Sunrays Among Shadows

The Anim Book 1

Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
508 Pages
Reviewed on 03/13/2023
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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Sunrays Among Shadows is a work of fiction in the paranormal, historical, fantasy, and dark fiction subgenres, and forms the opening novel of The Anim series. Penned by author H. Dawn Hunter, it is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Set between two timelines centering around the same events, we find ourselves following the unfortunate history of the Howell siblings, Lily and Liam. A peculiar abduction left the brother and sister devoid of memories for part of their childhood. Liam isn’t keen to explore those missing thoughts, but Lily stumbles upon the key to unlocking it all. Adding to this danger is Jasper Behrtram, responsible for the abduction of numerous children over the years. The guilt is weighing heavy on Jasper’s soul, and Lily’s presence may just be enough to push him over the edge at last.

Author H. Dawn Hunter has crafted a horrifically good work of dark fantasy fiction that I was engrossed in from beginning to end. One of the things I loved most about this work was the author’s narrative and depiction centered on relationships and emotion, especially Lily’s at the driving core of the tale. With such conviction in her emotional arc, the dark developments and secrets revealed by the plot become all the more intense and meaningful. I also adored Jasper and the psychological exploration of the toll that his work and the duress he’s suffered has had on him over time. The fantasy aspects were also credible and atmospheric, never once overshadowing the emotional core of the work. Overall, I would highly recommend Sunrays Among Shadows as an engrossing read for those who love to be lost in mystery, intrigue, converging timelines, and unpredictable dark fantasy twists.

Alma Boucher

Sunrays Among Shadows by H. Dawn Hunter is a work of fantasy. Siblings Lily and Liam Howell are abducted and have no memories of their childhood. One year of Liam and Lily’s lives is gone, and while they have both started remembering, neither wants to talk about it. Jasper Bertram is sent to earth to charm children and bring them back to his world. Jasper has been watching Liam for some time and has his plans for Liam’s kidnapping all figured out. However, all of Jasper's plans are messed up when he meets Lily. Her independence and her wisdom fascinate Jasper, and he wants to get to know her better. A friendship slowly begins to develop between them but one day, things change drastically for Jasper and Lily, and nothing is the same again.

H. Dawn Hunter has created an extraordinary fantasy world that took me on an adventure. The story is fast-paced and moves along unexpected paths that I did not see coming. Her characters are alive and brilliantly developed with each having a unique personality that has been given depth, making them authentic and relatable. I enjoyed the bickering between Jasper and Lily as they go through a lot and grow throughout the story. Sunrays Among Shadows is a compelling story that had me intrigued from the start until the end. The plot was unique and well-executed and the characters and events are described in detail, making it easy to be part of them. This is a special story filled with fantasy and magic.

Miche Arendse

Sunrays Among Shadows by H. Dawn Hunter follows the tale of Lily and Liam Howell, a pair of siblings who are missing a piece of their memory. The problem is that only one of them is interested in recovering the lost memories while the other tries his hardest to forget every bit of it. What happened in that year and why was their disappearance so similar to that of their father? And who is the stranger that lurks in the shadows just out of sight?

Sunrays Among Shadows read something like a classic literature novel which fits perfectly with the setting of the story. H. Dawn Hunter did a wonderful job not only with the tone and pacing of this book but the transition between the past and present. The story flows seamlessly as you unravel the mystery behind the siblings' lost memories and strange visitors who frequent their world. Not once did I find myself confused about what was going on, even when tiny fairies were introduced. As for the characters I would have to say Lily was my favorite. Her determination both when she was younger and in the present made her character stand out. It didn’t matter if she was scared or uncertain, she would push ahead and follow her heart which I really liked. Overall, I can say that this is such a great book and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. It will definitely be one of the books I urge people to give a try.