Title: The Sun and The Void (The Warring Gods #1)
Author: Gabriela Romero Lacruz
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Daphne Press
Publication Date: 2023
Format: Hardcover, Illumicrate edition
Length: 522 pages

Read if you like: South American folklore, sapphic fantasy, epics quests, morally grey characters, cast of misfits, family drama

Rating: 

The Sun and The Void was last month’s Illumicrate book, and it was a beast in more ways than one. It’s an ambitious start to a series, establishing an intricate and incredibly detailed fantasy world based on South American folklore, with a diverse cast of characters and a sapphic focus. 

It took me a little while to get through this one as there was a huge amount of world-building and character development that had to be done before the book got anywhere near the climax of events. The pacing was slow, but I will say, the last 200-ish pages were so action-packed that I was fervently turning pages, determined to see how the story would end. 

I feel like this series has a lot of potential, and it’s probably one of the most original premises and settings that I’ve read all year, but it’s a definite investment to get to the good stuff. I enjoyed this book, but I’m undecided on if I’ll continue the series from here. It’ll likely depend on the pacing of the sequel and whether or not the plot moves at a faster clip, as my preference for fantasy novels typically involves a plot that moves a little more quickly.  

The Book: The Sun and The Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz

This book was extremely detailed, but I’ll do my best to summarize it quickly and succinctly. 

The Sun and The Void follows two outcasts in a South American folklore-style fantasy setting. Reina, who is half of a creature called a Nozariel, is leaving the poverty of her current city, where her family is all dead and has left her with nothing, for the promise of a grandmother in another region who has written to her in the hopes that she will join her. Her grandmother is one of the most powerful geomancers (or magicians) alive, and if she can reach her and serve her faithfully, she is promised that she will be allowed to become her successor. However, in Reina’s desperate attempt to reach her grandmother, she’s attacked by a series of magical creatures called tinieblas who eat her heart. Her grandmother can save her when she is found, but only by replacing her heart with a transplant that is wholly controlled by the iridio magic reserves that are mined by the caudillo that she serves. This renders Reina a slave to her grandmother and the caudillo, who are the only ones capable of providing her with the iridio she needs.

At the same time, a girl named Eva, who is half Valco, another breed of magical creature, is ostracized by her powerful family because of her Valco blood. She’s accused of sorcery (which she actually is responsible for) and shunned by her community as a result, leaving her feeling alone and desperate for escape. Eva is prepared to do whatever it takes to harness her magic and power and rise beyond the arranged marriages that her family believes are the best options for her. 

As a cosmic event caused by the God of the Void begins, both Reina’s and Eva’s worlds are shattered by different devastating events. Both girls will have to learn who they can trust and will have to succeed beyond what their families believe they are capable of if they are to save themselves and those that they care about most. 

The Review

As mentioned earlier, this was probably one of the most unique fantasy premises that I’ve read all year. I loved the intricacy of the world that Romero Lacruz built and the South American foundation on which it thrived. It was rich in detail, lush with a super unique form of magic, and had these wonderful folklore elements woven throughout the narrative that were fascinating to me. It took a fair bit of time to establish the world and paint the picture of the full society, but I felt like it was enjoyable to witness being built. 

The pacing of the plot, however, was quite slow. While I appreciated how detailed the setting was and how much thought went into the characters, there was a long stretch in the middle where things were still building that had me feeling restless to get through. I could see that things were moving, and directionally it was clear where things were headed, but it took a long time to get there. That said, the action did eventually pick up, and the final couple hundred pages were packed with development that had me excitedly moving from chapter to chapter. 

The characters were enjoyable, but I felt were similarly paced with the plot. For a long time, Reina feels a little flat as she simply seems to be a slave to her honour and guilt. Towards the end, she finally grows beyond this and it’s satisfying to see her reach beyond her limits and choose who she wants to be without apology. 

Eva Kesare was my favourite of the characters, having had depth from the beginning. She’s restless and frustrated and knows she’s destined for more, even if she can’t attain it at the moment. I appreciated her willingness to do what had to be done, and I think she may have the makings of a really outstanding villain (or, at least, a fantastically morally grey heroine). I’m very curious to see where Romero Lacruz takes her next. 

All in all, this was a solid high-fantasy book, and I think it has a lot of potential, but I’m hopeful that if I choose to pick up the next book, the pacing is more even throughout. I don’t necessarily always need a fast-paced book, but a plot that moves a touch quicker is my preference. If this book had been 100-200 pages shorter, I think it would have been a bigger hit for me. I still quite enjoyed it, but I’m not yet sure if I’ll continue the series from here.