Take a photo of a barcode or cover
529 reviews by:
shona_reads_in_devon
I'm really torn on this one.
Book of Night is Holly Black's first foray into adult fiction. It's an urban fantasy, with shadow magic.
The world building is patchy. I'm still not entirely sure how it all works, and the overall structure of the magic world. I felt lost a fair few times, thinking I had missed info because I didn't understand bits of shadow magic but I'm not sure it's explained in the best way. The pacing was a *bit* off - the first half quite slow ans not really getting going until the second half.
But, as with other Black novels I've read, it's the characters who make the book for me. I really liked reading about Charlie Hall. She was fun, and reckless. I like reading about broke FMCs struggling to make a living and the dodgy decisions they are forced to make.
I loved Vince, there was not enough of him in this for me.
The ending was a bit of a sucker punch - I guessed the twist a while before we got there, but the ending was *mean*.
It was a patchy thing I think but overall I had a great time reading this and it was led by interesting characters for me.
Book of Night is Holly Black's first foray into adult fiction. It's an urban fantasy, with shadow magic.
The world building is patchy. I'm still not entirely sure how it all works, and the overall structure of the magic world. I felt lost a fair few times, thinking I had missed info because I didn't understand bits of shadow magic but I'm not sure it's explained in the best way. The pacing was a *bit* off - the first half quite slow ans not really getting going until the second half.
But, as with other Black novels I've read, it's the characters who make the book for me. I really liked reading about Charlie Hall. She was fun, and reckless. I like reading about broke FMCs struggling to make a living and the dodgy decisions they are forced to make.
I loved Vince, there was not enough of him in this for me.
The ending was a bit of a sucker punch - I guessed the twist a while before we got there, but the ending was *mean*.
It was a patchy thing I think but overall I had a great time reading this and it was led by interesting characters for me.
This was not good. People say read it for what it is.
But this possessive shit is not for me. The relationship felt forced. I'm pretty sure Dacre's grandmother says Nyra reminds her of her daughter which means Dacre is screwing someone who is like his mum? Gross.
The plot isn't there, the characters have no dimensions at all. I mean the spice is spicy but if that's what you're looking for you can skip the first 80%
But this possessive shit is not for me. The relationship felt forced. I'm pretty sure Dacre's grandmother says Nyra reminds her of her daughter which means Dacre is screwing someone who is like his mum? Gross.
The plot isn't there, the characters have no dimensions at all. I mean the spice is spicy but if that's what you're looking for you can skip the first 80%
Look. This book is 650 pages long. Something is keeping me coming back. I just don't know what it is.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Auren finally grows herself a backbone. This is great but it comes right at the end and I am still not convinced by the journey to get there.
I'm also not convinced by Digby as a plot device. Dude was in it for 5 minutes in the first book and had all the charisma of a cardboard box. It feels clumsy and forced.
I *like* Rip. I like that decay thing he's got going on. And this is the slowest of slow burns which I do like. But when we finally get there, I'm not enjoying how it goes. The spice scenes weren't really for me. It fell a bit flat and after all that build up, that was DISAPPOINTING. I am not sure that I'm being sold their relationship particularly well.
The action in this book does pick up a pace (though am I the only one yawning every time Queen Malina has a chapter?) and about time after 2.5 books of nothing. There was a twist that I did not see coming which is rare for me and it was a good twist too. The last couple chapters were wild and absolutely needed to happen.
I will probably read the next one because I've invested all this time in it now. However, given the ending of this one, I feel like the pace might be returning to ity's glacial movement once again.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Auren finally grows herself a backbone. This is great but it comes right at the end and I am still not convinced by the journey to get there.
I'm also not convinced by Digby as a plot device. Dude was in it for 5 minutes in the first book and had all the charisma of a cardboard box. It feels clumsy and forced.
I *like* Rip. I like that decay thing he's got going on. And this is the slowest of slow burns which I do like. But when we finally get there, I'm not enjoying how it goes. The spice scenes weren't really for me. It fell a bit flat and after all that build up, that was DISAPPOINTING. I am not sure that I'm being sold their relationship particularly well.
The action in this book does pick up a pace (though am I the only one yawning every time Queen Malina has a chapter?) and about time after 2.5 books of nothing. There was a twist that I did not see coming which is rare for me and it was a good twist too. The last couple chapters were wild and absolutely needed to happen.
I will probably read the next one because I've invested all this time in it now. However, given the ending of this one, I feel like the pace might be returning to ity's glacial movement once again.
