Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani Review

"The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.

When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life."

NetGalley! Thanks for the copy.  

Now, let me say that the synopsis explains the world of Sunbolt better than the book itself. It is a bit sad, but it is much more... interesting that Sunbolt's synopsis is better than the book's explanation. Without reading the synopsis, I had no idea what the book was about. It was until I read the synopsis after I finished the book when everything made sense (yes, I don't really like reading the synopsis. Sometimes they give things away. Like 50 percent of the plot). 

Let's talk about Hitomi. She is... a static character throughout the book. Yes, she does meet someone (not going to say who, because that would be spoilers). Yes, she is interesting, but I feel like there is something missing with her. Something like... warmth. 

The plot is a bit strange in Sunbolt. It feels like the story is over at 80 percent of the book (okay, this is a minor piece of spoilers), and the ending kind of... just went on for too long. Sometimes, endings should be cut short. Resolutions, short. Don't repeat information. Don't lead the readers around in circle (or partial circles). Especially with that "feelings" thing. (Hitomi and... that other dude). 

The world of Sunbolt is not intriguing. I didn't find it... fascinating. Magic. Ehh... I won't even bat an eye if Hitomi herself showed up in front of me and disabled blood magic. (And yes, that is what I had felt when I read that part). 

I was like... Okay. Move on. 

No lasting feeling. No attachment. That was me. 

I don't know if Sunbolt is right for you, but Sunbolt is definitely not right for me. The entire book bored me greatly (I'm sorry, but my mind tends to wander frequently), and I couldn't really get into it. Get invested into it.

Sunbolt, in conclusion, is a boring book for me. Not my cup of tea even though I thought some parts were good. I was pretty much unscathed while reading the book (and I meant that figuratively, thank you). So Sunbolt doesn't interest me very much, and I could had been sleeping while "reading" through it. 

Just not my piece of cake.

Rating: One out of Five