About the Book:

Title: Ignite the Sun

Author: Hanna C. Howard

Publisher: BlinkYA/Harper Collins

Release Date: August 18, 2020

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

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 sun. The light is dangerous, according to Queen Iyzabel, an evil witch who has shrouded the kingdom in shadow.

Siria has always hated the darkness and revels in the stories of the light-filled old daysthat she hears from her best friend and his grandfather. Besides them, nobody else understands her fascination with the sun, especially not her strict and demanding parents. Siria’s need to please them is greater even than her fear of the dark. So she heads to the royal city–the very center of the darkness–for a chance at a place in Queen Iyzabel’s court.

But what Siria discovers at the Choosing Ball sends her on a quest toward the last vestiges of the sun with a ragtag group of rebels who could help her bring back the Light … or doom the kingdom to shadow forever.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5/5

I was intrigued by this book from the beginning and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next! I absolutely enjoyed the world this was set in, and the magic and mythology that was woven in. In this story, the kingdom of Luminor reigned and then was taken over by an evil queen who covered the whole kingdom in darkness. The main character, Siria always hated the darkness and would ask her best friend Linden, and his grandfather Yarrow to tell her the tales about the sun. Her parents never understood her fascination with the sun, but she yearns to please them. So, she heads to the royal city of Terra-Volat, the center of all the darkness, to find a place in Queen Iyzabel’s court. What she discover’s there sends her on a quest with a group of rebels.

Siria joins Linden, Yarrow, a spirited naiad, and a banshee on an epic journey to lead the rebellion as she tries to defeat the darkness and restore the light to the kingdom. It’s all or nothing, because if they fail, Terra-Volat  will be sucked into the never ending darkness. I enjoyed getting to know Siria and the whole cast of characters on this magical journey. I love the friendships that Siria makes along the way, and there’s even a dash of romance. We watch as Siria grows from a spoiled girl to a strong young woman. The ending of the book was satisfying, and I can see it being a standalone, but I felt as though there should have been an epilogue to wrap up a few things that I still was left wondering about.

An overall wonderful debut about light vs darkness that I could totally get behind! I hope that we get more from this wonderful world in the future. I would absolutely love a sequel!

About the Author:

Hanna C. Howard spent most of her childhood wondering how she might avoid growing up, and eventually solved the conundrum by becoming an artist and a writer. She considers tea an essential food group, has more books than shelf space, and thinks the ultimate geek triumvirate is Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Doctor Who. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband and son, their Disreputable Dog, and a cat skilled in the martial arts.