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catachresis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The last and I think strongest book in a trilogy set in a fantasy world inspired by the cultures of the pre-colonial Americas, Mirrored Heavens both wraps up the intersecting storylines of key characters while also leaving plenty open-ended for speculation (and sequels). Like the first two installments, it’s a gritty, political journey through a world of magic, political scheming, love, and betrayal. Most of the plot twists I saw coming, but there are a few surprises in store as well.
The trilogy is ambitious in scope and this book moves quickly — there’s a lot to cover to wrap everything up. If, like me, you’re returning to the Meridian after some time away, you’ll want to refresh yourself on the intrigue, character relationships, and plot points, otherwise you might get a little lost.
Roanhorse’s worldbuilding is excellent and her characters are empathetic and human. I appreciate that the rules of magic in the Meridian are revealed slowly through plot action, leading to striking set pieces and sometimes shocking revelations.
Overall, it took me a minute to get back into this series but once I did I had a hard time putting it down.
The trilogy is ambitious in scope and this book moves quickly — there’s a lot to cover to wrap everything up. If, like me, you’re returning to the Meridian after some time away, you’ll want to refresh yourself on the intrigue, character relationships, and plot points, otherwise you might get a little lost.
Roanhorse’s worldbuilding is excellent and her characters are empathetic and human. I appreciate that the rules of magic in the Meridian are revealed slowly through plot action, leading to striking set pieces and sometimes shocking revelations.
Overall, it took me a minute to get back into this series but once I did I had a hard time putting it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, and Abandonment
We get a lot. Of blood magic. You’ve been warned.acechemicals's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just like with the other books in this series, Mirrored Heavens takes time to get going, with the first several chapters not having earned my commitment (on their own merit, though I trusted Roanhorse and the series very much!). However, by about halfway through the book, I was all in, and unable to put it down.
The characters and dynamics from the first two books have grown so much by this one, and everything they go through is heart-wrenching, but all of it, good and bad, feels - if not deserved - fitting.Deaths that are senseless are mourned both by the characters and the text, and bad decisions are seen for what they are. Characters grow to accept themselves and what they've done, or their inability to do so is a problem. It's refreshing to read thought-out consequences, but more than that, it keeps Mirrored Heavens from ever getting too bleak.
The book ends on a hopeful tone. I wasn't expecting it, but it certainly makes all of the tension feel like it was worth something, and like it matters. In some ways, that makes the tension more real altogether, which in turn makes the protagonists' fights all worth it.
I love the mythology, the visuals, all being rooted in the pre-Columbian Americas. Each culture is very distinct in the world Roanhorse has created, and that is most obvious here, but all of them are crafted with such love. I see so much of my family and loved ones reflected in the styles and traditions described!
It's a wonderful thing, to have a book - a whole series - that makes me feel cozy, gives me action and intrigue and strong interpersonal relationships, and that I can see myself in. I want to reread this series every day forever.
The characters and dynamics from the first two books have grown so much by this one, and everything they go through is heart-wrenching, but all of it, good and bad, feels - if not deserved - fitting.
I love the mythology, the visuals, all being rooted in the pre-Columbian Americas. Each culture is very distinct in the world Roanhorse has created, and that is most obvious here, but all of them are crafted with such love. I see so much of my family and loved ones reflected in the styles and traditions described!
It's a wonderful thing, to have a book - a whole series - that makes me feel cozy, gives me action and intrigue and strong interpersonal relationships, and that I can see myself in. I want to reread this series every day forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Suicide
ragebetch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Torture, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy and War
faehistory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Beautifully written novel. The characters are amazing and complex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
richy_qu33r_readzz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I didn’t really know where this book was going to go, just that everything would come to a head somehow. It’s beautifully done and I appreciate the unpredictability of it. Xiala front and center as she deserves to be 💕
I’m still annoyed with Naranpa’s character arc, or just character, and wonder how her stans feel about it.
So much magic, not as much war as you’d expect, and some lovely turns of phrase. The blind disability rep is great, if slipping a bit, and I hope there’s a braille form of these books. Also, the synesthesia rep in this book, a very small part, is very cool. I would have loved to see more queer rep, but the quotes by R.F. Kuang should have warned me enough that is was only ever going to be allyship. Definitely appreciate the bayekis and Iktan in particular, but side characters all.
Thanks for the laughs Rebecca, really appreciated them in this book!
I’m still annoyed with Naranpa’s character arc, or just character, and wonder how her stans feel about it.
So much magic, not as much war as you’d expect, and some lovely turns of phrase. The blind disability rep is great, if slipping a bit, and I hope there’s a braille form of these books. Also, the synesthesia rep in this book, a very small part, is very cool. I would have loved to see more queer rep, but the quotes by R.F. Kuang should have warned me enough that is was only ever going to be allyship. Definitely appreciate the bayekis and Iktan in particular, but side characters all.
Thanks for the laughs Rebecca, really appreciated them in this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Slavery, Torture, and Kidnapping
readandfindout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.0
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Torture, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Suicide
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Torture and War
takarakeireads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ok here's the thing about this series: the worldbuilding and characters are FANTASTIC, but there were too many things going on and I think it got away from the author. Therefore the conclusion of this series didn't stick the landing, and I definitely feel like there are things left unresolved (which is not really where you want to be after 600 pages). It felt like the world got too big and unruly. There were too many threads to follow and tie back together (and then introducing new things in the third book when things need to be wrapping up!?). So we spend too much time lost in descriptions and court politics that don't actually amount to anything (like ultimately did the sky clans even matter when it just comes down to a few people playing god?! and the coyote clan was just completely abandoned after book 2).
The plot pacing in most of this series is just not great - there are so many large sections of especially books 2 and 3 where nothing important is happening, but questions also aren't being answered. Like halfway through this third book I did not understand WHY these different groups were even going to war, and that's because it wasn't explained yet! Was there a reason the Teek lost their song and Xiala was the only one? or was that just to make her more powerful? I love a prophecy plotline, but I also feel like if that's going to be introduced (for a second time in this series) then there needs to be a reason besides: Serapio needs something to do.ALSO WTF was the point of Serapio and Okoa reconciling if he was gonna be killed for literally WHAT reason? Make it make sense! It felt like some character needed to die so he was randomly chosen. And the other 4 main characters couldn't die because their stories are all left unresolved: esp Naranpa, like wtf she ends the series just basically in a coma?? Naranpa deserved better than this ending, and honestly I felt she was the most underutilized character after so much character development from book 1! Like yes the things she's doing in this book are cool, but she's also completely separated from the main world and everything going on. Also please explain to me why we had that whole big thing between her and Serapio at the end of book two and then she never even sees/speaks to him again...
Xiala and Serapio you will always be famous! Honestly I'm being generous with my rating because I love these characters so much and that's partially why I wanted a better written ending for them!!!
The plot pacing in most of this series is just not great - there are so many large sections of especially books 2 and 3 where nothing important is happening, but questions also aren't being answered. Like halfway through this third book I did not understand WHY these different groups were even going to war, and that's because it wasn't explained yet! Was there a reason the Teek lost their song and Xiala was the only one? or was that just to make her more powerful? I love a prophecy plotline, but I also feel like if that's going to be introduced (for a second time in this series) then there needs to be a reason besides: Serapio needs something to do.
Xiala and Serapio you will always be famous! Honestly I'm being generous with my rating because I love these characters so much and that's partially why I wanted a better written ending for them!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Animal death
aileron's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Torture, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide