"The Hand of the Sun King" by J.T. Greathouse is an enchanting and masterfully crafted debut fantasy novel that whisks readers away to a captivating and intricate world filled with magic, intrigue, and unforgettable characters. This book is a testament to the richness of world-building and storytelling that can be found in the fantasy genre.

At the core of the story is Wen Alder, a young man with a unique and intriguing power – the ability to channel the magic of the sun and transform it into a formidable force. As Wen's power is discovered, he becomes a pawn in a political game that threatens not only his life but the delicate balance of power in his world.

J.T. Greathouse's writing is a testament to the vivid and imaginative storytelling that makes the fantasy genre so beloved. The world of "The Hand of the Sun King" is immersive, intricate, and steeped in history and mythology. The magic system, based on the sun and celestial bodies, is a fresh and unique addition to the genre that adds depth to the narrative.

The characters in the novel, particularly Wen Alder, are multi-dimensional and relatable. Wen's journey of self-discovery and growth is a compelling one, and readers will easily connect with his struggles and aspirations. The cast of supporting characters, each with their own motivations and secrets, adds layers of complexity to the story.

The novel excels in exploring themes of power, destiny, and the consequences of one's choices. As Wen navigates the treacherous path set before him, the story delves into the moral dilemmas and ethical challenges that come with great power.

"The Hand of the Sun King" is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking debut that showcases J.T. Greathouse's talent for storytelling and world-building. For fans of epic fantasy, this book is a must-read that promises adventure, intrigue, and a richly crafted world that will leave a lasting impression. Greathouse's imaginative storytelling and engaging characters make this novel a delightful addition to the genre.

This was such a disappointment but I just couldn't engage with the writing style. The story sounded so good but the writing style didn't let me get close to the story nor to the characters. By the end I just didn't care.

You won't be able to put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and JAB Books for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

It is extremely hard to believe this is a debut novel when the author went to such length. This book is so full of details it could easily be the starting point for a 10-tome-series, with several prequels and sequels.

I have given an average rating as i DNF'd at 28%

I wasnt connecting with this one but i appreciate others will

AWESOME! It was quite a while since I enjoyed an arc this much,honestly! I loved the world, and I appreciated all the details and we all know how hard it can be to give enough without killing the story. But! This was it!

The Hand of the Sun King follows a boy who comes from two different worlds. Wen Adler is the son of a loyal servant to the Sienese Empire, due to follow the tradition of studying for and passing the imperial exams, learning magic and aiming to be a Hand of the Emperor - a powerful and much sought out path. However, he is also Foolish Cur, his mothers son who comes from a family of witchcraft, different and entirely opposed to what the Empire deems appropriate. One night when he is a young boy, his maternal grandmother taught him the ways and he has never felt more powerful before. Adler/Cur has to choose what path he wants to go down - to be a servant of the Empire, or to rise against it. One thing for certain is that he desperately wants to experience magic like he did that night when he was young.

This story was fantastic. I was interested and felt invested almost immediately going into this book. I was so intrigued with the witchcraft and ‘forbidden magic’ elements of this book.

Our main character Wen Adler/Foolish Cur goes on a remarkable journey during this story. I liked him as a character enough, although he did lack a certain finesse. There were a few things that didn’t quite add up for me with his character. But at the same time, he is quite young for a lot of this book. His internal debate about what to do and which path to take was very interesting to follow and kept me reading and rooting for him.

The author created an immersive, well crafted, Asian inspired world, which was so fascinating and one of my favourite parts of this book. The world building was absolutely incredible, with a wonderfully rich history and culture; there is so much to this world and the variety of different places and people.

The writing was absolutely stunning in parts and the plot was well crafted and engaging. I’m definitely interested in picking up the next book when it comes out.

There were unfortunately some instances where I was dragging my feet a bit reading this book. The magic system was so expansive that I felt a little lost while reading it but overall I would recommend this book to any fantasy lover. This was a really intriguing coming of age story steeped in Asian mythology and full of the different magics on both sides of a war.

I loved the concept of The Hand of the Sun King - The world was truly well thought out and painstakingly built. I could tell Greathouse put a lot of thought into it. It was excruciatingly detailed without annoying info dumps. The info was well placed and spread throughout the whole book, giving you an in depth understanding of the world without being overwhelming.

This is a coming of age story following our main character, Wen, who is trying to decide which side is the bad guys and which are the bad guys. He has relatives on both sides of the cause.

This book made me feel all of the emotions. I immediately brought a physical copy. This has become one of my favorite books of all time!

The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse is the story of a young man torn between two worlds. He is Wen Alder to his father's people and Foolish Cur to his mother's people. His two worlds are at war with each other and he must choose which side he wants to be a part of. This story is told through four parts describing Alder/Foolish Cur's journey from boy to man. When betrayed by those he trusts Alder learns that magic can be deceiving and that it is up to him to forge his own path. The world building is fantastic with different types of magic displayed, but there is a lot of slow sections that really bogged down the story. Wen is a likable character who matures throughout the story and when he makes mistakes he takes responsibility for those mistakes. While I enjoyed many parts of this story I think the end of section three would have been a great place to end considering that this is the first book in a series. Overall it seemed too long and was kind of slow, but I did enjoy reading it and I look forward to the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley, JABberwoky Literary Agency, Inc., and J.T. Greathouse for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All reviews are mine and do not reflect the brands I represent.

I loved the concept of The Hand of the Sun King!! The world was truly phenomenal - well thought out and painstakingly built. It felt real! I could tell Greathouse put a lot of thought into it. It was excruciatingly detailed without annoying info dumps. The info was well placed and spread throughout the whole book, giving you an in depth understanding of the world without being overwhelming.
Full review to come on YouTube.

Special thanks to JABerwocky Literary Agency, Inc. for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up!

There are times when you read a book that's absolutely stunning in every way and you just know, nothing you write in a review could ever do justice to or capture the amazingness of that book. This is one of those times! I haven't read much fantasy this year (because reasons) but this is undoubtedly one of the best books I've read all year! I'm honestly shocked this is a debut novel because the writing is stunning, the world-building is immaculate and the characters so wonderfully flawed and realistic. This book wasn't even on my radar until I saw this gorgeous cover and knew I had to read it, so imagine my surprise when I requested it and got approved 😂 I didn't have any expectations when I started but it didn't take long for me to realise I didn't want to put it down (what's sleep anyway, right?)! Now, let me try to formulate my thoughts into some form of coherency and apologies in advance for the rambling!

This first book of the trilogy is a coming-of-age story, and we follow Wen Alder/Foolish Cur, a young Sienese-Nayeni boy, who grows up torn between two worlds and cultures. His father is of the conquering Sienese who worships the Emperor, while his mother is Nayeni, one of the conquered nations whose magic was absorbed into the Empire's canon, and whose culture was obliterated in its wake. As a child, Alder is taught forbidden magic by his grandmother and from that moment, a thirst for knowledge and unbridled magic is born. Throughout the years, we see Alder pursue with often ruthless, power-hungry determination to find a third path away from the expectations thrust upon him by the Empire and the Nayeni rebellion. Alder's story is fraught with painful and sometimes heartbreaking learnings and betrayal but there is also great friendship and love, as this young boy turns into a young man who is simply doing his best to find his way in a fragile and cruel world.

This is one of the most beautifully written fantasies I've read in a long time! Greathouse has a wonderful way with words and I found myself quickly absorbed in the poetically descriptive writing although, have no fear, it is far from purple prose! It's a first-person character-driven story but there is a strong sense of plot that keeps the momentum going; and for the most part, it was well-paced although there were some bits in the middle that were slow. That said, I wouldn't necessarily say this was a fast-paced read at all—it's one of those fantasies that beg you to linger with the words, characters and their experiences, and trust me, you will want to! The story is heavy on themes of identity, belonging and family, but I also really appreciated how Greathouse explored the impact of colonialism and what happens to the cultures of the nations that have been colonised—it’s brutal and infuriating but paints a very clear picture. The plot is also quite heavy on political manoeuvring and while that’s not always my jam, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next and if there’s anyone worth trusting in this story.

The world-building was done in such exquisite and vivid detail that I felt completely immersed. Greathouse treats us to rich descriptions of the ​social, political, cultural and magical aspects of the varying nations that have fallen under this Empire, and while there is so much to learn, it's never overwhelming. I’m not entirely sure but I think that Greathouse draws inspiration from Asian settings for this story and while I’ve grown wary of white authors writing stories inspired by Asian/POC experiences, I do feel like it was handled carefully and sensitively here. It’s also not so explicit that I was able to tell what country/culture it’s drawn from. We not only learn about the nation’s environment and customs but each one’s lore about wild gods, witches, sorcerers and untamed magic. I found the magic system intriguing and while not overly complex, there were times I did feel a bit lost trying to understand it. Magic is drawn from the pattern of the world and the way it’s explained sometimes got pretty philosophical, but I loved that while it’s elemental magic, the form that it takes differs according to how a nation shapes it. Honestly, the magic almost felt like a character itself, and one that we learn of together alongside Alder.

Alder was a very interesting MC and ultimately, I couldn’t help but root for Alder to succeed in subverting the Empire and finding a path for himself that feels right. He’s the kind of realistically flawed character that I’ve come to appreciate over the years as my reading tastes have grown. As a child and young adult, he is arrogant and foolish, while as an adult he’s idealistic and foolish. He has an ego that’s easily bruised and often acts out or reacts at perceived slights to his character. Is it frustrating that at times he can be so unlikeable? Absolutely. But I also empathised and sympathised with his situation and the choices he made; I certainly wouldn’t want to be in his shoes! That said, in these 400+ pages, his character growth is immense and so satisfying to watch! With his complex upbringing it’s no surprise he has complex relationships with the adults and mentor figures in his life, but I was especially invested in his relationship with his grandmother and intrigued by his relationship with Hand Usher.

Though if there’s anything that I wished had been more developed, it would be the characterisation of the supporting cast. There are a lot of people we meet along Alder’s journey and only one or two are more fleshed out while the majority remain flat. As a romance lover, I was also a little disappointed that I didn’t feel invested in the (small) romance, though I was very invested in the bromance between Alder and Oriole and really loved their friendship! I’m hoping that the secondary characters will get more depth (if they continue to appear) in the second book.

I’m going to wrap this review up here before it looks even more like an essay than it already does! But it’s safe to say that I enjoyed the heck out of this fantasy! With an ending that had my heart cracking and me very close to tears (okay, maybe one or two were shed), I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this trilogy! This is such a stunning debut and deserves so much more attention. If you’re a fan of wonderful prose, intricate world-building, fascinating magic, and messy characters that you can’t help but root for, I would highly recommend you check this one out!

Well written, epic fantasy. Perfect for people who like detailed, new-world building and character quests.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

This was a very interesting read! Some really good world building here. Some slow moments that just took a little push to get through, but over all very engrossing. I cant wait to read more!

The Hand of the Sun King starts out a bit slow at first--gathering momentum as the plot manifests and the pages turn. Wen Alder is the son to parents of two very different worlds--one of imperialist Sienese culture, and the other of an unimportant minority (in the eyes of the Sien). The future his parents envisions for him weigh heavily on regaining lost respect for the family name by becoming the hand to the Emperor. Torn by his forbidden budding passion for the old ways of magic and restoring the family name to the glory it once had, Alder sets forth on his journey defined by ambition and loyalty. I really enjoyed was the world-building, and also the exploration of imperialism and the affects of colonization.

It was an overall quick read for me. Greathouse captivated me with brilliant world building and a twisting plot, making the book almost unputtdownable. Looking forward to where the sequel will go.

Thank you to NetGalley, J.T. Greathouse, and JABberwocky Literary Agency Inc. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant fantasy book. Greathouse's novel takes you on an enthralling and fast-paced journey that has a myriad of twists and turns. Brilliant worldbuilding.

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!

Wen Alder is a boy torn between 2 worlds. His father wants him to study hard to become Hand of the Emperor, wielding powerful magic on behalf of their ruler. His grandmother teaches him the old tales and magic of her people. Wen wants both, but the two are like oil and water. As he rises in the Empire's bureaucracy, he realizes its magic is not enough and there's a terrible price for the comfort and security he's been surrounded with for all his life.

I picked this up, expecting a fantasy set in France given the title. Instead, it's an immersive, Asian-inspired Bildungsroman. There's a lot to like here, especially the interesting magic system. As another reviewer points out, the magic system symbolizes colonization as the Empire acquires the magic of other peoples. I especially loved a small section where we finally see the Emperor. The prose is a delight, and all the details of the world, especially in the first sections of the book, really give it life.

I found it difficult to enjoy the first though because of the main character. I couldn't sympathize with Wen Alder, and his motivation to seek and learn all magic above all else felt one-dimensional. I don't think it's necessary to truly empathize with a protagonist to enjoy a book, but it's difficult in a first-person narrative with only his viewpoint. I'm hoping that we'll see Wen Alder grow throughout subsequent volumes.

4 stars to this strong debut.

Things I liked:
- solid, evocative prose that's neither too simple nor too complicated
- characterisation of the main character, who's not exactly likeable, but very believable. I liked how Wen Alder was torn between his allegiances to the rivalling sides of his family, and how he has to wrestle with his identity, privilege, and duty. The arrogance he adopts once he experiences some accomplishments was both irritating and utterly realistic
- the exploration of colonisation and its devastating impacts on the cultures it swallows
- the slow, introspective nature of the earlier parts. Slice-of-life stories are always my jam, and I really dug Alder's childhood scenes.
- Alder's relationship with his tutor Koro Ha. I liked the tension between them—I'm hoping Koro Ha returns in the sequel!

Things I felt so-so about:
- side characters were fairly one-note, and could've been expounded further upon. For example, Alder's friendship with Oriole and budding romance with Atar, while written competently enough to capture surface level emotions, didn't go deep enough for me to feel strongly about either of them. I think just peppering the chapters with a little bit more flavour would've gone a long way towards making me care more for Alder's relationships with others
- just a personal thing, but I didn't enjoy the battle scenes as much here. I'm not entirely sure why, but I found them hard to visualise, while I had no problems with the slower dialogues or slice-of-life scenes. Could be just me!
- another personal thing: the magic being elemental-based wasn't quite my cup of tea. I feel a bit burnt out on elemental magic. This is just a personal nitpick, and didn't affect my rating.
- some of the pacing in the middle and in the last part got a bit too slow even for me—particularly the parts with battle logistics, rebellion drama, etc.
- Alder being a jerk to his mom :( I can't quite articulate why right now, but his last conversation with his mom bummed me out big time and made me hate him majorly for a while. It does overall feed into the whole "Alder is a realistic portrayal of a short-sighted young man with many flaws" pro of this book, but somehow I felt he crossed the line when it came to his mother. Like damn dude, she fell in love and was just making the best of a shitty situation, you don't have to go so hard on her.
- no beating around the bush: this is an Asian-inspired setting written by a white guy. I'm not opposed to this outright, as long as the author handles it with tactful sensitivity, and I do think Greathouse does a great job lushly painting his world with Chinese inspiration. However, there is something I feel a bit iffy about: the Sienese Empire is very obviously based on Chinese culture, and is broadly painted as The Bad Guys that all the other races must defeat. There's not really much nuance to the Sienese present in the book; even Alder's Sienese father isn't shown in the best light in the story, being a detached, money-hungry merchant eager to engage in corruption. This...isn't great, frankly speaking. I don't really think the author intentionally set up the story to be racist (honestly, he's just employing a lot of common fantasy tropes of a rebellion fighting against an evil empire), but it's one of those things where when you sit back and think through the premise, you pause and go, "huh...well, that ain't right."

Either way, despite some quibbles, I enjoyed this book, and am keenly looking forward to more from J.T. Greathouse.