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Kingdom of the Sun
Kingdom of the Sun is an epic fantasy about Mirage, a royal girl sold to a mythic kingdom where magic flows freely—and nothing is as it seems. As she battles through brutal training, fractured identity, and a terrifying magical awakening, she forges bonds with a fierce found family. But as gods rise and conflict brews, Mirage must decide what she's willing to give for those she loves. In a world where power is survival and sacrifice is destiny, Mirage’s must tie the threads of fate herself.
"...Our narrator is neurodivergent; a choice that lends the story remarkable authenticity... Mirage is a captivating heroine: unconventional, intelligent, and weighed down by challenges that resonate deeply. Her journey through the world of the Tessiah held me enthralled from the first page, and I’ve already braced myself for the reading slump sure to follow its conclusion. If I were still in the agenting business, I would have been all over this book." -A.G. on NetGalley, a retired NYT columnist
"...Our narrator is neurodivergent; a choice that lends the story remarkable authenticity... Mirage is a captivating heroine: unconventional, intelligent, and weighed down by challenges that resonate deeply. Her journey through the world of the Tessiah held me enthralled from the first page, and I’ve already braced myself for the reading slump sure to follow its conclusion. If I were still in the agenting business, I would have been all over this book." -A.G. on NetGalley, a retired NYT columnist
- GenresFantasy
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
19 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
HP Nero
2 books15 followersHP Nero is a fantasy novelist and full-time PhD student pursuing neurobiology with an emphasis on genetics.
Nero is an iced coffee fanatic and avid reader. Some of her favorite books include:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley,
The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins, A Touch of Darkness (series) by Scarlett St. Clair.
The Folk of the Air (series) by Holly Black
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and the Maze Runner Series by James Dashner
Nero is an iced coffee fanatic and avid reader. Some of her favorite books include:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley,
The Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins, A Touch of Darkness (series) by Scarlett St. Clair.
The Folk of the Air (series) by Holly Black
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and the Maze Runner Series by James Dashner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 7, 2025
Breathtaking imagery, thrilling action, enchanting characters, and a fresh mystery behind every door. A gripping story of both love and loss, *Kingdom of the Sun* is a bold welcome into the magical world of the Tessiah.
July 2, 2025
4⭐ – A promising start to a new romantasy series!
Kingdom of the Sun is a light and engaging fantasy romance with a plot-driven narrative that kept me turning the pages, especially in the final chapters. The worldbuilding is well done, with interesting powers and lore that made me excited to see how it will all expand in the next instalments.
While I enjoyed the overall cast, I didn’t feel deeply connected to any specific character, and some of the relationships felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped. Still, there’s clear potential for growth, and I’m hopeful that the sequels will dive deeper into the characters and their dynamics.
One thing that could enhance the reading experience is the addition of a map and a glossary—given the complexity of the world and terms introduced, these would help readers immerse themselves even further.
A solid and enjoyable read for fans of fantasy romance looking for a story that balances magical elements with fast-paced plot twists. Can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Kingdom of the Sun is a light and engaging fantasy romance with a plot-driven narrative that kept me turning the pages, especially in the final chapters. The worldbuilding is well done, with interesting powers and lore that made me excited to see how it will all expand in the next instalments.
While I enjoyed the overall cast, I didn’t feel deeply connected to any specific character, and some of the relationships felt a bit rushed or underdeveloped. Still, there’s clear potential for growth, and I’m hopeful that the sequels will dive deeper into the characters and their dynamics.
One thing that could enhance the reading experience is the addition of a map and a glossary—given the complexity of the world and terms introduced, these would help readers immerse themselves even further.
A solid and enjoyable read for fans of fantasy romance looking for a story that balances magical elements with fast-paced plot twists. Can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
June 19, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
While this book certainly has potential, I ended up DNF-ing around ten percent. The plot has an interesting premise, but the pacing of the book is all over the place. The first chapter alone is difficult to muddle through, with the author jumping from place to place, trying to give us a spark notes version of the history of our protagonist. I’d love to delve more into Mirage’s story in detail as opposed to multiple line breaks and scene jumping. I really wanted to continue this book, but the scattered pacing really threw me.
While this book certainly has potential, I ended up DNF-ing around ten percent. The plot has an interesting premise, but the pacing of the book is all over the place. The first chapter alone is difficult to muddle through, with the author jumping from place to place, trying to give us a spark notes version of the history of our protagonist. I’d love to delve more into Mirage’s story in detail as opposed to multiple line breaks and scene jumping. I really wanted to continue this book, but the scattered pacing really threw me.
June 24, 2025
This book was a refreshing surprise!
I went in expecting another typical Romantasy centered around Fae, but instead found myself immersed in a uniquely magical world with rich seasonal magic, mythological undertones, and a touch of spice that I wasn’t mad about one bit. While the story gives off subtle ACOTAR vibes, it maintains its originality and offers a fresh take that felt both familiar and new.
At the heart of the story is Princess Mirage—a young woman navigating life under the rule of her cruel father, sold off to a world she was raised to despise. Her journey is one of self-discovery, uncovering painful truths about her past, and confronting everything she thought she knew. The magic system here is inspired by the season in which characters are born, and while the author doesn’t use traditional fantasy labels like “witch” or “warlock,” that’s the closest way I can describe the feel—it leans more mystical and elemental than the usual winged Fae.
Mirage was an interesting protagonist. While I appreciated her arc and the strength she shows throughout the story, I did find myself wishing she was a bit more assertive or bold. If the goal was to present a strong female lead, I think she was almost there but didn’t quite hit the mark in some places.
A few critiques: I read this on Kindle, and the formatting felt off at times. Page breaks appeared in the middle of conversations, disrupting the flow and sometimes making it difficult to follow the dialogue. Additionally, there were world-building elements that felt slightly underdeveloped early on but were revisited later in a way that would’ve been more impactful had they been introduced earlier. These weren’t major issues for me, but they were noticeable.
All in all, this was an engaging and imaginative debut(?) that kept me hooked. The pacing was solid, the story compelling, and the ending… brutal in the best way. That cliffhanger left me needing book two immediately. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next installment
I went in expecting another typical Romantasy centered around Fae, but instead found myself immersed in a uniquely magical world with rich seasonal magic, mythological undertones, and a touch of spice that I wasn’t mad about one bit. While the story gives off subtle ACOTAR vibes, it maintains its originality and offers a fresh take that felt both familiar and new.
At the heart of the story is Princess Mirage—a young woman navigating life under the rule of her cruel father, sold off to a world she was raised to despise. Her journey is one of self-discovery, uncovering painful truths about her past, and confronting everything she thought she knew. The magic system here is inspired by the season in which characters are born, and while the author doesn’t use traditional fantasy labels like “witch” or “warlock,” that’s the closest way I can describe the feel—it leans more mystical and elemental than the usual winged Fae.
Mirage was an interesting protagonist. While I appreciated her arc and the strength she shows throughout the story, I did find myself wishing she was a bit more assertive or bold. If the goal was to present a strong female lead, I think she was almost there but didn’t quite hit the mark in some places.
A few critiques: I read this on Kindle, and the formatting felt off at times. Page breaks appeared in the middle of conversations, disrupting the flow and sometimes making it difficult to follow the dialogue. Additionally, there were world-building elements that felt slightly underdeveloped early on but were revisited later in a way that would’ve been more impactful had they been introduced earlier. These weren’t major issues for me, but they were noticeable.
All in all, this was an engaging and imaginative debut(?) that kept me hooked. The pacing was solid, the story compelling, and the ending… brutal in the best way. That cliffhanger left me needing book two immediately. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next installment
July 6, 2025
Kingdom of the Sun was one of my favorite reads of the year. The world inside this book was just the escape I needed. HP Nero weaves her characters wonderfully throughout this epic tale. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put out down. Highly recommend this book! I can’t wait for the next installment!
July 2, 2025
Wow. What a read. So engaging and engrossing, I literally could not stop reading. I am ready for book 2.
August 11, 2025
I loved this book! It was a slow start for me, because of the many oddly placed page breaks, but once I started ignoring them I was able to get into it and I couldn’t put it down! I enjoyed the way Nero immersed us into this world, choosing to provide descriptions along the way via characters informing each other, and not info-dumping. This story takes us through a fantasy world where Mirage, the FMC, is sold to pay off her father’s debts. She uncovers lost truths as she journeys through self-exploration and comes into her magic. Despite the trauma she endured in the past, Mirage is a fiery (literally) and resilient badass. There is a bit of a love triangle, sort of? as Mirage also explores her new-found freedom. This story has a lot of action, great character development, some twists and a cliffhanger (rude lol) that will keep you guessing and wanting more. Definitely recommend!
April 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I really want them together. One scene made me cry. I’m looking forward to the next but also that cliffhanger! Come on LOL
December 16, 2025
So this book popped up on my Instagram "for you" page a couple of months ago. The cover and the synopsis intrigued me. Also, the fact that the author is an indie author also caught my attention. I've never read a book written by an indie author so that caught my interest. Before I start my review, I want to say that the author, HP Nero, is one of the nicest people. If you have a question about her book, she is quick to answer via Instagram DM and she is more than helpful with how to obtain her book. Okay, now on to the review:
Let's start with the main character of Mirage: I liked her character. She starts as a girl with no real purpose, other than a prop for her horrible king of a father. She is basically property made to be sold and to basically stay quiet. As the book goes on, part of me didn't like the decisions she made and I felt she was indecisive. But then I realized that she was so indecisive because she was never used to being able to make her own decisions. She lacked freedom and ability to choose her path. So although it was annoying to see her act dumb or reckless in certain situations, she was still a character I wanted to root for and support.
The description of the environment was made more intense with the detailed imagery that heavily focused on smells. I liked that touch a lot. Anytime an author can make you not only imagine something but SMELL it makes it seem like you're right there with the characters.
The magical world and the Tessiah (the magical people who make up the world) are also very cool to read about. The author crafted a beautiful mythology with gods and power subsets and also dark sides to the power subsets. I kept flipping back and forth because I was trying to keep up with the mythos. Hopefully as the books go on, we get to explore the world and the kingdom more.
There are technically two love interests in this book and I hate love triangles. But that's a personal preference. However, both of the love interests are nice guys and you kind of want to root for both of them. But truly I was only rooting for a CERTAIN guy (not gonna say who it is LOL) to get with Mirage and I stand on it. But the book does showcase the difference between what it truly means to love and care for someone versus lusting after someone just to be with them.
Now for the main conflict of the book, I was a little confused. I believe there is some major conflict between the Tessiah and the regular humans but I am not sure if that made a huge impact on myself. I could have totally missed it because I read wayyyyyyyy too quickly but I felt like that was not a forefront in this book. It was hinted at little by little as the book progressed but it didn't land completely. I believe this conflict will get more intense with each passing book but for now I wasn't really feeling the danger. Don't get me wrong, towards the end of the book a lot of crazy things happened that had me on the edge of my seat but I felt like some things were rushed or nor entirely explained. But again, that may be just a me thing.
Overall, I think this is a good first book in a series. I remember reading the first ACOTAR book and I gave it a 3/5 stars because I didn't know where that book was going and I felt like the end was super rushed. But once I read the next book I was super into the story. Kingdom of the Sun is no different. But I chose to give this book 4/5 stars because I believe HP Nero knows where she wants to take the book. I believe she has vision that is going to improve upon what she has already written. I believe in her talent and I think she has something special on her hands. Do yourself a favor and grab her book. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Let's start with the main character of Mirage: I liked her character. She starts as a girl with no real purpose, other than a prop for her horrible king of a father. She is basically property made to be sold and to basically stay quiet. As the book goes on, part of me didn't like the decisions she made and I felt she was indecisive. But then I realized that she was so indecisive because she was never used to being able to make her own decisions. She lacked freedom and ability to choose her path. So although it was annoying to see her act dumb or reckless in certain situations, she was still a character I wanted to root for and support.
The description of the environment was made more intense with the detailed imagery that heavily focused on smells. I liked that touch a lot. Anytime an author can make you not only imagine something but SMELL it makes it seem like you're right there with the characters.
The magical world and the Tessiah (the magical people who make up the world) are also very cool to read about. The author crafted a beautiful mythology with gods and power subsets and also dark sides to the power subsets. I kept flipping back and forth because I was trying to keep up with the mythos. Hopefully as the books go on, we get to explore the world and the kingdom more.
There are technically two love interests in this book and I hate love triangles. But that's a personal preference. However, both of the love interests are nice guys and you kind of want to root for both of them. But truly I was only rooting for a CERTAIN guy (not gonna say who it is LOL) to get with Mirage and I stand on it. But the book does showcase the difference between what it truly means to love and care for someone versus lusting after someone just to be with them.
Now for the main conflict of the book, I was a little confused. I believe there is some major conflict between the Tessiah and the regular humans but I am not sure if that made a huge impact on myself. I could have totally missed it because I read wayyyyyyyy too quickly but I felt like that was not a forefront in this book. It was hinted at little by little as the book progressed but it didn't land completely. I believe this conflict will get more intense with each passing book but for now I wasn't really feeling the danger. Don't get me wrong, towards the end of the book a lot of crazy things happened that had me on the edge of my seat but I felt like some things were rushed or nor entirely explained. But again, that may be just a me thing.
Overall, I think this is a good first book in a series. I remember reading the first ACOTAR book and I gave it a 3/5 stars because I didn't know where that book was going and I felt like the end was super rushed. But once I read the next book I was super into the story. Kingdom of the Sun is no different. But I chose to give this book 4/5 stars because I believe HP Nero knows where she wants to take the book. I believe she has vision that is going to improve upon what she has already written. I believe in her talent and I think she has something special on her hands. Do yourself a favor and grab her book. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
December 2, 2025
I'm not the biggest on reviewing books but I want to make sure Indie authors get the fame they deserve! So here's my very detailed review of Kingdom of the Sun, Book 1 in the Hollow Crown Series by HP Nero
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 stars!
First, a list of potential trigger warnings
parental abuse, death, sexual content, etc.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚SPOILERS ARE BELOW PROCEED WITH CARE⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
HP Nero's debut Kingdom of the Sun doesn't just subvert the "chosen one" narrative—it demolishes it entirely.
The first-person narration puts us inside Mirage's gorgeous, messy, neurodivergent mind. Her rigid speech patterns, her emotional dysregulation, her black and white thinking that slowly learns to hold contradictions and this is one of the most authentic autistic protagonists I've read in fantasy, and it's never announced with a label. It simply is who she is.
Here's what makes this radical: Mirage discovers she's the daughter of a God, trains with powerful "Tessiah", learns to wield fire and shadow, and then proceeds to lose every fight. Not metaphorically. Literally. Every single combat encounter ends with her defeated.
In any other fantasy, this would be poor plotting. Here, it's the entire thematic architecture. Her divine heritage doesn't save her. Her magic fails when she needs it most but in the final moments of the story when she faces a God in her best friend's body, she doesn't win through some Deus ex machina. She just dies. She literally dies. My personal interpretation of this goes back to the dedication at the beginning of the story where it says that love is our greatest strength and I think that she delivers precisely that in this book. This is NOT a predictable heroine, not even a little bit, and I loved that.
I appreciate that the queerness here is unapologetic and casually woven throughout and I haven't seen a reviewer comment on it yet! The relationship between Kaneira and Aramore was brief in the pages but it was so goo and I need a book of just them.
Though Mirage dies on the final page, I think she will return in book two. Not sure if it will be a Hannah Baker scenario or what but I just feel like the last words (Tessiah will return) somehow implies her return. This almost feels like a she lost the battle but she'll come back and win the war scenario.
Some readers will hate this. I loved it.
Because this isn't about winning. It's about what you're willing to lose for the people you love. Mirage failed at everything except the only thing that mattered: she saved her brother. Her final thought—relief that Dracar is alive—is perfect and devastating.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚Just a few minor issues I want to discuss while I'm here⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚:
The pacing sags in the middle during training sequences but if that's something you're into you'll love it. The romantic development occasionally feels rushed given how much plot is happening, so basically I just don't think this is a romance. This isn't standard romantasy AT ALL. This is more like an epic fantasy in my opinion. And the cliffhanger will frustrate readers wanting closure; this is very clearly Book 1, but I'm a huge cliffhanger fan. I re-read the entire book after finishing it because the cliffhanger actually made me feel so empty inside that I had to rejoin the world for just a few more moments.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚Final Thoughts⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Kingdom of the Sun is fantasy that feels both classic and radically new. Neurodivergent protagonist. Queer found family. A hero who loses everything and still becomes heroic through sheer force of love. If you want a story about a girl who fails and fails and still becomes a hero—read this IMMEDIATELY.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5 stars!
First, a list of potential trigger warnings
parental abuse, death, sexual content, etc.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚SPOILERS ARE BELOW PROCEED WITH CARE⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
HP Nero's debut Kingdom of the Sun doesn't just subvert the "chosen one" narrative—it demolishes it entirely.
The first-person narration puts us inside Mirage's gorgeous, messy, neurodivergent mind. Her rigid speech patterns, her emotional dysregulation, her black and white thinking that slowly learns to hold contradictions and this is one of the most authentic autistic protagonists I've read in fantasy, and it's never announced with a label. It simply is who she is.
Here's what makes this radical: Mirage discovers she's the daughter of a God, trains with powerful "Tessiah", learns to wield fire and shadow, and then proceeds to lose every fight. Not metaphorically. Literally. Every single combat encounter ends with her defeated.
In any other fantasy, this would be poor plotting. Here, it's the entire thematic architecture. Her divine heritage doesn't save her. Her magic fails when she needs it most but in the final moments of the story when she faces a God in her best friend's body, she doesn't win through some Deus ex machina. She just dies. She literally dies. My personal interpretation of this goes back to the dedication at the beginning of the story where it says that love is our greatest strength and I think that she delivers precisely that in this book. This is NOT a predictable heroine, not even a little bit, and I loved that.
I appreciate that the queerness here is unapologetic and casually woven throughout and I haven't seen a reviewer comment on it yet! The relationship between Kaneira and Aramore was brief in the pages but it was so goo and I need a book of just them.
Though Mirage dies on the final page, I think she will return in book two. Not sure if it will be a Hannah Baker scenario or what but I just feel like the last words (Tessiah will return) somehow implies her return. This almost feels like a she lost the battle but she'll come back and win the war scenario.
Some readers will hate this. I loved it.
Because this isn't about winning. It's about what you're willing to lose for the people you love. Mirage failed at everything except the only thing that mattered: she saved her brother. Her final thought—relief that Dracar is alive—is perfect and devastating.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚Just a few minor issues I want to discuss while I'm here⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚:
The pacing sags in the middle during training sequences but if that's something you're into you'll love it. The romantic development occasionally feels rushed given how much plot is happening, so basically I just don't think this is a romance. This isn't standard romantasy AT ALL. This is more like an epic fantasy in my opinion. And the cliffhanger will frustrate readers wanting closure; this is very clearly Book 1, but I'm a huge cliffhanger fan. I re-read the entire book after finishing it because the cliffhanger actually made me feel so empty inside that I had to rejoin the world for just a few more moments.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚Final Thoughts⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Kingdom of the Sun is fantasy that feels both classic and radically new. Neurodivergent protagonist. Queer found family. A hero who loses everything and still becomes heroic through sheer force of love. If you want a story about a girl who fails and fails and still becomes a hero—read this IMMEDIATELY.
December 26, 2025
The end 😩😩😩😩 omg!!!
The magic system was very unique. The flow was steady & interesting! The characters were very real even messy but that’s what made them loveable. Characters I didn’t initially liked I ended up tearing up over. The imagery in this book is very well written & the world built here is beautiful 🖤 I can’t wait for book 2!
The magic system was very unique. The flow was steady & interesting! The characters were very real even messy but that’s what made them loveable. Characters I didn’t initially liked I ended up tearing up over. The imagery in this book is very well written & the world built here is beautiful 🖤 I can’t wait for book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Found this gem on Tiktok and I'm so glad I did. I feel the fantasy genre has become extremely saturated lately, but this book felt refreshing. Mirage is a great main chracter, and it's wonderful to see a neurodivergent FMC.
Found this gem on Tiktok and I'm so glad I did. I feel the fantasy genre has become extremely saturated lately, but this book felt refreshing. Mirage is a great main chracter, and it's wonderful to see a neurodivergent FMC.
June 10, 2025
I had to DNF this book. The writing style pulled me out of the story multiple times, they have line breaks every 2 paragraphs it feels like and it’s not even changing scenes or POVs. Sadly I couldn’t get into it because of this, but if you can look past it I’m sure it’s a great book
December 7, 2025
I really loved the magic system in Kingdom of the Sun. The idea of people gaining elemental abilities based on the season they were born in, combined with runes and blood magic, made the world feel unique and exciting. I also loveddddd how the courtyards connected to each type of magic added such vivid atmosphere.
The battle and training scenes were another highlight. It was refreshing to follow a heroine who wasn’t instantly skilled. Her growth felt earned, and it made her journey much more satisfying.
I also appreciated how honestly the story approached trauma. The FMC’s past affects the way she connects with herself and the choices she makes, and the book never glosses over that. It adds so much emotional weight. Chapter 15 completely hooked me with the reveal about her mother and the way it shifted the entire direction of her fate.
Jesper was a standout character for me. He’s the kind of morally grey character who sneaks up on you, and I went from hating him to loving him so fast.
The ending was brutally exciting. Consider me dangling off the cliff until book 2 is out! Overall, this is an immersive and heartfelt fantasy that blends magic, emotion, and character growth beautifully.
The battle and training scenes were another highlight. It was refreshing to follow a heroine who wasn’t instantly skilled. Her growth felt earned, and it made her journey much more satisfying.
I also appreciated how honestly the story approached trauma. The FMC’s past affects the way she connects with herself and the choices she makes, and the book never glosses over that. It adds so much emotional weight. Chapter 15 completely hooked me with the reveal about her mother and the way it shifted the entire direction of her fate.
Jesper was a standout character for me. He’s the kind of morally grey character who sneaks up on you, and I went from hating him to loving him so fast.
The ending was brutally exciting. Consider me dangling off the cliff until book 2 is out! Overall, this is an immersive and heartfelt fantasy that blends magic, emotion, and character growth beautifully.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
Thank you to HP Nero and NetGalley for this e-ARC!
It is apparently a #romantasygirlsummer and this one did not disappoint. HP Nero creates a stunning world that was a joy for my imagination to envision. The magic system she's created is unique and intriguing--I really loved that so much of it was determined by seasons and that everyone's magic is particular and unique to each character. I am really hoping that she explores and explains this more in her next book.
I also loved the characters HP created to inhabit this world. I feel like we have just scratched the surface of them and I am really looking forward to hopefully a deeper dive into their backgrounds and particular magic skill sets in upcoming novels. I need Hiver to be able to fully be able to enjoy what he's been yearning for--that cliffhanger at the end was no fair! I also really want to know exactly what Jesper's purpose in taking Mirage back to the tenth kingdom was in the first place. I have so many questions left for these characters. If you're a fan of found family, this novel is a great one for you.
While I can agree with some other reviewers that the page breaks throughout the duration of the novel didn't always make the most sense and were a little distracting to me at first, I feel like the more interesting the story became, the more I was able to ignore them when necessary and continue my progression of the story. I believe in and love me a good page break, but in this instance I do agree and think that there were too many that weren't utilized to further the story, but were used more like paragraph breaks. However, I think that may be the biggest criticism of this novel but because it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book itself, I think it honestly is a minor issue that can be rectified in future novels for this series.
This book had me at the edge of my seat through its end and now I just want to know what happens next. This is a fun, new romantasy series and I am looking forward to the next book :)
It is apparently a #romantasygirlsummer and this one did not disappoint. HP Nero creates a stunning world that was a joy for my imagination to envision. The magic system she's created is unique and intriguing--I really loved that so much of it was determined by seasons and that everyone's magic is particular and unique to each character. I am really hoping that she explores and explains this more in her next book.
I also loved the characters HP created to inhabit this world. I feel like we have just scratched the surface of them and I am really looking forward to hopefully a deeper dive into their backgrounds and particular magic skill sets in upcoming novels. I need Hiver to be able to fully be able to enjoy what he's been yearning for--that cliffhanger at the end was no fair! I also really want to know exactly what Jesper's purpose in taking Mirage back to the tenth kingdom was in the first place. I have so many questions left for these characters. If you're a fan of found family, this novel is a great one for you.
While I can agree with some other reviewers that the page breaks throughout the duration of the novel didn't always make the most sense and were a little distracting to me at first, I feel like the more interesting the story became, the more I was able to ignore them when necessary and continue my progression of the story. I believe in and love me a good page break, but in this instance I do agree and think that there were too many that weren't utilized to further the story, but were used more like paragraph breaks. However, I think that may be the biggest criticism of this novel but because it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book itself, I think it honestly is a minor issue that can be rectified in future novels for this series.
This book had me at the edge of my seat through its end and now I just want to know what happens next. This is a fun, new romantasy series and I am looking forward to the next book :)
July 9, 2025
Having reviewed hundreds of debut novels over the years, I am deeply impressed by the thoughtfulness of this universe. I dove into HP’s social media and discovered that our narrator is neurodivergent; a choice that lends the story remarkable authenticity.
Mirage is a captivating heroine: unconventional, intelligent, and weighed down by challenges that resonate deeply. Her journey through the world of the Tessiah held me enthralled from the first page, and I’ve already braced myself for the reading slump sure to follow its conclusion. If I were still in the agenting business, I would have been all over this book.
I believe that once readers experience this vibrant world and its unforgettable protagonist, word of mouth will carry this novel to the acclaim it so richly deserves; and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
This level of imagination and world-building has blown me away. This is a remarkable debut, and I have no doubts this will break into the traditional space very soon.
Thank you NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this.
Mirage is a captivating heroine: unconventional, intelligent, and weighed down by challenges that resonate deeply. Her journey through the world of the Tessiah held me enthralled from the first page, and I’ve already braced myself for the reading slump sure to follow its conclusion. If I were still in the agenting business, I would have been all over this book.
I believe that once readers experience this vibrant world and its unforgettable protagonist, word of mouth will carry this novel to the acclaim it so richly deserves; and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
This level of imagination and world-building has blown me away. This is a remarkable debut, and I have no doubts this will break into the traditional space very soon.
Thank you NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this.
July 29, 2025
This book did take me a few reads to get into but once I was in, I was captivated. The world building sets it up to be a brilliant series. I found the best aspect of this book to be the found family. The characters are brilliant and leave you wanting more. The slow burn makes me want to read on in book 2.
And the ending was a surprise I was not expecting!
Thank you Net gallery for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review
And the ending was a surprise I was not expecting!
Thank you Net gallery for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review
July 30, 2025
This book was a bit difficult to get into but once I was in I couldn’t stop reading. Mirage is a super likeable character and i found myself rooting for Hiver as her love interest almost immediately. I liked the natural magic system versus a “witch-spell” based magic system. Beware of the cliff folks its a doozy! Looking forward to book 2.
June 18, 2025
This was an interesting read. And fun.
The world-building and magic system is quite interesting, fun to navigate, easy to follow.
The writing, however, annoyed me sometimes. Not the writing itself, but the dividing. Scenes are separated for no apparent reason other than style, which cuts the natural flow of the scene. We're in the middle of a scene and then suddenly a divider between two paragraphs. Why? I don't get it. [*edit to update:* it seems my Kobo version had some issues and these dividres are not supposed to be there. The author kindly reached out to me regarding this issue and it my be because of the file itself.]
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The pace of the story is good, but I think the romance(s) happened too fast. There was no building, especially with Stygian. One day they meet, the next one they're engulfed in passion and Mira thinks she kinda loves him. With Hiver it's a bit more natural, but still lacks a bit of intimacy. You know, conversations and silence, the things where love blooms. The spicy parts are alright. I do think Mira and Hiver have a lot more sexual tension than Mira and Stygian, but I guess that's the point.
The protagonist is not a Mary Sue - instead, she has depth and dimensions. Yes, she's weak at first, but she works it out. Yes, she's the definition of a hero, but she's not a natural hero. She needs to work her power and learn how to control it. That's lovely. Makes her more human and real.
*END OF SPOILERS*
The beginning was slow, but I do understand why. It needed to give us the background to understand what was to come. The second half, however, was a complete whirlwind. I couldn't put it down.
If this was from a publishing house, I'd give it maybe a three, because it lacks some editing. However, since this is a work entirely independent, where the author had to work on it herself, I'll give it a four. Because, all things considered, it is a good book. Especially considering it's indie.
The world-building and magic system is quite interesting, fun to navigate, easy to follow.
The writing, however, annoyed me sometimes. Not the writing itself, but the dividing. Scenes are separated for no apparent reason other than style, which cuts the natural flow of the scene. We're in the middle of a scene and then suddenly a divider between two paragraphs. Why? I don't get it. [*edit to update:* it seems my Kobo version had some issues and these dividres are not supposed to be there. The author kindly reached out to me regarding this issue and it my be because of the file itself.]
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The pace of the story is good, but I think the romance(s) happened too fast. There was no building, especially with Stygian. One day they meet, the next one they're engulfed in passion and Mira thinks she kinda loves him. With Hiver it's a bit more natural, but still lacks a bit of intimacy. You know, conversations and silence, the things where love blooms. The spicy parts are alright. I do think Mira and Hiver have a lot more sexual tension than Mira and Stygian, but I guess that's the point.
The protagonist is not a Mary Sue - instead, she has depth and dimensions. Yes, she's weak at first, but she works it out. Yes, she's the definition of a hero, but she's not a natural hero. She needs to work her power and learn how to control it. That's lovely. Makes her more human and real.
*END OF SPOILERS*
The beginning was slow, but I do understand why. It needed to give us the background to understand what was to come. The second half, however, was a complete whirlwind. I couldn't put it down.
If this was from a publishing house, I'd give it maybe a three, because it lacks some editing. However, since this is a work entirely independent, where the author had to work on it herself, I'll give it a four. Because, all things considered, it is a good book. Especially considering it's indie.
August 23, 2025
First, the good stuff. I liked the worldbuilding in this book. The magic seems cool, from what I could tell anyway, though it is awfully similar to so much other blood magic in so many other series. In a way that is good, because this book is very light on explanations that actually make much sense. Most of the characters seem to have no clue what they are doing, and they are all so psychotic that they spend very little time expounding on what they are all so frenetically prepping to fight, or why.
The storytelling, being pretty much entirely in first person, though it turns out not always from the same person's perspective (very confusing since both women are similar enough when we are in their heads, it turns out), means we get very limited descriptions of practically everything unless the POV character is looking at it. We do get more detail about the bizarrely elaborate bejewelled gowns our warrior princess in training wears when she is not training. It is nice that whoever they are training to fight never attacks them while they are dressed up in their fancy gowns.
A lot of this book makes only enough sense to keep the reader reading, and the plot is awfully thin without someone who knows what is going on to explain why anything is happening.
So, frustrating storytelling, probably a great world that has promise if it is rendered better. Maybe an actual school for magic users would have been a nifty intro to this world instead of whatever the kingdom is that our princess has landed in. I doubt I'll read book 2 in this series, unless I hear glowing praise from enough fellow readers first.
The storytelling, being pretty much entirely in first person, though it turns out not always from the same person's perspective (very confusing since both women are similar enough when we are in their heads, it turns out), means we get very limited descriptions of practically everything unless the POV character is looking at it. We do get more detail about the bizarrely elaborate bejewelled gowns our warrior princess in training wears when she is not training. It is nice that whoever they are training to fight never attacks them while they are dressed up in their fancy gowns.
A lot of this book makes only enough sense to keep the reader reading, and the plot is awfully thin without someone who knows what is going on to explain why anything is happening.
So, frustrating storytelling, probably a great world that has promise if it is rendered better. Maybe an actual school for magic users would have been a nifty intro to this world instead of whatever the kingdom is that our princess has landed in. I doubt I'll read book 2 in this series, unless I hear glowing praise from enough fellow readers first.
March 23, 2025
The following reviews are from Amazon & the Barnes and Noble website!
Amazon:
Absolutely gorgeous writing
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2025
Verified Purchase
From the moment I picked up Kingdom of the Sun, I was hooked. I barely came up for air until I reached the last page. The imagery in this book is absolutely incredible—it pulled me right into the story and made everything feel so vivid and real. I can't remember the last time I gave up an entire weekend day to snuggle in, turning pages.
Being careful not to be spoiler ..the seasonal rooms, in particular, were mesmerizing. I could practically see the colors, feel the atmosphere, and even smell the scents of each one. The descriptions of the gowns and clothing were so rich in detail that I could picture every fabric and shimmer, and the way food and fragrances were woven into the story added an almost tangible depth.
This book was an experience—one that I didn’t want to end. If you love stories that fully immerse you in a beautifully crafted world, Kingdom of the Sun is definitely worth the read. Fantasy is not generally my chosen genre but I was truly amazed and in love with the world she created.
B&N:
Thrilling & Detailed
I couldn't put this book down!! Kingdom of the Sun weaves a spellbinding tale of defiant royalty, vivid emotions, and breathtaking imagery that will captivate your heart. Its richly drawn characters and relentless pace make it an ESSENTIAL read for anyone who craves epic fantasy with a twist. Highly recommended!!!!!
Amazon:
Absolutely gorgeous writing
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2025
Verified Purchase
From the moment I picked up Kingdom of the Sun, I was hooked. I barely came up for air until I reached the last page. The imagery in this book is absolutely incredible—it pulled me right into the story and made everything feel so vivid and real. I can't remember the last time I gave up an entire weekend day to snuggle in, turning pages.
Being careful not to be spoiler ..the seasonal rooms, in particular, were mesmerizing. I could practically see the colors, feel the atmosphere, and even smell the scents of each one. The descriptions of the gowns and clothing were so rich in detail that I could picture every fabric and shimmer, and the way food and fragrances were woven into the story added an almost tangible depth.
This book was an experience—one that I didn’t want to end. If you love stories that fully immerse you in a beautifully crafted world, Kingdom of the Sun is definitely worth the read. Fantasy is not generally my chosen genre but I was truly amazed and in love with the world she created.
B&N:
Thrilling & Detailed
I couldn't put this book down!! Kingdom of the Sun weaves a spellbinding tale of defiant royalty, vivid emotions, and breathtaking imagery that will captivate your heart. Its richly drawn characters and relentless pace make it an ESSENTIAL read for anyone who craves epic fantasy with a twist. Highly recommended!!!!!
June 22, 2025
Instantly hooked and loved every moment of it. This book does end of a cliffhanger, so do be prepared for that!
The characters are the best part of this story. They're all so different and I found myself crying over them a few times throughout the story. The author really did a great job of conveying their feelings and showcasing their personalities.
I also appreciate that all characters had unique names and none were too similar, so it was easy to keep track of each person and their magic abilities.
Also, I LOVE meddling/petty gods and this story has a perfect amount of that.
There are only a few things that I think could improve this book.
- Typos/editing: I read an ARC, so it's likely these were resolved before the book published. There wasn't much to be edited out, but I do think that some sections (chapter 15 for example), could have used some fine tuning to make them perfect. Luckily chapter 15 is clarified later in the book (towards the last 15%).
- Formatting: There are so many page breaks! Like, too many. The page breaks make it confusing/choppy to read. Most books I've read typically use them to convey when there is a change in time/location/scene, but they would appear throughout the story frequently and in the middle of the scene.
- The synopsis on the author's IG is SO much more interesting that the one on NetGalley, GoodReads, and Amazon. I hope they considering updating those sites too.
Overall, a solid read and I can't wait for book two!
The characters are the best part of this story. They're all so different and I found myself crying over them a few times throughout the story. The author really did a great job of conveying their feelings and showcasing their personalities.
I also appreciate that all characters had unique names and none were too similar, so it was easy to keep track of each person and their magic abilities.
Also, I LOVE meddling/petty gods and this story has a perfect amount of that.
There are only a few things that I think could improve this book.
- Typos/editing: I read an ARC, so it's likely these were resolved before the book published. There wasn't much to be edited out, but I do think that some sections (chapter 15 for example), could have used some fine tuning to make them perfect. Luckily chapter 15 is clarified later in the book (towards the last 15%).
- Formatting: There are so many page breaks! Like, too many. The page breaks make it confusing/choppy to read. Most books I've read typically use them to convey when there is a change in time/location/scene, but they would appear throughout the story frequently and in the middle of the scene.
- The synopsis on the author's IG is SO much more interesting that the one on NetGalley, GoodReads, and Amazon. I hope they considering updating those sites too.
Overall, a solid read and I can't wait for book two!
June 19, 2025
I want to preface my review by admitting I don’t read much fantasy and I’m mostly a romance reader, but Kingdom of the Sun has set the bar impossibly high for my future fantasy picks.
The beginning felt slow at first, but I soon realized there’s a vast world being built beneath that opening, so I’m quite forgiving of the pace. I fell in love with Mirage from page one. She’s strong and intelligent, and her softer nature is refreshing. In my limited fantasy experience, too many heroines feel like flawless “Mary Sues,” and it gets boring. I want to see someone struggle, to watch the heroine learn through trial and error; and this book delivers exactly that.
From start to finish, I thought it was incredible; especially the last 25%. Those final chapters were truly heart-stopping, and I never ever could have predicted the ending. Incredible. 10/10. I wish I could lose my memory so I could read it again for the first time, that’s how much I adored it.
My only real quibble is the slow start, but once you’re immersed in the world and its cast, it’s more than worth the wait. I refuse to drop spoilers in a review, but holy shit! I did not see that coming!
The prose was beautiful. It read like poetry most of the time and it was gorgeous. That’s something I miss since lyrical prose like this feels very classic lit coded. Nero is likely secretly a Brontë sister. I can imagine “new school” fantasy fans finding it a bit difficult to get through, but if you crave rich world building and emotional depth, this is for you. If you are someone who needs constant action and stimulation to enjoy a book, this is likely not for you. I feel like this book will amass a cult following once it hits the right audience.
Thank you NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning felt slow at first, but I soon realized there’s a vast world being built beneath that opening, so I’m quite forgiving of the pace. I fell in love with Mirage from page one. She’s strong and intelligent, and her softer nature is refreshing. In my limited fantasy experience, too many heroines feel like flawless “Mary Sues,” and it gets boring. I want to see someone struggle, to watch the heroine learn through trial and error; and this book delivers exactly that.
From start to finish, I thought it was incredible; especially the last 25%. Those final chapters were truly heart-stopping, and I never ever could have predicted the ending. Incredible. 10/10. I wish I could lose my memory so I could read it again for the first time, that’s how much I adored it.
My only real quibble is the slow start, but once you’re immersed in the world and its cast, it’s more than worth the wait. I refuse to drop spoilers in a review, but holy shit! I did not see that coming!
The prose was beautiful. It read like poetry most of the time and it was gorgeous. That’s something I miss since lyrical prose like this feels very classic lit coded. Nero is likely secretly a Brontë sister. I can imagine “new school” fantasy fans finding it a bit difficult to get through, but if you crave rich world building and emotional depth, this is for you. If you are someone who needs constant action and stimulation to enjoy a book, this is likely not for you. I feel like this book will amass a cult following once it hits the right audience.
Thank you NetGalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2026
Kingdom of the Sun was a great way for me to end 2025! I love the magic, the characters, and the world building!
I was iffy about Mirage at first, she seemed weak and feeble but as you learn her story you understand why! I enjoyed the growth I saw from her in this book as she was pushed into her powers and starts learning about who she really is. & I can’t wait to see more growth from her in future books hopefully! With sweet and spicy scenes with not one but two different mc’s had me on the edge of my seat wondering which one she would ultimately choose!
I loooved the magic used in this story, it had a unique feel to it and was centered around seasons and the solstices which really drew my witchy heart in lol. Each season has such unique power and abilities and I learned loving all of them though we saw the most of winter and autumn!
The more I read, the more I wanted to keep reading!! There was a nice pacing throughout the book though I would love some more info on certain things to come to light in the future! By the end I couldn’t put it down until I finished, and on a cliffhanger at that! I have to say the ending was an amazing one that really threw me for a loop.
I was iffy about Mirage at first, she seemed weak and feeble but as you learn her story you understand why! I enjoyed the growth I saw from her in this book as she was pushed into her powers and starts learning about who she really is. & I can’t wait to see more growth from her in future books hopefully! With sweet and spicy scenes with not one but two different mc’s had me on the edge of my seat wondering which one she would ultimately choose!
I loooved the magic used in this story, it had a unique feel to it and was centered around seasons and the solstices which really drew my witchy heart in lol. Each season has such unique power and abilities and I learned loving all of them though we saw the most of winter and autumn!
The more I read, the more I wanted to keep reading!! There was a nice pacing throughout the book though I would love some more info on certain things to come to light in the future! By the end I couldn’t put it down until I finished, and on a cliffhanger at that! I have to say the ending was an amazing one that really threw me for a loop.
April 30, 2025
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
"I now made a decision I never thought myself capable of: choosing mercy,
choosing pity, choosing love."
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
Saw this book on TikTok and I loved it! How is this not blowing up right now?! It was phenomenal. I finished it in two days—completely unable to put it down.
The magic system? Unique, refreshing, and honestly so cool. The main character is layered, likeable, and totally someone you root for. It’s just a solid fantasy read from start to finish.
The ending is truly ruining my life right now, and I am desperate for book two.
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
"I wanted his words, his admission, his guilt laid bare before me.
I wouldn’t ask, though, He would need to of er it to me.
I needed his confession."
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
"I now made a decision I never thought myself capable of: choosing mercy,
choosing pity, choosing love."
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
Saw this book on TikTok and I loved it! How is this not blowing up right now?! It was phenomenal. I finished it in two days—completely unable to put it down.
The magic system? Unique, refreshing, and honestly so cool. The main character is layered, likeable, and totally someone you root for. It’s just a solid fantasy read from start to finish.
The ending is truly ruining my life right now, and I am desperate for book two.
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
"I wanted his words, his admission, his guilt laid bare before me.
I wouldn’t ask, though, He would need to of er it to me.
I needed his confession."
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
July 9, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I can't give a great review of the entire story, as I could only make it 5% into this book. The format of the writing was all over the place, the drop caps at the beginning of the chapters were invisible, and there were random page breaks and spacing everywhere throughout the chapters that I did read.
Now, the content of the book that I was able to muddle through was just that–muddy. Right in the beginning, we're given a huge history dump with constant page breaks and thought jumps. It felt like no concept or thought was ever finished. At the end of the first chapter, it just abruptly ended; it in no way felt finished.
The story after that was more of the same, half formed thoughts and repeated phrases that immediately took me out of the story. At one point you are told that the main character and her father look nothing alike, which is immediately followed by a description of similarities. I cannot continue reading this 500 page book in this format. It's too jarring.
I can't give a great review of the entire story, as I could only make it 5% into this book. The format of the writing was all over the place, the drop caps at the beginning of the chapters were invisible, and there were random page breaks and spacing everywhere throughout the chapters that I did read.
Now, the content of the book that I was able to muddle through was just that–muddy. Right in the beginning, we're given a huge history dump with constant page breaks and thought jumps. It felt like no concept or thought was ever finished. At the end of the first chapter, it just abruptly ended; it in no way felt finished.
The story after that was more of the same, half formed thoughts and repeated phrases that immediately took me out of the story. At one point you are told that the main character and her father look nothing alike, which is immediately followed by a description of similarities. I cannot continue reading this 500 page book in this format. It's too jarring.
August 28, 2025
This was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review — thank you HP Nero & NetGalley for the gifted eARC.
Book: Kingdom of the Sun.
Series: The Hollow Crown #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating: 4⭐
4/5 Relationships
4/5 Characters
4/5 Plot
3🌶
*:✿˚⋆ SPOILER FREE REVIEW *:✿˚⋆
Kingdom of the Sun follows the journey of a royal princess as she is thrown into a world of magic, where she must learn to grow into what she was meant to be through tireless training, identity crisis and preparations for an inevitable war. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. After getting the eARC, I saw some negative reviews that made me less enthusiastic to read it. I’m ashamed to admit that I delayed reading the book because of them, and downright regret doing so since I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The world building was very well done, in my opinion. From beginning to end, I found it extremely easy to navigate through the story and its world. The magic system & creatures, the political hierarchy, the kingdoms and locations were all very clear and easy to comprehend. This made the experience much better as I was able to completely understand where the characters were, what creature they were and how their magic functioned without having to go back and read the initial explanations. This is something big for me as I like to have clear pictures in my mind while reading, and sometimes I need to go back and forth between initial encounters, explanations and maps in order to assure complete comprehension before moving forward. So, when the world building is this well done, I enjoy the material that much more.
The pacing was great, not too fast or slow and not inconsistent. The story was easy to follow and I did not feel rushed or stalled at any point in the book.
The plot itself was a bit less extensive. I see where this series will go and I get why the events in this installment needed to happen, but I do wish a bit more of the plot would have unfolded. Since this is a 500 page book, I was hoping we would delve a bit further into the plot, but it still remained somewhat surface levelled. This is not to say that the plot is not good, because I really liked it and feel like it’s heading in the right direction; I just think that the book could have been a bit shorter or more of the plot could have been unwrapped. I did not see any significant plot-holes and the story is realistic in its genre.
I LOVED the characters. I think it was one of the best aspects of the book. We got to see enough depth to understand them, but some mystery was also left which allows for more character development throughout the next installment(s). The dynamics of the characters' relationships with one another was well done, and the “new found family” trope was present without being “too much”.
The romances were also great. We have a few slow burns that I’m assuming will only unfold in the next book(s), but we also had 1 or 2 fast burn romances to keep us satiated throughout the book. I think there is a lot of potential for the characters and the relationships/romance in the future of this series, and I’m excited to see where it will go.
As for the writing. This is what the negative reviews I saw were about. Personally, the writing, syntax, grammar or book format are not things that will make me automatically dislike a book. It might take me more time to get into the book because of it, or it might distract me a bit, but I won’t dock points because of it. However, I know that not everyone feels the same, so I think it’s important for me to talk about it.
The writing itself, in my opinion, is nothing to complain about. The language used was a mix of sophistication and slang without being too formal or informal. The syntax was consistently good and comprehensible and the grammar was great.
VIEW UPDATE BELOW STRIKETHROUGH
My only issue — and what seems to be the general “turn off” for some people — is the amount of paragraphs & story breaks. I have to agree that there are way too many of them and around 97% are unnecessary. There’s no reason for these breaks as the following paragraphs are usually of the same minute or scene, same key or of the same topic. Initially, I had a hard time getting into the story because these breaks are a distraction, but once I started ignoring them and just kept reading as if there were no breaks, I started really enjoying the book and hardly even saw the breaks at all anymore.
So ignore all strikethrough information above. I was notified that the formatting issue (paragrah/ story breaks) has been fixed, I simply had a older version of the download. In this case, I think the editing of these breaks will help in giving everyone a better experience and I truly cannot see a reason to not like this book.
Lastly, the book ends on a cliffhanger. The third act isn’t that surprising but the cliffhanger really is. I think it was well done and I wish the 2nd book was already out because I really need to know what happens.
Overall, I really enjoyed Kingdom of the Sun. I think it is a great Fantasy Romance with a lot of potential. The story will captivate your attention and satiate your Fantasy-Romance needs. Any fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy this series, especially fans of Kindred Curse, ToG and War of Lost Hearts.
Book: Kingdom of the Sun.
Series: The Hollow Crown #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating: 4⭐
4/5 Relationships
4/5 Characters
4/5 Plot
3🌶
*:✿˚⋆ SPOILER FREE REVIEW *:✿˚⋆
Kingdom of the Sun follows the journey of a royal princess as she is thrown into a world of magic, where she must learn to grow into what she was meant to be through tireless training, identity crisis and preparations for an inevitable war. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. After getting the eARC, I saw some negative reviews that made me less enthusiastic to read it. I’m ashamed to admit that I delayed reading the book because of them, and downright regret doing so since I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The world building was very well done, in my opinion. From beginning to end, I found it extremely easy to navigate through the story and its world. The magic system & creatures, the political hierarchy, the kingdoms and locations were all very clear and easy to comprehend. This made the experience much better as I was able to completely understand where the characters were, what creature they were and how their magic functioned without having to go back and read the initial explanations. This is something big for me as I like to have clear pictures in my mind while reading, and sometimes I need to go back and forth between initial encounters, explanations and maps in order to assure complete comprehension before moving forward. So, when the world building is this well done, I enjoy the material that much more.
The pacing was great, not too fast or slow and not inconsistent. The story was easy to follow and I did not feel rushed or stalled at any point in the book.
The plot itself was a bit less extensive. I see where this series will go and I get why the events in this installment needed to happen, but I do wish a bit more of the plot would have unfolded. Since this is a 500 page book, I was hoping we would delve a bit further into the plot, but it still remained somewhat surface levelled. This is not to say that the plot is not good, because I really liked it and feel like it’s heading in the right direction; I just think that the book could have been a bit shorter or more of the plot could have been unwrapped. I did not see any significant plot-holes and the story is realistic in its genre.
I LOVED the characters. I think it was one of the best aspects of the book. We got to see enough depth to understand them, but some mystery was also left which allows for more character development throughout the next installment(s). The dynamics of the characters' relationships with one another was well done, and the “new found family” trope was present without being “too much”.
The romances were also great. We have a few slow burns that I’m assuming will only unfold in the next book(s), but we also had 1 or 2 fast burn romances to keep us satiated throughout the book. I think there is a lot of potential for the characters and the relationships/romance in the future of this series, and I’m excited to see where it will go.
As for the writing. This is what the negative reviews I saw were about. Personally, the writing, syntax, grammar or book format are not things that will make me automatically dislike a book. It might take me more time to get into the book because of it, or it might distract me a bit, but I won’t dock points because of it. However, I know that not everyone feels the same, so I think it’s important for me to talk about it.
The writing itself, in my opinion, is nothing to complain about. The language used was a mix of sophistication and slang without being too formal or informal. The syntax was consistently good and comprehensible and the grammar was great.
VIEW UPDATE BELOW STRIKETHROUGH
So ignore all strikethrough information above. I was notified that the formatting issue (paragrah/ story breaks) has been fixed, I simply had a older version of the download. In this case, I think the editing of these breaks will help in giving everyone a better experience and I truly cannot see a reason to not like this book.
Lastly, the book ends on a cliffhanger. The third act isn’t that surprising but the cliffhanger really is. I think it was well done and I wish the 2nd book was already out because I really need to know what happens.
Overall, I really enjoyed Kingdom of the Sun. I think it is a great Fantasy Romance with a lot of potential. The story will captivate your attention and satiate your Fantasy-Romance needs. Any fantasy reader would thoroughly enjoy this series, especially fans of Kindred Curse, ToG and War of Lost Hearts.
June 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the free ebook ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
Mirage is a royal girl with an abusive king dad and a brooding-but-kind twin brother. She is brutally forced to learn the truth about herself and her family when she's sold to a mythic kingdom full of magic.
The plot and pacing were great. I loved that each person's magic was given its own particular scent in this book-very creative. The scenery/imagery/powers were described beautifully (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). However, there were multiple points that dialogue felt unnatural and that pulled me out of the book several times, as did the descriptors of it ("cooed", "purred", etc being used quite often). While it was an interesting idea and story, I'm not sure if I'll read the next in the series.
Mirage is a royal girl with an abusive king dad and a brooding-but-kind twin brother. She is brutally forced to learn the truth about herself and her family when she's sold to a mythic kingdom full of magic.
The plot and pacing were great. I loved that each person's magic was given its own particular scent in this book-very creative. The scenery/imagery/powers were described beautifully (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers). However, there were multiple points that dialogue felt unnatural and that pulled me out of the book several times, as did the descriptors of it ("cooed", "purred", etc being used quite often). While it was an interesting idea and story, I'm not sure if I'll read the next in the series.
June 11, 2025
Kingdom of the Sun was an alright book.
The plot was well thought out, and the pacing was good. However, I couldn't read it past the 50% mark.
The MC Mirage was likable and well thought out. The world building was thought out and easy to follow, and the magic system was well written.
However, the dialog was poorly written and unbelievable and kept pulling me out of the book.
The first two chapters felt like info dumping instead of me being able to fully bond with the character.
I feel like it would be a wonderful book if it wasn't for the dialog and the random moments of info dumping that pulled me out of the book.
The plot was well thought out, and the pacing was good. However, I couldn't read it past the 50% mark.
The MC Mirage was likable and well thought out. The world building was thought out and easy to follow, and the magic system was well written.
However, the dialog was poorly written and unbelievable and kept pulling me out of the book.
The first two chapters felt like info dumping instead of me being able to fully bond with the character.
I feel like it would be a wonderful book if it wasn't for the dialog and the random moments of info dumping that pulled me out of the book.
January 4, 2026
I love love loved the world building and the concept of this book! Magic based off the season you’re born in? Tensions between kingdoms over the acceptance of magic? Amazing. The only issue i really had was the main character is pretty passive for most of the book, but towards the end she has two moments where she starts to take initiative. Overall, this was a really good story.
I do have to put a love triangle and miscommunication warning on it. And like. Borderline cheating. Nothing is exclusive, but it still felt kind of. Eh.
I do have to put a love triangle and miscommunication warning on it. And like. Borderline cheating. Nothing is exclusive, but it still felt kind of. Eh.
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