THE SEVENTH SUN is a stirring, stunning young-adult adventure set in a fantasy version of Mesoamerica.
What’s It About?
Thrust into leadership upon the death of his emperor father, young Prince Ahkin feels completely unready for his new position. Though his royal blood controls the power of the sun, he’s now responsible for the lives of all the Chicome people. And despite all Ahkin’s efforts, the sun is fading — and the end of the world may be at hand.
For Mayana, the only daughter of the Chicome family whose blood controls the power of water, the old emperor’s death may mean that she is next. Prince Ahkin must be married before he can ascend the throne, and Mayana is one of six noble daughters presented to him as a possible wife. Those who are not chosen will be sacrificed to the gods.
Only one girl can become Ahkin’s bride. Mayana and Ahkin feel an immediate connection, but the gods themselves may be against them. Both recognize that the ancient rites of blood that keep the gods appeased may be harming the Chicome more than they help. As a bloodred comet and the fading sun bring a growing sense of dread, only two young people may hope to change their world.
Rich in imagination and romance, and based on the legends and history of the Aztec and Maya people, The Seventh Sun brings to vivid life a world on the edge of apocalyptic disaster.
MY THOUGHTS
I have never read anything quite like this book. The Seventh Sun is a remarkable story. Not only does it have rich, complex detail in characters and settings and worldbuilding, it also has an extraordinary redemption story. I had no idea how an author could take a polytheistic culture and present it through a biblical lens of salvation and sacrifice, but Forbes pulls it off. And she does it with style, y’all. This book grabs you with iron fingers and won’t let you go until you finish. I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LANI FORBES is the daughter of a librarian and an ex-drug smuggling surfer (which explains her passionate love of the ocean and books). A former teacher turned trauma counselor, her passion is showing readers the transformative and encouraging power of story on the human experience. She helps others process anxiety, depression, and complex PTSD, both in her stories and in real life. A California native whose parents live in Mexico, Lani now resides in the Pacific Northwest where she stubbornly wears flip flops no matter how cold it gets. She is a proud nerd, Gryffindor, and member of Romance Writers of America and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
WHERE TO BUY
You can find The Seventh Sun on Amazon of course. But you can also find links to purchase on Lani’s website.
And, just in case you need more encouragement to read book one? Here are the covers of books two (The Jade Bones) and three (The Obsidian Butterfly). GORGEOUS!
