The Seventh Sun

By Lani Forbes

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1982546093
• ISBN13: 9781982546090
• Release Date: February 2020
• Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
• Length: 303 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

Read this book, you can't go wrong!

Following the sudden death of his father, the Chicome emperor, and the subsequent self-sacrifice of his mother, Prince Ahkin, descendant of the sun god, is thrust into the political world of his late father. He didn't feel ready. At eighteen, he was old enough to ascend to the throne, and the blood flowing through his veins held the power to raise the sun, just like his ancestors before him. Soft-hearted and rebellious Princess Mayana, a descendant of the water goddess, doesn't believe in all her people's rituals to honor the gods. They are brutal. She had been able to avoid her sacrificial duties per royal role, but when the Empire of Tallon sent word for a daughter from each of the six families to come to the capital for a chance to be Prince Ahkin's wife, she couldn't avoid that duty. She had to win his heart, or else she would be one of the sacrifices she refused to make. Becoming an emperor is hard enough, but having to choose between six women, knowing choosing one would sentence the five others to death to bless his union and reign as emperor, Prince Ahkin was at a loss... Until Mayana entered his life and heart. Can Mayana change the people's and Ahkin's minds and stop sacrifices, or will their fear of an impending apocalypse lead them to shed too much blood? I'm not even sure where to begin. I cannot speak to the accuracy of the myth that was re-imagined in The Seventh Sun, but the execution of the world within these pages was beautifully illustrated; from the lush green of jungles and the fur pelts worn by warriors to the golden Tallon temple that glittered like the sun it was built to warship and the colorful Chicome people. The pacing and revealing of plot points were spot on. From the very beginning, it left me on the edge of my seat, craving the next page, every spare moment, even staying up later than I should, I read this. I needed to know more of Mayana and Ahkin's world and culture. There is talk and depiction of animal and human sacrifice, including "self-sacrifice." I really liked this - not the sacrifices obviously, I'm with Mayana - but thinking about the sacrifices as metaphors for what is expected of us from family, religion, or society as a whole. But the beauty of this book was that it not only showed the reasons and feelings behind why the sacrifices should not happen, but also the reverence and devotion to the Chicome deities and their ways. Seeing it from both sides, both of which were portrayed with respect, was refreshing. The friendship between Mayana and Yemania, descendant of the God of healing, and their bond and loyalty to one another throughout, even though they knew if one was chosen, the other would perish, is honorable. And the romance between Ahkin and Mayana is squeal-worthy! Every scene they had together, I was grinning and kicking my feet like a schoolgirl. The way their personalities complemented each other was perfect, and though Mayana was not completely honest with him, their feelings could not lie. I cannot recommend The Seventh Sun enough! If you like something with metaphorical meanings that you can draw multiple conclusions from, that is also as sweet as it is deep; this is great. However, if you're looking for a fantastic fantasy series that is a re-imagining of Aztec and Mesopotamian lore that has action, blood, intrigue, and lore, this is also for you! You can't go wrong.

Highly Recommend It!

If I had to summarize this book, it’s the bachelorette set in Mayan/Aztec times with life and death stakes. This book had a little bit of a slow start, but it wasn’t long before I HAD to know what happens to Mayana and Ahkin. The world-building is fantastically engaging, the characters are so much fun, and the romance is thrilling. I’m currently reading the second one (The Jade Bones), and OH. MY. GOSH. The first one was a page turner, but The Jade Bones is even more brilliant. I got a chance to meet the author as well, and she’s a hoot! I’ve gushed about this book to all my friends and coworkers. I highly recommend it!