loppear reviewed Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse (Between Earth and Sky, #3)
strong finish to the trilogy
4 stars
Satisfyingly grim and consequential build-up to a cataclysmic conflict between gods-reborn wraps up these threads nicely.
Hardcover, 608 pages
English language
Published by Simon & Schuster, Saga Press.
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 …
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.
Nominated for the Nebula, Lambda, Locus, and Hugo Awards, winner of the Alex Award from the American Library Association and the Ignyte Award from Fiyah magazine, the Between Earth and Sky trilogy is amongst our most lauded modern fantasy series from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse.
Satisfyingly grim and consequential build-up to a cataclysmic conflict between gods-reborn wraps up these threads nicely.
I actually think this is my favorite book of the three in the Between Earth and Sky series. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters over the course of the long story. As time went on, I became better and better at visualizing their appearances and their mannerisms. I think Roanhorse really hit her stride with this book, though. For example, the way she recapitulates the theme of the title, "Mirrored Heavens," throughout the book with different characters going through trials that are mirror images of the trials that another character endures, is masterful. It's colorful, it's touching, it's unpredictable, there's a distinct thread of sincere romance that pervades it, and the setting is beautiful. 10/10 will likely read again.