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.

Received an ARC copy of the Firstborn of the Sun and it's been a delight reading it. This was my first time reading a book based on Yoruba culture and it did not disappoint. The worldbuilding was amazing and it kept me wanting to learn more about the world.

If I could give it half stars, I'd give it 4.5/5 stars. One fault is how confusing the succession system gets, which is plot-relevant so it's meant to be confusing, but sometimes I had to mentally keep track of everything and it took me out of my immersion. The book also admittedly has a slow start, but once it picks up, you're gonna want to bingeread it to the end. I really rooted for Lore right to the end and cannot wait for a book 2 already.

This was fantastic! I loved exploring the Yoruba Gods and the magic. The plot is engaging with plenty of twists and turns and the characters are layered and compelling. I loved the multiple POVs and the twist at the end!

I was delighted to receive an arc of Firstborn of the Sun, and what a gift it’s been to read.

Marve has crafted an incredible story, with some of the most intricate worldbuilding I’ve ever experienced. The world is beautifully immersive and so easy to escape into, whilst reflecting on topical, real world themes.

The cast of characters are profoundly complex and compelling. From villains, to MC’s, to folk who only appear for a chapter or two, not a single character isn’t deeply thought through. And I fell in love with every. single. one.

I absolutely cannot wait for book two. I’m desperate to experience the evolution of these characters, unravel even more secrets (so many secrets!!!) and see how this already brilliant plot unfolds. Marve has smashed it out the park, and I am (im)patiently waiting to devour more of her writing.

Politics, intrigue, suspicion and a world full of magic - the perfect blend of African mythology in a fantasy setting. I really enjoyed this fast paced story and could not put it down

Firstborn of the Sun is absolutely incredible - ability fast-paced and exciting storyline that mixes the rich elements of African mythology, with the best elements of fantasy. Politics mix with magic to ensure an intriguing plotline and I can't wait for the next stage. This is the best fantasy book that I've read this year. I need more!!

Firstborn of the Sun is a richly woven tale steeped in African mythology, where gods wield immense power and magic pulses through every corner of the world. The story is layered with betrayal, deception, and clandestine orders, creating an intricate web of intrigue that keeps readers on edge.

The plot is dense and immersive, offering satisfying revelations while simultaneously unraveling deeper mysteries. Book one answers many questions but skillfully sets the stage for even greater challenges ahead. Secrets come to light, lives are irrevocably altered, and a sense of foreboding lingers—this is only the beginning.

With its masterful world-building and gripping narrative, Firstborn of the Sun is a must-read for those who enjoy mythology-infused fantasy. It delivers an exhilarating mix of tension and wonder, ensuring that readers will be eager for the next installment.

Wow, what a story! The intrigue and royal politics keep you hooked from start to finish, weaving seamlessly with action, betrayal, and magic. It’s a thrilling ride that will make you laugh, cry, and leave you genuinely surprised. A beautifully crafted tale, and the cover perfectly reflects the story within!

5/5⭐️Chile when I tell you I did not know what to expect! I did not know what I was gonna get into with this book! I was lucky enough to get picked for an early ARC copy and it was amazing to be on this journey! I just want to say thank you to Marve and Sere for everything!

This book was an easy read! The prologue was strong and the adventure following Lore’s journey was amazing! My favorite character was Command! There were so many layers to these characters that nobody was innocent! The world building was great leaving room for more! The action was on point and omg I would’ve loved to see what the attires were looking like in real life! All the way down to the cowrie shells! 🐚 Such a five star read and can’t wait for more!