Friday, April 25, 2025

Literary Fiction Review: The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani

This morning, I have a family drama in our book review spotlight. Learn about The Sun's Shadow and author Sejal Badani, read my thoughts on the book and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 


Book Title:  THE SUN'S SHADOW by Sejal Badani
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 333 pages
Genre:  Literary
Publisher:  Lake Union
Release date:   January 28, 2025
Content Rating:  PG-13. Two-three scenes without description.


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About the Book


“A captivating story… richly woven narrative with vivid characters. A perfect story."

From the bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Secret comes an unflinching exploration of betrayal, forgiveness, and the healing power of a second chance.

Celine’s life is spiraling out of control. She’s in danger of losing the beloved equestrian farm that was her childhood home. Her distant husband, Eric, is devoting a suspicious amount of time to a stunning new colleague. Then her young son, Brian, receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. How much worse can things get?

Felicity has uprooted her career and her teenage son, Justin, to get closer to Eric. She’s tired of keeping his secrets―that Eric’s frequent “business trips” have been spent playing family with them. Felicity is determined to get her happily ever after, even if it means confronting Celine at a delicate time.

​But when Brian’s prognosis worsens, and a transplant from Justin becomes his best chance at survival, Felicity must make a wrenching decision about her son’s well-being―and Celine must accept that the “other woman” is her only hope. In another life Celine and Felicity might have been friends. Can they put aside the pain between them to do what’s best for their families―and their own futures?
 
 
My Review


The Sun's Shadow is an Engaging Family Drama. It took me a few chapters to settle into the back-and-forth style narrative and get to know the two storytellers. While the story is predictable as it goes along, it's also interesting and engaging. I didn't love either Celine or Felicity (for different reasons, including my own views on infidelity and trust), but the author grew the story of this entwined family from within the perspectives of these two women as they maneuvered their way through the plot. While I could certainly see where the story was going--I also needed to see how the main characters handled the pieces and parts along the way. You won't find action-packed drama, but the emotional perspectives of each woman gave the story depth and interest that made it a page-turner from start to finish.
 
Don't Expect to Love Many Characters. In fact, the young Brian and Justin were the only characters that I did like or really root for along the way.  While I didn't love the actions of either woman through most of the novel--and didn't find some of them believable or reasonable--their love for their sons came through and strengthened the drama. I found the husband sad and weak throughout--expecting some different outcome to the mess he created. 

Would I Recommend The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani? I didn't love the characters--but I couldn't put the book down. While the storyline was a little predictable, I had to read the characters' interpretations and actions from their points of view. If you enjoy family dramas, especially those with young characters who have better moral/human characteristics than the adults--this is a well-done novel that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
 
 

Buy the Book
 


 
Meet the Author
 

Sejal Badani is the Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Secret and Trail of Broken Wings. She is also a Goodreads Best Fiction award and ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship finalist whose work has been published in over fifteen languages.


Connect with the author: Website  ~ X/Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest




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