His Face Is the Sun

Gr 8 Up–While rumors abound in the kingdom of Khetara—a mysteriously ailing king, a building rebellion in the south—four strangers are swept into fate’s current. Khetaran Princess Sitamun, priestess-in-training Nefermaat, defiant farmer’s daughter Raetawy, and bold tomb raider Karim are bound together by an ancient oracle; they just don’t know it yet. As the group slowly comes together, converging in different parts of Khetara, only to separate again, tensions in the kingdom build. A breaking point is on the horizon, and the desert kingdom may not survive intact. This first in a sweeping, multi point-of-view series follows Sita, Neff, Rae, and Karim as the pieces of a forgotten oracle begin falling into place. As each of the four characters are from different parts of the kingdom, readers are provided with an extensive depiction of the work’s setting, even as they are immersed in detailed daily routines. This mix of descriptions, though rich and varied, slows the pacing of the work, and can be jarring when the plot continues after what seems like a wrap-up three-fifths in. Though the storyline feels like it could have used an earlier ending, readers will nevertheless bond with the diverse, well-rounded characters and a surprise ending will keep them waiting for the next installment.