Publishers Weekly calls HIS FACE IS THE SUN by Michelle Jabès Corpora a “cinematic” and “immersive must-read” in starred review
His Face Is the Sun (Throne of Khetara, #1) by Michelle Jabès Corpora. Sourcebooks Fire, $19.99 (528p) ISBN 978-1-4642-2458-4
A prophecy brings together four teens in an Egyptian kingdom destined for upheaval. Haunted by desolate visions, 13-year-old Nefermaat travels from her humble village to train as a priestess in Thonis, the kingdom of Khetara’s capital city. Elsewhere in Thonis, 17-year-old Princess Sitamun bemoans her father’s declining health and uncovers secrets that imperil her own life. The pharaoh’s oppressive taxes likewise drive a 19-year-old farm girl, Raetawy, to join insurrectionists in a distant locale. Meanwhile, tomb robber Karim, also 19, flees his desert home, pursued by an inhuman evil. Ancient prophets warned those in power that revolution would come to the kingdom. And while the oracle “only foretells the beginning of the story,” it is Neff, Sita, Rae, and Karim’s actions that will determine how it ends. Multiple plot lines converge in a magical world that blends Egyptian mythology with political intrigue and romance via cinematic storytelling. The first in a trilogy, this immersive must-read from Jabès Corpora (Holly Horror) closes with a cliffhanger that promises further skullduggery and turmoil. Character skin tones are varying shades of brown. Includes an author’s note and a series guide that contextualizes key persons and locations. Ages 14–up. Agent: Allison Hellegers, Stimola Literary Studio. (May)