse."-Stephen Graham Jones, award-winning author of The Only Good Indians, and Mongrels
"Engrossing and vibrant. Black Sun left me with my jaw on the floor."-Tochi Oneybuchi, author of Riot Baby
"Absolutely tremendous. Roanhorse knocks it out of the park again with an epic tale about duty and destiny that will sweep readers away and broaden the horizons of an entire genre."-S.A. Chakraborty, nationally bestselling author of The City of Brass.
"The world sucks you in from the start, and the pacing yanks you along by the collar. Black Sun is instantly riveting from the beginning-Roanhorse is at the top of her game here."-R.F. Kuang, bestselling author of The Poppy War
"The pages turn themselves. A beautifully crafted setting with complex character dynamics and layers of political intrigue? Perfection. Mark your calendars, this is the next big thing." -- Kirkus, starred review
"A a razor-sharp examination of politics, generational trauma, and the path to redemption...Roanhorse strikes a perfect balance between powerful worldbuilding and rich thematic exploration as the protagonists struggle against their fates. Fantasy fans will be wowed."
― Publishers Weekly, starred review
"I emerged from Black Sun bleary-eyed, tongue-tied, heart-swollen. This is a brilliant world that shows the full panoply of human grace and depravity. Rebecca Roanhorse is the epic voice of our continent and time."-Ken Liu, award-winning author of The Grace of Kings, and The Hidden Girl and Other Stories.
"This is the novel I've been waiting for. This is the novel we've all been waiting for. Everything's different now, with Black Sun. Different and better. Stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best fantasy out there. There's Martin, there's Jemisin, and now there's Roanhorse."-Stephen Graham Jones, award-winning author of The Only Good Indians, and Mongrels
"Engrossing and vibrant. Black Sun left me with my jaw on the floor."-Tochi Oneybuchi, author of Riot Baby
"Absolutely tremendous. Roanhorse knocks it out of the park again with an epic tale about duty and destiny that will sweep readers away and broaden the horizons of an entire genre."-S.A. Chakraborty, nationally bestselling author of The City of Brass.
"The world sucks you in from the start, and the pacing yanks you along by the collar. Black Sun is instantly riveting from the beginning-Roanhorse is at the top of her game here."-R.F. Kuang, bestselling author of The Poppy War
Readers Top Reviews
Abbie HagenAbbie
Spoiler Warning: Fevered Star is the second book in the Between Earth and Sky Series, and my review contains spoilers for the first book, Black Sun. If you have not yet read Black Sun, I would strongly encourage you to grab a copy because it’s incredible and you won’t want to miss out on this fantasy series for the ages! The Sun Priest has fallen, and an endless eclipse blights the world while the Crow and Sun gods battle for dominance. After Serapio massacred the Priesthood on Sun Rock, the battle was meant to be over. He was supposed to be dead, a burnt out vessel for a god triumphant, yet he finds himself still alive. Narampa, the former Sun Priest usurped just before the massacre, finds herself in a similar predicament. The world assumes that both Serapio and Narampa are dead, but the consequences of their survival will soon shake the world to its core. I absolutely adored the start of the Between Earth and Sky series when it was released last year, and I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel ever since! Thankfully, I was able to get my hands on an early copy so I didn’t have to wait too terribly long to catch up with my favorite characters from Black Sun. My two personal favorites, Xiala and Iktan, got a lot of on-page attention in this sequel, which delighted me to no end! I love seeing their casually queer narratives woven into the story, infusing the world-building with a sense of queernormativity that I crave in fantasy. Fevered Star is definitely paced more slowly than Black Sun, but I actually enjoyed this pacing choice as it gave the characters more room to grow and develop. While there was quite a bit of action in the plot of Fevered Star, it never felt rushed to me. Overall, this book was a fantastic follow-up to the amazing success of Black Sun. The one downside is that I have to wait for the conclusion to this series after a very surprising ending, and I don’t know how I am going to cope for long enough! My Recommendation- If you love character-driven high-fantasy series, you need to pick up copies of Black Sun and Fevered Star! I would especially recommend these books to adult fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender Series, who are looking for a complex and gorgeously constructed world to dive into.
Emma ReidAbbie Ha
I just need to start this out by curbing your expectations if you're anything like me - THIS IS NOT A DUOLOGY. Okay, there I said it. With that out of the way, hoooooly coyote! This book is definitely slower than Black Sun, but adds so much political intrigue that the first book lacked. AND we get another PoV to follow (not going to spoil who...) which is quite possibly one of the most interesting. After the events of Black Sun, there's a criminal amount of fallout in The Meridian and for good reason. I loved Naranpa's arc as usual, but Serapio and Okoa's were so dark and intriguing. We really get to see the relationships between characters bloom and be tested in this installment, for better or worse. I think that Xiala's arc will be the most fascinating in the third and final book. However though the book may be slow paced, there's still action and magic throughout that will leave you craving more. And the LOOOOORE!! We learn so much about The Meridian here that is definitely going to come into play soon... Overall I love this book to pieces and can't wait to reread it. Recommending it for fans of high fantasy and anyone who loves a good plot twist.
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
CITY OF CUECOLA
YEAR 1 OF THE CROW
I have done great deeds both good and evil, and who is to judge me but the gods, and what shall they say to me but that I dared?
-From The Manual of the Dreamwalkers, by Seuq, a spearmaiden
The sun had not yet risen on the first day after the new year's winter solstice, and it felt not at all as if an age had ended, but Balam knew better.
He left his home well before dawn, a purse of cacao, a small clay cup, a mirror, and an obsidian knife on the belt at his waist, and he walked. Normally, he would bring servants with him. A man to carry his purchases home, another to guard his person, although there were very few things he feared. But today he went alone.
He traveled the wide, spotless avenue that ran the length of Cuecola, past the still-sleeping market, and through the city gates. He walked past the farming village of Kuharan with its oval houses and thatched roofs, past the jail where'd he found the Teek woman, and into the surrounding jungle.
It had rained all night, and the air here was heavy and wet. Water dripped from wide, notched leaves, and the ground was soft under his sandals. He had worn a long white cloak that fastened across his chest, and he had wrapped his hair in a matching white scarf. Jade hung from his ears and nose and encircled his wrists and ankles. He had also painted the top half of his face blue.
His destination was a small temple, one of many that had been abandoned after the Treaty of Hokaia had forbidden the worship of the jaguar god. The stone building had once been beautiful, colorfully painted and well-tended, but now it ran to decay. Cracks marred the wide steps, and the verdancy of the jungle had taken over much of its facade. He was careful not to disturb anything as he entered.
He made his way to the altar off the central courtyard. He was not a pious man, at least not in the way most people meant it, but he revered power, and here once had been a place of great power. He pressed his hands to the cold stone and bowed his head. He murmured a prayer that had not been heard in this place in three centuries. And then he sat on the steps, purse in hand, to wait.
It did not take long for the thief to arrive.
The man did not see Balam there, sitting so still in the shadows. The jaguar lord watched, curious, as the man walked the length of the courtyard, admiring the fading stone reliefs, the elegant decay. The thief carried a woven sack over one shoulder. He wore an unadorned white loincloth, and his black hair was cropped close to his head in an unfashionable bowl, but his face was handsome and young, and there was an intriguing audaciousness that glimmered in his eyes. It was that spark of impudence that had brought him to Balam's attention to begin with, and then to learn that he had access to the royal library, well, it had come together nicely.
"Welcome," he greeted the thief, standing to reveal himself.
The man startled. "Seven hells," he swore, glaring. "What kind of person sneaks around in a place like this?"
Balam smiled as he always did, mouth closed to hide a predator's teeth. "This is the house where my ancestors worshipped long ago."
"Well, it's eerie. I don't see why we couldn't have met in the city. Perhaps over a drink."
Balam lifted an elegant brow. "I was clear that this endeavor required the utmost secrecy. You have not told anyone of our meeting, have you?"
"No," the man said hastily. "I kept my word. Now you keep yours."
Balam motioned for the thief to ascend the stairs and join him in front of the altar. He hesitated, so Balam shook the purse of cacao in his hand. That seemed to dislodge the man's doubt, and he quickly climbed the steps.
"Did you have trouble entering the vault?" Balam asked.
"A few days of planning, a sweet word to the night guard. I don't think anyone has tried to break in before." The thief made a face as if he thought Balam a fool.
He ignored it. "May I see it?"
"This is the first time I've been hired to steal a book." The man drew a large bound manuscript from his bag and set it on the altar. "Is there a market for it? Might you have some friends who need a man with quick hands and soft feet?"
Reverently, Balam opened the cloth cover and unfolded the bark pages. They stretched out in a long continuous sheet of glyphs and phonetic symbols. He recognized the archaic language he had long studied, confirming that this was the knowledge he desired as his own.
"Can you understand it?" the thief asked, curious.
"Of course," Balam said absently. His mind was already focuse...
CHAPTER 1
CITY OF CUECOLA
YEAR 1 OF THE CROW
I have done great deeds both good and evil, and who is to judge me but the gods, and what shall they say to me but that I dared?
-From The Manual of the Dreamwalkers, by Seuq, a spearmaiden
The sun had not yet risen on the first day after the new year's winter solstice, and it felt not at all as if an age had ended, but Balam knew better.
He left his home well before dawn, a purse of cacao, a small clay cup, a mirror, and an obsidian knife on the belt at his waist, and he walked. Normally, he would bring servants with him. A man to carry his purchases home, another to guard his person, although there were very few things he feared. But today he went alone.
He traveled the wide, spotless avenue that ran the length of Cuecola, past the still-sleeping market, and through the city gates. He walked past the farming village of Kuharan with its oval houses and thatched roofs, past the jail where'd he found the Teek woman, and into the surrounding jungle.
It had rained all night, and the air here was heavy and wet. Water dripped from wide, notched leaves, and the ground was soft under his sandals. He had worn a long white cloak that fastened across his chest, and he had wrapped his hair in a matching white scarf. Jade hung from his ears and nose and encircled his wrists and ankles. He had also painted the top half of his face blue.
His destination was a small temple, one of many that had been abandoned after the Treaty of Hokaia had forbidden the worship of the jaguar god. The stone building had once been beautiful, colorfully painted and well-tended, but now it ran to decay. Cracks marred the wide steps, and the verdancy of the jungle had taken over much of its facade. He was careful not to disturb anything as he entered.
He made his way to the altar off the central courtyard. He was not a pious man, at least not in the way most people meant it, but he revered power, and here once had been a place of great power. He pressed his hands to the cold stone and bowed his head. He murmured a prayer that had not been heard in this place in three centuries. And then he sat on the steps, purse in hand, to wait.
It did not take long for the thief to arrive.
The man did not see Balam there, sitting so still in the shadows. The jaguar lord watched, curious, as the man walked the length of the courtyard, admiring the fading stone reliefs, the elegant decay. The thief carried a woven sack over one shoulder. He wore an unadorned white loincloth, and his black hair was cropped close to his head in an unfashionable bowl, but his face was handsome and young, and there was an intriguing audaciousness that glimmered in his eyes. It was that spark of impudence that had brought him to Balam's attention to begin with, and then to learn that he had access to the royal library, well, it had come together nicely.
"Welcome," he greeted the thief, standing to reveal himself.
The man startled. "Seven hells," he swore, glaring. "What kind of person sneaks around in a place like this?"
Balam smiled as he always did, mouth closed to hide a predator's teeth. "This is the house where my ancestors worshipped long ago."
"Well, it's eerie. I don't see why we couldn't have met in the city. Perhaps over a drink."
Balam lifted an elegant brow. "I was clear that this endeavor required the utmost secrecy. You have not told anyone of our meeting, have you?"
"No," the man said hastily. "I kept my word. Now you keep yours."
Balam motioned for the thief to ascend the stairs and join him in front of the altar. He hesitated, so Balam shook the purse of cacao in his hand. That seemed to dislodge the man's doubt, and he quickly climbed the steps.
"Did you have trouble entering the vault?" Balam asked.
"A few days of planning, a sweet word to the night guard. I don't think anyone has tried to break in before." The thief made a face as if he thought Balam a fool.
He ignored it. "May I see it?"
"This is the first time I've been hired to steal a book." The man drew a large bound manuscript from his bag and set it on the altar. "Is there a market for it? Might you have some friends who need a man with quick hands and soft feet?"
Reverently, Balam opened the cloth cover and unfolded the bark pages. They stretched out in a long continuous sheet of glyphs and phonetic symbols. He recognized the archaic language he had long studied, confirming that this was the knowledge he desired as his own.
"Can you understand it?" the thief asked, curious.
"Of course," Balam said absently. His mind was already focuse...
