The story kicks off with very lush and colorful descriptions of the time and place. I was immediately ensnared and had to know what each character was about. There are several characters introduced to us and their differing personalities and perspectives give us the opportunity to see the whole of Egypt in differing lights. At about 50% I was looking for a quicker way for our characters to get together. Towards the end of the book I was hoping to find some form of a resolution of sort.. which there wasn’t. In many ways this book was very well written and interesting - but it very much just set up the scene for a book 2. I’m a little torn, as I enjoyed the setting and the mythology, but the story in a sense lacked some satisfying plot elements to make it feel worthwhile.

I believe if you’re into mythology and are okay with this being the first book in a series that sets up the scene - this is definitely for you!

Thank you to #NetGalley & #Sourcebooks for providing me with this ARC for my honest opinion!

If you love history and Egypt, this is a novel for you! The kingdom of Egypt is finding itself coming upon hard times. There is not enough food, taxes keep increasing, and the pharoh does not seem to seem to care. A revolution seems to be brewing and a prophecy is about to come true. Four people, a princess, a high priestess, a tomb raider, and a rebel, that do not know each other are key players in the prophecy. Will they be able to sage Egypt from the horrors that are coming or will the kingdom fall?

I love Egyptian history and this novel was right up my alley. The characters were well thought out and the plot keeps you in the story. I can't wait for the next book!

☆ Fun Factor 5/5
☆ Writing Style 5/5
☆ Characters 5/5
☆ Plot 5/5
☆ Setting 5/5
☆ Feels 5/5
☆ Spiciness 1/5 (mostly implied rather than explicitly shown)

If this were a movie it'd be rated: PG-13 for graphic depictions of births, gore, mild sexual content and innuendos, lots of blood, horror, deaths, murders, and a little bit of spooky monster mayhem

☆FOR FANS OF: Egyptian mythology, The Mummy movies, anything with lots of backstabbing like A Game of Thrones

Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆☆☆/5 (one of the best of 2025 so far)

☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ Every single character in this is amazing, but I enjoyed Sita's chapters the most

Review: Blood on the sands!

READ THIS NOW.

THIS MADE ME CRY, not once, not twice, but FOUR TIMES. I keep a list of books that make me cry. In the past SIX YEARS, only three works of fiction have made me get misty eyed, including this one!

Why did it make me cry? Because the characters oh the characters here are so good. I care about every single one of them even when their goals are in competition with each other. They all feel so human, fleshed out, and have hopes and dreams. When bad things happened to them I CRIED. The author is so good at making you understand and relate to their pains, fears, and losses. It's just gutting, oh it hurts so good.

The setting was gorgeous, the writing style was lush and vivid full of lots and lots of visual details; what everybody's wearing, what they're eating, the makeup they have on. If you've read George R.R. Martin you know what you're in for here, albeit aimed at a younger crowd than his work. But boy oh boy! Backstabbings, murders, betrayals, ancient curses, prophesies, gods and demons, it's all here.

This is more than I ever could have asked for from this book and it means so much to me. I must, I MUST buy this one. I want the sequel, I want the whole trilogy. The author expressed in her epilogue that she hopes this story will endure, and I really really hope it catches fire and becomes the next viral hit because it DESERVES that recognition. You wrote an amazing book, and I'm crying writing the review because I loved it so much.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

⭐⭐⭐

HIS FACE IS THE SUN by Michelle Jabès Corpora
Thank you Netgalley and SourcebooksFire for the earc (May6)

Four people from seemingly different worlds are thrown into a world of uncertainty.
It was a little daunting going into HIS FACE IS THE SUN because of the length. It was so long, and I feel like it took forever to read.
I was intrigued by this, since I've been into fantasy lately.
I actually really liked this. The world of Khetura was interesting and full of mischief, romance, and m*rder. There were so many things that left me shocked that it was hard to keep track of it all.
My favorite part of this book was when everything started coming together, even though there was so much that was incomplete. With so many points of views, so many stories are started that don't get a proper ending, and for that I was taken aback. I understand that this will be a series, but I wish some things would have been tied up.
Regadless of everything, I look forward to seeing where it goes.

This was an unexpected find but I was intrigued by the premise of an ancient Egyptian themed story. The challenges…. As with most books that start a fantasy series, the world building is a lot and makes the progression of the story very slow at points. It was able to keep my interest but I kept asking myself when we were going to really get going especially considering this is a YA book at about 500+ pages.

That said, once the story did get going I really enjoyed the mythology, the magic, etc. You can absolutely tell the author has a deep connection to Egyptian history/culture and tried to create an amazing fantasy world. I was also surprised by some of the gore which was welcomed, just not something you usually find in a YA.

All in all I think this book is a great start to the series and sets up the next book. I’m intrigued to see where the author takes the story and our characters next!

okayyyy this is for those percy jackson girlies who grew up!!! (not to compare the mythologies, mind you) i was enthralled from start to finish and i think this is a solid set up for a series, even hinting at a possible romance for future books which, say less, my romance heart is READY. i def think fans og fantasy fans are going to eat this up!!!!

Game of Thrones, but set in Egypt and with major vibes of <i>The Mummy</i>…are you intrigued yet?

This book follows 4 characters with intertwined fates - a princess, a priestess, a thief and a warrior - set against the backdrop of an ancient Egyptian-inspired world.

I am a sucker for anything vaguely Egyptian (especially YA books) so I was super excited to dive into this one.

Comparisons to GOT are definitely deserved and the book actually got pretty gory in spots, especially for YA. I got definite Mummy vibes from it as well, which only added to my enjoyment.

Despite its length at over 500 pages, I found this to be a relatively easy read and I never really had trouble differentiating between the 4 narrators. I liked seeing how their stories unfolded and how they came together. The magic system was based on Egyptian gods and goddesses and I enjoyed that as well.

Definitely on the gorier end, but if you like Game of Thrones, this should be right up your alley - especially if you like The Mummy as well.

For any concerned - the dog does NOT die. (Love that dog - he was so cute!)

Mysticism, the role of religion, the turning wheel politics all are in motion for the Throne of Khetara. I've been waiting for a sweeping fantasy book that has all the tools of House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones. I've seen many attempt but Michelle Jabès Corpora really knocks it out of the park with pacing, attention to details, and big sweeping story and character journeys. World building is alive and thriving in this book.

We follow four characters Sita, Neff, Rae, and Karim all living separate lives but are brought together by one singular act. I will share that while they don't have a scene together they exist in the same universe and are tackling the same issue. I hope at some point (because this is a trilogy) that they eventually meet up. I'm just so curious about their interactions. They each have such clarity and are well fleshed out.

I'm giving this 4.5 stars but boosting to five, the beginning might be tough for some readers to get immersed with, but I urge everyone to stick through it!

Thank you so much Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC!

This one was an unexpected find, and certainly a welcome one! Taking place in a meticulously well-researched fantasy equivalent to Ancient Egypt, this tale of intrigue and magic grabbed me from the beginning with its lush language, wonderfully built setting, and engaging cast of characters! A wonderful read, and one that left me super excited to see the sequel! Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book had a slow start, but it was never boring. I found myself at times wishing the action would start, but knowing that this was always intended to be a series helped curb some of my impatience. I really appreciate the fact that the author included a glossary of terms at the end of the book. My suggestion for that would be to add a pronunciation guide to the glossary as well.

What I liked: I like the four main characters, and I respect the ambition it takes to do so many perspectives in a single book and the author manages them all deftly. Each character has a distinct voice and that is incredibly important when writing so many POVs the way this book does. I particularly like the chapters from the cat's perspective as well. We also love having a badass queer protagonist to root for in Raetawy!

What I didn't like: As I mentioned before the build up is a touch slow, but even as I say it I couldn't pick out any particular area I would have shortened to speed things up. Karim's characterization when we first meet him compared to when he begins to meet the other characters feels very different. In his initial chapter he comes off as largely introverted, nice enough to other people, but more focused on seeking treasure. When we see him around the other characters later though he is outright charming and even flirtatious. He's a very likable character but I had a difficult time at first squaring those two portrayals.

It was such unique story.
I liked the world building and the character.
Egypt and vibes of Game or thrones.
Really good.

LOVED this book! The unique spin on Egyptian mythology as well as highly engaging story made this book a winner for me! Loved the magic system and all the twists a turns. A true five star read!

A good read, but admittedly I struggled with the first half of it. For me: the pacing felt off and the characters, flat. There are also a number of details that didn’t quite make sense (in my perspective) — for instance: conclusions that are leapt to without much backing or substance. Mostly for the sake of advancing the plot. Given that I believe much of what happened could have been carried into a second book, this feels like an unfortunate side effect of having rushed through the story in this one. I will say that a lot of what distracted my focus, however, was the language. There’s something that feels very modern in some of the descriptions and dialect, which took me away from the depicted ancient setting.

Overall, however, I think this will be a solid (if not great) read for anyone who enjoys multi-pov fantasy novels with prophecy, mysticism, and chaos.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 [4.5]
🌶🌶 [FTB]

His Face Is the Sun is the first book in a captivating multi-POV epic fantasy trilogy inspired by Ancient Egypt that follows four compelling characters: Sita, a spoiled princess burdened by secrets she must keep; Neff, a girl in a village doing alright, but she became a priestess overnight as she’s unexpectedly chosen by a goddess; Rae, a rebel who takes things in stride and never backs down though frequently lets her emotions drive her; and Karim, a tomb robber thrust into a world-altering prophecy and is now set on an adventure that may help or bring the world to ruin. Their journeys intertwine, fulfilling—whether they like it or not—an ancient oracle.

Before I continue, I'll mention that romance isn't central to the plot. The only established relationship is between Rae and her crush with a girl in her village. There's also description of suggestive content, though they are lyrical and mostly kept brief, not explicit, in case it matters to those who will be reading this book.

I'll be honest and say it: I had a hard time getting into the book at first, and the early chapters were pretty lengthy, which was a bit discouraging for me. It took time to establish the scene for the story and introduce the characters and world building to the audience, which is a good thing, but I assumed it was going to be fast-paced and all action, which I was wrong. As the story progressed, the chapters became a bit shorter, and action and adventure began to unfold. After that, the reading experience went quite smoothly.

I loveee the characters and I feel like they are really well written and that they do feel like individuals instead of characters that were created just for the story. Each character has unique goals, motivations, personalities, and relationships, creating a diverse and engaging cast. The best aspect of it all was that each person's personality seemed so unique that it felt like fate’s design • ᴗ < . There were no encounters between the four of them at first, but some did cross paths and felt the strings of destiny tug them together. I adored every interaction, especially Karim and Neff because they clearly have witty banter that I would love to see more of.

The book alternates POV’s, and they aren't in any specific order, so I was definitely playing favourites because Karim's POV was my most anticipated, followed by Neff, Rae, and Sita. Sita's stubbornness initially frustrated me, making her chapters slower to read, but I have high hopes for her character development, especially near the end of the book, because I can see some steps she's taking to mature herself and her mindset, and grow from being ignorant to being someone reliable.

I was plenty immersed in the story that I could practically feel sand in my eyes, if that’s worth noting. It was satisfying to puzzle through parts of the oracle and the events happening in the present and if the characters’ actions will change the prophecy or if every action is all part of the plan. The ending leaves with a cliffhanger which is criminal to say the least. I hope more could be answered in future instalments, and I'm really looking forward to them because I need a group gathering scene at least once.

I definitely suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the premise and setting. The jargons and names take some getting used to, but it's not so insane that you'll be straining to catch up with everything, because the book begins gradually and helps you comprehend how things function in this new and unfamiliar world.

All in all, the best character is obviously Behkai and Paws, and I'm sure many will agree (ദ്ദി ๑>؂•̀๑)

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘚𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘊𝘌𝘉𝘖𝘖𝘒𝘚 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘣𝘦̀𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.

I enjoyed this book to an extent. It was refreshing to read a fantasy book based around a lesser known mythology but it wasn't anything overly special. The characters were a little bland and the story line moved a little fast, some of it could've probably gone into the next book. There are also somethings that require more explanation into how and why they're happening that we don't really get explained to us I will say that there is a lot I loved about this book as well though. The author did a great job giving explanations into the gods and mythology so you're not lost and overall the story is interesting and I will be reading the next book in order to see what will happen. I like that there isn't a whole lot of romance in this book (but there is some hinting of it in the future) because it allows the reader to be more focused and engaged to the plot

Thank you to author and publisher for the arc!

I truly get why they call this an Ancient Egyptian version of Game of Thrones, it felt exactly like that!

I was afraid going into this purely because of it being YA, and I notice that YA these days just doesn’t hit the same but wow, this book was incredible. These characters were so well put together and the worldbuilding was perfectly balanced.

I’m so incredibly happy this is a trilogy because that ending is making me desperate for more!