In all our time reviewing books, we at THP have yet to read a fantasy inspired by Ancient Egypt! And it was truly an enthralling, breathtaking experience. Allow us to introduce Michelle Jabès Corpora’s new epic fantasy novel, His Face is the Sun.
His Face is the Sun follows four characters of completely different backgrounds: Princess Sita, the young priestess Neff, a farm girl named Rae, and a tomb robber named Karim. These four play a vital role in fulfilling an ancient prophecy. Only the prophecy will lead to bloodshed…and the potential upheaval of the Khetara kingdom.
Lucky for us, this book is only the first in Michelle Jabès Corpora’s Throne of Khetara trilogy. This series starter has us absolutely hooked, and we eagerly await the next installment. In the meantime, here are three reasons why you should read His Face is the Sun!
Book Overview: His Face Is The Sun
Content warnings: deaths of loved ones, murder, decapitation, graphic violence and gore, corpses, animal violence, human bones and skulls, childbirth, serious injury, poisoning, vomiting, drinking, hunting, weapons (Please read at your discretion!)
Summary: Princess. Priestess. Rebel. Thief.
Tensions run as hot as the Khamsin winds in the great kingdom of Khetara. Rumors of the pharaoh’s mysterious illness abound, and with them, murmurs of rebellion grow. Meanwhile, in the quiet desert, a forgotten oracle begins to unfold, setting a dark prophecy into action and drawing together four strangers…
Princess SITA lives in the abundance of the palace, and in a moment of passion, she unmasks a betrayal that will put her life—and the entire royal court—in grave danger.
A priestess-in-training, NEFF strives to understand her intense visions from the gods, except theirs is not the only magic at play in the grand temple.
As a farmer’s daughter, RAE knows how much the pharaoh’s men have taken from her land, her people. Still, who will step forward to confront the king?
KARIM was raised among the pyramids of the Red Lands and survives on the wealth of the dead as a tomb robber. But amid the spoils, an ancient evil awakens…
Bloodshed is coming. Only together do these four have the potential to save the kingdom from destruction. But when the dust has settled, who will sit on the throne of Khetara?
The Inspiration From Ancient Egypt
If you’re anything like us, you had a major obsession with Egyptian mythology after watching Brendan Fraser in The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001). His Face is the Sun is the perfect book to relive those days and renew that interest once again. The kingdom of Khetara is based on Ancient Egypt, from its belief in many gods like Amun, Bast, Heqet, and Khnum, to its food, language, and royal traditions. We found ourselves completely immersed in this vibrant world. And we’re still not sure we ever wanted to leave.
Coincidence Or Prophecy?
His Face is the Sun has five alternating points of view: Sita, Neff, Rae, Karim, and a palace cat named Paws. We get to read through each perspective and learn how they fill into the role they’re meant to play. Our favorite parts of reading this book was seeing each characters’ interactions with another. Sita and Neff’s brief meeting at the temple. Rae and Karim’s fated encounter in Sakesh. Neff helping Karim gather lost information. Sita and Karim’s unexpected journey together. And finally, Neff and Paws’ new friendship. Some characters haven’t met yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
The Seamless Plot
Speaking of time, His Face is the Sun made us completely lose track of it while reading. The story flowed beautifully with five distinct voices in five different places. And the author did not waste a single word. From the birth of the royal triplets in the prologue to the tomb of a king erased from Khetara’s history, everything is intentional and essential to the plot. We look forward to the character arcs weaving together in this series. Death is only the beginning, as they say. And we truly can’t wait for the beginning of the next book.
His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora has singlehandedly renewed our interest in Egyptian mythology and fueled our newfound love for this vibrant, immersive, and incredibly written fantasy series. If this is only the beginning, we eagerly wait to see where the author will take us next.
His Face is the Sun by Michelle Jabès Corpora goes on sale May 6th, and you can order a copy of it here!
Did you love Michelle Jabès Corpora’s His Face is the Sun as much as we did? Are you excited for the next book in the Throne of Khetara trilogy? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
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