The Sun at Twilight (Empire at Twilight Book 4) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Jennifer Gordon

The Sun at Twilight by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another gripping and engaging historical fiction novel by N.L. Holmes in her ‘Empire at Twilight’ series. This is obviously a well researched novel and it is wonderfully written in a way which brings the time period and setting alive for the reader. I found the historical notes at the beginning of the book fascinating and the map, cast of characters and the glossary and terms of Gods were very helpful and I did refer back to them whilst reading. Set during the twilight years of the Hittite Empire and Tudhaliya IV is on the throne but he is the younger son of a usurper. However Tudhaliya wants to rule by the traditional values of justice and clemency, against the advice of his overly ambitious mother and older brothers who are not entirely loyal. His ideals are tested when his cousin and friend Kurunta makes his own claim on the throne and Tudhaliya must deal with this threat without looking weak. Overall his goal is to be able to leave his own son an empire free of civil war but at what personal cost to himself. The storyline is fast paced and the plot twists kept me hooked from beginning to the end. The characters are well defined and the descriptive narrative gave me a clear image of them, making me feel immersed in their story. This was an entertaining and enjoyable read which had me captivated from page one. Although part of a series it can be read as a standalone story, however, I have read and enjoyed the previous novels and would recommend both this book and the series.

View all my reviews