Title: Sunbolt
Author: Intisar Khanani
Publisher: Purple Monkey Press
Length: 152 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
About the Book
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.
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About the Author
Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. She has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah, on the coast of the Red Sea. Intisar used to write grants and develop projects to address community health and infant mortality with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. She is the author of The Sunbolt Chronicles, and the Dauntless Path novels, beginning with Thorn.
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My Thoughts
How have I not read this author before? After finishing this, I frantically searched to see if book 2 was out (it is!!) While there, I was checking out her other work. All her book covers are absolutely beautiful, and I now have a new author from which to devour their catalog.
This smaller book packs a punch. I feel like I walked away reading a 400 page novel. The city of Karolene is rich and often scary. Though the places Hitomi finds herself are even more vivid. She’s a clumsy but strong heroine, someone you want to root for because of all the misfortune she’s faced in her life. She wants a family and to feel like she belongs somewhere. You can feel the need ripple off her from the pages. I enjoyed reading about her magic capabilities and cannot wait to see where they go with proper training.
I liked Val and hope he makes a reappearance in Memories of Ash. The world, the abilities, and the people are so creative. I closed the book feeling such a sense of happy. This is a truly fine read, and I’m so excited to have a new author to stalk… I mean, follow.
Rae's Reading Lounge 
Ooo…that’s a very enticing review! I’ll have to put this one on my list. Congrats to the author!
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It’s so good!
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