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Bariwon #1
The Hidden Sun
A faraway kingdom. A beautiful princess. A courageous hero. A ruthless villain. An impossible choice.
The kingdom of Bariwon is at a crossroads. A new leader threatens to take control of the throne which could throw the land into chaos. “The Hidden Sun” is an epic tale of courage, heartbreak, battles and redemption.
The kingdom of Bariwon is at a crossroads. A new leader threatens to take control of the throne which could throw the land into chaos. “The Hidden Sun” is an epic tale of courage, heartbreak, battles and redemption.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2010
27 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
About the author
J. Lloyd Morgan
20 books43 followersJ. Lloyd Morgan is a best-selling author and English Professor. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Communications and a minor in English. Morgan earned a Master’s degree in Creative Writing in 2014. He has lived all over the United States, but now resides in North Carolina with his wife and four daughters. Aside from writing, Morgan is an avid reader. He’s also a huge fan of baseball and enjoys listening to music.
Aside from Darker the Shadow, Morgan’s other published novels include The Bariwon Chronicles (The Hidden Sun, The Waxing Moon, The Zealous Star), Wall of Faith, Bring Down the Rain, and The Mirror of the Soul written in conjunction with musician Chris de Burgh.
His published short stories include “Howler King,” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “With Bells On” and award-winning “The Doughnut.”
An anthology of short stories, observations and insights called The Night the Port-A-Potty Burned Down and Other Stories was released at the end of 2012.
Aside from Darker the Shadow, Morgan’s other published novels include The Bariwon Chronicles (The Hidden Sun, The Waxing Moon, The Zealous Star), Wall of Faith, Bring Down the Rain, and The Mirror of the Soul written in conjunction with musician Chris de Burgh.
His published short stories include “Howler King,” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “With Bells On” and award-winning “The Doughnut.”
An anthology of short stories, observations and insights called The Night the Port-A-Potty Burned Down and Other Stories was released at the end of 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 2, 2014
If I ever pick up a book that involves royalty, it always involves fantasy as well. Any sort of element from fantasy and I’ll be good. But this time the one I picked up was just royalty and politics. And oddly enough, I really enjoyed it. Getting straight to the point here, The Hidden Sun is a story that spans through a couple of years and shows what happens when the wrong person takes charge. When love becomes forbidden and a secret. What happens when your home is now the worst place to be. It’s a story that shows how challenges are met.
The reason I’m getting straight to the point is because it’s what the novel does itself. It gives us these breaks every few paragraphs skipping from one scene to another, reminding me of a television show. While at times it distracted me from the reading and made me wish that certain scenes played out longer, it kept me going, knowing that just on the next page something new and crazy was about to happen. Aside from that, the novel does span through a few years, which made me want the book to be longer. I just wanted to know the characters more, know the story and the places a bit more deeply. Keeping it short and sweet had its advantages but also disadvantages.
The characters, although, were brilliantly written out. I found them all interesting and began to love a couple of them which tore my heart as a few died. And let me warn you, J. Lloyd Morgan isn’t afraid of killing off a few characters. But the fact that they were written out so well made it all the better in the end. They brought out real emotions and care which as a reader I was happy about. His writing was also pretty good. It was easy to read and the way he played with words made it bearable.
Overall the whole book itself was epic and kept me interested enough to want to read what comes next. But I was also surprised at the fact that I fell for this story pretty hard. Not only did I enjoy it like I said above, I wanted more by the end. I wanted to know what happens next with all of the characters. I know that their stories haven’t ended and that there’s so many things that can go wrong. And even though it didn’t have any magic or dragons or wizards or whatever, it still had that magical spark to it. It was magical without the magic.
The reason I’m getting straight to the point is because it’s what the novel does itself. It gives us these breaks every few paragraphs skipping from one scene to another, reminding me of a television show. While at times it distracted me from the reading and made me wish that certain scenes played out longer, it kept me going, knowing that just on the next page something new and crazy was about to happen. Aside from that, the novel does span through a few years, which made me want the book to be longer. I just wanted to know the characters more, know the story and the places a bit more deeply. Keeping it short and sweet had its advantages but also disadvantages.
The characters, although, were brilliantly written out. I found them all interesting and began to love a couple of them which tore my heart as a few died. And let me warn you, J. Lloyd Morgan isn’t afraid of killing off a few characters. But the fact that they were written out so well made it all the better in the end. They brought out real emotions and care which as a reader I was happy about. His writing was also pretty good. It was easy to read and the way he played with words made it bearable.
Overall the whole book itself was epic and kept me interested enough to want to read what comes next. But I was also surprised at the fact that I fell for this story pretty hard. Not only did I enjoy it like I said above, I wanted more by the end. I wanted to know what happens next with all of the characters. I know that their stories haven’t ended and that there’s so many things that can go wrong. And even though it didn’t have any magic or dragons or wizards or whatever, it still had that magical spark to it. It was magical without the magic.
September 27, 2010
Whoa...I've just finished reading this at 2 this morning--I couldn't put it down. Really.
Okay, here is my steaming review:
Whoa.
I would leave it at that because that's how I felt after the experience of reading this wonderful novel.
Deception. Intrigue. Love.
A lovely princess dares defy the laws of the kingdom by a single act. From there, it's a wild roller coaster ride. No, it's not a pretty princess book. By far, but there is a true love story hidden within these pages.
I literally gripped the book and chewed my nails and held my breath as I read.
I groaned, angry with the author regarding the huge tangled mess he weaves in the tale, because I am so in love with his characters.
It was the hope of justice that drove me.
Though there are many uncommon names, a few which are hard to pronounce, I was able to stay on task with the storyline without missing a beat. I forgave this first-time author's grammatical quirks because of how well the story is shared.
J. Lloyd Morgan is masterful at luring the reader with his lovable characters. So much that it wasn't hard to forge a connection immediately. I mourned the losses of those who could not survive. The author is in full control, no matter the feeling of the mire he throws in (though it's disheartening). He knows what he is doing.
I wish I could let slip more detail, but the story must be tasted with your own eyes.
I recommend this book!
Okay, here is my steaming review:
Whoa.
I would leave it at that because that's how I felt after the experience of reading this wonderful novel.
Deception. Intrigue. Love.
A lovely princess dares defy the laws of the kingdom by a single act. From there, it's a wild roller coaster ride. No, it's not a pretty princess book. By far, but there is a true love story hidden within these pages.
I literally gripped the book and chewed my nails and held my breath as I read.
I groaned, angry with the author regarding the huge tangled mess he weaves in the tale, because I am so in love with his characters.
It was the hope of justice that drove me.
Though there are many uncommon names, a few which are hard to pronounce, I was able to stay on task with the storyline without missing a beat. I forgave this first-time author's grammatical quirks because of how well the story is shared.
J. Lloyd Morgan is masterful at luring the reader with his lovable characters. So much that it wasn't hard to forge a connection immediately. I mourned the losses of those who could not survive. The author is in full control, no matter the feeling of the mire he throws in (though it's disheartening). He knows what he is doing.
I wish I could let slip more detail, but the story must be tasted with your own eyes.
I recommend this book!
Read
October 31, 2013THE HIDDEN SUN is deceptive both in terms of its cover and its content. The cover is pretty typical fare for a fantasy novel involving knights and kingdoms. The book’s synopsis, on the other hand, outlines a story that seems much simpler than it actually is. I was expecting a fantasy novel full of heroes and royalty, a sweeping epic romance set among the background of political intrigue. THE HIDDEN SUN had all that…but it was also so much more. Author J. Lloyd Morgan twists and turns the plot in so many directions that nothing is ever expected as he takes us on an adventure that reminds me of all the reasons I love this genre best.
THE HIDDEN SUN takes place over a longer period of time than I originally anticipated it would and only the first third of the book goes the way I think it will. Morgan’s characters are endearing from the start. I loved seeing Princess Eliana as a girl with her own phrases and habit of doodling in her books. The opening scene really humanized her and I immediately began to care, even more so as she develops feelings for Rinan, her personal royal guardian. Following the fashion of all forbidden romances, there’s seemingly no way for the two to be together. Eliana will soon be queen of Bariwon and must marry whoever wins the Shoginoc. On top of that, royal guardians aren’t allowed to marry until after they’ve retired. The two hatch a dangerous plan in order to be together, one that will wreak havoc not only in their own lives, but throw the kingdom they’ve sworn to protect in mortal peril.
Morgan has created yet another novel that’s hard for me to talk about without giving away major plot points and spoilers. Bariwon is a kingdom that reminds me of other beloved fantasy realms such as Tamora Pierce’s world of Tortall. I love books and movies featuring knights and kingdoms and competitions of skill. To have all of those things bound up in one novel was a pleasure and I blew right through this novel, never wanting to put it down. There’s so much meaning behind the title alone, more than I initially thought after reading the first couple of chapters. By the novel’s end, I understood it on a deeper level and appreciated it all the more. With the exception of guessing two character-related events, THE HIDDEN SUN kept me guessing, never sure quite what to expect next. I can’t wait to journey back to Bariwon in the future.
THE HIDDEN SUN takes place over a longer period of time than I originally anticipated it would and only the first third of the book goes the way I think it will. Morgan’s characters are endearing from the start. I loved seeing Princess Eliana as a girl with her own phrases and habit of doodling in her books. The opening scene really humanized her and I immediately began to care, even more so as she develops feelings for Rinan, her personal royal guardian. Following the fashion of all forbidden romances, there’s seemingly no way for the two to be together. Eliana will soon be queen of Bariwon and must marry whoever wins the Shoginoc. On top of that, royal guardians aren’t allowed to marry until after they’ve retired. The two hatch a dangerous plan in order to be together, one that will wreak havoc not only in their own lives, but throw the kingdom they’ve sworn to protect in mortal peril.
Morgan has created yet another novel that’s hard for me to talk about without giving away major plot points and spoilers. Bariwon is a kingdom that reminds me of other beloved fantasy realms such as Tamora Pierce’s world of Tortall. I love books and movies featuring knights and kingdoms and competitions of skill. To have all of those things bound up in one novel was a pleasure and I blew right through this novel, never wanting to put it down. There’s so much meaning behind the title alone, more than I initially thought after reading the first couple of chapters. By the novel’s end, I understood it on a deeper level and appreciated it all the more. With the exception of guessing two character-related events, THE HIDDEN SUN kept me guessing, never sure quite what to expect next. I can’t wait to journey back to Bariwon in the future.
July 19, 2015
This book's many overlapping stories and plots were absolutely amazing. I would like to point out that the blerb about the book is not at all accurate, because although it makes it sound as though the story is about the princess and her personal guard and their attempts to make a relationship work, but in reality that problem is solved about three pages after it is introduced, and the book is actually about trying to dethrone the tyrant who overthrew the kingdom. They never actually really accomplish that, because they don't bring him to justice until after his ruling term is up, anyway. Also, the second half of the book features entirely different main characters than the first half, as the book takes place over the course of about 21-22 years.
The characters are charming, well thought-out, and written beautifully. I became very emotionally involved in the book, and the injustices and wishes struck me to my core. The ending itself was very predictable, but that can be said about any book of this genre, and the countless side-stories that interwove with the main plot and the steps that were taken to get to the ending were very surprising. If you can handle a LOT of emotion and feels, then you will like this book.
The characters are charming, well thought-out, and written beautifully. I became very emotionally involved in the book, and the injustices and wishes struck me to my core. The ending itself was very predictable, but that can be said about any book of this genre, and the countless side-stories that interwove with the main plot and the steps that were taken to get to the ending were very surprising. If you can handle a LOT of emotion and feels, then you will like this book.
August 9, 2012
I saw the second book in this series by J. Lloyd Morgan in the library and loved the cover...it grabbed my attention enough that I went in search for the first so I could read them both. I was SHOCKED by how much I enjoyed it. It really took me by surprise. This is the authors first book he's had published and I found him to be a beautiful story-teller. I absolutely loved the plot and characters. There were just a few little things that I didn't care for (Point of view changes at certain times frustrated me terribly...)but all in all I really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. It will be a book that I will definitely let my girl's read when they are teenagers. With a touch of romance and a lot of action and adventure, the story definitely sucked me in and made me want to read MORE about the Kingdom of Bariwon! There are a few fighting scenes, though they are written very well, they are not graphic. Very clean read and I can't wait to get started on the next one!
March 24, 2013
In full disclosure I won book two of this series in a Goodreads giveaway.
Personally I enjoy fantasy books, I don’t mind some romance in them, but I don’t normally read romance novels set in a fantasy world. As the second book in the series, the one that I won, was described as “With a touch of romance, this action-adventure story is amazing” I figured that this series would be okay for me.
After the first few chapters, the romance seemed very heavy and I felt like the kid at the start of the Princess Bride.
Fortunately the story soon becomes much less of a romance novel and more of a fantasy story.
It was interesting to see the story spread across a couple of generation of characters. It was also realistic in the way it would kill off characters on both sides.
The characters are excellent, they have interesting personalities. They were a little extreme with all the good characters having only good personality traits and the evil characters only have evil ones.
I enjoyed seeing how the most evil of the characters was somewhat of a background character that would manipulate the king and run things the way he wanted. It was also realistic to see how those in power seek to have more; it reminded me or the Rise of the Empire era of the Star Wars saga.
It was nice to see from the POV of the evil characters, early on it did give a bit too much plot away, but later it became more subtle what they were planning.
As an adult reading the book I did find the story line a little predictable and unoriginal, but it was fun, exciting and interesting so this didn’t really matter. There were many tantalizing moments such as when two of the main characters kept missing each other or when the characters were investing the original Tome of Laws and we were giving little bits of it at a time.
My biggest criticism of the story was how the plot was dictated by the Tome of Laws. Sometimes it would help the good characters and sometimes it would harm them, but it seemed most of the story happened according to the rules of the book. Sometimes the rules didn’t make much sense or would be unrealistic and were only there to push the plot in one direction. It was especially bad at the end when it all tied up nicely because of the laws.
I enjoyed seeing how some small details, that at the time seemed insignificant, would late turn out to be a bigger part of the plot.
Overall I really enjoyed this story; it is great adventure story for all ages and could be enjoyed by both males and females. The story was exciting and very interesting although a little unoriginal in places. The characters were excellent with a number of personalities. The political planning of the evil characters to gain more power was particularly well done. The main problem was the plot being run by the rules in the Tome of Laws, rules that often seemed to have been written just to steer the plot in a certain direction.
Personally I enjoy fantasy books, I don’t mind some romance in them, but I don’t normally read romance novels set in a fantasy world. As the second book in the series, the one that I won, was described as “With a touch of romance, this action-adventure story is amazing” I figured that this series would be okay for me.
After the first few chapters, the romance seemed very heavy and I felt like the kid at the start of the Princess Bride.
Fortunately the story soon becomes much less of a romance novel and more of a fantasy story.
It was interesting to see the story spread across a couple of generation of characters. It was also realistic in the way it would kill off characters on both sides.
The characters are excellent, they have interesting personalities. They were a little extreme with all the good characters having only good personality traits and the evil characters only have evil ones.
I enjoyed seeing how the most evil of the characters was somewhat of a background character that would manipulate the king and run things the way he wanted. It was also realistic to see how those in power seek to have more; it reminded me or the Rise of the Empire era of the Star Wars saga.
It was nice to see from the POV of the evil characters, early on it did give a bit too much plot away, but later it became more subtle what they were planning.
As an adult reading the book I did find the story line a little predictable and unoriginal, but it was fun, exciting and interesting so this didn’t really matter. There were many tantalizing moments such as when two of the main characters kept missing each other or when the characters were investing the original Tome of Laws and we were giving little bits of it at a time.
My biggest criticism of the story was how the plot was dictated by the Tome of Laws. Sometimes it would help the good characters and sometimes it would harm them, but it seemed most of the story happened according to the rules of the book. Sometimes the rules didn’t make much sense or would be unrealistic and were only there to push the plot in one direction. It was especially bad at the end when it all tied up nicely because of the laws.
I enjoyed seeing how some small details, that at the time seemed insignificant, would late turn out to be a bigger part of the plot.
Overall I really enjoyed this story; it is great adventure story for all ages and could be enjoyed by both males and females. The story was exciting and very interesting although a little unoriginal in places. The characters were excellent with a number of personalities. The political planning of the evil characters to gain more power was particularly well done. The main problem was the plot being run by the rules in the Tome of Laws, rules that often seemed to have been written just to steer the plot in a certain direction.
January 30, 2016
I have left off reviewing this fantastic book for too long. The first I heard of The Hidden Sun was when my dad mentioned that a guy he knew from high school had written a book, and that if I needed something to read, I should read it. Being the voracious reader that I am, of course I picked it up. And I could not put it down.
I think the plot summary does a good job of summing up the first part of the book:
"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?"
I love the problem Mr. Morgan presents--a choice Eliana must make between following her heart at the expense of her kingdom's well-being or defending her people from a malevolent ruler at the cost of being married to someone she doesn't love. The solution Mr. Morgan comes up with is elegant and clever, allowing Eliana and Rinan to marry in secret while keeping her on the throne to counteract the despicable Abrecan. And boy, is he despicable! Everything he does, from bullying people to stealing treasure to taking down Eliana's favorite tapestry, makes you hate him--a perfect villain.
After , Rinan takes his son into hiding, leaving Abrecan in control of the throne through his clueless son Daimh. The story resumes years later when Rinan's son, Rayne, is a young man training to compete in a contest called the Mortentaun to become a royal guardian. Rayne is an outstanding young man. He doesn’t know he’s the queen’s son, and he stands up to guardians who are really no more than bullies when he sees them harassing a girl, Sunshine—who he later falls in love with—and you can't help but cheer for him all through the book.
I don’t want to give the whole plot away, especially since Mr. Morgan throws some delightful curveballs, but suffice it to say that this is a great, clean romance/adventure story about good triumphing over evil and the importance of doing what’s right, especially when it’s the unpopular thing to do. I recommend this book to anybody and everybody who likes a happy ending, being surprised by a plot twist, or a clean read.
Also, be sure to read the sequel, The Waxing Moon. I think it's even better than the first!
I think the plot summary does a good job of summing up the first part of the book:
"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?"
I love the problem Mr. Morgan presents--a choice Eliana must make between following her heart at the expense of her kingdom's well-being or defending her people from a malevolent ruler at the cost of being married to someone she doesn't love. The solution Mr. Morgan comes up with is elegant and clever, allowing Eliana and Rinan to marry in secret while keeping her on the throne to counteract the despicable Abrecan. And boy, is he despicable! Everything he does, from bullying people to stealing treasure to taking down Eliana's favorite tapestry, makes you hate him--a perfect villain.
After , Rinan takes his son into hiding, leaving Abrecan in control of the throne through his clueless son Daimh. The story resumes years later when Rinan's son, Rayne, is a young man training to compete in a contest called the Mortentaun to become a royal guardian. Rayne is an outstanding young man. He doesn’t know he’s the queen’s son, and he stands up to guardians who are really no more than bullies when he sees them harassing a girl, Sunshine—who he later falls in love with—and you can't help but cheer for him all through the book.
I don’t want to give the whole plot away, especially since Mr. Morgan throws some delightful curveballs, but suffice it to say that this is a great, clean romance/adventure story about good triumphing over evil and the importance of doing what’s right, especially when it’s the unpopular thing to do. I recommend this book to anybody and everybody who likes a happy ending, being surprised by a plot twist, or a clean read.
Also, be sure to read the sequel, The Waxing Moon. I think it's even better than the first!
July 13, 2012
This book was great! I have to warn you that I yelled a third of the way through and almost didn't finish reading it. Just know when you get to the part where you are BEYOND ANGRY at what just happened, keep reading. It gets better.
I have never read a book from so many different perspectives before. At first it was annoying, and I couldn't keep track of what was going on. But eventually I kept up with it, and I think it added something special to the book. It was like an omniscient point of view. That's not my preference when reading, but it worked well for this book.
The Hidden Sun was exciting, full of romance, suspense, and action! I love books with knights and sword fighting! Go read it. You'll enjoy it. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Content Ratings:
sexual: mild
language: none
violence: mild/moderate
To see content rating details see the review on my blog. Clean Adult Fiction
I have never read a book from so many different perspectives before. At first it was annoying, and I couldn't keep track of what was going on. But eventually I kept up with it, and I think it added something special to the book. It was like an omniscient point of view. That's not my preference when reading, but it worked well for this book.
The Hidden Sun was exciting, full of romance, suspense, and action! I love books with knights and sword fighting! Go read it. You'll enjoy it. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Content Ratings:
sexual: mild
language: none
violence: mild/moderate
To see content rating details see the review on my blog. Clean Adult Fiction
October 8, 2011
I received this book from the author in return for an honest review.
THE HIDDEN SUN is a wonderfully crafted fairytale. There's a Princess, forbidden love, an evil overlord and a happy ending. What more could you ask for?
The plot moves along quickly and has great twists and turns. I was a little worried that it would be high fantasy at first, but it wasn't at all. It was a lovely story and one that I could easily imagine the author telling his four daughters.
The characters were well-written with their own voices. A few of the names were groan-worthy, but cute, nonetheless. Ofcourse in most fairytales the names mean something and they help the story along, the same is true here.
The plot revolves around the Book of Law and how it is interpreted, which was definitely interesting. It makes you think of our Constitution and how different groups use it to prove what they want proved.
All in all, a great book and I highly recommend it!
THE HIDDEN SUN is a wonderfully crafted fairytale. There's a Princess, forbidden love, an evil overlord and a happy ending. What more could you ask for?
The plot moves along quickly and has great twists and turns. I was a little worried that it would be high fantasy at first, but it wasn't at all. It was a lovely story and one that I could easily imagine the author telling his four daughters.
The characters were well-written with their own voices. A few of the names were groan-worthy, but cute, nonetheless. Ofcourse in most fairytales the names mean something and they help the story along, the same is true here.
The plot revolves around the Book of Law and how it is interpreted, which was definitely interesting. It makes you think of our Constitution and how different groups use it to prove what they want proved.
All in all, a great book and I highly recommend it!
February 4, 2014
THE HIDDEN SUN by J. Lloyd Morgan is a classic tale of good-versus-evil in a faraway kingdom that spans two generations. The evil governor Abrecon will go to any length to have his son wed the Princess Eliana, and take control of the kingdom. But Eliana is in love with her guardian, Rinan. The conflict spans years culminating in the Shoginoc, a combative style competition that will determine the direction of power.
Although mainly intended for the young adult audience, THE HIDDEN SUN had me hooked from the very beginning. The story is laced with romance and betrayals guaranteed to keep readers guessing the final outcome. The creation of a new political system and social order is a demonstration of Morgan's sheer genius. I give this book my highest recommendation, and I look forward to reading his next entry, WAXING MOON (The Bariwon Chronicles, Book 2).
Although mainly intended for the young adult audience, THE HIDDEN SUN had me hooked from the very beginning. The story is laced with romance and betrayals guaranteed to keep readers guessing the final outcome. The creation of a new political system and social order is a demonstration of Morgan's sheer genius. I give this book my highest recommendation, and I look forward to reading his next entry, WAXING MOON (The Bariwon Chronicles, Book 2).
August 5, 2012
I loved this book! I had heard a lot of good things about it. But I didn't realize how much I'd like it until I read it. There were pleanty of surprises along the way.
I read in the author's bio that he was a TV director. I can see how he incorporated that experience in the book. I loved his device of ending with mini cliffhangers throughout the book. It made me want to read more.
I found this book refreshing compared to a lot of the same old, same old books. The author took some risks in writing the book, but I'm glad he did!
I read in the author's bio that he was a TV director. I can see how he incorporated that experience in the book. I loved his device of ending with mini cliffhangers throughout the book. It made me want to read more.
I found this book refreshing compared to a lot of the same old, same old books. The author took some risks in writing the book, but I'm glad he did!
July 21, 2012
This was a good story. Every 21 years a new king and queen are chosen to rule the kingdom of Bariwon. The current ruler or rulers step down and their heir becomes the king or queen. The former ruler or rulers become councilors to the new rulers. The new queen falls in love with one of her Royal Guardians and marries him secretly. I liked this story and am looking forward to reading others in this series.
May 3, 2012
LOVED this book from beginning to end because it keeps you on your toes. I appreciated how the character names were just different enough, but not so complicated I couldn't keep track of them. Great, clean story that makes you think about a few things. I'd be very comfortable with my 12 year old son reading this.
October 20, 2013
This was just painful. I finished it because I actually do like finishing books I start. It was very predictable and then it time warped a lot without really any warning. The characters weren't developed well enough to like any of them to care about what happened and I couldn't get past the cheesy (dumb) character names. The worse part? There's a second book. Definitely NOT reading any more.
August 22, 2011
I wrote it, so I think it is pretty darn good. :)
September 23, 2011
I really enjoyed this novel. I gave it 4 and 1/2 stars...Read my full review @
http://heyyouslackers.blogspot.com/p/...
http://heyyouslackers.blogspot.com/p/...
December 27, 2018
This is the fourth or fifth time I've read this book and I still enjoyed it thoroughly and I will likely read it again.
October 8, 2020
I think I read this one once before, years ago. Either my memory is faulty (Which is probably the case) or I read a more recent version the first time through because this time through felt different. I wondered if the author made some changes and I picked up a first edition of the book this time? It felt really choppy to me for the first 1/3 of the book, but then it flowed better. I don't think the summary of the book should have been solely about Rinan and Eliana because most of the book wasn't about them. Eliana's fate felt sudden and glossed over. I expected that it was all a lie like Rayne's secret existence and kept waiting for her to reappear toward the end and save the day, but she didn't.
A little difficult to keep up with all the new characters that kept getting introduced. I thought Rayne and Sunshine's relationship moved too quickly with no foundation. They spent a few hours together one day and are suddenly getting married? I will say it definitely kept me guessing and wondering how everything could possibly be resolved. Clean. Appropriate for teens on up.
A little difficult to keep up with all the new characters that kept getting introduced. I thought Rayne and Sunshine's relationship moved too quickly with no foundation. They spent a few hours together one day and are suddenly getting married? I will say it definitely kept me guessing and wondering how everything could possibly be resolved. Clean. Appropriate for teens on up.
April 9, 2020
It wasn't quite the royalty I imagined. Instead of knights, we have guardians--good and evil. What's most important is who will be chosen king at what is called the Shoginoc. I really laughed at the names the characters were called. When the heir's son is named Rayne, and the farmers name their daughter Sunshine, well what do you expect--they will become our hero and heroin winning the throne in the end.
August 23, 2021
I stopped reading this 80 pages in. The book reads like the script for a children's princess movie and is far too predictable to be enjoyable. Princess gets engaged to evil suitor? Textbook. And I've seen it be done better. The book isn't entirely without merit, but it was just too cliche for me to really enjoy. I'm gonna pass.
September 5, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
December 7, 2020
The Previews
Definitely the epitome of fairy tales of the modern time. J. LLoyd Morgan weaves together a intrigue filled plot with enough twists, characters, and romance to keep you engaged (and slightly confused) until the very last page.
This book right from the beginning reminded me of a modern fairytale. All the little quirks and schemes presented in true fairytale fashion and I definitely love the fact that the story was one that could bring back the classics of a fairytale, yet keep its own original plot to it. That being said, for me, the book read a lot like a series of short stories. The way I read it from the synopsis on various websites and on the back of the book, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how the story was going to begin, and I was ready to let the plot run its course. But that really is not how it went at all.
Extended Version
First off, if you read this book and are able to get through all the sections and differentiate each character the first time through, I greatly commend you. There were so many characters! And these weren't just supporting background characters, oh no, most of them were main characters. Which brings me back to the fact that I felt the book was more a collection of short stories all related and taking place in the same setting, but definitely individual stories in there own. It felt like the first part of the book was a very long prologue, to the main story. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just very unexpected.
Some characters in particular Sunshine for instance, who comes along later on in the story, was definitely a favorite of mine. One thing that I usually do not favor about historical books is the fact that the female characters don't seem to have the same tenacity as those of contemporary books, but Eliana and Sunshine definitely proved me wrong there. You ever need someone to help you out with your witty remarks, or prove to you that any girl could command a room of guardians as best as a man, these are the girls you call.
At some points the plot was lost to me. I felt like the pages and the characters were just going without any real relevance to a plot. So yes, at times it was a bit slow, but the plot does find its way back into the story and then you are back hanging off the edge of your seat waiting to find out what comes next.
The romance plays a big role in this book especially since there is more than one romantic intermingling going on. I adore the fact the book actually went against the typical "princesses and princes fall in love" romantic theme and made it a little more...forbidden. I mean really, who can resist forbidden romance.
And in the end everyone lived h... of course I'm not going to give that away, but I definitely recommend you give this book a go. Without a doubt something different regarding book format, and if you can keep up with the characters and are a fan of historical romance this book is the one to check out.
Definitely the epitome of fairy tales of the modern time. J. LLoyd Morgan weaves together a intrigue filled plot with enough twists, characters, and romance to keep you engaged (and slightly confused) until the very last page.
This book right from the beginning reminded me of a modern fairytale. All the little quirks and schemes presented in true fairytale fashion and I definitely love the fact that the story was one that could bring back the classics of a fairytale, yet keep its own original plot to it. That being said, for me, the book read a lot like a series of short stories. The way I read it from the synopsis on various websites and on the back of the book, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how the story was going to begin, and I was ready to let the plot run its course. But that really is not how it went at all.
Extended Version
First off, if you read this book and are able to get through all the sections and differentiate each character the first time through, I greatly commend you. There were so many characters! And these weren't just supporting background characters, oh no, most of them were main characters. Which brings me back to the fact that I felt the book was more a collection of short stories all related and taking place in the same setting, but definitely individual stories in there own. It felt like the first part of the book was a very long prologue, to the main story. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just very unexpected.
Some characters in particular Sunshine for instance, who comes along later on in the story, was definitely a favorite of mine. One thing that I usually do not favor about historical books is the fact that the female characters don't seem to have the same tenacity as those of contemporary books, but Eliana and Sunshine definitely proved me wrong there. You ever need someone to help you out with your witty remarks, or prove to you that any girl could command a room of guardians as best as a man, these are the girls you call.
At some points the plot was lost to me. I felt like the pages and the characters were just going without any real relevance to a plot. So yes, at times it was a bit slow, but the plot does find its way back into the story and then you are back hanging off the edge of your seat waiting to find out what comes next.
The romance plays a big role in this book especially since there is more than one romantic intermingling going on. I adore the fact the book actually went against the typical "princesses and princes fall in love" romantic theme and made it a little more...forbidden. I mean really, who can resist forbidden romance.
And in the end everyone lived h... of course I'm not going to give that away, but I definitely recommend you give this book a go. Without a doubt something different regarding book format, and if you can keep up with the characters and are a fan of historical romance this book is the one to check out.
October 7, 2011
4.5 stars.
I'm not ashamed to say that I am most ardently a person who judges books by their covers. I can't help it, and, honestly, I should probably stop. I've come across quite a lot of books with utterly gorgeous, eye-catching covers that completely disappoint, and I've read many books with average, mediocre, and even terrible covers that are magnificent. The Hidden Sun didn't have a terrible cover, but it didn't have one that made me sigh, either, and I will admit I read it mostly because I had to. I am so, so pleased to say that I am a terrible person who should quit judging books by their covers. The Hidden Sun is a hidden gem and should have sparklers that go off every time someone opens its cover.
There are so many things I loved about the book, but I rather like to get any negatives out of the way first. My only real complaint lies in the dialogue. There were several times it felt stilted and unnatural, like a character was talking just to clarify what was going on, rather than because they had something to say. Slightly picky, I know, but it bothered me, and I don't want to JUST gush. :)
On to the fun! I have a ton of positive things that jump out, but I'll only be able to highlight a few, since I'm not trying to write an essay... First, the plot. Oh, the plot the plot the plot. I wanted to die. There were lots of twists and turns, and sudden deaths (which I always enjoy!), and things just kept happening that I didn't expect. I didn't expect the book to expand over two generations, which I loved. The problems going on in Bariwon are not problems that can be solved in a short time, and I so appreciate that Mr. Morgan didn't force an improbable happy ending or a cliffhanger to make the reader impatient for a second book.
And the characters! Our villain, Abrecan, is just purely and insanely evil and power hungry. You will love to hate him. Eliana and Rinan are utterly adorable, but I especially loved Rayne. A girl can't help but swoon over such a guy. He stands up for the innocent and endangered, helps old women, and can fight to boot. Governor Nash was a fun character to read, always with a quip flouncing authority and there was not enough of him.
The Hidden Sun is a classic tale of good and evil. There is no magic afoot or dragons smoldering, just good ole human nature. This is the first book in a trilogy, with the second novel, The Waxing Moon, coming out next year.
To repeat my stupid pun earlier (y'all should know by now that I'm only good for one terrible pun a review!), The Hidden Sun is a hidden revelation; a chivalric novel well worth your time and any accidental blood.
For more fun, check out my blog: Paper Cuts
I'm not ashamed to say that I am most ardently a person who judges books by their covers. I can't help it, and, honestly, I should probably stop. I've come across quite a lot of books with utterly gorgeous, eye-catching covers that completely disappoint, and I've read many books with average, mediocre, and even terrible covers that are magnificent. The Hidden Sun didn't have a terrible cover, but it didn't have one that made me sigh, either, and I will admit I read it mostly because I had to. I am so, so pleased to say that I am a terrible person who should quit judging books by their covers. The Hidden Sun is a hidden gem and should have sparklers that go off every time someone opens its cover.
There are so many things I loved about the book, but I rather like to get any negatives out of the way first. My only real complaint lies in the dialogue. There were several times it felt stilted and unnatural, like a character was talking just to clarify what was going on, rather than because they had something to say. Slightly picky, I know, but it bothered me, and I don't want to JUST gush. :)
On to the fun! I have a ton of positive things that jump out, but I'll only be able to highlight a few, since I'm not trying to write an essay... First, the plot. Oh, the plot the plot the plot. I wanted to die. There were lots of twists and turns, and sudden deaths (which I always enjoy!), and things just kept happening that I didn't expect. I didn't expect the book to expand over two generations, which I loved. The problems going on in Bariwon are not problems that can be solved in a short time, and I so appreciate that Mr. Morgan didn't force an improbable happy ending or a cliffhanger to make the reader impatient for a second book.
And the characters! Our villain, Abrecan, is just purely and insanely evil and power hungry. You will love to hate him. Eliana and Rinan are utterly adorable, but I especially loved Rayne. A girl can't help but swoon over such a guy. He stands up for the innocent and endangered, helps old women, and can fight to boot. Governor Nash was a fun character to read, always with a quip flouncing authority and there was not enough of him.
The Hidden Sun is a classic tale of good and evil. There is no magic afoot or dragons smoldering, just good ole human nature. This is the first book in a trilogy, with the second novel, The Waxing Moon, coming out next year.
To repeat my stupid pun earlier (y'all should know by now that I'm only good for one terrible pun a review!), The Hidden Sun is a hidden revelation; a chivalric novel well worth your time and any accidental blood.
For more fun, check out my blog: Paper Cuts
October 19, 2011
This story came as such a wonderful surprise to me. I am fascinated with stories of far away kingdoms, princesses, and knights (or in the case of this book, guardians). Every author who writes about these far away places seems to bring something new to the table and that is most certainly true with J. Lloyd Morgan!
The characters in this book were rich, vibrant, and so full of life. There are so many characters that you are introduced to in a short amount of time but J. Lloyd Morgan does a phenomenal job introducing us to each and every one. With quirky names to match their quirky personality traits, I seemed to recognize every character with ease. I knew Rinan was a strong, protective, kind man. I knew Eliana was vibrant and full of life. I could tell from the very beginning just how sinister Abrecan could be. I was able to understand where all the characters were coming from and that made this super interesting. The awkward characters like Bertram made me laugh quite frequently. The evil characters like Abrecan, easily made my skin crawl. And then there are the lovely characters of Eliana, Rinan, Rayne, and Sunshine. They were such a joy to learn about, I loved meeting each and every one of them.
The story held my interest the whole entire time which is a huge plus! There were action scenes, mystery and romance, basically everything I need in a good book. The author keeps us on top of our toes by switching from character to character. Just when something big and epic is about to be revealed, J. Lloyd Morgan will flip to a different scene. While this would annoy me in many other stories, I found it added so much to The Hidden Sun!
On top of great characters and an interesting plot line, J. Lloyd Morgan did a PHENOMENAL job with his attention to detail. I could picture the characters in my mind. I could see the grand halls and tapestries of the castle. I could imagine the competitions playing out in my head. J. Lloyd Morgan did so well describing everything in his story that it was almost like a mental movie in my head while reading it!
In the end, I am so happy that I was able to read this book. At a first glance, I thought it was something I’d enjoy but I never would have guessed I’d love it this much.Beautiful, enchanting characters, a twisting plot-line and vivid visuals, what is not to love?
I would love to thank J. Lloyd Morgan for allowing me to be a part of his blog tour! This book turned out to be a wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what is next from him!
The characters in this book were rich, vibrant, and so full of life. There are so many characters that you are introduced to in a short amount of time but J. Lloyd Morgan does a phenomenal job introducing us to each and every one. With quirky names to match their quirky personality traits, I seemed to recognize every character with ease. I knew Rinan was a strong, protective, kind man. I knew Eliana was vibrant and full of life. I could tell from the very beginning just how sinister Abrecan could be. I was able to understand where all the characters were coming from and that made this super interesting. The awkward characters like Bertram made me laugh quite frequently. The evil characters like Abrecan, easily made my skin crawl. And then there are the lovely characters of Eliana, Rinan, Rayne, and Sunshine. They were such a joy to learn about, I loved meeting each and every one of them.
The story held my interest the whole entire time which is a huge plus! There were action scenes, mystery and romance, basically everything I need in a good book. The author keeps us on top of our toes by switching from character to character. Just when something big and epic is about to be revealed, J. Lloyd Morgan will flip to a different scene. While this would annoy me in many other stories, I found it added so much to The Hidden Sun!
On top of great characters and an interesting plot line, J. Lloyd Morgan did a PHENOMENAL job with his attention to detail. I could picture the characters in my mind. I could see the grand halls and tapestries of the castle. I could imagine the competitions playing out in my head. J. Lloyd Morgan did so well describing everything in his story that it was almost like a mental movie in my head while reading it!
In the end, I am so happy that I was able to read this book. At a first glance, I thought it was something I’d enjoy but I never would have guessed I’d love it this much.Beautiful, enchanting characters, a twisting plot-line and vivid visuals, what is not to love?
I would love to thank J. Lloyd Morgan for allowing me to be a part of his blog tour! This book turned out to be a wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what is next from him!
October 17, 2011
We’ve had the wonderful opportunity of sharing J. Lloyd Morgan’s first novel “The Hidden Sun”. If we were asked to describe this book in one word we would have to say a breathless “Wow”. His eloquent writing method using multiple character relationships interwoven with riveting action scenes give this novel a unique “one of a kind“ style compared with some of the books being released today. It’s an invigorating change to the “one hero, one villain, one story approach and one we thoroughly enjoyed.
The Hidden Sun subtly grabbed us in what could only be accurately described as a “great big warm bear hug” and enveloped us into a vast array of twists and turns always leaving us suspecting, but not quite sure, only to be pleasantly surprised as each relationship unfolded.
And what relationships they are! Portrayed in the “Middle Ages”, we find ourselves taken back to our youth when imaginations ran vivid and wild with visions of “Robin Hood and Maid Marian”. We find ourselves rooting for almost all the characters. Almost you might ask? Well there’s no shortage of “lower morality” incorrigible types who brought out the “revenge is sweet” emotion in us. In the end we found ourselves smiling and crying, laughing and shouting, demanding justice, and dreading the moment when the pages would end as we knew the story would unfortunately come to a close.
We made a pleasant discovery however, by being curious enough to read the prologue to “The Waxing Moon”. We found that the story from “The Hidden Sun” seems to continue, to our immense satisfaction, but now we find ourselves in a greater quandary being hopelessly hooked and impatiently awaiting what we are confident will be Mr. Morgan’s next great novel.
Thank you, J. Lloyd Morgan for allowing us to share such a wonderful story. We strongly recommend that everyone add this book to their “must read” list and rush out to get this book. It’s one fantastic read.
Note: While this book was provided to us free of charge, we have provided this review without bias or enticement.
The Hidden Sun subtly grabbed us in what could only be accurately described as a “great big warm bear hug” and enveloped us into a vast array of twists and turns always leaving us suspecting, but not quite sure, only to be pleasantly surprised as each relationship unfolded.
And what relationships they are! Portrayed in the “Middle Ages”, we find ourselves taken back to our youth when imaginations ran vivid and wild with visions of “Robin Hood and Maid Marian”. We find ourselves rooting for almost all the characters. Almost you might ask? Well there’s no shortage of “lower morality” incorrigible types who brought out the “revenge is sweet” emotion in us. In the end we found ourselves smiling and crying, laughing and shouting, demanding justice, and dreading the moment when the pages would end as we knew the story would unfortunately come to a close.
We made a pleasant discovery however, by being curious enough to read the prologue to “The Waxing Moon”. We found that the story from “The Hidden Sun” seems to continue, to our immense satisfaction, but now we find ourselves in a greater quandary being hopelessly hooked and impatiently awaiting what we are confident will be Mr. Morgan’s next great novel.
Thank you, J. Lloyd Morgan for allowing us to share such a wonderful story. We strongly recommend that everyone add this book to their “must read” list and rush out to get this book. It’s one fantastic read.
Note: While this book was provided to us free of charge, we have provided this review without bias or enticement.
October 18, 2011
Have you ever had one of those books that you picked up and couldn't put down? Where you were so engrossed in the book that you stayed up all night to read the book in just one sitting? For me, this was that book. It was such an incredible story, that I stayed up until 3am so I could find out what happened!
Eliana, the daughter of the current leader of Bariwon is coming of age where she must marry and must produce and heir. Unfortunately for Eliana, she's fallen in love with her royal guardian Rinan. Breaking every law, these two try and find a way to be together. Sadly, nothing ever goes the way they planned.
J. Lloyd Morgan has written such amazing characters!! They draw you into the story and keep you wanting more. This story has so many ups, and downs, and twists, and turns that it keeps you on your toes right up until the very last page. I don't want to give away any details on the story, there are so many small events that are tied that could spoil the whole story for someone.
I can't wait for the next book by this author: The Waxing Moon. This author has definitely been added to my auto buy list and will have a permanent home on my book shelf! I highly recommend this book, and think that almost anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy and a bit of mystery will love this book.
Eliana, the daughter of the current leader of Bariwon is coming of age where she must marry and must produce and heir. Unfortunately for Eliana, she's fallen in love with her royal guardian Rinan. Breaking every law, these two try and find a way to be together. Sadly, nothing ever goes the way they planned.
J. Lloyd Morgan has written such amazing characters!! They draw you into the story and keep you wanting more. This story has so many ups, and downs, and twists, and turns that it keeps you on your toes right up until the very last page. I don't want to give away any details on the story, there are so many small events that are tied that could spoil the whole story for someone.
I can't wait for the next book by this author: The Waxing Moon. This author has definitely been added to my auto buy list and will have a permanent home on my book shelf! I highly recommend this book, and think that almost anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy and a bit of mystery will love this book.
August 4, 2010
The Hidden Sun is an intriguing read; it rather surprised me on a couple levels.
First, what I didn't like: The book has a number of technical issues. Point of view changes, tense changes, poor editing and a whole lot of telling with very little showing.
Having said that, J. Lloyd Morgan is a remarkable storyteller who, despite all that was wrong with the BOOK, managed to keep me wholly engaged in the STORY. All that other stuff can be fixed, but The Hidden Sun definitely has the stuff that matters most.
What I loved: The characters were all really well done. I liked them and had an interest in what happened to them. The world Morgan creates is not only plausible and interesting but so well done it made me think that's how people should run their "kingdoms" in real life! (Not the way Abrecan does it, but the way Kenrik and Rayne did it :D)
I'd like to see this book do well enough that Morgan would consider taking it to another printing with some of the technical problems fixed--then this would be a book definitely worthy of five stars from me.
If you enjoy medieval-type settings, stories with intrigue, deception, betrayal, and most of all love, you will enjoy this story.
*I received a copy of The Hidden Sun free of charge in exchange for my review
First, what I didn't like: The book has a number of technical issues. Point of view changes, tense changes, poor editing and a whole lot of telling with very little showing.
Having said that, J. Lloyd Morgan is a remarkable storyteller who, despite all that was wrong with the BOOK, managed to keep me wholly engaged in the STORY. All that other stuff can be fixed, but The Hidden Sun definitely has the stuff that matters most.
What I loved: The characters were all really well done. I liked them and had an interest in what happened to them. The world Morgan creates is not only plausible and interesting but so well done it made me think that's how people should run their "kingdoms" in real life! (Not the way Abrecan does it, but the way Kenrik and Rayne did it :D)
I'd like to see this book do well enough that Morgan would consider taking it to another printing with some of the technical problems fixed--then this would be a book definitely worthy of five stars from me.
If you enjoy medieval-type settings, stories with intrigue, deception, betrayal, and most of all love, you will enjoy this story.
*I received a copy of The Hidden Sun free of charge in exchange for my review
August 25, 2014
I'd give this 3.5 stars.
The Hidden Sun chronicles the lives of the royal family that govern the land in accordance with the Tome of Laws The magistrates pick out the future spouse of the heir or a new ruler if there is no heir at a Shignoc takes place every 21 years.
Princess Aliana must go through an arranged marriage when she turns 21 like the others before her. Her love for Royal Guardian Rinan could mean a new ruler for Bariwon, if she gives up the throne. Priest Sherwyn and Nursemaid Amemone plot to enable Aliana to become the Queen while remaining married to her love.
Their secret act leads to the tumultuous events that follow. Things take a turn for the worse, before the discovery of the oldest copy of the Tome of Laws by Savants Betram and Sunshine helps end the proxy rule of Abrecan and restores the throne to the true heir.
The book stated off slowly but grew interesting after the trigger event that changes the fortunes of Bariwon.
The storyline is interesting but lacks depth with too many events that aren't given enough space to be fleshed out. While the plot will appeal to anyone who enjoy fiction tales on the lines of King Arthur, Ivanhoe and Beowulf, the simplistic narration makes this more of a YA Series.
The Hidden Sun chronicles the lives of the royal family that govern the land in accordance with the Tome of Laws The magistrates pick out the future spouse of the heir or a new ruler if there is no heir at a Shignoc takes place every 21 years.
Princess Aliana must go through an arranged marriage when she turns 21 like the others before her. Her love for Royal Guardian Rinan could mean a new ruler for Bariwon, if she gives up the throne. Priest Sherwyn and Nursemaid Amemone plot to enable Aliana to become the Queen while remaining married to her love.
Their secret act leads to the tumultuous events that follow. Things take a turn for the worse, before the discovery of the oldest copy of the Tome of Laws by Savants Betram and Sunshine helps end the proxy rule of Abrecan and restores the throne to the true heir.
The book stated off slowly but grew interesting after the trigger event that changes the fortunes of Bariwon.
The storyline is interesting but lacks depth with too many events that aren't given enough space to be fleshed out. While the plot will appeal to anyone who enjoy fiction tales on the lines of King Arthur, Ivanhoe and Beowulf, the simplistic narration makes this more of a YA Series.
October 26, 2011
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.
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.
November 25, 2011
My daughter and I read this book together for a book club at her middle school....Have to admit when we started to read the names and places worried me a bit because I had trouble saying them...but no need to worry there was a handy pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book and we soon fell in love with the characters....I won't go into to much detail so as not to ruin the book for anyone who has not read it; but I have never read a book that handled the main characters like J. Lloyd Morgan did in The Hidden Sun. I stirred a lot of emotion out of both my daughter and I which is always a good sign when reading a book. We fell in love with the characters and Bariwon and were so excited to hear that this will be a series. We could not put the book down, my daughter would beg me not to stop reading...."just one more chapter...we can't stop now!!" It can stand alone (but I am so glad it won't). We were also had the privilege of meeting the author and having our book signed, we loved hearing the reasons behind the names and where the idea from the book came from. I highly recommend this book to young adult and up....boys and girls.
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