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betwixt_the_pages's review
4.0
In the year since she cast her sunbolt, Hitomi has recovered only a handful of memories. But the truths of the past have a tendency to come calling, and an isolated mountain fastness can offer only so much shelter. When the High Council of Mages summons Brigit Stormwind to stand trial for treason, Hitomi knows her mentor won’t return—not with Arch Mage Blackflame behind the charges.
Armed only with her magic and her wits, Hitomi vows to free her mentor from unjust imprisonment. She must traverse spell-cursed lands and barren deserts, facing powerful ancient enchantments and navigating bitter enmities, as she races to reach the High Council. There, she reunites with old friends, planning a rescue equal parts magic and trickery.
If she succeeds, Hitomi will be hunted the rest of her life. If she fails, she’ll face the ultimate punishment: enslavement to the High Council, her magic slowly drained until she dies.
- - - - -
Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: great fantasy; intriguing twists to vampires; tons of action and drama; complex, well-written characters; unlikely friendships; realistic relationships and emotional reactions; nail-biting scenes; lots of wit, snark, and entertainment
Huge thanks to Intisar Khanani, Purple Monkey Press, and Xpresso Book Tours for granting me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
People don't—can't—take everything with them when they run. I left Stormwind's home full of clothes and dishes and food, left chickens and goats to fend for themselves. But there's no trace of anything here. Even the entrances stand empty; no doors remain, no shutters to close up the windows, nothing.
No one takes their doors with them.
Going into this read, I wasn't sure what to expect. I really enjoyed Sunbolt, but was also left with a ton of questions and missing plot points that I wasn't sure would be easily wrapped up or explained.
I should not have doubted the brilliance that is Intisar Khanani's mind. This is only the second book I've read by her, but let me tell you—she knows what she's doing. The characters in this sequel are complex, wholly realistic, and beyond entertaining. The snark and sass that comes out of just ONE of these characters is enough to knock you over; the fact that she isn't the only character with such a huge amount of personality could probably light an entire town, if such a power source existed.
I wrap my arms over my chest. “This wasn't always a desert.”
“No. Deserts seem to develop primarily due to human stupidity,” the phoenix says with an edge of contempt.
The prose is gorgeous, melodic, and SO descriptive. You will literally sink into the story...and come out on the other side blinking, wide-eyed, wondering what happened to the time. The action is fast-paced and entertaining. The nail-biting, cringe-worthy moments will keep you in suspense throughout. There aren't very many “plot twists,” which I both enjoyed and didn't—much as I loathe bad plot twists, sometimes books NEED them, you know? However, the plot was so well-thought out, things were revealed in their own time—and that worked.
I think my favorite thing about these books, though, are the relationships. While there were some confusing or vague plot points, the relationships remained realistic and believable. I particularly enjoy the bond between Val and Hitomi—they accept one another as they are, no questions asked, and it's obvious from their interactions that there's a grudging sort of friendship growing between them. The respect Hitomi shows throughout—toward everyone, not just certain groups—shows a side of her personality we might not have been privvy to otherwise. And I LOVE that, even in the worst sort of danger, she sticks to her morals like glue—they aren't even a question for her.
“How is being a boy better?”
Kenta turns a look of pure disbelief on me.
“No one will take notice if you need to run,” Stormwind says pragmatically.
True enough. “I suspect running is something I have a lot of experience with.”
This was an entertaining, awesome read—the fantasy is detailed, the prose gorgeous, and the characters wholly believable. I recommend this to lovers of complex stories, multi-dimensional relationships, and new/adventurous settings. This was a great installment to a pretty awesome series; I can't wait to see what book 3 has planned for these characters!
nhussain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
zober's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I sped through this in a day. What better way to spend independent bookstore day than going to three different bookstores and reading a full book? I liked this more than Sunbolt. The characters were fun, the plot was engaging, and I learned more about magic and the world. I immediately went to see if the next book was available, only to find... there isn't a next book?! 😭
pause_theframe's review against another edition
5.0
Personally, I like it. I was hooked after the first book, and when I got a few pages in, this book had me hooked too. It is a fun, fast-paced tale of magic and excitement. There are everyday adventures and lessons to be learned, all while in the world of magic.
We learn more about some of our favourite characters, from the first book. I truly liked the growth of our main character. She has reall found herself, in this book, and her coming in to her own really build great interactions between the characters, both those similar to her and those who are very different.
All these brilliant differences in character make you yearn for the next book in the series, a way to see into the life of each, a way to discover what befalls them. I just want to keep reading about all of this, as this book was so addicting!
I also found the level of reading great. it is exciting, fun and easy to read, making it perfect for YA, but also still a great read for adults, especially with the connection to our legends.
This book brings out youth, spunk, excitement and an imaginative world for all who read it. I highly recommend giving it a go, especially if you are fans of Harry Potter, and the likes.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
rebeccazh's review against another edition
This was fantastic. Intisar Khanani has quickly established herself as one of my favorite authors after the awesome [b:Sunbolt|18075001|Sunbolt (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #1)|Intisar Khanani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371269696s/18075001.jpg|23985976] and now Memories of Ash.
This book was SO good. Everything was good. The world was intriguing and complex; I loved seeing more of it. In this book, Hitomi travels to other regions and it's SUCH a pleasure learning about the rich and varied cultures in the book. You could easily tell which real world culture the author drew inspiration from, and it was really respectful and careful. I really loved that. The writing was good -- certain descriptions were particularly lyrical; the descriptions of working magic in particular are so evocative. (I love the magic system in this world.)
And the characters and the relationships!! I love Hitomi. She's moral, soft, firm, kind. There's a strength to her that lies in her firm morality and compassion. Hitomi reminded of [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219436898p2/21748.jpg]'s Kate Daniels because of how they are both protectors and rescuers, and how they cleave to their morals and compassion when tested. I love reading about characters like that. She also reminds me of the narrative arc of [b:The Goblin Emperor|17910048|The Goblin Emperor|Katherine Addison|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373039517s/17910048.jpg|24241248]'s Maia -- it's less about learning to become a better person, and more about finding a place in the world, forming relationships, gaining a found family. And that's exactly what happens to Hitomi. I really love narratives like that. Hitomi's growing relationships are wonderful to read. I'm especially curious about Val. I wonder where the author is going with it.
Anyway, this was a great book and I felt so happy reading this. I can't wait for the last book.
This book was SO good. Everything was good. The world was intriguing and complex; I loved seeing more of it. In this book, Hitomi travels to other regions and it's SUCH a pleasure learning about the rich and varied cultures in the book. You could easily tell which real world culture the author drew inspiration from, and it was really respectful and careful. I really loved that. The writing was good -- certain descriptions were particularly lyrical; the descriptions of working magic in particular are so evocative. (I love the magic system in this world.)
And the characters and the relationships!! I love Hitomi. She's moral, soft, firm, kind. There's a strength to her that lies in her firm morality and compassion. Hitomi reminded of [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219436898p2/21748.jpg]'s Kate Daniels because of how they are both protectors and rescuers, and how they cleave to their morals and compassion when tested. I love reading about characters like that. She also reminds me of the narrative arc of [b:The Goblin Emperor|17910048|The Goblin Emperor|Katherine Addison|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373039517s/17910048.jpg|24241248]'s Maia -- it's less about learning to become a better person, and more about finding a place in the world, forming relationships, gaining a found family. And that's exactly what happens to Hitomi. I really love narratives like that. Hitomi's growing relationships are wonderful to read. I'm especially curious about Val. I wonder where the author is going with it.
Anyway, this was a great book and I felt so happy reading this. I can't wait for the last book.
starbuck1210's review
5.0
The further and further I got in the book the more worried I became about the book ending on a cliffhanger, which thankfully it didn't. (BUT it was so close)
I felt like toward the end of the book I was getting so anxious as I saw my kindle hit 95% and on, I was worried how Intisar was going to "fix" everything that was happening. I was on the edge of the couch wondering what was coming next. I did not predict any of the twists or turns the book came upon, which I greatly appreciated too, since too many books are so predictable. However, I will now be anxiously awaiting the remaining books in the Sunbolt Chronicles. I can't wait to see whats next!
I felt like toward the end of the book I was getting so anxious as I saw my kindle hit 95% and on, I was worried how Intisar was going to "fix" everything that was happening. I was on the edge of the couch wondering what was coming next. I did not predict any of the twists or turns the book came upon, which I greatly appreciated too, since too many books are so predictable. However, I will now be anxiously awaiting the remaining books in the Sunbolt Chronicles. I can't wait to see whats next!
bookswithbets's review
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
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
4.0
In the year since she cast her sunbolt, Hitomi has recovered only a handful of memories. But the truths of the past have a tendency to come calling, and an isolated mountain fastness can offer only so much shelter. When the High Council of Mages summons Brigit Stormwind to stand trial for treason, Hitomi knows her mentor won’t return—not with Arch Mage Blackflame behind the charges.
Armed only with her magic and her wits, Hitomi vows to free her mentor from unjust imprisonment. She must traverse spell-cursed lands and barren deserts, facing powerful ancient enchantments and navigating bitter enmities, as she races to reach the High Council. There, she reunites with old friends, planning a rescue equal parts magic and trickery.
If she succeeds, Hitomi will be hunted the rest of her life. If she fails, she’ll face the ultimate punishment: enslavement to the High Council, her magic slowly drained until she dies.
- - - - -
Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: great fantasy; intriguing twists to vampires; tons of action and drama; complex, well-written characters; unlikely friendships; realistic relationships and emotional reactions; nail-biting scenes; lots of wit, snark, and entertainment
Huge thanks to Intisar Khanani, Purple Monkey Press, and Xpresso Book Tours for granting me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
People don't—can't—take everything with them when they run. I left Stormwind's home full of clothes and dishes and food, left chickens and goats to fend for themselves. But there's no trace of anything here. Even the entrances stand empty; no doors remain, no shutters to close up the windows, nothing.
No one takes their doors with them.
Going into this read, I wasn't sure what to expect. I really enjoyed Sunbolt, but was also left with a ton of questions and missing plot points that I wasn't sure would be easily wrapped up or explained.
I should not have doubted the brilliance that is Intisar Khanani's mind. This is only the second book I've read by her, but let me tell you—she knows what she's doing. The characters in this sequel are complex, wholly realistic, and beyond entertaining. The snark and sass that comes out of just ONE of these characters is enough to knock you over; the fact that she isn't the only character with such a huge amount of personality could probably light an entire town, if such a power source existed.
I wrap my arms over my chest. “This wasn't always a desert.”
“No. Deserts seem to develop primarily due to human stupidity,” the phoenix says with an edge of contempt.
The prose is gorgeous, melodic, and SO descriptive. You will literally sink into the story...and come out on the other side blinking, wide-eyed, wondering what happened to the time. The action is fast-paced and entertaining. The nail-biting, cringe-worthy moments will keep you in suspense throughout. There aren't very many “plot twists,” which I both enjoyed and didn't—much as I loathe bad plot twists, sometimes books NEED them, you know? However, the plot was so well-thought out, things were revealed in their own time—and that worked.
I think my favorite thing about these books, though, are the relationships. While there were some confusing or vague plot points, the relationships remained realistic and believable. I particularly enjoy the bond between Val and Hitomi—they accept one another as they are, no questions asked, and it's obvious from their interactions that there's a grudging sort of friendship growing between them. The respect Hitomi shows throughout—toward everyone, not just certain groups—shows a side of her personality we might not have been privvy to otherwise. And I LOVE that, even in the worst sort of danger, she sticks to her morals like glue—they aren't even a question for her.
“How is being a boy better?”
Kenta turns a look of pure disbelief on me.
“No one will take notice if you need to run,” Stormwind says pragmatically.
True enough. “I suspect running is something I have a lot of experience with.”
This was an entertaining, awesome read—the fantasy is detailed, the prose gorgeous, and the characters wholly believable. I recommend this to lovers of complex stories, multi-dimensional relationships, and new/adventurous settings. This was a great installment to a pretty awesome series; I can't wait to see what book 3 has planned for these characters!
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
Hitomi does not have it easy in this book. She still suffers from the sunbolt. She is slowly getting her memories back. She is learning magic, but if anyone finds her they will hunt her down. And then they come for Bridgit, whom she lives with. All alone again, what will she do? She really is cursed.
So I get the whole rogue thing, but, I mean Bridgit is teaching her now, could she just not just become one of them? I do not really get why she is still bad then? Why would she have to be like killed or drained of power? She is not a rogue, she has a teacher.
But let's move away from that. This is a book where Hitomi tries to get her teacher back. Where she finds herself again. Where we meet some old friends, and new friends. And I find myself curious about the next book and a certain thing. And then there was that other thing I am SO curious about too. I so want to know THAT thing. But we have to wait until book 3, but I am soooo curious!
Hitomi is not particularly kick-ass in the ass kicking aspect, she is a thinker. She waits, she plans. And she is kind.
Oh...I miss Val. Val is awesome. I have a Val crush.
I look forward to more
So I get the whole rogue thing, but, I mean Bridgit is teaching her now, could she just not just become one of them? I do not really get why she is still bad then? Why would she have to be like killed or drained of power? She is not a rogue, she has a teacher.
But let's move away from that. This is a book where Hitomi tries to get her teacher back. Where she finds herself again. Where we meet some old friends, and new friends. And I find myself curious about the next book and a certain thing. And then there was that other thing I am SO curious about too. I so want to know THAT thing. But we have to wait until book 3, but I am soooo curious!
Hitomi is not particularly kick-ass in the ass kicking aspect, she is a thinker. She waits, she plans. And she is kind.
Oh...I miss Val. Val is awesome. I have a Val crush.
I look forward to more