Thursday 19 March 2015

Bookathonic: Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani

Sunbolt Book One of the Sunbolt Chronicles by Intisar Khanani


Blurb:
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.

Review: 

This is a well written and erudite YA novel set against a backdrop of mages, predators, and political wrangling.  The world is nicely rounded out and isn’t limited to one fixed culture and position, but rather branches out throughout the novel continuing to broaden its style and introduce fresh and diverse characters.


The principal character written, is a young girl of 15 years who has been subjected to many changes spanning out through both her education and experiences.  Hitomi, is left alone struggling to survive in a time of harsh changes amongst those driven toward ultimate power and position.  Hitomi, due to her wild ways, becomes an even greater victim than just her homeless position suggests.  Cloaked in secrecy she is bound by her own stringent code of honour to help those in jeopardy, thus putting herself in constant danger.


Hitomi is continually forced into battle having to rely entirely on her own resources as she attempts to extract herself from the clutches of the opposition.  As her situation spirals out of control, circumstance leaves Hitomi colluding with a natural enemy, ultimately leading her to discover new things about herself as she embarks upon a journey that takes her far away from anything she has ever known.


This tale ends beautifully as we await the sequel to Sunbolt, clinging to the knowledge that Hitomi will reveal things that will make her more the sum of her parts. I’m definitely holding out for the next novel which comes out this year.
Goodreads
 

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