The Theft of Sunlight

Description

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 at court she discovers an ally in the foreign princess, who recruits her as an attendant. So Rae begins to seek answers in the dark city streets, finding unexpected help in a thief with secrets of his own. But treachery runs deep, and the more Rae uncovers, the more she endangers the kingdom itself. Praise for Thorn: "A quietly profound and beautiful fairytale retelling that I'll be recommending for years." - S. A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass 'Well-written and dramatically told, teens will find much to love in a novel in which the princess grows to become a force to be reckoned with." - School Library Journal (starred review) "Immersive and captivating...[will] draw in fans of fantasy and slow-burn romance." - Kirkus Reviews

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveller. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Prior to publishing her novels, Intisar worked as a public health consultant on projects relating to infant mortality and minority health. Find out more at booksbyintisar.com or on Twitter: @BooksByIntisar or Facebook: Booksbyintisar

Full of ... whispered conversations, all kinds of magic, intrigue and twists and turns... Reminiscent of classic tropes of fairytales while still managing to tell a story that comes across fresh, bold and unique. * The National * The Theft of Sunlight is a great sequel to the fairy tale retelling Thorn. The series is set in a Middle Eastern inspired fantasy world, and the stories largely take place in the kingdom of Menaiya. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, however, I think The Theft of Sunlight is even better. Our protagonist, Amraeya (Rae), is recruited as an attendant to the new princess. She quickly begins working to uncover the dark secrets haunting her kingdom and to reveal the mystery behind the "Snatchers", who have been taking children for decades. She must work with different people, from those highest at court to thieves working on the streets. Rae has many challenges to overcome along the way, particularly the way others treat her due to her country upbringing and club foot. She's a really interesting character to follow as she grapples with themes of justice and moral codes. On top of Rae being a great main character, the secondary characters in this book were also enjoyable. Rae's charming allies and rage-inducing villains make you root for Rae even more. Seeing the banter she has with her friends and family helps break up some of the darker elements of the story. Overall, I think this book is definitely worth a read for anybody who is a fan of fantasy. I can't wait to read the next book in this series when it's released. -- Rachel Stephens * Paper Lanterns Lit *