We Follow the Sun: The Twisted Roots Trilogy - Book I

by Sophie Hallali

Lavenwrite is the Queen of Varalah and the mother of a princess destined to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel. All she wants is to be respected and make the world a better place, but it seems like the very world she is trying to save is against her. But her dreams and her kingdom are put in peril when she is poisoned and begins to shrink out of existence. Eager to save her home and herself, Lavenwrite must race to undo the plot to take over the throne. But another villain, the all evil, revenge-seeking sorceress, Maorga, won’t make her journey any easier.

Sunvi, a royal maid who secretly likes the King, is chosen by the Queen to step up and help protect the throne. However, the Sapphire Cartel, a worldwide organization intent to kill all people with magic like her, is rising out of the shadows and Sunvi must find a way to stop their deadly intentions. The lives of all magicd people in Varalah and the future of the kingdom depend on her success. But will her magic be a blessing or a curse?

Only one thing is set in stone: nothing will stay the same.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

548 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2022

About the author

Sophie Hallali is the author of We Follow the Sun, the first book in the YA Fantasy series called the Twisted Roots Trilogy. Sophie is studying Communications at the University of Iowa, and when she is not reading, dancing, or getting anything but coffee at coffee shops, she can be found taking pictures of any cute animal she sees. You can find her on Tiktok, Instagram, Youtube, and Goodreads @sophiehallali and her website sophiehallali.com.

Reviews

[Lucia · Rating 1 out of 5]

We follow the Sun, is a book about a girl named lavenwrite or something like that, who's faced with misogyny in her hometown, until she becomes the wife of some king and is happy I guess? Well until she got poisoned, and now like tries to get medication. The story was confusing, the writing anything but good, tons of head hoping, tense switching and showing instead of telling. The only way to get through this book for me was reading the dialog alone. This book NEEDS an editor ASAP.

Also the story wouldn't move forward, too much over description of things that could've been handled in a page, and random scenes just for shock value. Misogyny in the first place is my biggest pet peeve when it's never explained in books and here too I hated it. The main character is giving of a "Oh look at me I'm not like other girls because I fight!!" great. Still I think this book has potental, and this book would definitely be liked by shatter me fans, maybe even acotar fans.

[Mespetites · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy books that pique my curiosity, are difficult to put down, and have intriguing character development. I knew this book checked all those boxes for me, because I read all 540 pages in 2 days. I found myself at the end of each chapter wanting more and turning that page to see what would happen next.

The scenes were described in a way that made me feel, visualize, and imagine each setting with some beautiful moments that made me sigh and laugh out loud. I appreciate the extra details she added to help me feel what it would be like to be in that scene. Three story lines occur continuously and weave together to create drama and show what makes each character tick. The characters were so fun and relatable, I actually can't wait to read the next book because I am invested and want to see how it all turns out!

I enjoyed the unique and unexpected magical elements in the book. I don't usually read books from the fantasy genre, but chose this book because I was interested in the perspective of a young high school author and was looking for stories with strong women characters. But I would say that this book has just the right amount of fantasy for added interest to a layered mystery adventure. It is perfect for a tween/teenager (even though I loved it as an adult), with age appropriate content, sweet characters and messages of self reflection/correction, believing in yourself, and true friendships.

Certainly a lovely first novel for this young author, and I can't wait for the second book in this trilogy!

[PowerReadet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by a very young author, and I am impressed! Yes, drama permeates every page, but each page turns all by itself. There are many characters who are well developed: no one is perfect but each one’s flaws contribute to the many twists and turns in the story. It’s a lengthy read but the book takes you to imaginary places inspired by the Australian landscapes, fauna, and flora, while serving as as the background for a deeply imaginative “origins” story of a beloved fairy tale. First love, exploration, conspiracies, action, fights, psychological study, dilemmas. I found this wonderfully refreshing and entertaining, and I am looking forward to its sequel!

[Snehaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but the great worldbuilding, entertaining characters, and interesting dynamics made it a binge read.