Press Reviews

• Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Spine of the Dragon

  An original fantasy filled with magic and culture, the story of a character torn between two names, two loyalties, and two definitions of good and evil

• Nick Martell, author of Kingdom of Liars

  A great coming of age story about a foolish boy who seeks to unravel the secrets of magic and maybe do something good in the process. I absolutely loved it

• Dawn Vogel, History That Never Was

  Set in a fantastical world of magic with a rich history, this novel fits beautifully into its genre while also addressing some failings of the genre by turning them on their head

• Jon Ficke

  J.T. Greathouse's debut is going to make waves . . . without a doubt one of the best books I've read in a long time

• Clay Harmon

  Wen Alder's pursuit for forbidden knowledge, while having to choose a future that will either make his parents proud or honor his legacy makes for an addicting journey full of magic

• Novel Notions

  A spellbinding debut with terrific characterisations, immersive world-building, and prose that swept me away . . . hands down the best debut of the year. Scratch that; this is one of the best debuts I've ever read

• Aspects of Me

  An excellent debut

• Grimdark Magazine

  An excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair

• Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author

  Sublime prose and pin-sharp characterisation combine to produce a captivating epic of conflicted loyalties and dangerous ambition

• Lisbeth Campbell, author of The Vanished Queen

  Well written, thought provoking and enjoyable, The Hand of the Sun King is an impressive debut novel that left me eager for more

• Eternal Bookcase

  A sublime debut fantasy novel set in a unique world that, through the eyes of Wen Alder, shares the delightful intricacies of world-building

• Maria Haskins

  [The Hand of the Sun King] creates a rich and intricate world with magic, politics, ambition and resistance

• The Fantasy Hive

  Exquisite . . . Greathouse's characterisation, his prose, and worldbuilding are an absolute triumph

• Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

  The Hand of the Sun King is not the gentle story of a boy's rise to power; instead, it digs its fingernails into the layers of an empire that would consume and erase half that boy's identity. Brilliantly told and immediately engrossing, filled with magic, mistakes, and their merciless consequences

• Mike Shackle, author of We Are The Dead

  Sometimes a book comes along that is truly special. J.T. Greathouse is about to take Patrick Rothfuss's crown with The Hand of the Sun King. It's a beautiful tale about someone trying to discover the magic within themselves, in a world where they'll never truly fit in. Be prepared to be swept along on a unique journey where the consequences of choice echo through an empire

• M.L. Wang, author of The Sword of Kaigen

  A coming-of-age narrative with the energy of a modern fantasy and the gravity of a classic, sure to hit with readers who like their prose vivid and their world-building lovingly textured

• Fantasy Book Review

  Loyalties relentlessly tested, weighty consequences, a cast of meaningful, well-developed characters, and a lush world that carefully considers its lore, economic struggles, and religious history, it's easy for me to call The Hand of the Sun King one of my top reads of 2021

• A Quill to Live

  A well-realised philosophical meditation sprinkled with fun and delightfully clever moments with a strong fantasy atmosphere

• FanFiAddict

  A staggering fantasy debut with poetic prose and near-flawless characterisation

• Anna Stephens

  Entertaining, richly imagined and full of conflict

• SFX

  Greathouse casts an engrossing spell, establishing himself as an exciting new voice in epic fantasy

• Al-Alhambra Book Reviews

  Well written, well-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable to read. I loved it. Fantastic writing, and it's a 10/10 from me

• Fantasy Book Nerd

  I cannot praise this book highly enough, it's just brilliant and shows me why I love this genre so much

• The Chronicler

  This is the closest I've ever come to finding something comparable to The Name of the Wind . . . This is undoubtedly my book of the year and could even be one of my favourite books of all time

• Morning Star

  This is an elegantly written, dramatic story of the terrible cost of unexamined ambition and the impossibility of opting out from a conflict you've been born into.

• Book Nest

  An excellent debut . . . I can't wait to continue the series

• G.R. Matthews, author of Seven Deaths of an Empire

  A story full of ambition, politics, betrayals, schemes, powerful magic and a boy trying to find his own way through

• Tim Akers, author of Knight Watch

  A captivating look at growing up an outsider in a sprawling empire and finding your place between rebellion and duty, love and passion, dreams and fate. The Hand of the Sun King satisfies every level of my fantasy loving heart

• Zac Topping, author of Wake of War

  The Hand of the Sun King is a beautifully crafted debut fantasy filled with magic, mystery, and characters as rich as the world around them. This is just the beginning for J.T. Greathouse

• RIchard Swan, Sunday Times bestselling author

  A debut of incredible quality

• Scott Drakeford, author of Rise of the Mages

  The Hand of the Sun King is a masterpiece. Wen Alder's growth as a character is supremely satisfying, his navigation of societal pressures and warring factions of an imperialist campaign captivating. J.T.'s writing is as smooth as silk; this is world-class modern fantasy with delightful undertones of the classic fantasy epics

• R.R. Virdi

  Pact and Pattern is a meditative examination on the questions of identity, loyalty, personal desires, and the burden of family . . . Filled with all the things I love to read about: dangerous ambition, conflicted loyalties, and, of course, the alluring pursuit of secret magics. What more could you want of a fantasy series?