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Throne of Khetara #1
His Face Is the Sun
Ancient Egyptian Game of Thrones for YA readers! Romance, magic, adventure, and horror collide in the start to this lush, epic trilogy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas.
Desire, War, Magic, Monsters...a forgotten oracle will unite them against an ancient enemy. But who will be on the throne when the red dust of Khetara settles?
The Kingdom of Khetara is gift of the River Iteru, the jewel of the desert. Yet a crisis looms on the horizon. The crowns of the north and south were joined through war a generation before, but Khetara remains a land divided. The pharaoh is wasting away from a mysterious illness—and forces in the south and within his own family are plotting against him. As rebellion grows and secrets flourish, an even more deadly threat emerges. An ancient evil awakes among the rolling dunes of the Red Land that threatens to destroy everything in its path.
Four strangers—a princess, a young priestess, a rebel, and a tomb robber—are ripped from their lives and thrown into the conflict. Amid murder and betrayal, magic and monsters, gods and visions, love and war, these four unlikely heroes find themselves connected by a forgotten oracle that whispers insistently across the land. Only together can they save the kingdom from destruction, but when the bloodshed is done, who of Khetara’s children will sit on the throne?
Desire, War, Magic, Monsters...a forgotten oracle will unite them against an ancient enemy. But who will be on the throne when the red dust of Khetara settles?
The Kingdom of Khetara is gift of the River Iteru, the jewel of the desert. Yet a crisis looms on the horizon. The crowns of the north and south were joined through war a generation before, but Khetara remains a land divided. The pharaoh is wasting away from a mysterious illness—and forces in the south and within his own family are plotting against him. As rebellion grows and secrets flourish, an even more deadly threat emerges. An ancient evil awakes among the rolling dunes of the Red Land that threatens to destroy everything in its path.
Four strangers—a princess, a young priestess, a rebel, and a tomb robber—are ripped from their lives and thrown into the conflict. Amid murder and betrayal, magic and monsters, gods and visions, love and war, these four unlikely heroes find themselves connected by a forgotten oracle that whispers insistently across the land. Only together can they save the kingdom from destruction, but when the bloodshed is done, who of Khetara’s children will sit on the throne?
528 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2025
430 people are currently reading
26651 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Jabès Corpora
7 books241 followersMichelle Jabès Corpora is a writer, editor, and martial artist. In addition to working in the publishing industry for more than seventeen years as an editor and concept developer, she is the author of two historical novels for middle grade readers, two horror novels for young adult readers, and author of the Throne of Khetara fantasy series for Young Adults. She has also ghostwritten five novels in a long-running middle grade mystery series. In her spare time, Michelle trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a blue belt at Crazy 88 MMA, and enjoys making home-cooked meals, doing tarot readings, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with her friends. Michelle lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, a guinea pig, and a dog named Charlie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 628 reviews
March 1, 2025
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!
I love the theme of Egypt, and it seems like I was heard and I got this book!
At first, it took me a while to get used to and connect with the characters. Some chapters were interesting, while others bored me, but by the middle of the book, I found all of them engaging.
The chapters are from multiple characters' perspectives, which I always enjoy!
I like how different all the characters are, and as the plot unfolds, you can see how they are connected and how their lives intertwine.
🏜 During the time of the Pharaoh's illness, when everyone fears the future, there is a girl chosen to be a priestess, a boy who uncovered an ancient tomb filled with dark secrets, a girl who wasn't afraid to stand against others, and three children of the Pharaoh, one of whom will inherit the throne.
They are all different, but the Oracle has a vision for them all...
The atmosphere is truly captivating!
The ending made me anxious, and now I'm curious about what happens next. Although I was worried at first that I'd be bored, once everything started coming together and the characters united, the story really came alive for me.
There are even a few romantic subplots, though that's not the main focus. If you're looking for romance, this isn't for you; it delves more into politics, history, and magic.
The writing style was enchanting—not too easy, but not too difficult either, filled with details and descriptions that painted a vivid picture in my mind!
I often thought of the movie "Gods of Egypt", which I love.
🪲Egypt
🪲Power for the throne
🪲The Oracle’s prophecy
🪲Tomb robber
🪲Priestess
🪲Rebels
‼️Contains themes of death and violence
I love the theme of Egypt, and it seems like I was heard and I got this book!
At first, it took me a while to get used to and connect with the characters. Some chapters were interesting, while others bored me, but by the middle of the book, I found all of them engaging.
The chapters are from multiple characters' perspectives, which I always enjoy!
I like how different all the characters are, and as the plot unfolds, you can see how they are connected and how their lives intertwine.
🏜 During the time of the Pharaoh's illness, when everyone fears the future, there is a girl chosen to be a priestess, a boy who uncovered an ancient tomb filled with dark secrets, a girl who wasn't afraid to stand against others, and three children of the Pharaoh, one of whom will inherit the throne.
They are all different, but the Oracle has a vision for them all...
The atmosphere is truly captivating!
The ending made me anxious, and now I'm curious about what happens next. Although I was worried at first that I'd be bored, once everything started coming together and the characters united, the story really came alive for me.
There are even a few romantic subplots, though that's not the main focus. If you're looking for romance, this isn't for you; it delves more into politics, history, and magic.
The writing style was enchanting—not too easy, but not too difficult either, filled with details and descriptions that painted a vivid picture in my mind!
I often thought of the movie "Gods of Egypt", which I love.
🪲Egypt
🪲Power for the throne
🪲The Oracle’s prophecy
🪲Tomb robber
🪲Priestess
🪲Rebels
‼️Contains themes of death and violence
April 22, 2025
Egyptian fantasy, prophecy, siblings, rebellion and revolution… It lowkey-key reminded of Game of Thrones just without the dragons.
LET THIS FIND ITS AUDIENCE.
P.S. I have seen this marketed as romantasy and it really isn’t. This is a political high, epic fantasy heavily influenced by Egyptian history and mythology.
To start with, it was overwhelming as we follow four different characters, all who are somehow involved with a prophecy promising blood.
A Princess to a tyrant pharaoh and a scheming brother.
A young peasant girl who can see visions.
A tomb robber who unleashes an ancient evil.
A rebel whose home has been overtaken and overrun by the Pharaoh’s rule.
I quickly became gripped by each.
This is a character-driven story, but you can see how all the thread are being woven together into a magnificent tapestry… or prophecy.
"Ah, but there's power in being invisible," he d said. "Invisibility creates opportunities. To observe, to learn, to act. No one is listening to you? Fine. You go listen to them, to their idle conversations, to their secrets. Find out what people really think, Neff, and you can change the world from the shadows."
The descriptions fully immersed me. You can tell the author has done his research (sometimes to a horrifying degree when it comes to embalming), and his passion just pours off the pages. Yet, it is never overdone to draw you out of the story or flow. I enjoyed taking my time.
Ultimately, I think comparing it to Sarah J Maas will be its downfall as people will go in with the wrong expectations, alienating readers and not reaching those who would adore this.
Final note: there are excerpts from the point of view of a cat!!!!
Physical Arc gifted by BKMRK.
Bookstagram
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LET THIS FIND ITS AUDIENCE.
P.S. I have seen this marketed as romantasy and it really isn’t. This is a political high, epic fantasy heavily influenced by Egyptian history and mythology.
To start with, it was overwhelming as we follow four different characters, all who are somehow involved with a prophecy promising blood.
A Princess to a tyrant pharaoh and a scheming brother.
A young peasant girl who can see visions.
A tomb robber who unleashes an ancient evil.
A rebel whose home has been overtaken and overrun by the Pharaoh’s rule.
I quickly became gripped by each.
This is a character-driven story, but you can see how all the thread are being woven together into a magnificent tapestry… or prophecy.
"Ah, but there's power in being invisible," he d said. "Invisibility creates opportunities. To observe, to learn, to act. No one is listening to you? Fine. You go listen to them, to their idle conversations, to their secrets. Find out what people really think, Neff, and you can change the world from the shadows."
The descriptions fully immersed me. You can tell the author has done his research (sometimes to a horrifying degree when it comes to embalming), and his passion just pours off the pages. Yet, it is never overdone to draw you out of the story or flow. I enjoyed taking my time.
Ultimately, I think comparing it to Sarah J Maas will be its downfall as people will go in with the wrong expectations, alienating readers and not reaching those who would adore this.
Final note: there are excerpts from the point of view of a cat!!!!
Physical Arc gifted by BKMRK.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Want to read
April 9, 2025You had me at Ancient Egyptian Game of Thrones.
Edit: To those of you who got Arcs.... count ur days cuz im coming for u
Edit: To those of you who got Arcs.... count ur days cuz im coming for u
October 1, 2025
I’ve read somewhere that all hot girls have an ancient Egypt era. I took hieroglyphics in college, and Zahi Hawass signed one of my archaeology books 🤓 I’m not sure I was ever a hot girl, but the Egyptian mythology in this fantasy was well-researched and detailed as the artists family grew up in Egypt.
There is some spice, though I was not invested in the relationships. The writing was sparse and the prose lacked a compelling quality. There were often descriptions that retracted from the main story, causing me to lose focus.
I’d recommend for anyone interested in Egypt and/or fantasy. The plot includes some political intrigue and sibling rivalry, as well as complex parent relationships. (Is there any other kind of parent bond? ;)). This would be good for fans of Cassandra Clare, Djeli Clark, and the Children of Blood and Bone series.
3.25*
There is some spice, though I was not invested in the relationships. The writing was sparse and the prose lacked a compelling quality. There were often descriptions that retracted from the main story, causing me to lose focus.
I’d recommend for anyone interested in Egypt and/or fantasy. The plot includes some political intrigue and sibling rivalry, as well as complex parent relationships. (Is there any other kind of parent bond? ;)). This would be good for fans of Cassandra Clare, Djeli Clark, and the Children of Blood and Bone series.
3.25*
April 6, 2025
This book really surprised me in the best way. It’s got everything—desire, war, ancient gods, monsters, and a creeping evil threatening to destroy it all. The world of Khetara, inspired by Ancient Egypt, was so vivid I could practically feel the desert heat and hear the whispers of old magic in the air. The whole mythology-based magic system was a huge win for me—fresh, fascinating, and really well thought out.
We follow four totally different characters—a princess, a priestess, a rebel, and a tomb robber—and I genuinely liked all of them. The story jumps between their POVs each chapter, and I never found myself wishing to get back to one over the other. Each had their own vibe, struggles, and stakes, and watching their stories slowly start to overlap was so satisfying. There were some wild twists too—definitely kept me flipping pages.
The only thing that pulled me out a bit was the language. Some of the dialogue and descriptions felt super modern, which made it harder to stay fully immersed in the ancient setting at times. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it did stand out.
Still, this was such a fun, engaging read, and I’m very ready for the next book. If you’re into fantasy with mythology, rich world-building, and strong character arcs, definitely give this one a shot.
My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We follow four totally different characters—a princess, a priestess, a rebel, and a tomb robber—and I genuinely liked all of them. The story jumps between their POVs each chapter, and I never found myself wishing to get back to one over the other. Each had their own vibe, struggles, and stakes, and watching their stories slowly start to overlap was so satisfying. There were some wild twists too—definitely kept me flipping pages.
The only thing that pulled me out a bit was the language. Some of the dialogue and descriptions felt super modern, which made it harder to stay fully immersed in the ancient setting at times. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it did stand out.
Still, this was such a fun, engaging read, and I’m very ready for the next book. If you’re into fantasy with mythology, rich world-building, and strong character arcs, definitely give this one a shot.
My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 21, 2025
I really wanted to love this book — the premise was so promising, and I was drawn to the emotional depth and the setting. His Face is the Sun explores grief, identity, and the weight of coming of age, all wrapped in this quiet, dreamlike tone that had moments of real beauty.
That said, I struggled to fully connect with it. The pacing felt a bit slow, and I never quite clicked with the characters on the level I was hoping for. One of the biggest disappointments for me was the use of Egyptian mythology — it was clearly important to the story, but it wasn’t explained or explored in a way that made it feel grounded or understandable. I found myself confused at times, wishing there had been more context or depth there.
While there are some lovely, thoughtful moments (and I appreciate the quiet queer representation), overall the book didn’t leave a strong impact on me. I can see it resonating with others, especially readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven stories — but for me, it just fell a little flat.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I struggled to fully connect with it. The pacing felt a bit slow, and I never quite clicked with the characters on the level I was hoping for. One of the biggest disappointments for me was the use of Egyptian mythology — it was clearly important to the story, but it wasn’t explained or explored in a way that made it feel grounded or understandable. I found myself confused at times, wishing there had been more context or depth there.
While there are some lovely, thoughtful moments (and I appreciate the quiet queer representation), overall the book didn’t leave a strong impact on me. I can see it resonating with others, especially readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven stories — but for me, it just fell a little flat.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2025
It has been a long time since I have had a book really bring out my imagination like this book has. I truly felt like I was there, experiencing things with these characters instead of just watching them.
The descriptions of sight, smell and taste were immaculate.
I LOVED having 4 MC's and going back and forth from the different perspectives. I love how Michelle made sure that the characters weren't perfect. * cough cough, Sita, cough cough* you truly bond with each and every one of them. Their individual stories are captivating.
I was angry, sad, I laughed a couple of times, the book over all was a journey that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very excited for the next book and I'm blessed to have won an ARC of this 😭🙌 I also want to add that the grammatical errors were very minimal for an ARC! I was impressed!
Amazing!! Simply amazing!
The descriptions of sight, smell and taste were immaculate.
I LOVED having 4 MC's and going back and forth from the different perspectives. I love how Michelle made sure that the characters weren't perfect. * cough cough, Sita, cough cough* you truly bond with each and every one of them. Their individual stories are captivating.
I was angry, sad, I laughed a couple of times, the book over all was a journey that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very excited for the next book and I'm blessed to have won an ARC of this 😭🙌 I also want to add that the grammatical errors were very minimal for an ARC! I was impressed!
Amazing!! Simply amazing!
March 27, 2025
OMG, let me tell you about “His Face is the Sun” – it’s one of those books that starts slow but ends with a total bang! At first, I was kind of wondering where the story was going. Four main characters in a divided desert kingdom with an mysterious pharaoh and ancient evil? Sounds cool, but it took me a minute to get into the groove. But once I did? I was all in.
The last quarter of the book is where things get seriously wild. Plot twists start flying, the characters’ connections get super intense, and I could not put it down. If you’re into fantasy with a historical vibe and can hang with a bit of a slow start, this book is totally worth it. The payoff is chef’s kiss. Be sure to look out for its release in early May!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
The last quarter of the book is where things get seriously wild. Plot twists start flying, the characters’ connections get super intense, and I could not put it down. If you’re into fantasy with a historical vibe and can hang with a bit of a slow start, this book is totally worth it. The payoff is chef’s kiss. Be sure to look out for its release in early May!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 16, 2025
Michelle Jabès Corpora’s His Face is the Sun delivers an immersive, epic adventure set in ancient Egypt, weaving together magic, war, and political intrigue in a way that earns its Game of Thrones comparison. Since reading Babylonia last year, I’ve been craving a story set in ancient times, and this book definitely fit the bill.
One thing to clarify—while it’s marketed for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas, it aligns more with Shadow and Bone and Throne of Glass rather than Ninth House or ACOTAR. This is a grand, sweeping quest with just a hint of romance, rather than a romance-forward fantasy.
The character-driven storytelling was one of the highlights for me. While I loved every character’s journey, I especially enjoyed reading Neff and Paws (the cat’s) chapters the most. The worldbuilding was also so vivid that I could easily picture every scene—so much so that I even put on Ancient Egypt ambiance in the background to enhance the experience.
However, the book did have a slow start. The introductory chapters for each character were quite long, making it difficult to fully dive in at first. But once the story picked up, I was hooked. I also expected a bit more in terms of the promised "monsters," but I suspect this is a setup for future installments—perhaps a White Walkers in Season 1 of GOT kind of situation.
Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me. The intricate character connections and unfolding mysteries have me eager for the next book, and I can’t wait to see how everything comes together. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the free eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!
One thing to clarify—while it’s marketed for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas, it aligns more with Shadow and Bone and Throne of Glass rather than Ninth House or ACOTAR. This is a grand, sweeping quest with just a hint of romance, rather than a romance-forward fantasy.
The character-driven storytelling was one of the highlights for me. While I loved every character’s journey, I especially enjoyed reading Neff and Paws (the cat’s) chapters the most. The worldbuilding was also so vivid that I could easily picture every scene—so much so that I even put on Ancient Egypt ambiance in the background to enhance the experience.
However, the book did have a slow start. The introductory chapters for each character were quite long, making it difficult to fully dive in at first. But once the story picked up, I was hooked. I also expected a bit more in terms of the promised "monsters," but I suspect this is a setup for future installments—perhaps a White Walkers in Season 1 of GOT kind of situation.
Overall, this was a solid four-star read for me. The intricate character connections and unfolding mysteries have me eager for the next book, and I can’t wait to see how everything comes together. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the free eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!
July 8, 2025
Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
While this is a fantasy setting, the inspiration is clearly the Ancient Egypt, which is reproduced with so much respect for the history and myths of those times , it becomes clear the author did a ton of research just to craft her worldbuilding and characters in a way that felt real. If I could rate it on worldbuilding alone, this would have been a 5-star reads.
If you enjoy Sabaa Tahir's multi-POV storytelling, you will probably really enjoy picking this one up. Not only are each perspectives interesting but their intersection makes sense, as does their motivations. Each character has their own development but my favorite was Sita's. Her arc was truly a blessing to read and I cannot wait to see what is coming next for her now that she is fully detached from her world.
The plot definitely moves slowly, which impacted pacing in my opinion. I think there were certain moments that were important for the worldbuilding and setting of these characters that ended up dragging the narrative a little bit, which is ultimately why this is not a 5-star read. I had to push myself to read through it because I wanted to complete the book rather than my curiosity toward the plotline, which was only peaked at about 3/4 into it.
I will probably pick up book 2 though because I feel like the groundwork has been laid sufficiently well that the next one will be more action packed and will also have higher stakes due to the ending of this one.
While this is a fantasy setting, the inspiration is clearly the Ancient Egypt, which is reproduced with so much respect for the history and myths of those times , it becomes clear the author did a ton of research just to craft her worldbuilding and characters in a way that felt real. If I could rate it on worldbuilding alone, this would have been a 5-star reads.
If you enjoy Sabaa Tahir's multi-POV storytelling, you will probably really enjoy picking this one up. Not only are each perspectives interesting but their intersection makes sense, as does their motivations. Each character has their own development but my favorite was Sita's. Her arc was truly a blessing to read and I cannot wait to see what is coming next for her now that she is fully detached from her world.
The plot definitely moves slowly, which impacted pacing in my opinion. I think there were certain moments that were important for the worldbuilding and setting of these characters that ended up dragging the narrative a little bit, which is ultimately why this is not a 5-star read. I had to push myself to read through it because I wanted to complete the book rather than my curiosity toward the plotline, which was only peaked at about 3/4 into it.
I will probably pick up book 2 though because I feel like the groundwork has been laid sufficiently well that the next one will be more action packed and will also have higher stakes due to the ending of this one.
April 12, 2025
✧₊‧˚⁀➷ 3.9/5 .ᐟ
ʚɞ ⁺˖ setting .ᐟ an ancient egypt-inspired land on the brink of war. features sitamun, the overly sheltered princess of khetara. raetawy, street fighter turned rebel leader. nefermaat, child priestess and dream interpreter. karim, tomb raider accidentally roped into a resurrection prophecy. and a cat goddess wandering the palace halls.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ worldbuilding .ᐟ utterly mesmerizing. each character's background was used to show a different aspect of khetara, from palace life to village farms and the political machinations that shroud both. khetara's gods and culture and clothes and history and people are perfectly designed.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ plot .ᐟ the reason why this isn't four stars. hfits is an extremely engaging read, but perhaps like many other first installments in ya fantasy series, it's almost entirely character outlines and buildup for the next book. important things do occur, but after i close the book, i'm left wondering what exactly happened that required 500 pages.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ characters .ᐟ the absolute highlight. i love everyone. so vivid and realistic.
➺ princess sita. she kind of annoyed me at the beginning, and admittedly, she is one of the weaker characters, but after [redacted event], she grows somewhat as a person. she's one of those people who makes the wrong choice every. single. time. and then two pages later, you find out how her decisions have fucked over a hundred thousand people. despite this, she is very well-written and pretty much impossible to hate.
➺ raetawy, my rebel queen. my LESBIAN rebel queen. i adore her so much. she can be impulsive and brash at times, but all her actions align with exactly what i wanted to happen. her chapters were usually the most satisfying. her balancing her duties to her people vs her family, becoming a leader in her community, earning the respect of the rebels was everything to me. she's like if fang runin was gay and less crazy. love her.
➺ nefermaat, dream priestess and my favorite angel. i loved her from the second she showed up. her merchant background and ability to lie and plot and wheedle everyone into giving her what she wants, and then still remain the sweetest person in the book is so funny. her going from awkward child thrown into an amoral priesthood to spy coralling a murderous king?? best character arc.
➺ karim, the grave robber. he's funny, he's cute, he's whatever. he's also the only male in an all female cast, which automatically makes me biased against him, and that's my bad, but he really doesn't do anything interesting enough to be on their level? like he's in the prophecy, which is great, good for him, but what does he even do? i think 90% of his povs were just him wandering the desert. the only interesting thing about him is chapter 39.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ writing .ᐟ descriptive and lovely, especially for a ya series. however, the dialogue occasionally did feel too modern, specifically the king's and meryamun's lines.
°˖➴ thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy!
ʚɞ ⁺˖ setting .ᐟ an ancient egypt-inspired land on the brink of war. features sitamun, the overly sheltered princess of khetara. raetawy, street fighter turned rebel leader. nefermaat, child priestess and dream interpreter. karim, tomb raider accidentally roped into a resurrection prophecy. and a cat goddess wandering the palace halls.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ worldbuilding .ᐟ utterly mesmerizing. each character's background was used to show a different aspect of khetara, from palace life to village farms and the political machinations that shroud both. khetara's gods and culture and clothes and history and people are perfectly designed.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ plot .ᐟ the reason why this isn't four stars. hfits is an extremely engaging read, but perhaps like many other first installments in ya fantasy series, it's almost entirely character outlines and buildup for the next book. important things do occur, but after i close the book, i'm left wondering what exactly happened that required 500 pages.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ characters .ᐟ the absolute highlight. i love everyone. so vivid and realistic.
➺ princess sita. she kind of annoyed me at the beginning, and admittedly, she is one of the weaker characters, but after [redacted event], she grows somewhat as a person. she's one of those people who makes the wrong choice every. single. time. and then two pages later, you find out how her decisions have fucked over a hundred thousand people. despite this, she is very well-written and pretty much impossible to hate.
➺ raetawy, my rebel queen. my LESBIAN rebel queen. i adore her so much. she can be impulsive and brash at times, but all her actions align with exactly what i wanted to happen. her chapters were usually the most satisfying. her balancing her duties to her people vs her family, becoming a leader in her community, earning the respect of the rebels was everything to me. she's like if fang runin was gay and less crazy. love her.
➺ nefermaat, dream priestess and my favorite angel. i loved her from the second she showed up. her merchant background and ability to lie and plot and wheedle everyone into giving her what she wants, and then still remain the sweetest person in the book is so funny. her going from awkward child thrown into an amoral priesthood to spy coralling a murderous king?? best character arc.
➺ karim, the grave robber. he's funny, he's cute, he's whatever. he's also the only male in an all female cast, which automatically makes me biased against him, and that's my bad, but he really doesn't do anything interesting enough to be on their level? like he's in the prophecy, which is great, good for him, but what does he even do? i think 90% of his povs were just him wandering the desert. the only interesting thing about him is chapter 39.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ writing .ᐟ descriptive and lovely, especially for a ya series. however, the dialogue occasionally did feel too modern, specifically the king's and meryamun's lines.
°˖➴ thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy!
September 18, 2025
This book was advertised as an Egyptian YA Game of Thrones, which sounded incredible. Unfortunately, the pacing in this book was significantly off. At 3/4 of the way through the book, it felt like the story was finally beginning. I'm not a fan of 4 POVs, and this one wasn't executed well. You're almost at page 100 before any of the POVs repeat. I think this book had so much potential, and the plot, when it picked up near the end, was exciting. The Egyptian aspects were fun, although I'd like a more complex and serious approach to the Egyptian culture.
Content: a few swear words, some descriptive and suggestive sensual scenes but not explicit. One of the 4 POVs is lesbian and there is kissing. Incest is mentioned.
Content: a few swear words, some descriptive and suggestive sensual scenes but not explicit. One of the 4 POVs is lesbian and there is kissing. Incest is mentioned.
May 22, 2025
Wow that was amazing!! Review to come! ☀️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora 🐍
This was a fantastic upper YA fantasy inspired by Ancient Egypt and its mythology. I had a blast with the characters and world building and that ending?? Spring 2026 couldn’t come any sooner! 🤯
The book follows four POV’s: Karim, a young tribesman whose tomb raiding causes him more trouble than good; Stamen, the beautiful princess whose luxurious life is soon upended by her actions; Neffermat, a young girl who finds herself whisked away after a reoccurring dream ends up being more than it seems; Raetawy, a farm girl whose hotheadedness gets her places that complacency never could; and Paws, an immortal like cat that provides an interesting outside point of view of all the events happening. I thought each character was fleshed out incredibly well and while I found myself enjoying some more than others, I still had a great time with them all. I loved the banter that Karim had with just about everyone that he meets, Sita’s desire to be more than just her title and beautiful face, Neff’s willingness to take change at face value despite her reservations, and Rae’s passion for change. All together, these characters made the plot so colorful and absorbing that the reader can’t help but be sucked into the story. 😍
While the world building itself isn’t too tedious, I loved the detail and research that went into crafting it. I can tell that Corpora has a deep love for this period of history and getting to see that the country the book is inspired by has meaning to the author makes it all the more special to read. 🥰
I don’t really know what else to say here without spoiling it for those who are really interested in picking this up, but I will just say that I think this book would have done incredibly well as a new adult fantasy since the depictions of gore, violence, and dissection of a corpse might be a bit too much for some readers. However, I’m loving the expansion of more intense fantasies that have been coming out lately for the YA genre, and I think this would be a perfect read for those who would like characters that remind people of Lawless’s Gael Song series but set in Ancient Egypt and with teens instead of adults. 🗡️
In general, I loved this and would highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for an Ancient Egypt inspired fantasy! A huge thank you goes out to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest (and late) review; and to the author, Corpora for crafting such an incredible YA fantasy series that will probably be one of my new obsessions in the YA sphere. ❤️
Publication date: May 6, so go get your copy NOW, especially since the US first edition has GORGEOUS sprayed edges!!
Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora 🐍
This was a fantastic upper YA fantasy inspired by Ancient Egypt and its mythology. I had a blast with the characters and world building and that ending?? Spring 2026 couldn’t come any sooner! 🤯
The book follows four POV’s: Karim, a young tribesman whose tomb raiding causes him more trouble than good; Stamen, the beautiful princess whose luxurious life is soon upended by her actions; Neffermat, a young girl who finds herself whisked away after a reoccurring dream ends up being more than it seems; Raetawy, a farm girl whose hotheadedness gets her places that complacency never could; and Paws, an immortal like cat that provides an interesting outside point of view of all the events happening. I thought each character was fleshed out incredibly well and while I found myself enjoying some more than others, I still had a great time with them all. I loved the banter that Karim had with just about everyone that he meets, Sita’s desire to be more than just her title and beautiful face, Neff’s willingness to take change at face value despite her reservations, and Rae’s passion for change. All together, these characters made the plot so colorful and absorbing that the reader can’t help but be sucked into the story. 😍
While the world building itself isn’t too tedious, I loved the detail and research that went into crafting it. I can tell that Corpora has a deep love for this period of history and getting to see that the country the book is inspired by has meaning to the author makes it all the more special to read. 🥰
I don’t really know what else to say here without spoiling it for those who are really interested in picking this up, but I will just say that I think this book would have done incredibly well as a new adult fantasy since the depictions of gore, violence, and dissection of a corpse might be a bit too much for some readers. However, I’m loving the expansion of more intense fantasies that have been coming out lately for the YA genre, and I think this would be a perfect read for those who would like characters that remind people of Lawless’s Gael Song series but set in Ancient Egypt and with teens instead of adults. 🗡️
In general, I loved this and would highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for an Ancient Egypt inspired fantasy! A huge thank you goes out to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest (and late) review; and to the author, Corpora for crafting such an incredible YA fantasy series that will probably be one of my new obsessions in the YA sphere. ❤️
Publication date: May 6, so go get your copy NOW, especially since the US first edition has GORGEOUS sprayed edges!!
Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️
August 7, 2025
This might be my favorite fantasy book I’ve read this year. This book was absolutely remarkable. Full review with favorite quotes will come soon!
June 11, 2025
I hope this book gets more hype because it was soo good!!! Such a fun YA fantasy with really strong main characters POVs. The author really showed how it was for women way back when in Egypt without getting too political. The magic was fun, just wish we had a little more of it. But I thought she balanced the 4 POVs very well, and some parts were really funny! My jaw was on the floor a few times, because this author is not afraid to kill people and I really like that because it kept me on the edge of my seat! So 4.25 stars. This was wayyy better than This Woven Kingdom because I really didn’t like that series. So much more happens in this book. I was just hoping we would get a little more war in this because it does classify as an Epic Fantasy, and if we got more of that this would have been rated way higher. But still so entertaining and a fun read. 😁
July 16, 2025
This book is amazing!!! One of my favorite settings ever (ancient Egypt, but when they have ancient Egypt history, too, because it’s been thriving for a long long time), and wow, the author made that ambitious setting so vivid!
Between the lush characters (each POV is so well fleshed out and develops so beautifully as time goes on) and the variety of feelings and beliefs towards the gods/divine right of Pharaohs/magic, everything and everyone feels so real!!
The plot is fast moving and surprising.
Between the lush characters (each POV is so well fleshed out and develops so beautifully as time goes on) and the variety of feelings and beliefs towards the gods/divine right of Pharaohs/magic, everything and everyone feels so real!!
The plot is fast moving and surprising.
April 17, 2025
New Review
“His Face is the Sun”
Michelle James Corpora
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
The first installment in the Throne of Khetara series, a YA epic fantasy with an ancient Egyptian setting. Four strangers are ripped from their lives and thrown into a conflict. These four unlikely heroes find themselves connected by a forgotten oracle that whispers insistently across the land. Only together can they save the kingdom from destruction, but when the bloodshed is done, who of Khetara’s children will sit on the throne?
The Plot: It felt like there were four different plots running at the same time until the very end of the book. I enjoy different perspectives but it felt very disjointed and confusing until we were almost all the way done with the book. I assume that this is likely due to it being the first of three in the series and the characters needed building and developing. The four individual stories were really enthralling and I enjoyed them. By the end of the book, I wanted things to keep going.
The characters: I can’t decide who I like and who I dislike, and I think that makes for a really fun read. Each individual main character has their own faults and strengths.
The setting: The setting was amazing. I absolutely love that it was set in ancient times in Egyptian lore. What a magical, creepy, moody vibe it gives to the story.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I will likely read the next two. It held my attention, kept me on the edge of my seat, and had me wanting to know what will happen. I felt tied to the characters and to their wellbeing. The author did a great job at the imagery in the book, making you feel like you were there. The pacing was a little slow but the payoff was worth it. This will be perfect for young adult fans who are looking for a less spicy game of thrones.
Thank you to the folks at Sourcebooks Fire for sharing an early copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
🏷️
#sourcebooksfire #throneofkhetara #ya #bookstagram #booksreview #earlyreview #epicfantasy #fantasy #ancientegypt #gameofthrones #arcreview #bookinfluencer #bookschangelives #readmorebooks #read #acotar
“His Face is the Sun”
Michelle James Corpora
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
The first installment in the Throne of Khetara series, a YA epic fantasy with an ancient Egyptian setting. Four strangers are ripped from their lives and thrown into a conflict. These four unlikely heroes find themselves connected by a forgotten oracle that whispers insistently across the land. Only together can they save the kingdom from destruction, but when the bloodshed is done, who of Khetara’s children will sit on the throne?
The Plot: It felt like there were four different plots running at the same time until the very end of the book. I enjoy different perspectives but it felt very disjointed and confusing until we were almost all the way done with the book. I assume that this is likely due to it being the first of three in the series and the characters needed building and developing. The four individual stories were really enthralling and I enjoyed them. By the end of the book, I wanted things to keep going.
The characters: I can’t decide who I like and who I dislike, and I think that makes for a really fun read. Each individual main character has their own faults and strengths.
The setting: The setting was amazing. I absolutely love that it was set in ancient times in Egyptian lore. What a magical, creepy, moody vibe it gives to the story.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I will likely read the next two. It held my attention, kept me on the edge of my seat, and had me wanting to know what will happen. I felt tied to the characters and to their wellbeing. The author did a great job at the imagery in the book, making you feel like you were there. The pacing was a little slow but the payoff was worth it. This will be perfect for young adult fans who are looking for a less spicy game of thrones.
Thank you to the folks at Sourcebooks Fire for sharing an early copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
🏷️
#sourcebooksfire #throneofkhetara #ya #bookstagram #booksreview #earlyreview #epicfantasy #fantasy #ancientegypt #gameofthrones #arcreview #bookinfluencer #bookschangelives #readmorebooks #read #acotar
June 1, 2025
I’m so glad Beach Books picked His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora for their June virtual book club pick. As a teen in the 90s I had a slight obsession with Egyptian Mythology thanks to The Mummy and this novel sparked my curiosity once again.
A forgotten oracle begins to unfold, setting a dark prophecy into action. Four very different people play a major role in fulfilling it.
Sita… a Princess.
Neff… a priestess in training.
Rae… a farmers daughter
Karim… a tomb robber
I tend to read fantasy physically because I tend to have a hard time following world building/politics and what not but I gave the audio a go and highly recommend it. The book is told through 5 alternating POVs with a mysterious adventure vibe which made this lengthy book fly by. I loved how the characters paths cross and the author did such a great job of making you invested in each one. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in the Throne of Khetara trilogy!
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A forgotten oracle begins to unfold, setting a dark prophecy into action. Four very different people play a major role in fulfilling it.
Sita… a Princess.
Neff… a priestess in training.
Rae… a farmers daughter
Karim… a tomb robber
I tend to read fantasy physically because I tend to have a hard time following world building/politics and what not but I gave the audio a go and highly recommend it. The book is told through 5 alternating POVs with a mysterious adventure vibe which made this lengthy book fly by. I loved how the characters paths cross and the author did such a great job of making you invested in each one. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in the Throne of Khetara trilogy!
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May 6, 2025
This book was really interesting and it surprised of how much I needed this book! I love the Egyptian theme! I have always loved anything that had to do with Egypt. Corpora delves us into an immersive, epic adventure set in ancient Egypt. Magic is entangled with war and political intrigue in this multi-layered epic novel. This tale is told through 4 points of views. This book takes its time telling the take, but it is worth sticking around to see what happens.
This book does an amazing job laying the ground work for a breath-taking triology and I am absolutely looking forward to see where things go next.
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
May 16, 2025
Erm, this was perfection and I need the sequel immediately.
----
“Ancient Egyptian Game of Thrones”
This book had me gripped from the first page, and never let me down once!
The world building is a fantasy one inspired by Ancient Egypt and its customs, as well as the gods who do meddle in the plot a little. The story focuses around four main characters and I didn't dislike any of them, they all brought something to the table and I am so excited to read the sequel. It had romance, terror. (in the shape of a white walker style enemy), deceit, and betrayal - as well as a dog but the dog doesn't die.
This series is going to be big I can tell!
----
“Ancient Egyptian Game of Thrones”
This book had me gripped from the first page, and never let me down once!
The world building is a fantasy one inspired by Ancient Egypt and its customs, as well as the gods who do meddle in the plot a little. The story focuses around four main characters and I didn't dislike any of them, they all brought something to the table and I am so excited to read the sequel. It had romance, terror. (in the shape of a white walker style enemy), deceit, and betrayal - as well as a dog but the dog doesn't die.
This series is going to be big I can tell!
July 20, 2025
This REALLY scratched that itch for immersive, historical YA fantasy. The pacing is on the slower side, but I didn’t mind sinking into the layered world-building and getting to know these complex characters. There's a lot of political intrigue, and it is much darker than I expected, which is always a HUGE plus for me.
Rather than racing through the plot, the story invites you to settle in, learn the intricacies of the world, and get to know its complex characters piece by piece. We follow four POVs. Each is distinct, each adding new weight to the political and magical tensions unfolding. I loved how their paths slowly began to intersect, orbiting pieces destined to collide. It gave me City of Brass and Black Sun vibes. Especially in how the political intrigue and personal stakes build beneath the surface until, suddenly, things escalate.
And when they do? It’s intense, jarring (in a good way), and emotionally satisfying. This definitely feels like the foundation of a much larger story, and I can tell the sequel will hit harder now that all the pieces are in motion. If you’re into character-driven fantasy that takes its time, this one’s worth picking up. Loved it!
Thank you SO much to Colored Pages Book Tours, Source Books Fire, and the author for the complimentary copy! I loved this one so much, I grabbed the audio to tandem read! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Rather than racing through the plot, the story invites you to settle in, learn the intricacies of the world, and get to know its complex characters piece by piece. We follow four POVs. Each is distinct, each adding new weight to the political and magical tensions unfolding. I loved how their paths slowly began to intersect, orbiting pieces destined to collide. It gave me City of Brass and Black Sun vibes. Especially in how the political intrigue and personal stakes build beneath the surface until, suddenly, things escalate.
And when they do? It’s intense, jarring (in a good way), and emotionally satisfying. This definitely feels like the foundation of a much larger story, and I can tell the sequel will hit harder now that all the pieces are in motion. If you’re into character-driven fantasy that takes its time, this one’s worth picking up. Loved it!
Thank you SO much to Colored Pages Book Tours, Source Books Fire, and the author for the complimentary copy! I loved this one so much, I grabbed the audio to tandem read! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
September 15, 2025
the world building in this is so good!! I’ll admit I was a little hesitant with 4 different POVs to follow but it was so good and I love seeing them all slowly coming together piece by piece and the use of Egyptian mythology was so wonderful I can’t wait to see what happens next!!
April 27, 2025
4.75 🌟
"Do not fight the currents that carry you toward your fate." (ch 27)
The book starts off with a chapter for each character.
A princess, one of the King's triplets, wishes to be free. But a secret shared has an unease growing within her. She has no one to turn to, no one to trust, and instead drowns her thoughts and burdens in wine.
A girl plagued with visions pleads to the Goddess Bass. She is taken from her home and bound for priesthood. She befriends an eccentric prince. She soon learns that the palace is a dangerous place, full of secrets and intrigue, and she'd have to tread carefully where her visions are concerned.
A reckless and hot-headed fighter, struggling with her elderly father to meet the unreasonable demands of the ever increasing king's tax as set upon the common people, joins the rebellion after an event that pushes her to the limit.
A Jackal, a tomb raider who unwittingly releases an ancient evil, does what he does best... tries to survive. He meets a priest and discovers an eerily uncanny portrait that propels him into a voyage to find answers.
These four, from different walks of life, have something in common... a vision, a thought, a fate that interlinks them together --"The Oracle of the Lamb" -- a prophecy foreboding disaster, devastation, and treachery.
The characters were well-written and developed. The story depicted a decent sense of their world. Many parts of the plot were gripping and pulled me in. In other parts, I felt my attention drifting. Overall, it was worthwhile and intriguing as the story progressed and unfolded. From chapter to chapter, the pieces started to come together as if building a pyramid, until at the ascension to the top, at the zenith, the picture unfolded. "The sun shines..... but it also burns." (ch 25) But it does not end there, the horizon is vast and the journey continues.
NetGalley eARC Review.
"Do not fight the currents that carry you toward your fate." (ch 27)
The book starts off with a chapter for each character.
A princess, one of the King's triplets, wishes to be free. But a secret shared has an unease growing within her. She has no one to turn to, no one to trust, and instead drowns her thoughts and burdens in wine.
A girl plagued with visions pleads to the Goddess Bass. She is taken from her home and bound for priesthood. She befriends an eccentric prince. She soon learns that the palace is a dangerous place, full of secrets and intrigue, and she'd have to tread carefully where her visions are concerned.
A reckless and hot-headed fighter, struggling with her elderly father to meet the unreasonable demands of the ever increasing king's tax as set upon the common people, joins the rebellion after an event that pushes her to the limit.
A Jackal, a tomb raider who unwittingly releases an ancient evil, does what he does best... tries to survive. He meets a priest and discovers an eerily uncanny portrait that propels him into a voyage to find answers.
These four, from different walks of life, have something in common... a vision, a thought, a fate that interlinks them together --"The Oracle of the Lamb" -- a prophecy foreboding disaster, devastation, and treachery.
The characters were well-written and developed. The story depicted a decent sense of their world. Many parts of the plot were gripping and pulled me in. In other parts, I felt my attention drifting. Overall, it was worthwhile and intriguing as the story progressed and unfolded. From chapter to chapter, the pieces started to come together as if building a pyramid, until at the ascension to the top, at the zenith, the picture unfolded. "The sun shines..... but it also burns." (ch 25) But it does not end there, the horizon is vast and the journey continues.
NetGalley eARC Review.
March 5, 2025
2.5/5 CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK.
I am so sorry, but I did not like this.
I think the biggest contributor to me not liking this book has to do with what category it has been put in. I was under the impression that this book is YA, it is even tagged as such, but I really do not think that this is YA. (I do know that a lot of people share the sentiment, in general, that YA is starting to get way more grown up and I think this book is a victim of that as well.) I would not have the issues I have with this book if it was considered even New Adult.
There were multiple scenes that felt so graphic in nature that this should not be YA. When the first one happen (around the 25-30% mark), I thought that maybe it was a one-off and that was the only graphic scene there would be, but it was not the only one. That really threw me off and gave me the ick for the book. And we all know you cannot come back from the ick. (Looking back, I really wish I had DNFed after that first scene that made me uncomfortable.)
There were also a few historical inaccuracy things that bugged me a little, but I am used to that with books, so I tend to ignore them when reading, but point them out in the review. This is one of those books that did that.
This just wasn't for me and that makes me so sad because this really did have so much potential. There were some really cool things done with mythology that I really wish could've been expanded upon. That was the only thing I really liked about this book. And I really just couldn't connect with the characters either.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I am so sorry, but I did not like this.
I think the biggest contributor to me not liking this book has to do with what category it has been put in. I was under the impression that this book is YA, it is even tagged as such, but I really do not think that this is YA. (I do know that a lot of people share the sentiment, in general, that YA is starting to get way more grown up and I think this book is a victim of that as well.) I would not have the issues I have with this book if it was considered even New Adult.
There were multiple scenes that felt so graphic in nature that this should not be YA. When the first one happen (around the 25-30% mark), I thought that maybe it was a one-off and that was the only graphic scene there would be, but it was not the only one. That really threw me off and gave me the ick for the book. And we all know you cannot come back from the ick. (Looking back, I really wish I had DNFed after that first scene that made me uncomfortable.)
There were also a few historical inaccuracy things that bugged me a little, but I am used to that with books, so I tend to ignore them when reading, but point them out in the review. This is one of those books that did that.
This just wasn't for me and that makes me so sad because this really did have so much potential. There were some really cool things done with mythology that I really wish could've been expanded upon. That was the only thing I really liked about this book. And I really just couldn't connect with the characters either.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
April 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced e-copy.
Holy smokes, this was exactly what I needed! My lore, as many others' did, started in part with the cinematic classic "The Mummy." This gives those vibes mixed with the political intrigue of Game of Thrones but set wholly in a fictionalized Egypt.
It starts with a prophecy. Ruin is coming to Khetara and four main characters are on a separate but intersecting journeys. We meet Sita, Rae, Neff, and Karim in various parts of the country, living very different lives. Sitamun is a princess, Rae is a brawler, Neff is a peasant turned prophetess, and Karim is tomb-robber. Karim finds the tomb of a long-dead pharaoh who has been erased from history and unlocks a great evil that will sweep through the land, throwing everything into disarray. As these characters come together, the story gets even more intricate and detailed.
I loved it all: the descriptions, the characters, the court intrigue, the Egyptian history. I cannot wait for book two. I was invested from page one and found the story simple, yet engrossing. The writing was superb (though I did notice some grammatical errors, pubs!). I would highly recommend this series starter.
Can there be more Kenna in book two?
Holy smokes, this was exactly what I needed! My lore, as many others' did, started in part with the cinematic classic "The Mummy." This gives those vibes mixed with the political intrigue of Game of Thrones but set wholly in a fictionalized Egypt.
It starts with a prophecy. Ruin is coming to Khetara and four main characters are on a separate but intersecting journeys. We meet Sita, Rae, Neff, and Karim in various parts of the country, living very different lives. Sitamun is a princess, Rae is a brawler, Neff is a peasant turned prophetess, and Karim is tomb-robber. Karim finds the tomb of a long-dead pharaoh who has been erased from history and unlocks a great evil that will sweep through the land, throwing everything into disarray. As these characters come together, the story gets even more intricate and detailed.
I loved it all: the descriptions, the characters, the court intrigue, the Egyptian history. I cannot wait for book two. I was invested from page one and found the story simple, yet engrossing. The writing was superb (though I did notice some grammatical errors, pubs!). I would highly recommend this series starter.
Can there be more Kenna in book two?
May 7, 2025
Okay, this book is amazing.
If you’re a big fantasy reader you may have read The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne…this book has a lot of that vibe going on: multi POVs, dark prophecies, evil political leaders, palace intrigue, rebellion and found family and an entire world map with characters in each corner that are slowly circling the drain towards what can only be an inevitable confrontation between good and evil. All written in a simple, easy to read style with no hugely intricate lore or politics to learn and remember. It’s your basic fantasy written in a simple to digest format.
But this one is set in Egypt, and has a LOT more (and better) female representation. Also, some queer rep too!
I love the setting, and the vibe over all. The Mummy was a favorite movie of mine as a child (Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz…am I right? 😍) and this has that mysterious adventure vibe.
Full disclosure though: I did not read all the way to the end. Why, you ask?
Because this is the start of a series, and it JUST came out, so I don’t want to hit a cliff hanger while I wait for the next book 😩 I’m weird like that.
I will be buying the next installment instantly, though. Because this book is obviously setting up for something big!
If you’re a big fantasy reader you may have read The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne…this book has a lot of that vibe going on: multi POVs, dark prophecies, evil political leaders, palace intrigue, rebellion and found family and an entire world map with characters in each corner that are slowly circling the drain towards what can only be an inevitable confrontation between good and evil. All written in a simple, easy to read style with no hugely intricate lore or politics to learn and remember. It’s your basic fantasy written in a simple to digest format.
But this one is set in Egypt, and has a LOT more (and better) female representation. Also, some queer rep too!
I love the setting, and the vibe over all. The Mummy was a favorite movie of mine as a child (Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz…am I right? 😍) and this has that mysterious adventure vibe.
Full disclosure though: I did not read all the way to the end. Why, you ask?
Because this is the start of a series, and it JUST came out, so I don’t want to hit a cliff hanger while I wait for the next book 😩 I’m weird like that.
I will be buying the next installment instantly, though. Because this book is obviously setting up for something big!
June 18, 2025
A terrific start to a new Historical Fantasy series rooted in the history and mythology of Ancient Egypt.
As the author tells us in her note at the close of the book, this is a love letter to her family’s culture and history, and her passion for the material shines through the story in an irresistible manner. But it’s also wildly inventive and creative from a Fantasy standpoint, and (as the best Fantasy always does) blends magic with plausibility.
This is long (you’ll be grateful for that once you get into the story), and it does take a while to click at the beginning, but once past the preliminaries, the story becomes captivating pretty quickly, and the characters begin to win over the reader.
It’s well-balanced in the sense that the POVs are equally interesting, and the central characters’ stories begin to merge meaningfully in the second half of the book. The adversaries, too, are well-drawn. But is the bigger threat the megalomaniac on the throne or something far older and potentially much more dangerous? You’ll just have to read it and find out. I’m already looking forward to the next installment in the series.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
As the author tells us in her note at the close of the book, this is a love letter to her family’s culture and history, and her passion for the material shines through the story in an irresistible manner. But it’s also wildly inventive and creative from a Fantasy standpoint, and (as the best Fantasy always does) blends magic with plausibility.
This is long (you’ll be grateful for that once you get into the story), and it does take a while to click at the beginning, but once past the preliminaries, the story becomes captivating pretty quickly, and the characters begin to win over the reader.
It’s well-balanced in the sense that the POVs are equally interesting, and the central characters’ stories begin to merge meaningfully in the second half of the book. The adversaries, too, are well-drawn. But is the bigger threat the megalomaniac on the throne or something far older and potentially much more dangerous? You’ll just have to read it and find out. I’m already looking forward to the next installment in the series.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
March 3, 2025
4.5 Ancient Egyptian Game of Thrones meets a YA fantasy.
Devoured this book.
Four strangers. One oracle. A country being destroyed from within. Can a princess, a young priestess, a rebel, and the Jackal stop the evil?
Patiently/not patiently waiting for book 2 ...
Devoured this book.
Four strangers. One oracle. A country being destroyed from within. Can a princess, a young priestess, a rebel, and the Jackal stop the evil?
Patiently/not patiently waiting for book 2 ...
February 21, 2025
DNF @ 51% / chapter 16 on 2/20/25
i was highly interested in this one as the synopsis sounds very intriguing, however i felt it was flat and dull after the first few chapters and there are just so many books that are waiting for me to read so i decided to dnf this one as it doesn’t interest me
i was highly interested in this one as the synopsis sounds very intriguing, however i felt it was flat and dull after the first few chapters and there are just so many books that are waiting for me to read so i decided to dnf this one as it doesn’t interest me
June 8, 2025
5⭐️
Absolutely incredible start to a series. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series when it comes out! Wonderfully written characters, beautifully described setting, and a plot that keeps you intrigued. Amazing!
Absolutely incredible start to a series. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series when it comes out! Wonderfully written characters, beautifully described setting, and a plot that keeps you intrigued. Amazing!
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