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jesslynh's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know why more people are not talking about this author. She is absolutely wonderful and her writing has a purity that is refreshing.
This book was quite good, but way, way too short. I need it to be one of those 10 pound, over 1000 page tomes of epic fantasy. I look forward to more installments and will preorder every one. I'm off to see what else she's written. I am her newest fan.
This book was quite good, but way, way too short. I need it to be one of those 10 pound, over 1000 page tomes of epic fantasy. I look forward to more installments and will preorder every one. I'm off to see what else she's written. I am her newest fan.
daniella84's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I didn't love this quite as much as Khanani's other books - mostly cause it just went so quickly I feel we didn't really have time to sit with our characters and to really be with them for the ride.
Val was interesting and his dynamic with Hitomi was probably my favourite part.
Val was interesting and his dynamic with Hitomi was probably my favourite part.
littlemimus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
septemberheartflakes's review against another edition
3.0
I couldn't sleep so I finished this book.
Plus I'm craving more of Intisar-land.
The book is short, following street burglar and illegal half-bred Hitomi. It started with a chasing scene and a secret mission to save a family. There are power hungered mages, an untold backstory of the protagonist and a secret society to bring justice.
It's a nice escape though needs some figuring out on your own at the beginning. Once you're in, you're in though. It's a short read, 140-ish pages. There is no love interest in the first book and I fond myself appreciating it.
Can't wait to read what is next for Hitomi.
Plus I'm craving more of Intisar-land.
The book is short, following street burglar and illegal half-bred Hitomi. It started with a chasing scene and a secret mission to save a family. There are power hungered mages, an untold backstory of the protagonist and a secret society to bring justice.
It's a nice escape though needs some figuring out on your own at the beginning. Once you're in, you're in though. It's a short read, 140-ish pages. There is no love interest in the first book and I fond myself appreciating it.
Can't wait to read what is next for Hitomi.
mellamaron's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Intisar Khanani is a wizard. I accept this as fact. How else can she give us a 160 page book that hits all the right notes: gives us ample world-building that builds upon itself as the story grows and is not a word dump, characters that I love and adore and want to be best friends with, and a succinct plot that is full of action and intensity and a dash of witty dialogue.
Because she. Is. A. Wizard.
I LOVED our sassy little 15yo, Hitomi. I instantly connected with her and her troubles, I loved watching everything she did. She was a raging fire of sassy dialogue that had me giggling but she was also smart and kind. I am so excited to read more of her.
And I can’t say much about the other characters but gosh, I looooooved them all. Hint hint wink wink. I want moreeeee.
Definitely check this one out if you liked Thorn and Dauntless Path. Khanani is so good at making us readers FEEL and I adore her for it.
Because she. Is. A. Wizard.
I LOVED our sassy little 15yo, Hitomi. I instantly connected with her and her troubles, I loved watching everything she did. She was a raging fire of sassy dialogue that had me giggling but she was also smart and kind. I am so excited to read more of her.
And I can’t say much about the other characters but gosh, I looooooved them all. Hint hint wink wink. I want moreeeee.
Definitely check this one out if you liked Thorn and Dauntless Path. Khanani is so good at making us readers FEEL and I adore her for it.
singerji's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
starbuck1210's review against another edition
5.0
After reading The Bone Knife I decided to dive right in to the next book by Intisar on my "To-Read" list. I clearly made the right choice. Sunbolt had me turning the pages just as fast as The Bone Knife, and left me wanting so much more when I finished. I am already thrilled to know that there is a second book in the series that I am most definitely reading next. I devoured this book. I wanted to read it all in one sitting, but sleepiness got the best of me and I was forced to finish today rather than last night.
Intisar is an ABSOLUTELY brilliant storyteller and I cannot wait to see what is next for Hitomi. If you are thinking about reading this book, stop thinking, and read!
Intisar is an ABSOLUTELY brilliant storyteller and I cannot wait to see what is next for Hitomi. If you are thinking about reading this book, stop thinking, and read!
mav_ka's review against another edition
4.0
3.8/5
A nice light read. This is the first novella that I don't have any serious complaints about.
That's not saying much because I haven't read that many, but it's nice to finally stumble upon a well-written and relatively short story.
═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══
SO WE'VE GOT:
- A middle-eastern fantasy setting, with a sprinkle of something entirely different in the second half of the novel. (This is where I send you to RAFO, Read And Find Out :))
- Interesting, easy-to-understand plot.
- Vampires! ...wait, vampires?
*biting my cheek to stop myself from making a Twilight joke*
- Good world-building. It does look like the author knew her limits with such a small book size, so she chose to go for simple, sometimes trope-y details. But what's good about the world is that it gets more complex and rich the more you learn about it. There is an infinite possibility for adding more complex details.
- Likeable protagonist. She is witty and resourceful. I admit, sometimes her selfless sacrifices did not make too much sense (why would you risk your life for someone you just met? That kind of thing), but it wasn't too jarring. Not like some other novels I read. Like, I could actually believe that in the spur of the moment, she would choose to sacrifice herself for that person.
- Prose that flows and contributes to the overall atmosphere of the novella. It's not flowery and super detailed like in some books, but it's not choppy, either. In fact, the prose fits the setting very well.
- It took me 3 hours to finish the book. Gotta love a short book in a reading slump, it's like a breath of fresh air.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, I am excited to continue with the series. I wouldn't call anything in the book spectacular. It doesn't have things or details that stand out like in some popular series. But it's a good story, and it's an easy read, so why not.
A nice light read. This is the first novella that I don't have any serious complaints about.
That's not saying much because I haven't read that many, but it's nice to finally stumble upon a well-written and relatively short story.
═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══
SO WE'VE GOT:
- A middle-eastern fantasy setting, with a sprinkle of something entirely different in the second half of the novel. (This is where I send you to RAFO, Read And Find Out :))
- Interesting, easy-to-understand plot.
- Vampires! ...wait, vampires?
"It has been a long time since I was twenty-five."
*biting my cheek to stop myself from making a Twilight joke*
- Good world-building. It does look like the author knew her limits with such a small book size, so she chose to go for simple, sometimes trope-y details. But what's good about the world is that it gets more complex and rich the more you learn about it. There is an infinite possibility for adding more complex details.
These last four years, I have watched the life of the city slowly bleed into the sea. Oh, Mama Ali still laughs and sells her self-fulfilling prophecies in the fish market, children still play, and the motions of life continue because they must, but there is a silence where there were once words.
- Likeable protagonist. She is witty and resourceful. I admit, sometimes her selfless sacrifices did not make too much sense (why would you risk your life for someone you just met? That kind of thing), but it wasn't too jarring. Not like some other novels I read. Like, I could actually believe that in the spur of the moment, she would choose to sacrifice herself for that person.
I look down at my hands, wondering what drives me more: love for my adopted land or loneliness.
- Prose that flows and contributes to the overall atmosphere of the novella. It's not flowery and super detailed like in some books, but it's not choppy, either. In fact, the prose fits the setting very well.
"You haven't considered the benefits of being bald," I tell him. I list the advantages, ticking them off on my fingers, "No lice, no worries about how to tie it up, no need to dry it in winter, nothing for anyone to grab you by, and" I paused, trying to come up with one more reason.
"Nothing to keep your brain warm," Val supplies.
- It took me 3 hours to finish the book. Gotta love a short book in a reading slump, it's like a breath of fresh air.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, I am excited to continue with the series. I wouldn't call anything in the book spectacular. It doesn't have things or details that stand out like in some popular series. But it's a good story, and it's an easy read, so why not.
bookswithbets's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0