This is a gripping, enticing fantasy about embracing what you believe is right when you're torn between the ones you love. Destiny, for Wen Alder, has always been split down the middle, and this story reaches peaks of great decision making and character growth. I adored Wen and very much anticipate the next one in this series. Thank you for the e-arc.

*4.5 stars

'The Hand of the Sun King' is a very, very good read. It follows a boy born of a Sienese father and a Nayeni mother, split between loyalty to his two heritages, both at odds with each other due to the illegal Sienese occupation of Nayen. Alder's father wants him to restore the family to its original glory by coming first in the Imperial examinations and becoming a sorcerer, one of the Hands of Sien's emperor. Then there's Alder's grandmother, who wants him to one day join the resistance, fight the people that took her country and her peace away from her. Alder, though, is motivated by one thing and one thing only: a desire for magic, to learn it and wield it as he once accidentally did in childhood and can now never forget.

There's a distinct style of writing used in this novel, a point of view where the narrator is clearly older and is merely telling the reader of the events which happened in his own past. He knows what comes next; he hints at it sometimes, putting clues down for the reader to pick up on later, when they inevitably connect to something that happens further on in Alder's life. Whenever I personally find a story written in a style I don't often see in a specific genre, it takes me a while to stop actively noticing it and get used to it as it is; the same happened here, but I grew to enjoy the foreshadowing and narrator's knowledge that was being fed to me slowly but surely.

What I liked best about this story was Alder's portrayal and growth as a character. He was so unbelievably real: arrogant and self-important as a child, with several flaws that came and went as he grew up. Sure, he was smarter than most people around him, but the way he used those smarts – terribly, to be quite frank – more than balanced him out as a character, and that's the thing I appreciated most about him. The other characters, too, and especially their unique relationships with Alder, were always interesting to read about.

Near the end, I stumbled across a few parts of the story which I felt were a bit rushed. If they had been given a bit more time to play out, I think I would've been more moved by their content than I actually was during the read.

Undoubtedly a book I'm glad I picked up, though, and one I would recommend to others looking for a high fantasy with interesting characters and extensive worldbuilding.

I have to confess, it was the cover that caught my attention and made me want to read this book. I’m really glad I did, because it was so good!

It’s a great Bildungsroman, focusing on Alder Wen, or Foolish Cur, and his forming years. He is our first-person narrator, and I love that he is such a flawed character. He’s smart and ambitious, with a great thirst for knowledge (in particular about magic), but he’s also quite proud and cold (mostly due to his education). I could easily have seen him turning into a villain, to be honest.

The worldbuilding is so rich, and although there’s a lot of information, you do get it all naturally throughout the story, rarely as info-dumps. The magic system was so interesting and complex, it was very fascinating. You do have to pay attention pretty much all the time, though, and I'm not sure I fully understood it all anyway lol.
I do wish we would have a map of the Empire, and not just because I love maps, but it was hard to remember which region was where, or even that Alder’s native Nayen was an island.

It’s not a fast-paced book relying on the plot, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a quick & easy read, but it’s such a great representation of conquered vs conqueror culture, and how someone belonging to both would cope. I really enjoyed the first part of his journey and where it led him.

I would have given it 5 stars, but there was just something a little too heavy about the writing style. I guess it suited Alder’s education and personality, but it was somehow too serious and severe.
I was also not sure about where the book ended. There’s a climax in part 3 (around 75%) and that felt like a natural point to end the first book. At the same time, I get why part 4 was in this book, it’s a crucial step in the character’s evolution.

Overall, really enjoyed it and I’ll definitely read the next book!

The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse is a great novel, but I didn't enjoy reading it so much that I was absorbed in it. Although it wasn't a great book, it was still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and JABberwocky for gifting me this e-Arc.

What to say about this one...? I think it had potential. For a debut, I believe that this was a strong start. The prose was there. I just feel like the pacing was very disjointed, it left me often feeling like I didn't want to pick this one up because I just didn't care enough. Speaking of not caring, I felt very little emotional pull to any of the characters. I think the author really focused on establishing the magic system and the world (to which I feel an okay job was done) and less on making the characters, likable people. In fairness, his name is Foolish Cur, and that can only mean stupidity.
It felt like he had absolutely no clue what he was doing about 90% of the time, and even if that was the author's goal, it felt tiring after a certain point. Like why could he not just see the obvious choices in front of him?
There were things that felt rushed, and things that felt like way too much time was spent on, but overall, despite the tone of this review, I still believe that it was a good start for this author, and that his writing can only improve from here.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was different from the other fantasy books that I have read recently; it seemed like a very high, classic fantasy but with a bit of a modern twist. There was a lot of adventure, magic and world building and it was very plot based; things moved along very quickly. A lot happens in this book!

It was a coming of age story focusing on the main character Wen Alder. The character development of Wen was very good, he started out as a very impulsive, maybe know it all, child who didn't always make the best decisions but you could definitely see his growth throughout the book. He seemed very real. I felt the overall themes of loyalty, friendship and responsibility strongly but I did think that the relationship development between him and the other characters was lacking just a bit. I was very invested in him but not so much in very many other characters. I hope the second book gives us more insight into some of the other characters to really have more people to root for.

I will definitely read the next book in this series when it comes out. Now that the world is built and the magic system explained, I feel like it has the potential to be even better than the first!

Consider me unimpressed. It's not that <i>The Hand of the Sun King</i> is a bad book (it has a firm prose for a debut) but I don't understand the glowing reviews either.

I didn't see the novelty everyone seemed to rejoice in. Except for the patterns being involved in the magic, the magic system doesn't offer anything new. We also have a basic war between the Empire and the rebels who are being hunted for their blasphemous magic/beliefs (both sides have their own religions). And, above it all, we have a hero who doesn't want to be the pawn of the Empire nor the one of the rebellion his family fights for. I don't want novels to be all inventive and mind-blowing, but if you write something as standard as this I expect depth somewhere, especially regarding the characters. It's a coming-of-age story after all, give me consistency.

But the characters are extremely bland and uninteresting. I don't even remember the name of the main protagonist. It was hard to believe in the MC's motivations. He wants to find a third path but the thing is: we see and we know that he will have to choose between the Empire and the rebellion! It's clear from the start that his family is important. I never was convinced by his morally-grey glimpses of ambition. This obsession for a third path was annoying. The guy was petty.

Everything happens too fast. The test, which is supposed to be super hard, seemed rather simple, and the conveniences bothered me to no end. If something is difficult, don't make it sound or look so easy even if the character is smart. It kills any opportunities for challenges and surprises. Plus, the MC always has the right reponses and the *convenient* background that can serve as an excuse to justify his acts. There must be limits to one's genius.

The discussion as to social pressure and family expectations was interesting though.

I simply couldn't find it in myself to care.

Real rating is 2.5.
Honestly, I don’t know what to say about this book. I think the best way to describe my feelings is that it left me unsatisfied. I was expecting something more but I never got it. The beginning was amazing, I was hooked but as the story progressed I found myself getting bored by everything. It’s a coming-of-age story, inspired by Asian culture. We have a biracial boy, Alder who is torn between his mother’s and his father’s culture. On his father’s side, he’s part of the Empire that colonized his mother’s country. (Colonization in this story is symbolized by a magic system. The Empire goes around and collects other nation’s magics.) So you’re gonna follow this boy on a journey to find a third path, one not assigned to him by his family. But here is where the story lost me. We have an Empire on the father’s side which is obviously a symbol for colonialism and we have a resistance, a rebellion on the mother’s side. Isn’t it obvious that you should choose the rebellion’s path? Well, apparently not for the protagonist! But then again, his name is “Foolish Cur” so I guess he is supposed to be stupid?!
The most fascinating part of the story was his grandmother’s magic system and their Wolf Gods. But we left that interesting culture only to join a boring bureaucracy in the Empire. From this point on, I was bored. Because as I said, it’s obvious to me that the Empire is cruel but he has to go to another city and see the people’s pain to understand this obvious fact!
I have to admit, as a debut novel it’s a really good book, the prose is good, the world is all right, it’s original considering that magic is bound to tetragrams and calligraphy. In short, the author has talent but it is obvious that he needs more experience. The relationships in this story are not fleshed out enough. The relationship between Alder and his friend, Alder and his lover could have been explored better. They are in the story so that Alder can learn something but they are not developed enough. The lessons that Alder learns from his interactions with them are not earned. It’s like the author has a path in mind (because it’s a coming of age story) and he’s forcing the protagonist to go through this path and learn whatever he needs to learn. But he sometimes learns them out of nowhere without enough buildup. I can see the author’s hand in this plot.
I will continue the series because as I said I think the author has potential and he will get better as he writes more books.

ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

An all-around marvelously crafted fantasy debut; The Hand of the Sun King has cemented its spot as the best fantasy debut of the year.

I personally think The Hand of the Sun King was even better than The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman, The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter, and She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. I know that this is super high praise because I completely loved those three, but I am shocked at this myself. I didn’t plan to read this novel; this was a hugely impulsive read. Call me a cover snob if you want, but if you know me by now, you know that I love taking chances on an unknown debut or novels with awesome cover art. Believing in my gut has often lead me to a superior reading experience, and this notion has been proven once more here.

“It is a great strength of the young, this willingness to shoulder risk. It can also be our greatest weakness.”

The Hand of the Sun King is the first book in the Pact and Pattern trilogy by J.T. Greathouse. The story revolves around Wen Alder, or Foolish Cur, a boy torn between two legacies; one of his father, whose ancestries trace back to the right hand of the emperor; one of his mother, who reject the Empire. However, there may exist a better path, a magical path filled with secrets. By attaining this path, freedom from the shackle of legacies can be achieved, and Alder wants it. To do that, he has to take the Imperial Examinations, the first step to becoming The Hand of the Emperor and wield the Empire’s magic. The Hand of the Sun King is a coming-of-age fantasy with a magic—and calligraphy—school trope and beyond; in an Asian-inspired world-building setting. Now, I am no stranger to voicing how much I love these tropes done well, and Greathouse did an exceptional job on executing these tropes on his debut. The themes of friendship, apprenticeship, freedom, and the determination to choose our own path—to not have someone else decide our fates—were dominant in the days of companionship and learning that Alder undertook.

“As every decaying leaf and growing tree helps to shape the pattern of the world, so every human act shapes the paths that we might follow. And those in power, like Voices of the emperor, or ministers of trade, can shape those paths with a motion of their will.”

The character development of Wen Alder throughout the novel was outstanding. Alder isn’t a thoroughly flawless or kind-hearted character; he was arrogant as a boy, and he made a lot of mistakes despite his natural talents with magic and every other aspect. Honestly speaking, I totally enjoyed reading the gradual development in his characterizations. There’s something genuine about his thirst and pursuit of knowledge and magic. Walder continuously learned the hard way that he’s not as good as he thinks he is; I felt that this built his character wonderfully. Furthermore, his well-written relationship with his grandmother, Koro Ha, Oriole, Usher, Atar, and the other supporting characters truly shaped his characterizations.

“If the choice is between understanding some deeper truth or fighting for a chance to make good on all the harm I have done, then I choose to fight.”

The Hand of the Sun King was not epic in scope per se, but the world itself felt real, expansive, and vivid because we readers get to learn more about the politics and cultures of the world together with Alder’s progression in the story. As I said earlier, this is a coming-of-age fantasy, and the feeling of loneliness in the isolation of adulthood was so palpable. But it’s not all bleakness and sorrow; there’s hope, there’s love, and there’s a lot to learn here, and we need to remember to treasure the people important to us while we’re able to. We all have our own shackles and difficulties in our life, but it doesn’t mean we have to face them alone; sometimes, even the kindness of a stranger can be the light of hope in the darkness. Everything felt executed efficiently and effectively; the topic of politics, economy, and the difficulty of cooperation between people of different social status/cultures were handled with extraordinary finesse.

“Guilt gnawed at me and I recalled the Classic of Wealth and Labour, in which Traveller-on-the-Narrow-way wrote that a merchant is no better than a bandit if his wealth does not elevate the farmers and craftsmen who are the backbone of the empire.”

War, loyalty, leadership were some of the other pivotal themes of the novel. The conjuration of the elemental magic and how the pattern of the world affects it was so brilliant and atmospheric. Yes, if you love reading about ancient mysterious gods and elemental magic in your high fantasy books, you’re in luck here. There’s veering, windcaller, firecaller, and more, but it’s not all brutal destructions and ruin. Without giving any spoiler away, there were some gorgeous scenes involving the combination of wind and fire that I found to be so mesmerizing. The conflicts surrounding the canon of sorcery were captivating, and the devastations that lie in the path of its wakening enhanced the tension-packed battles. I’m not saying that The Hand of the Sun King is a heavily action-packed novel; that’s really not the case. But each battle scene was brimming with intensity, and it’s good to witness and be reminded that magic can be used for fruitful purposes, too. Plus, Alder’s obsession and fascination with magic continue to strengthen the core strength of the storytelling.

“There was a horrible justice in these warriors circling each other without end, meting out petty wounds, slowly bleeding each other dry, but always failing to deal a killing blow. If only they could do battle alone, isolated from the pattern of the world. Somewhere that their war would not leave towns besieged and starving. Where the romantic tales of wars long past could never trick the young into seeking glory, only to drag them down into death.”

Lastly, I can’t praise Greathouse’s prose highly enough. The first-person POV of Alder was magnificent, and the pacing has a consistently addictive quality to it, but more importantly, Greathouse’s beautiful prose was utterly engaging. It’s such an exquisitely written book; the prose was accessible but never too simplistic, and the world-building felt intricately designed. Elegant, lush, philosophical, and compulsive, Greathouse left an echo of beauty with each word stamped with his brush of ink. I guess this shouldn’t come as a surprise, The Hand of the Sun King is one of the very few—or maybe the first—high fantasy novel with a story that actually prioritized handwriting and calligraphies in the narrative. I certainly haven’t read many books that put such a clear emphasis on the advantage of being ambidextrous. I’ve highlighted a myriad of passages, and I wish I can share them with you all. Alas, that’s not possible unless I risk transforming this review into a collection of quotes from the book. I’ve shared a few on this review, but there’s so much more I haven’t shared. Instead, I’ll leave you with this:

“’The energy present in the body and the mind in the moment of writing is reflected in the brush stroke.’ By a close examination of a handwriting sample – and a proper understanding of the context in which that writing sample was composed – one can deduce a great deal about the personality and attitudes of an individual. People are far worse at regulating their handwriting than they are their facial expressions, tone of voice, and even body language. Yet masterful calligraphers learn such deft control of the brush that they can convey whatever temperament they wish.”

My reading journey this year so far—with the exception of a few standouts—has been unsatisfactory. The Hand of the Sun King arrived like a divine intervention to remedy that situation. This is the fourth book I read this year to receive a full 5 stars rating from me. My sleeping hours were happily sacrificed due to reading this book, and each waking moment I'm not reading it, I was looking forward to diving back in. The Hand of the Sun King deserves a mark of excellence. It is a spellbinding debut with terrific characterizations, immersive world-building, and prose that swept me away. The Hand of the Sun King is hands down the best debut of the year. Scratch that; this is one of the best debuts I've ever read, not just this year. I absolutely loved it, and I recommend this to readers who love coming-of-age fantasy. Bravo, J. T. Greathouse.

“Some moments fix themselves in memory, to be recalled again and again throughout our lives.”

Official release date: 5th August 2021

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping) | The Broken Binding (Use my code: NOVELNOTIONS121 for discount!)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions