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A story of survival, love, soul searching, and family. This novel is a true testament to how far one will go to protect their loved ones.
Spirits of the Sun is a novel about love, murder, and a struggle for survival
Melati, a young Malay girl, is wanted as a bride by the old chief of a powerful Java tribe. Her Malay tribe reject the marriage proposal and the Java threaten to attack. To escape the Java, the Malay try to build a big boat to sail to another land – but before their boat is ready, a callous murder shatters the fragile peace between the tribes.
Melati’s brother, Bandri, tries to identify the murderer, create trust, and prevent any further violence. But tensions escalate when a relationship develops between a Java girl and another Malay tribesman. Will Melati be forced to marry the Java chief? Can Bandri prevent a tribal war? Can the Malay tribe survive – or will they all be slaughtered?
Tackling fundamental issues about humanity and our primal urges, Spirits of the Sun is based on genuine historical events in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia.
Spirits of the Sun by Sydney Philippe is a unique read. First, the novel describes the lives of a Malay tribe living in Indonesia. Thus far, none of the other novels I've read this year have had that setting. I am back and forth on the rating for this book. On one hand, it was unique, interesting, and I learned quite a bit. On the other hand, the story didn't flow as well as it could have and I would have liked the characters to be developed a bit more.
When I read the synopsis of Spirits of the Sun I was expecting the story to mostly follow Melati. However, this was not the case. While the story did start out from her perspective, it seemed to jump around from character to character never fully finishing a story.
I also found the lags between action and mundane periods throughout the book to be lagging. While I enjoy a descriptive read, I thought the level of detail Philippe goes into becomes tiresome as the novel progresses. It seemed like the novel had high highs and low lows. I would have liked the novel to move a bit more quickly however, that is my opinion and other readers may be a fan of the details.
I did enjoy how Philippe conveyed the yearning desires for most of the characters. Regardless of what they have grown being told was true they still have questions, they still seek to find their own answers.
Lastly, one of my favorite moments in the books is when the men start to recognize the women as assets and not simply as helpless people that need protection from the men. I don't want to give anything away so you'll have to read the book and witness this awesome moment of women's power for yourself.
I would recommend giving this book a read for yourself. While there were parts of the story I wish were developed a bit more I did enjoy Spirits of the Sun Sydney Philippe and encourage you to give it a read and draw your own conclusions.
Thank you for reading!
Leah Lawrence
Reviewed by
I'm Leah Lawrence, an avid reader, book reviewer, and freelance marketing consultant. Reading has always been a big part of my life. It has been my escape, my adventure, and my opportunity for advancement in education, my career, and my well-being.
Spirits of the Sun is a novel about love, murder, and a struggle for survival
Melati, a young Malay girl, is wanted as a bride by the old chief of a powerful Java tribe. Her Malay tribe reject the marriage proposal and the Java threaten to attack. To escape the Java, the Malay try to build a big boat to sail to another land – but before their boat is ready, a callous murder shatters the fragile peace between the tribes.
Melati’s brother, Bandri, tries to identify the murderer, create trust, and prevent any further violence. But tensions escalate when a relationship develops between a Java girl and another Malay tribesman. Will Melati be forced to marry the Java chief? Can Bandri prevent a tribal war? Can the Malay tribe survive – or will they all be slaughtered?
Tackling fundamental issues about humanity and our primal urges, Spirits of the Sun is based on genuine historical events in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia.
About the author
Sydney Philippe is the pen name for Julian Sydney Wright. I studied biological sciences and then researched irrigation systems. I became concerned about the ‘pollination crisis’ caused by the loss of pollinating insects. And this issue led me to write a dramatic novel entitled Spirits of the Sun. view profile
Published on February 07, 2022
110000 words
Contains mild explicit content ⚠️
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewed by
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