A review by mvvelde
The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Hand of the Sun King starts out a bit slow at first--gathering momentum as the plot manifests and the pages turn. Wen Alder is the son to parents of two very different worlds--one of imperialist Sienese culture, and the other of an unimportant minority (in the eyes of the Sien). The future his parents envisions for him weigh heavily on regaining lost respect for the family name by becoming the hand to the Emperor. Torn by his forbidden budding passion for the old ways of magic and restoring the family name to the glory it once had, Alder sets forth on his journey defined by ambition and loyalty. I really enjoyed was the world-building, and also the exploration of imperialism and the affects of colonization.

It was an overall quick read for me. Greathouse captivated me with brilliant world building and a twisting plot, making the book almost unputtdownable. Looking forward to where the sequel will go.

Thank you to NetGalley, J.T. Greathouse, and JABberwocky Literary Agency Inc. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.