Synopsis: I did not choose this fate. But I will not walk away from it. Children have been disappearing from across Menaiya for longer than Amraeya ni Ansarim can remember. When her friend’s sister is snatched, Rae knows she can’t look away any longer – even if that means seeking answers from the royal court, where her country upbringing and clubfoot will only invite ridicule. Yet the court holds its share of surprises. There she discovers an ally in the foreign princess, who recruits her as an attendant. Armed with the princess’s support, Rae seeks answers in the dark city streets, finding unexpected help in a rough-around-the-edges street thief with secrets of his own. But treachery runs deep, and the more Rae uncovers, the more she endangers the kingdom itself.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Fairytale
Date of Publication: March 23rd, 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen
Length: 526 pages
My rating: 4.5/5
Review: I have been reading Intisar Khanani’s Dauntless Path series avidly since I first heard about Brambles in 2020. I held off on reading this book until I found out when the 3rd book was coming out because I love reading series as close together as possible. I was okay waiting between Thorn and The Theft of Sunlight because the main character is new, and the story is a continuation within the world instead of a direct sequel following Alyrra’s story.
The Theft of Sunlight follows Amraeya ni Ansarim (Rae), a country girl who finds herself investigating the disappearances of hundreds of children around the kingdom. The plot touches on some delicate subjects, but nothing is overly graphic. Amraeya is a fun main character to follow, she makes realistic choices and never once had me frustrated with how a situation was handled. The secondary characters were equally as interesting, and most were pretty well developed. I found the plot to be an exciting mystery/adventure, and although it starts slowly, the action builds nicely to the conclusion.
I liked that I could really get into the story, and enjoyed the various twists and turns that Amraeya encountered. The Theft of Sunlight packs a decent amount of plot into a very reasonable amount of pages without coming off as rushed or glossing over any details. I thought the book’s overall tone was enjoyable, with a good balance of slower character-building narrative and action scenes. There is also a nice touch of humour which makes the book more light-hearted than the summary would lead you to believe. Some of the subject matter is a bit darker, but I feel like it was handled tastefully.
My only beef with The Theft of Sunlight was that it ended on a cliffhanger! Thankfully, I scored an early copy of the sequel, A Darkness at the Door, so I was able to start it immediately. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy or fairytale-esque retelling, with a little touch of romance as well.
Get a copy of the Theft of Sunlight here!
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