I really enjoyed this one! Thank you so much to Sourcebooks for an eARC copy of His Face is The Sun!

Were you an Ancient Egypt girlie growing up? Because if so, this is for you.

This is what you get when you mix the political machinations of a world like Game of Thrones with Ancient Egypt. We are initially introduced to the twins, born in unusual circumstances and under the watch of a trio of strange women - goddesses or traveling dancers who were called to help? We then meet a variety of other characters whose stories will all interconnect throughout the story.

The interweaving of the strange and not fully understood prophecy was really well done. I am so excited to see how it all comes together throughout the series and am looking forward to reading more in this series. The author did such a good job in setting up what’s to come. It’s also a good critique of the power structures in place and the ways that rebellion will come - both quietly and loudly. This is going to be intriguing to see how it all comes together.

The writing in this was engaging and I think the multi-POV was also done so well. You got to know each character deeply and it didn’t lose the effect by having the multiple POVs which I think can happen where you can lose depth by having too many, but this book absolutely did not suffer from this. The settings felt lush and well described without falling into the territory of over written or being distracting.

As I said before in the review, I am so looking forward to continuing with the series!!

His Face Is The Sun was a great read! I hadn’t heard about it until there was a NetGalley campaign, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! This is an Egyptian inspired fantasy that is technically YA, but I feel reads higher than that.

I really enjoyed the characters and their different storylines. I thought the way they converged was well done. There wasn’t any one character I didn’t want to read, which is pretty rare for me. My favorite characters were Rae and Neff, though the others were equally as enjoyable. I also thought the world was awesome and different than what I typically read. Give us more Egyptian inspired stories! They’re so cool!

I’m very curious to where this story goes! There was a lot of build up to what seems to be an exciting political standoff with monsters looming over our characters.

The only reason this isn’t 5 stars is the pacing was off in a few spots. Though by the halfway mark it was pretty consistent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Epic fantasy on the grandest of scales.

A kingdom forcibly joined generations ago through war still stands divided. Suffering under the weight of drought and heavy taxes, the denizens of low Khetara ache to throw off the yolk of oppression. Meanwhile, those of high Khetara flourish thanks to the waters of the river Iteru. But all is not as it seems. A darkness looms over Khetara and threatens to swallow them all. As the wheel of fate begins to turn, four strangers will find themselves thrust together as a thousand year old prophecy begins to unfold. Can the thief, the princess, the rebel, and the priestess navigate the designs set out for them centuries before they were born? Or will they too be swept away by the rising tide of violence that seems to spell the doom of all Khetara?

His Face Is the Sun is a masterfully written, multi-pov Egyptian inspired fantasy of epic proportions. Ms. Corpora weaves such a diverse and intriguing cast of characters into one of the most complicated ya fantasy stories I've ever read. If you're looking for an intricate, detailed, world with a rich history and lore inspired by one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, look no further.

I'm so impressed with how intertwined the different povs ended up. At first, it was hard to see how the threads connected. By the end of this novel, however, I was as thoroughly enmeshed in this story as the main characters themselves. I see no way for our main cast to extricate themselves from the path they have set themselves on, just as I don't see a way to extricate myself from this story. Like a thirsty man in a desert, moving ever forward in search of water, I'll keep moving forward with this story until I reach its conclusion.

The care and research that went into this tale is palpable. Its extremely obvious that Ms. Corpora did her homework. From the daily life of those in Khetara to the mythology of the gods, I can't imagine there was anything that the author left unsupported. Truly, the love and care that went into this world is extremely apparent.

I have no idea when the next installment will be released, but I will be waiting expectantly for that day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Michelle Jabes Corpora for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for His Face Is the Sun coming out May 6, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by this author. I really love her writing. I think it’s very magical and fun. I was excited to check out this book in a different genre. I loved the first half of the book. I thought it was really fun and I love the characters. I wasn’t as into the second half of the book. It seemed to be prolonged a little bit. I usually lose interest in really long books. But I would definitely read other books by this author.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

I love books that feature ancient Egyptian mythology, and it's clear that a lot of time and effort went into getting all the little details correct. The different plots and characters were complex, and they all wove together to create a really compelling and wonderfully vivid story. I also really liked that the prologue was from a cat's perspective! I don't usually like animal companions/animal characters, but I actually thought that was really clever. I can't believe that ending and I am going feral to know what happens next. This was an absolutely fantastically well-written book and I cannot wait for more from this author and more in this series. If I could give this a 10/5 stars, I would.

This book gave me serious Mummy vibes, but in the best way possible! I loved the appropriate use of ancient Egyptian mythology as well as the intricate plot lines pulling our various characters together from all across their land. This book definitely leaves you on a cliffhanger of what in the world is going to happen next?! I thoroughly enjoyed this book pushing me past my normal read and will definitely continue the series.

His face is the sun is a YA high fantasy following a cast of characters in ancient Egypt. Each character’s story is unique yet intertwined; with Sitamun the princess, Nefermaat the priestess in training, Raetawy the farmer’s daughter with a penchant for street fighting, and Karim the Jackal, part of a group of grave robbers who dig up more than they bargain for. Each of these character’s lives are intertwined due to the auspicious circumstances surrounding Sita and her brothers’ births, and the prophecy that accompanied it. This book is full of daring magic, heart-racing adventure, fantastical scenery, descriptive lore, and enough myth to keep you turning the pages.

Here are my thoughts so far: The prologue told from a cat’s perspective is fantastic. More things should be written from a cat’s perspective. I think so far I’m liking Neff’s and Rae’s story lines the most. A few chapters later, I’m also a massive fan of Karim’s story line full of mischief, omens, and maybe a magical mummy (?). I’m intrigued by Prince Kenna’s introduction and cannot wait to see more of him and Neff interacting (especially if she helps him embalm bodies). The inclusion of politics isn’t too overly complicated and is easy to understand which is nice for some readers (including me). This is one of the best and most captivating fantasies I’ve read in a while. All I can say is please read this, don’t be deterred by the fact that it’s YA, this book is so good. By the end I’ve grown completely attached to the main cast of characters and I cannot wait for the next book to come. This is a fantastic first installment of what is sure to be an amazing series. Genuinely, please read this.

Thank you so so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this e-arc.

This book starts off with incredibly slow pacing almost taking up too much time introducing characters and them having a lot of conversations that are just boring. It picked up about halfway through and was enjoyable. It was billed as a sort of Egyptian historical Game of Thrones, which isn’t entire inaccurate. Many characters from all social standings are dealing with the state of the kingdom (oppression, over taxations, the usual). In the first half there is a prophecy and in the second half of the book you see the prophecy start to come true as the four main characters start to come into their own. It’s a cool ancient Egypt inspired world filled with pharaohs, priestesses, and magic. Overall it builds to what should be an interesting series.

This book was PHENOMENAL. From beginning to end! Its is Multi POV but its brings it all together seamlessly. I enjoyed the prophecy trope. It is intricate and rooted in mythology and lore. It's Ancient Egyptian done so well! The author, you can tell just based on the in depth description of the settings, lore is truly passionate about this time period. Im VERY excited for book 2!!!

This was a great read! I loved the ties to Egyptian Mythology in this book! The plot of this book was gripping and was easy to follow along to and enjoy! I enjoyed the charcaters in this book but with with 4 different characters to follow along to I did get a bit turned around in the beginning. I also really loved the world building in this one! Overall a captivating read that I definitely recommend checking out!

⌛️Anything set in ancient Egypt? Say less. I'm in!!

His Face Is The Sun is the first book in an epic fantasy series rooted in ancient Egypt, so naturally, I was hooked from the start. Anything centered on Egypt is going to be my favorite. Period!

It's hard to even explain the story because of the sheer scope of the narrative. A priestess, a princess, a rebel, and a thief must come together to decipher a prophecy before destruction strikes. The main characters, Neff, Sitamun, Kenna, Rae, and Karim are all incredibly strong, and I can't wait to follow them further in the next book.⌛️

🗿As someone obsessed with Egypt (and who just visited in December!), I loved seeing how much of the country’s ancient richness was woven into the world-building. The author did an amazing job of incorporating historical elements in a way that felt authentic and immersive.

I’m already eagerly awaiting book two!🗿

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for this book!

I may be biased because I've always been fascinated with ancient Egyptian mythology. I absolutely loved this book. It was on the top of my most-anticipated the minute I read the synopsis, and it had everything I was hoping for and more.

I love the inclusion of the gods not just as deities worshipped, but as active characters. Elements of the supernatural are present everywhere, from oracle visions to reincarnated mummies.

The atmosphere presented was beautifully written and captivating. There was a depth to it that really showed how the author took the time to build the world. For a ya book, it was surprisingly graphic; it didn't shy away from the burial rituals, which if you aren't aware of before reading, may come as a shock.

I am very excited to see where this story leads.

Ancient Egyptian Game of Thrones? Just shut up and take my money! No seriously, I’ve been a sucker for Egyptian themed stories ever since I read Wilbur Smith’s River God back in the early 90s. With Michelle Jabès Corpora’s His Face Is the Sun offering the twists of it being not only YA but also Game of Throne-esque and I freely admit I was pretty much destined to love this one. Awesome setting? Yes. Wonderfully varied cast of intriguing/interesting characters? Yes. An intriguing storyline? Yes again. Once the story hits its stride you won’t be able to put it down. And while it may be a 500+ page book, it doesn’t feel like it. If anything it feels like it’s over all too soon. And now the wait for book 2 begins. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me access to an ARC of His Face Is the Sun.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-face-is-the-sun-michelle-jabes-corpora/1146021937?ean=9781464224584&bvnotificationId=da516125-2a97-11f0-93bd-0affed7ccdb7&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/345275288

I picked this title because of the cover and was blown away by the writing. I found it fun and humorous. The authors voice was so engaging and the characters really feel lived in and whole. It was exactly what I needed in the moment and the emotional arc the author created was done brilliantly making you feel for these characters in the best way. This book was an amazing read and I will be recommending it.

This book was really interesting and it surprised of how much I needed this book! I love the Egyptian theme! I have always loved anything that had to do with Egypt. Corpora delves us into an immersive, epic adventure set in ancient Egypt. Magic is entangled with war and political intrigue in this multi-layered epic novel. This tale is told through 4 points of views. This book takes its time telling the take, but it is worth sticking around to see what happens.
This book does an amazing job laying the ground work for a breath-taking triology and I am absolutely looking forward to see where things go next.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

What a wonderful start to this trilogy.
I'm already so excited for book two.
This fantasy world is absolutely intriguing.
The politics, romance and magic will have you devourthis story.

I LOVED this book! It was so addicting I could not put it down! Incredibly heartbreaking stories but full of hope and promise. I adore all of the strong female characters! I've never read any Egyptian mythology before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm so sad I have to wait for book 2. I am totally hooked and cannot wait to see where this story goes!

I found this ancient Egyptian-based fantasy exciting and thrilling. Each chapter switched perspectives, allowing the reader to learn each character as their stories were pulled together. As the oracle is revealed, I kept trying to guess how it would play out, but was shocked by the actual result and look forward to future books in the story to see if they can survive the future. I especially liked the youngest character, Neff, as she was thrown into such a difficult task at such a young age.

I've always been fascinated by the "otherworldly-ness" of ancient Egypt, so right out of the gate I was intrigued about the setting. His Face Is the Sun takes place in Khetara, a fantasy word modeled after ancient Egypt. I was a sucker for reading some of the details unique to the time period, and found that aspect very interesting.

The beginning of the book took me by surprise, as I very quickly got multiple POVs within the first few chapters. I was a bit concerned about having to keep everyone's story straight, but it was actually pretty easy to follow, and I love Michelle Copora's clever little ways to intertwine the storylines together. I actually got some RPG vibes from it, with the party members all coming together for an epic quest.

And what an epic quest it will be! Despite this being the setup in a series, there's political intrigue, rebellion, treasure hunting, murder, relationships forming, relationships breaking, and people just trying to survive. Is it romantasy? While there is some romance, I wouldn't consider it a romantasy. I could see romance being developed more in subsequent books, though.

Some things were predictable, and some things surprised me. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed each of the MCs, as normally I pick one or two and tend to skim the others' stories or subplots. Perhaps it's because Michelle did a wonderful job at making her characters relatable by showing pretty quickly how they are flawed human beings like everyone else, just trying to make their way in the world. I also enjoyed the political intrigue, which was surprising because sometimes I get lost with the intricacies of it. That tells me that while it is a main plot, it is gripping and not too difficult to follow along with, if that happens to be a point of concern.

Overall it was an enjoyable read. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks File for my copy of a digital ARC. All opinions are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.