Friday, 1 July 2016

BLOG HOP: Daughter of the Sun by Zoe Kalo


I was given a free e-copy if 'The Daughter of the Sun' by Zoe Kalo (thank you!). All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Feisty Trinity was born during a solar-eclipse, and left as an orphan at a covenant to be raised by nuns. She's not your typical covenant-raised girl, and is known as being hot-headed and impulsive. But one day she's summoned by Mother Superior, saying that her grandmother had summoned her. Immediately whisked away to The Isle of the Cats, Trinity's whole life is turned upside down as she enters a world of intrigue, magic and, of course, ordinary teenagers!

The main thing that intrigued me about Kalo's book was the basis on Egyptology. (Apart from the cat part, of course!) There don't seem to be many novels YA or otherwise, centred around Egyptology, in spite of the plethora of Norse and Greek based books out there. I think every child excited when Egyptians are the topic at school (they're more interesting than doing Henry VIII for the millionth time!) and that excitement has extended into adulthood. But if you're looking to learn about Egyptology, this isn't really the book to go for. It contains its fair share, but it isn't by any means a way to learn about that period of history. I found this sort of disappointing, although that was a lot to expect.

Like many YA books, 'The Daughter of the Sun' is told from Trinity's perspective in first person. As always, it's a very engaging style of writing to use, and Kalo uses it to great efficacy. Trinity's a likeable character; however, in some ways I just didn't believe in her. The relative ease she moves from life in a convant to life in the 'real world' just didn't strike me as plausible. After three days or so, she's wearing a swimming costume and drinking beer! Although she was always a bit of a rebel, I don't think that sixteen years' worth of spartan and rule-bound upbringing would have had such little effect.

That said, overall, the book is enjoyable. It's pacy and interesting and (thank god!) not too predictable. I feel some of the other characters needed some more fleshing out, but maybe this will continue in the rest of the series. I actually want to read book two – it doesn't finish on a cliffhanger, it just sort of stops. So… what next?

Kalo's writing is nothing special or remarkable but the rapid storyline and fun characters means this doesn't matter.

Basically – a good YA read! Loved the basis on the Egyptians, enjoyed Trinity's 'transformation' (I'll say no more), and sped through on the backbone of a strong plot.


Three and a half stars.  

Title: Daughter of the Sun (Cult of the Cat series, Book 1)
Author: Zoe Kalo
Genre: YA mythological fantasy
Word count: 93,000 words
Release date: May 1, 2016


Daughter of the Sun, Book 1 - blurb
Sixteen-year-old Trinity was born during a solar eclipse and left at the doorsteps of a convent along with a torn piece of papyrus covered with ancient symbols. Raised by nuns in the English countryside, she leads a quiet life until she’s whisked away to the Island of Cats and a grandmother she never knew. 
But before they can get to know each other, her grandmother dies. All that Trinity has left is a mysterious eye-shaped ring. And a thousand grieving cats. As Trinity tries to solve the enigma of the torn papyrus, she discovers a world of bloody sacrifices and evil curses, and a prophecy that points to her and her new feline abilities. 
Unwilling to believe that any of the Egyptian gods could still be alive, Trinity turns to eighteen-year-old Seth and is instantly pulled into a vortex of sensations that forces her to confront her true self—and a horrifying destiny.

About the Author
A certified bookworm, Zoe Kalo has always been obsessed with books and reading. Reading led to writing—compulsively. No surprise that at 16, she wrote her first novel, which her classmates read and passed around secretly. The pleasure of writing and sharing her fantasy worlds has stayed with her, so now she wants to pass her stories to you with no secrecy—but with lots of mystery… 
A daughter of adventurous expats, she’s had the good fortune of living on 3 continents, learning 4 languages, and experiencing a multicultural life. Currently, she’s working on a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, which she balances between writing, taking care of her clowder of cats, and searching for the perfect bottle of pinot noir.
Connect with Zoe Kalo on the web: www.ZoeKalo.com / Facebook / Twitter



Here's the Amazon Purchase Link: 



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