Spanning more than a century of Thai history, OF PRINCES AND PATRIOTS follows Chanchai, a young orphan boy whose life is changed one fateful night by a celestial event. Through Chanchai, we experience the history of the Kingdom of Siam, from the late 19th century through his time in London and eventually the birth of modern-day Thailand.

This was such an interesting and unexpected read. I really enjoyed experiencing the history of Siam through Chanchai’s eyes as his life unfolds across decades of change. Despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding him, Chanchai felt like a very grounded character. At the heart of his story is something surprisingly relatable: his search for identity, belonging, and connection.

I think that was what I enjoyed most about his character. Even as the story expands across generations and introduces elements of the extraordinary, Chanchai remains very human. He never felt unrealistic or disconnected from the world around him. His journey is as much about finding where he belongs as it is about navigating the unusual life he has been given.

At this book's heart, it explores themes of identity and loyalty, while also touching on the sacrifices people make for something larger than themselves. Chanchai’s experiences raise some interesting questions about what it means to actually live through history rather than simply read about it. He isn't just watching the world change around him; he is shaped by those changes and has to continually figure out where he fits within them. I enjoyed watching Chanchai grow and seeing how his years of education and the relationships he forms continue to influence him throughout the course of a century.

The combination of historical fiction and speculative elements made this a particularly unique story, and I appreciated that the historical setting never felt like it was simply there as a backdrop. There is a real sense of place and history woven throughout the novel, making Chanchai’s journey feel like a window into a changing Siam.

Overall, this is a fascinating first installment of the Threlphax series, and I'm curious to see where the story goes from here, especially with that ending! 

~ Ashley L

Photograph by John Thomson,  Bangkok, Siam (Thailand), 1865.