Mia Corvere is a pale, skinny, black-haired girl with one goal in mind: revenge. But first, she must gain admission to the Red Church, a school for assassins.

After falling in love with "Empire of the Vampire" and discovering that there was no sequel in sight, I decided to read the highly praised "Nevernight" series. It took me some time to start, but it was a rollercoaster ride that left me feeling conflicted. At times I loved it, at times I hated it, and at times I was bored. To say that this book left me with mixed feelings would be an understatement.

However, I must admit that this book is incredibly well thought-out. The world is multilayered, dark, and dangerous, with a complex and mysterious magic system. It feels like medieval Venice with its grimdark pubs, fancy balls, political intrigue and shadows.

The worldbuilding and magic system were explained through footnotes, which took some time to adjust to. It was interesting, but it interrupted the flow of the story, especially in the first half. Nonetheless, it gave some insight into the character of the narrator.

At some point, I was taken aback by the objectification of women and certain scenes that had a male perspective. It felt like the views of a hormonal adolescent or a male with disturbing thoughts about women.

Despite these concerns, I still gave the book four stars. The captivating storyline, wonderful descriptive writing, and intriguing world-building created an extremely powerful protagonist that left me curious for more.