I did enjoy this book but for me it could have been much better. It was very confusing and took a while for me to understand what was going on and at times I didn't. That being said, I enjoyed this book and the plot but for me it just didn't overwhelm me and make me want to continue reading it.

Thank you to net galley, the publisher and Marvellous Michael Anson for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review

“On the night of a great blood moon, seven children were born to a man. Nearly two decades later, the mysteries of that night still haunt the kingdom.”

This book was so much fun to read and I WISH I could already read the second book as I DESPERATELY want to know what will happen next with L’ore and the others. (But it will be a wait as this book itself is only coming in October this year — but I am all here for it and eagerly waiting).

L’ore - who to be fair is a bit reckless and stubborn — is thrown into a destiny she didn’t know about. Which unfolds and unfolds as progressing through this book. Secrets, loyalty, betrayals; it has it all.

Fan of the world-building. The kingdom of Oru with its Agbára (magic of the sun) and forbidden old magic was very interesting. The by Yoruba mythology inspired fantasy is intriguing and exciting. The politics and structure of the kingdom, with its conspiring and scheming powers, was well done.

I really enjoy a book with multiple points of view when done well. And reading from the perspective of L’ore, Alawani, Milua and others really added to the story and suspense. Somehow really enjoyed reading from Milua’s perspective in particular, not sure why.

Highly recommend this book! Hope this book will do well and we will see a lot more from this author.


Thank you Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Firstborn of the Sun.

DNF
My thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Net Galley for a free DRC of "Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anson.
I came into this story extremely excited to read an Epic Fantasy with African inspiration.
What I did not expected and it is my fault for not checking, this has a heavy Romantic focus.
There is no way I'll push myself trough episodic characters speaking in broken English and immature angst. The two main characters are so helplessly in love with one another, but are not aware of that and not confessing because they fear that will ruin their friendship. You can't expect me to buy that in a Adult novel, that is teenage heartache that I have no patience for.

Wow! This was my first Yoruba mythology book and safe to say I was not disappointed at all!

The story was so intriguing and immersive. A lot of the times when I read cultural books, they feel watered down to meet the needs of the Western market but FOTS is absolutely swimming in Yoruba culture. I’ve been following Marve for a while and I’m so glad I was approved for this ARC! Absolutely gorgeous!

I enjoyed the mythology in this book and the multiple perspectives throughout. I was initially intrigued by the cover but found that once I got into the book I was hooked by the story and variety of characters. I was really immersed in the world and loved the characters of Lore and Alawani who have grown from childhood friends into something so much more that this. The author has created a wonderful fantasy/mythology book that has layers of intrigue and surprise in it. There were so many questions answered about the past and where the characters may be heading whilst leaving more open to explore in future books. It was definitely a refreshing book in comparison to my current reads and enjoyed the differences lain out here. I definitely want to know more about Yoruba mythology because of it and I am thankful for that. Very excited for the next instalment, thank you to NetGallery, Marvellous Michael Anson and Penguin for the ARC read, I am hopeful it will do as well as it deserves.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

I am a massive fan of the yoruba mythology mixed in to this story, it’s not something I knew a lot about so I did learn something from this book and it was highly engaging.

The characters and the world building are rich and quite detailed once the story gets going. At first I didn’t really find any reason to be attached to the characters, but the author knew how to change that.

I only wish there had been a pronunciation guide included as there are a lot of names and words I found myself looking up.

I'll admit it: I’ve grown weary of the recent wave of African stories written by Black writers in the diaspora. More often than not, save for Skin of the Sea and The Gilded Ones, the research often feels shallow, the culture watered down, and the result rarely honors the real, lived experiences of those still rooted in the continent. So, when I heard about Firstborn of the Sun from the author's Twitter account and finally got the opportunity to read an ARC from the Author's newsletter, I braced myself for more of the same thing and was ready to read for the plot alone.

But wow — Marvellous Michael Anson completely proved me wrong.

This book is a breath of fresh, fiery air. It’s an unapologetically Yoruba fantasy that doesn't just sprinkle cultural references for flavor, but deeply immerses you in Yoruba spirituality, language, and worldview. Unlike all those other Hugo Award-winning writers that pull the "This is not a history book, it's a fantasy based on Yoruba culture" safety card from their artillery time and again, it’s clear that Anson knows this world intimately and took the time to learn everything she didn't with care. Firstborn of the Sun is still very much Fiction and Fantasy with a rich nod to her ancestral history, brilliantly blended together in a way only a true-born writer can.

The cast of characters is compelling, the plot? Absolutely jaw-dropping. I'm talking "mouth open, phone slipping from my hands" levels of shock. There’s a richness here, a depth to the politics, power dynamics, and magical lore that kept me reading long into the night.

That said, it wasn’t perfect.

The first few chapters were a real struggle for me. Unlike books like Fourth Wing (which I hate to love), where the opening scene throws you into meaningful action that sets the tone for the entire plot, Firstborn of the Sun felt like it was meandering a bit in the beginning. Chapter one was just a fight — which I usually find hard to care about without context — and chapter two was mostly Lore and Alawani flirting, with very little grounding in who they were or why I should be invested.

Speaking of which — I'm not sure if Anson was going for a friends-to-lovers arc with Lore and Alawani, but if so, the "friends" part felt skipped. Their chemistry was there, sure, but they felt like flirty lovers from the jump, and I would’ve appreciated more build-up to that dynamic.

Still, when this book gets going, it goes. And it more than redeems its slow start. The worldbuilding is stellar, the twists are gasp-worthy, and the themes of power, identity, and legacy are handled with grace.

So If you're looking for a fantasy that truly honors its cultural roots while delivering an emotionally rich, magical story, Firstborn of the Sun should be at the top of your list. I’ll be recommending it for years to come to pretty much everyone I know and would be getting a physical copy once it's out..

I was so grateful to get an ARC of this book!
I enjoyed this story a lot and learning some about Yoruba Mythology.
I wish there had been a bit more showing rather than telling with some aspects of the story, but I cannot wait to continue this series.
One other thing I do wish it had is a pronunciation guide. I was looking up words frequently.

How do I begin? First and foremost, thank you to the publishers and the ‘Marvellous’ author for this advanced copy.

I have been waiting on this book since the twitter debacle over who owns the right to have sun powers 🤣. I’m genuinely grateful this author and this work crossed my timeline.

First Born of the Sun is set in a world that brings to magic of the old Gods to life. I love how Yoruba is woven into the story and how it is treated with reverence.

My dearest Temilore, I hold so much space for her and the life she thought she knew. I hold even more space for the journey she has ahead in what I know is going to be an epic book series.

The political struggle blending with the personal in the Kingdom of Oru is so tactfully written it genuinely feels like a Game of Thrones with many players working secret angle and holding hidden agendas.

The romance elements are well placed and serve the characters as well as sets up the tensions for what will be an epic clash.

I am excited to learn more about the Six rings of the kingdom and the struggles faced in each. I am also invested in learning more about the pantheon of Gods and how Agbara Oru came to be.

Marv does an amazing job with the world building and I could feel the magic in the air and see the shifting landscape as the characters moved further from the capital.

I am anxiously anticipating the next instalment.

A SOLID 5 Stars from me ✨

DNF at 18%

I had really been looking forward to this. On paper, it's right up my street. But for some reason I just couldn't connect with it. It's such a shame because I've followed Marvellous on social media for a while but it just didn't click with me.

I would’ve liked a pronunciation guide for the words with the extra symbols because I had no idea how to say any of them. Story was ok.

Between this amazing cover and a story based in Yoruba mythology I was instantly sold. We follow L’ore, her storytelling father, her best friend Prince Alawani and a warrior Maiden.

They live in a land of sun magic where any other powers are outlawed. The nation is ruled by the holy order and king regent, with both making power plays at each other and enacting brutal killings for anyone found without agbara oru (the ability to harness power from the sun).

I enjoyed this story and was rooting for L’ore and Alawani. L’ore had kept hidden all her life that she can’t use the power of the sun, and has learnt to fight in her own way. Her story is about finding her identity and the power of others to make her own path and the relationships she makes along the way. Occasionally L’ore was frustrating and headstrong in her decision making, coming from her desperation to keep her loved ones safe and have others respect her.

The only thing I found was that the pacing got quite slow towards the end but the book ended well, setting up for the rest of the series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

I received an early copy of this book through NetGalley, and even though fantasy isn’t usually my go-to genre, I was completely hooked. The world of ancient gods and the Kingdom of Oru pulled me in from the very beginning. The tale delves deeply into African mythology, with storytelling that feels timeless. I loved reading about Lore and Alawani and their special relationship.
The characters are compelling, the writing is vivid, and the worldbuilding is rich and beautifully crafted. You can truly feel the care and imagination that went into every detail. I’d love to see this as a movie one day. I’d highly recommend it—even if fantasy isn’t normally your thing.

The daughter of an outcast.

A prince in name, but not in power.

A land where magic flows but is costly and finite.

Where priests and warrior maidens plot and influence the course of succession and manipulate history to their own ends.

Forbidden spells, hidden pasts, suppressed truths shadowed in mystery.

In Firstborn of the Sun, debut author Marvellous Michael Ansoon weaves a fantastical tale that immediately immerses the reader into the rich tapestry that is Yoruba culture, tradition, and religion. The story is told through multiple POVs, but our main protagonists are L'ore, the teenage daughter of a with a chip on her shoulder and everything to prove. We also meet her best friend, Alawani, the son of the former king who, due to succession rules, is prince in name alone. Both are struggling to find their place in the world while being suffocated by the legacy left to them by their fathers. This bond unites them, at times to a fault. After a series of events ( and poor decision-making) sets them on the run from the high priests, both Alawani and L’ore, along with the warrior on their trail, Milua, begin to uncover the dark history and secrets that surround each of their pasts.

Frankly, I adored this story – I was enthralled from the prologue and that did not abate whatsoever. The pacing was fantastic, and I appreciated the nuance of the characters, especially L’ore. She is a teenage girl, and I found myself having to remember that. She is fiercely loyal and loves hard. But she is also quick to anger, ready to fight at the first notion of perceived slight, and has a knack for getting herself in dangerous situations that others must rescue her from (usually to their own detriment). My main gripe with her is her short-sightedness and inability to accept the decisions that others have made for THEIR lives. She wants people to do what she thinks they should do and becomes a bit of a bully when they resist.

Firstborn of The Sun is full of adventure, magic, and dangers (seen and unseen). Oaths are given and broken. Secrets are revealed, murders are uncovered, decades of plotting, scheming, and politicking are unravelling. The depths of friendship, commitment, and love are tested. This was such a fun ride - I can honestly say I was not expecting the events at the end and cannot wait for the next installment. 4.5/5 stars for me.

I absolutely love Nigerian stories, and Firstborn of the Sun was everything I hoped for and more! Rooted in Yoruba culture and mythology, this book was a powerful and immersive experience. The rich traditions, the beautifully layered characters, and the vivid storytelling pulled me in from the very first page. I felt deeply connected to the world the author created — it was both magical and meaningful. Firstborn of the Sun is a stunning tribute to Yoruba heritage, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves culturally rich fantasy.

Firstborn of the Sun is a dazzling, heart-pounding debut that blends West African-inspired fantasy with high-stakes adventure, forbidden magic, and a deeply emotional core. Marvellous Michael Anson crafts a world as vibrant as it is treacherous, where the sun’s power reigns supreme—except for one girl who defies it all.

L’ore is a gripping protagonist, burdened by a deadly secret: in a kingdom where agbára—the ability to draw power from the sun—is sacred, she possesses none. Her struggle is both intimate and epic, a fight for survival in a society that would kill her if her weakness were discovered. But when her dearest friend, Alawani, is chosen for a brutal trial that will strip him of his power (and likely his life), L’ore’s desperation unlocks something unexpected: a chilling, forbidden shadow magic.

The discovery propels her and Alawani into exile, fleeing toward a hidden land beyond the kingdom’s six rings. Anson’s world-building is lush and immersive, filled with rich mythology, political intrigue, and a sense of vast, unexplored mystery. The contrast between the sun-worshipping Oru and the shadowed realm they seek is particularly striking, raising questions about power, faith, and the stories a kingdom tells to maintain control.

At its heart, Firstborn of the Sun is a story of loyalty and defiance. L’ore’s love for Alawani drives her to risk everything, and their bond feels achingly real—fraught with tension, tenderness, and the weight of shared secrets. The supporting cast, from enigmatic exiles to ruthless priests, adds layers of betrayal and shifting alliances that keep the plot racing forward.

Anson’s prose is vivid and kinetic, balancing breath-taking action with moments of quiet vulnerability. The twists are sharp and satisfying

firstborn of the sun — dnf @ 22%

I really truly wanted to love this book as I’ve followed the author for so long… unfortunately this book fell very short for me.

At times the writing felt clunky, there was absolutely no description of anything visual, so although this book claimed to be African inspired, it may as well have been in a vague shapeless void. The romance between the fmc and her best friend was so forced, and it was really TOLD to us by the author, rather than shown. I would’ve liked to feel a lot more immersed in the story and sadly I just felt dread whenever it was time to read.

Wowowo this book was incredible. Imagine a Yoruba Spark of the Everflame, but with a completely new vibe of its own - a richly layered magic system, stunning worldbuilding, and characters so compellingly complex you’ll root for all of them at some point (even when they’re at odds 😅)

The world is vividly imagined, with lore and magic that feel both ancient and fresh. The multiple POVs offer a huge range of perspectives, and since nearly every character borderlines that morally grey space, your loyalties will defo shift!! The plot twists are sharp and the pacing keeps you hooked without ever feeling particularly rushed.

It's worth noting that the book ends on a cliffhanger and clearly sets up a series, but each chapter is written with such care and depth that it’s satisfying in its own right. I can't wait to see where the story goes next, but even if it stood alone, it would still be a standout read.

Highly recommend for fans of immersive wordbuilding, intricate magic, and lovers of characters with questionable motives <3

First off I have to say that Yoruba is not a language I am familiar with in reading nor speaking so I found some of the language tricky to read and I like to get the pronunciations correct so was googling to attempt them ☺️The only thing I would have loved is a pronunciation guide because I feel that I may have butchered a beautiful language in spite of google. BUT I love that a lot of the Yoruba is automatically explained or translated as part of the story!! Without making the reader feel like an idiot!! I've learned so much already and when my finished copy arrives I will definitely be going back through to reread and attempt some of the language again!

This story is everything I wanted and needed it to be and more! There's found family and hidden truths which is always my weakness with any story. There's young love and old tyrants! It's everything you want in a fantasy world but just with added magic! Also THE FOOD!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the layering of the story over the different points of views and how it was all pulled together in the end!

Any battle scene I found myself ad-libing alongside the action and cussing ppl out 🤣 giving ppl direction 🤣🤣 it was all very absorbing!

The final 10% blew my tiny mind!! Just woah! Like really?! We're doing that Marve?! You're leaving us there? Like that? With that information! Shocking!!

Now what I REALLY need is all the character art! I cannot draw to save my life so all you amazing artists I NEED you to read this fantastic book because I need renditions of all the characters post haste! And also the rhinos 🦏 please.

What a fantastic first book! Firstborn of the Sun is an engaging new fantasy with multiple POVs, thrilling politics and an exciting magic system. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

The use of multiple POVs was a great choice as I was able to get to know each of the characters and understand their motivations. Each narrator was believable and well developed. I also loved the Yoruba language used throughout, as well as the skilful placement of the translations. This made the reading experience both accessible and informative. The pacing seemed slower during the middle of the book, but I found the start and end to be thrilling and full of twists.

With such an intricate magic system and politics, there was always something more to learn about the world. The world-building was cleverly incorporated into the natural flow of the story. Even though there were several concepts introduced, I never felt overwhelmed by the new information. This is a great read for those who like politics in their fantasy novels.