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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this. It's a great coming of age story. Loved the magic in this one.
To hear a short pitch of this fantasy debut from J. T. Greathouse himself, to see if this is for you, you can click on a link here - The Brothers Gwynne
“Magic could reshape the world. Its power was undeniable. It needed no argument to bolster it, nor any faith to make it true.”
The Hand of the Sun King is a fantasy debut, the beginning to a series called Pact and Pattern, of which I do not know how many books it will include. After Petrik said that he loved this, I had to buy it. I am glad to say that I also thought it was absolutely fantastic.
One of my favourite aspects was the conflict of identity with our sole perspective. His father is a businessman of the Empire, whilst his mother and her side of the family are part of a nation being oppressed and taken over by this swiftly growing Empire. The conflict of identity and purpose becomes one of the most interesting and important factors in the life of Wen Alder
“If you do nothing - or worse, if you help them - they will win. There is no middle ground in this. You must choose. Either the empire or those who fight them.”
The prose of smooth and effective, creating a vivid world that I am looking forward to learning more about. This also feeds into the growth of character we see from Wen Alder, when he goes from his home to the training school trope we see in fantasy. It is done very well and in a fresh way that makes The Hand of the Un king very different, and when partnered with the conflict of identity there is a lot of heart to this section of the book, as well as the rest.
One of my favourite reads of the year, with everything I wanted in it. Original ideas, complex characters, a nuanced and interesting world. A really expertly crafted story that I am looking forward to continuing when the sequel is released.
5/5 STARS
“Magic could reshape the world. Its power was undeniable. It needed no argument to bolster it, nor any faith to make it true.”
The Hand of the Sun King is a fantasy debut, the beginning to a series called Pact and Pattern, of which I do not know how many books it will include. After Petrik said that he loved this, I had to buy it. I am glad to say that I also thought it was absolutely fantastic.
One of my favourite aspects was the conflict of identity with our sole perspective. His father is a businessman of the Empire, whilst his mother and her side of the family are part of a nation being oppressed and taken over by this swiftly growing Empire. The conflict of identity and purpose becomes one of the most interesting and important factors in the life of Wen Alder
“If you do nothing - or worse, if you help them - they will win. There is no middle ground in this. You must choose. Either the empire or those who fight them.”
The prose of smooth and effective, creating a vivid world that I am looking forward to learning more about. This also feeds into the growth of character we see from Wen Alder, when he goes from his home to the training school trope we see in fantasy. It is done very well and in a fresh way that makes The Hand of the Un king very different, and when partnered with the conflict of identity there is a lot of heart to this section of the book, as well as the rest.
One of my favourite reads of the year, with everything I wanted in it. Original ideas, complex characters, a nuanced and interesting world. A really expertly crafted story that I am looking forward to continuing when the sequel is released.
5/5 STARS
I didn't like the writing style. It felt like it was trying to teach me lessons I have already learned, without much poetry.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Wojna makowa 2.0
Z tą różnicą, że tego się jakoś przyjemniej słucha, ale mnie nie porwała.
Monotematyczność "więcej magii, więcej magii, więcej magii" była męcząca, choć przyznaję, że sam system magiczny interesujący.
Klimaty azjatyckie - nie moje.
Z tą różnicą, że tego się jakoś przyjemniej słucha, ale mnie nie porwała.
Monotematyczność "więcej magii, więcej magii, więcej magii" była męcząca, choć przyznaję, że sam system magiczny interesujący.
Klimaty azjatyckie - nie moje.
I liked it and perhaps I'll end up giving it 4 stars. For now, it's 3.5/5. Longer review to come.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“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."
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."
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes