Despite the big buzz, numerous accolades, and my accidentally dillydallying until the paperback came out, I managed to go into this one knowing almost nothing about it except "epic fantasy with a sort of pre-Columbian setting." I usually dig a little deeper before picking up a 450-page series opener, but I'm glad I didn't — walking nearly blindly into this world perfectly matched the casually immersive writing that turns this tale into an experience instead of just a story. I'm not going to tell you much about the world-building. Jump in and experience it. (I will say, however, that I found it immediately immersive, but not immediately engaging. It took me a while after the shocking opener and brief tour of our main characters before I was sold on continuing the experience. I'm obviously glad I did.)

The basic story itself is about a convergence: of cultures, of prophesies, of political machinations, of collective trauma, of celestial bodies, of insecurities and prejudices, and of a diverse cast of principal characters. Serapio is a sheltered young man, raised and trained to the dark destiny of a dark god. Naranpa is a former guttersnipe now idealistic priest, raised to the highest position of Sun Priest. Xiala is a magical Teek, far from home and generally unwelcomed elsewhere, with hopes now raised to that of independent ship's captain. The narrative counts down to the convergence of the winter solstice and a solar eclipse while we watch — uneasy, fascinated, devastated, hopeful, enthralled — the convergence of plans all but irrevocably set into motion and people set toward destruction.

It's a skillfully written, gorgeously described, powerfully imagined series opener with layers of integrated diversity (of cultures, genders, religions, ethnicities, sexualities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, etc.) and an intense, epic fantasy story.

Topics, tropes and themes: sophisticated pre-Columbian societies, family, purpose, bigotry, superstition, magic, political intrigue, generational trauma, prophecy, chosen one trope
Content notes: ritual mutilation and scarification, sudden gruesome slaughter, blood magic, strong language, sacrificial suicide, drinking in excess, substance use for magic/altered state, bigotry, death by drowning, near death experience, banishment, reference to forced prostitution (back story), poverty (backstory), 

My thanks to #NetGalley and #GalleryBooks #SagaPress for a digital ARC.