4.5 stars

Headlines:
Slavery
Changing perspectives
Trust and betrayal
Oh you didn't...

I slipped into the writing of The Theft of Sunlight with such ease and comfort. It was a joy to be back into the world and to enjoy Intisar Khanani's writing. I didn't need a Thorn recap because I found it to be such a memorable read.

It was utterly clever to be back with the characters of Thorn but from a different perspective. Alyrra was not the MC but she was a huge part of the story, viewed from Rae (Amraeya) the MC's story. Rae was not from a noble family but found herself amongst the royal family. Rae was daring, brave and stupid all at once and she had a disability that was so well written. That disability didn't define her.

"I may be a bit roughed up around the edges, but I'm holding together."

This was a story about slavery, with some difficult themes and sometimes some difficult scenes. I appreciated the author's willingness to take the story into this territory in YA and I was utterly gripped and cared about what was happening in these lands.

Magic remained on the agenda but it wasn't conveyed in a positive light. The plot overarching this series involving magic, curses, wards and mages has a dark vibe and I'm eager to know more.

There was a little promise of affection and romance but not much beyond suggestion, that felt the right kind of pitch but I foresee Rae's story going further. Right now I'm trying to forget where we've been left with probably a year before the next book but I will wait as patient as I can for anything Intisar writes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the Dauntless Path series and I cannot wait to read on.

Thank you to the author for the early review copy.

The Theft of Sunlight was my anticipated book for this year. I was waiting for this book like cupcakes! In this one, the main character is not Alyrra, but she is not forgotten. She is still important, we still find more about her and Kestrin, but the main character is Rae.


In this story we have more adventures, more secrets, twists and dark magic. I love Rae, how she never gives up. Even if she has a problem and everybody judges her because of that, Rae never backs up. She is a good friend and she knows how to keep a secret. She will be always by your side when you need her.

Thank you Qamar Blog Tours for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book! This should be on every fantasy and YA fan’s wishlist because it gives you every feelings. I laughed, cried, screamed. My husband looked weird at me for these.

Adventure, magic, amazingly fast-paced, and captures the reader from the get go! This was one of those books that I wish I had read as a child because it was empowering beyond belief. Khanani hit on so many critical issues in a way that was engrossing and powerful. Highly recommend this! (And I need to track down Thorn!)

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harper Teen and Qamar Tours for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this one!

When I first started reading <i>Thorn</i> back in early 2020 I didn't know what to expect and I also didn't know the original story it was a retelling of, but I found myself completely captivated by it and couldn't put it down.

I didn't believe its companion <i>The Theft of Sunlight</i> would have the same effect on me but I was proven wrong.

From the very beginning, I was captivated by it. Our new main character Rae is quickly introduced as a person who would do anything for those she cares about, especially if they are looked down upon by other people. What's more, Rae is just a normal girl whose motivation to help her best friend and keep her sister safe is what drives her to help others too. I loved that about her, and she is certainly a new favorite character. I love her strength and how real her reactions were whenever somebody from higher up would start having bigger expectations from her than she was initially willing to give.

I loved how we meet some of the old characters in this one too and even though I don't remember them much, I loved seeing them again. We see Alyrra and Kestrin from Rae's POV which was different and refreshing, it basically shows how they project themselves to the people around them and I loved that.

I did predict some of the main twists kind of early on but this didn't stop me from enjoying my read at all because of how much I was invested in Rae's story. I'm also obsessed with Bren and after what happened at the end of the book, I can't wait to see more of him. I want to know his reaction and what his actions will be.

Something I didn't expect at all at the end of the book was what happened to Rae. I did manage to foresee some of it but not what actually happened to her. What I absolutely loved however is her final determination. I can't wait for the second book now.

You ever read a book that makes you fall in love with every page you turn that by the time you get to the end, you are just in awe of everything you've just experienced? That's this book for me!

Theft of Sunlight is the first book in a duology following the events of the book Thorn, set in the sane world that Thorn is and it is one of the most fantastic books EVER! With an absolutely compelling main character you cannot help fall in love with, a mystrey that keeps you on your toes and political intrigue that induces nail-biting tension, this is a fantasy that *will* sweep you off your feet! (And then dangle you in the air because it ends on a cliffhanger, but you'll be swaying up there will all kinds of warmth and emotional attachments so like who cares you know)((I care, I do, I need that sequel like Winnie the pooh needs his honey)).

Like I said, the events of Theft of Sunlight follow the events of Thorn, but this time, we follow a character called Amareya, a village girl with a disability who ends up at the palace as Alyrra's attendant and confidant, when she decides to go into the city and figure out what she can about the kidnappings happening all around the kingdom after her best friend's sister is "snatched." She expects to uncover some answers and maybe nudge a head or two towards the investigation into these kidnapping rings. What she doesn't expect is to end up smack dab in the middle of a political conspiracy that is way over her paygrade. But she does anyway, because of two reasons — she is incredible brave and ridiculously kind. Along the way, she gets tangled with the local thieving gangs (YESS THERE ARE THEIVING GANGS, BITCHESSS!); mages, human and fae, and lord knows who else. Pick the book up to find out. For real, you are going to LOVE IT!

The star of the show, as you can tell already, is Amareya — or Rae, as everyone calls her. She is just so fucking amazing, you guys! I truly do not have words. She is sarcastic and funny and also very intuitive and intelligent. She does reckless things and makes stupid mistakes, but all because she is kind to a fault. She is also fiercely loyal — she keeps the magic in her sister secret to protect her from the circle of mages (don't ask for explanations, go read the book, shoo), and she will literally die before she gives that up. I diagnose her with a terminal case of Eldest Daughter Syndrome™ and that's essentially why she keeps getting in trouble all the time. But it's fun to follow her on the ride, nonetheless!
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Alyrra and Kestrin also make appearances in this book, and it is so fascinating seeing them from a third person's perspective! When you read Thorn, you almost feel like Alyrra is too passive. But when you read Theft, you realize that that's just because that's what she thinks of herself!! Like, at every step of the way, Alyrra is politicking without knowing that she's doing it, but she keeps downplaying it in her head because she's just like that. Of course, she's also settled into her role more comfortably now, but it was one of those tiny things that made my jaw drop when I realized it! Honestly, I am in love with this author because of it!! Like I never thought of it that way before and now I'm like 🤯
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Anyway, back to Theft! This time, we are introduced to a character from Red Hawk's theiving ring called Bren (this man is soooo the Red Hawk but we do not have canonical confirmation so *Agatha wink from Wandavision which i know what it means but idk why it means that so no spoilers pls*). Yes, he is the love interest. Yes, he has knives and he does that thing where he whips them out while wearing a cape it was very cool. Yes, he does deserve to get punched in the face once in a while. Yes, you are shipping the ship against your will. No, I do not make the rules.
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So I'm sure you can already see how this is coming together. Rae becomes Alyrra's confidant, Rae and Alyrra begin investigating the kidnappings on the DL because governments are shit all around the globe, Alyrra puts her in touch with the Red Hawk gang so they can help her. Antics ensue. Oh, and meanwhile, Alyrra and Kestrin's wedding is happening at the palace. And her dickwad of a brother shows up. So that's another thing going on for you. Even with so much happening, it all flows rather smoothly! I mean it's a high stakes fantasy novel that takes an unexpectedly dark turn, what else did you expect, you know?
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I have literally no complaints about the plot or the characters. I did miss the writing from Thorn because it had a more fairy tale-esque feel to it and was all lyrical and amazing. But, this is not the place for all that. WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE TIME, PEOPLE!!! I missed the writing for exactly 15% of the novel before I forgot I was sitting in a room in my body and fell headfirst into the story.
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Speaking of, THE SETTING!!! Even though we're introduced to this city in Thorn, seeing it from Rae's perspective just added so much dimension to it!! It fleshed out the dynamics of this world so well *and* it also exposed the underbelly of this city that we weren't able to glimpse in Thorn. I loved the vibe of it all. The gritty, jagged edges of the town in the dark in contrast with the airy, oppulence of the palace at day! The way the bridge between the two sides was Rae, and how she came out of her shell and grew into herself as she is forced to traverse these both worlds! Just the fantasy escapism of it all, as you read!! *chef's kiss*
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I don't really have anything much to say because I literally do not have critiques. Yeah, the plot slows down in a middle for a bit, but that's also just like the plateau you have to write before you start hurtling your audience into a high action climax. Which, btw, WENT PLACES. I swear I do not kid when I say I was actually screaming. And Rameela was screaming with me..We had so much fun reading it!!
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And that's how I wanna conclude this mess of a review! This book was just so much absolute, unadulterated, fantasy fun! You'll get invested, you'll make theories, you'll see some badass magic and you'll have a great time!!! All this, while reading about a non-white, disabled protagonist in a non-white country! LIKE. What more do you want, honestly?! GO PREORDER THE BOOK!! NOWWWWWWWW!!!

I loved this book so much, it’s a story about a young woman who is often overlooked and underestimated but she is capable of so much more than anyone gives her credit for and it resonated with me deeply.

Rae isn’t like the usual fantasy heroines we see, she doesn’t have secret magic powers, she’s an average girl who has a family and doesn’t have a tragic backstory. She is however a young woman who will protect those she loves and will fight for the people who no one else will fight for. I think this made her so much more relatable and real because she could be any of us. She is smart and resourceful and she perseveres no matter what obstacles are put in her path. She is kind and empathetic but also knows that not everyone is trustworthy and is cautious about who she trusts.

I assure you I am well aware of what I am capable of

She also has a disability and it affects her mobility which means she is often underestimated and overlooked, she is seen as less capable but I really loved how she didn’t allow that stop her from protecting her loved ones and seeking justice. Her internal conflict was so relatable as someone who also has a mobility disability, I really felt for her, how she will sometimes push herself too far and that fear of being looked down on or pitied if someone finds out about her disability, how her disability is the only thing anyone sees. I loved her arc and how she realises her disability may affect some things that she can do but it doesn’t define her and only she decides who she is.

I also completely fell in love with Bren from the first moment we meet him. From his first conversation with Rae I loved their interactions and how he looked out for Rae right from the beginning without making her feel helpless or self-conscious about her disability. He never thinks less of Rae because of her disability and I just loved that so much. He sees her for who she really is and not just a helpless girl. I loved their banter and sass and how they worked together. It was such an interesting dynamic between them as Bren is a thief and Rae doesn’t always approve of things in his life but she accepts him for who he is. Some of my favourite scenes were between them two.

She has more power than the stories grant her.

It was also great to see Thorn again and especially see her happy with Kestrin and how she dealt with her family. I loved seeing their wedding celebrations and it reminded me of a big fat desi wedding! The beautiful clothes and all the functions and food and traditions. I just loved seeing it in the book. It was also a great contrast between the rich and the poor and how different the lives of nobles are compared to the average citizen.

There is also discussions of the violence women face and how they have to adjust the way they live and how they don’t always feel safe. Even Thorn has to deal with this and it was chilling because it was her brother and he was enabled by those around him who didn’t hold him accountable, instead ignoring what he did to her. The comparisons to how this happens a lot in our society was easy to see and I could relate to how Thorn and Rae felt.

While this is a character driven book where we see everything from Rae’s point of view we also got to explore a lot more of the world outside and the politics of the nobles too and how the nobles ignored what was happening to the children as it didn’t affect them directly. We see how it affects Rae and the frustrations she feels and it makes her more determined to help, it was interesting to see Thorn as her ally but she was also limited in many ways because of the politics at play. The end of this book and the plot twists and revelations shook me, I was not expecting them at all. And then the book ends in a cliffhanger which has me dying for the next book!

As much as we ask for help. We have to help ourselves.

I highly recommend this wonderful story with a main character you will fall in love with and root for and I cannot wait for the sequel as there are things which were alluded to in this book that I think will come into play in the sequel, especially the fae angle! Everyone please go read this book!

Stunning. Gorgeous sequel. Highly recommend.
It is a @desibookaunty selection & offers fantastic storytelling with gripping themes.

<i>"Anyone who would take on bullies and befriend toddlers couldn’t possibly be someone I didn’t want to know. Even if I prefer to fight my own battles."</i>
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My Rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 [I would give it a gazillion honestly]
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Thank you Qamarblogtours, Harper Teen
& Netgalley for the gifted review copy! #thetheftofsunlight
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This book follows our main characters: Rae, Bren, Alyrra and Kesterin, who all form an unusual alliance to help save the missing children in the country and try to uncover the mystery of the Snatchers. It is a companion novel to Thorn and has characters from that book as well. It was a story about compassion, secret adventures, back alley investigations, a little thievery, some banter and a whole lot of amazingness and a gut punching ending!

First, I absolutely fell in love with all the characters. Rae, who was insecure about her looks, but can punch you well enough if you dared to put her down; Bren, who is an occupational thief with a heart that hides so much more; Alyrra, who took on the role of polite smiles and dagger eyes all too well; Kesterin, who would burn anyone if they dare hurt anything he cared about. And not to mention the side characters who managed to steal the show: Nia, Jasmine and Griffin.
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Second, the writing style and that story line has my heart. The writing was so vivid and engaging that I ended up needing an hour to calm my heart once I finished the book. All the characters had their role to play (which they did wonderfully) and it didn't feel odd. I don't usually like abrupt scene changes, but boy did this book change my opinion. Especially certain scenes with Rae and her internal monologues, her realising she was more than what she thought, the unlikely friendships and that mint tea!!!!!
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Now coming to the story and character development, I think Rae takes the spot without a doubt. She was the strongest character ever and the way she protected what she loved and the lengths she would go for them was... *Swoooonn* I loved her. I loved her growth and loved her relationship with everybody. Niya and Rae had such beautiful sisterhood, Jasmine and Rae had amazing understanding, Bren and Rae had such good banter, and not to mention some side characters I grew to love so much! ( I'm looking at you Artemian)
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<i>“I like to push people. I especially like to push you, Rae. Because you’re clever and you push back. "</i>
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It's really difficult to put into words what I felt reading this book , into a cohesive review. But know this, this book had such beautiful way of portraying a scene that you actually fell in love with the writing, characters, the story and the world. I was proud of Rae when she stood up for herself, I was proud of Niya when she went out of her way to protect her sister, I was gushing over Bren when he gave her mint tea, I was surprised when Kesterin showed Rae his playful side, I was so damn angry when that ending came and I was left speechless and heartbroken.
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If you are on Earth, you need to read this book. Preferably read Thorn firat, then pick it up. Because this has a mean cliffhanger and I wouldn't recommend diving into it headfirst. But the resulting heartbreak? SO DAMN WORTH IT!!

I enjoyed ever moment reading this book. Intisar Khanani is now officially the author whose work I'd read unquestionably, and especially if I want some comfort.

I loved so many things about this. Here, I'll give you a list:

One, the heroine, Rae, is not the magical character with rare superpowers. A conventional fantasy would designate her sister Niya for that. Instead, Rae is a young woman with a foot deformity that causes a limp, and though she often finds herself at a physical disadvantage among others and is sometimes insecure because of it, she doesn't let it stand in her way of seeking justice. That's another thing I love about her personality. which, although it's defined by her disability, is not solely dependent upon it: she's so passionate and demands morality and justice.

Two, I love that the story is centered on the experiences of women characters. The men play important roles, but they are not central: they show up to help as it suits Rae and her mission to uncover the mystery of child trafficking. There's no "male vs female" conflict--they work well together and respect each other's strengths and areas of expertise.

Three, romance is not central to the story, yet there are just enough hints towards it and sweet moments that made it really wholesome for me. The focus away from romance really put Rae at the center of the story, and didn't let her become defined by it. However, I do really hope to see some more of it in the sequel!
I also love the relationships between married side-characters whom Rae observes, like Filadon/Melly, and <spoiler> Alyrra/Kestrin, whose wedding we witness! I also loved the positive representation for arranged marriage that this couple showed! </spoiler>

IN CONCLUSION, I NEED the sequel RIGHT NOW because I can't wait to read more of Rae's story. If you liked Thorn's plot and characters then you'll probably like this book even more, so go ahead and preorder it now! :)

The Theft of Sunlight is the first in a companion duology to Intisar Khanani’s Thorn, a continuation of her short story The Bone Knife, originally published in 2012. We follow Rae, a country horse farmer’s daughter who visits her cousin at court and gets embroiled in various plots and mysteries.

Though Thorn dealt with some important issues, the driving force of the story was really Alyrra’s internal growth, and the story overall really revolved around her. But while this is also first-person from Rae’s POV, and her emotional arc is a big part of the story, it’s somehow so much more expansive, with a much bigger and more fully-developed world. I wouldn’t call it political fantasy as such, but we do get to see so much more of the mechanics of power and control, which I loved, as well as themes of injustice, greed, inequality, and freedom.

It’s subtle, but if you know what you’re looking for, you can definitely see Khanani’s South Asian influences coming out in the worldbuilding details too, from the clothes to the wedding traditions! (And I have to say, it was very satisfying to see the European-inspired country be awed and intimidated by the much more powerful South Asian-inspired one!)

I absolutely loved Rae! She’s clever and determined and resourceful and so brave, and fiercely loyal and protective towards the people she cares about. At the same time, the near-constant ableism she faces due to her clubfoot has left her just full of anger, and automatically distrustful. A big part of her emotional arc is learning to be kind to herself and comfortable in her own body, and I loved that, though I can’t speak to the disability representation. Her resentment has made her particularly wary of conventionally beautiful people, and I also found the thread of her having to learn not to judge people based on their beauty, in the same way she wants them not to judge her for her disability, so interesting.

The side characters were also lovely, especially Rae’s family, who are so close and loving (with both parents alive!) – I was disappointed that we don’t see much of them once Rae comes to court, but certain plot threads make me certain that we’ll get more of them in the next book, and I can’t wait!

Alyrra and Kestrin are also prominent characters, and quite a lot of references are made to their backstory, so though this is technically a companion novel, it would definitely help to have read Thorn. Although this is Rae’s story, it’s also a satisfying continuation of theirs – I really liked seeing how their relationship has progressed and how Alyrra is settling into her place as princess.

I will say that this book absolutely does not stand alone: the cliffhanger at the end is BRUTAL, and there are a lot of plot threads, not all of which seem to be too connected at the moment – though I assume they will be tied together eventually, and I’m so excited to see how!

This book contains content warnings for: kidnapping; references to child abuse and child slavery; ableism; references to domestic abuse.

I was so excited to read this book. I loved Thorn and was looking forward to reading more from Khanani and getting back into this world.

Unfortunately, it feel flat for me 😭 so, good things first. I like her writing style. It’s flowing and easy to read, so I was able to read quickly. I also think the characterization is done well. I didn’t love any of the characters, but I did like some of them. And I liked seeing Alyrra again.

But that’s about where the things I like end. I found the plot boring and uninteresting. I just, didn’t care about what was happening. I didn’t care about the potential romance.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. I loved Thorn I think mostly because it was a retelling of a fairytale I love. And then this sequel wasn’t a retelling, so it didn’t have that magical or fairytale feel to it that I loved in Thorn.

I also really didn’t like that <spoiler> the books ended on a cliffhanger. I know that the author wanted this to be a duology, but I honestly think that this would have been much better as a stand-alone. I also think it was too long. It could have been 100 or so pages shorter and would have been a little better.

I’m sure there will be plenty of people who will love this book and be excited for the next book, it just wasn’t for me, which I’m sad about 🥺

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑒-𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤.

I really enjoyed this title, as well as Intisar Khanani's first book, though this one got a bit darker than expected. I appreciate that there's romance but it's not the driving force in the book., that there's also action and intrigue as well. The ending is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series (I know I am!).

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperTeen, and the author- Intisar Khanani for the ebook arc of The Theft of Sunlight. I received the arc free of charge and it was my choice to read and review.

Wow, Intisar has done it again guys!

I was skeptical because I loved Princess Alyrra from Thorn so I wasn't sure about starting with a new character. Boy was I wrong! Rae is my new favorite. Plus, she and Alyrra get to interact closely so *thumbs up*

The Theft of Sunlight is the first book in a companion duology to Thorn and can be read on its own. But, as the author suggests: "it will be best appreciated if you pick up Thorn first. There are many familiar characters and a few possible spoilers for Thorn... but, if you'd rather not, you can still very much enjoy this book on its own."

This one was a slower burn than Thorn but I appreciated the depth that the slow burn brought to the plot and character development. By the halfway mark, I could not put it down and had to finish it.

If you like firey female characters who may seem like they are in the background but get up to all sorts of mischief-for the right reasons-and who fight against injustice, you'll love Rae-the MC of The Theft of Sunlight.

I also love the banter between characters that Intisar writes and this one was no exception. The chemistry is palpable but subtle at the same time, and it doesn't take centerstage or develop too quickly which I really appreciate.

Just like Thorn, I'll be recommending Theft A LOT!

TW: scenes of and discussion of violence against women, and issues of (in/)justice raised, and kidnapping of children (classified as YA so despite heavy themes, details are not shared in an "adult" way)

I loved Thorn and Loved Theft of Sunlight. Great story and such a page turner! HIGHLY recommend!!! truly hope this author keeps writing and giving us stories that belong on shelves in the #middleschool classroom library. Love it!

I was so excited to read this book because I really enjoyed Thorn and this was a companion novel for that. Even though you technically don’t have to have read Thorn to enjoy this novel, I would definitely recommend doing so since the main characters from that book make more than just a cameo and play a pretty big role in the books which made my heart very happy!

I also read the prequel (The Bone Knife) before starting this which gave me a little extra insight on Rae’s character but is also not required to enjoy this story! This follows Rae, the oldest sibling of a small horse farm family. She decides to go visit her cousin Melly during the royal family’s wedding not only for her family but also to see if she can solve the mystery of the missing children that are vanishing without even a trace.

The writing style in this book was so great and much faster paced than in Thorn. While Thorn was a slower paced book which I enjoyed, you can tell the author’s writing has only strengthened since then and it made this book all the more enjoyable.

Right off the bat, Rae is an extremely powerful character. She has a clubfoot and has to deal with a lot of ableist people but that doesn’t stop her from being a total badass. She’s so snarky and sarcastic and relatable. If you’ve read Thorn, she’s such a different character from Alyrra in so many ways and their strengths are in different places and it was so interesting to see.

I really loved reading in Rae’s POV especially because she didn’t tolerate any of the political BS and didn’t hesitate to call anyone out on being wrong. Honestly the most relatable character ever. Like Rae straight up said that she hated all these sneaky politicians but had to spend so much time dealing with politics it was honestly hilarious.

I had so much fun trying to dissect the mystery with Rae and it was honestly so well done I was screaming by the end! Disclaimer: I had NO idea that there would be a sequel to this so basically I was ready to fight at the end!

This book had everything from great family dynamics, friendship, crazy politics and even a few cute moments that I really hope we get to see more of in the sequel! I would recommend this to anyone who loves solving a little bit of a mystery, a little bit of Fae magic, thieves with a bit of a moral compass, and snarky and sarcastic main characters who aren’t afraid to stand up for what’s right. If you enjoy reading about trying to find the root of corruption in a political system, protecting loved ones at any cost, and just want a really great story of twists and turns this is definitely the book for you!

This is a gorgeously written book, and I appreciated the level of detail in the world-building from the first page. Main character Rae is incredibly likable and well-developed, and all of the other characters are fairly well fleshed-out too. I have not yet read Thorn, because I understand that this is a companion novel (the first in a new duology), but I was able to follow everything well enough. I would almost certainly appreciate everything on a much deeper level (at least the bulk of the novel, once Rae goes to the palace) had I read Thorn, but I will say that it is a true 'companion' work and not a sequel. That ending, though--the cliffhanger was a bit more abrupt than I prefer, but that does mean I very much want to read the sequel...

i won't be reviewing this book because after not being able to get through the first in the series, I have no desire to slog through this one. Which is a shame because I really loved the author's Sunbolt Series.

Intisar Khanani has a new book! And it's out today! Can you believe our good fortune? The Theft of Sunlight is the first wholly new Intisar Khanani book I've read in what feels like a thousand years, and it felt like coming home.

The Theft of Sunlight is a companion novel to Thorn that doesn't (in my opinion) require prior knowledge of Thorn in order to read it. It follows Rae, a country girl who comes to the royal court and becomes handmaiden to the new queen, Alyrra (Thorn from Thorn!). There she begins to learn how to navigate the treacherous world of the monarchy and aristocracy, all while trying to discover who or what is behind the epidemic of child-snatching that has been plaguing Menaiya. Determined to recover the lost children, or at least find answers for their families, Rae faces the dangers and intrigues the city has to offer -- and the confusing, irritating charms of a thief called Bren.

Intisar Khanani's trademark as a writer is "good girls trying their best." I felt such affection for Rae almost immediately -- she's spent much of her life being told that she's not good enough because of her clubfoot, and she is fiercely protective of her sister, who can do magic. (It is important that nobody finds this out, because Rae's family doesn't trust the Circle of Mages and doesn't want them anywhere near Niya.) When she goes to court -- initially to visit her cousin Melly, who has married up -- she hopes to have the chance to push more powerful people into doing something about the child snatchers. She emphatically does not want to be the queen's attendant. Like, at all. But she can't pass up the opportunity to gain the ear of the queen, who (presumably) can pursue the child snatcher problem in a more organized way; so she agrees to this life that she knows will be hostile and unfamiliar to her. She is a good girl. I want the best for this good girl.


Like her past novels, The Theft of Sunlight has its fair share of darkness and moral ambiguity: not just the ever-present threat of the child-snatchers, but Rae's own feeling that she is becoming morally compromised by staying at the court, by spending time with Bren and other members of the city's underworld, by spending time following the queen around rather than pursuing the child snatchers. But there's something tremendously comforting about Khanani's writing, despite the darkness, and I think it has to do with her careful, weighty articulation of values.


"Bren. Would it have been all right if I angered you and you punched me instead?"


"No." His voice is suddenly hard, brooking no argument.


"Then why is it fine if I punch you?"


He looks at me, and the silence spreads out between us until I feel like I'm drowning.

"You see," I say, my voice hoarse in my throat.


"No," he says again. "Rae, there are certainly times when a woman punching a man is an irredeemable act of violence. When she is stronger, or more vicious, and she uses her actions to abuse him. But that wasn't what happened.... In a fight between you and me, I would always win. We both know that. So your hitting me -- it's a sign of trust, in its way, that you could lash out and know that I wouldn't hurt you back. It wasn't abuse."


"You're right. I knew you wouldn't hurt me back." It hadn't even occurred to me. "That doesn't change the fact that I wanted to hurt you."


"And you'd do it again?"


"No."


"Then it is not all that you are, and it doesn't have to define you. It's something you did, which you regret. It's not actually you."


I look at him, his words clicking together in my mind: that this is the difference between me and [spoiler character], for his is a practiced violence, and mine was a single act, regretted. That I am not the same as him, for all that I was willing to let my anger ride me as it does him. I am and can and will be different; I do not have to let this break me.


I've seen plenty of books where a female protagonist hits a guy character who's not specifically her enemy, but rarely have I seen the characters exploring the moral implications of the act afterward. I just appreciated this conversation so much! Rae knows that hitting someone in anger isn't in line with her values, and the book gives her the time to explore what that action does and doesn't mean about her.


Trust and truth are major themes in The Theft of Sunlight. Along a vast number of axes, Rae doesn't know whom she can trust: Who will reliably accommodate her disability? Who will tell her what she needs to know in order to be Alyrra's attendant? Who can share information about the child snatchers without placing Rae or themselves in danger? Who will tell her the truth, and who will lie? And the answers are, nearly always, complicated. Coming from a background where she has been able -- most of the time -- to speak the truth herself and trust the truth of what others tell her, Rae struggles to adapt to her new environment, where everyone around her is keeping some secrets, and she is, too.


I would like, also, to shout out the fact that a big piece of solving the mystery is TAX RECORDS. This is going to sound like a joke, but I am genuinely so high on this fact. Like, that's so real! Financial records genuinely and truly answer questions, and point up new avenues for exploration. The fact that Rae acquires a friend and ally in the tax office just made my heart sing.


The presence of enslavers looms large in this book, so I do want to address how that's handled (as the presence of enslaved people in fantasy novels tends to make me nervous). Khanani notes in an endnote that what's being depicted here is inspired by, and draws from the experiences of, modern-day human trafficking, rather than historical instances of slavery. Because this book is the first part of a duology, Rae doesn't come out of it with all the answers, but it's clear that the problem of child theft depends on ... drumroll please... corporate greed! While I tend to get nervous about depictions of fantasy slavery, I really appreciated that the book and its protagonist never lose sight of the horror of what's happening. Any time another (upper-class) character casts doubt on what's happening, someone else is there to insist on the urgency of the problem.

As a small warning, The Theft of Sunlight ends on a hell of a cliffhanger! I was forewarned about this by Legal Sister, and I was glad to know in advance what to expect. It's a wonderful book that made me feel warm inside, a classic YA adventure that will leave you wanting more.

Note: I received a review copy of The Theft of Sunlight from the publisher, for review consideration. This has not impacted my review.

As a result of my various committee appointments and commitments I am unable to disclose my personal thoughts on this title at this time. Please see my star rating for a general overview of how I felt about this title. Additionally, you may check my GoodReads for additional information on what thoughts I’m able to share publicly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this and any other titles you are in charge of.

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book took a different turn from the first in the series yet I loved it all the same. The main character is such a badass that I loved her instantly from her short story and even more here. The book does have to lose one star because it did feel like she just fell into the next plot point far too easily. There was just too much that happened by coincidence for the plot to fully move on its own. Still, I loved the characters, I loved the main plot, and I really hate that cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book to see where the author takes us next.