“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.”

9/10 - The Hand of the Sun King is an outstanding debut filled with everything I love about fantasy: ancient magic, warring gods exploiting human ambition for their own goals, vibrant and imaginative cultures and characters faced with the terrifying reality and pain brought about by their own actions.

In The Hand of the Sun King, we follow Wen Alder or Foolish Cur, as he grows up with divided loyalties. One to the Sienese Empire and his Father's ancestry and the other, more forbidden, to rebellion and his mother's family. But Alder desires a different path, one of power and limitless magic which is not bound by the decisions and expectations of those around him. The characterisation of Alder is a masterclass as we follow his coming of age and the rifts his own ambition creates between himself and his friends and family. Not only this, but the first-person narrative allows us a front seat to the warring within Alder, who I have to warn you is sometimes frustrating as Alder isn't flawless and his arrogance and expectations of success mean he constantly has to 'learn the hard way' when he does not succeed.

Overall, I highly recommend The Hand of the Sun King for people who love asian inspired fast-paced fantasy, coming of age and divided loyalties. Also some appreciation for this outstanding cover art by Patrick Knowles.

"Regret gnawed at me, and again my mind and heart did battle, but tomorrow had come and our day had ended."