This book was so slow and boring in the beginning. I know it was YA but some of the concerns seemed so childish . Good idea but kinda poor execution.

This is a multiple POV of chosen individuals whose fates are intertwined by a prophecy set years ago: a princess, a priestess, a rebel farmer's daughter, and a grave robber. Set in ancient Egypt, these four characters forge ahead as the kingdom is at stake and a monster is set loose.

I tried so very hard to get through this story. An author and a bookstagram account had great things to say about the book. However, it just fell to the disappointing wayside. The biggest events in the book were surrounded by a dog. I am not a fan of harm or death coming to dogs in books that I read. Especially when the author writes a story and has the animal develop a relationship with the characters. Please, do not do that to a reader.

As far as the main characters and story itself? I've got nothing. Is there potential for greatness? Yes. Did it meet those expectations? No. I appreciate stories and retellings of Ancient Egypt and mythology, but the characters, their thoughts and the monologues seemed forced and very immature, even for YA. I hope that book two may do this story justice and show some true character depth.

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEbooks Fire for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book from start to finish! The beginning was a little slow only because there are multiple POVs that need to be established, along with the world building, but once I found my footing I really found it hard to put down. His Face Is the Sun is an epic story ala Game of Thrones meets The Mummy and a breath of fresh air and welcome addition to a genre that's dominated by Western European stories. While my partner didn't read the book, he may as well have because I gave him a play by play of every few chapters - I just needed to talk about this book!!

As I mentioned, the story features 4 main characters - Sita, Rae, Karim, and Neff - who all come from different backgrounds but share in a desire to find themselves along the paths the gods have laid out for them. My favorite character was Rae, the 19-year old daughter of a farmer whose preference for street fighting certainly finds her in more than one pickle, and sets her along on a path of rebellion. I found her passion to fight for what is right and hold those around her accountable for their decisions inspiring and much needed right now. I also loved the authors decision to incorporate a 5th POV - from that of a cat in the palace where Sita lives! This was a great way to provide insight into events that were happening behind closed doors where our main cast didn't have context. I knew any time Paws was narrating, we were about to see or learn something special.

While the world is based on Ancient Egypt and pulls from many real-life elements, Khetara is a fictional place, but it certainly felt very real in the way it was described. I didn't have any problems dropping myself into the world and the events that were happening. Because the main cast is all from different areas, we got to see a lot of their world in a short period of time. From the cities outside the palace filled with restless citizens trying to make ends meet, all the way to the palace of Khetara where the royal triplets were born and some still reside, wanting for nothing and everything at the same time, and all the way to the Red Lands, home of Karim our resident tomb raider.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and have recommended it to all my friends! It's something very different but still familiar. And there's a cat AND a dog! This is an epic fantasy filled with political intrigue, romance, diverse characters, and yes, a mummy! Pick it up and read it, the special edition is gorgeous as well!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the early review copy!

If you’re the kind of reader who loves stories that feel like they’re building toward something epic, this one’s for you.
I’ll admit, the beginning was a little overwhelming—four POVs, a complex prophecy, multiple plots—but once I settled into the rhythm, I was hooked!

Corpora's world-building is rich and immersive. You can feel the dry heat of Khetara’s sun, hear the whispers of the gods in temple corridors, and feel the energy in the marketplace

Also: shout-out to the pacing. While the first half was definitely more of a slow build, the last quarter went feral (in the best way).
Plot twists came fast, alliances shifted, and I found myself flipping pages way past my bedtime. I was genuinely shocked more than once!

The romance takes a backseat here—it’s present, but this is not a swoony, trope-heavy romantasy. Instead, the book focuses on legacy, power, sacrifice, and what it means to shape the future of a broken kingdom. And honestly? That felt refreshing!

His Face is the Sun feels like the beginning of something truly epic. I’m already counting down to book two (which I am told is well on the way!), because if the ending is any indication… things are about to get wild!!

Don’t be fooled by the early pacing—if you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable fantasy ride.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I cannot fully review this book as I did not finish it, but I was not drawn into the book and found that it just didn't interest me. The introductory chapters were too long, and I didn't care about the characters. I couldn't see where the book was going, and as a high school librarian, I need a book that will capture attention more quickly than this one did. It also had some very strong sexual overtones, and I was concerned with how graphic the content might get, especially because I work in a county that is very concerned with this type of content. Knowing that I could not buy the book for my collection and that I did not care for the story, I decided to DNF the book. I will not be posting this review on my socials unless you'd like me to.

DNF. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review. I love ancient Egypt and this seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately not. There are too many POVs and the pace is too slow for me to keep slogging through. The characters seemed flat due to having so many POVs. I made it 30ish percent and that was enough for me. I think this could have been an outstanding book if the pacing was better and less POVs.

A breathtaking dive into a fantastical world steeped in Egyptian mythology. Hooked me from the start and kept me rapt with attention all throughout. Multi POV, well thought out characters, amazing world building. This is a wondrous blend of fantasy, mystery & horror with a touch of romance. Perfect for grownup fans of the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan & the Reawakened series by Colleen Houck. The physical copy is absolutely gorgeous, had to add it to my trophy shelf.

4.5 ⭐️ This was described as romantasy however I would say the romance is an extreme subplot. It’s set in the Egyptian kingdom of Khetara, where magic, politics, and prophecy all come together. You follow 4 main POV characters: a princess, a priestess, a rebel, and a tomb raider. Each character was uniquely their own person and no two start the story knowing the other. It did take a moment for me to get wrapped up in the story. The chapters are pretty lengthy however there’s the cat named Paws who roams around the palace. His POV chapters are shorter but still provide necessary viewpoints to conversations and events.
The story moves at a steady, slow burn type pace but I just couldn’t put this down. It isn’t non stop action, but it does builds nicely and I appreciated the careful setup of world building and character development especially love all the cats. I’m excited to see where the series heads from here.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC Copy!

When the story is as beautiful as the cover and the cover looks like this!! I always love a fantasy book set in Egypt, especially when the world building is so fleshed and interesting. It took me a minute to get fully immersed in this book, but that is to be expected when building up such a strong world, but by the middle of the book I was so invested in every single character. I will 1000% be continuing on with this series.

His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora 🐍

This was a fantastic upper YA fantasy inspired by Ancient Egypt and its mythology. I had a blast with the characters and world building and that ending?? Spring 2026 couldn’t come any sooner! 🤯

The book follows four POV’s: Karim, a young tribesman whose tomb raiding causes him more trouble than good; Stamen, the beautiful princess whose luxurious life is soon upended by her actions; Neffermat, a young girl who finds herself whisked away after a reoccurring dream ends up being more than it seems; Raetawy, a farm girl whose hotheadedness gets her places that complacency never could; and Paws, an immortal like cat that provides an interesting outside point of view of all the events happening. I thought each character was fleshed out incredibly well and while I found myself enjoying some more than others, I still had a great time with them all. I loved the banter that Karim had with just about everyone that he meets, Sita’s desire to be more than just her title and beautiful face, Neff’s willingness to take change at face value despite her reservations, and Rae’s passion for change. All together, these characters made the plot so colorful and absorbing that the reader can’t help but be sucked into the story. 😍

While the world building itself isn’t too tedious, I loved the detail and research that went into crafting it. I can tell that Corpora has a deep love for this period of history and getting to see that the country the book is inspired by has meaning to the author makes it all the more special to read. 🥰

I don’t really know what else to say here without spoiling it for those who are really interested in picking this up, but I will just say that I think this book would have done incredibly well as a new adult fantasy since the depictions of gore, violence, and dissection of a corpse might be a bit too much for some readers. However, I’m loving the expansion of more intense fantasies that have been coming out lately for the YA genre, and I think this would be a perfect read for those who would like characters that remind people of Lawless’s Gael Song series but set in Ancient Egypt and with teens instead of adults. 🗡️

In general, I loved this and would highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for an Ancient Egypt inspired fantasy! A huge thank you goes out to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest (and late) review; and to the author, Corpora for crafting such an incredible YA fantasy series that will probably be one of my new obsessions in the YA sphere. ❤️

Publication date: May 6, so go get your copy NOW, especially since the US first edition has GORGEOUS sprayed edges!!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this title.

I don’t see enough fantasy set in Ancient Egypt—especially in YA or adult crossover fiction—so this book immediately caught my attention. I’m really glad to say it lived up to my expectations, and then some. The historical detail, the myth-inspired magic, and the sheer ambition of the narrative pulled me in more and more as the story progressed. As someone who’s long admired the work of Barbara Mertz, seeing her listed as an influence made me smile—and it shows. The research is clearly there, but never overwhelms the story.

The book follows four distinct characters, all tied to a prophecy that could change the future of Khetara: a defiant princess, a reluctant priestess, a tomb robber who may have unleashed something ancient and terrible, and a rebel seeking justice. I liked that they were all so different in personality, background, and motivation, yet it was easy to empathise with each of them. You’re not just picking favourites—you’re watching how each thread weaves into something larger, and that slow unraveling was part of the fun.

The pacing in the first half is definitely slower, but it didn’t bother me too much. I found that once I got into the rhythm of the multiple POVs, the payoff in the second half was well worth the build-up. The writing style sits in that perfect spot between rich and accessible, and the descriptions really brought the desert setting to life. I did notice the occasional modern-sounding phrase that pulled me out for a second, but it wasn’t enough to take away from the overall immersion.

I also appreciated how the book leaned into politics and prophecy rather than relying on romance to drive the plot. There are hints of it, sure, but the heart of the story lies in the power struggles, ancient magic, and the cost of truth and legacy. The ending definitely felt like the beginning of something bigger, and now that all the key players are in motion, I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

This was a fresh take on high fantasy with ancient roots, and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out.

Well now I can't wait for book 2!

This was a great high fantasy inspired by Ancient Egypt. We follow 4 different points of view from characters vastly different from each other - a princess, a young girl turned priestess, a tomb robber, and a girl who just loves to fight. I thoroughly enjoyed all of their POVs and it was so great to see them slowly come together and try and figure out all of the centuries old mysteries and navigate the turbulent political scene of Khetara. The scenery was immersive and I loved stepping into this world. I just can't wait to see what lies in store for our 4 friends and the mysterious prophecy that surrounds them all!

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A captivating and rich fantasy with incredible atmosphere and characters that set up this series for a bright future. This book has such a vivid world you just feel the Egyptian scenery so deeply, Ioved all the cultural elements and depictions of the prophecies and mythology would’ve loved even more of these elements. I was worried this one would feel too similar to other recent releases centered in Egyptian culture and I was happy that wasn’t the case as the characters were really intriguing and gave the story the life to make it stand out on it’s own. There is a lot of information and characters to absorb at the beginning so the pacing felt a little slower but I was glad for that by the time the plot really picked up I didn’t find myself wondering what was going on because I was able to have so many details set up before hand. Midway through this book really shines as the vision comes into focus and I loved where it ended up. While it undoubtedly feels like the beginning of a series with a lot of foundation being set up I am really excited to find out where the story goes and how the relationships evolve and the Kingdom of Khetara grows in the next book.

I ate up anything and everything Egyptian growing up- which is why I'm disappointed that this wasn't a 5 star read for me. This started slow, which is fine, world building, right? But it never quite picked up. I didn't feel like we got a ton of background info for the Gods and the lore and I just wish that the pacing was a little more evenly paced? I will say I appreciated that this wasn't recycled fantasy and that it felt new and original.

I absolutely loved this book. I love Egyptian-themed anything and this was amazing. all the characters, their ties to each other, the intense storyline. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

I had a tough time connecting with this book. This is through no fault of the author. I think this book just wasn’t for me.

I was really excited about the Romantasy aspect but for whatever reason I just couldn’t connect.

2025 is truly the year of fantasy!

I DEVOURED this book in just a few sittings. This was everything I was expecting it to be, and more. All the cultural contexts of Egyptian lore, fantastical elements, a brilliant heroine- what more can you really ask for? The plot and storyline kept me on the hook and literally on the edge of my seat. There was quite a bit of anxiety involved but it was all worth it. I can't wait for the next instalment of this book!

I loved this one and will be recommending this to everyone!

His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabes Corpora is the first in the Throne of Khetara Series and is a really cool new take on ancient Egyptian stories mixed with the rivalries of lifetimes. Between the wildly intense moments and the overall character development, there’s so much to take in and something for everyone!

Want royal family rivalry? Got it. Powers, gifts, and magic? Got it. A regular quest or journey, it’s there too. Egyptian lore, yup definitely in the mix. There’s so much more than this, so I’d recommend diving in.

I really enjoyed how smoothly the transitions from one character to another occurred. For example, in the prologue, it starts in the cat’s mind and then shifts ever so smoothly to observing the queen and everyone in that particular situation. It wasn’t too confusing or distracting, it made sense for it to flow like in the POV. Interesting choice!

One of the only things that stood out to me is that there are a lot of people and things to keep track of. It makes total sense due to the type of story this is, but fret not, Michelle has us covered! There’s a guide within the book to help keep track of things and connections. Thank you for that!!
If you’re ready for a new type of fantasy mixed with lots of lore, chaos, fights for the throne, some ancient Egyptian fantasy, and a blend of cultures, this is for you!

Can’t wait for book 2!

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of His Face is the Sun from Michelle Jabes Corpora via NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and author for the opportunity to arc read this book!

This was an enjoyable epic fantasy to read about. You have four characters coming together in order to save a kingdom, but add Egyptian mythology and aspects to it, which gives you an Egyptian for broken blades. I will say, if childbirth is triggering for you definitely tread lightly in the prologue. But other than that, I am going to physically purchase this book just so I can annotate because this book actually was fantastic.

Three mysterious priestesses aid in the birth of Pharaoh’s triplets. A prophecy has been triggered. Four individuals will face darkness — a princess, a thief, a priestess, a rebel. There is deep magic in the world and each of the four must find theirs.

This is a great first book in a new series. The ground work for each of the four protagonists is laid in an interesting and captivating way, building this Egyptian based world. They are unique but linked and I cannot wait to see where the author takes us. 5 stars.

Based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!