Wow this was a really interesting read! I really liked the development of the main character throughout the book and was (mostly, lol!) happy with the way the book concluded. It’s a really good example of how a truth can be twisted and forgotten over time

There were a lot of aspects of this book that was done really well. I absolutely loved the world building and how the sun was eclipsed by the queen. The way that Siria is loyal to the Queen in the beginning because it's what she was taught but then as the truth comes out, she realizes how the Queen was wrong. The beginning starts out so good and I loved the reveals. As the story continues though, I just felt like there could have been so much more. There were so many mythical creatures and I would have loved a little more history. However, I really enjoyed the history that was given. How the Queen became into her power and why she is so desperate to look for the last of the Sun Children but I would have liked a little more about the rest. I did think the light vs dark trope was done really well in this book. Overall, the pacing was done well and the book moved really fast. At the end, there was a conclusion and it felt like the book was complete but I do feel like the ending was rushed a little.

Siria was a great main character. I really enjoyed following her and seeing her come into her powers. What I really liked about Siria though was how believable her character is. The way her whole life has been turned, I understand why it took her a little to trust others and why her loyalty to the queen was so strong in the beginning. Her journey was definitely a self discovery and she finds her true family. I loved her loyalty to her friends and how each one became special to her and always let that drive her decisions. What I didn't like about her character was how easily things happened for her. If there was a situation either someone conveniently came and saved her or she passed out. This took away from tension build up and more growth possibilities for Siria. Also, there were no other Sun Children from her to learn how to control her powers so with just some guidance she was able to get her power under control and defeat the Queen who has had years to perfect hers? I know it was needed to end the conflict but I just felt there was not a lot of struggle for her to overcome besides the obvious.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Ignite the Sun by Hanna Howard was a fun, fast fantasy read that really encompassed the light versus dark trope. I really loved the world building that was done but I do wish there was a little more. So much was introduced in this book and I would have like a little more of the history of the other creatures. It was interesting about the Queen and how she came into her power. The light versus dark trope was really well done and I enjoyed the way it was intertwined into this story. Siria was a great character to follow and I really enjoyed her personality and development. Her fierceness and loyalty to her friends and family was something to admire. I do wish there was a little more conflict that was faced and tested her but she was either conveniently saved or passed out. This tension would have gave more depth to the story. I do recommend this book if you are looking for a fast read that will keep you engaged the entire time.

AUDIO REVIEW
I absolutely loved the narration for this book and thought it was really well done. McKenzie Fetters did a great job bringing Siria's story to life and it was really easy to follow. It definitely gave a little more to the scenes that I don't think physically reading would have provided. If you like audiobooks, and want something fast and easy to listen to while doing chores, definitely pick this one up!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book as fantastic!! I absolutely loved it. The writing was phenomenal.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

3/5 stars

Hhmm okay so I didn’t really like this as much as I thought I would.
The main character kinda annoyed me at times and at one point I just got bored and didn’t want to read it anymore.

I had the hardest time trying to get it on my phone and finally deleted the app to see if it would work better then forgot to retry.

Audiobook review:

I would have had a hard time finishing the book if not for the Audiobook. The narrator was great and I loved her voice a lot. My only complain is her voice for Yarrow, I know she's making her voice sound like an old man but for some reason I didn't like it. Why? I don't know, it just kind of bothered me. Besides that, I loved the way she read and the sound of her voice.

Book review:

I listened to the audiobook instead of physically reading this so I'm not really sure what to feel because I found it to have dragged on a lot until the last 50 or so pages where everything happened all at once. If I read this physically, I'm pretty sure I would have hated it and gave it a lower rating.

The whole story was cliche but the world setting was great and I liked it. I liked the diverse cast and their different magical race and powers but they lacked personality and we're superficial and troupey.

Moreover, I didn't like most of the book since the 90% of it was the journey to the mountain/summit to get Siria's maximum powers and then everything ended so shortly and too fast because most of the final battle was cut short or skipped through because Siria would be knocked out or transported somewhere else. If half the journey was cut short and more focus was on the last battle, the book would have been great because for the small parts that I read, it was well written.

Overall, it was an okay read but I definitely would have enjoyed it less if not for the audiobook. From how short the final battle was, I was at least hoping there would be a time skip to see how things changed for the better after defeating the queen but the book ended abruptly which contributed to my dissatisfaction.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

I started Ignite the Sun because the concept was interesting and listening to books while I walk the dog keeps me engaged. I am so glad I listened to this book. So in this book we have a kingdom covered by darkness and ruled by the witch queen Isabel. We also have Siria, who just wants to impress her parents. But on her 16th birthday, Siria transforms into the last sun child alive. And so sharts our adventure, with Siria tying to learn about herself, her history and how she can defeat lsabel. The concept of this story of light vs. dark, and family that Howard explored was phenomenal. Not only that, the world she created and the intricate magic system Just blew me away. But my favourite thing that really solidified my love for this book was the character growth. I hated Siria at the beginning of the story. She was spoiled, naïve and kind of useless. But her growth, her learning curve over just 2 months, was so gradual and natural that it was perfect. I was cheering Siria by the end and she is one of my all time favourites now. Her introspection, her willingness to admit her faults and the amount of love she has all beceme clear and are what truly makes this story. The concept was simple and intriguing, but the true gem of this book were the complex, realistic characters and a complex, beautifully designed world. This is a truly amazing work. Not to mention the reader was phenomenal and that made so much of a difference!

I listened to this audiobook courtesy of Netgalley. I quite enjoyed it. It was a nice break when you need a light hearted story to pass the time away. Now some may argue my “lighthearted” story. This is about the sources of light and darkness, good and evil. And It is very literal. The world is dark. No sun, just night. The queen of the night has been “good” to her people or so they think. But one child achieving womanhood will change all that. This child is the last Sun child. And the only magic being that can truly bring the sun to the dark evil queen’s land. So much of this book is traveling, or questing to get from one land to another. They have to get out of the dark lands, and into the North where Siria can fully develop her power, find her true family, and help defeat the evil queen Iyzabel. Of course there is a love interest. It wouldn’t be a YA book without it. And there is fear of doing the right thing, and the awkwardness of “shining you light” to be who you truly are and not just who your parents want you to be. I believe this is a standalone and I am happy with it. It doesn’t need a sequel, and I’m not sure I would read one if there was. The story did what it was meant to do, bring light to the darkness.

If you're looking for a good fantasy novel, stick with this one. The beginning is a little slow but by the end, I ended up really enjoying the plot and the characters. The writing did feel like it was perfect for teens and maybe even middle school students.

The narrator was this book was really good.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my free audiobook in exchange for my impartial review. This review was written voluntarily and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

(3.5 stars actual rating)

I really enjoyed this book, and it took me on a beautiful journey. I loved the plot and the magic system.

I had a problem with many of the characters, but the story was still very solid.

The audiobook narrator was great.

I recommend this for anyone looking for a nice fantasy with a bit of mystery and adventure.

Full review coming soon to my blog, links to be updated.

DNF @ 25%.

I attempted this book twice and both times I was very bored. Once I put it down, I had no desire to pick it back up. At first, I thought maybe it's not the right time for this book, so I decided to put it down for a while. I gave it another chance 5 months later and unfortunately, I don't think this book is what I'm looking for. There's nothing wrong with it. It's your typical Young Adult fantasy novel. There's nothing in it that you haven't seen before in YA, unless this is your first YA read, so if that's what you're looking for, give this book a try.

Thanks to Blink for an advanced copy.

“Tell me about the way things used to be," I pleaded. "Tell me about how the sun would light up the whole world, and about the trees being green and leafy, and about the grass, and the blue sky, and the sunlight, and birds, and magic.”

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

[4,5]

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

You can't imagine how much I loved and enjoyed this book! I laughed, (almost) cried, got angry and much more. It is a very good debut and an excellent book to start reading fantasy. I am sure that I will continue reading the work of Hanna Howard, as this is an excellent debut that leaves no doubt that her next books will be excellent.

In Ignite de Sun we find ourselves in a world in which an evil witch managed to "turn off" (in the most literal way) the sun, to keep the kingdom in shadows. For this, she killed all the sun-childs , who were men and women who obtained powers from the sun. Now the sun is just a legend Syria Nightingale dreams of. She is 16 years old and has been selected to go to the castle of Queen Iyizabel, because some girls were selected for a contest whose winner will become part of the royal court. When she reaches the castle, she will realize that everything she knew about herself is wrong, and that her destiny is (at least to try) to ignite again the sun.

It's a book… cliche, let's say it. It uses most of the cliches from fantasy, such as "'Do I have powers?" "The Lost Princess" and a few others, but they are so well told and meshed together that it seems like a fairy tale. During the novel the enormous growth of the author is noted. In the first chapters the writing and rhythm of the novel is a bit unstable, but little by little it consolidates and becomes beautiful.

Now, Syria is a character that I really like, but who sometimes makes decisions ... stupid, really. As with Feyra from aCoTaR, I love her, but sometimes I find it maddening. In general, the characters are very funny and make the novel very enjoyable.

I do not have much more to say. The audiobook was a magical experience. She had several quite interesting plot twists LIKE THE ONE AT THE END AND THE WITCH NEVER SAW IT COMING. I think it has the perfect dose of Classic High Fantasy and YA and makes this story enjoyable for everyone. BTW, the author is a super nice person on her Twitter and Insta and for that alone she deserves to have her book read hehe.

MontFort says bye!

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

This audiobook was alot of fun, but quite obviously YA and that is just not my thing. In fact, I havent much been into fantasy all year, so I think I read this not at the right time in my life. I truly enjoyed the concept and the magic in this and the plot. I just found that i knew how this was going to end and the journey there just sort of missed the mark for me. Beautiful cover and great narration. Im just going to step away from YA for a while.

This book is definitely not one I would have finished without the help of an audiobook. It is your standard, old school young adult novel, which is refreshing, but no longer something I look for in a story.

The writing was good and suited for middle to high school students. The storyline was relatively basic and nothing new, but it kept my attention. The pacing was a little strange, I felt like we were either constantly jumping from place to place or simply staying in one place for far too long.

Overall, this book was okay and kept me entertained. I just wouldn’t recommend it to many people.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Sixteen-year-old Siria Nightingale has never seen the sun, but she grew up hearing the legend of the sun from her best friend, Linden's, grandfather. Queen Iyzabel shrouded the kingdom in darkness when she ascended to the throne. Now, it is up to Siria to bring back the sunlight or die trying.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and McKenzie Fetters did a fabulous job narrating. I feel like this YA book may belong on the younger end of the spectrum. I have to say from about halfway through the book until maybe 80 or 90 percent through, I thought this was a book 1 to set up a series. Then, the story wrapped itself up very quickly and conveniently. The author set up a lot of potential for world-building, but there wasn't time to explore most elements of magical beings in the story. I would enjoy seeing the author write more stories set in this world.

From the minute this audiobook started I knew I would be hooked. And I was.

I was instantly humored by Siria's naive nature and the much loved banter between her and the love interest, Linden. Howard does an amazing job setting up this trope of childhood best friends to lovers. Their interactions and chemistry instantly ascertainable. And positively my favorite bit in the storytelling if not the best part in the reading all together. Having them on page only made me wish their back and forth teasing could go on for more pages.

The book is naturally a light read (pun?). The world building is easy to understand as it builds from worlds we are familiar with and incorporates tropes that are already standards and beloved. Lost princess, finding they have powers, evil monarchs, friends to lovers, etc etc. So while it's not all together a new story, it is a fun and enjoyable one for the right reader. A reader which I think is held within the vast majority of ya individuals that like romance and magical action with daring cross country escapes and new friends.

Overall, it's a very high 3.75 star! I almost want to round up but I just felt like the ending lacked a little bit and came across too easy. Yet, with that said, I truly recommend it in either audio or book format! I was in all honesty pleasantly surprised with this one as I went into it knowing very little.

Personal rating- 4/10

I received an audio ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Siria longs for her parent's approval. She just might get it if she is chosen as the Queen's maid in the upcoming choosing ball. On her 16th birthday- on the real one at least, she discovers powers she possesses; and this changes everything; who she is, and who the people she knows are.
16 years ago, the witch queen overthrew the royal family of Luminor and shrouded the kingdom in darkness that "protects" it. A course of events leads Siria and a few others into a quest to bring light back

I would recommend this book to someone on the "younger side" of YA. This has nothing to do with the marketing but IMO the category for which books count as a YA is too broad. A 17 y/o wouldn't be interested in the same things as a 13-year-old. As the MC of the book is 16, I am assuming this book is meant for that demographic and am reviewing it as such. I am more critical of it because I do fall into the "intended" age range, and supposedly it's intended audience.

In my humble opinion, this book is very mediocre. It can be read as a fun read when you want to switch your brain off for a while.
Credit where it is due- the story is very well-paced. And the writing is above average in some parts.
But I don't think I have more good things to say.

The narration and the narrator were... good. They did what the story needed. It didn't subtract anything from the story but unfortunately didn't add much either.

You may choose to read this if you are a plot-driven reader. I found it lacking in the character department. The characters were not well developed, they cleanly fit into one character archetype, and I did not find any substance behind what meets the eye. The Character "growth" was very abrupt and jarring.

I honestly did not care for the character dynamics. By extension, I did not care for the romance; specifically, because I found the Love Interest's character to be so shallow. I wish we had something more than the checklist of "childhood best friend".

The stakes didn't feel high enough. It's probably because I didn't see the characters struggle as they should've. They do, apparently... just.. they "struggle" off-page. I never saw the fail once, even though their plans were risky. Luckily, they had plot-armor on their side. I was not hyped for the final battle, and I did not care for the Ending.

It's not a bad book where it's entertainingly bad. It's dry, mediocre, and disappointing.

This was such a unique story. There was so much action and adventure it was fantastic. I loved this new story and people will definitely be talking about this for a while.

Enjoyed the concept of this book, however some characters I incredibly disliked with a passion.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, the writing style has similar format and ideas.

The narrator had a good voice and was a perfect choice to embody the main character. Her voice had some weird inflections sometimes but other than that I don’t have any complaints. The story itself reminded me of a mix of Shadow and Bone and Snow White. The plot was a bit of a cliche, but I still enjoyed it. I got kind of bored in the middle, but it was still a well crafted story.