Books

Book Review: The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanni

The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani follows Rae who has a disability that affects her ability to move around. Due to that, Rae is typically overlooked by others. Her story begins when her friend’s sister is kidnapped and she knows she’ll be able to answer her questions if she can talk to someone within the palace. She eventually earns support from the princess and finds unexpected help from a street thief. This book tackles injustice and magic. It’s perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes Sabaa Tahir and Mirage by Somaiya Daud.

Highlights

 

In this book, Rae is a girl from a horse farm. She lives at the palace as an attendant to the princess by day and works to unravel a crime by night. This book discusses human trafficking and deals with the fight against injustice. There is also a magical element that will draw readers in. I loved the mystery and the fact that this book wasn’t as dark as I initially thought it would be. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything and it goes into details of the crimes that occur at night. One major theme in this book is standing up for what’s right. This is demonstrated throughout Rae’s Journey. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like in this book. I highly recommend it!

Final Thoughts: This is an incredible fantasy that has a bit of everything in it! Rae is a fantastic protagonist. It’s rare to see a character with a disability in YA and it would be nice to see more books like this! You can get your copy of The Theft of Sunlight here!.

To keep up with Intissar Khanani, follow her on Instagram. Don’t forget to check out her official website!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for this complimentary copy of The Theft of Sunlight!

Amani Salahudeen

Amani is pursuing a Master's in Teaching (Secondary English Education) and enjoys writing about YA books in her free time. Her favorite authors include S.K. Ali, Chloe Gong, Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, Sandhya Menon, Angie Thomas, Lamar Giles, Nic Stone, John Green, and many others!

Recent Posts

‘Disclosure Day’ Review: Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor Shine in Spielberg’s Ambitious Sci-Fi Thriller

Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day asks a deceptively simple question: who gets to control the truth?…

1 hour ago

‘Scary Movie’ Review: A Long-Awaited Reunion That Feels Uninspired, Dated, and Short on Laughs

Twenty-five years after helping redefine parody filmmaking, Scary Movie returns with the reunion audiences have…

1 day ago

Tribeca Film Festival 2026: ‘Recluse’ Star Mia Vallet on Psychological Horror and the Complexities of Her Character

Among the breakout stars of the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival is Mia Vallet, who delivers…

1 day ago

Win Tickets to an NYC Screening of Jackass: Best and Last

Pop Culturalist is excited to be partnering with Paramount Pictures to give away tickets to…

1 day ago

Exclusive Interview: ‘The Season’ Stars Justin Chien and Chris Pang on the Choices, Relationships, and Insecurities Driving Their Characters

Against the glittering backdrop of Hong Kong's elite boating scene, The Season invites audiences into…

6 days ago

Tribeca Film Festival 2026: Alexander DeSouza and Morgan Kohan on ‘Holo,’ Technology, and the Search for Closure

Among the many films premiering at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, few are as emotionally affecting…

1 week ago