Description
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 center 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 YA fantasy adventure that is exciting and unique
- An allegorical exploration of the struggle with anxiety and depression
- Perfect for readers 13 and up
- A great gift for Christmas, birthday, or other gift giving holidays of young adult readers
- A good book club pick or cozy winter read
About the Author
Hanna C. Howard started writing books in the fourth grade-and they were always about dogs. Her tastes have expanded since then, but her favorite stories still tend to have a dog in them somewhere. When she isn't writing or reading with a pot of tea nearby, she prefers to be in her rambling cottage garden, conjuring beauty and nurturing compost. She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband, three young hobbit children, and their athletic rescue mutt.
Reviews
'An original, deftly crafted, and fully entertaining fantasy fiction novel for ages 13 and older, 'Ignite The Sun' by Hanna C. Howard is especially and unreservedly recommended for middle school, high school, and community library YA Fiction collections.' -- Midwest Book Review September 2020 * Midwest Book Review *
'Fantasy lovers will enjoy this tale of family, conflict, and finding out where in the world one might truly belong. Adventurers will also enjoy following redheaded Siria's travels as she finishes her fourth and last year at the Golden Brook school. It seems like yesterday she was home with her best friend, brown-skinned Linden, listening to old man Yarrow tell stories about the myth of the Sun, before the Queen enveloped the world in shadow. Tomorrow she'll go to the Queen's Court, hoping to be chosen and make her parents proud. But she is spirited away in the night, driven to the Court early with other girls who have brightly colored hair. The Queen will do anything to find the Sun Child so she can keep her from fulfilling the prophecy. Siria stands on the stage with the others, fighting the heat and dashing the hopes of her parents as she suddenly explodes in a blaze of light. Now she is on the run, fleeing an angry Queen and trying to survive being bright in a land of dark while learning how to become what she really is. Fans of Jeanne DuPrau's 'Books of Ember' series will appreciate the action and adventure, and readers of Scott Westerfeld's 'Uglies' series will enjoy the coming-of-age questing and questioning expressed so well by the main character. VERDICT This well-paced fantasy will leave readers hoping for a second book to continue the saga; recommended for teen and older tween libraries.' -- School Library Journal, August 2020, Cathleen Ash, Manor H.S. Lib., TX * School Library Journal *
An absorbing tale of triumph and self-discovery. * Kirkus Reviews *
Fantasy lovers will enjoy this tale of family, conflict, and finding out where in the world one might truly belong ... This well-paced fantasy will leave readers hoping for a second book to continue the saga. * School Library Journal *
Hanna Howard's debut sparkles like sunbeams across deep water, putting a literal spin on 'light vs dark' while breathing fresh life into banshees, witches, and nymphs. With imaginative world building, enchantingly bold magic, and a compelling pace, it's an adventure worthy of any fairy tale enthusiast's bookshelf. * A.G. Howard, #1 NYT and INTL bestselling author of The Splintered Series *
How do you ignite the sun in a world teeming with darkness? Howard explores the answer in this lyrical fairy tale 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. * Joanna Ruth Meyer, acclaimed author of Echo North and Beyond the Shadowed Earth *
Original, deftly crafted, and fully entertaining. * Midwest Book Review *
Book Information
ISBN 9780310769736
Author Hanna Howard
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Blink
Publisher HarperCollins Focus
Weight(grams) 430g
Dimensions(mm) 225mm * 152mm * 38mm
