Between Earth and Sky
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fantasy literature |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Rebecca Roanhorse |
| Products | Black Sun (2020), Fevered Star (2022), Mirrored Heavens (2024) |
Between Earth and Sky is a fantasy book series penned by American writer Rebecca Roanhorse. The trilogy consists of Black Sun (2020), Fevered Star (2022), and Mirrored Heavens (2024). This sweeping fantasy saga is inspired by the cultures of pre-Columbian America. Black Sun received the 2021 Alex Award and the Ignyte Award for Best Adult Novel, while also being shortlisted for the Locus, Nebula, and Hugo Awards. The entire series earned the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Series.
Background
Approximately three hundred years prior to the main narrative, the War of the Spear began when a spearwoman from Hokaia became the inaugural dreamwalker, leading a conquering force across Meridian until her eventual defeat. The conflict concluded with the Treaty of Hokaia, which introduced the Watchers—a semi-religious order in Tova—and prohibited both magic and deity worship. Despite this ban, the Odohaa cult continued to venerate the Crow God in secrecy. Many years later, during an event known as the Night of Knives, the Watchers carried out a massacre targeting numerous members of the Carrion Crow clan.
Black Sun
Serapio, a member of the Carrion Crow clan, suffers blindness and scarring during a sacred ritual, becoming the new embodiment of the Crow God. Balam hires Captain Xiala to escort him to Tova. When her crew revolts after uncovering her magical abilities, Serapio summons crows to eliminate them and safeguard Xiala.
In Tova, Naranpa holds the positions of Sun Priest and leader of the Watchers. The city’s inhabitants include four clans—Carrion Crow, Golden Eagle, Winged Serpent, and Water Strider (known as 'the Sky Made')—alongside clanless individuals referred to as 'the dry earth.' Following the mysterious death of Yatliza, leader of Carrion Crow, her son Okoa returns from war school aiming to prevent clashes with the Watchers. At Yatliza’s funeral, a riot breaks out and Okoa is wrongfully accused of attempting to assassinate Naranpa. As tensions rise, the Watchers prepare for war against the Odohaa cult. Naranpa is deposed as Sun Priest with backing from her bodyguard and former lover Iktan. She seeks help from her brother Denaochi and witch Zataya. After rogue priests murder Naranpa, Zataya brings her back to life.
Xiala and Serapio reach Tova. During a solar eclipse, Serapio assaults the Watchers at Sun Rock but discovers Naranpa is not present. Gravely wounded, he is saved by Okoa. As a black sun looms over Tova with the dawn of a new year, time appears to stand still.
Fevered Star
In Cuecola, Balam acquires forbidden dreamwalking skills. With both the Watchers eliminated and the Treaty of Hokaia broken, Meridian faces a power void. Balam organizes a council in Hokaia to elevate the Golden Eagle clan as rulers of Tova and plots to eliminate Serapio, whose survival was unexpected.
In Tova, Naranpa allies with Denaochi to become a figurehead for resistance against Carrion Crow dominance. Serapio and Okoa return to Carrion Crow lands, confronting clan leaders over Tova’s destiny. Xiala flees the Crow district alongside Iktan and joins the Golden Eagle clan on their way to Hokaia. She uncovers that Iktan orchestrated Yatliza’s assassination and that Golden Eagle attempted to kill Naranpa. Having been banished from Teek for killing her father, Xiala learns her mother is alive and agrees to spy on her on Balam’s behalf.
Naranpa reestablishes the Coyote clan during a gathering of Sky Made clans, accusing Golden Eagle of betrayal; this sparks conflict resulting in Denaochi’s death. At Sun Rock, Serapio and Naranpa engage in combat ending in a stalemate; Naranpa heals Serapio before departing. Serapio raises an army composed of Odohaa cultists, constructs a magical fortress, and proclaims his ambition to govern all of Tova.
Mirrored Heavens
Tuun, an ally of Balam from Cuecola, arrives with a fleet at Teek, proclaiming the queen's demise at Balam's hands and compelling accelerated ship construction. Xiala engineers a daring escape by summoning a kraken that devastates many Cuecolan forces; Tuun survives the assault but retreats to Hokaia.
Near Hokaia, the war college is destroyed, presumably by Golden Eagle. Serapio eliminates all adult Golden Eagle heirs in Tova and dissolves the clan. Both Hokaia and Cuecola declare war on Tova. In retaliation for the war college attack, Iktan stabs Balam and kills the Golden Eagle matron. Xe departs Hokaia in search of Naranpa. Though Balam survives through blood magic, his sanity deteriorates as his dreamwalking abilities intensify. Meanwhile, Naranpa hones her dreamwalking skills; she reunites with Iktan, marries him, and devises a plan to trap Balam within the dream realm.
Tuun returns to Hokaia; Balam sacrifices her along with hundreds of captives to open a shadow gate that accelerates troop movements toward Tova. Xiala infiltrates the enemy ranks disguised as a laborer.
In Tova, Zataya delivers a prophecy from the Coyote deity outlining three challenges for Serapio: “turn rotten fruit to flower,” “slay the god-bride still unloved,” and “press the son to fell the sire.” The matrons command Okoa to assassinate Serapio; however, he converts Okoa instead, fulfilling the first task. Betrothed to Isel Winged Serpent, Serapio kills his father Marcal on their engagement night, completing the third task. During their wedding ceremony, Okoa mistakenly kills Isel; Serapio orchestrates Okoa's escape from torture. Zataya warns that the tasks remain unfinished; Serapio deduces he must kill his true love, Xiala.
With Okoa’s assistance, Xiala escapes Balam's forces but returns to alert Tova of Balam’s impending attack. Serapio confronts Balam’s army while Okoa is executed for betrayal. A deranged Balam opens a shadow gate into Tova in pursuit of Watchers' Tower secrets; Serapio follows and discovers that Balam is his biological father.
Naranpa enters the dream world where she becomes possessed by the sun god, who assaults Tova for its corruption by the crow god. The deity burns Great Houses, but Naranpa defends the Watchers' Tower. During a battle in the tower, Serapio realizes that killing Balam will cost him Xiala. Xiala kills Balam; when the crow god attempts to possess Serapio, he asks Xiala to end his life, freeing himself at the price of his own existence. His body transforms into crows that scatter, leaving Xiala behind. Naranpa remains trapped within the dream world; Iktan returns her unconscious body to Tova.
Six years later, Queen Xiala raises Akona, her son with Serapio. She discovers that Serapio has been reassembled in human form and is regaining his memories.
Style
Black Sun employs four point-of-view protagonists: Serapio, Xiala, Okoa, and Naranpa. The narrative frequently shifts between present events and flashbacks.
Themes
Roanhorse drew inspiration from Southeast Asian, Native American, and Mesoamerican cultures to craft a setting distinct from conventional European epic fantasy traditions. The story originated with the character Xiala and expanded to include other principal figures.
The trilogy features numerous non-heterosexual and non-cisgender characters and has received acclaim for its inclusivity. A reviewer for SyFy highlighted that many pre-Columbian societies normalized queer identities rather than marginalizing them. Accordingly, these characters are not explicitly identified as queer within the narrative. Xiala’s bisexuality reflects varying degrees of cultural acceptance, while other characters use neopronouns such as 'xe'/'xir', which are widely accepted across most cities depicted in the story’s world.
Adaptation
In December 2021, AMC Studios revealed intentions to transform Black Sun into a television adaptation, with Roanhorse and Angela Kang serving as executive producers.
Reception
Black Sun garnered widespread critical praise. Locus lauded its intricate characters, immersive worldbuilding, innovative magic system, and the inclusive representation of queerness alongside the absence of traditional gender hierarchies. Kirkus Reviews emphasized its compelling character development and political complexity, dubbing it "the next big thing." Grimdark Magazine applauded the fusion of dynamic action sequences with a character-focused narrative. Critics also highlighted the sophisticated depiction of queer identities.
The follow-up novel, Fevered Star, received favorable critiques from Kirkus Reviews, which regarded it as "an excellent second installment," while Library Journal awarded it a starred review for its "remarkable complexity." Tor.com commended the intricate storyline and Naranpa’s character progression but observed a slower tempo attributed to Serapio’s separation from Xiala.
The concluding volume, Mirrored Heavens, fulfilled high expectations with its "intense drama and surprising twists," according to Locus. Brown remarked on Roanhorse’s distinctive approach to familiar fantasy tropes within an expansive setting. Kirkus Reviews described the finale as a layered and gratifying resolution. Furthermore, Publishers Weekly praised Roanhorse’s mastery, highlighting richly developed characters and the skillful integration of multiple plotlines culminating in an epic finale.
Awards
| Year | Book | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Black Sun | Goodreads Choice Award | Fantasy | Template:Sho |
| Nebula Award | Novel | Template:Sho | ||
| 2021 | Alex Award | — | Template:Won | |
| Dragon Award | Science Fiction Novel | Template:Sho | ||
| Hugo Award | Novel | Template:Sho | ||
| Ignyte Award | Adult Novel | Template:Won | ||
| Lambda Literary Award | Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror | Template:Sho | ||
| Locus Award | Fantasy Novel | Template:Sho | ||
| RUSA CODES Reading List | Fantasy | Template:Sho | ||
| 2023 | Fevered Star | Locus Award | Fantasy Novel | Template:Sho |
| 2025 | Between Earth and Sky | Hugo Award | Best Series | Template:Won |