🤯🤯🤯 (4.25/5) I. Ate. This. UP! Phenomenal. Cinematic. An incredible time. Incredible and creative worldbuilding and magic system. Characters that you will route for, side eye, and dislike. The writing had me hooked from the beginning, and I really enjoyed the intertwining of African mythology in the story. I am so excited to see more of this world and can't wait to see what happens next.

Fantasy lovers will quickly fall in love with Firstborn of the Sun. I honestly had a hard time putting it down. There are so many parts of L'ore's journey that are fascinating but also heartbreaking. The world the main characters knew was built on secrets and once they are revealed...let's just say your jaw will be on the floor. Mine was. There is a perfect blend of politics, action, and romance that will keep you wanting more. The only reason it didn't hit 5 stars for me is that some of the decisions made felt more like a YA fantasy than an Adult fantasy. However did not deter me or slow down my reading? Absolutely not. I'm obsessed. I can't wait for this to come out and for everyone to experience this! The ending will have your chest in knots!

I highly recommend this! Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy for a review.

It did take a while to get into this but once I was, I was hooked, I loved the story line, the writing was so beautifully written and I enjoyed reading the characters and the storyline. I did get a little confused with the world building but I still enjoyed this!

Main characters
L'ore
Alawani
Tofa
Milua

Storyline
Kingdom of Oru L'ore has an amazing gift called agbára,  however there is one person who has lived without agbára which is the ability to harness power from the sun. L'ore.

The gods declare a special person to L'ore to serve the gods and the Kingdom, but something has to be stripped before this can happen. 

While emotions run wild and plans are made will secrets of the Kingdom be revealed. 

Thoughts
I am beginning to read fantasy books, and I enjoyed Firstborn of the Sun.  It was well written, and the story was strong.
I loved the characters, especially Milua, and I can't wait to see more of this character.
The forbidden magic element was intriguing, especially with the natural flow of Yoruba influence.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC given in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this fresh new fantasy, particularly learning about Yoruba culture and mythology, which I've never read about before. The magic system was unique and I loved the relationship between the MCs.

★★★.5

I will be honest this took me a long time to get through.

For me it was an okay story, it was very well written and the characters had so much life in them but at the same time, I felt like it was getting lost at times within the story. At some points, the story flowed really well but then there were also times where I just felt really confused, is it because I was reading this whilst suffering with a flare-up with my chronic pain, who knows?

The message of the whole story was there though, that within power and any kind of government that it becomes toxic and greedy and that when something they could ‘change’ the way things are or not to their norm, it scares them and they make it something evil for people to fear.

this is an epic fantasy that no one is going to want to miss. like i felt the same feelings as i had when i read the poppy war AND THAT SAYS SOMETHING, though they are really different vibe wise/storyline and even prose wise I HAD INTENSE FEELINGS I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN IT WAS CRAZY.

i feel like i’m missing out on a whole genre now after reading a Black epic fantasy because holy shit that was so cool and it made me more interested in like Black mythology and their myths and magic because so many aspects I feel like I just want to know more about. I mean for one they were riding rhinos and i was like DAMN THAT’S COOL but also why? whats the history and myth behind that i need to know !!

there are a lot of POVs in the book and originally i kinda only wanted L’ore and Alawani so when the other 2 were coming up i was like eh i don’t care about you guys but holy shit i ended up getting really invested in milúà and Tofa and just wow. so many characters are treading the line of morally grey but also i think they had just so much depth and they were just complicated flawed human beings and god i actually cannot believe this is a debut i need the rest of the series so bad.

the romance subplot was so beautiful i’m always a sucker for best friends to lovers and L’ore and Alawani served it PERFECTLY the tension, the hurt, the pain EVERYTHING ok i say perfect but its actually just pain left right and centre. oh god their story has so much more and i am so scared because GOD PAIN. BUT ALSO there is a secondary romantic subplot or more like hints towards it and I AM SO SAT FOR THEIR STORY (no spoilers but AHHHH)

ALSO milúà is really fkn scary😭 thats my main takeaway like i was genuinely kinda scared of her.

Rounding up a bit on this because Firstborn of the Sun is a powerhouse of a book and a double powerhouse of a debut.

From the opening Mọ̀remí Ájáṣòro chant, I was hooked.

The core of the story follows L'ọrẹ and her many, many choices to defend her father, the coward who left the Holy Order, and her best friend Alawani from his series of blood oaths and promises that you wonder if this man has ever made a choice for himself.

Second to L'ọrẹ is Milúà, the temple maiden who has a lot of family questions and is bound to Alawani from one of his, again, series of blood oaths and promises. The final two POVs are Tofa, the crown heir, and Alawani himself.

Obviously I have a lot of opinions about Alawani's decisions in this book and I'd be lying if by the end they weren't more complicated than calling him a "f-ing walnut" and commenting to myself "I just do not like this man." And it's really his grandfather, the politics, the religion, and L'ọrẹ that drive that complex back and forth I feel about him. If you think it's weird that I'm bringing his grandfather into it, just wait. You can't have the plot without him!

Two characters I am not back and forth on are L'ọrẹ and Milúà. These women are capital-F FIERCE. I don't want to face either of them in a fight. I don't even want to face them when they're hungry if that would put them in a bad mood. But their strength of character and just straight up power comes as no surprise given they are upheld by other incredibly strong women. Command and Íyá-Ayè are two different sides of the same terrifying coin. Neither are women I want to cross, like in battle or possibly just generally. But Command has a warmth and love to her that Íyá-Ayè is absolutely missing. Then there's Íyá-Idán who I just love and would take all the magic classes with. I hope we get more of her.

The strength of these female characters is one of the many aspects of Yoruba culture that shines throughout this book. The language, the stories within, the magic, the Òrìṣà, and so much more is just swoon worthy.

All of this is without even getting into the magic system of the world, agbára oru, and L'ọrẹ's "agbára an icy shadow magic", and the absolute mystery and problems her agbára brings to the story. It was so good!

I could genuinely talk about Firstborn of the Sun until the next book is out. I almost definitely will to everyone in my life, and I will apologise for nothing.

Want to thank you for giving me the chance to read this.

Really loved this book, it has given me a chance to find a new author to be excited about.

With the world building and the amazing troupes in book, it’s a great fantasy read. It’s also a great read for someone tot get into fantasy, you get a bit of everything

Thank you to the amazing author, Netgalley and the publisher Michael Joseph for the eARC and proof copy.

First things first, I'm obsessed!! As soon as I saw the author's social media posts, I knew I had to read this book, and gentle reader, I'm so glad I did.

This book completely swept me away. The world building is layered and vibrant, steeped in Yoruba mythology and rich cultural detail that makes every page feel alive. The magic system is fascinating—rooted in the sun’s power but complicated by shadows, secrets, and danger.

What I loved most was how seamlessly the novel weaves together political intrigue, courtly tension, and the personal stakes of survival and identity. The struggle for power is relentless, yet the relationships at the heart of the story bring so much depth and emotion. It’s a sharp, immersive fantasy that had me hooked from the first chapter.

If you enjoy melanated MCs, complex magic systems, political drama, and high-stakes storytelling, this debut is absolutely worth adding to your shelf. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next!

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but this one makes it impossible not to. The artwork is stunning, giving black girl magic, and the moment I saw it, I knew I had to read the story inside.

When I spotted Firstborn of the Sun available on @netgalley, I wasted no time requesting it, and I was thrilled to be approved.

This debut fantasy, inspired by Yoruba mythology and culture, follows L’ore, a young woman who has spent most of her life unaware of her true potential. She’s used to staying in the shadows, taking only what others are willing to give.

But everything changes when her best friend is called to the priesthood. Despite her desperate pleas for him not to go through with it, he fears disappointing both his family and the gods. Soon, he’s drawn into dangerous ceremonies that put his life at risk. Determined to save him, L’ore embarks on a journey of her own.

What I loved most is that L’ore is a total force—fierce, fearless, and willing to challenge anyone to protect her friend, even though she herself cannot channel the sun’s power.

From intense fight scenes to tender moments of romance, this book delivers on every level.

Firstborn of the Sun is a new epic fantasy, set in an intricately built world. There is so much to this story! It is brimming with secrets, political intrigue, family conflict and power plays. The story is told from a few distinct POVs that gradually interweave as the story comes together: a girl hiding a dangerous secret - born seemingly magicless in a kingdom where everyone inherits magic, a prince picked to give up his power to serve the Gods, and a fierce temple maiden determined to uncover her family's history.

There are plenty of twists along the way, some I saw coming, and others caught me completely off guard and thrilled me. This very much reads as the first in a trilogy, laying the groundwork for a much larger story. While many secrets are revealed and questions answered in this first book, there is still so much we don't know, and I'm excited to see where this series goes next.

Recommended for fans of epic fantasy with magic, myths and gods!

I really loved this book! That opening scene is going to live rent free in my head forever. As someone who doesn’t visualise a lot when reading, I saw absolutely everything.

L’ore was such an interesting character. I love how flawed she was. I can’t say it was in a way that makes you love her but sometimes you just have to accept that people have their damage so I’m holding space for that.

The world is so richly imagined and I’m loving this uptick of Black Fantasy bringing new life and experiences to the genre.

The strongest aspect of Firstborn of The Sun is the world-building (the vastness of the world is chef's kiss) and magic systems (yes we have multiple), Ms. Anson was in her bag! They are also my favourite aspect of the book. They are unique, intricate, rich and draw from a well of history, ancestry, mythology and culture. This is exactly what I would hope to find in a fantasy book based on Yoruba Mythology. 10/10

The plot is epic in scope and while it took a while for it to get going and for me to be fully immersed in it, once it did, I couldn't put it down.
The political aspect — which is riddled with machinations, intrigues twists, betrayals and a huge part of the book is woven into the plot seamlessly.

The writing is so good and the use of language is excellent.
Presenting the narration in the form of a folklore told around a fire is genius

The main cast who double as the POVs (4 in total) are interesting characters and are all linked together. And the revelations were worth it.
-L'ore, the main character, I love her so much but she can be frustrating and you need to be patient with her, she's just a girl. I am most excited for her growth and wrath. I'm here for her!
-Alawaani is a character who prioritises everybody above himself and he needs to do less of that. His devotion to L'ore is the only thing I like about him. I'm not sold on him yet.
-Milua is the most mysterious of them and I can't wait for everything about her to be unravelled. Her badassery >>>
-Tofa, whom I honestly didn't see the relevance of his POV until the last few chapters, is the least interesting to me. I hope more is done with him in book 2.
A character whose arc is compelling and would have loved her POV is Keni, I hope she gets one in book 2.
The rest of the cast are just as compelling and important to this sweeping and complex story and plot. Everybody and everything in this book is shrouded in mystery and I can't wait for the revelations.

I am not a fan of friends-to-lovers but this book almost had me. It was well executed.

The themes such as identity, belonging, power, greed, and so on were nicely incorporated into the narrative.

The one con for me would be, the use of multi-POV, it wasn't well done and utilised enough to lend more clarity to the plot or character arcs and developments. It was still good but so much could have been done.

I will be buying this book, I have so many annotations I need to transfer.

I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to the author, Marvellous Michael Anson and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and review 💗

Wow wow wow wow

I don’t think I’ll shut up about this book for a while.

What an amazing debut fantasy.

This is a high fantasy book with a touch of romance. It’s based on yoruba mythology and the magic system was so unique and in depth.

We’ve got friends to lovers, forbidden magic, politics and so much action.

The first quarter was fairly intense with the world building but I loved how everything was explained and it all tied together. Now I’m just left waiting to find out what happens next!!!

So so so good, must read for fantasy lovers who like a sub plot of romance.

This book had a slow start for me, with a new culture being explored and the magic system being explained.
However, after about 20% of the way through, I was hooked.
There is tonnes of action, multi POV and all of them have you on their side.
I think the way the author combined culture, politics and magic was totally unique and honestly a breath of fresh air.

This is a great, well written and well paced book. I love the unique magic system, the gentle but immersive world building and the Yoruba inspired Mythology.
It's multi pov which is done right and is so full of culture, emotion and adventure. There are characters to really get behind and ones to hate, not to mention twists and turns galore! I 100% recommend this!

Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

I love reading culturally diverse fantasy that is inspired by different legends and myths, so this one made me very curious. Firstborn of the Sun was my first encounter with Yoruba culture, and I hope it won’t be my last.
However, getting into this book wasn’t easy. You definitely have to be open and patient because the world-building is quite intense and the information is given bit by bit. That being said, I struggled a lot with the first 40-50% of the book, but I’m glad I kept going because it got increasingly better. The more I read, the more intrigued and immersed I became in the story. I really enjoyed the backstories of the characters, their different POVs, the politics and conflicts, and the challenges L’Ore had to face in each ring of the city.
The ending was EPIC, and even though I’m rating this 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) because of the complex start, I think the series has huge potential. I can’t wait for how everything will go in the next book.

FotS is a mystical, fantasy debut richly rooted in Yoruba culture. Anson did a terrific job in bringing this world to everyone along with introducing us to Lóre and Alawani. Each character felt unique from the next and not a bunch of talking heads. The pacing was just right, and I didn't get lost along the way. If you follow Marve's SM, she helps with accessibility in taking you through the world, so it was cool recognizing things that she'd previously post about.

Lóre is so unapologetically flawed that I smiled and rolled my eyes at times, but I. ADORE. HER. She is relatable in reminding me of my younger self (minus the issue with no powers and being hated for it).

Seriously, read this book. It's meatier than most, but 100% worth each page.

Ps. The ending absolutely took me out and I'm curious about if it'll be a series!
Many thanks to Marve, the publisher, and Netgalley for the eARC!

Absolutely OBSESSED. I finished this, and all i want to do is start the audiobook, like, IMMEDIATELY.

Notes:
Amazing opening sequence, love a good (and relevant prologue!)
Love the prose and voice it's written in
The worldbuilding felt complete, but never felt like info dumping
I want agbara oru
Wait, where did Remi come from?

One Dark Window vibes. I SAID WHAT I SAID., The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were perfect
Wheel of Time vibes similar to Rand leaving Tam, Lore left her father, and all the secrets he was holding stay with him
Blood Over Bright Haven - the rage against the system, the way she has to work harder than everyone else
Rouge from Xmen - spoilery until you are at about the 75% mark, but trust me.

Please find a US publisher too! I cannot believe I got to read this book! Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!

Would I reread? YES, gimme the audiobook too, so excited!
Would I recommend? Absolutely yes, fans of Blood Over Bright Haven will devour this, and One Dark Window fans will be sucked into this magic system, fans of Epic Fantasy will feel the familiar tones, and X-men fans will see an ARC of a beloved character!

I was lucky enough to be given an E-arc for this and its been one for my anticipated reads of the year.
I adored the magic system especially. It's one of my first experiences reading something based on African mythology and I loved all the culture woven through the story. Lóre came across as reckless and stubborn at times but in a way that wasn't frustrating and her interactions with others felt so natural and real. I'm not a huge fan of politics but given everything else it still proved to be an enjoyable and easy read