News — Brandon Ying Kit Boey

News, Reviews & Events

Maine Literary Award: Winner of Book Award for Speculative Fiction
2024 Winners — Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance

Independent Publisher Book Award (“IPPY” Award): Bronze Medalist
2024 Medalists (ippyawards.com)

Next Generation Indie Book Award: Finalist for First Novel Prize
Next Generation Indie Book Awards - 2024 Winners

Maine Literary Awards: Finalist for Speculative Fiction
2024 Finalists — Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance

Foreword INDIES Finalist: Science Fiction
2023 Foreword INDIES Finalists in Science Fiction (Adult Fiction) — Foreword Reviews

2023 Foreword INDIES Finalists – Locus Online (locusmag.com)

Buzzworthy Fiction (Brandon Ying Kit Boey, Katherine Howe, Meg Shaffer, Thao Thai, Moderator: Linda Kass)
Author Panels – Books By the Banks

Authors Panel 2023 — Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance

American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference: Chicago
2023 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition

“This story is full of adventure, triumph, heartache, unexpected twists and betrayals, and fast-paced action . . . Boey flawlessly wields words, delivers a roller-coaster of emotions, and has crafted a novel that is impossible to put down.”
—School Library Journal (Starred Review)
(Karma of the Sun | School Library Journal (slj.com))

“Mr. Boey’s exploration of human values and philosophical conundrums…is no sophomoric thought experiment, and his stark world is poetically rendered. A thoughtful read perfect for this moody season.”
—The Wall Street Journal
(The Wall Street Journal (wsj.com))

“For lovers of post-apocalyptic young adult fantasy, Karma of the Sun . . . takes the genre to a different place with its Himalayan setting and its mix of Buddhist philosophical and eschatological traditions.”
—The Straits Times
(Book review: Karma Of The Sun | The Straits Times)

“Karma of the Sun is a not-to-miss debut from a ridiculously talented newcomer . . . Boey’s prose is luscious. It’s not always an easy read, because each sentence feels loaded – with meaning, with imagery – that takes time to digest and appreciate. The lilt of the language is irresistible, once you get into its rhythm, and the fact that there is (nearly) nonstop action drives the novel forward. It’s an interesting reading experience, to be honest, a push-and-pull that easily could not work, but does.”
—Locus Magazine
Caren Gussoff Sumption Reviews Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey – Locus Online (locusmag.com)

Shakespeare & Co. Book Event: New York City
Author Event - Brandon Boey w/Tamara Kawar | Shakespeare & Co. (shakeandco.com)

LASALLE College of the Arts Author Event: Singapore
MA Creative Writing – Meet the author: Brandon Ying Kit Boey | LASALLE College of the Arts

Book Launch Event and Signing for Karma of the Sun at Falmouth Memorial Library
—Falmouth Memorial Library
(Portland Press Herald (pressherald.com))

Author Signing at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops in Falmouth and Damariscotta
—Sherman’s Book Shops
(Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops (shermans.com))

Author Event with Brandon Ying Kit Boey at Blue Hill Public Library
—Blue Hill Public Library
(The Ellsworth American (ellsworthamerican.com))

Brandon Ying Kit Boey on Northshire Bookstore Virtual Event
—Northshire Presents
(Northshire Online (youtube.com))

Author Talk with Brandon Ying Kit Boey on Ghosts of Future’s Blast
—Jordan H. Barlett
(Ghosts of Future's Blast (youtube.com))

“Karma of the Sun is a gripping, prescient science fiction take on the apocalypse, blending Buddhism with an irresistible adventure.”

—Foreword Reviews
(Karma of the Sun (forewordreviews.com))

“VERDICT: For readers of post-apocalyptic cli-fi who enjoy magic-infused stories that don’t center Western cultures.”

—Library Journal
(Karma of the Sun (libraryjournal.com))

“This fascinating variation on the Chosen One archetype neatly demonstrates how fragile hope can be destroyed, diverting attention from actually solving any problems. Fans of a post-apocalyptic world that is not a crushingly dystopian one should check this one out.”
—Booklist (Starred Review)
(Karma of the Sun (booklist.com))

“In the coming season, folklore, fairy tales, and ancient stories become new fantastic tales . . . . While in the ruined nuclear winterland of the Himalayas, a young Tibetan sherpa searches for his missing father and a way to save their doomed future in Karma of the Sun.”
—Library Journal (Top Titles Forecast)
(SF/Fantasy Preview (libraryjournal.com))

“. . . the sensational descriptions of the Himalayan landscape form the heart of this harrowing tale . . . Fans of apocalyptic fantasy should check this out.”
—Publishers Weekly
(Karma of the Sun (publishersweekly.com))

Author Spotlight on Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester
(Author Spotlight – Brandon Ying Kit Boey | Annie's Book Stop of Worcester (anniesbookstopworcester.blog))

Karma of the Sun on Locus Magazine’s People & Publishing Roundup
—Locus Magazine
(People & Publishing Roundup, January 2022 – Locus Online (locusmag.com))

Karma of the Sun publisher CamCat Books announced
—Publishers Marketplace
(Dealmaker: CamCat Books (Imprint) (publishersmarketplace.com))

“Part journey into the mystical, part adventure in a faraway world, Karma of the Sun deftly moves through places and among characters as it transports the reader again and again. I really enjoyed this book.”
—Eric Barnes, author of The City Where We Once Lived

“Set amidst the stunning beauty of the Himalayas on the brink of a global apocalypse, Karma of the Sun unfurls a hero’s tale of quest and survival, perseverance and hope. With silken prose and atmospheric grandeur, Boey’s elegantly assured debut weaves in fascinating interpretations of Asian cosmology and concepts of the afterlife and end-times to haunting, resounding effect. Beautiful, moving, vast in its spiritual and emotional scope, I was reminded in parts of Kevin Brockmeier's Brief History of the Dead, and David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas.”
—Angela Mi Young Hur, author of Folklorn

“Brandon Ying Kit Boey has crafted a propulsive tale of adventure, sacrifice, and salvation, not just for the young protagonist Karma, but for all of humanity. Set in Tibet in a frighteningly apocalyptic future, Boey's novel offers us an earnest and sensitive hero who has been tasked with no less than ensuring the survival of the entire planet. Though filled with intense battle scenes and life-or-death decisions, Karma's quest is one we will all recognize, grounded as it is in family, love, and a profound search for the self. A hero's journey for the end of the world, Karma of the Sun is a must-read for anyone reckoning with where we are now and where we will go next.”
—Erin Swan, author of Walk the Vanished Earth