“She couldn’t wait to see what happened next.”

Neither can I!


I was immediately hooked because, duh, Ancient Egypt is the ultimate fascinating topic.
At first, the book had me scratching my head, but trust me, just power through and it'll all magically make sense.
Each story is like a wild adventure ride. You get five POVs, thanks to Paws' chapters, but don't worry, it mainly follows four main characters.

It's like Game of Thrones, but, you know, in Ancient Egypt, which is way cooler.
Magic, deception, prophecies, and, of course, a mummy - what's not to love?

I was obsessed with Paws' chapters, especially the last one.

And that cliffhanger? I'm still reeling from it.

The setting is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Otherwise, most of the plot points are extremely predictable if you’ve read other fantasy books. I’m not an expert in the slightest, but I’d want to know how people with more knowledge of Ancient Egypt take the books. The most interesting character is the princess, and for at least 70% of the book she comes off as kind of floppy and useless.

This one was very Game of Thrones x Ancient Egypt and at first, I wasn’t sure if it was working, however, I was totally hooked by the end.

✔ The story of each character is compelling separate from each other - they are all connected in some way but each has their own life, goals, and journey and each is fascinating to follow as a reader. The characters, even non-main characters, really carry the expansive plot begun here.
✔ The writing style is absolutely lovely - it paints a very vivid image of the world of Khetara but not to the detriment of ease of reading or the plot.
✔ The world Michelle Jabès Corpora created for this story is incredibly detailed - not only vividly described but incredibly well thought out. Politics and history are very important elements of the story and the author’s attention and care for worldbuilding really shines.

✖ Unfortunately, this book took about 3 tries to read and I almost solidly left it in the DNF pile after the 2nd attempt. I’m glad I gave it that 3rd shot but the beginning is very slow to start and there are quite a few chapters in the middle that drag. For quite a while, it feels like you’ve read a lot of the book only for nothing to actually happen. The action picks up a lot and is very compelling after the middle section of the book but it took quite a while for me to get there.

4/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantasy set in an Ancient Egypt-like setting, which I think is very unique and was done quite well. There's not a ton of fantasy here, it's more as if the gods were real and the mythology of Ancient Egypt was fact. It's a great base to work from.

The beginning of the book is a lot to take in, as POVs are introduced one after another, but once you get further in, the world starts to take shape. The characters in the POVs are all very different from one another, and I liked that they were from all different walks of life. I especially liked Karim, him being an outsider not only to the region but to the religion was really interesting.

As complaints go, I would say that the villain goes all in too quickly in my opinion. As much as I do buy that he had been plotting things out for a while, the events that happen are overboard.

I'll also say that while I do love the idea of the cat as a POV, I do think it was overused. Once would have been perfect. Three is just too much. The second cat chapter was pretty unnecessary and just serves to further dilute a book with a lot of characters and POVS.

Overall, really solid world building and some great characters. I think the author was phenomenal at painting a picture of the ancient Egypt inspiration. I'll definitely read book two in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC! This was a fast-paced adventure novels set in ancient Egypt with a focus on politics and magic.

I loved the alternating viewpoints, and I felt that it really made the book exciting and I wasn’t able to put it down after the halfway point. Although it was slightly confusing at the very beginning, each character and their story is so fundamentally different that by the first quarter, I was fully engaged in each of their stories, especially Sita’s. I thought that Corpora did a wonderful job of tying all of their stories together at the end.

Overall, this was a solid 3.5 star book for me. The plot was excellent, and the characters were well-developed. The world building was immensely vivid and detailed, but it was still concise enough that it got to the main plot fast. There were times when I felt that some of the chapters were too slow, but for the most part, His Face Is the Sun was an exciting read I couldn’t put down!

The world building in this book is phenomenal. I adored the Egyptian setting and the plot was intriguing. The characters were a little harder to follow - there are lots of switching points of view and it took a little time to get used to the different voices. Overall though, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book for review.

While there were some things I really loved about this one, it ultimately fell flat.

The world building is fantastic. And as someone with only a tiny bit of knowledge about Egyptian history, the explanations and definitions were appreciated and didn't feel forced in.

The characters though, I just didn't click with any of them. It also felt like the story wanted to be new adult, but was trapped in YA restrictions.

"Desire, War, Magic, Monsters...a forgotten oracle will unite them against an ancient enemy. But who will be on the throne when the red dust of Khetara s. ettles?"

As soon as I saw those 2 sentences, I knew I had to read this book. The story weaved history, Egyptian mythology, and fantasy together in a well written, albeit very long, book. The world building was phenomenal, but I felt like it could have been tightened up some, and a lot of extraneous information removed. It was a little bit hard to get into the book at first because there were 4 different stories going on at once, with what felt like a lot of unnecessary filler. Once I felt invested, though, I enjoyed it. The story picked up the pace and I was drawn into it when I was able to distinguish the different characters' voices and mannerisms. I thought the characters were well written, likeable, and the story itself was fascinating,.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one in the series when it comes out.

3.5/5 (rounded up to 4/5)

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Michelle Jabes Corpora for the opportunity to read and review His Face is the Sun.

This book offers a fascinating blend of historical fiction and fantasy, weaving a vivid tapestry of magic and intrigue against a richly detailed backdrop. The world-building is immersive, drawing readers into an era where the lines between history and myth blur seamlessly. The author’s ability to evoke a sense of time and place is commendable, making the setting a character in its own right.

However, while the plot and atmosphere were captivating, the character development fell a bit short. In my mind’s eye, the characters felt much younger than their actual ages, which made it challenging to fully connect with them. Their decisions and dialogue often came across as youthful, even when the narrative suggested maturity. This dissonance occasionally pulled me out of the story, making it hard to invest in their journeys as deeply as I’d hoped.

The ending, though intriguing enough to make me curious about the next installment, felt somewhat underwhelming. It lacked the punch I was anticipating, meandering a bit before setting up the next phase of the story. Despite this, the promise of more magic and unanswered questions will likely draw me back.

Overall, while not perfect, this book delivers an engaging escape into a magical past. It’s worth picking up for fans of historical fantasy, but be prepared for a bit of unevenness in character portrayal and pacing.

I was really looking forward to this book. The premise and the world sounds right up my alley. The world building was done really well. And it’s super refreshing to have a fantasy book that isn’t set in the typical fantasy medieval setting. It lost me pretty quick with the opening scenes and I couldn’t make it past the 25% mark. I was put off in a middle grade book with an opening scene depicting a birth and then moving into voyerism. It wasn’t overly graphic, but it didn’t appeal to me or engage my curiosity. And ultimately I didn’t want to spend my time continuing. The writing was well done and I think the premise holds promise. It just wasn’t for me.

Thousands of years ago, the great land of Egypt was in turmoil, caught between the relentless demands of a heartless king and the people who suffered at his hand. An ancient prophecy foretells impending doom for the kingdom, and when the predictions begin coming true, the lives of a group of otherwise unconnected youth quickly become entwined. However, the prophecy only tells the beginning of the story; together, the key players united by the mysterious prediction must ultimately determine how the story ends. This gripping young adult novel takes place in ancient Egypt, a land filled with myth, mystery, and a people determined to survive, no matter the cost. Told from several perspectives, the narrative begins slowly, patiently building the world in the mind of the reader. Though the link among the characters is not clear until several chapters into the narrative, each piece keeps readers curious about what will happen next. A blend of horror, beauty, strength, and cleverness are featured throughout the story, elegantly echoing many of the quintessential elements of Ancient Egyptian culture. In addition to the descriptive writing, details are included that reflect the careful research that was done in preparation for creating this book. While the story itself is fictional, the world of Ancient Egypt comes alive for readers thanks to the quality design and presentation of this novel. Best for mature readers, this book is a resonant and memorable addition to library historical fiction collections, and it is primed for a sequel.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️ (closed door)
Publication Date: May 6 2025


✨SUMMARY: The kingdom of Khetara is on the brink of chaos. The pharaoh is dying, rebellion is brewing, and an ancient evil is waking in the desert, ready to tear everything apart. In the midst of it all, four strangers—a princess, a priestess, a rebel, and a tomb robber—are thrown together by fate and a long-forgotten oracle. With magic, monsters, and betrayals at every turn, they’ll have to fight not just for survival but for the future of Khetara itself.

✨REVIEW: The multiple points of view were a little hard to follow in the beginning but it was easier as their individual paths developed and began to converge. I liked the way the ancient Egyptian religion and customs are woven throughout while still including an element of magic and mystery. The stakes get higher as the main characters intersect, with some unexpected plot twists and villains in various places, that kept me engaged as the story progressed. The author clearly sets up a follow up in this eventual trilogy, and ends this book on a cliffhanger.


*I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, but all opinions are my own*
#arcreview #netgalley #sourcebooks

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited for this book as it is described as an Ancient Egyptian "Game of Thrones" with a mix of politics, magical creatures, and suspense. However, I just did not get that from this book and was a bit disappointed. Do not get me wrong, the book was ok, it just did not live up to what it said it would.

It is a very long trudge through the beginning of this book, which you really want a fantasy book to capture you in the beginning and if it has its lulls to be sporadic throughout the book and hopefully not much. However, it too k a good 55-60% into the book for me to really take off, and it did not amount to anything mind-blowing and revolutionary. There were a lot of things left unexplained.

The characters also lacked depth and personality, providing no connection to them at all. I also feel like this shouldn't be marketed as a YA, more like a new adult book, as there are some scenes that may not be suitable in the YA category. The author does do a good job of explaining some of the Egyptian mythology which was great, and there was some romance in the book, but it was not the main focus which allows you to focus on the plot more.

If there is a second book (which I believe there will be), I would like to pick it up, but unfortunately, I will not be running to grab it. Still give the book a try if it sounds interesting to you as you may like it.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I did really enjoy this book. It is a solid 4 star read for me. Set in ancient Egyptian times and told through multiple POVs. The Princess, The Priestess, The Rebel, the Tomb Robber, and sometimes a palace cat. Each character is intertwined and it was fun to see how and when they found each other. The beginning is a little slow, but likely because the chapters are long and rotate among the different POVs so it is a little harder to dive in and take off. The action does start in the beginning and the slow down a bit too but then does pick up again toward the end and doesn't stop. It is a great start to a trilogy and I can't wait to get into book two!

-multi POVs
-violence
-magic
-very light closed door romance
-long chapters

"A new reign is coming...Romance, magic, adventure, and horror collide in the start to this lush, epic, Ancient Egyptian inspired trilogy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas.

Princess. Priestess. Rebel. Thief.

Tensions run as hot as the Khamsin winds in the great kingdom of Khetara. Rumors of the pharaoh's mysterious illness abound, and with them, murmurs of rebellion grow. Meanwhile, in the quiet desert, a forgotten oracle begins to unfold, setting a dark prophecy into action and drawing together four strangers...

Princess SITA lives in the abundance of the palace, and in a moment of passion, she unmasks a betrayal that will put her life - and the entire royal court - in grave danger.

A priestess-in-training, NEFF strives to understand her intense visions from the gods, except theirs is not the only magic at play in the grand temple.

As a farmer's daughter, RAE knows how much the pharaoh's men have taken from her land, her people. Still, who will step forward to confront the king?

KARIM was raised among the pyramids of the Red Lands and survives on the wealth of the dead as a tomb robber. But amid the spoils, an ancient evil awakens...

Bloodshed is coming. Only together do these four have the potential to save the kingdom from destruction. But when the dust has settled, who will sit on the throne of Khetara?"

Oh. Oh my. I couldn't be more excited, it's Egyptian inspired!

OMG, let me tell you about “His Face is the Sun” – it’s one of those books that starts slow but ends with a total bang! At first, I was kind of wondering where the story was going. Four main characters in a divided desert kingdom with an mysterious pharaoh and ancient evil? Sounds cool, but it took me a minute to get into the groove. But once I did? I was all in.

The last quarter of the book is where things get seriously wild. Plot twists start flying, the characters’ connections get super intense, and I could not put it down. If you’re into fantasy with a historical vibe and can hang with a bit of a slow start, this book is totally worth it. The payoff is chef’s kiss.

This book had me at the edge of my seat. It was an absolute delight of a read. Corpora nailed the characters and world building, even with that slow burn beginning. The juice was worth the squeeze, as they say. Highly recommend!

I’ve always loved books based on Egypt and His Face Is the Sun did not disappoint. Although it’s fantasy and loosely based on Egyptian mythology, it was incredible.

From the story to the setting to the characters, I fell in love with this book from the first chapter. With the story following 4 POV’s I did worry that I would get confused and the timelines would get mixed up but that was the case at all. I loved how the chapters left you on mini cliffhangers and kept me reading just to see what would happen next.

Each story line and FMC/MMC was so unique that nothing got jumbled or confusing. I couldn’t wait to dive back into the story and read more. I definitely have a soft spot for Neff and I think you’ll see why as you read. And Karim is..well he’s the whole reason for the story, in my opinion. Sita is so brave and loyal and my heart breaks for her. Rae is just wow! I can’t wait to follow her story more in the next book!

Honestly this was a fantastic book. It was dark, mysterious, full of mythology and had so many little twists that I enjoyed every second.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC copy.

I had such fun with this book. The setting, for one — ancient Egypt — is novel, well-researched, and lushly described. The many gods, the priesthood, the different forms of writing, the different ethnic groups, the food, the decadence of the palace, all of it. The clothing and jewelry is well described, and I think the setting is my favorite part of the book.

Character wise, each of the POV characters is drawn in broad strokes: they’re all good, compassionate, and drawn from different walks of life. The spoiled princess who has been too comfortable, too complacent in her life; the new priestess whose visions of a terrifying future seem closer and closer to coming true; the farmer’s daughter who will not see injustice done; the tomb robber haunted by what he found in the forgotten and sealed crypt in the desert. The villains are just as broad, with the manipulative and lust-driven brother, the cruel bureaucrat, the evil mummy … while there are some nuances in the heroes and baddies alike, it’s still rather straightforward.

The writing is strong, clean and easy read. The pace is excellent, with never too much time spent with one character and every scene moving the story along. The plot itself is well done, and I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.

If you want an epic fantasy with a new setting, excellent world building and solid storytelling, give this book a try! Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wow wow WOW this book was so good! Because there are 5 POVs I was a little concerned at first that they would be hard to track, but that wasn't the case at all. Each perspective is completely different and by the end of this first book I could kind of see how everything was starting to come together. I got completely swept up into the story and simply could not put this book down. I knew absolutely nothing about the book going into it, and I am so happy I gave this a chance. I cannot WAIT for the next installment in the series.
I will definitely be recommending this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!