Sun and Flesh

What would you do for love?Set in the lush tropical rainforests of Indonesia, SUN and FLESH is a powerful story of lust, love, pride, and a fight for survival—drawn from genuine historical events.Melati, a young Malay girl, is demanded as a bride by the old chief of a powerful Java tribe. But her Malay tribe refuse. Now the Java tribe threatens violent retaliation. To escape the Java, the Malay tribe 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.Bandri, the girl's older brother, fights to uncover the truth, hold his people together, and prevent all-out tribal war. But when forbidden relationships form across tribal lines, tensions explode and suddenly the survival of the entire Malay tribe is at stake.Richly atmospheric and deeply human, SUN and FLESH explores our primal urges and higher ideals, asking timeless questions about power, belonging, sacrifice, and the cost of love. REVIEW by SPR magazine: Ravenous animals aren't the biggest danger in the jungle – it's the humans you must watch out for – in Sydney Philippe's gorgeously descriptive novel of murder, love, and lust between two tribes. REVIEW by Reedsy Discovery: A story of survival, love, soul searching, and family. This novel is a true testament to how far we will go to protect our loved ones.