“All my life I have been constrained by the paths others intended for me.”

I was incredibly excited when I got a review of The Hand of the Sun King. Firstly, I have been enjoying Asian inspired fantasy, so hearing that this book was set in an Asian inspired world excited me. Moreover, this book has received glowing praise from most reviewers, which made me very hopeful! So what did I think?
The Hand of the Sun King is the first book in the Pact and Pattern Trilogy and follows the protagonist, Wen Alder. Wen Alder is a young boy born into a torn family, where the father is loyal to the empire, while the mother hates the empire. Alder’s conflicting legacy pushes him to decide if he wants to serve the kingdom or be against it. However, in his journey, Alder discovers a third way that might help him attain his desire for freedom.

I can see why there is so much praise for this book. Firstly, Greathouse’s prose is beautiful! Greathouse masterfully crafts an engaging and realistic world and complex characters through beautiful and ornate descriptions. The prose is an excellent blend of being accessible and beautiful at the same time! The Hand of the Sun King also introduces the reader to an exciting magic system, engaging politics and CALLIGRAPHY (how unique?)

What really makes this book stand out is how Greathouse introduces and analyses some complex themes. Through the character of Wen Alder, the reader gets an insight into the burden of carrying a legacy. What do you do when your parents are pushing you in opposite directions? What comes first – loyalty to family, to yourself or the empire? Greathouse also reflects on the complexity of being a leader and how to act in a time of war. Lastly, Greathouse splendidly analyses the struggle and loneliness humans can experience as we transition from childhood to adulthood. Greathouse deserves praise for how he handles these complex themes in The Hand of the Sun King.

Although this is a well-written book, I had a difficult time connecting with it. I think the main issue for me is the way the story is told – through first-person. Unfortunately, I rarely enjoy first-person stories (with some exceptions!). Moreover, I never fully felt engaged in Wen Alder’s story. Yes, it is an interesting story, but something was missing for me to get fully engaged in his journey. Lastly, the side characters lack depth, which made the story fall a bit flat for me.

However, I will still encourage fantasy readers to pick up this book! The Hand of the Sun King feels fresh and unique, and I am confident that most readers will enjoy it.

I am therefore giving this book a solid 3.5-star rating.

A special thanks to Gollancz for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first book of a new fantasy series with huge potential.

The cover was love at first sight, and the content did not disappoint either. The cover page already implies that the story is set in an eastern land, the imaginary empire of Sien. Small details like the description of gardens and furniture, tea ceremonies and telling names like Foolish Cur or Broken Limb heighten this impression. (I loved this!) The world the author created is exciting in its complexity, and the story is built up nicely and in an intelligent way.

I like it when a writer can take me by surprise – and I mean here not a mere twist in the plot: up until the last chapters I thought that I knew what the title of the book refers to...

At some point I had difficulty in grasping abstract concepts like “pact”, “canon” or “pattern”, just to realize eventually that J. T. Greathouse has clever timing and each piece falls into place in the end. Which is not an end.

I cannot wait the next book!

‘The Hand of the Sun King’ by J.T. Greathouse is a brilliant mix of classic and modern fantasy with beautiful prose and great underlying themes. It is honest and authentic. I am definitely looking forward to its sequel.

Review -

‘The Hand of the Sun King’ by J.T. Greathouse is the first installment in The Pact and the Pattern trilogy. This novel first caught my eye when I saw Petrik rave about it on Goodreads. I read the synopsis and immediately added it to my TBR because I was so intrigued. Next thing, I see this book up in NetGalley for request and for obvious reasons I couldn’t stop myself from requesting the ARC and Voila I get approved !

Now, from the very start we see our main character Wen Alder being pulled in two completely different and opposite directions. One is the path his father lays out for him that has to do with his ancestries that roots back to being right hand of the emperor and continuing the family legacy. And other is the Nayeni path to reject and rebel against the empire from his mothers side which his grandmother wants him to follow.

We see Wen Alder (Foolish Cur) learn both the Sienese and Nayeni culture and history since he was only a kid. He grows up learning that no matter what side he choses the magic that intrigues him so much is going to be bound and restricted. So, he decides to set off on a path of his own. A third path full of magic and secrets, that has nothing to do with the empire or the rebellion.

Following Wen Alder’s journey, we meet many other characters who help shape him as a character and who certainly add to his character development. Some of the important ones being – his parents, his grandmother – Broken Limb, his tutor Koro Ha, his best friend Oriole, his mentor Usher and most of all Atar.

And if you cannot already tell then let me tell you Atar was probably my favorite side character and not to mention that she shaped Wen Alder the most. And I also loved the whole of An-zabat scenes, it was definitely my favorite. The lush description, the bazaar and the dances ! An-zabat was magical and I definitely hope we get to see more of it in the second book. And I am not very sure but I think its Indian inspired? The way Greathouse has presented all these different cultures and the way they perfectly blend with each other is truly commendable.

This story also explores some very important themes such as Friendship, Loss, Grief, Colonialism, poverty, oppression, injustice, War, loyalty etc. And I have been personally dealing with loss and grief right now so this quote really stuck with me – “that all of life is but a temporary emergence from the great pattern of the world.”

Following the quote, I want to say that my favorite aspect of the book was definitely the prose ! J.T. Greathouse has done such a wonderful job with the writing. Its beautiful and descriptive and pulls you right in. That being said, I think this might be the best book I have read in terms of the prose this year. I highlighted the shit out of it.

The Hand of the Sun King es la primera novela de J.T. Greathouse y quizá no ha estado acompañada de tantas expectativas como otros debuts de género fantástico de este año, como The Blacktongue Thief o la ganadora por goleada She Who Became the Sun, por ejemplo.


J.T. Greathouse nos presenta el inicio de una serie que escoge narrar como una autobiografía del protagonista, haciendo hincapié en cómo sus actos y decisiones influirán en su futuro. Como está centrada en las primeras décadas de vida, también se puede considerar una novela de rito de madurez. Aunque el mundo en que se desarrolla historia tiene un worldbuilding bastante atractivo, también es cierto que el desarrollo de la historia es en ocasiones moroso y que le hubiera venido bien un poco de recorte en algunas secciones.

Wen Alder es un niño de herencia mixta, su familia paterna pertenece al imperio que ha subyugado la cultura de su familia materna. Aunque su abuela materna pretende educarle en sus tradiciones, lo cierto es que su formación y su crecimiento se ven totalmente influenciados por el imperio Sienese, con claras reminiscencias de la cultura china. (Ahí no es que haya tenido un derroche de imaginación el autor, tampoco lo vamos a negar).

El mensaje contra el imperialismo y la apropiación cultural es claro a lo largo de todas las páginas, aunque el autor lo disfrace mediante el uso de magia. Merece la pena detenerse a observar cómo cada tipo de magia que pertenece a un pueblo ha moldeado tanto las creencias de ese pueblo como la propia civilización, y cómo la pérdida de esto implica la pérdida de su propia identidad, barrida entre otras cosas por la uniformidad del imperio.

Quizá el principal problema que me he encontrado a la hora de leer la obra es que me costaba empatizar con el protagonista y como todo, absolutamente todo el peso de la narración lo lleva él, pues a veces no tenía ganas de seguir leyendo. Y eso es una pena en un libro en el que se ve el esfuerzo por salirse del camino habitual, con una ambientación asiática, un desarrollo de al menos 10 sistemas de magia y confrontaciones morales atractivas. Incluso tiene sus momentos de acción y batallas que quizá no sean el punto fuerte pero están también ahí.

Como se trata de la primera entrega de una serie, ya me esperaba que no se cerrara la historia, pero también es cierto que nos encontramos ante una novela completa, aunque deje con ganas de saber cuáles serán los próximos paso de Wen Alder, porque ahí hay mucho terreno por explorar.

To serve one would be to betray the other.

ARC provided by the publisher JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc (US) and Gollancz – Orion Publishing (UK) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A well rounded compelling coming of age story; The Hand of the Sun King by J. T. Greathouse joins the list of amazing 2021 debuts.

Truthfully, I was burnt out from all the YA books I’ve read these past few months. They are all great it’s just that I was craving for something a bit heavier and complex to stimulate my mind. Requesting more ARCs (Advance Readers Copy) on NetGalley was not in the plan either because of my current feedback ratio, but I needed something new. When I saw the cover of The Hand of the Sun King, it made me feel intrigued then checked out Goodreads then turns out Petrik has read it and loved it. Which lead to me requesting the ARC then receiving it. In terms of story I did not know anything about it and the synopsis is pretty vague about it which is what I prefer. So I jumped the gun on this book by trusting my friend’s review and just went for it.

It was the only thing in the world that I yearned to understand for its own sake, not because an authority had decided that I must learn it. Once I had mastered it, it would be mine, to do with as I would. Neither bound to my father’s dreams of a restored Wen family, nor my grandmother’s for a Nayen free of the Empire.

The Hand of the Sun King is the debut and first book of the Pact and Pattern trilogy by J. T. Greathouse. It is the coming of age story following half Sienese and half Nayeni boy named Wen Alder or Foolish Cur. Since Alder was a child he has stood between two paths, the path that his father has paved for him to continue the Wen family legacy and the path of the Nayeni paved by his grandmother and uncle who rejects the empire. From a young age Alder’s father has paid for his education to prepare him for the Imperial Examination, a stepping stone for all Sienese men that will decide their status and well being for the rest of their life. Fearing that her grandson might not know the history of Nayeni people, Alder’s grandmother took it upon herself to teach him about the Nayeni and their gods. One night Alder’s took him to the Temple of Flame offering Alder to the old Nayeni gods in a naming ritual bestowing upon him a new name Foolish Cur. During this ritual Alder gets a glimpse of his grandmother’s magic, since then Alder has never looked back and sought out ways to feel the power of magic himself. Believing that a third path of magic will lead Alder to his freedom.

“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.”

One of the most prominent things in The Hand of the Sun King is the emphasis on culture in it’s vivid, expansive, and intricate world building. With the main character coming from a Sienese and Nayeni background there are bounds to be a lot of contrasting and conflicting things. Readers will understand the importance of culture as it molds Alder to decide his fate and find within himself his true identity. Greathouse did a great job in showing the differences through Alder as he experience everything first hand all the while giving well detailed accounts. It’s as though an older version of Alder is recounting the story of his life in a book he written. This factor made the book more addicting to read as Alder’s desperation and hunger bleeds out of the page. Greathouse’s writing style fits perfectly with the first person POV, it is done in an efficient and well structured manner that it made reading the book more enjoyable. The beautiful prose and exquisite writing will surely pull readers into the story. The way Greathouse writes his prose is reminiscent to the feelings I felt reading the Shelley Parker-Chan’s prose in She Who Became the Sun, it engages you right away not letting your attention falter. Though reading the earlier chapters is a challenge for me because of the slower pacing, I admit that this problem is caused by the fact that I’ve been reading a lot of fast paced books and doesn’t have anything to do with the story at all. But the pacing does escalate slowly as Alder starts exploring other parts of the Empire outside of Nayen.


Art by Monica Wihardi
Greathouse’s characterization in The Hand of the Sun King is complex and well fleshed out. Wen Alder is conflicted young man that wants to break free from the expectations of his family members. The story spans from Alder’s adolescence years into his adulthood, I admire Greathouse for showing a consistent gradual growth in Alder as he becomes a full fledge adult. Growing up Alder is very ambitious, competitive, smart, and quick with his wits. Though Alder’s lack of patience and ego got the best of him which lead to him making some poor choices. What I find compelling is Greathouse’s ability in writing Alder’s inner conflict and eventual realization. The themes of war, loyalty, and friendship are the pivotal catalyst in Alder’s growth that is weaved skillfully by Greathouse. The relationships Alder forms with all of the people that raised and taught him also plays a part in shaping him. The three stand out relationships to me is between Alder and his grandmother, Koro Ha, and Oriole. In my opinion, they were the foundations that deeply affected Alder’s whole characterization.

It’s been a while since I read a book that solely focuses on one character’s coming of age story complete with a variety of relationship dynamics. The last time is probably when I read The Book of the Ancestor series by Mark Lawrence. I forgot how much I love stories like this and I am so happy to be reminded of it while reading The Hand of the Sun King. There are moments in Alder’s story which shows the typical struggles of a young adult after moving out of their family homes. It’s interesting to see Alder go through all the typical hardships that we all go through such as the frustrations from the boring day to day routines, making regrettable decisions, wanting to rebel against the constraints of being a bureaucrat, etc. It gives opportunity for Alder to mature as a character and learn the ways of the world to become wiser. The scene that left an impression is when Alder was dealing with loneliness and isolation of adulthood. For me the feelings of loneliness that Alder felt being by himself while travelling alone is deeply engrained within me, it is something I whole heartedly relate to.

Magic could reshape the world. Its power was undeniable. It needed no argument to bolster it, nor any faith to make it true.

In my opinion what became the highlight of The Hand of the Sun King is the magic system. Magic is the main thing that the protagonist desperately pursues and yearns for. The magic that is present in the story is a form of magic that stems from gods that existed long before the empire existed. Each nation has it’s own god that they worship that blesses magic wielders abilities that varies from controlling the elements (ex. fire, wind, thunder, water), veering, sending, curing wounds, etc. What I find fascinating is the lore surrounding the existence of magic and the gods. What bumped my rating for this book is the battle scenes! The battle scenes are explosive and intense from large scale army sequences to close contact combat it is vivid and well done that it made my hand sweaty. Personally, I was as desperate as Alder to see some action which is absent for a good 45-50% of the book. Even though The Hand of the Sun King isn’t an action packed book, as it mainly focuses on Alder’s upbringing and apprenticeship, in the few action scenes that is present Greathouse executes it wonderfully.

The feeling that the path of my life had been leading me through trial after trial toward some purpose, finally achieved.

Final thoughts, The Hand of the Sun King is another solid debut book about a character’s coming of age story filled to the brim with beautiful prose, gripping plot, and compelling characters. A magic system that is unique, complex and engrained deeply into the world shrouded in conspiracy that extends beyond the worldly issues. For a first book The Hand of the Sun King establishes the back of story of the main character wonderfully. I’m looking forward to how Greathouse will continue this epic tale of resistance and magic. I highly recommend for readers who love coming of age stories in a fantasy setting to pick up this book. I can assure you that The Hand of the Sung King has joined the ranks of amazing debut books this year and I am truly happy I picked it up. To end this review I would like to quote a writer named DJ Khaled, “Another one!”.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

The hand of the sun king est le premier tome de la série Pact and Pattern, premier roman de l’auteur J.T. Greathouse qui a fait déjà pas mal de bruit dans la lecturosphère anglophone. De la fantasy, du bon buzz, une couverture magnifique, évidemment, je m’y suis intéressé et, par la magie de l’internet, j’ai pu avoir un SP numérique via Netgalley (c’est la première fois que j’utilise ce service mais l’auteur a partagé le lien sur les réseaux sociaux, j’ai tenté le coup).

Le roman nous présente Wen Alder, adolescent partagé entre deux héritages. Son père est fidèle à l’empire et souhaite que son fils s’élève dans la noblesse pour redorer le blason familial. Sa mère est une Nayeni, peuple conquis et opprimé par l’empire qui a du renoncer à ses croyances ou passer dans la clandestinité (ou la résistance, ou les deux). Sa grand-mère maternelle le baptise selon les rites Nayeni mais Alder va suivre l’apprentissage prestigieux des magistrats impériaux afin de passer l’examen pour devenir un notable de l’empire, voire une Main de l’empereur s’il excelle. Mais tout ce qui intéresse notre jeune génie, c’est la magie. Que ce soit par l’empire ou par les Nayeni, Alder va tout faire pour découvrir les pouvoirs que chaque culture semble cultiver et contraindre. Entre ces deux voies, Wen Alder veut en trouver une troisième, celle de la liberté et du pouvoir.

The hand of the sun king nous présente un univers fortement inspiré de différentes cultures orientales, l’empire de Sien est clairement une transposition des empires chinois et ça transparait dans pas mal d’éléments de leur culture comme les hiérarchies très codifiées, l’importance de la calligraphie, un presque-jeu de go, y’a toute la panoplie. La biographie de l’auteur insiste sur son background universitaire orienté vers l’Asie et ça doit pas être pour rien. D’un autre côté, les Nayeni sont un peuple plus proche de la nature, dont les dieux se manifestent sous les traits de loups ou autres bestioles. Plus tard dans le bouquin on croisera d’autres civilisations, dont une plutôt moyen-orientale. Petit à petit on va découvrir l’influence de l’empire vers les autres civilisations, et le pourquoi du comment. La grande qualité de ce roman, pour moi, a été de découvrir le vrai visage de l’empire, et la manière dont il utilise les peuples conquis pour arriver à ses fins, mais je resterai vague sur tout ça, sachez juste que l’ensemble est cohérent et étroitement lié à l’intrigue qui concerne notre protagoniste.

Justement, ce protagoniste va évoluer dans des cercles prestigieux de l’empire et nous suivons son unique perspective au fur et à mesure qu’il progresse dans son apprentissage. Grosso modo Alder va aller à différents postes dans tout l’empire pour, disons, faire des stages. Il veut, depuis le début, percer les secrets de la magie, et sa soif de connaissance le pousse vers ce cursus impérial, voie qui lui permettrait d’être initié aux canons de la magie prodiguée par l’empereur à ses Mains et ses Voix. D’un autre côté, une expérience traumatisante avec la magie Nayeni lui donne une perspective unique et une soif d’apprendre qui le pousse toujours plus loin. Par son intermédiaire on va plonger dans un système de magie qui implique des schémas de l’univers, des traces psychiques que la magie va remodeler. Sans être de la « hard magie », c’est très bien mis en scène, l’imagerie évoquée par les grandes scènes du romans est frappante et envoutante même si ça a l’air un peu trop facile à maîtriser dans l’histoire. Thématiquement on reste dans des choses à la fois intéressantes mais classiques sur l’oppression, la liberté, la manipulation. L’intrigue part sur des bases classiques mais nous réserve quelques surprises au passage, le parcours de notre héros va révéler quelques machinations qui vont donner de la cohérence à tout cet univers et nous l’emballer dans un joli paquet avec un nœud qui brille.

Jusqu’ici vous pourriez avoir l’impression que j’ai kiffé ma lecture mais ce roman a été relativement ennuyeux pour moi, je reconnais toutes les qualités de l’univers, de la prose de l’auteur même, mais j’ai eu un point de déception ici. Et me connaissant, vous saurez que c’est le truc qu’il faut pas louper à mes yeux. Je n’ai jamais accroché au protagoniste, et par conséquent à son entourage. Wen Alder est très froid, obsédé par sa quête de connaissance, il ne s’attache à presque personne. On pourrait s’attendre à ce qu’une histoire de double héritage repose sur l’attachement qu’il aurait avec tel ou tel membre de sa famille mais… Il n’aime pas particulièrement son père, ni sa mère, sa grand-mère est une vieille zarbi qui lui montre des trucs mais il témoigne jamais d’une quelconque affection. Toute la base relationnelle du protagoniste n’existe pas, il n’y a rien. Le gars veut juste apprendre la magie, c’est sa seule motivation, il n’a d’attachement notable pour presque personne. En milieu de roman il aura un ami qui va aussi orienter certains de ses choix futurs, et une romance en seconde moitié de roman, mais ça fait plus « procédé mécanique » qu’une vraie relation solide. Par moments on va même jusqu’à le trouver légèrement débile, ce jeune homme.

Pourtant, en terme d’intrigue et de déroulement, ça fonctionne, l’histoire tient même compte de ce caractère puisque l’ensemble repose sur la progression de son côté obsessionnel pour l’amener à tirer des leçons de tout ça. Le livre renvoie ces défauts à Alder et au lecteur et en fait quelque-chose, mais en même temps rend toute la progression pour arriver jusque-là un peu… chiante… Donc en terme de récit initiatique on est bien dans les clous, on a un personnage qui grandit et apprend. Ça touche souvent à la philosophie aussi, mais ça manque d’humain, d’attachement, d’ancrage émotionnel pour me porter, c’est pas un défaut absolu ni objectif, c’est juste que moi, je n’ai jamais eu ce qu’il me faut pour adhérer à la seule perspective qu’offre cette aventure.

The hand of the sun king est donc un roman plein de qualités dans son écriture, sa construction et son univers, mais je n’ai jamais été touché par son protagoniste. La mécanique et la philosophie du roman fonctionnent mais l’émotion n’a jamais été là pour moi. Je suis sûr que le bouquin pourra convaincre différents lecteurs, et les premiers retours sont très bons, mais pour le type de lecteur que je suis, ça l’a pas fait.

The Hand of the Sun King by J T Greathouse

The Hand of the Sun King follows the story of Wen Alder as he struggles with both his desire to learn magic, his heritage and where his loyalties lie, as he is burdened with expectation. He is torn between his Empire upbringing and his Mothers Nayeni background. Wen forges a path through a life fraught with struggles between his mixed-race heritage that complicates his deeper desires to learn unrestricted magic; which is bound by the very Gods themselves.

I feel very conflicted about this book. I think the best way to describe my feelings is unsatisfied. There were moments at the beginning which was amazing, I was hooked but as the story progressed, I found myself becoming more distanced from the characters. The relationships in this story are not fleshed out enough to have kept me hooked. Like the relationship between Alder and his friend, Alder and his lover could have been explored deeper. The most fascinating part of the story was Wen Alder' grandmother’s magic system and their Wolf Gods. But we left that culture only to join the bureaucracy in the Empire.

However, it is worth noting that Alder's portrayal and growth as a character felt real: arrogant and self-important as a child, with several flaws that came and went as he grew up, was really well handled. That aside, as a debut novel, it is a really good book, the prose is good, the world is interesting and original, considering that magic is bound to tetragrams and calligraphy.

Overall, I thought this was a really enjoyable debut. I enjoyed the character-driven story. It has that very readable quality and reading took me only two days. The ending was satisfactory and while it doesn't end on a painful cliffhanger, it certainly piqued my interest for what's to come next.

My thanks to both NetGalley and OrionBooks for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This is such a fantastic debut!

The Hand of the Sun King is an Asian inspired coming-off age story where we follow the protagonist Wen Alder. Alder is caught between two worlds, one of his fathers and the other of his mother's and her side of the family and both of these world are in constant conflict with each other. But all Alder wants is to learn magic which is not binding or restricted and to find his own path. But, obviously to find his own path he will have to go through many trials and tribulations.

The writing in the book is very accessible. The world-building and magic system is done quite well and while the gist of the story is not unique, the plot itself is seamlessly woven and quite easy to follow. I loved seeing Alder grow up, he definitely has his faults and sometimes I was so frustrated by him but I loved how much he learned from his mistakes and how it humbled him. I also loved the various relationship he develops along the way and how it changed him for better or for worse.

I think, the one problem I had with the book was lack of proper side/supporting characters. I mean, there were a lot of characters who comes into Alder's life and plays a huge role but they are there to drive his character development. I would have liked it more if other characters themselves had some development and scope.

Overall, fantastic storytelling and I look forward to see how this story will unfold.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

"Stories, it seems, always survive"

The Hand of the Sun King by J.T.Greathouse follows Wen Alder, a boy with conflicting lineage trying to find his ground, his middle place in the world. His mother's ancestors practice a different kind of magic, pray to different Gods and hold different philosophies in life. They have been subdued by his father's side of people, who have been serving *the Emperor* and are now trying to push back against him. *The Emperor,* has overthrown various indigenous people, banished their practices and now rules them all. He has a different outlook on society and has imposed his doctrines on his people. Enter Wen Alder, who's exposed to both sides of his lineage and wants to find a magical third path. What follows is a journey of self exploration and development as we see from the eyes of Wen Alder.

"Things, after all, want to be what they are, and that is true of people more than anything else."

The story is set in first person POV and Wen Alder is an interesting voice. At first, I could draw parallels between Wen Alder and Kvothe of The Name of the Wind, in terms of attitude, self awareness, self worth and cleverness. I could very well see the resemblances and the story having a school slash university type of trope didn't help it either. But as the story progresses, the resemblances dwindle. The circumstances of Wen Alder and the way they shape him as a person distinguishes the narrative and sets the tone for the story.

The book is dichotomous in that, the narrative highlights and showcases the world of THSK and its magical system, spends narrative time generously on shedding light on the doctrines of society that the Empire's built on, presents to us the lesser discussed aspects of world building, like literature, calligraphy and moral science, and yet, the story in its bigger picture is all about a person called Wen Alder hailing from so and so lineage, and trying to find his place in the world. When all's said and done, the bottom line that we hold onto as readers is about the life of Wen Alder. I liked this aspect of the book and I think it was executed well

The prose of the book was smooth, consistent and unique, and this being a debut work makes it all the more exciting. The pacing of the book was even, albeit a slow one. Looking back, what kept me engaged through an even paced slow read was the geography. Alder keeps moving and going places through the story and that breaks the monotony and keeps us curious and engaged.

Plot is character and character is plot. I have come across this statement within the writing community, but of the recent books that I have read, nothing comes close to capturing the essence of the sentiment truer to its words than this book. In terms of plot, there's this quest to find a third neutral path that's filled with pure unfiltered magic. In terms of character is the coming-of-age plotline, while also securing a newer, neutral or higher place in his world. The author knits them together by having Alder make choices given his maturity, exposure and resources, which then take him to different places seemingly diluting the story goal. However, each place offers a piece of the puzzle taking him closer to the overall story goal, while also helping him shape his identity. This kind of plot progression for the story goal given the character goals, made the story more honest and genuine. Wen Alder stays true to his character, age and growth at all times through the book

I don't dislike any element of this story, but the reason am taking away a star is that, to a certain extent I feel like the book promised greater stakes and grander showdown. The climax was indeed grand and satisfying, but comparatively less dramatic than what was promised. Plus, the final resolution was in itself a bit foreseeable. Continuing my above remarks on plot, I'd say it was because the last quarter of the book offered their pieces of puzzle a bit too conveniently. They could have been foreshadowed a bit earlier in the book.

Overall, I'd say, The Hand of the Sun King as a book was honest and authentic in its world building and character development, and gave me a fresher tone and story to chew and digest. Am looking forward to reading the future installments of #Pact and Pattern and would recommend reading this one.

Quotes have been taken from an ARC and might be edited through the process*

The world of The Hand of the Sun King is an intriguing one, full of magic and built with Asian cultural influences. The Emperor of the Sien empire rules his people and the many culturally diverse territories that he has forced into submission by proxy via his Hands and Voices whom he provides with magic to execute his will.
Raised in recently captured Nayen by a Nayeni mother who has chosen to severe all ties to her ancestry and a Sienese father who wants his son to return the family to previous glory, Alder is tutored during the day in the ways of the empire in order to become a Hand, and at night Foolish Cur is introduced to the Nayeni beliefs by his grandmother.

The first chapters cover Alder’s childhood in leaps that left me confused at times due to how suddenly they occurred and how short they were. Much was told instead of shown, especially when it came to the expectations of his father, and I would have preferred being shown this instead. This was a recurring theme throughout the book. At times I felt bored by the rather flat descriptions of places and cities that would have been a lot more fascinating if more effort had been put in an immersive worldbuilding – but maybe I’m just spoiled rotten by certain other fantasy series. I do think that the worldbuilding had more potential than was used, though.

The introduction to the very different magical systems is extremely well done, though. I found it fascinating to learn about both the possibilities and limitations that the Nayeni magic and the Emperor’s canon, and loved how brilliantly and in how much detail the history of the magic and the gods was revealed. A point of criticism in this regard for me is that although Foolish Cur repeatedly claims that the magic does drain him, as is expected, it never really stops him from using it and succeeding. In this regard, there were simply to few obstacles to his progress in my opinion, although the intrigues and political plots against him were very well thought through.

As Alder progresses through the ranks of the empire and is shown poverty and cruelty throughout his journey, he has to decide whether to choose the side of the Emperor, that of his ancestry, or a different path altogether – one that seeks truth, and magic, and will shake the foundations of the world.

Throughout the book, Alder finds little companionship and trust in others, but all the relationships between the characters are extremely well written. I believe this is one of the greatest strengths of this story, in fact. The character that I liked the least is, ironically, Alder himself. The name Foolish Cur really does him justice, and not in a good way. For a 23 year old that has been educated in diplomacy among many other things for more than half of his life, he thinks remarkably little about the consequences of his actions, acts impulsively and applies his wit primarily to theoretical problems and never to the situations he encounters. There was little character development in him in regard to this, and it made him seem like an insolent child rather than the hero of this story. It baffled me that it took him so long to realise the cruelty of the empire, but I did either way enjoy his internal conflict and the way he always tried to do right by the innocent. In the end, Foolish Cur did find his place in the conflict if not in the world as of yet, and I believe this series has lots of potential.

Though it becomes obvious in several regards that this is a debut novel, it is a very well written one and I’m fascinated by the idea of it. I’m definitely excited to see how the story evolves.

3.5/5 stars.

Is this the best book I've read this year? YES!

The Hand of the Sun King is a stunning debut by J T Greathouse and is the kind of book that you keep thinking about long after you've finished it. After stewing over this review for over a month now, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot do this book justice. There are so many things I want to talk about but I'm also hesitant as I want everyone to experience this book like I did.
I will come back to this review later and rewrite it better, but for now, I'm going to tell you to just go ahead and pick this up without a second thought. With a coming-of-age story that reminded me of Assassin's Apprentice, a character that will win over your heart, and beautiful prose, this book has a lot of things going for it.

Rating: WOW.

What an amazing debut fantasy novel! I was enchanted from beginning to end and, whilst book 1 didn’t finish on a massive cliff hanger, I cannot wait for book 2.

The Hand of the Sun King is the first book in the Pact and Pattern trilogy by J.T Greathouse. This is the coming of age story of Wen Alder (also known as Foolish Cur), born mixed-race from a Sienese father and a Nayeni mother. Whilst his father pushes Wen to strive to become one of the Hands of the Sienese Emperor in the hope to restore his family’s prestige, Wen’s grandmother is determined to ensure that Wen understands and remembers his Nayeni heritage and fights alongside her against the Empire. From his grandmother’s lessons, Wen gets his first experience of magic, an experience he will remember forever and will shape his journey towards mastering magic. A journey where he will forge friends and enemies, learn from teachers and mentors, and experience pain and struggle as he charts his own path through this unforgivable world.
The story was incredibly refreshing - nothing like I had read before.

The character is far from flawless and yet so endearing: he is arrogant, stubborn, proud, obsessive and yet ultimately kind-hearted. He also has quite a unique objective, determined to learn magic at all costs in the hope to gain power and through that freedom. He makes mistakes (costly ones!) but learns from them. Wen’s growth was impressive for what is a relatively short fantasy novel. Whilst the secondary characters are not as developed, they all play a critical role in his journey, each with a lasting influence. I particularly loved a few of them who had unique and powerful personalities (shrouded in some mysteries) and I look forward to getting to know them better in book 2.

The world in which Wen grows up is a harsh and complex one. The Sienese have a range of doctrines that the first book explores and contrasts with the local cultures that the Sienese have colonised (Nayeni being only one of them). We start getting a flavour for this expansive world whilst the author delves into philosophical and ethical discussions on colonialism, power, genocide, etc. As Wen tries to figure out his path in the world, we are exposed to the difficult choices he and other characters have to make and questions are raised: what does it mean not to choose a side in a conflict where an oppressor’s cruelty is clear? Can true freedom be achieved by taking a side though? The author explores a range of themes from identity, freedom, to the purpose of life and friendship superbly.

And of course we should talk about the magic system, which was for me the most fascinating part of the book. The author has created a range of magical powers that are closely related to the culture of each region and tribe, making each magical system a deeply political tool in this colonised world. And when Gods get involved, this brings everything to another level!

Through an amazingly lyrical prose, the author describes each magic using many of our senses: visual (and oh my god, some of those scenes were so beautiful), smell (I can still smell the cinnamon), and physical/touch (through the wake that magic leaves) - which creates a truly “magical” and immersive reading experience. The book also reads as a homage to the arts, with calligraphy, dance and storytelling holding centre stage.

Whilst those descriptions were very powerful, they were never overly lengthy, which kept the book extremely well-paced. I devoured it in just a few days and cannot recommend it enough!

trigger warning
<spoiler> gore, mutilation, torture, cruelty towards animals </spoiler>

Alder is burdened with expectations. His father wants him to become a high-ranking official in the emperor's service to try and rebuild the family's reputation, while his grandmother names him in an old rite and expects him to do better, to rise beyond the legacy of his father's people, to fight for the resistance.

The whole theme of this book is finding the third path, strike out and make your own way, do what you want, and not what your elders expect of you.
Alder, or Foolish Cur, as his Nayan name is, is drivend by the quest for knowledge and power, short, for magic.

The setting of this first installment in a series is inspired by the Chinese middle ages. I can't say how authentic is it, because it's not a region I am usually very interested in. All I know comes from watching Wuxia movies, so it doesn't mean much when I say it felt pretty good.

What I liked was the pacing. While there are lulls, times at which Alder spends time on the same place, since the author has plans for future events, it didn't feel dragging or boring. Usually, something tended to happen shortly after the next change of scene.

A problem I had was the one you have very often in fantasy, that the magic drains you, you're injured, your body doesn't have any more to give - but after we have that description, the protagonist is able to do so many things, when you would have thought he'd keel over by now.

Another problem I had was the protagonist is pretty stupid and impulsive. Yes, he may be brilliant when it comes to theoretic work, but if he is faced with decisions, his immaturity shows. But I don't have the need to <i>like</i> a person I am reading about, and in this case, it felt intentional.
I read some other reviews, and one person recommends this book to people who liked the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb, which fits so well, especially in regards to my reaction to the protagonist.

I am not sure yet if I'd want to continue this. On one hand, it was very readable and reading took me only two days, and I like easily-consumable epic fantasy, but then I just have a gigantic pile of books rn, and most come with deadlines.
This book was not so great that I'd be in for further adventures by default, but neither was it so bad that I'd nope out now. It's somewhere in between.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group, J.T. Greathouse, and NetGalley for granting me access to this book's ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Hand of the Sun King plunges the reader into a fantastical world of empire, magic, and rebellion, that is intricately conceived and beautifully constructed. There is no doubt in my mind that J.T. Greathouse poured his heart and soul into this book, and this is something that truly shines through from beginning to end of this story.

Greathouse's novel traces the unfolding life of Wen Alder, a magic-wielder of mixed race who finds himself caught between two paths and two kinds of magic: service to the Sienese empire of his father's side and the sorcery of the canon, or a hand in the Nayeni rebellion of his maternal family and the magic of the witches. Feeling forced into one of two futures by his divided heritage, Alder yearns for a third path - a chance to forge his own destiny and wield magic without the constraint of those who wish to guide him.

At first I found The Hand of the Sun King to be a little slow. This book is mostly character-driven, and was therefore a significant change in pace compared to most fantasy books I read, but I became used to it and found myself relishing in Alder's character development over time. I must admit that I didn't like him at first, as he often comes across as unfeeling and self-absorbed... but that just made his character development all the more satisfying. The other characters in the book are intriguing although on the most part fairly one-dimensional. Even so, Oriole, Doctor Sho, and Atar managed to capture my heart, and I'm desperate to find out more about them in the next book in this trilogy.

The world created in this book is enthralling, and I felt fully immersed in it from the moment I began reading. The depth of the lore and the workings of society and magic imagined by Greathouse is incredible, and I'm surprised that he packed so much so coherently into just one book. The landscape and culture draws heavily on Asian influences, making this world stand out from that of fantasies such as Game of Thrones or The Lord of the Rings, and the images evoked by the writing are potent and captivating.

More than just being about magic, The Hand of the Sun King is a detailed study of empire, race, and power. Greathouse's book is a meaningful and thoughtful commentary on the abhorrence of colonisation and the suffering of the colonised, touching additionally upon themes of racism and class divide. Our understanding of the empire develops alongside Alder's as he experiences the horrors of the empire and war first-hand. Greathouse's overall message is perceptive and related to real-world issues, wrapped up in a fantastical world that is impossible to resist.

A story of resistance, hope, betrayal and treachery, The Hand of the Sun King is a magnificent book and is perfect for any reader who revels in character-driven stories.

A young boy with two conflicting heritages, gets a chance to follow his passion for magic, in the name of the Emperor.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Alder/Foolish Cur. His father is a Sienese merchant, who pours his fortune into Alder's teaching. His ancestors were Hands of the emperor, and Alder's father is determined that his son will be the next step back to glory.
His mother is Nayeni - native to Nayen, and is known for its witches and some of the last rebels standing up to the empire. She is content to take on Sienese ways; but Alder's grandmother gives him his first taste of magic, before she disappears to fight for the rebellion.

Alder always felt like he had two paths before him to choose from; but when his grandmother leaves, taking her witchcraft with her, he realises that the only way he will access real magic is training with the emperor's hands.

I loved the Asian-inspired world that has been created, with its emphasis on manners, obedience, and the great value put on intelligence.
The magic is fantastic too. Each country has its own magic (Nayen is fire and shape-shifting "witchcraft"), with unique traditions. Learning about it all from Alder's point of view was great - I felt equally intrigued and frustrated by the possibilities and why there are limitations.
Magic is a science that has to be learned, and as the emperor's Hand, Alder often finds the training... questionable.

I'll be honest, for the first 60% of the book, I did not like Alder and couldn't root for him; but the story was interesting enough that I wanted to find out what happened.
Alder is an ambitious, arrogant boy, who is convinced that he's so much smarter than the rest of the world. He always makes out that because of his Nayeni bloodline, he's always got more to prove.
At several points in teh first half of the book, there's opportunities for him to empathise with other people - but that's a foreign notion for him. The only humility this boy has, is faked for his "superiors".

The character does learn from his mistakes (mostly), and improves later in the book.

I totally loved where the magical plot went, and it really caught me by surprise. No spoilers!
With how this book ends, I can't wait to read what happens next!

Thank you to Gollancz for providing me with an e-ARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

The Hand of the Sun King, a Fantasy debut slated to release later this summer, will appeal to a particular sort of Fantasy reader. The story follow Wen Alder - also known as Foolish Cur - a young man caught between two warring factions. His father, loyal to the Sienese empire and hoping to reclaim the lofty status of his elders, rests all his hopes on Wen Alder. Alternatively, Broken Limb, the grandmother of our protagonist, secretly teaches him the ways of their ancestors, who have been hunted down and forced to assimilate or die. Hoping that he will take of the mantel of protector, she dubs him Foolish Cur and attempts to teach him sacred magic that has long been kept from the reaches of the Sienese Emperor. However, instead of sparking in him a patriotic duty, she awakens a thirst for knowledge that knows neither filial loyalty or civic pride; Foolish Cur, contrary to the hopes of those who struggle to direct his future, wishes to forge his own path.

Much of this book is devoted to Alder/Cur's deliberation. In trying to seek out true knowledge of magic and what it can accomplish, he dabbles as a driven student, a loyal imperial servant, a despairing citizen of a cruel empire, and - most often - an indecisive young adult. It is, above all things, an introspective narrative, so we are given intimate access to Alder's thoughts. For intensely character-driven readers this will likely be a fascinating experience; there is a nuanced examination of what it means to live in a colonized society (and even more, to benefit at the expense of others who live there). Alder's growth is slow and he often falters, but this slow movement toward self-actualization feels realistic.

One unfortunate downside to the narrative being so focused on Alder's internal struggle is that we don't get a lot from the secondary characters. They don't get to evolve beyond their function to Alder's story: family member, friend, mentor, lover, these characters never grow (at least in my opinion) beyond the designations they're assigned. This start to shift in small ways near the end of the book, so I have hopes that this may improve as the series continues.

In terms of world building, the magic is relatively soft (mostly elemental in nature, with some nebulous rules about energy expenditure), but that tends to be my preference. There was much emphasis on trade, economics, and how the various colonized regions of the empire have contributed to its success. The pantheon of Gods was briefly visited, and I expect that they will play a much larger role as the series progresses.

Overall, I thought this was a solid debut. I enjoy character-driven stories and this provided some interesting parallels to R.F. Kuang's Poppy War series. The ending was fantastic and while it doesn't end on a painful cliffhanger, it certainly peaked my interest for what's to come next.

I really liked this one, and I think it will be a good one to recommend to customers.

The world was interesting, and different enough to make it appealing. While some standard plot devices were used and the story was to a degree predictable, the actual meat of the story and how the author got to the end was different and I quite enjoyed it

5/5

The Hand of the Sun King is a stunning debut that exceeded my higher expectations

First of all, a big thanks to the publisher and author for approving my NetGalley request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Quick Summary: The Hand of the Sun King, first entry in the Pact and Pattern series follows the life of Wen Alder / Foolish Cur, who is a curious young man with a thirst for deeper magic. When the time has come to pick a side in a waging war between the Sienese and Nayeni he decided to forge his own path. A third path.

WHAT WORKED FOR ME IN THIS BOOK:

OK, so prepare its gonna be long list...

Wen Alder/Foolish Cur: The main character of this book, I absolutely loved his character growth throughout this book. From a selfish, ambitious and curious kid to the selfless hero, his rise to power is a fantastic experience but makes no mistakes he ain't no Mary Sue. He experiences losses, betrayal and sufferers a lot for his foolish action and he learns from it. The other thing I liked about Wen Alder is that he doesn't have a low self-esteem or self-pity i often experience while reading a First person POV book. He knows what he is capable of he knows when he made a mistake and he knows when to stop when to run and when to fight.

World building: This eastern influenced world the author has established in this book is just plain beautiful and picturesque. From the eyes of Wen Alder we experience this vividly detailed world and the heritage of different cultures, 3 to be exact... Each unique and interesting in their own way with folklore and fables regarding each of them.

Pacing: After finishing this book, I was left in a wonder that how the hell did the author stuffed all this content in a just 400 pages book without ever making me feel like the plot is moving too fast. Seriously, this book has everything... Companionship, love, betrayal, grief, despair, self realization, sacrifice, oppression, colonialism and much much more but it never felt like a rushed book. The pacing is as smooth as a silk.

Magic System: Though elemental at basis, the magic system the author created in this book is quite unique and intriguing. This book has like different classification of magic system each easy to understand, interesting to read and quite different from the usual elemental magic system.

Other Characters: Every character other than Alder introduced in this book has like only 30 pages or something but each character makes an impact in the life of Alder and each character is properly utilized in this book not a single character wasted. I honestly can't believe this is the author's first book at all.

WHAT DIDN'T WORKED FOR ME IN THIS BOOK:

Honestly, there is nothing major in this book that I find hindering my reading experience. For the first 200 or so pages I felt the absence of a strong female character but its quite understandable considering the Sienese culture (you'll know once you get to it).

To put it simply, The Hand of the Sun King is a beautiful and breathtaking fantasy work. Currently my no.1 read of 2021. And all time top 10.

In the Hand of the Sun King, you follow from the first person perspective of one Wen Alder across his youth, his experiences, his choices and the consequences of the same (yeah that sounds real cliche but bear with me).

Set in an asian inspired world so you can expect honour, traditions, emperors who are equated to gods, literal gods who meddle in the affairs of mortals on their endless games etc....Let's go back to Alder. Born out of a rather unorthodox union, Alder's father hails from the Empire of Sien a rapidly expanding domain. Backed by their godlike emperor along with his voices and hands who enforce his will, Sien is on an unstoppable conquest to conquer all its neighbours, having already conquered a few when we begin the story. One of these conquered lands called Nayen is where Alder's mother hails from, known for its witches who wield fire and transformation magic. Nayen still resists the empire's rule in the form of guerrilla warfare by a number of factions one of which is led by Alder's uncle 'Harrow Fox'. From a young age alder is educated in the teachings of Sien to prepare him for the eventual imperial examinations, his performance determines his future position in the empire. Unbeknownst to the others, alder is tutored by his grandmother 'Broken Limb' a renowned witch and mother of Harrow fox who is stowed away in their family home without the knowledge of the authorities. Broken limb teaches alder the traditions of Nayen. It is at this point that alder comes in contact with magic and it's boundless possibilities. A childhood incident with magic leaves him scarred but still yearning for its touch. The rest of the book deals with his need to seek out this boundless magic that he felt. His journey takes him to the farthest reaches of his empire, schooling in sorcery, discovering companionship and dealing with loss.

Alder reminds me of a lot of fantasy protagonists that I've previously read. He has a certain level of innocence (along with being utterly dense in some areas) which reminded me of Fitzchivalry Farseer (from Assassin's Apprentice, no offense Fitz). Alder's name in Nayeni is literally 'foolish cur' (poetic, I think yes). His quick wit and eagerness to learn something new reminded me of kvoth (Kingkiller chronicle) and his thirst for power sort of reminding me of Rin (The poppy war, though alder doesn't go anywhere near as crazy as Rin does). Alder's ambition for welding magic or "The Pattern" as referred in the book is the major driving force behind the plot for about two thirds of the book. His quest to reclaim magic free of any constraints throughout the book mirrors the plight of his people who seek to be free of the empire and their fight to reclaim it (atleast it did for me. If I'm reading in too much, well that's just human nature).

The world building was well done but it wasn't the "blow-your-mind" off kind (this is purely personal opinion) then again this is a fully character focused story rather than a plot focused one so it served it's purpose and gave you what you needed for the story to progress. An issue that I have (more personal issues) is that the story falls into a rather predictable area where the protagonist starts with one faction but throughout the story, their journey leads them to join a faction they'd opposed in the beginning. This usually leads to one faction being completely in the wrong while the other completely in the right. Show both sides having their share of flaws which will lead the protagonist to make their own path separate from both the former ones. The book tackles this issue pretty well for the most part, then by the last quarter proceeds to shelve the whole thing (which disappointed me).Although by some aspects of the way the book ended, it feels like this juggling of which faction is in the wrong will continue on in the sequels.

All-in-all an incredible debut to an exciting new world, a very relatable protagonist and story that I enjoy so much that I'm willing to look over what shortcomings that I've had of it. This has been one of my most exciting reads of 2021 and I am very much looking forward to the sequel.

I'd like to thank the publisher Orion Publishing group, Netgalley and the author J T Greathouse for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of the book. This does not affect my opinion of the book but I cannot stop gushing over how much I loved it.

Thank you to Net Galley, Orion Books and J.T Greathouse who very kindly provided me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just wow! I wasn’t really sure expect going into this book but once I got into it I completely loved it. The book was a little slow to start in my opinion but it soon picked up and I throughly enjoyed it. The writing in this book is just absolutely magical, I was transported into this brilliant world that Greathouse has created and felt like I was right there with Alder.

I really liked the concepts used in this book, I think that they are really original and quite frankly awesome! I like how there are all different types of magic within this amazing world that Greathouse has brought to life and how these can be accessed by different people.

In general I like books that follow a character though their education and into their lives and I think that for the most part this was done very well. Built into the plot of this book is a lot of world building and background development which I think lays the groundwork for any future novels in this world. I don’t mind this at all as I think it is written in a very engaging manner, but it does mean that the plot is a little slower in places.

I did find Alder a bit annoying as a character I thought that he was a bit whiny and of the opinion that the world revolved around him but other aspects of the book easily compensated for this and towards the end of the book I do think that he became more likeable and we could see some character development which is always good.

I did find this book predictable but that didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment I got from reading it and I would still definitely recommend that you check it out once it is released.

Considering that this is a debut novel I think that it is absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait to see what else Greathouse has in store for us.