Karma of the Sun

by Brandon Ying Kit Boey

“A thoughtful read perfect for this moody season.” —Wall Street Journal

“Karma of the Sun is a not-to-miss debut from a ridiculously talented newcomer.” —Locus Magazine

“Beautiful, moving, vast in its spiritual and emotional scope . . .” —Angela Mi Young Hur, author of Folklorn, NYT Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Novel of 2021

Six suns, six blasts in the sky; a seventh one, and the earth will die.

In the isolation of the Himalayas, the snows still fall, but they are tinged with the ash of a nuclear winter; the winds still blow, but they wail with the cries of ghosts. The seventh and final blast is near. As the world heaves its final breaths, the people of the Tibetan plateau—civilization’s final survivors—are haunted by spirits and terrorized by warlords. Though the last of the seven prophesied cataclysms is at hand, young Karma searches for a father who disappeared ten years earlier, presumed dead.

Driven by a yearning to see his father again before the end, and called by an eerie horn unheard by anyone else, Karma forges into the Himalayas and discovers that his father’s disappearance may be linked to a mystical mountain said to connect the physical world with the spirit lands—and a possible way to save their doomed future.

For readers who enjoy Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The Book of M by Peng Shepherd, The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin, The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro, and The Children of Men by P. D. James.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Nature, Science Fiction Fantasy

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I love a regressed society story so this one was right up their alley. While technically science fiction, this narrative reads more like fantasy with a mythical tone.

The prose is quite soft and beautiful. I liked this one but it was not entirely to my tastes. The narrative was a little more slow and philosophical than the kinds of tangible plots I normally prefer.

I would recommend this one to readers who love lyrical journeys.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful world building and story telling in this end of the world scenario.
Karma is a young man whose father disappeared ten years ago while on a quest and labeled a scoundrel, a cloud his family has lived under and one Karma is determined to get out from under. With that in mind and the hopes of finding his father, Karma sets out on a journey fraught with danger and a lot of unknowns. Meeting both friend and foe with rewards and disasters along the way he is determined to follow the sound of the horn, one only he can hear, to lead him and his people to the mountain and the stone that may give him the answers he seeks and that may also save the world.
I was completely captivated by and invested in Karma's journey. His resiliency and determination are undeniable. His search for the truth is remarkable. The writing is top notch with relatively short chapters that compel the reader forward which makes it a nicely paced while engrossing story. I could hear the winds of the spirits speaking and the sound of the horn calling. I felt the chill of the snow covered landscape. I was at times cheerful and at other times heartbroken but all the while, hopeful. I loved it!

Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the ARC and including me on this tour.

[Katie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I think this probably deserves 4 stars but I had a mid book tune out.

[Dawnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mystical apocalyptic tale of Karma a young boy in search of his father who disappeared ten years ago. Taking place in the Himalayas and the prophecy that the end is coming soon. I've never read an apocalyptic story quite like this that was so feelable and connects spirituality, mysticism and placed in the Himalayas. This was thought provoking and it lingers. A moving tale that is beautifully written. I enjoyed.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Knife violence
Animal attack (wolf)
Kidnapping & captivity
Alcohol consumption mentioned
Threats of nuclear war

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought a weird mashup of post-apocalyptic Earth and Buddhism would somehow be more interesting than it ended up being. Don’t get me wrong, there’s stuff to like here, but the overall story never seemed to rise to the point where I got interested and engaged with what was going on.

Karma (yeah? yeahhh? get it???) is a boy growing up in a village on the post-apocalyptic Tibetan plateau. Six cataclysms happened a long time before (six suns) which changed the world drastically and killed the majority of the population. A prophesied seventh sun is foretold to be inevitable and will result in the remaining world to be destroyed (get used to this, the rhyme/prophecy for it is retold a lot throughout the course of the book). But to Karma, all of this is just a story, because he’s more concerned with his missing father, and the fact that his uncle basically hates him for existing. He learns that there’s a way to avert this guaranteed calamity, if the lama child is found in time and brought to a mystical stone in a mountain, and his missing father may know where the mountain is to be found. So, familial duty being what it is, he’s off on this quest to find his father and the seeing stone which will, somehow, stop the world’s death.

It has all the makings of something I’d be into, and don’t get me wrong, the prose is fantastic, but the story itself never seemed to come together. There’s a lot of quiet philosophy in these pages, which made my post-apocalyptic romp a bit more tedious than I would have liked. Additionally, the actual action parts of the book were basically all the same–Karma gets captured by bandits, Karma escapes from bandits/is rescued from bandits/is released by bandits. Always the same bandit band too. I guess when you’re the last bandit band on Earth, you’re simultaneously the greatest band ever and the worst band ever. Not a lot of credentials needed. The ending also felt really rushed and especially confusing, which knocked off a star right there for me immediately. The majority of the book had careful, deliberate (see also: slow) pacing, but the ending is suddenly flying through events and revelations like the author had a page count limit thrown at him, and it just felt incredibly disjointed.

I don’t know, it’s an interesting concept and it was almost something great, but there was just not a lot of connection between me and what was going on at any given time.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: KARMA OF THE SUN
AUTHOR: Brandon Ying Kit Boey
PUB DATE: 01.17.2023 Now Available
GENRE: Post Apocalyptic Sci-fi Eastern Perspective

Can one person change the fate of the world?

Set in an apocalyptic world in Tibet, high in the Himalayas where civilizations’ final survivors await the prophesied seventh and final blast before the end of the world. Karma, our young protagonist sets off on a journey to search for his father whose disappearance ten years ago left unanswered questions.

A beautifully written thought-provoking novel that will have you rooting for the protagonist, leave you in awe of the world building, that incorporates eastern philosophy, thoughts and beliefs, that will resonate, and have you hanging on to a glimmer of hope.

For readers who enjoy Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The Book of M by Peng Shepherd, and The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and unique story! This book was very well written and has a captivating cover! I loved Karma’s character and his journey throughout the book. Overall this was a great science fiction read that I think many people will enjoy!

[David Rockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story.

[Enya Granados · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick read. The short chapters and simple writing made it really quick. I liked the quick pace and the story/perspective.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thanks to YABC and CamCat Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have I had nothing but existential dread and numerous existential crises since finishing this book? YES. Will I gladly recommend this beautifully horrifying novel to anyone that dares to look at me in a weird way. Also yes, in a very loving way.

Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey is a YA fantasy/sci-fy/dystopian novel that follows a world where the sun has exploded six times, and with a seventh the world will end. Because that's totally not plausible, yet still terrifying to imagine happening in our lifetime, right? Karma is a boy that lives in the last civilization on Earth, people of the Tibetan plateau (aka people that live in the Himalayans), and one days decides he is going to look for his long-presumed-dead father. Which takes him a journey to a mountain, where the physical plane is said to meet with the spiritual. All whilst the world is literally ending.

I absolutely loved the lyrical writing, as it fit perfectly with the overall theme Boey was hoping to achieve with the overall tie between physical and spiritual ties of the book. While also creating a lofty reading, despite it's heavy tones. I also found myself rooting for Karma, despite every single odd being stacked against him, There is just so admirable about a story's journey, where you already know the outcome and the character still follows through with it.

However, I did find that at times Boey was trying a bit too philosophical. Which overall made my brain hurt and lead to me having to put this wonderful book down and take a break. Which happened a bit too often for my taste.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for N.K. Jemisen's The Fifth Season to be geared towards a younger audience. And those that aren't afraid to stare at a wall for a few hours, will being filled with existential dread and the overwhelming need to do something important with their life. Because that totally wasn't me or anything and I wasn't the embodiment of Squidward, having a crisis over the FUTURE.

[Jeremy Seeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boey weaves together a compelling end of the world in a unique landscape. The shattered Himalayan setting and mythology allows Boey to tell a refreshingly new story in a genre saturated by sameness. From the opening moments in the story, the landscape asserts itself as an an almost breathing character in haunting and unexpected ways, as though the earth is mourning its own destruction.

Boey's hero, Karma, is relatably flawed and unprepared for the harsh world he is trying to navigate, but lovable in his earnestness and simplicity. Boey let's the reader exult in Karma's triumphs and ache in his failures.

As the title and eponymous character would suggest, themes of destiny and just desserts run through the story, but Boey never allows the feeling that the ending was set in stone. Instead, he creates a razor's edge of choice and destiny, and navigates it with acrobatic deftness.

The prose is polished and beautiful. It sometimes reads as extended poetry, but never at the cost of pursuing character and pushing story forward. Boey spends just enough time in description of place and people to direct your imagination while avoiding the common fantasy genre pitfall of self-indulgent world building.

In the end, Boey crafts a satisfying conclusion that ties up the story and left me wishing I could spend more time in Karma's beautiful, brutal world.

[Benson Ballard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert
The book was all over the place and didn't make much sense. My main opinion about the book is that Brandon isn't clear about the conflict. It is hard to visualize what is happening, and not a clear plot line. Brandon did do a really good job with his characters though. They were complex and changed as they had different experiences.

The main characters name is Karma. He lives in a post apocalyptic world; after a nuclear war I believe. There is a prophecy about how to avoid the 7th sun, (a last blast that would kill everyone), and his father goes in search a mountain that is supposed to save humanity. His father goes missing and the other villages despise Karma because of it. A few factors lead to him going in search of his father, and the mountain, and Karma sets of on a voyage.

Karma changes throughout the book to become more hardened. When he sets off he doesn't understand much about the world, but when he meets both rebels and a corrupt government/King he starts to learn more. He gets friends and allies, but even more enemies. At the end of the book when he finally reaches the mountain most everyone else is dead, or missing. He then realizes what was actually happening the whole time and thinks less about bringing his father back, and the past. He looks to the future.

[Stephanie Augustine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don't even know what I read. I thought this book was going to be something completely different based on the description. But honestly, I don't even know. There was a prophecy. There was a journey. And there was a lot that did happen but at the same time it felt as if nothing happened. The one thing I can appreciate is that the author did not hold back on some of the gory details and death. This made the journey feel real and raw. But honestly, I still don't even know what this book was about.

Besides not knowing what happened, I liked Karma. I thought he was an interesting main character. He was brave and loyal all while still showing the signs of being afraid as well. It's boring when a character on a major journey is just strong and confident. This build character and development. Karma was interesting - I just wish I understood his journey.

Overall, Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey was just not for me. I'd read some of reviews to see what other people thought who understood the story. But if you're struggling and wondering if you should continue and you come across my review - it won't get better. I'd move on now.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Six Suns, Six Blasts In The Sky. A Seventh -And The Earth Will Die.”

That sounds like an apocalyptic line if I’ve ever heard one. This book is full of action, alliances, and legend as the search is on for the Lama Child and the Seeing Stone which will hopefully keep the world from ending.

Karma, the book’s main character, is on a quest not only to save his village but is also hoping to find his father who left the village a decade earlier full of promises. He is now thought of as a scoundrel since he has never returned home.

The book is separated into four parts and each part builds on one another.

As I read this book, I could actually feel myself physically tensing as the quest continued and I was just waiting for the cataclysmic event to begin.

This is not my usual genre of book, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book, its characters, and how the action never stopped.

[Tracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in the isolated Himalayas following a nuclear apocalypse, survivors wait for the end of the world--or a chance to redeem it.

Karma, the son of a scoundrel sherpa who disappeared seven years ago in search of a sacred mountain refuge, longs to clear his father's name and protect his community. When an opportunity at last arises, Karma embarks on a dangerous quest through a world of ghosts, monks, monsters, rebels, and warlords--a quest that reveals family secrets and astounding truths.

Inspired by the Lotus Sutra, this was a unique read. I appreciated Boey's world-building and lyrical storytelling, but often had to re-read passages to understand how the plot was progressing. The narrative moved slowly to me, but I ultimately found the Buddhist perspective to be a refreshing twist on the sci-fi genre.

[Collin Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good:
Lovely prose, very well written. A good, mystic feeling suffuses the entire novel and makes it read almost like a parable. Several highly emotional scenes with lots of impact.

The bad:
The main character got captured by bandits SEVEN TIMES. SEVEN. TIMES. At least five of those were in the first act. How many times can a person be captured before you start rolling your eyes?
The love story was very forced and killed off the instant anything happened. My actual thoughts went something like "Oh they fell in love I wonder how that's going to affect the plotaaaaaand she's dead".
Lastly, the uncle. Everything about the uncle. His decisions make zero sense. He's in love with Karma's mother, so he decides to kill her husband and son to... somehow make her love him? In what universe would anyone think that would work???

[Jordan Bartlett]

I've not read anything like it!
Karma is a wonderful protagonist, he's so full of insecurity that you can't help rooting for him to come into his own. The world is unique and described in a way that you can almost feel the biting cold and hear the haunting winds.

The way Boey staggers the prophecy throughout the novel, the prophetic dreams, and the ever present sounding of the horn makes you feel the inevitable weight of facing the end of days. He captures the bleak hopelessness of a world on the brink of its collapse so perfectly that when given the glimmer of hope, you as the reader hang onto it for dear life.

An ambitious debut novel, and an absolute gem!

I was given an advanced copy of this novel and have provided an honest review.

[Ana Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful & captivating apocalyptic story.
I was fascinated from the beginning of the mysterious tale and marvellous surroundings description (although for a non-native there are lot of unfamiliar words). I'm not a fiction & fantasy reader, just dipping my feet now, but the book got my interest because I could resonate with the philosophy of the eastern point of view of the apocalypse and also some of the beliefs despite the fact that is a fantasy. Beautifully written and so well detailed on the setting and Tibetan culture that made me feel I am part of the story.
Karma's journey with a pure and wholesome attitude in searching the truth is really intriguing. I loved it.

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. a lot of this was just very, very boring, but it has quite a bit to recommend it too. first of all, it's supposedly YA, but the writing is much better than your average YA imo. also, the last third of this was really good, pretty dang emotional even as I previously thought I wasn't into any of these characters. the climax in particular is lovely. on a negative note, I do love regressed societies, and I kept waiting for The Big Reveal as to what happened... but it just never came. boo!!

I was gonna say that the comparison made with this book to Station Eleven is ridiculous, but at the end of the day that ending does kind of connect them on a thematic level.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so captivated by the quest of young Karma, as he traversed the Himalayas to find his father. The world is on the edge of the seventh sun, meaning the end of the world is imminent. Karma, like his father, seems to have a special gift, a gift that could save the world. I loved reading an apocalyptic novel from the Eastern perspective. The stunning Tibetian setting, the eastern philosophies, and traditions all add to the story’s beautiful dance between fear and hope.


Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @camcat_books and @boeybooks for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: ‘Two Suns in the Sunset’
Drinking Buddy: ‘Another Tequila Sunrise’
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (graphic violence)
Talky Talk: ‘Sunshine on My Shoulders’
Bonus Factors: Post-Apocalypse, Tibet
Bromance Status: ‘Sunny’

Read the full book report here.

[Laurencanderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was absolutely beautiful. The storyline was so well thought out with just enough twists and turns to leave you engaged, but never feeling like it was too much. The last quarter of the book was an absolute masterpiece. Although you knew how the story would likely conclude, there was absolutely nothing predictable about how the author got there. I could not stop reading and did not want it to end - emotional and spiritual in just the right way. An absolute must read.

[Abigail Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously fresh take on a post-apocalyptic story that follows a young man on a harrowing journey of self discovery (and, perhaps, on a journey to save the world). The language is exquisite, the setting descriptions transplant you to the Himalayas, and the story is beyond propulsive all the way through. I love books that blend literary voice with speculative concepts, and this definitely fits very snuggly into that category.

[John Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I read part of, let sit for a week and then finished. It has a very strong dream quality to it, reminiscent of those mornings when you wake up and lie there, parsing a quite vivid dream, but still unsure of its meaning. The characters are quite interesting as is the landscape. At the end Karma has experienced many losses, but their sting is assuaged by how he believes his future will unfold.

[Athene Z. Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Karma of the Sun, a teenager from a surviving Tibetan population embarks on a mystical quest to save his people from a dying Earth. The novel's prose is clear and descriptive. The world building is extremely well done, and the different factions that come into conflict are clearly explained. The story is not tense, but there is an appropriate amount of depth for all of the characters. While scenes appear episodic at first, they are all interconnected with the overall plot.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦, 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨!

There’s so much to say about this beautifully written story. Set in the Himalayas, this mystical apocalyptic tale will take you on a magical journey that will that your breath away! Fantastic!

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this gifted copy.

𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 released January 17, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished listening to the audiobook version of this and thought it was excellent. The characters and plot were compelling and the writing was excellent and descriptive. The narrator of the audiobook also did a fantastic job. I definitely would recommend and found myself unable to put it down.

[Nicky Knighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only was this book very well written, but it was entertaining and fun to read. The plot is unpredictable and interesting, the characters are well developed and the story is thought provoking on many levels. I highly recommend the read for both entertainment and inspiration. I'm going to suggest this to my book group as the book has interesting themes for discussion.

[Gigi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t typically like post-apocalyptic fantasy, but this book was written in such a way that kept me interested for start to finish. The take on Tibetan mythology was interesting and new and I can tell that a lot of research and love was put into this novel.

If you want a fresh take on prophecy and the impending destruction of the world, this is definitely the book for you.