A review by jay_bubblez
Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

For a novella I'm extremely impressed with the quality of the pacing and overall plot. A lot happened in very little time but rather than feeling rushed or jarring, everything progressed naturally. Words were used sparingly but effectively, and I think that's tremendous all on it's own. This is Khanani's debut novel and it does show in some slightly wooden/hyper-formal dialogue and a few confusing sentences and scenes, but overall it still carries the immersive richness and personality that I think is characteristic of her style. The magic system was the most interesting aspect in my opinion and the creativity in how spells were cast was fascinating. I won't go much deeper because I think you should experience Khanani's work for yourself. She's extremely underrated and Sunbolt is no exception. Loved it.