Title: The Hidden Sun (Bariwon #1)
Author: J. Lloyd Morgan
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 354 pages
Publish Date: August 8, 2011
Book Type: Paperback provided for review
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
ISBN: 9871599929012
From Goodreads: A Faraway kingdom.
A beautiful princess.
A courageous hero.
A ruthless villain.
An impossible choice.
Eliana and Rinan are in love. However, she is destined to become queen of Bariwon, obligated to marry the victor of a competition called the Shoginoc, while Rinan, her royal guardian, is forbidden to marry. Normally they could renounce their titles to be together, but these are not normal times. Abrecan, the malevolent governor of Erd, is determined to win the Shoginoc, thereby placing his easily manipulated son Daimh on Bariwon’s throne. Can Eliana and Rinan find a way to be together without jeopardizing the peace they are so desperately trying to protect?
My Review: This cover is totally worthy of a fantasy novel. There’s the castle and surrounding grounds, plus gold font. It really works.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from The Hidden Sun, but it sucked me in from the very beginning. Like with any fantasy, the names take a bit of getting used to, but there was a nice pronunciation guide in the front of the book. After about 30 pages, I didn’t even stumble over the names anymore.
The corrupt leaders had me fuming throughout the book. This is a novel that really evokes some emotion from the reader. There are so many twists and turns, that I thought I had things figured out, only to be told something else. It was amazing.
J. Lloyd Morgan does not hold anything back in this fantasy novel. You will read about death, love, politics...everything. Even when I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it. I wanted to solve all of the mysteries throughout the book and see the fates of my favorite characters.
I *think* this novel was billed as young adult, but I think it could really work for adults as well.
I am so excited for the sequel, The Waxing Moon. It should be available sometime next year.
To learn more about the series and read more reviews, you can visit the author’s website.
Thank you to J. Lloyd Morgan and Walnut Springs Press for providing me with this review copy and inviting me to be part of the blog tour.
Does this sound like a book that you would like to read? What are your favorite elements in a fantasy novel? Lets discuss in the comments!
Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. I wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteOooh, DEFINITELY intrigued. Sounds like this book has everything I love about the fantasy genre without the tropes. And yup, that cover is absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the rec and review. I'm definitely adding this one to my TBR pile!
Smiles!
Lori