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Ignite the Sun

Hanna Howard (Goodreads Author)

3.58 · Rating details · 370 ratings · 255 reviews

Once upon a time, there was something called the sun... In a kingdom ruled by an evil witch, the sun is just part of a legend about light-filled days of old. Luckily for everybody in the kingdom, Siria Nightingale is headed to the heart of the darkness to try and restore the light--or she will lose everything trying.

Sixteen year-old Siria Nightingale has never seen the ...more

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Hardcover, 352 pages

Published August 18th 2020 by Blink

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· 370 ratings · 255 reviews

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Aug 19, 2020 Miranda Reads rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, audiobook, received-to-review

New Month, New Tierlist BookTube Video is up - click the link to check out my August Reading Vlog!

The Written Review

Siria Nightingale has spent her entire life in darkness.

And no, she wasn't locked up in a cold cellar. Her entire world is literally shrouded in darkness.

Queen Iyzabel always told her people that the light is dangerous and has hidden her kingdom for protection...and while Siria can't quite put her finger on it...something felt off. Very off.

On the eve of her s ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Renaissance Kate rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, read-in-2020, fantasy-reads

Although it took me awhile to finish this book, Ignite the Sun included several elements I rather enjoyed, leading me to give it a solid 3 stars.

My favorite part of this book was by far the worldbuildling. Going into the story, I didn’t know Terra-Volat was inhabited by nymphs, elves, dwarves, naiads, banshees, and more. When these mystical creatures appeared on the page, I was pleasantly surprised and excited to see what roles they would play in Siria’s story. This made for an incredibly intere ...more

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May 03, 2020 Alaina rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, 2020-arcs, fiction, young-adult, 2020-ng, fantasy, mythology, may-2020

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not going to lie, I couldn't put Ignite the Sun down. It was just so interesting and entertaining from the very first page. In it, you will meet Siria. She is sort of living a double life and doesn't know what is fact or fiction until people basically tell her. Even after finding out the truth of who she really is, and who her family actually is, still takes forever for her to believe it.

The amount of times she questions ev ...more

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Apr 16, 2020 jessica rated it liked it

a pretty decent debut novel, but its not without its flaws.

all of my concerns have to do with the writing/storytelling. the writing is perhaps a tad too simplistic and the storytelling is a little too convenient for my personal preferences. when ‘opposition’ is present, something random saves the day or the MC passes out, so there really is no tension for the reader to experience. and although the concept and characters are unique, there is no depth or development or any kind of world-building. ...more

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Aug 17, 2020 Lou rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Once upon a time, there was something called the sun … In a kingdom ruled by a witch, the sun is just part of a legend about Light-filled days of old. But now Siria Nightingale is headed to the heart of the darkness to try and restore the Light—or lose everything trying. Sixteen-year-old Siria Nightingale has never seen the sun. That’s because Queen Iyzabel shrouded the kingdom in shadow upon her ascent to the throne, with claims it would protect her subjects from the dangerous Light.

The Darknes Once upon a time, there was something called the sun … In a kingdom ruled by a witch, the sun is just part of a legend about Light-filled days of old. But now Siria Nightingale is headed to the heart of the darkness to try and restore the Light—or lose everything trying. Sixteen-year-old Siria Nightingale has never seen the sun. That’s because Queen Iyzabel shrouded the kingdom in shadow upon her ascent to the throne, with claims it would protect her subjects from the dangerous Light.

The Darkness has always left Siria uneasy, and part of her still longs for the stories of the Light-filled days she once listened to alongside her best friend Linden, told in secret by Linden’s grandfather. But Siria’s need to please her strict and demanding parents means embracing the dark and heading to the royal city—the very centre of Queen Izybel’s power—for a chance at a coveted placement at court. And what Siria discovers at the Choosing Ball sends her on a quest toward the last vestiges of Light, alongside a ragtag group of rebels who could help her restore the sun … or doom the kingdom to shadow forever.

Ignite the Sun is a compelling young adult high fantasy novel and very much follows the style of traditional, lyrical fantasies. The world is so lush and richly-imagined that becoming immersed in it is effortless and the beguiling magic system is creative, engaging and completely enchanting. This fresh-feeling debut strikes the same vein as old school fairytales and is complete with nymphs, banshees and witches. The cast of characters is superbly wrought and so vivid that I found they came alive on the page.

It moves at a perfect pace with the author weaving mental health issues into the narrative; these are dotted throughout but the author never strays into becoming preachy or letting such issues take over the story. The light and darkness of the narrative are metaphors for the light/dark times experienced by those suffering from mental health issues, and especially depression. It's the perfect escape for these troubling times and I'm sure readers will adore it as much as I did. There is mythology woven throughout adding a fascinating depth to it all. Siria is a great protagonist and ultimately this is her journey of self-discovery. Many thanks to Blink for an ARC. ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 Danielle rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-stars, reviewed, arc, 2020-reads

~ I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

Darkness overwhelms the kingdom of Umbraz that is ruled by an evil witch queen, who despises and fears the light-filled ways of the old. She deems the sun, and those who thrive within it, as evil and seeks to destroy anything that is a threat to her regime – including the last sunchild, a nymph with the ability to harness the powers of the sun.

Generally I enjoyed this story, particularly the mythology as it inclu ~ I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

Darkness overwhelms the kingdom of Umbraz that is ruled by an evil witch queen, who despises and fears the light-filled ways of the old. She deems the sun, and those who thrive within it, as evil and seeks to destroy anything that is a threat to her regime – including the last sunchild, a nymph with the ability to harness the powers of the sun.

Generally I enjoyed this story, particularly the mythology as it included some non-typical creatures and some fascinating lore; the most intriguing was that of witches, as their ability to steal powers and twist them into a sinister juxtaposition was undoubtedly horrifying yet exciting. Honestly, I’d love to have had more information on witches and ultimately, I would have liked to have seen more of the villains’ perspective throughout the text, as I believe it would have added more variety and depth that was missing in places. I simply felt that I misunderstood the motives and this addition would have made the character feel less two dimensional.

Often, I found that to be the problem with the majority of the characters – they lacked depth. This meant I didn’t gain a connection with them and therefore didn’t particularly care about their contribution to the story, because it felt like the narrative could have been accomplished even if they were absent.

In terms of the romantic side, it felt forced and uncomfortable, and overall just didn’t sit right with me. It wasn’t a gradual build up or discovery of emotions, Siria appeared to be obsessed with Linden straight away, with no obvious indication that the feelings were mutual, which created this stiff awkwardness. If perhaps this relationship had more development behind it, I would have been more interested in Linden as a character, it would have created more complexity.

Unfortunately the lack of depth of characters strongly influenced my enjoyment and rating; connecting to the figures within a text is exceptionally important and I just didn’t find myself strongly caring about them like I should. However, it was still eventful and exciting, and whilst not everyone grew as individuals, Siria went from being quite an irritating, whiny child, to a powerful and inspirational nymph, which I can say I took great pleasure in witnessing. ...more

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Aug 22, 2020 Jovana rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ☀️ 2.5 stars ☀️

"Once upon a time, there was something called the sun..."

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Siria Nightingale has always hated the darkness and wanted to see the sun, which she had never seen before, only heard stories of. But since she lived in a kingdom where it is told by Queen Iyzabel that the light is dangerous, all of the kingdom is kept in darkness.

When Siria attends the Choosing Ball, for a chance at a place in Queen Iyzabel's court, something happens that changes her ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 *Thea 'Wookiee'sMama' Wilson* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Ignite The Sun is a brilliant debut novel and Hanna Howard has created a wonderful story with a rich mythology and some very interesting and realistic characters that only add to the feel of the book.

The pacing is fast and pulls no punches which leaves you with a simply fantastic debut fantasy book.

I personally will look forward to seeing where this author will go next.

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Aug 14, 2020 Kathryn Speckels (Metaphors and Miscellanea) rated it liked it

Though I did have mixed feelings on the book, especially the plotting and narrative structure, my overall impression was still definitely a favorable one. Howard has crafted an engaging fantasy universe full of Things We Love To See, like elemental magic, multiple varieties of magical creatures (including things that resemble dragons, mermaids, and banshees, among others), and a resistance movement against a straight-up evil queen. There is a classic light-versus-darkness battle, with the added ...more

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Sep 25, 2020 Natalie rated it really liked it

I received an audio version of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Ignite the sun is a beautiful light vs dark fantasy book that has elemental magic and creatures that are both intriguing and well described. I loved the romance element entwined within this story and found it slotted in very well. I was fascinated with the cover and blurb of this book and was captivated with the idea of a 'sun child' and a world where sunlight and stars were le ...more

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Aug 19, 2020 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, magic, arcs-and-galleys, review-copy, young-adult

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/08/23/...

“Once upon a time, there was something called the sun…”

And with this irresistible premise, Hanna C. Howard’s debut Ignite the Sun had my full attention (though that heart-stoppingly stunning cover didn’t hurt either). The novel’s protagonist is sixteen-year-old Siria Nightingale, who has never once in her life seen the light of the sun or felt the warmth of its rays. That’s because long ago, the kingdom’s tyrannical Quee 3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/08/23/...

“Once upon a time, there was something called the sun…”

And with this irresistible premise, Hanna C. Howard’s debut Ignite the Sun had my full attention (though that heart-stoppingly stunning cover didn’t hurt either). The novel’s protagonist is sixteen-year-old Siria Nightingale, who has never once in her life seen the light of the sun or felt the warmth of its rays. That’s because long ago, the kingdom’s tyrannical Queen Iyzabel decreed the sun dangerous and has since used her magical powers to shroud her entire realm in darkness, claiming to protect her subjects.

Still, despite not knowing what a life in the sun means at all, Siria somehow misses the light. Deep down, she also knows she’s different from the other girls at the uppercrust school she attends, and it’s not just because her flaming red hair and freckles make her stand out. She can’t help but be fascinated by the sun, and the only two people who seem to understand this yearning are her best friend Linden and his grandfather Yarrow, who frequently regales the children with stories of the good old sunlit days.

But then came the Choosing Ball, an opulent event in which the kingdom’s elite vie for a place on the royal court. However, what should have been Siria’s opportunity to prove herself instead turns into a night of explosions and complete disaster when she is revealed to be a long lost Sunchild, creatures of pure light magic that have been outlawed by Queen Iyzabel. At long last, Siria discovers the truth of why she’s so different, but now that her identity is out, she is marked for death. With the help of Yarrow and Linden, she manages to escape, but then receives another shock as her traveling companions admit they are not who she thinks they are. In fact, Yarrow is a mage and Linden is a wood elf, and the two of them have been watching over her all these years, waiting to help her realize her powers and return her to her true people.

Over the years I’ve read my fair share of YA fantasy, and in that time I’ve been exposed to a great number of tropes and conventions which the genre has thrown my way, and I have to say many of these can be found in Ignite the Sun. From the exiled Chosen One to the wise old wizard who guides her, much of the book reads like your classic quest narrative and hero’s journey, with very few surprises. Our adventuring party also picks up a couple extra members along the way, including a haughty water nymph and a sweet, young innocent banshee. There’s even a romance based around the tried-and-true cliché of the secret crush on the super-hot best friend, and following right on its heels, the good old “she must break his heart in order to spare him” trope. The ensuing result is this all-encompassing air of sentimental cheese and hokeyness, which I think readers will either find endearing or utterly tedious.

As for myself, I confess to falling into the former camp. Sure, Ignite the Sun might be predictable, but it’s predictable in all the ways you want it to be. The story and its characters are warm, comfortable and familiar, offering lively adventure and gentle laughs. This is the kind of novel you can fall into very easily, becoming swept up in the world, its people and their relationships. While there’s not much doubt at any point regarding the direction in which the plot is going, there are some unique elements sprinkled here and there along the way, spicing up an otherwise average fantasy setting. I found myself intrigued by the concept of a Sunchild, and enjoyed the way all manner of other mythical creatures inhabited this world and had special roles in Siria’s life.

Perhaps it’s not too surprisingly though, that it’s our protagonist’s own personal journey that shines through the most. When the book begins, Siria is a self-absorbed young woman who never questioned the reality of the way things were presented to her, even when all that was wrong was staring in her face. Her only concern was to be accepted, marching in lockstep with Queen Iyzabel’s desires like everyone else clamoring for her favor. Only when Siria has lost it all does she finally realize what truly matters. The transformation is gradual and convincing, ultimately becoming the most inspiring aspect of the novel.

At the end of the day, while I doubt Ignite the Sun will be winning any awards for originality or breaking new ground in YA fantasy, this charming and entertaining debut was nevertheless a joy to read. I believe readers will either love it or hate it depending on how they feel about certain tropes, but being able to go with the flow will surely make it easier to find comfort and a simple delight in the book’s familiar themes. ...more

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Aug 12, 2020 Lili Marcus rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-arcs, fantasy, 2020-reads, young-adult

A cliche concept/trope with a twist…

Once upon a time, there was something called the sun…The moment I read this in the blurb, I was sold. 1.) because of its similarity to my previous manuscript and 2.) The light vs. darkness trope might be cliche, but it’s still one of my favorite tropes of all time. Especially, if the author manages to put a twist in it. In Ignite The Sun, light and dark literally fight each other, so it’s not your typical light vs. darkness, which of course, symbolizes good an ...more

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Apr 30, 2020 Rebecca | Velvet Opus rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

~~I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!~~

Siria Nightingale lives in a world shrouded in Darkness; an outcast at the Gildenbrook school for Girls with her unusual red hair, who longs for affection from her emotionally distant parents. If she can just leave behind her childish fascination with the mythical sunchildren, and ignore her growing fear of the Darkness she knows she could be chosen to serve the Witch Queen Iyzabel. She would finally fit in. Even if it would mean leaving b ...more

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Sep 03, 2020 anna ✩ rated it liked it

3 stars!

Ignite The Sun is a good debut and an entertaining read.

Siria Nightingale has never seen the sun. Not because she is locked away somewhere but because in her world, there is no sun anymore. It's been 15 years since Queen Iyzabel has established the Darkness and since then no one has seen the dangerous sun. Siria, however, hates the darkness and wants to know all the stories about the sun and the times when light was around.

Ignite the Sun had the opportunity to be outstanding but I bel ...more

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Aug 30, 2020 Ixxati rated it really liked it

Siria Nightingale is 16 years old. She always felt out of place and she don't know who she is until something happened and the truth was revealed. She is in danger because of who she is. I don't like her at first because she is annoying and whines a lot but then I grew to like her.

Btw there is a different kind of creatures including herself and goshh that is interesting af! But there is only a little information about those creatures. Linden, Yarrow and Merrell were the one who helped Siria thr ...more

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Aug 23, 2020 Marilisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I'm getting more and more into audiobooks and I really liked the narrator in this one.

The book follows Siria, who has always felt out of place in the reign of darkness of Queen Iyzabel. She has bright red hair, a physical revulsion to the darkness, and dreams of the sun.

I was very intrigued by the premise. I'm instantly drawn in by stories of rebels and dystopia in general, so I loved the overall worldbuilding and magic system.

The romance was very sweet, Siria's growth strong and believable, ...more

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May 07, 2020 Aly rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley, 2020, romance, ya, may-2020

This book took me by surprise. I wasn't totally sure of the plot so I just found things out as I went. The worldbuilding was pretty well done, it didn't delve too deep but I understood the relevant history without having too much information. I liked Siria as our main character, she's a good person who cares about others, but she's had a privileged life and tries to please her parents and it shows. Sometimes she complains or doesn't understand how the world works, but she gets better and her com ...more

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Apr 30, 2020 Joanna Meyer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-tbr

Official comments: How do you ignite the sun in a world teeming with darkness? Howard explores the answer in this lyrical fairytale that feels at once familiar and fresh. Her innovative world is filled with fascinating characters that will stick in your heart long after you turn the final page. A vivid story, beautifully told.

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Apr 03, 2020 rayne ♥ [ IG: rayne.reads ] marked it as to-read

Shelves: cover-love, anticipated-releases

The premise of this sounds amazing, and that cover, beauty at its finest 👌

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Jun 07, 2020 Deekay rated it really liked it

This is one of my most anticipated read this year and I had a high expectation of it. Let me just say that this book was phenomenal and it was simply amazing. I loved it and enjoyed it a lot. Not enough words can explain how much I truly enjoyed reading it.

The storyline was really easy to follow and the flow of the story was really smooth, so it won’t be complicated to understand what was going on. It was about a girl named Siria and her other companions on their journey to help Siria reach her ...more

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May 26, 2020 Andy rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, own-ebook, 2020-read

3.5/5

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Once upon a time, there was something called the sun.

Siria Nightingale has only ever know shades of Darkness. Since Queen Iyzabel started her reign, it has been clouded in Darkness to save the citizens from the evil that is the sun. Or so, that's what the Queen would like you to believe. On her sixteenth birthday, Siria learns she is the last sunchild and that she must stop the Queen and bring bac ...more

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Aug 25, 2020 Vee_Bookish // YA Book Blogger rated it really liked it

[ARC Provided by NetGalley, my review is unbiased]
I'm also a book blogger

This is a very fast paced book, which doesn't work for everyone but worked for me, I always prefer to just get on with things. Very early on Siria is presented at court with other girls who look like her (pale, ginger, I'll get to that at the end) and is revealed to be the last remaining sunchild, a threat to the Queen who has surrounded the Kingdom in darkness.

Ignite The Sun managed to do something that has only ever happe [ARC Provided by NetGalley, my review is unbiased]
I'm also a book blogger

This is a very fast paced book, which doesn't work for everyone but worked for me, I always prefer to just get on with things. Very early on Siria is presented at court with other girls who look like her (pale, ginger, I'll get to that at the end) and is revealed to be the last remaining sunchild, a threat to the Queen who has surrounded the Kingdom in darkness.

Ignite The Sun managed to do something that has only ever happened once before, in The Winner's Curse - it made me fall in love with the male love interest within the first few chapters. I loved forest boy Linden, he was a very sweet, caring character without being saccharine in his love for Siria.

Linden and Siria's relationship has almost started at the beginning of the book as they'd known each other for years, but status kept them apart. Over the course of the book they start to realise that there is a possibility for them, and they start to explore that.

While this does rely on the old fantasy chosen one trope, the found family aspect and the constant action kept me gripped. Making friends with a mermaid and a banshee who join their ragtag group, they travel across the land of darkness very much like in Wizard Of Oz, trying to escape the notice of the Queen's Guard along the way.

I did not think of it when reading, but thinking back on it I've realised why it bothered me so much that Siria was constantly seen as beautiful - it didn't come across that the sunchildren, which was basically very attractive girls with sun magic - were ever anything but pale, ginger, freckled. So no-one of colour. I'm not sure what that message is supposed to be.

The story seems to have been wrapped up in this book, which is good, but I enjoyed it enough that I would really like a sequel, from the banshee Elegy's perspective. She's only twelve in this book, and a really interesting character as she's been essentially kicked out of home for not being good enough for her mother, so moving the story 4 years on would be fascinating. ...more

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Aug 19, 2020 Tracy Frenette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Ignite the Sun by Hanna Howard
Pub Date 08/18/2020
Syfy fantasy YA

I absolutely loved this book. I can believe how much I enjoyed this one, I didn't want it end. I hope there is a second book to follow.

This fantasy was one about darkness against light. They haven't seen the sun in 15 years. It had super cool characters like a sun child, naiads, wood nymphs and even a banshee.
Siria Nightingale is sort of an outcast at the all girls school. Siria is hoping to be picked for the Queens court. But soon ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 Ren (A Bookish Balance) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: standalone

2.5/5 stars

ARC provided by Netgalley and Blink Publishing.

Ignite the Sun takes place in a world covered in darkness, where the sun is a myth. This world has mages, nymphs, and fae type creatures. We follow Siria, who is just turning sixteen and is trying to gain the favour of the queen. When she becomes an honoured guest at the Choosing Ball, she discovers not everything is as it seems, and she may be the key to bringing the sun back to the kingdom.

I’ve been dreading writing this review becaus 2.5/5 stars

ARC provided by Netgalley and Blink Publishing.

Ignite the Sun takes place in a world covered in darkness, where the sun is a myth. This world has mages, nymphs, and fae type creatures. We follow Siria, who is just turning sixteen and is trying to gain the favour of the queen. When she becomes an honoured guest at the Choosing Ball, she discovers not everything is as it seems, and she may be the key to bringing the sun back to the kingdom.

I’ve been dreading writing this review because I don’t have too many positive things to say. Let’s start with characters, Siria is your typical chosen one. She doesn’t particularly stand out, and she very much does not want to be the chosen one and doesn’t believe she’s capable enough and is a brat about it. The side characters are pretty lacklustre as well and I wish they had been more fleshed out. At times it felt like some characters were introduced solely for the sake of having more characters in the story. The villain of Ignite the Sun really doesn't have too large a roll and could have benefitted from more page time because she seems like more of a way to drive the story forward than like an actual character.

The dialogue also leaves much to be desired. Siria’s interactions with the other characters come across as forced and the banter between her and her love interest, Linden, is lacking in the charms required for me to root for them together. When we meet the two we already know they have crushes on each other and are the best of friends, but I find none of this believable through their interactions. Siria’s also a bit too focused on Linden’s looks ~~maybe because of his lack of personality~~ and that’s something I never enjoy in regards to romance.

My biggest gripe with this novel is that I thought the writing was lazy. The main character conveniently keeps blacking out during the height of tension, the plot is predictable, there were many info dumpy moments, especially in regards to the backstory of characters, and there are some very convenient magical elements thrown into the story, some in regards to those backstories, that do not make for an engaging narrative. I think Howard has potential as a writer, her style is easy to digest and the story concept is great, but her potential wasn’t fully reached with this debut.

Something else that does not sit quite right with me is that the “chosen-ones” of the story are all red-haired or blond while, and correct me if I’m wrong, the other characters are dark haired. I understand what the author is trying to do here, and that the hair is meant to represent the sun, but the execution could have been better.

Blog | Instagram | Twitter ...more

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Aug 26, 2020 Kelly rated it liked it

Ignite the Sun is a YA Fantasy standalone where you will meet Siria, a sixteen year old girl, thrown into the conflict between the Queen Iyzabel and rebels who wish to stop the witch from keeping the Kingdom in Darkness. She already killed almost every "sun child" except for one : Siria. She had no idea who she really was until her birthday where everyone saw the proof on her skin. She's being hunted but she's lucky enough to get the help of some good people.

Overall, this book was okay. Unfortu ...more

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Jul 28, 2020 Caidyn (he/him/his) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult-fiction

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

CW: general scenes of action and some betrayal

2.5/5

While this is a solid debut with good writing and a quick pacing, I wasn't into it. I found it almost too quick most of the time. I never really got a grasp of the world (although I enjoyed the inclusion of folk creatures that aren't usually front and center in stories, like niads and banshees) and it felt like it wasn't explained properly for me. I also never got attached to t ...more

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Aug 26, 2020 Oyinda marked it as to-read

I received the audiobook for free from the publisher via Netgalley. I've seen so many amazing reviews and I can't wait to dive in.

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Jul 29, 2020 Tarra Lyn | TLCBookNook rated it liked it

“Once upon a time, the was something called the sun...”

This was a much-anticipated release for me and I am so thankful to have received this copy. I went into this book not knowing much about it. The blurb intrigued me and with the magic, mythology and premise, it held on tight.

A kingdom shrouded in darkness and under the rule of an evil Witch Queen, who despises and fears the sun and light-filled ways of old, seeks to destroy all who thrive in it, deeming them a threat to her regime. The last “Once upon a time, the was something called the sun...”

This was a much-anticipated release for me and I am so thankful to have received this copy. I went into this book not knowing much about it. The blurb intrigued me and with the magic, mythology and premise, it held on tight.

A kingdom shrouded in darkness and under the rule of an evil Witch Queen, who despises and fears the sun and light-filled ways of old, seeks to destroy all who thrive in it, deeming them a threat to her regime. The last sunchild especially. The world created seemed grand and lush, I just wish that there were more descriptions to really immerse yourself in it. Some descriptions fell flat or were half-finished, and lacked a certain luster that would have added to the richness of the story. I did like that the darkness that enveloped the land, had varying layers, where the sun could peak in and allow crops to still grow but the further away from the kingdom you went, the darkness was stretched thin and you could feel real warmth.

Siria Nightingale is an ordinary girl living in that kingdom of darkness. Never having seen the sun in her 16 years of life but always feeling a pull towards it. Unbeknownst to her, she is the last living sunchild. A nymph who wields fiery powers like the sun and is prophesized to end the darkness and bring back the light. She is someone I started off not really caring for, she was very whiny and naïve BUT by the end of the story, she learned to accept herself, and her powers. I ended up liking her quite a lot. The other characters felt like they were just there. The dialogue seemed forced or superficial. I did not particularly care for one of the other characters, Merrall, because she was bitchy (a peeve of mine) in like 85% of the book. I didn’t understand why she was that way to Siria, it didn’t seem necessary to the overall story. Also, Sira’s romance with Linden felt underwhelming, as she is mainly caught up in his looks and not what makes him a good man, their dialogue lacks a certain depth and I felt it overshadowed her journey of self-acceptance.

The story itself was enjoyable. I had a very hard time putting the book (Kindle) down because I wanted to know what happened next. A lot of the writing was not exactly my favorite but it did flow nicely. There were a lot of fade-to-black scenes, especially around the main character. It was also over-saturated with tropes, like the Chosen One, Best Friends turn Lovers, and this last one isn’t exactly a standard “trope” but it’s where the two main girls hate each other. Why can’t the girls be friends and help one another? This is something that needs to be normalized within the YA world.

Overall, I found the writing style fairly basic but I think this is a good debut novel. As the plot developed, the writing developed with it, letting this book end better than it started. It delivered some important and powerful messages of self-acceptance, self-love, and confidence. I feel this book would be well received among younger YA readers.

I would recommend this book for fantasy lovers looking for something different, if you can look past overdone clichés.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blink for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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May 21, 2020 cassberrie rated it liked it

Shelves: read-arc

*Received a free ecopy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

“Once upon a time, there was something called the sun.”

Siria Nightingale is an ordinary girl living in a world of Darkness, where the light from the Sun has been banished for generations since Queen Izyabel vanquished the sun-worshipping kingdom of Luminor. Only, sixteen years ago, there was a prophecy that promised the birth of a sunchild, one who wielded the fiery powers of the sun, who would end her reign of darkness.

Surpr *Received a free ecopy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

“Once upon a time, there was something called the sun.”

Siria Nightingale is an ordinary girl living in a world of Darkness, where the light from the Sun has been banished for generations since Queen Izyabel vanquished the sun-worshipping kingdom of Luminor. Only, sixteen years ago, there was a prophecy that promised the birth of a sunchild, one who wielded the fiery powers of the sun, who would end her reign of darkness.

Surprise surprise, Siria is that sunchild.

The premise of this sounded so interesting, and I always love a fantasy that feels grandiose and mythic in nature. The concept of a sunchild who is here to return light to a land of darkness was right up my alley. Near the climax of the story, there is some fantastic imagery that made my imagination sing with the poetry of it all.

That being said, the story felt a little lackluster, a little "too YA" somehow. I'm not usually impressed by stories of characters who have to go on the run, and 80% of the story was just that. Coupled with the addition of several "astounding revelations" (e.g. (view spoiler)) and a character who did essentially nothing, I feel that a lot of things could have been trimmed out of the story. There were also too many conveniently-placed "fade to black" moments. And, worst of all, I couldn't feel very deeply for any of the character interactions. Some of the characters, particularly Merrall, were interesting but were not given ample time to develop into something interesting. Linden was a nice dude, but the greatest pitfall of the childhood friend-to-lover trope is that while realistically it takes less build-up to get them to fall in love, the reader is not necessarily privy to those same pre-established feelings. The romance happened far too quickly in my opinion, and the clear inevitability of it made it less interesting.

If certain extraneous plot-beats were removed in favor of giving characters more time for introspection, or maybe just some additional page-time dedicated to weaving a greater magical atmosphere around the world, I feel the whole mood of the book could have shifted to something more grandiose and emotionally-resonant. That being said, the overall writing style seemed more conducive to an action-adventure than a lush fairytale, so this could certainly be a matter of personal preference.

At the end of the day, this is a fast, fun story that starts with a lost girl who doesn't fit in and ends with an empowered queen who has come into her powers. It's a solid read with an exciting premise that carries a lot of promise, although it falters in its delivery at times. ...more

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Aug 17, 2020 Leah rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobooks

You know what I should have done? I should have listened to that little voice at the back of my head—the one I NEVER listen to—that whispered, "DNF it."

NOTE: I received an advance copy of this title as both an e-book and an audiobook from Netgalley. This review is based on the audiobook.

I have been deceived by that downright stunning cover. While the premise of a world deprived of sunlight was what immediately grabbed my interest, I found it to be poorly executed. The world-building felt ... in You know what I should have done? I should have listened to that little voice at the back of my head—the one I NEVER listen to—that whispered, "DNF it."

NOTE: I received an advance copy of this title as both an e-book and an audiobook from Netgalley. This review is based on the audiobook.

I have been deceived by that downright stunning cover. While the premise of a world deprived of sunlight was what immediately grabbed my interest, I found it to be poorly executed. The world-building felt ... incomplete. I struggled to absorb the details. Worse, I found it difficult to remember that this is a world of pure darkness. Literally the premise that drew me in, and it didn't click well for me. I was surprised to find that this was a world of nymphs, witches, banshees and the like. It was an interesting twist! The villain I found to be rather weak, who basically hates the sun and doesn't want anyone else to have magic.

I knew this would be rather wholesome given the imprint, but I didn't expect such a cringe-worthy and tropey book. This was not a good Chosen One trope. I usually don't have a problem with those stories, but I want the main character to be more, "What? Oh, sh*t, sweet. Let's do this." Instead, Siria served a lot of whining. I really stopped caring toward the end, but in the beginning, my understanding of the plan for her to save the world was to travel across the country and be yeeted into the middle of the ocean where direct sunlight was. The romance was not one for me to be a fan of, and I didn't think it really added anything to the story.

Even though the Chosen One trope was rough, I could have dealt with it had it not been for the main character. We are given very little opportunity to meet her before BAM! You are the one who will save us all. She lost my support pretty quick once I realized how properly whiny and snobbish she is. "You only care about me because I'm the Sun Child. I don't want to walk across the country. My parents don't love me. I can't touch anyone ever again because I have no desire to learn to contain my new powers." Wah.

The audiobook narration was not my cup of tea and my very well have ruined the whole book for me. While the sample initially appealed to me and led me to request it, it turned out to be far too over-the-top dramatic. Several of the voices were downright annoying or had accents that just seemed ridiculous.

I wish I had more better to say, but all in all, this was disappointing and not for me. ...more

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“Iyzabel could cover up this majesty, she could starve an entire kingdom of its presence, but in the end she was a speck just like me, and she could no more destroy the Light of the heavens than swallow up the ocean.” — 2 likes

“Once upon a time, there was something called the sun.” — 1 likes

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