Scan barcode
suzjustsuz's review against another edition
4.0
4+ stars.
What an original, well-written story. It's a fairly short fantasy story, more a novella than anything, but the author really packed a lot into it for it to be so short. I'm going to jump right into the second one because I am not yet ready to leave this world or these characters, and because I want to know what happens to the MC.
What an original, well-written story. It's a fairly short fantasy story, more a novella than anything, but the author really packed a lot into it for it to be so short. I'm going to jump right into the second one because I am not yet ready to leave this world or these characters, and because I want to know what happens to the MC.
joghurt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vortacist's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
barbara's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dear Intisar Khanani,
I believe my copy is lacking its few hundred last pages, because this can't be the end.
I need more.
Seriously,
Barbara
Review: http://banosaur.blogspot.pt/2015/03/sunbolt-by-intisar-khanani.html
Dear Intisar Khanani,
I believe my copy is lacking its few hundred last pages, because this can't be the end.
I need more.
Seriously,
Barbara
Review: http://banosaur.blogspot.pt/2015/03/sunbolt-by-intisar-khanani.html
emmamcc's review against another edition
I really enjoyed this, so much so that I read it in a few hours. From beginning to end, Sunbolt is action packed.
I think it could have benefitted from being a teeeeeny bit longer, simply to allow for some more world building. But, despite that, this a great story. The obstacles Hitomi comes up against are genuinely terrifying. This book is scary, the variety of species we encounter in it feel like a serious threat, I particularly liked the Breather. The Fangs - Vampire like creatures - in Sunbolt are straight out of a horror and made me feel sick at times.
I will definitely be reading the sequel, and hoping we get a little more of Khanani's world.
I think it could have benefitted from being a teeeeeny bit longer, simply to allow for some more world building. But, despite that, this a great story. The obstacles Hitomi comes up against are genuinely terrifying. This book is scary, the variety of species we encounter in it feel like a serious threat, I particularly liked the Breather. The Fangs - Vampire like creatures - in Sunbolt are straight out of a horror and made me feel sick at times.
I will definitely be reading the sequel, and hoping we get a little more of Khanani's world.
toretha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
bjsikes's review against another edition
5.0
It's been a long time since I read a fantasy novel that felt so fresh and compelling. The story was engaging and the protagonist seemed like a real person. The prose was clean and descriptive without being flowery.
I can't wait to read book 2!
I can't wait to read book 2!
mariaschneider's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this series. I wish there were more. Great world building, awesome fantasy world and characters. There's some really unique twists to the plotting. Thoroughly enjoyed.
kristiemjm's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
This book is just all full of magicalness!
Seriously guys! This book is just awesome. We have my 3 favorite types of paranormal creatures. Witches, Lycans and Vampires. I am going to admit that I love the fact that Intisar used the word lycan, rather than werewolf. It seems much more dignified, if I say so myself.
This book is short and sweet, just like me! It has so much action and it doesn't feel like any of the plot is rushed. Hitomi is a well developed character with a great detail of a background story. Without giving away spoilers, you get to see this amazing journey of self discovery.
I liked how this story starts as a simpleish rescue mission turned deadly all because of a mirror. When I read that part, I definitely thought of Beauty and the Beast. #ForeverADisneyKid. Along the way we meet 3 awesome secondary characters. Kenta, Ghost and Val. We aren't with any of these guys for long, but long enough for them to leave an impression and make you want to learn about them more.
This is a great read if you just need a quick fix. You can start and finish it in about a 90 minute session. Great strong start to a series and I will definitely be reading the next one
This book is just all full of magicalness!
Seriously guys! This book is just awesome. We have my 3 favorite types of paranormal creatures. Witches, Lycans and Vampires. I am going to admit that I love the fact that Intisar used the word lycan, rather than werewolf. It seems much more dignified, if I say so myself.
This book is short and sweet, just like me! It has so much action and it doesn't feel like any of the plot is rushed. Hitomi is a well developed character with a great detail of a background story. Without giving away spoilers, you get to see this amazing journey of self discovery.
I liked how this story starts as a simpleish rescue mission turned deadly all because of a mirror. When I read that part, I definitely thought of Beauty and the Beast. #ForeverADisneyKid. Along the way we meet 3 awesome secondary characters. Kenta, Ghost and Val. We aren't with any of these guys for long, but long enough for them to leave an impression and make you want to learn about them more.
This is a great read if you just need a quick fix. You can start and finish it in about a 90 minute session. Great strong start to a series and I will definitely be reading the next one
dearbhla's review against another edition
5.0
(first read in Nov 2013. Reread 19th June 2016)
I chose this for my Diverse Universe reading because I liked the cover that I saw posted over on BookLust so double thanks to Aarti for this read :)
Intisar Khanani, the author, is from Wisconsin with her family having origins in Pakistan, where she still has extended family.
As for the book, it starts out on the island of Karolene. Hitomi has lived there for a number of years, but she has never managed to fit in. She is sixteen now1 and is an orphan. Her father died and her mother joined the ranks of the Disappeared one day. Now Hitomi makes her living however she can. Thieving occasionally. And helping out the Shadow League whenever she can. They are a secret organisation trying to recover Karolene from the darkness into which it is slipping under the influence of Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When I first starting reading this it felt like an entertaining, but fairly predictable “young thief’s adventures”. But although it is a short story2 there is plenty more going on.
Hitomi is a character who is doing the best she can in trying circumstances, she doesn’t really know what’s going on, and there is plenty out there to surprise her, usually not in a good way. There is a wonderful sense in a much larger world than the one Hitomi knows about. She knows her island, its people and streets, but when she is taken from there she begins to realise just how big the world is. The world building is excellent, you really get the impression there is a whole world out there, a history and cultures that have shaped the different lands and people. I know I’ll be getting the next book in this sequence, and, so that I don’t let Khanani’s writing slip out of my memory I have already downloaded her short story The Bone Knife and I think I’ll most probably read her novel Thorn as well.
I chose this for my Diverse Universe reading because I liked the cover that I saw posted over on BookLust so double thanks to Aarti for this read :)
Intisar Khanani, the author, is from Wisconsin with her family having origins in Pakistan, where she still has extended family.
As for the book, it starts out on the island of Karolene. Hitomi has lived there for a number of years, but she has never managed to fit in. She is sixteen now1 and is an orphan. Her father died and her mother joined the ranks of the Disappeared one day. Now Hitomi makes her living however she can. Thieving occasionally. And helping out the Shadow League whenever she can. They are a secret organisation trying to recover Karolene from the darkness into which it is slipping under the influence of Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When I first starting reading this it felt like an entertaining, but fairly predictable “young thief’s adventures”. But although it is a short story2 there is plenty more going on.
Hitomi is a character who is doing the best she can in trying circumstances, she doesn’t really know what’s going on, and there is plenty out there to surprise her, usually not in a good way. There is a wonderful sense in a much larger world than the one Hitomi knows about. She knows her island, its people and streets, but when she is taken from there she begins to realise just how big the world is. The world building is excellent, you really get the impression there is a whole world out there, a history and cultures that have shaped the different lands and people. I know I’ll be getting the next book in this sequence, and, so that I don’t let Khanani’s writing slip out of my memory I have already downloaded her short story The Bone Knife and I think I’ll most probably read her novel Thorn as well.