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OMG! Banging my head against the door! Why I didn’t notice this remarkably creative author’s work before! ( Right now I’m adding her previous works to my monstrous tbr and I’m not afraid of any eruption!)

The world building already blew my mind with its refreshing view which is inspired by Pre-Columbian Americans (indigenous people)! The story centered on 4 characters:
Serapio: a young boy’s suffering and tremendously compelling journey to turn turn into a Crow God has the most remarkable part and I got fully invested with his POV!

Crow God vs Sun priest is one of the most anticipated encounter I was waiting on for the beginning : breathing heavily, sweat pouring out from my forehead, pumps up, clock is ticking and I’m flipping the pages to find out what is going to happen!

I mesmerized to know about Serapio whose back story intrigued me from the beginning how his eyes are carved and sacrificed by his mother for a greater good and how the crows turn into his only accomplice by turning into own his eyes, protectors and after his training process with the most dangerous and skillful instructors teach him the secrets of defeating the most power enemies.

And Xiala, sailor, mysterious sea creator who gains her magical powers and rules the sea world as she opens her mouth and begins to sing. She was the another intriguing, entertaining, likable, heart stealing character.

Those two characters�� paths crossed as Xiala is discharged from the prison with the help of powerful and mysterious lord and offered a job to reach holy city Tova less than a month, conducting a sheep with misbehaved sailors, carrying a spectacular cargo: yes, you may imagine, Serapio is the cargo who needs to arrive to Tova before the eclipse as the moon gets dark and he can accomplish his longtime plan.

We are also introduced with Nara: sun priest, ( her back story, dysfunctional family relations, her unfinished business with her criminal brother peaked my interest) oracle and Okoa, who recently lost his mother and he is accused to be the murderer of Sun Priest ( he got involved a few chapters later but I think we will learn more about him at the next books). I think their stories are a little overshadowed by other two strong characters.
Even though their parts of the story were intriguing, I wished to turn the pages faster to read more about Seropia and Xiala ( powerful, entertaining, alcoholic, sea creature who is abused by her own mother just like Serapio, and yes she’s bisexual, living her own life without thinking further, drinking to death, preparing herself for more rejections and betrayal) Their intimate chemistry and their exciting and whirlwind sailing trip was most enjoyable thing about the book.

Overall: two characters beat the hell of the other two and the cliffhanger made me bite the rest of my nails, kept me on my toes! This is fascinatingly promising, dazzling, riveting beginning of the series!

I’m giving 4.5 stars ( because I wanted to read more parts about Xiala and Serapio who definitely stole the show) eventually round them up to 5! I started to cross my fingers for getting the second book’s arc ASAP because waiting too long could be torturous!

So much special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/ Saga Press for providing this amazing ARC which was at my wish list in exchange my honest opinions.