Michelle Jabès Corpora’s His Face Is the Sun marks a monumental debut in her Throne of Khetara series—a bold, breathtaking fantasy steeped in ancient Egyptian influence yet alive with deeply personal human drama. This is not just a tale of magic and monarchy; it’s a moving, often haunting exploration of identity, power, and fate through four intricately drawn characters navigating the fault lines of a kingdom on the brink.
Unlike typical YA fantasies that rely on predictable tropes or simplified worldbuilding, His Face Is the Sun delivers a layered, sophisticated experience that challenges readers emotionally and intellectually. With vivid settings, morally conflicted protagonists, and a sharp narrative voice, Corpora cements herself as an exciting voice in modern fantasy literature.
A Kingdom Divided: The Political and Spiritual Heart of Khetara
Set in a realm reminiscent of ancient Egypt—Khetara is a divided land, ruled from the glittering heights of the North while the South harbors resentment, secrets, and fading glory. The lifeblood of the kingdom is the River Iteru, and surrounding it is a society rigid with hierarchy, spiritual codes, and centuries-old customs.
From the golden columns of Pharaoh Amunmose’s palace to the sandstone temples of Bubas and the lawless deserts roamed by tomb raiders, Corpora’s Khetara feels expansive and tangible. Every corner of the map seems to carry its own history, its own gods, its own wounds. The spiritual dimension of the land—particularly the reverence for divine language and the fading presence of the gods—adds a compelling, almost metaphysical layer to the story.
Readers looking for a fantasy world that respects real-world mythology without reducing it to aesthetic dressing will find Khetara immensely satisfying.
Four Threads of Fate: A Quartet of Intertwined Journeys
1. Sita: The Heir and the Hostage
Daughter of the pharaoh, Sita is poised between power and powerlessness. Though born into privilege, her every move is calculated within a palace riddled with secrets, betrayals, and sibling rivalry. Her arc—marked by mourning, political awakening, and heartbreak—is a poignant reminder that royalty does not shield one from pain.
2. Neff: The Scribe Who Hears the Gods
Neff is a brilliant thirteen-year-old whose journey begins in the halls of sacred learning. Her gift for reading the gods’ words gives her access to truths most adults fear. Through her eyes, we explore the fragile boundary between divine will and human action—a central question in Khetaran society. Her sections are filled with quiet intensity and moments of spiritual clarity that enrich the novel’s philosophical core.
3. Rae: The Warrior of Forgotten Lands
Rae is one of the strongest characters in the novel—not because she wields weapons (though she does), but because she carries the weight of the South’s erased history. She trains as a warrior not to conquer but to reclaim. Her relationship with her cousin and the subtle tension with Omari—a charming, mysterious figure—add personal stakes to her political cause.
4. Karim: The Sinner in the Sand
Haunted by guilt, Karim travels with the Jackals, raiders who plunder sacred tombs. But Karim is no ordinary thief; he is a man running from a curse, from prophecy, and from himself. His story is steeped in remorse, mysticism, and a desperate need for redemption. By the novel’s conclusion, Karim becomes the tragic soul of the narrative, his fate intertwined with Sita’s in a heart-wrenching twist.
What Lies Beneath: Thematic Exploration
Power and Responsibility
At its heart, His Face Is the Sun interrogates what it means to lead. From Sita’s reluctant crown to Rae’s grassroots rebellion, leadership in Khetara is more burden than glory. The story questions whether inherited power can ever be just, and whether personal desires can coexist with public duty.
Faith, Language, and Memory
Neff’s arc dives deep into the epistemological dimension of belief. Can one trust the written word if it comes from silent gods? Her work decoding sacred texts becomes symbolic of the broader struggle: the search for meaning in a world where divine guidance may be absent.
Cycles of Empire and Erasure
The novel doesn’t shy away from depicting how history is written by the victors. Rae’s lament over the erasure of Southern culture and Karim’s confrontation with colonial tomb raiding echo real-world themes of cultural appropriation and postcolonial trauma.
The Writing: A Tapestry of Beauty and Tension
Michelle Jabès Corpora’s prose is eloquent yet accessible. Her descriptions evoke the desert’s harshness and the palace’s opulence with equal skill. There’s a rhythm to her writing that mirrors the cadences of oral myth—each chapter feels like a verse in a long, tragic epic.
Importantly, Corpora avoids the pitfall of overexposition. Her trust in the reader’s intelligence allows the story to unfold organically, with worldbuilding integrated through action and dialogue rather than info dumps.
The shifting POVs never feel disjointed. Each character brings their own tone and emotional palette, allowing the narrative to function like a symphony: distinct instruments playing in harmony.
Highlights That Shine Brightest
A fully fleshed-out world rooted in ancient history without veering into exoticism
Protagonists with deeply emotional, morally complex arcs
Seamless multi-POV storytelling that enriches the plot rather than diluting it
Deep themes: empire, language, divinity, trauma, inheritance
Slow-burning reveals and a final act that devastates and uplifts in equal measure
Areas for Growth
While the novel stands tall as a series opener, a few elements left room for tightening:
The age of Neff—Though her narrative is among the most intellectually engaging, her youth occasionally clashes with the maturity of her thoughts and dialogue.
Pacing issues in Act II—The midsections sometimes meander as the four protagonists move through their individual paths. Though it pays off later, some readers might find themselves yearning for earlier convergence.
Sidelined relationships—Certain emotional bonds, particularly potential romantic ones, are underdeveloped. Readers hoping for more romantic tension might feel underwhelmed, though the groundwork is clearly laid for future installments.
Books to Pair With
If you loved His Face Is the Sun, you may also enjoy:
The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera – For its lyrical prose and queer warrior heroines in a historical-fantasy setting
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – For its heist intrigue, ensemble cast, and explorations of colonial theft
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh – For romance laced with myth and revenge in a desert empire
Author Background
Michelle Jabès Corpora is a novelist, editor, and ghostwriter whose previous works span middle grade and mystery. She authored the Holly Horror duology and contributed to the beloved Nancy Drew Diaries series. Her lifelong passion for Egyptology is evident in every aspect of His Face Is the Sun, and her personal heritage—partially rooted in Cairo and Heliopolis—brings rare authenticity to her depiction of ancient cultural systems and beliefs.
Final Thoughts: A Sun Worth Following
Michelle Jabès Corpora’s His Face Is the Sun is a triumph of vision, voice, and vulnerability. As the curtain rises on the Throne of Khetara saga, this opening act dazzles with intelligence and heart. Yes, there are small stumbles, but they are far outshined by the promise and passion of the narrative. It’s a book that respects its readers, challenges them, and—most importantly—invites them into a world they won’t want to leave.
Whether you come for the myth, the magic, or the characters, you’ll stay for the questions the novel asks about belief, identity, and power. And if the sun burns this brightly in Book One, we can only imagine what fire Book Two will bring.