First of all I want to thank NetGalley for sending me this advanced copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

The Hand of the Sun King is the first book in the Pact and Pattern Trilogy and follows the protagonist, Wen Alder. Wen is a young man born into a broken family, as his father is loyal to the empire, while his mother hates the empire. This conflict leads Alder to decide whether he wants to serve the kingdom or be against it. However, on his journey, Alder discovers a path that could help him achieve his desire for freedom.

When I read the synopsis of this book, it caught my attention because this book has an Asian inspired fantasy and I hadn't read anything like this before and I wanted to get into this story!

This book kept me entertained throughout the reading, and the author has such a nice way of writing that you get hooked very quickly to the story, also his descriptions and explanations are very simple and at the same time complex when he introduces us to the characters, and this book manages to touch very interesting topics such as legacies and the burdens that people have to maintain that legacy, wars and how to be a leader, really the author manages to make these issues reach us readers and we can understand the protagonist.

What made me lower the rating was the fact that we only know the story through the eyes of Wen and the other characters were lacking in personality and I've had a streak with fantasy books that show me different points of view, but this is something personal!

I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers, I feel you might like this story, plus when have we ever seen an Asian inspired fantasy?

THE HAND OF THE SUN KING was an immersive read that was politically intriguing and thorough. the development of foolish cur/alder as a character was exciting to read. moreover, i was glad to see that the romance did not take up a large portion of the journey/story as well. while i thought this an entertaining read, however, the frequent allusions to asian culture were off-putting considering that the author is a white man. that being said, the writing within was elegant and descriptive, despite my misgivings. all in all a good read to pass the time.

I was offered an early copy of this book and once I looked at how crazy good the early ratings were I decided to give it a go. I have to say, The Hand of the Sun King is well deserving of the high praise it’s received thus far. 

The story follows Wen Alder from a young age, where it quickly becomes apparent his household is divided. His mother is Nayeni, a group of people who were recently brought into the imperial fold, and while she accepts this her mother does not and holds to the Nayeni traditions. Alder’s grandmother teaches him of the Nayeni culture and teaches him of their magic, for she wishes to keep their culture alive and thus names Alder Foolish Cur, after the Nayeni style of naming. The boy with two names grows into a man too curious after the nature of magic and too blind of the empire’s machinations. The reader gets to follow him in his journey to taste of the unbound magic he so recklessly used as a child and will watch as he both triumphs and fails along the way.

The Hand of the Sun King was a brilliant read and had several moments that really tugged on the heartstrings - an unexpected bonus to a great story. Alder is a character who’s easy to love, though I found myself thinking “no, you idiot” on many occasions. It was a believable naivete, rather than true stupidity most of the time so ultimately I enjoyed it even as I cringed for his choices. Though Alder is the main character, there is no shortage of excellent side characters to keep things fresh. I particularly liked his friends Oriole and Atar who both made him a better, more thoughtful person.

This was a great book and I’m really glad I picked it up when the opportunity arose. I initially wasn’t going to, though my only reason was that I thought I wouldn’t like it much. I’m glad to find I was very wrong about that! If you’re looking for an emotionally moving Asian-inspired fantasy that lacks the darkness of the Poppy War but not the action this might be something you’d like. Also, the cover alone is deserving of some love - the longer you look at it, the more you notice!

The Hand of the Sun King is an engaging fantasy novel. It has a good plot, a great world and an intriguing magic system. While the character development and some of the pacing needed a little bit of work, the novel on the whole was enjoyable. The plot twists were executed very well and the climax is one of the best I’ve read in a debut fantasy novel in a long time. I look forward to the next novel in the series, without a doubt. I’d recommend this book to fantasy fans who are looking for a coming-of-age story that’s a mix between modern fantasy and more classic fantasy.

Book review: The Hand of the Sun King by J.T Greathouse 5/5 🌟
I received an arc via netgalley for an honest review.
OMG did I love this book! I honestly did not see this coming, even though the premise sounded facinating.

We follow Alder Wren in an Eastern influenced fantasy world where the Imperial Emperor rules different lands that pull from different magic. Alder comes from two different cultures and even bears two names the one (Alder Wren) given by his Sienese father who admires the emperor and wants his family to get back into the emperor's good graces through his son. And one (Foolish Cur) given by his grandmother in secret who teaches him the ancient stories, art of swordsplay and magic of their Nayen people in hope that one day her grandson will join her in opposing the Empire.
Being conflicted by these two cultures in his upbringing and unable to pave his own way in the society that he lives in Alder follows the best tutorage his father can get in order to prepare him for a job placement exam within the patriarchal empire.
Alder is first and foremost a seeker of knowledge and with that magic. Through his eyes and cunningness we figure out the different cultures and magic within the Empire through Alder's postings, and how the Emperor wields this through his subjects. Soon Alder finds out that almost all magic is restricted and he goes on a mission to reveal the inner workings of the pattern of the world and gods that ruled it.

I wont tell you more because halfway though the book the story gets very addicting. You develop a hunger for power and learning about where the magic comes from. Unfortunately for our main character this journey comes with a lot of despair, through losses and betrayals which makes you root for Alder without him feeling self pity. Luckily he does not have a low self esteem, knows when he is wrong and finds his way and place in the world.

Thank you to Gollanz and Netgalley for letting me read this gem of a story.
Can someone please announce the second book?

Lately, there has been no shortage of Eastern-inspired fantasy, and I doubt we’re even close to a drought. There are countless epics, wuxia, and even more personal stories. However, I personally have not encountered a lot of fiction that dives into the philosophy of eastern traditions. Luckily, J.T. Greathouse wanted to throw his western hat into the ring and add to this seemingly niche genre barely explored in either hemisphere. This next Dark Horse feels like a return to home after the many plot-heavy books I’ve read recently. The Hand of the Sun King is an enjoyable novel that pays great homage to the traditions and mythologies it borrows from while creating a delightful yet sobering tale of one man’s attempt to forge his own path between a rock and hard place.

The Hand of the Sun King is the story of Wen Alder, or as his grandmother named him, Foolish Cur. His father is a merchant of the Sienese Empire, and his mother is sibling and daughter to two of the Nayenese’s more infamous rebels. He is a man split between worlds and wishes to become the first Hand of the Emperor from the new imperial province of Nayen. Arden dedicates his early life to studying for the imperial exams so that he one day may be accepted into its vaunted magical ranks. However, he must also hide his connection to the ancient magics of Nayen. Will he succumb to the Emperor’s will, or will he turn and fight joining his Grandmother and uncle in their eternal struggle? Or maybe there is a third way, that combines the two that allows Arden to rise above it all.

First off, Wen Alder is a great character, even if he can be grating. He’s ambitious and full of himself, but also has moments of cleverness that back up his independent nature. Born of two worlds, he hopes to find a third way to avoid slipping into the violence of his grandmother’s rebellion, or the brutal assimilation perpetrated by the Sienese Empire. Time and again he finds ways to fuse the magic and philosophies of both to squeeze through the cracks, giving him an incredibly inflated sense of self. Greathouse portrays Alder’s reinforced arrogance well enough that I found myself rolling my eyes at Alder’s constant need to distance himself from the Sienese, even though he is clearly doing their dirty work, by stating his disdain for having been born into this life. It makes the lessons he learns the hard way much more powerful, and his journey much more interesting.

Greathouse builds an incredible world through the book. While he borrows heavily from the geography and traditions of Asian cultures, he adds a flair that allows the mythical traditions to blend with the philosophy explored within the book. Magic is a system of systems within the land of Sien and its many neighbors. Regions have their own special forms of magic granted to them, while the Sienese Empire has the Canon, a collection of magics supplied by the Emperor himself to his many Hands. Over time Greathouse delicately explores the history of these systems, and the Canon as they are revealed to Alder. The magic is clever and feels important to the people who practice it in a way I rarely feel in fantasy. It’s not a collection of spells that highlight who a person is on the inside through their use. Instead, the magics are related to individual cultures, giving them a complexity that builds as more is revealed. For instance, one of the novel’s western cities can call upon the wind to make their trade ships faster, while conjuring water to feed their desert oasis. It leads to a culture that allows them to shift and dance amongst the Sienese merchants, but they are constantly grounded by the fact that they have to nurture the garden that provides for them. They can’t run without destroying an essential part of who they are. The fact that the magic feels so distinctly related to the philosophy is just more bonus points.

Now, if you’re concerned about philosophy being the main course in the book, well, that’s just what it is. There are discussions about how one could live one’s life, or contribute to the empire, or rebel against it. Alder is questing to find a third way that distances himself from both of his backgrounds just so he can personally avoid violence in his ambitious search for power. What I enjoyed so immensely about Sun King was Greathouse’s ability to make all choices feel both clever and foolish simultaneously. No particular way of living stands out as the best way, and it’s through Alder’s journey that his own personal way of living is revealed. Greathouse avoids discussion traps by having these parables end in an application of Arden’s conclusions, whether they are influenced by logic or his emotions at the time. There are teachers of all sorts scattered through the book that challenge Alder, and push his limits, each with their own flair and relationship to the teachings of the empire. It’s encapsulated nicely and feels explored at just the right amount for it to be fun, but impactful.

Sun King might be the easiest novel to describe I’ve read in a while. It’s a well-realized philosophical meditation sprinkled with fun and delightfully clever moments with a strong fantasy atmosphere. Alder can be frustrating at times, but Greathouse delivers on his arc in curious and heartbreaking ways. The world is explored enough to make the lessons and story work without getting in the way, but left open enough to be detailed in future novels. If you’re looking for something that wanders a little and spends time steeping in its ideas without making the tea bitter, pick up the Hand of the Sun King.

Rating: The Hand of the Sun King – 8.5/10
-Alex

This is the fascinating start of a new fantasy series and I loved it.
It's the slow burning story of Wen Alder/Foolish Cur. He's a boy of mixed origin, ambitious and gifted.
It's also the story of someone who's catch in the middle of clashing cultures, oppressors and oppressed.
The world building is amazing and rich in details, it's clearly inspired by Chinese culture and loved the magic system.
It's not a fast paced/action packed book as this is the story of coming of age and growing up.
I can't wait to read the next instalment as I loved this one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Good book, great plot and story. An excellent tale much like "Name of the Wind", really enjoyed the political side of the story even tough it's usually a turn off for me in fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group , I was able to read this on eArc.
***
I am 1/3 into the book and I can't keep to myself, how I feel about this book.
If my opinion changes when I finish it, I will edit my post.
But it is most likely that it won't.

***

So first of all, I like it.
I absolutely do.
It might sound childish. Let it sound like that. It has been some time since a YA-Fantasy book lured me into its world and kept me in for so long.
I was invested from the first two pages. J.T Greathouse got a way with words. He knows how to maintain people in.
Descriptions are remarkably vivid. You can taste and feel through the pages. So yeah, I like it.

I know, this is going to be a lengthy book, not necessarily because of the number of pages, nope. More because of the world building. You can tell that every detail is there for a reason.

It is not written in a slow pace, but it is more a pace made to allow a full understanding of the world and the conflict of the story and our Main character.

I am not a fan of those usually. I enjoy actions, jumps and chaos. But here, it makes me feel like I am seated in front of an elder, and he is telling me his tale and the one of his people. And I can't get up, because I enjoy it and because I need answers.

Our Main character, Wen Alder. I am not quite certain if I like him or not, but I do understand him.

Strangely.

He feels genuine and authentic. The part where I am, he is exactly the way he is supposed to be. A young ambitious man. Lost and in permanent conflict with what he wants, what people (Family, etc.) want from him. I know a lot of people feel like he can be difficult to understand and annoying. Which can make sense depending on what is expected from the MC.
But I understand him. I don't like him yet. But I do understand him. After all, we are only on part 1. I don't know how many volume he has planned, but it gives him all the space to learn and grow further.

DNF at 25%

Though the magic system was unique and intrigued, the story was very slow, with so much unnecessary descriptions, very little had happened. Scenes that should have been exciting were dull and boring to read, there was no excitement or anticipation in find out how the story ends.

The Hand of the Sun King follows Alder, also known as Foolish Cur, a young man with torn loyalties. Born of mixed race, he struggles with the decision to serve his father's Sianese side in the Empire or the Nayeni heritage of his mother that is wrapped up in rebellion. There are two paths laid before him and he is determined to forge a third.

I am absolutely blown away by this novel. Don't get me wrong. There were moments where the plot moved at a snail's pace and I wanted to throttle Alder. But how can you stay frustrated with a protagonist that is actively learning and growing? This is a wonderful coming of age story that deals with choices and the consequences that follow closely behind. I loved how the story is broken up into four parts with each representing a different arc for Alder. His quest for knowledge and understanding is what drives him, but in the end, he is able to discover so much more. The people and connections he forges along the way are strategically placed within the plot. Not one character felt misplaced or poorly constructed. As the first in a series, I want nothing more than to dive back into this world.

The magic system was very intriguing and not one that I have read anywhere else. All wielders are marked on the hand. On the Empire's side, those that wear the mark of the tetragram can access the canon: a system of sorcery that involves several channels, with each channel containing a type of magic. The magic of those native to the lands (that the Empire is trying to conquer) is much more elemental and referred to as witchcraft. These markings differ from region as does the magic. I loved how intimate witchcraft was presented in certain parts of the story. I was also really surprised by how much magical history and development Greathouse was able to include in just this single book.

While this is considered a fantasy novel, I think it deals with much deeper themes that will attract readers of all genres. Colonization, racism, and social class are woven throughout our character's journey and it's here that Alder begins to question the morality of the decisions made by not only himself but those surrounding him. Don't let genre deter you from this thought-provoking debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a gifted advanced copy for review.

I loved reading this book. The prose was beautiful, and this story has probably become my favorite one to use first-person POV. The pacing was steady throughout, and the world-building was integrated organically into the story-telling over the course of the novel. The main character, Wen Alder, was a complex, interesting character even though he was not always likeable. He definitely lived up to his other moniker, Foolish Cur, because he made some very foolish choices throughout the book. However, I still found him to be endearing and enjoyed seeing him grow as the story progressed. His journey was filled with hardship, friendship, loss, and love and served as an excellent coming-of-age story showcasing the shift from conventional to postconventional moral reasoning that can occur as one enters adulthood. Alder's character also acted as an avatar to explore the impacts of colonialism, racism, and the limits society places on individuals. In particular, he was an excellent example of the concept of proxy privilege and how intersectional identities can bring both varying degrees of privilege and oppression. The plot and world were fascinating, and I loved the Eastern-inspired setting and the magic system based on calligraphy. A couple of the plot points felt a bit forced, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story or the important themes it explored. I wish the next book was already available, and I recommend anyone who enjoys fantasy or coming-of-age stories to give this story a try. I don't think you will be disappointed. Therefore, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.

Wen Alder was torn between two destinies from the moment he was born. With his mother being Nayeni and his father from the Sienese conquering Empire, he’s always struggled to reconcile his legacies and that marks his journey in the book. As a child, he touched unbridled power and he spends the book trying to recapture that feeling. It’s this ambition that sets him apart as a main character since it drives his every step. He quickly discovers that every type of magic he encounters comes with limitations that first taste didn’t, which only adds to his frustration. As he grows, he comes to see the Empire as reductive at first, and then cruel, until finally he breaks from it.

The first half of the book is dominated by his ambitions and frustrations. He clings to them and propriety as he tries to erase his mother’s heritage and serve the empire. I’ll admit, this part of the book was tedious, Alder’s extreme adherence to rank and his dwellings on whether or not someone of lower station insulted him made him thoroughly unlikable during the first part of his training. His friendship with Oriole is the first step in him divesting himself of the empire and thus becoming a more interesting character. Once he’s not held back, his quick thinking and kindness shine through and I genuinely liked being in his head. I especially liked his progression in the final parts of the book, his decisions and actions showed how much the journey was worth it.

Though this is a first person narrative, Greathouse takes care to have enough interactions with the side characters that they stay memorable. Alder’s mother, his grandmother, his uncle Usher, Oriole and others make a lasting impression, even with brief interactions, which only served to enrich the story.

However, I was less impressed by the romance. I liked Atar when she was introduced, especially how she used dancing to express herself, but I don’t feel the romance added much to this particular book. While it didn’t feel shoehorned in, Alder’s journey could have been the same without it.

Greathouse lost a little with the worldbuilding. Alder’s world is a fascinating one, with old gods that are very much alive, an undying emperor that can peer through the minds of his subordinates, and a complicated magical history enough to entice any fantasy fan. However, vital parts of the world are left unexplained until late in the book, making it a lot to take in at that stage given the other events taking place. Despite this, I am curious to see how it develops in further books as Greathouse’s writing does make his world come alive.

The Hand Of The Sun King by J.T. Greathouse contains some beautiful writing. His descriptions are beautifully vibrant as he goes into depth about everything Alder encounters without being tedious. Each province in the empire has a distinct feel to it with a rich history that ends up sucking readers in.

However, the pacing was uneven at times, especially when Alder was travelling or arriving at a new place. At first it would seem like every single hour in a day was described, then the narrative would skip weeks, months, even years at a time. I appreciated the overview of Alder’s life, though, however awkward the pacing.

The Hand Of The Sun King was a thrilling introduction to a new fantasy series. Despite certain shortcomings, Alder’s world captivated my attention and his journey is one that I look forward to continuing in the sequel!

As soon as I saw the cover for this book, I knew I was going to want to read it. The author has managed to create a unique world full of Asian influences - made even more rich with the addition of this “other” religion. It’s like watching Asian and Native American cultures mix, and it has created something altogether unique and beautiful. I will be picking up a copy of this novel and I will definitely be ordering some for the store!

Enjoyed this book as soon as I started reading it. Wen ( Foolish Cur) is caught between his father's people and his mother's tribe. He has a strong maternal grandmother who guides and teaches him about his mother's people, while he also studies under his father's guide in order to be validated by his father. Wen goes through some trials, makes questionable decisions and in the end is looking for and finding himself. The most I liked about this book was the writing and the characters.

Rating: 9.25/10

Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of The Hand of the Sun King (Pact and Pattern #1) for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.

The Hand of the Sun King is a staggering fantasy debut with poetic prose and near flawless characterization. Wen Alder, aka Foolish Cur, is another noteworthy protagonist to add to the ones I have had the company of journeying with this year, alongside Kinch Na Shannack, Alwyn Scribe, and Aram Raythe. Greathouse will become a household name before too long, and I can only imagine will make plenty of 2021 ‘Best of’ lists.

I can’t really start the meat of this review without mentioning the cover. What I love so much about it is that as you journey further into the novel, the cover starts making more and more of an impact on you as a reader. You pick out details here and there from the story that just fit. So, Patrick Knowles, massive kudos on the perfect cover art.

So, let’s get into the writing.

This does not read like a debut novel whatsoever. I was swept away by Greathouse’s prose and his ability to have me completely enamored with his protagonist. The journey we take with Alder throughout the novel is one rife with obstacles, disappointments, trials, tribulations, tiny arrays of hope, and a ton of injustice; and you as the reader are there with him through every. single. step. You’ll applaud when he succeeds, scratch your head with multiple decisions he makes, and feel for him as he attempts to strike a balance between what is right, wrong, and easy.

The toughest part about his journey is choosing what path he will take: the one forged by his father or the one brought to light by his mother’s heritage. It is almost like making a choice between your mother and your father. Which one do you want to go with, and which will you leave behind? Best hope the old “the grass is always greener” adage doesn’t come back to bite you, leading your mind to drown in chaos.

While the world-building takes a bit of a backseat to the character-driven narrative, it is still something to behold. There is plenty of history spilled out and over throughout the many page turns and the descriptive terms the author employs really bring the reader into the setting with ease. The magic system itself is very intriguing, especially with its limitations, and still doesn’t feel fully fleshed out. I believe I could watch as Alder tries, fails, and learns about his craft long into the night.

The Hand of the Sun King will be one of my top reads in 2021, there is no doubt. It is a coming-of-age fantasy story with hope, friendship, loss, grief, magic, and a focus on the choices we make alongside the repercussions that come with them. It is a brilliant novel, and one that I liken to The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. One that I did not want to end, and can only imagine where it is headed next.

3/5 stars!

The Hand of the Sun King is a promising debut filled with beautiful prose, strong world-building and lush with magic. I really enjoyed the writing style and the way it kept me interested even during the moments where nothing was really happening. I liked reading about all the different cultures/societies in the book, especially their beliefs and magic and how everything is interconnected.

This is a strong debut with a lot of potential, however there were a few aspects of the book that left me feeling disconnected. For starters, I wasn't the biggest fan of the pacing. I really enjoyed it at some points, however it just felt a little too dragged out and slow especially in the middle. I felt disjointed from the characters and wished I felt an emotional pull to them (as I am a huge fan of character-driven stories). I really enjoyed the plot line with Atar, however if felt very rushed and I would have loved to have seen that part of the book slowed down a bit.

Overall, this book is definitely a great debut novel and the author has a ton of potential. I think many fantasy readers will love this book and I'm excited to see where this series ends up next.

One of the most painful moments in history is when you hold great expectations for a book but it fails you. This was one of such moments. The beginning parts were really fascinating and adorable but then it got worse. It became slow and I didn’t know what the hell was going on and then just like I every other dam human being in the world~ no I didn’t dnf it. I started skimming pages and man! The torture I hate to endure from this book is just ‘askjbdajdbhjsdsh’.

Synopsis:
My name is Wen Alder. My name is Foolish Cur.

All my life, I have been torn between two legacies: that of my father, whose roots trace back to the right hand of the Emperor. That of my mother's family, who reject the oppressive Empire and embrace the resistance.

I can choose between them - between protecting my family, or protecting my people - or I can search out a better path . . . a magical path, filled with secrets, unbound by Empire or resistance, which could shake my world to its very foundation.

But my search for freedom will entangle me in a war between the gods themselves . . .
~~~
I'm really glad there is a second book coming because I'm not gonna read it :)

Some of the ‘plot twists’ we actually predictable like I actually really expected them. You ain’t fooling me bro. And where did some of the characters that came in the beginning go? Did they mysteriously disappear. One thing that I want to talk about is the world building.

World Building:

One of the major parts of this book that I really liked but of course THIS TOO has to be ✨Confusion✨ Our MC Wen Alder is a half Nayen and half Sienese and in the Sienese society, the Nayens are not trusted. Nor respected. This is what Wen is trying to get. Respect. Or at least that’s what is his father want to get after marrying a Nayeni. I am sorry, if you didn’t want to be ridiculed, you shouldn’t have married her. Don’t you dare scream ‘Its loooveee’ to me mister!

But we don’t get more detains on it…like how many ‘Hands’ can the emperor have? Why don’t we get more info on the sun king? I need more info on the cultures and all which I’m sure will be there in the next book which I’m sure I wont be reading ha! One bonus question. Can the non-hands use magic too?

I also am not a big fan of Wen Alder. I just felt ‘wrong’ whenever I wanted to like him as a character. He is no biggie. Just another one of your foolish (ah the irony), stupid, naïve, egoistic, vain, kiddo here to save the day! And his mother can go die in Tartarus. His grandmother was the only character I like. Yay!

Thank you Netgalley and JABberwocky for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Hand of the Sun King was a book I was super excited for and with other early reviews stating this was the "best debut of the year" I thought I was going to be walking into something that was going to blow my mind. Unfortunately I wasn't blown away, and for me this doesn't stand out as the best debut of the year. It's a good book with a lot of interesting ideas and themes but it lacked that mind blowing piazza that others had me thinking it contained.

Right from the start we met Wen Alder, a boy learning he is apart of two conflicting worlds, his mothers side of the family and his fathers side and these two sides are so drastically different. On one side he is being tutored on how to be the best citizen he can be to uphold the laws and ways of the Sienese and to hopefully one day be honored enough to be chosen as one of the Hands of the Emperor but in the dark of the night he is taught the old ways of witchcraft that are considered wrong and forbidden. But Alder is a boy who wants to forge is own path, he doesn't want others telling him what to do, and how to do it. The story focuses heavily on this aspect and as Alder progresses in the story he learns more and more about the world around him and how he won't be able to forge that 3rd path he wants without going one of the two ways to get there. Everything he desires to know is kept behind locked doors and he is constantly struggling to find the answers he seeks.

Alder as a character didn't stand out to me but he also didn't bore me either., he is just kind of meh. He has his mind set on what he wants and at times comes off as rude, and brash, but other times his ability to understand and be sensitive to others plights shines through, along with his own internal struggles. He spends a lot of time trying to make connections with others and each one has bumps along the way, which make them more believable but for me the depth of each of these relationships didn't hit. I believe a lot of this stems from the way the story was written.

The Hand of the Sun King is split into 4 parts and each part reads like it own book, almost as if each part is a novella and its all bound into one. This created a weird rolling shift in the narrative making it hard to stay interested. Each part started out slow and then the end picked up and was action packed. So I was constantly falling out of the story only to be pulled back in, which might be something that works for others but for me, when ever the story came to a dull portion it made it feel like a chore to push through. This and the first person narrative really make me believe this is why I had hard time believing the depth of any of the character relationships. The time frames spent with other characters are short livid in each separate part of the story so you don't spend a lot of time with them, sure a few come back at the end but even that is short and I feel that made their moments suffer and are what contribute to the lack of depth Alder had with each of them. Between his teacher, his friend, his lover and more, I couldn't really see or feel the depth of their connections to one another. So when something sad happened to them I was just left with this feeling of "oh that's sad....anyways". I would have loved to see more time with each of these "important" people in Alder's life, they just didn't feel as fleshed out as they could have been.

The magic and the plot around the magic in this world was the most intriguing part overall for me, it totally gives off Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes, and this is in terms of how the magic is dealt out. Each nation has their own type of magic that is specific to them. There are old gods of magic and humans with the ability to use magic with the use of pacts that are made with the old gods. And then of course there is that one super big headed jerk who takes this and just goes way to far with it, and I'm not going to spoil it but it was the one element of the story that kept me fully invested. Alder learns first hand what the Empire is doing and we as the reader get to witness it through Alder's account. It's a story steeped in nations being conquered and destroyed all for the sake of stealing their magic and running them out of the world so only one true way can be present. We learn the most about the Sienese people and were given small sights into the plights of the other nations that are or have already dealt with the Empire, and I can only hope there is still more to learn about the world, its intriguing and I would love to see it fleshed out even more.

The Hand of the Sun King is a well written, unique and fresh story in its own way. It's a debut worth checking out and I'll be keeping my eye out for the follow up!

Overall I give it a 3.5 out 5

Overall, I thought the book had an interesting concept and a compelling plot that left me interested in the rest of the series. The author did an amazing job in creating a rich and detailed culture between the different societies, which in turn led to a unique texture of the world. The use of the different magic systems within the story was interesting to read in that all magic seemed to derive from the same place, just in different methods of practice. I especially like how the main character, Alder, was flawed in that for the majority of the story he craved power in whatever form he came across. It gave insight for the reader in just how much of a price this put on his head.

I ended up giving the story three stars for a few reasons. The biggest reason was the pacing. I found the time skips between chapters and sections of the book jarring at times, especially when years would go by. I understand the point that the author is most likely putting across in that not much of interest is worth writing about during those sections of time, but there were moments like between chapter 15 and 16 when I saw a lot of potential character plot that could have been written for Alder and for those around him at the time. Maybe this is just me wishing that the story was a little more flushed out, but it still left me wanting to have learned more about the cultures and people around Alder as he traveled between the different locations.

There were also some instances at the beginning of the book where the narrator (Alder?) foreshadowed moments in time that would become difficult or hard to look back on later. I found these narrative moments...unnecessary. Honestly, they could have just been taken out entirely and it would have been better off. I also felt that the love interest for Alder was rushed, but that might have been me just wanting more at the time. I think that was a big moment for him since he was only thinking about the Empire and his power, and not really about himself, but then at that point in the story, he finally let himself be the young man that he was. I wanted to see that more!

With these comments aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I am anticipating the continuation of the story in the future.