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Shakeil Kanish loves to write, which, considering you’re holding this book, makes perfect sense. The Sigil is his debut novel and he’s super excited about being an openly gay author and getting the chance to write about an openly gay protagonist. He feels it’s something sorely missing from the writing world, and he wants underrepresented kids everywhere to be able to root for a new type of hero. He loves playing video games enjoys snacking down on apple pie, as any sane person should. You can become his best friend by asking him to duet any song from the Greatest Showman. No, seriously, please do it.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Sigil is a work of fantasy fiction filled with magic and suspense, and it was penned by author duo Shakeil Kanish and Larissa Mandeville. Chock full of suspense, interpersonal drama and magical realism themes, this modern and highly entertaining tale can be read by young adult and adult audiences alike. Our central protagonists are Lake – whose perfect world is turned upside down by a tragic event, leaving him with nothing and nowhere to turn – and Nova, a determined and downtrodden young woman with a thirst to prove herself. When Lake arrives in Nova’s world, his presence sparks a series of events that neither can ever forget.
There is a great number of LGBTQ+ books that focus only on that issue and set it in contemporary, non-speculative times, so it is truly wonderful to see genre fiction becoming as inclusive and rich as this. Author duo Shakeil Kanish and Larissa Mandeville hit the nail on the head for characterization, with such unique voices in Lake and Nova that they feel as though they’ve become personal friends to the reader by the end of the novel. The work is conceptually strong with excellent worldbuilding to make the magical elements feel realistic and never cheesy. I also loved the dialogue for its age-authentic representation of the protagonists, and the atmospheric lexical choices of the authors immerse us in a cinematically described world to complete the package. Overall, The Sigil is essentially a perfect read for magic and fantasy fans: everything you could hope for in a modern fantasy novel.
