To Steal the Sun
Author: S.M. Carter
Published: 2022 by RAID Press
If you enjoy fantasy filled with action and adventure, then To Steal the Sun by Canadian author S.M. Carter is an easy recommendation.
And, at least I hope, Carter is somewhere in London, Ontario, hard at work on a sequel.
My desire for a sequel—hopefully more than one—doesn’t stem from Carter failing to wrap up the main storyline. Quite the opposite.
With plenty of action, unexpected twists, and satisfying surprises, To Steal the Sun concludes its central plot neatly. It delivers a complete and rewarding story while still leaving readers eager for more.
The world Carter has created feels rich with possibility. The door is wide open for future adventures featuring the main characters, and there are countless mysteries still waiting to be explored. I could easily list a dozen questions I’d love to see answered or plot threads that practically beg to be developed in future books.
To Carter’s credit, he avoids the common fantasy pitfall of overwhelming readers with excessive world-building that turns a novel into an 800-page marathon. Personally, I’d much rather read two tightly paced 375- to 400-page books than struggle through a single 800-page volume.
At the same time, Carter includes enough world-building to make the setting feel believable and immersive without slowing the story’s momentum. The unanswered questions don’t feel like omissions—they feel like invitations to return.
I also appreciated Carter’s storytelling structure. The narrative rotates between the three main characters, allowing each to tell portions of the story from their own perspective while gradually revealing pieces of their personal histories. This approach keeps the pacing fresh and gives readers multiple viewpoints through which to experience the unfolding adventure.
There’s also a memorable sidekick with plenty of attitude. While he doesn’t receive a great deal of page time, he makes such a strong impression that I’d love to see him become a full-fledged member of the team should a sequel materialize.
Ultimately, To Steal the Sun feels like the foundation of something much larger. It succeeds as a satisfying standalone fantasy novel while establishing an intriguing world and a compelling cast of characters with enormous potential. If Carter chooses not to continue this series, it would be a genuine disappointment, because there is so much more left to discover in this fascinating world.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
To Steal the Sun
Author: S.M. Carter
Published: 2022 by RAID Press
If you enjoy fantasy filled with action and adventure, then To Steal the Sun by Canadian author S.M. Carter is an easy recommendation.
And, at least I hope, Carter is somewhere in London, Ontario, hard at work on a sequel.
My desire for a sequel—hopefully more than one—doesn’t stem from Carter failing to wrap up the main storyline. Quite the opposite.
With plenty of action, unexpected twists, and satisfying surprises, To Steal the Sun concludes its central plot neatly. It delivers a complete and rewarding story while still leaving readers eager for more.
The world Carter has created feels rich with possibility. The door is wide open for future adventures featuring the main characters, and there are countless mysteries still waiting to be explored. I could easily list a dozen questions I’d love to see answered or plot threads that practically beg to be developed in future books.
To Carter’s credit, he avoids the common fantasy pitfall of overwhelming readers with excessive world-building that turns a novel into an 800-page marathon. Personally, I’d much rather read two tightly paced 375- to 400-page books than struggle through a single 800-page volume.
At the same time, Carter includes enough world-building to make the setting feel believable and immersive without slowing the story’s momentum. The unanswered questions don’t feel like omissions—they feel like invitations to return.
I also appreciated Carter’s storytelling structure. The narrative rotates between the three main characters, allowing each to tell portions of the story from their own perspective while gradually revealing pieces of their personal histories. This approach keeps the pacing fresh and gives readers multiple viewpoints through which to experience the unfolding adventure.
There’s also a memorable sidekick with plenty of attitude. While he doesn’t receive a great deal of page time, he makes such a strong impression that I’d love to see him become a full-fledged member of the team should a sequel materialize.
Ultimately, To Steal the Sun feels like the foundation of something much larger. It succeeds as a satisfying standalone fantasy novel while establishing an intriguing world and a compelling cast of characters with enormous potential. If Carter chooses not to continue this series, it would be a genuine disappointment, because there is so much more left to discover in this fascinating world.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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