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luna_rondo's review against another edition
3.0
So...
This book is probably closer to a 4.5, but my main problem is that it really felt like half a book and some things were poorly explained.
That being said, I saw the next book was over 300 pages, so I'm going to continue on. Also, more Val. Please.
This book is probably closer to a 4.5, but my main problem is that it really felt like half a book and some things were poorly explained.
Spoiler
The whole tanuki thing felt thrown in and then for people to be called Fangs and Breathers? Am I the only one that found that weird??That being said, I saw the next book was over 300 pages, so I'm going to continue on. Also, more Val. Please.
manaledi's review against another edition
3.0
It's very weird to have a fantasy novella like this. While many fantasy series are way too long per book, this one felt too short. I had no idea what the context was and some key pieces were just dropped in. Definitely an interesting opening and I'm halfway through book two already, which is shaping up to be pretty good.
mollymortensen's review against another edition
5.0
Possibly the best indie book I’ve ever read! While this novella didn’t feel too short I was left wanting more. It’s a complete story don’t get me wrong, but I want the other books in the series now, okay? Apparently the sequel is going to be a trilogy. Yay!
I can tell a lot of thought went into the world. Karolene is an island nation of traders and an evil arch mage is controlling the sultan. A group is fighting back in the shadows (called the Shadow League) trying to save people. Lead by the mysterious Ghost, a charismatic good looking young man who comes off as the perfect male lead in a young adult book, but surprisingly winds up only a minor character. There are also other species like Fangs (think vampires) Lycans (werewolves) and there’s even a Tanuki! The trickster raccoon dog from Japanese mythology.
There are really only two characters that we spend enough time with to develop, but the minor characters who just made a short appearance were good too. I loved Hitomi! She’s not that great of a fighter but she managed to be strong when it counted. A thief and hidden mage, (called a Promise) she’s lived a tough life, but she’s definitely still a good person. She’s also not stupid either! I really liked the male lead too. There wasn’t a romance, more a potential forbidden friendship. (Which was the best part of the book!) I hope he comes back in the sequels! It’s weird because we don’t learn much about him, yet his character was well established. (Who he was as a person.)
Hitomi doesn’t know a lot about magic (yet) so there isn’t very much, but I really enjoyed what we learned about the magic system. It was a very realistic, well described sort of magic.
Sunbolt is one of those nothing goes as the character expects and they wind up with different goals sort of plots. (But I have a feeling the whole defeat the evil arch mage thing will be the theme of the upcoming sequel trilogy.) As expected of only 142 pages it’s quick paced and I was only wishing they would get on with it at one point. (When Hitomi was ‘borrowing’ a carriage, it was a tad long.)
Needless to say I plan to read the sequel, Memories of Ash which comes out this summer.
Point of View: First (Hitomi)
Predictability: 2 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 10/10 Stars
I can tell a lot of thought went into the world. Karolene is an island nation of traders and an evil arch mage is controlling the sultan. A group is fighting back in the shadows (called the Shadow League) trying to save people. Lead by the mysterious Ghost, a charismatic good looking young man who comes off as the perfect male lead in a young adult book, but surprisingly winds up only a minor character. There are also other species like Fangs (think vampires) Lycans (werewolves) and there’s even a Tanuki! The trickster raccoon dog from Japanese mythology.
There are really only two characters that we spend enough time with to develop, but the minor characters who just made a short appearance were good too. I loved Hitomi! She’s not that great of a fighter but she managed to be strong when it counted. A thief and hidden mage, (called a Promise) she’s lived a tough life, but she’s definitely still a good person. She’s also not stupid either! I really liked the male lead too. There wasn’t a romance, more a potential forbidden friendship. (Which was the best part of the book!) I hope he comes back in the sequels! It’s weird because we don’t learn much about him, yet his character was well established. (Who he was as a person.)
Hitomi doesn’t know a lot about magic (yet) so there isn’t very much, but I really enjoyed what we learned about the magic system. It was a very realistic, well described sort of magic.
Sunbolt is one of those nothing goes as the character expects and they wind up with different goals sort of plots. (But I have a feeling the whole defeat the evil arch mage thing will be the theme of the upcoming sequel trilogy.) As expected of only 142 pages it’s quick paced and I was only wishing they would get on with it at one point. (When Hitomi was ‘borrowing’ a carriage, it was a tad long.)
Needless to say I plan to read the sequel, Memories of Ash which comes out this summer.
Point of View: First (Hitomi)
Predictability: 2 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 10/10 Stars
nerdyforbooks_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a cute, fast paced, enjoyable read. 4⭐️ is probably being a bit generous, but I felt like even 3.75 was a bit harsh.
There’s a lot to like about this book. It starts off exciting & manages to keep a steady pace. The world is interesting, yet feels familiar as well. The characters are intriguing, but also mysterious (you don’t get a ton of time with a lot of them). My biggest issue is seeing ‘The Ghost’ constantly repeated at points & the world building. Since this is around the size of many novellas - world building can be hard, but not impossible. I wouldn’t say it was bad, this is just very obviously a large world that could have used more attention. It likely could have used another 50 pages or so to iron this out.
It’s really not bad though! It wasn’t large enough to fall into a lot of YA tropes/issues & interesting enough to stay engaging. I do just wish there had been more with a lot of details. Good news there’s a sequel planned so lets see if it holds up.
There’s a lot to like about this book. It starts off exciting & manages to keep a steady pace. The world is interesting, yet feels familiar as well. The characters are intriguing, but also mysterious (you don’t get a ton of time with a lot of them). My biggest issue is seeing ‘The Ghost’ constantly repeated at points & the world building. Since this is around the size of many novellas - world building can be hard, but not impossible. I wouldn’t say it was bad, this is just very obviously a large world that could have used more attention. It likely could have used another 50 pages or so to iron this out.
It’s really not bad though! It wasn’t large enough to fall into a lot of YA tropes/issues & interesting enough to stay engaging. I do just wish there had been more with a lot of details. Good news there’s a sequel planned so lets see if it holds up.
charlotekerstenauthor's review against another edition
“Justice served with a side of pineapple. That’s what I’m here for.”
So What’s It About? (from her website)
“The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.”
What I Thought- The F Word
Sunbolt clocks in at around 150 pages, and it’s astonishing to me just how much it manages to fit in that page count. A league of outlaws and criminals trying to overthrow a corrupt mage! Frantic escapes! Betrayals! Heroic sacrifices! Fox boys! Secret magic! Ethical decision making in crisis! New light shed on painful secrets from the past! Vampires and Super Vampires! Sunbolt packs it all in, and the result is a novella that is bursting with adventure and pure YA fantasy goodness.
The story’s protagonist, Hitomi, is a favorite of mine. In the face of tragedy and prejudice due to her biracial identity and magical ability, she’s a scrappy yet deeply thoughtful girl who always tries do the right thing in a world gone wrong. Because of these traits I think of her as a kind of precursor to Inej from Six of Crows, but she definitely has a charm all her own. Ultimately this is a tale about integrity and Hitomi’s commitment to doing the right thing in impossible circumstance after impossible circumstance. To me the best moment in the book is when Hitomi realizes that she cannot escape without Val, her monstrous fellow prisoner, even though he poses a potential threat to her odds of survival:
“My hands slow. I stare blindly at the door. He is weak, just like the fang I left behind in Blackflame’s dungeon. And, just like the fang, he will die in his prison. As much as I tell myself that it will not be I who have killed them—that the blame lies with Kol, or Blackflame, or someone else entirely—the truth is that this is my choice, now: to leave him behind.
And he is letting me go. He has made no attempt to stop me. He hasn’t tried to trick me into turning around so he can catch my gaze and keep his meal from leaving. In truth, he made sure I wasn’t even chained. I’ve been hungry. I know what it feels like when your stomach is so empty it gnaws at itself. I’ve tied a strap around my waist and cinched it tight, because the pressure gives some small relief. Such hunger consumes your awareness, nibbles at the edges of your mind.
I’ve begged, pleaded, stolen—and been beaten—all for a half-rotted fruit. But I’ve never, ever been as hungry as the creature behind me.
I rest my forehead against the door and close my eyes, wishing I could make a cocoon in the darkness behind my eyelids, spin a tiny shelter to keep myself safe from my thoughts. But it’s no use. I’ve already damned one fang to his death because I feared him. I cannot leave this creature behind as well.”
The bond of trust and then friendship that forms between Hitomi and Val is lovely and interesting because of this decision on Hitomi’s part, but it becomes increasingly complex when she takes a massive risk during a deadly fight and summons the sunbolt that gives the book its title and also leaves her close to death, severely burned and bereft of nearly all her memories. The devastation of this loss is handled beautifully, and during the months that follow she must begin to rebuild health and her entire sense of self. Serious consequences for a heroine’s desperate actions? The gradual development of trust and friendship between a male and female character with no sexually charged hate-banter or insta-love in sight? Genuine concern over the cost of violence and what it takes to be a good person? An exciting and well-paced plot without any filler? In my YA fantasy? It’s likelier than you’d think!
So What’s It About? (from her website)
“The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life.”
What I Thought- The F Word
Sunbolt clocks in at around 150 pages, and it’s astonishing to me just how much it manages to fit in that page count. A league of outlaws and criminals trying to overthrow a corrupt mage! Frantic escapes! Betrayals! Heroic sacrifices! Fox boys! Secret magic! Ethical decision making in crisis! New light shed on painful secrets from the past! Vampires and Super Vampires! Sunbolt packs it all in, and the result is a novella that is bursting with adventure and pure YA fantasy goodness.
The story’s protagonist, Hitomi, is a favorite of mine. In the face of tragedy and prejudice due to her biracial identity and magical ability, she’s a scrappy yet deeply thoughtful girl who always tries do the right thing in a world gone wrong. Because of these traits I think of her as a kind of precursor to Inej from Six of Crows, but she definitely has a charm all her own. Ultimately this is a tale about integrity and Hitomi’s commitment to doing the right thing in impossible circumstance after impossible circumstance. To me the best moment in the book is when Hitomi realizes that she cannot escape without Val, her monstrous fellow prisoner, even though he poses a potential threat to her odds of survival:
“My hands slow. I stare blindly at the door. He is weak, just like the fang I left behind in Blackflame’s dungeon. And, just like the fang, he will die in his prison. As much as I tell myself that it will not be I who have killed them—that the blame lies with Kol, or Blackflame, or someone else entirely—the truth is that this is my choice, now: to leave him behind.
And he is letting me go. He has made no attempt to stop me. He hasn’t tried to trick me into turning around so he can catch my gaze and keep his meal from leaving. In truth, he made sure I wasn’t even chained. I’ve been hungry. I know what it feels like when your stomach is so empty it gnaws at itself. I’ve tied a strap around my waist and cinched it tight, because the pressure gives some small relief. Such hunger consumes your awareness, nibbles at the edges of your mind.
I’ve begged, pleaded, stolen—and been beaten—all for a half-rotted fruit. But I’ve never, ever been as hungry as the creature behind me.
I rest my forehead against the door and close my eyes, wishing I could make a cocoon in the darkness behind my eyelids, spin a tiny shelter to keep myself safe from my thoughts. But it’s no use. I’ve already damned one fang to his death because I feared him. I cannot leave this creature behind as well.”
The bond of trust and then friendship that forms between Hitomi and Val is lovely and interesting because of this decision on Hitomi’s part, but it becomes increasingly complex when she takes a massive risk during a deadly fight and summons the sunbolt that gives the book its title and also leaves her close to death, severely burned and bereft of nearly all her memories. The devastation of this loss is handled beautifully, and during the months that follow she must begin to rebuild health and her entire sense of self. Serious consequences for a heroine’s desperate actions? The gradual development of trust and friendship between a male and female character with no sexually charged hate-banter or insta-love in sight? Genuine concern over the cost of violence and what it takes to be a good person? An exciting and well-paced plot without any filler? In my YA fantasy? It’s likelier than you’d think!
sarahed's review against another edition
4.0
Why I chose this book
This book is in a similar genre to my own: YA Fantasy with an Arabian feel at the start, so I thought I'd give it a go.
Rating/content
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
This book is a clean read, suitable for teens, with some violence appropriate for the setting. It's featured on the Clean Indie Reads website. A young girl lives a life of danger and intrigue and has to face the choice of teaming up with a Breather (a soul-sucking monster) or being drained by a Fang (akin to a vampire). Her untrained secret magical powers may be her downfall or her saving grace.
Good points
I enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book. It initially gave off some Arabian fantasy vibes, being set in a warm climate with a vibrant market setting and a Sultan. The later action takes place in a more Northern country. The various races that live in this world have an urban fantasy feeling but are a twist on the usual conventions. The Fangs, for example, are similar to vampires but have their own unique characteristics in this world. Hitomi's untapped magic is intriguing and promises much.
Although it's first-person present tense (usually not my favourite), I thought it was the right choice for this novel. I forgot it was in first-person as I read and it felt natural. The description is evocative and unique, with great writing throughout.
The plot is well-thought out, logical, and has a satisfying conclusion. It was a nice fast read with good pacing throughout, except as mentioned below.
Bad points
The beginning jumps straight into the action and the pace didn't really let up at all. Although I have no objection to starting with action, I was expecting a couple of slower chapters nearer the beginning to get a grip of what was going on in Hitomi's life and some background to her situation. By the end, most of this was revealed, but I'd have preferred some of this information earlier on so I could get my bearings in the world.
Despite the fact the plot is good and has a satisfactory end, this book is clearly a set up for future books in the series. I'd have been happy if it was double the length and the plot had continued, as I felt there was still plenty to come. However, it was by no means a cliffhanger, just left open for my curiosity, and I'd consider getting the next book in the series.
Overall
A great read and definitely recommended, although I'd have preferred a slightly more detailed first section in Karolene.
This book is in a similar genre to my own: YA Fantasy with an Arabian feel at the start, so I thought I'd give it a go.
Rating/content
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
This book is a clean read, suitable for teens, with some violence appropriate for the setting. It's featured on the Clean Indie Reads website. A young girl lives a life of danger and intrigue and has to face the choice of teaming up with a Breather (a soul-sucking monster) or being drained by a Fang (akin to a vampire). Her untrained secret magical powers may be her downfall or her saving grace.
Good points
I enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book. It initially gave off some Arabian fantasy vibes, being set in a warm climate with a vibrant market setting and a Sultan. The later action takes place in a more Northern country. The various races that live in this world have an urban fantasy feeling but are a twist on the usual conventions. The Fangs, for example, are similar to vampires but have their own unique characteristics in this world. Hitomi's untapped magic is intriguing and promises much.
Although it's first-person present tense (usually not my favourite), I thought it was the right choice for this novel. I forgot it was in first-person as I read and it felt natural. The description is evocative and unique, with great writing throughout.
The plot is well-thought out, logical, and has a satisfying conclusion. It was a nice fast read with good pacing throughout, except as mentioned below.
Bad points
The beginning jumps straight into the action and the pace didn't really let up at all. Although I have no objection to starting with action, I was expecting a couple of slower chapters nearer the beginning to get a grip of what was going on in Hitomi's life and some background to her situation. By the end, most of this was revealed, but I'd have preferred some of this information earlier on so I could get my bearings in the world.
Despite the fact the plot is good and has a satisfactory end, this book is clearly a set up for future books in the series. I'd have been happy if it was double the length and the plot had continued, as I felt there was still plenty to come. However, it was by no means a cliffhanger, just left open for my curiosity, and I'd consider getting the next book in the series.
Overall
A great read and definitely recommended, although I'd have preferred a slightly more detailed first section in Karolene.
readingwithmelodie's review against another edition
5.0
i started this book far too late at night, read it in one sitting AND it was short enough that i didn’t wake up groggy. for that alone this deserves 5 stars!
but it’s been a long, long time since I’ve read a non “tiktok fantasy” but this book piqued my interest and it didn’t disappoint! I absolutely loved the world building, i don’t know how intisar does it, but even with my aphantasia i still feel like i can picture the world! honestly magical!
i think one of the things that usually puts me off reading fantasy is how long they usually are, so this book is absolutely perfect for those who want to read more diverse fantasy books, or those who want a quick but action packed read between series! i swear, my mind was like “i should sleep, but I want to know what happens next, one more chapter won’t hurt!” repeat, and next thing i know, i finished the book! there’s not really any part of the book that slows down, which, as someone who’s easily distracted, is exactly what i need!
more rtc
thank you so much intisar for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!
but it’s been a long, long time since I’ve read a non “tiktok fantasy” but this book piqued my interest and it didn’t disappoint! I absolutely loved the world building, i don’t know how intisar does it, but even with my aphantasia i still feel like i can picture the world! honestly magical!
i think one of the things that usually puts me off reading fantasy is how long they usually are, so this book is absolutely perfect for those who want to read more diverse fantasy books, or those who want a quick but action packed read between series! i swear, my mind was like “i should sleep, but I want to know what happens next, one more chapter won’t hurt!” repeat, and next thing i know, i finished the book! there’s not really any part of the book that slows down, which, as someone who’s easily distracted, is exactly what i need!
more rtc
thank you so much intisar for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!
rebeccazh's review against another edition
4.0
02/09/16 reread this in preparation for [b:Memories of Ash|17969479|Memories of Ash (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #2)|Intisar Khanani|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1458218563s/17969479.jpg|25187905]. Sunbolt is so good. The writing is refreshing, the world-building intriguing and detailed, the pace is good, and the characters are believable and likable. I like Hitomi a lot. Val is intriguing -- hope he appears in the next book.
ndroxs1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
elihinze's review against another edition
5.0
Sunbolt is an enjoyable adventure from word one all the way down to the final page, containing action, intrigue, a rich world, and just about everything else you could ask for in a novel.
The writing in Sunbolt is stunningly beautiful, just as myself and many others have come to expect from Khanani.
The characters are nothing short of spectacular either. I love the main character, Hitomi, especially. She is, for lack of a better term, so hardcore. I don’t want to give away too much regarding why I favor her so, as I’m trying to keep this review spoiler free, but just take my word for it. You’ll love Hitomi. The other characters are great too; no character, however minor, comes off as flat.
While I still liked Thorn, Khanani’s debut novel, very much, I felt it could be a touch too slow at points. In Sunbolt the pace is absolutely perfect, carrying just enough tension when needed and executing it well. Still, it doesn’t flood the reader with constant action. (Being constantly thrown around at a break-neck pace is too exhausting for the reader anyhow!)
And once again, diversity! To anyone who read my review of Thorn, you’ll know that I’m tired of seeing an all white cast in fantasy novels. Heck, in most novels. But never fear! The cast in Sunbolt is rich and diverse, unstereotyped and awesome.
As the first book in a series, the possibilities as to where this all could go are endless, – and therefore very exciting! For its strong cast of characters, masterful writing, perfect pace and tension, Sunbolt gets a solid five out of five.
Thank you, Khanani, for writing such a wonderful book. I look forward to seeing where you take this!
The writing in Sunbolt is stunningly beautiful, just as myself and many others have come to expect from Khanani.
The characters are nothing short of spectacular either. I love the main character, Hitomi, especially. She is, for lack of a better term, so hardcore. I don’t want to give away too much regarding why I favor her so, as I’m trying to keep this review spoiler free, but just take my word for it. You’ll love Hitomi. The other characters are great too; no character, however minor, comes off as flat.
While I still liked Thorn, Khanani’s debut novel, very much, I felt it could be a touch too slow at points. In Sunbolt the pace is absolutely perfect, carrying just enough tension when needed and executing it well. Still, it doesn’t flood the reader with constant action. (Being constantly thrown around at a break-neck pace is too exhausting for the reader anyhow!)
And once again, diversity! To anyone who read my review of Thorn, you’ll know that I’m tired of seeing an all white cast in fantasy novels. Heck, in most novels. But never fear! The cast in Sunbolt is rich and diverse, unstereotyped and awesome.
As the first book in a series, the possibilities as to where this all could go are endless, – and therefore very exciting! For its strong cast of characters, masterful writing, perfect pace and tension, Sunbolt gets a solid five out of five.
Thank you, Khanani, for writing such a wonderful book. I look forward to seeing where you take this!