If you’re looking for an immersive story to sink into, you won’t want to miss The Theft of Sunlight, which is a companion duology that is part of the same world as Thorn. While it does feature some characters from Thorn, it’s not necessary to have read it in order to start this story. Intisar Khanani is such a phenomenal author and manages to create these beautifully brutal worlds that both shock and delight readers. While this story deals with some darker themes (child abduction and more), it does such an amazing job of highlighting the problems without making things a gigantic production.
In the second book to the Dauntless Path series, children have been disappearing in Menaiya for longer than Amraeya can remember. However, when her friend’s sister is taken, she can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to it. She heads to the royal court despite the fact that heading there might only bring ridicule upon her for her humble upbringing. Court is a little bit of a revelation though, and Amraeya finds an ally in a foreign princess who takes her on as an attendant. With the princess’ support, she’ll head to the streets where another unexpected helper comes in the guise of a thief with secrets of their own. One thing is certain, the deeper Rae goes to find answers, the more treacherous the road becomes. Not only will she endanger herself, but the entire kingdom alongside.
Khanani’s books always hook readers from the very beginning with visceral descriptions that root you to where you’re sitting and you can’t help but want to know more about what’s happening. Rae is such an amazing character, she’s fierce and loyal to her family and friends. She might be a little reckless, but she cares so much. From the start of the book, she’s figuring out ways to care for little things like wounded animals (despite not wanting to deal with them herself). She displays so much growth throughout the book, and I loved seeing her interactions with different characters.
If you’ve read Thorn, you’ll also be delighted by the appearance of Alyrra and Kestrin. As mentioned previously, it’s not necessary to have read Thorn before this novel, but it does add a certain degree of enjoyability to recognise characters.
Let’s talk about worldbuilding for a second, because it was phenomenal! Honestly, everything works so well together, and all of the exploring happening in this book shows another side to the world of the royals. Going from the opulence of a royal court to the dark underbelly of the city is just stunning. There’s beauty to be found in it all, and Rae is having to figure out how to be two different people at once.
Of course, I can never get too far in my reviews without talking about romance, which in this story just so happens to be subtle, where they get to know and learn about each other than just instantly falling in love. It makes the romance a worthwhile read and others will also delight in this.
This story moves fast, but not at a breakneck pace. It does slow down around the middle of the book, but then picks back up again into this cliffhanger that has made me both mad and excited for the next book. While cliffhangers aren’t always great, Khanani has made it such an exciting cliffhanger that I honestly can’t wait for the next book and even signed up to her email newsletters to find out any little tidbits of the next story that I possibly can, that’s how much I loved this book.
The Theft of Sunlight is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore!
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
