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A review by paperbacks_n_frybread
Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani
5.0
*Find my full review and interview with Intisar Khanani at: Mama Bear Reads*
Good fantasy work is hard to find. Many that are out now in the YA world are just true carbon copies of one another. You have to have a special talent in order to create unique worlds, characters, and of course just the right conflict.
I have the worst time digging into a highly acclaimed book only to have to be completely predictable and all around boring. This has happened to me too much this year. I almost took a "fantasy" hiatus, until I read the blurb for Intisar Khanani's "Sunbolt". It drew me in by page one and did NOT disappoint. "Sunbolt" is filled with action, adventure, and absolutely 0 instalove.
The story follows a young orphaned girl named, Hitomi in the land of Karolene, who is not only a spunky street thief, but also one who is holding a very magical secret (And yay for non-European fantasy characters!).
I know, I know! Orphaned chick with magical powers? What a typical fantasy trope!
Not so, I tell you! Tropes don't necessarily HAVE to be a bad thing, when they're done well. And Khanani does this extremely well. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the second half and almost threw my iPad across the room when the book ended so abruptly. Nothing that I expected to happen-did. There are some pretty noteworthy characters in this book too (*cough*cough* Val). My only complaint-the book was too short! It IS a novella, but still. I wanted to stay and hang out with Hitomi a little longer. Thank the Lord that the second book in the Sunbolt Chronicles, "Memories of Ash" will be released on May 30th.
*I received this book in exchange for my honest review*
Good fantasy work is hard to find. Many that are out now in the YA world are just true carbon copies of one another. You have to have a special talent in order to create unique worlds, characters, and of course just the right conflict.
I have the worst time digging into a highly acclaimed book only to have to be completely predictable and all around boring. This has happened to me too much this year. I almost took a "fantasy" hiatus, until I read the blurb for Intisar Khanani's "Sunbolt". It drew me in by page one and did NOT disappoint. "Sunbolt" is filled with action, adventure, and absolutely 0 instalove.
The story follows a young orphaned girl named, Hitomi in the land of Karolene, who is not only a spunky street thief, but also one who is holding a very magical secret (And yay for non-European fantasy characters!).
I know, I know! Orphaned chick with magical powers? What a typical fantasy trope!
Not so, I tell you! Tropes don't necessarily HAVE to be a bad thing, when they're done well. And Khanani does this extremely well. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the second half and almost threw my iPad across the room when the book ended so abruptly. Nothing that I expected to happen-did. There are some pretty noteworthy characters in this book too (*cough*cough* Val). My only complaint-the book was too short! It IS a novella, but still. I wanted to stay and hang out with Hitomi a little longer. Thank the Lord that the second book in the Sunbolt Chronicles, "Memories of Ash" will be released on May 30th.
*I received this book in exchange for my honest review*