The Hand of the Sun King

J.T. Greathouse

Aug 2021 · Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.

About this ebook

“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.”—Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Spine of the Dragon

Wen Alder was born into two worlds.

On his father’s side, a legacy of proud loyalty and service to the god-like Sienese Emperor spanning generations. And it is expected that Alder, too, will follow this tradition by passing the Imperial exams, learning the accepted ways of magic and, if he serves with honor, enhancing his family's prominence by rising to take a most powerful position in Sien—the Hand of the Emperor.

But from his mother he has inherited defiance from the Empire, a history of wild gods and magic unlike anything the Imperial sorcerers could yet control. It began when his spirited, rebellious grandmother took Alder into the woods and introduced him to her ways—ways he has never been able to forget.

Now, on the verge of taking the steps that will forge the path of his life, Alder discovers that the conflict between the Empire and the resistance is only the beginning of a war that will engulf both heaven and earth, gods and man—and he may be the key to final victory for whichever side can claim him as their own...

“Sublime prose and pin-sharp characterisation combine to produce a captivating epic of conflicted loyalties and dangerous ambition.” —Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author

“The Hand of the Sun King is a masterpiece. Alder Wen'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.” —Scott Drakeford, author of Rise of the Mages

“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.” —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

“The Hand of the Sun King is an outstanding debut novel with very well-conceived world building and an excellent, original magic system, and twists that will keep you reading late into the night and guessing until the very end. The thing that really makes it shine is the main character—I really loved his development throughout the story. Alder is a character I look forward to following for multiple books to come.” —Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series

“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.” —Nick Martell, author of Kingdom of Liars

“Well written, thought provoking and enjoyable, The Hand of the Sun King is an impressive debut novel that left me eager for more.” —Lisbeth Campbell, author of The Vanished Queen

“A great debut novel.” —SFFWorld

“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.” —Novel Notions

“Exquisite ... Greathouse's characterisation, his prose, and worldbuilding are an absolute triumph.” —The Fantasy Hive

“An excellent mix of classic and modern fantasy with a grimdark undertone of despair.” —Grimdark Magazine

“The Hand of the Sun King is an enjoyable novel that pays great homage to the traditions and mythologies it borrows from.” —Quill to Live

“Teeming with culture, doused in war, political intrigue ... but strikes out its own path in the genre.” —FanFiAddict

“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.” —Dawn Vogel, History That Never Was

Ratings and reviews

The Hand of the Sun King is an Asian inspired fantasy following a single POV character, Wen Alder. At its hearts, it is a coming of age story for Wen. We follow him as a child torn between his father’s side of the family and his mother’s. He learns magic from his grandmother on his mother’s side, but then decides to take the Imperial Examinations to become a Hand of the Emperor. He is torn between these two sides of himself throughout the story and must ultimately decide which path is best. This book is a slow moving, first person, single POV story following Wen and his internal struggles. There is not much action. I enjoyed Wen as a character and the magic, but I found it a bit slow for my personal tastes. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

J.T. Greathouse has been writing fantasy and science fiction since he was eleven years old. He holds a BA in history and philosophy with a minor in Asian studies as well as a Master's in Teaching from Whitworth University, and spent four months of intensive study in Chinese language and culture at Minzu University of China in Beijing. His short fiction has appeared, often as Jeremy A. TeGrotenhuis, in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Writers of the Future 34, Deep Magic, Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, and elsewhere. In addition to writing, he has worked as an ESL teacher in Taipei, as a bookseller at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, and as a high school teacher. He currently lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife Hannah and several overflowing bookshelves.