The Theft of Sunlight is no ordinary YA fantasy, in the best way. It's not a light read but it is a great one. This book tackles important topics such as human trafficking, a broken justice system and disability all while infusing magic throughout.

I don't want to give too much away but, I'll just say it was a joy getting to see Rae, the main character going from being self-conscious of her disability to owning it and believing in herself. You can't help rooting for Rae as she uses her loyal-ness, fierceness and cleverness to fight for justice!

Also side note- We need the 3rd ASAP with that cliffhanger!!

Wow. I was not expecting you love this book as much as ai did. It is was simply amazing and a breath of fresh air!!

This YA fantasy novel did a fantastic job of avoiding a lot of tropes that many other YA books give in to. Differently abled, brave MC without super powers in a non-white fantasy world!

First of all, the MC is not the chosen one and doesn't have phenomenal cosmic power. She doesn't even have magic (*gasp*). What she does have is fierce determination, empathy, and a love of family. She also deals with how other people view her because she has a physical disability. Watching her deal with the prejudice and years of degradation was humbling. The setting is not full of white people, which was also refreshing. There's the HINT of a love interest but no insta love. You can really see how the two characters are building a realistic relationship built on mutual respect and ideas vs insta love or abuse (why does YA broadly romanticize abusive relationships seriously???). The MC is actually proactive and doesn't sit around waiting for the plot to happen to her (also refreshing in a YA book). 10/10

I received a free ARC from the publisher, which has not affected my review.

An incredible work from one of my favorite authors. The Theft of Sunlight follows Rae as she works to uncover the truth about the snatchers, but there are many familiar faces from Thorn. I loved getting to know those characters better, and seeing them continue to grow. The story gets moving quickly, and tackles human trafficking in a respectful way with all the gravity it deserves.

Favorite things:
Rae as a protagonist. She is so practical, principled, and uncompromising. When she’s done wrong she doesn’t excuse her actions, or let others excuse them for her. That was really cool to see, and gives the books a different feeling than a lot of other YA.

Seeing Alyrra and Kestrin working together and trusting each other more and more.

The descriptions of the weeklong wedding celebration!

Rae loves her family so much. Orphan hero/absent parents is super common in YA, so it was fun to see Rae having adventures despite having a tightknit family – and in fact drawing strength from her family’s love.

Having a protagonist with a disability that really affects her life and worldview, but in no way diminishes her dignity and autonomy.

Bren!

The cover is so beautiful!

There is no looking away from injustice.
The only choice is to journey into the dark,
in the hope of bringing light.

I'll be upfront, dear reader: I've had quite a bit of trouble writing this review. Perhaps my writing barriers are due to an excess of love because I fell into The Theft of Sunlight and want you to love it, too. So I will try to be straight-forward -- just as Rae, the no-fluff protagonist would be.

I read The Theft of Sunlight (Dauntless Path Book 2) by Intisar Khanani in a heartbeat, prior to its release in March. Just as Thorn (Dauntless Path Book 1) has the persistent Princess Alyrra as its backbone, we have Rae at the helm of Theft. I loved Alyrra's quiet strength, yet I am now thoroughly part of Team Rae. She's the older sister you wish you had in your corner, with such a fierce protectiveness for those she loves that she becomes relentless in her quest to find her best friend's missing sister and solve the mystery of the snatched. A country girl taking on kingdom-wide challenges? Rae is no mage or fae, yet she steps up to the intimidating task.

Rae comes from the small village of Sheltershorn, where she works on her family's horse ranch, protects her sister Niya's secret, and indulges her youngest sister Bean's eccentric enthusiasms. She's so busy caring for others, though, that she leaves little for herself, merely tolerating her clubfoot amid the stigma she experiences daily. Yet her life with her beloved family and friends is largely comfortable -- until her best friend's sister is kidnapped. Rae's love and loyalty propel her to capitol of Tarinon, where she uses all her wits to navigate court politics and thief lord territories to discover the truth.

Although Theft is technically the first book in a duology, it's helpful to read Thorn beforehand (see my review). It is there that we are first introduced to the richly diverse kingdom of Menaiya and meet several characters who reappear in Theft. It is also there that we learn about the snatched, children (or sometimes healthy young adults) who are mysteriously taken from public places. Some of them are injured in the process. Some are able to escape, but become empty shells of themselves. But often, they disappear without a trace.

We learn much more about the problem in this book, as power and magic create even more complexities. The magical system interwoven into the world and the horrors of snatching is one of the most interesting I've read in a while. Rae's relentless commitment -- and frequent snooping -- shake the status quo and lead her down dangerous paths to learn what is really happening. Yet as intriguing and exciting as this quest is, the story doesn't shy from the ugly. The novel is heartbreaking to read at some points, as snatching mirrors modern day human trafficking. But it's a magic-tinged adventure that makes me hold my breath, wanting to know what happens next, no matter how terrible it might be. (It might even involve jumping out of a window.)

Despite the heroism and harrowing deeds in this novel, this is no Cinderella story. Despite multiple attempts at making a country girl "more acceptable," especially after Rae enters court life, she remains stubbornly -- sometimes painfully -- herself. Her disability never disappears. She is all too aware of her humble upbringing and her clubfoot, which earns her frequent stares, derogatory remarks, and even horrible pain because a shoemaker can't accept that her foot won't fit the literal mold of his "normal" slippers.

Instead, this is a story of self-embrace: as Rae learns to more fully accept all parts of herself, she becomes fuller rather than "less than." She begins to stand up for herself, rather than focusing all of her energies on others' needs. She even opens up to the idea that she can be seen and loved by others just as she is. It's a rough and winding road, but like a whetstone, the journey sharpens Rae. Khanani presents and navigates physical disability in a nuanced way, without sentimentality or victimization.

Then, just as Rae finds strength and renewed purpose in her search ... there is a devastating cliffhanger! I was simultaneously shattered and thrilled. I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel -- and hopefully you'll feel the same way, too.

For a preview of Rae, her family, and a mysterious visitor, read "The Bone Knife," a short story included at the end of Thorn.


///

Trigger warning: Physical abuse, violence, human trafficking, disability stigma

Note: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to HarperTeen and NetGalley for the opportunity!

Rae is a cripple in everyone's eyes, nothing will ever become of her. At least that is Rae's outlook on everyone else's thoughts. Rae's lifelong goal is to grow old with her sister in their parents home, each looking after the other. Because although Rae's difference is evident, her sister's is not and no-one can know what it is.

Although she doesn't know it, Rae's life changes that day she goes to the market with her family and that of her very best friend. The day her best friend's sister is snatched. And no-one can find her.

Shortly after, Rae goes to the capital at her cousins request to be her companion. Cousin Melly is a member of the court and needs someone from her family with her. After arriving at the court, Rae is asked to work for a member of the Royal family and though reluctant at first, she seems to grow to like her new employer.

There is danger all around from the infighting within the court and from outside the Palace walls. Rae falls prey to that and is kidnapped. That is when her real adventure begins.

Intisar has put a lot of depth and detail into her book. The characters are realistic and the reader will most likely warm to them (depending on the nature of the character of course - you wouldn't warm to an evil baddy, would you now?).

I haven't covered half of what goes on in the book, I really don't want to spoil it for anyone. It is an extremely engaging read and although she says that she didn't want to run it over into another book, Intisar has actually written the right amount to make the story work, which means that she is going to have to continue the story in another book. And I will be very happy to read the second in the series when it is published.

5/5 ⭐️
Where will I start! I love it SO much! Rae was introduce in the later part of Thorn, actually a short story about her and her loving family ‘The Bone Knife’. Then her real story unravel in The Theft of Sunlight, you’ll get to know more about the title while you read the book. A very fitting one indeed for me!

Amraeya, her closest call her Rae. A happy, sometimes a grumpy/tempered young lady, a loving sister, daughter and a friend. That has been appointed as a royal attendant to Alyrra, you knew her if you read Thorn, such an endearing princess, its like a cameo on a movie but she’s a part of the story as well. She grab this opportunity to be part in the palace to know more about the mysterious missing of children in their village which is close to her heart as one her friend kidnapped by the snatchers. She wants to know more about it and may shed some light about this problem and find her friend. And from there, she’s been in a great deal of adventures and challenges that keep her going inspite of her disability. Plot twist and mysteries cover this lovely writing! Personally i love plot twist and my guts telling me about some stenching character here! Oooh! I want to head this one! My heart is pounding, literally while reading Rae’s adventure and obstacles. It may be a little darker than Thorn but i believe its for the better of the story/plot/world building. I want to tell everything to you guys but Im controlling myself not to, and see for yourself how good the writing is. And see for yourself how Rae discovering herself while the story goes. All i can say is that everything happens to let you want more of this book! Ms. Khanani did an amazing masterpiece! So grab your copy now and lets have a chat after! Can’t contain my feelings about it!
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If you’ve been following along with my posts for a while, you’ll know that this year hasn’t been the best time for my reading. And if you’ve been following me for a long time, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Intisar Khanani’s work. My review of Thorn dates back to the second year of this blog. In the time since then, Thorn was picked up by a major publisher, revised and rereleased last year. The Theft of Sunlight is Khanani’s first full-length work since 2016 and serves as something of a companion novel to Thorn. It also proved the perfect book to bust through my reading slump.

The kingdom of Menaiya has been plagued for years by Snatchers stealing their children. No one knows who these Snatchers are, and those few children who manage to escape risk a curse awakening in their blood that leaves them a husk of their former self. The only cure for this curse also wipes their memory… and any clue as to the identity of the Snatchers. When the sister of a friend is the latest to go missing, Rae decides to travel from her family’s horse ranch to stay with a cousin in the royal court. There, she hopes to persuade someone to investigate properly. Instead, she finds that someone is her when she is recruited to serve as an attendant to the foreign princess about to marry into the Menaiyan royal family.

Thorn and The Theft of Sunlight have something of a complicated relationship. Thorn was a retelling of the Goose Girl set in an original, richly imagined world. The Theft of Sunlight is not a retelling. Instead it has taken the world set up by Thorn and built on it, filling out some of the elements and themes. Although it’s not a direct sequel, the characters of Thorn are still present and get plenty of screen time. The Theft of Sunlight gives enough context that it can stand alone reasonably well. But for a full appreciation of the nuances of what’s going on (and if you care at all about spoilers), I’d highly recommend first reading Thorn and The Bone Knife (a short story included in the 2020 republication of Thorn).

While I enjoyed seeing more of Princess Alyrra and Prince Kestrin, Rae is undeniably the star of the show. She is pragmatic, down-to-earth and deeply loyal. But she does not give that loyalty blindly. Indeed, she has some serious misgivings about serving the Princess after her first day on the job. Even her cousin’s husband is treated with a wary affection, for while she likes him and approves of his deep love of her cousin, Rae is also aware that Lord Filadon is a nobleman through and through, with his own agenda and manipulations.

Rae is not without her flaws, however. She is blunt-spoken and somewhat prickly because she is used to being judged by her disability. She is also aware of her own tendency to be similarly judgemental, particularly when she feels someone is too pretty to be trusted. Her self-awareness and resolve to do better makes her more sympathetic.

As well as continuing the story of some of Thorn‘s characters, The Theft of Sunlight also picks up some of its themes. In particular, it touches on the risks of living as a young woman. It is not always safe to walk the streets alone in certain neighbourhoods; sometimes it’s not even safe in company. This was present in Thorn, too, but The Theft of Sunlight takes it one step further, showing how much of self defence relies on the notion of being able to run. But what does one do when one isn’t able to run?

Another theme that is expanded upon is the rule of law versus the honour of thieves. Both books in the series show a broken justice system where victims are ignored or gaslighted. When the guards aren’t interested in investigating, the protagonists have turned to thieves for help and a more makeshift kind of justice. While this turns out reasonably okay in Thorn, the limitations are highlighted in The Theft of Sunlight. Not all thieves are honourable or loveable (though some definitely are). And in some cases, Rae’s alliance with Red Hawk brought her significantly more trouble.

Issues of justice, human trafficking, abuse and questionable power dynamics aren’t exactly light going. I found them balanced out with the author’s trademark style. While there are some absolutely awful people, her protagonists genuinely care about others. They are concerned with kindness and doing the right thing. Nor are they alone, since there are affectionate moments with many secondary characters. It’s a tone I feel will appeal to fans of The Goblin Emperor and the work of Becky Chambers.

Investigative novels can get a bit bogged down with talking between characters and thinking through the clues. However, the pace here remained good with enough action to keep things lively. The one downside is that the story finished on a terrible cliffhanger, with the sequel not expected until next year.


I can’t wait.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Wonderful, just wonderful!
I wasn't able to finish this before the release date, sadly, because of exams and finally I have! I love the world Intisar has created, unlike any other. The plot was amazing, the characters brilliant. Rae is such a sweetheart, always doing good. I love how the author showed us that despite being lame(or any other disease) we could do anything. Loved this beauty!

4.5 stars!💖

This book is beautifully crafted, the world building is amazing, and the characters are sympathetic and even when you hate them you love them.

If you enjoyed Thorn, you will like this book too.
If you haven’t read Thorn yet, you could probably read this book without reading Thorn, as it follows a different character. There are some things that you might not quite “get” without reading Thorn though.
I enjoyed this additional story set in the world of Thorn. I was glad to see royal wedding and to see what happened to some of the characters from the first book.
This book is told from the perspective of a new character, Rae. She’s a great character and has a disability. I loved that this story included a main character with a disability that is absolutely a heroine. At first, she is very self-conscious of her disability. While in many ways she accepts it and doesn’t let it stop her, she still struggles with believing in her own worth. But as the book continues, she fully accepts herself and her own value which I loved.
This story focuses on a situation we were introduced to in Thorn, disappearing children. It’s believed that the children are being sold into slavery, but we don’t know who is involved and where the children are going. Rae slowly unravels the mystery, but with lots of adventure along the way.
This one ends with a cliffhanger- so be prepared. I need the next book. I must find out what happens to Rae.
The only thing I didn’t like was the Princess’s brother. He’s just one of those evil characters who seems to exist just to be cruel. I can’t figure out what his point in this part of the story is supposed to be. I assume he has a role to play at some point though.
Thank-you Intisar Khanani, HarperTeen, and Netgalley for providing this free arc in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Yeah, the cliffhanger is rough and it is in a frustrating place. To be fair however, the book is over 500 pages long. There's a lot of story there. Also, I believe the author has committed to finishing this series one way or another, so things won't be up in the air forever.

Rae is a likeable character overall. She takes herself a little too seriously at times, but she's also very brave when needed. She is fiercely protective of anyone she thinks needs her protection. Kind of a big sister to the whole world. I also liked that she doesn't let her physical circumstances hold her back or lessen her expectations of herself. One of the other main characters, the lovable rogue with a heart of gold type, fell a little flat for me, but Rae was great. This book also has some satisfying closure that was missing from Alyrra's story in Thorn.

The Theft of Sunlight is a wonderfully approached exploration of what it means to be an atypical YA protagonist. With its multicultural background and characters who defy categorisation, it questions the structures that society has put in place.

More thoughts in near future, until then you can find my thoughts and my chat with the author here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qOLBymQgyt4

The Theft of Sunlight is the first book in a companion duology to Thorn, which was released last year. Some of the subjects that were in the background in Thorn are now getting a more center focus. One of them being the dissapearence of so many children out of the kingdom.

Rae is a no nonsense kind of girl which happens often when you grow up in a small town. Even more so when people see your disability as a weakness. She has a club foot. She wants to be seen for herself and not for the foot that she has. But she sees it tainting people's view of her very often. Her disability is a theme thorughout the book as it is so much a part of her life.

We follow her from her small town to the main city and the royal court when she goes to visit her cousin. There she gets tangled up in the web of the politics of courts when she becomes the attendant of the foreign princess Alyra. And while she doesn't really want that, she can't help herself trying to get to the bottom of who is taking children from the kingdom.

Rae is just great to follow as she mostly has a good head on her shoulders. However she really doesn't know when to let go of things. She is strong but gentle to those around her. She will not let you hurt those she loves. That in combination with her kindness is what seems to draw others towards her even though I don't think that is something she really realizes herself. She doesn't always see her own worth, always down playing it.

I got so swept up in the story of finding the lost children with Rae, that even though I had a pretty good idea of who the traitor was for instance, it never took the tension out of the story for me. Intisar always manages to keep a momentum going in a story. Taking the time to let things fall into place but still going forward.

Which is why it was horribly annoying to realize that this book ended up on a type of cliffhanger without even any kind of smooching for Rae. I say boo! I need to know what happens next!

While it is a companion duology, it is also a continuation of Thorn in its own way. So I would suggest you read Thorn before picking up The Theft of Sunlight. You get a better feeling for some of the background themes of the book like the abuse of Alyra. It is also very interesting to see how Alyra is faring after the events of Thorn, and seeing her from someone else's perspective after having that adventure with her.

So Theft of Sunlight is just another great book by Intisar Khanani. Very worth it to invest in.

A creative and compelling story with great characters!

The Theft of Sunlight is a book with beautiful writing and an interesting story with incredible world building, complex and engaging protagonists, equally complex and intriguing supporting characters, and very real themes. It was such a blast to read.

At the center of the story is Rae our main character who has navigated through her entire life as a woman with a physical handicap, but she doesn’t let her own personal challenges get the better of her. We see her step out of her comfort zone, realize how much more capable she really is and come into her own. I love her interaction and dynamics with the other characters, especially the thief Bren. She gets into so many interesting and, more often than not, dangerous situations in her determination to find the truth, but she doesn’t let setbacks or fear stop her from doing what she believes is right. She’s simply cool and awesome.

And as if having a strong main character isn’t enough, Theft also has a story that’s compelling. Children are disappearing and there’s something dark and twisted behind it. There’s also some cool magic stuff, but it’s not overwhelming (though I’m hoping there will be more in the next book!). This book is a bit long, but it has some exciting bits that make you want to keep reading until you get to the *brutal* ending. Eep.

I highly recommend checking out The Theft of Sunlight. I truly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one!

I adored Thorn when I read it, so I was thrilled when I found out Intisar Khanani was writing more novels in the same world! While I would 100% reccommend Thorn, if you’d rather dive straight in with The Theft of Sunlight you completely can. It’s set after the events of Thorn so there are spoilers, but this can be read on its own.

I’m not quite as into YA fantasy as I used to be, but Intisar Khanani’s writing is so incredibly engaging I’ll pick up anything she writes (and there’s some back list titles to keep me going before her next release!).

The central plot line of the novel is a dark one. Children are disappearing, assumed kidnapped by child traffickers. But the balance between showing how terrible and serious things are, without the story going down a path that is too dark and hard to read is really wonderfully done. These big events, and the constant danger comes amongst some lighter moments resulting in a really compelling read.

It was great to see a lead character (Rae) with a disability. And while it’s naturally a big part of her life (and makes things difficult at times), it doesn’t define her. Now I can’t comment on the rep specifically, but I was really glad to see it in a fantasy novel.

There were some really great characters and relationships through this. But what really captured my heart was the friendship that grew between Rae and Alyrra. I was thrilled to see more of the princess, and the two of them have personalities which really balance each other out well.

Word of warning, the downside of this book is that it leaves you on a cliffhanger! But that’ll just leave you all the more excited to the duology. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait too long!

Thanks to netgalley ,Intisar Khanani and harperteen for the e-arc of this amazing book.

Synopsis: Welcome back to Menaiya. This is a companion novel to Thorn ,but follows a different protagonist and is part of a duology. Amraeya or fondly Rae , is supposed to be giving her pregnant cousin company, but ends up becoming Princess Alyrra' s attendant. While she is at it, she tries to unravel the mystery of Snatchers; who kidnap children and women from Menaiya. As Rae is drawn into the darker secrets of the Kingdom, she is confused as to who is trustworthy and who isn't. Will she be able to unravel the Meniyan secrets , and at what cost?

Reasons to read this book:
1.Menaiya: This fantasy Kingdom has its own share of secrets and magic, which were not fully revealed in Thorn. Lemme be honest, your fantasy loving heart needs it.

2. The Characters: The main character , Rae is a badass heroine, who is both brave and unapologetic. Alyrra , the princess you've seen in Thorn is no more the timid girl, but rightfully the Menaiyan Princess .The ring of thieves in Menaiya are gonna leave you astounded with "thief's honour ".

3. Representation: Since when did you get a main character, who is both disabled and brown? Her difficulties with clubfoot are shed light upon.

4. The writing style: How can you write a second book in the same world as your first book and still be able to keep your readers guessing about the characters they are already familiar with? I read this book after reading Thorn and knew the backstory of the the princess, but reading from Rae's viewpoint made me keep guessing as to what these characters would do next. The author has managed to keep the element of mystery surrounding Menaiya intact. The prose is quite captivating .

4. Relevant issues: Issues as human trafficking and child abuse are dealt with, though , in a fantasy world.

Rating: 3.8/5 (I saw that twist coming- else worth 4✨) .

Trigger warning: child trafficking, violence.

Similar to Thorn, but darker, and a cliffhanger

To be clear, I love Intisar Khanani’s writing to this point. I have all her books and have read them multiple times. I read Thorn again, right before reading The Theft of Sunlight for the final time. (I read The Theft of Sunlight through from beginning to end four times before writing this review.) I believe that Thorn, Sunbolt, and Memories of Ash are not only brilliantly written, but deserve to be saved among the classic fantasy novels, right alongside Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix, Brandon Sanderson, C.S. Lewis, etc.

I am ambivalent about The Theft of Sunlight. There is much to love about Theft. The world-building is absolutely brilliant, the characters are distinct with unique voices, the plotting is suitably twisty. Rae is truly a ray of hope, a ray of light in a dark world, in more ways than one. Theft is absolutely worth reading… if you understand what you’re getting into or if you’re reading this after the next book is published.

Theft is a bit darker than Thorn and the message gets somewhat heavy-handed in places, especially near the end, which is one of my quibbles. I wish these younger authors would learn a little subtlety in their crusades for social justice and tone it down a bit. Luckily, Khanani is not so heavy-handed as some others that I’ve read lately. At least she doesn’t pause for multiple righteous monologues throughout the book, although Khanani has a character’s inner monologue at the end that almost gets there.

I think authors sometimes forget that they are preaching to the choir and assume their readers are close-minded, social justice illiterates who need to be beaten about the head and shoulders with ideals that should be subtly woven into the story. Authors, for the record, we’re reading your books because we like your writing, and we probably like your writing because we have very similar worldviews. Please give us a little credit.

My truly major beef with Theft is something that made me so angry at the end of the book the first time that I read it that I could have cheerfully thrown it into the trash if I hadn’t been reading it on my tablet. I was truly angry when I finished The Theft of Sunlight.

Khanani did something that I detest, something I try to avoid reading at all costs. She wrote a cliffhanger. Major cliffhanger. Basically, only one plot point is addressed: we find out who the major bad guy is (or one of them) just a few pages from the end. That’s it. I was so angry, I couldn’t even think of a way to review Theft. It took me month to be able to pick it up again to read. And another month before reading it the third time. It was a bit easier on the fourth read because I’d gotten a lot of the anger out of the way and I was committed to write a review.

Khanani addresses the cliffhanger in her acknowledgements: “I am so grateful to be able to share it with you now, dear reader, even if it has morphed into a duology and forced me to do the one thing I promised myself I would never do: write a cliffhanger. Sorry about that! ;)”

So… you did something that you promised yourself that you would never do it because you obviously know it’s not fair to readers – and you think a wink justifies it? Why did you sell your readers out?

So, no, sorry... I guess I’m still angry, even after reading Theft four times. (And, yes, I admit that I will be reading the next book.) However, I’m not letting you off the hook because you tried to pass it off with a wink. I’m giving you a break because I like your writing and stories overall. You should have wrapped up enough of the story that it felt like a better stopping point, rather than simply ending it on a total cliffhanger. The end of Theft feels as if you had a larger book and simply spun a roulette wheel to see what page you’d break it on. You sold us a book with no logical stopping point. Not cool. For me, this is your one and only saving throw. If I hit another cliffhanger, I’m moving Khanani from my must-buy list to my “buy only after each series is complete” list.

TW: violence, human trafficking

Children have been getting snatched across Menaiya for years. They seem to vanish into thin air, and even magic can't track them. That doesn't stop Rae from trying when her friend's sister is among those taken, but there's only so much she can do. When her cousin invites her to the royal court, Rae only goes so she can ask questions about the snatchers and what is being done to stop them. But there are no easy answers, and instead of active concern for the stolen children, what she finds is a huge gap between the rich and the poor and not much care for the latter. The new princess seems to be an exception, however, and might turn out to be a strong ally if they can learn to trust each other. But there's a reason nobody has found out who the snatchers are yet, and Rae soon finds herself thrust in dangerous situations, forced to rely on a thief's honour as she continues her search.

I don't know what to gush over first, but it seems only fair to begin with Rae, since this is her story. I absolutely loved her. Fiercely protective of those she considers family, pragmatic, brave, sarcastic, prickly, sensitive, insecure. There are so many layers to her, and I loved uncovering them as the story unfolded. Her flashes of self-insight made my heart ache for her, and I have a feeling Rae's arc will feel just as satisfying when we get to the end of it as Alyrra's did.

Speaking of Alyrra! I LOVED HER EVEN MORE THIS BOOK. Is that possible? Apparently so. The slow burn romance that was just beginning to kindle in Thorn is now blossoming. The moments between Kestrin and Alyrra made me grin with giddy happiness, and their wedding was beautifully described. The Middle Eastern/Asian influences are even more apparent here, and yes, we do have fabulous weddings. I really enjoyed all the rituals and the festivities, but what I loved even more were the moments where Alyrra shows her quiet strength. Those moments had me going "YEAH YEAH", and I was thrilled to see her stand her ground the way she did.

The plot kept me hooked throughout the book. I remember all too well how characters were made to suffer sometimes in Thorn, so every potentially dangerous situation put me slightly on edge. The story also feels urgent, even as we spend time exploring the relationship between Alyrra, Kestrin, and their families and countries. But none of it feels like a distraction or like it's taking focus away from the missing children.

If that isn't enough to entice you to read this, let me add that this book also features:
- a disabled main character
- POC
- a mysterious thief who is a potential love interest?
- all the feels (really, all of them. the entire range of emotion)
- amazing writing

It's still early, but I'm calling it: this will be one of my favourite books this year.

Intisar Khanani seems to have a knack for writing strong female characters that do not fit the mold of a traditional fantasy heroine. This alone will have me coming back to read more of her work.