She Knows All the Names

Throne of Khetara #2

by Michelle Jabès Corpora

The sequel to the ***INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** His Face is the Sun.

Magic, adventure, romance, and horror collide in this lush, epic, Ancient Egyptian inspired trilogy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tahereh Mafi, and Sabaa Tahir.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

Michelle Jabès Corpora is the New York Times and National bestselling author of many books for readers of all ages. In addition to working in the publishing industry for more than nineteen 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 trilogy 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.

Reviews

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I compared book one to Game of Thrones. This one is more like City of Brass.
An Egyptian-inspired, young adult fantasy that combines history and myth with magic.

A prophecy. A priestess, a princess, a revel, and a thief.
Each character has a purpose and a personal motive, setting this apart from other YA books by balancing different perspectives.

“I would rather wield a tempered blade than one that has never endured the flames.”

I did find the pacing odd in this one. It set up a lot, but also tried to resolve other threads in a manner that felt rushed. The climax felt chaotic and unearned.

I can’t help but compare this to The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan. This felt more complex with more mature characters. Filled with political intrigue and teased with a minor subplot of romance.

Overall, an ambitious Egyptian-inspired YA fantasy that reads quickly, has a helpful glossary, and internally strong characters.

Physical arc gifted by Tempest.

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[Debra Giuffrida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurry up and get this published!!! You left us hanging! Argh!

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so freaking excited to read this as an ARC! I hoped with my whole heart it was worth the wait and let me tell you friends and readers… it IS!

I devoured this book in a day. I could not stop reading it. The prophecy of the lamb, all the moving pieces, the scary shadow man from the tomb, and all sorts of palace intrigue. This book does not let up for one single page. Breakneck pace feels like an undersell. I adored His Face is The Sun, but She Knows All The Names is truly a masterpiece. And I can’t tell you a thing that happens because it’s so interconnected that it would all be spoilers. It’s beautiful and I can’t wait for the next book in this series, I am totally enraptured with this entire world.

This one? This one you NEED. It hits shelves May 5 and I highly recommend picking up a copy and diving into this series, especially if you love Egyptian history and magic.

Huge thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Saiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mind was once again blown, although I really should have expected it since I enjoyed the first book so much!
The book dives right in, and we see the fallout from the climax of book 1. It's difficult for me to talk about how much I enjoyed this book without getting too specific, as I really think it's best when you just go into it but I'll try!
Once again alternating POVs, we follow Nefermaat as she embraces her new role in the palace, Sitamun who starts her own journey of discovery and purpose (along with Karim, who has a whole lot to deal with after his ordeal) and Rae, continuing to fight the good fight for her people. A lot is going on both politically (and cataclysmically - the new player on the board is here to cause chaos and distress and nobody is exempt.) I definitely enjoyed Sita's journey the most, as you see her grow and change arguably the most, so I would always be itching to get back to her POV, although I enjoyed all and the switching did keep me engaged and keep things fresh.
The world itself is also incredibly immersive - like with the first book, you can tell the care and passion the author put into her research. The Egyptian lore is rich and explored very well, and her descriptive writing truly made me feel like I was right there along on the journey.
Plot development is once again on point - at no point was I bored or simply going through the motions reading. Everything that happens feels purposeful and important, and I love that although once again I was shot at gunpoint with a cliffhanger, we got to see a couple storylines converge and conclude, so I closed the book (ie put down my phone) with some sense of satisfaction.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this read and cannot wait for the finale. Very rarely do I find a new fantasy series that grips me wholeheartedly, and I truly cannot recommend this series enough!
Huge thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-arc of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

[bookandachai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this incredible YA Egyptian fantasy. Wasn’t sure it was possible to like a book more then the first one but it’s been done. Following our four main characters as the oracle continues to show them the way forward, fumbling, failing and succeeding as best they can. I audibly gasped the last chapter.

[mylibraryofdreams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was probably most excited for this book in 2026 as book 1 was one of my absolute favorites last year.
sadly it didnt catch me as I wished for. it was still very great and I enjoyed it but it felt a bit like a book 2 in a trilogy. which it is, so yeah.

I still love the characters so much, especially Neff. Cannot wait to see more of her. I liked how Sita grew since book 1 and really loved the scenes between her and Karim. I enjoyed Karims humour a lot. Rae had some great moments that I liked aswell.

I also loved that there still isnt lots of romance in it and the story focuses on the plot and characters. I like the writing and the pov of the ibis (I missed the cat tho🤣)
I am still very much into egyptian stuff so of course I enjoyed the book no matter what🤣

I am looking forward to book 3! its gonna be epic

[chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've said it once and i'll say it again: there is a perfect word for this series and it is EPIC. i absolutely loved book one last year and this one had kept the hype going. each and every chapter of this added to the overarching plot while still allowing each of the pov characters to come into themselves and their roles in the prophecy. this is set in a fantastically researched and well built fantasy world inspired by egypt, maybe my favorite i've ever read. the use of the gods, including so many niche ones, is just incredible. i definitely cried when sita met isis and nephthys. the plot is so expertly woven that i'm continuously in shock of how things unfold. on top of everything else, the characters are amazing. i adore neff and how strong and sure of her path she is despite her youth. sita is also so great as she works her way through her own balance of dark and light. karim has had my heart from day one and i absolutely love his romance with sita. what a yearner. rae and tam are also so so adorable. i love them and this series so much. can't wait for book three. 🥰

[PT99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Oh, oh... Woe be unto me! Such malice, such sorrow! Betrayed by my closest friend, the person I had, like, seven lines of dialogue with!"

7/10

[Ashley Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this book in a day and a half. Such a refreshing fantasy realm far from the land of a Faerie or Fae. The Egyptian lore is enchanting, the characters are worth rooting for, and the pace is just right for a second book in a trilogy where many other series second books feel like filler. Also, side note - you can totally judge this one by its cover, which is absolutely beautiful.

[Alyx Gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC!

I don’t even know how to start this because I am in a full emotional spiral in the BEST way.

The second book two was announced, I knew I needed it. No hesitation. This series already had such a hold on me, and somehow this one made me fall even harder. I genuinely cannot express how much I love it.

It’s giving The Mummy meets Indiana Jones but with so much heart and emotional depth that it just completely consumes you. The world feels alive, the stakes feel real, and everything feels so big in the best way.

And the CHARACTERS.

I am so deeply attached to all of them it’s actually a problem. Neff, Rae, Karim, Sita—every single one of them feels so real and so unique. Watching their stories unfold, seeing their struggles and choices and growth… it got to me. Like really got to me.

I cried. Multiple times. No shame.

There’s something about the way this story is told that makes you feel so connected to them, like you’re right there with them, carrying everything alongside them. Their pain, their hope, their fear—it all felt personal.

And the way everything is building??? I was completely locked in. The tension, the prophecy, the sense that something massive is coming… I could feel it the entire time.

This isn’t just a sequel—it expands everything. The world, the stakes, the emotions. It all hits harder.

I’m just… so grateful this series exists. It’s one of those stories that stays with you, that you carry long after you finish.

I already know I’m not done thinking about it.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veryyy high expectations after the first book. Not as exciting and not enough resolved at the end. Still so good and fun

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. I read the first book in the series as an ARC as well, and I have now completely devoured both books!

Continuing the riveting tale from book 1, we find the same characters on harrowing adventures across the sands, racing the clock, and trying to save the kingdom from Sita’s evil brother, Mery, who has successfully poisoned and killed their own father, the King. Rae and her fellow rebels are on a conquest to infiltrate the palace, save her father who has been taken as prisoner, and overtake the evil Mery. Sita and Karim have teamed up and with new powers learned, are journeying back to the palace to face her very own brother who not only killed their father, but wants to marry and bed her? Neff has become elevated in the world—she is now the priestess and closest advisor to Mery, although she despises him. These storylines eventually converge at the end when a great battle is fought to stop Mery from executing the prisoner rebels and casting a powerful dark curse on all his enemies. In the background, a strange, dark evil is also traveling across the sands—even though Mery is an evil ruler—something far more sinister is walking among us.

After finishing book 2, I found that it wasn’t as exciting as the first book. This is very typical of series; however, I still found myself very fond of the characters and I was interested and engaged in each storyline. The characters feel real and relatable, and while there may be four main characters to follow, the author does a great job making it very clear and easy to follow. I enjoyed the magic, the romance, the Egyptian mythology references, the beautiful setting, the action, the adventure, the tragedy, and the cliff-hanger ending!

I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series! I am very pleased with this young adult novel!

[LiteraryGamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.75/5

I have most certainly gotten excited about a trilogy, only to get to book two and feel let down. I won’t name any names, but it’s so disappointing when that happens, because whether or not book three gets it together, there’s always that stain of a bad book in the middle. I’m happy to say that will not be the case if you pick up this book. Whether or not Corpora nails the landing remains to be seen (I have zero doubts she will), but book two only elevates everything from book one. I do think I enjoyed book one just a tiny bit more for a couple of reasons, but we’ll get to that.

It’s difficult to talk in depth about a second book in a series because now we’re in spoiler territory, but the story picks up pretty much right where we left off. The author does a great job of weaving the important facts of book one into the beginning of this book, but in a way that also provides new information or context as well. It never felt info dumpy, and you will for sure need to have read book one before diving into book two.

There’s some fantastic character development; Sita especially goes on a really fantastic and steady journey, and you can see the change in her if you look back to even the end of the first book when she started thinking for herself. I was most curious about Karim, since we left him in 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 a state at the end of book one, and while I won’t spoil anything, I’ll just say things get 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 regarding the lore he’s chasing…or is it chasing him?

I think the pacing overall was really fantastic, but there were times it seemed like Rae (while doing her own thing for the Resistance) and Neff (now in the employ of the king) were sneaking around and getting away with way too much. It didn’t matter until it mattered for the sake of the plot, it was too much sneaking in a palace full of guards the rest of the time.

There’s also a certain spectral (?) figure, invisible to everyone but a supposed ally to Neff. Having an invisible friend, in my opinion, was a little pointless as it only showed up sometimes and never consistently. What triggers it to help her or not? It was a little confusing, but still a minor detail in the grand scheme of things.

If you love Ancient Egyptian lore, or you have a teenager who loves it, this YA book series is going to be for you. I was tense at times, at one point near the end I had to stop and take a break because I was upset by something, but it was such a good time and a great follow up to 𝐻𝑖𝑠 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑢𝑛.

"𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑛."

[Alanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book! The story follows four characters who continue their journeys from book 1 as they develop new friendships, partner to save Khetara, and work to unearth mysteries and secrets.

I liked this book and the complex and unexpected plot. I liked the way the characters came into their own. I absolutely love Neff. She's kind and strong and powerful and I loved watching her interactions with those around her. Unfortunately, I found myself losing interest in three of the four perspectives. I wanted to skip those perspectives and return to Neff!

Overall, I liked this book. I'm not sure if I will continue the series, but I am grateful for the opportunity to receive the ARC and review this book!

[Elizabeth Trites · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were an Egyptology kid, you need this series in your life.

This was a well plotted, fast-paced sequel, prioritizing the most interesting characters from book 1 and their evolving relationships with each other. I grew to like Sita much more in this book - she gains so much responsibility and uses it well. She and Karim and their antics were my favorite part of this installment.

I still think this fantasy world - which is technically not Egypt but also 100000% is, down to the same gods - needs more context. We get to know our MCs well, but what about the rebellion and what do the general population think of all these fantastical events? How does Khetara relate to neighboring lands?

[Allison Romeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!!

Such a good book! Once again we follow multiple POVs as the stories diverge and reconvene and the characters all grow and change in their own ways. I think Karim, Sita, and Rae were my favorite POVs this time around!

Everything that takes place really helped push the story forward and the Egyptian lore was so well thought out and written by an author who truly loves Egypt.

The ending had a great wrap up, but there is still more to the story! We have another huge plot point to wrap up in book 3 and I cannot wait to read it!

[Jennifer Upright · Rating 5 out of 5]

She Knows All the Names proves that second books in a trilogy really can deliver.
Returning to Khetara feels immediate and immersive—you’re pulled right back into the story, effortlessly reconnecting with the characters, the tensions, and the unraveling mystery at the heart of it all. Copora does an excellent job grounding readers back into the world without slowing the momentum.
As Neff and Raye search for answers while trying not to draw suspicion to themselves, Sita and Karim are left navigating something far more personal as they attempt to blend into village life. Both storylines carry a quiet tension that steadily builds, especially under the looming weight of a self-fulfilling prophecy that seems determined to shape all of their futures.
The emotional stakes are intense, but the larger stakes for the world itself feel even heavier. Every revelation pushes the story forward with urgency, and just when you think you understand where things are headed, Copora delivers a twist that hits with full force—one I genuinely did not see coming.
Rich in emotion, layered relationships, and mounting tension, She Knows All the Names raises the stakes in every possible way and leaves me more than ready for the final installment.

[Kaavya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC. This was an incredible read. The action picks up right where we left off in His Face is the Sun, and the thrill never stopped. Multiple POVs and the fast paced action made this such a fun read. I'm also intrigued to see where things go in the next book, after the mysterious things we learn from Karim and Sita's POVs.

[J. Else · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love this series. The characters and the story keep amping up with each chapter. I love this concept, and the author really capitalizes on it. She's pulled from different dynasties, sure, but things are changed enough and blend well. The characters all have vulnerabilities and weaknesses that influence their choices in sympathetic ways. Of course, another cliffhanger (gah!), so book 3 really can't come soon enough.

[Queenie2023 aka Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy wow! Do not sleep on this one! Book 2 was just as good if not better than book 1 — seeing all the puzzle pieces fit together and the story progression I was simply enthralled and could not put this one down!

[Alisha Hukmani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I love this series. PLEASE MICHELLE GIVE ME THE LAST BOOK!!


Wow the character development is through the roof and you just find yourself piecing everything together in such a satisfying way. Ugh I need to find the Karim to my Sita 😭😭😭😭

[Allymarie Tammaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesss!! Great sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[Madz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Kathyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I can’t believe there’s a 3rd and can’t wait for it to come out!! Great characters and exciting story line!

[Tricia Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. The audio is amazing! These characters feel like family. I will be impatiently awaiting the next book.

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

🪲🪲🪲🪲🪲
I'm in love with this trilogy. I love everyone and everything and I can't wait for 2027. I know I'll inhale the conclusion to Michelle's magnificent world as I barely contained myself from doing so with this second book.
🪲🪲🪲🪲🪲
My life literally brightens when Behkai is mentioned, not to mention Karim is my ride or die, Rae is my babe, Neff is my actual babe and Sita is READY TO PUNCH SOME OLD DUSTY AAAH 🗣️ LET'S GOOO 2027
🪲🪲🪲🪲🪲
I'll have to wait for a whole fucking century it feels like 😩
🪲🪲🪲🪲🪲

[Annine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second books in trilogies are always a little scary, but this one was good! Strong plot and character development

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was so excited to jump into this sequel! It started off a little slow, but the character buildup for the 4 main characters is so worth it for the end of the book! Omg so much happens in the last 20 pages or so 😱 cannot wait for book 3! This series is so criminally underrated it’s so good. 4.25 stars ❤️❤️

[Sudhanvan Sivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely one of the best books I have ever read in my life and would highly recommend this book and will reread the series when the third book comes out. This was a success. A 10 star read

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC!

An action-packed sequel to His Face is the Sun! I really enjoyed this and the development of each character throughout the story.

I can’t wait to see how everything wraps up in the next book. She Knows All the Names ended quite abruptly, and while I didn’t entirely mind, it left me aching for more. But I believe that was the goal on the author’s part!

Overall a great read!