The Theft Of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani, Published by Hot Key Books

INTISAR Khanani’s widely adored fantasy series, Dauntless Path, which began with Thorn, introduced Young Adult readers to a new kind of fairytale detailing the struggles of Princess Alyrra and her people.

The much awaited next instalment of this captivating exploration of class, secrets and all the best things that can be done with the conventions of the fantasy genre does not disappoint.

While it follows on from the plot of Thorn, takes place in the same world and is certainly a sequel, there is a change of the perspective of the novel, introducing us to a new character with different problems and causes who on her journey to do the right thing for her friends, family and the kingdom as a whole stumbles across characters and references readers will remember from the first book, particularly the involvement of Princess Alyrra.

The two stories, though separate are undoubtedly intertwined, deepening an understanding of and interest in the world.

In a small town within the kingdom of Menaiya lives 18-year-old Amraeya Ni Ansarim, or Rae to her friends, whose family live a seemingly simple and peaceful life, raising and selling horses.

However, her sister Niya is one of the few blessed and cursed with magical abilities and so the family hides her from the authorities for fear she’ll be taken from them and put to work. All across Menaiya children have been disappearing at the hands of perfectly coordinated and unseen villains suspected to be selling those they take into slavery.

Rae herself was born with her foot shaped differently which often makes it harder to walk and has resulted in the teasing of many in her town. She manages it and has access to a cobbler who knows how to somewhat ease the difficulty and pain. Rae has never thought of herself as a hero.

This belief must change however, and fast, when the younger sister of her best friend is taken by The Snatchers and no one seems to know what to do about it. Any children who manage to escape become cursed with The Darkness, an illness that slowly destroys their minds if they attempt to tell what happened to them.

This haunts Rae but despite her rage, the kidnappers remain in the shadows.

However, when her cousin Melly, having married a lord, invites Rae to court and gets a job attending to the Princess Alyrra on the lead up to her wedding, everything changes.

The politics of high society are unappealing to her until she discovers how much more there is to it all. Her friendship with the princess and their mutual desire to stop The Snatchers sets her on an exciting journey full of picking up whispered conversations, all kinds of magic, intrigue and twists and turns.

I would recommend this book to teenagers looking for a fantasy series that is both reminiscent of classic tropes of fairytales while still managing to tell a story that comes across fresh, bold and unique.