Night Spinner by Addie Thorley is a book I had on my TBR list from the moment I read the summary.  I love the idea of a retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame but with a female character and magic.  In a world where magic means power, this book will have you wondering who can really be trusted and what everyone’s endgame is.

Thorley does a great job of setting this story up with Enebish as the main character.  Her magic is the thing that has made her a monster to the people and having been one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army, her magic has been her downfall.  I couldn’t help but feel sad for Enebish.  With the “help” of her adoptive sister, Ghoa, her punishment for losing control of her power and killing an entire merchant caravan is that she has been banished to a monastery.  

It’s hard for Enebish to look at this as merciful as all she wants is to be useful again and as a Night Spinner, she can control the threads of darkness - a power that is very rare and dangerous.  When Ghoa approaches her with an offer, she’s unable to refuse.  If Enebish can hunt down the rebel Temujin, she can have her freedom and be reinstated as a warrior.  Of course, Enebish jumps at this opportunity and as she ventures out on her mission, she begins to learn more and more about what is really going on and she struggles with who she can trust. 

I loved Enebish. She isn’t afraid to take chances and she is willing to risk everything for the people she loves.  Unfortunately, having been locked away from the world for so long, it definitely takes her a while to figure out what is going on.  

On the other hand, I did NOT trust Ghoa. She always appeared to be only looking out for herself an when her history with Enebish and the Army are revealed, I felt totally vindicated for my feelings.  As for Temujin, I’m still on the fence.  My favorite was Serik – it felt like he was the only one who was there to do whatever was needed to help and protect Enebish.  Don’t get me wrong, he also seemed to get her into a number of bad situations, but he was the one who was there for her when she most needed someone.

I can’t say a whole lot without giving away the story, so you’ll have to pick this one up to know more of the details.  Just know that I really enjoyed this.  The pacing was just right, there’s plenty of action, some great characters, and a story that will keep you wondering what will happen next.  I’ll definitely be picking up more by Thorley in the future as she continues to write books that I can’t put down.

heck yes!! A Hunchback of Notre Dam retelling, let alone a gender swapped one. kudos for originality. I don't believe I have ever gotten the opportunity to read such a retelling. 
Night Spinner did not disappoint I loved all the characters and our heroines interactions with her best friend Serik. And the love for her sisterI loved the setting the book took place. Like her previous book Night Spinner has exceptional worldbuilding you almost feel like your in I think reading it in winter definitely helped with the atmosphere. Now I did see some of the plot twists coming but it definitely didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. 

Overall Night Spinner is an original retelling, while more character driven than action driven. many will still enjoy.

I haven't had good responses from recent fantasy releases and was a bit apprehensive of this one too. But Night Spinner totally surprised me and I fell in love with the story!! 

Enebish's character had intrigued me right from the first page - I wanted to know more about her powers and get story. And the author definitely provided that. She was brave and fearless, but at the same time also real and full of emotions. I loved seeing her grow throughout the book - the character development was great. 

Serik was another one of my favorites. I loved that he was so practical and straightforward. At times, he did infuriate me but I loved that the author didn't make him another pawn in the race. He had a voice and he stood his ground. 

The story was political in a huge sense but running through it was the essence of family, betrayal, love and the things one would do for power. It was so great how the author weaved everything together and how well she created the whole fictional worlds. 

There are two elements that I absolutely enjoyed about this book and the story. 

First, the romance wasn't the big, moving element or plot in the story. It was simply a secondary running theme and just bits and pieces that made reading fun. Loved that. 

Another thing I absolutely loved were the amazing twists and that very brilliant climax!! I totally wasn't expecting all of those twists and turns and it surprised me so much. In such a good way. I loved it!!! 

The ending totally has me hooked and I'm craving for more and more. It's one of those fantasy books that have made me very excited and left me in anticipation for the sequel. 

10/10 would recommend. 

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book. All views expressed are wholly mine.

I received an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

3.5/5

The Night Spinner by Addie Thorley is set in a world where at the age of 11, some people manifest special powers. In this case, our protagonist Enebish develops a rare gift, the power to control darkness, and with such a powerful gift, many want to manipulate her and use her powers for their own cause. But who can Enebish really trust?

I came into this story thinking “surely it will be an anti-heroine epic” after reading the description. Though it didn’t really turn out to be one, I was not disappointed in the least. 

Enebish, as much as I love her good heart, thought she was a bit too gullible. But that’s just her character and so even though I was annoyed by her, I couldn’t bring myself to hate her. She was so eager to do something good after being branded a monster, she forgot that there might be other monsters in the world. 

Before I knew it I had read half the book, and all at once I felt that nothing yet so many things had happened. Pacing was interestingly done. This book had a great way of slowly building plots so that by the end you were completely satisfied by everything that had happened. 

Speaking of the ending, it felt like the ending of Alita: Battle Angel (movie). As in, you didn’t realize there was a higher purpose to the storyline until those last few minutes, when all of a sudden, everything that has happened has finally ramped up into this upcoming task. And then the book ends, and I am sooo ready for that sequel. Because although I did like this book, that next book is already my favourite because I KNOW some crazy stuff is about to go down.

Also props to Thorley for writing a plot twist that I actually didn’t see coming from miles away, and for writing one that I did. Gotta keep me on my toes.

BOOK REPORT for Night Spinner (Night Spinner #1) by Addie Thorley

Cover Story: Art Class
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Retelling?
Bonus Factors: Superpowers, Revolution
Anti-Bonus Factor: Name
Relationship Status: Possibilities

Cover Story: Art Class

Although this cover is lovely, the watercolor against the stark white background is a little jarring on the eye. And the depiction of the "night spinning" superpowers/magic in the book are so much more than this painting belies. I do dig the title treatment, however; give me a fun piece of clipart instead of a certain letter any day.

The Deal:

Enebish used to be known as Enebish the Warrior … until the fateful day when she lost control over her power of spinning the darkness and controlling starfire and killed an entire caravan of innocent people. Now, she's known as Enebish the Destroyer, sentenced to live her live sequestered away from the general populace, doing penance as the royal bird trainer.

But Enebish wants something more than her provincial life, and when she's given the chance to truly live again, she takes it. Not knowing, of course, how wrong it'll all go and where that decision will lead—back to the Warrior, or even further down the dark Destroyer path.

BFF Charm: Big Sister



Enebish already has an adopted older sister, but for reasons that become clear through reading Night Spinner, her sister isn't the best example of what a sister should be. The many times Enebish shrinks from a situation or thinks about how awful she is absolutely broke my heart, and I'd love to try and make her see that she's not helpless, she's not unworthy, and everyone has an opportunity to make up for their mistakes. Like a big sister should.

Swoonworthy Scale: 6

Enebish has a best friend who grew up in the same household as her. A best friend who's grown into himself quite a bit in the years since The Incident, and who is pretty much the only person who looks at Enebish like a person, not a monster. Additionally, there are some hints of love triangle that actually make a whole lot of sense given the book's plot. I look forward to more swoon in the sequel, whichever way the scales tip.

Talky Talk: Retelling?

On Goodreads, this book is billed as a transformation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As the only version of this story I know is the classic Disney animated film, I totally didn't get any real Hunchback vibes while reading. (Except for that time that Enebish hid behind a gargoyle on the roof of a monastery …) Maybe I'm not remembering the plot correctly? Either way, Night Spinner stands on its own two feet as an imaginative story with expansive world-building and nuanced characters who are both fragile and strong. The plot is a little predictable (maybe my subconscious remembered the plot of Hunchback after all?), but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book on the whole.

Bonus Factor: Superpowers



Enebish's gift of night spinning is a really, really cool power. I can't say that I fully understand it, but the idea of being able to "control" the stars in your own personal night sky just seems magical (heh). I don't know that I'd want to use them to blow stuff up, but you never know when that might come in handy.

Bonus Factor: Revolution



I'll never turn down a good Robin Hood-style revolution tale.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Name

I'm sorry, but Enebish is a goofy name. I couldn't help but call her Nebbish in my head, and that's not exaclty a flattering thing to call someone. (I mean, it works for Enebish's personailty at the start of the book, but …)

Relationship Status: Possibilities

I had a good time with you, Book—maybe better than I expected. There were some kinks I think we need to work out, but I'd definitely give you another go if you wanted to get together again.

Literary Matchmaking:

  

● For another main character who overcomes an imprisonment (and also has badass powers), check out Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series.

● If you prefer sun powers to darkness ones, give Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series a go.

● And then there's Margaret Owen's The Merciful Crow, which has a totally different magical system, but definitely has the same overall feel.

I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

A promising and dynamic start to the series! Enebish is a wonderful and vibrant character and there is so much to love in her interactions with the people and world around her on her journey. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next!

Who knew this was the retelling I needed in my life?? The lush world building drew such an epic picture and the story was mind blowing. I could not rec this book enough!

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Night Spinner by Addie Thorley is a spectacular gender bent retelling filled with incredible magic, along with secret societies, and ultimately betrayal.

A spellbinding thrilling ride where I was gripping the edge of my seat as I waited to see how the events unfolded.

Now mentally and physically disfigured and she is spends her days in a monastery training royal birds, completely isolated, locked away. Finding comfort in her only companion, Orbai the bird, and the occasional visits from her childhood friend Serik.

Serik still stays loyal as a steadfast friend, who still sees the good in her, going against what others think of Enebish.

A highly awarded warrior for the king’s army, gifted with the rare power of night spinning; drawing down threads of the night sky, conjuring the cloak of darkness and the fiery stars and bending them to her will. Two years ago she became the most hated and notorious monster in the land. A broken girl, who they say committed a treasonous horrendous act, Strangely she can’t remember losing control on a mission and it resulted in a massacre of innocent lives. Gone is “Enebish The Warrior”. Now she is known only as “Enebish The Destroyer.”

The only reason she was spared death was due to the negotiations of her adoptive sister Ghoa. Ghoa has since achieved notoriety, and resin the ranks in the king’s army.

When she is presented with an opportunity to be reinstated into the Kalima Army. She has to infiltrate a group of rebel deserters.

a Ghoa will convince the king to release Enebish and reinstate her into the Kalima Army. Once she leaves the prison of the tower she is faced with a bigger decisions

A transparent protagonist, who is broken emotionally and physically scared, who rises up. There are multiple layers to the internal struggles that Enebish encounters Along with an engaging storyline that unfolds seamlessly. Richly textured world building where the magic system was perfect for any fantasy readers.

A spellbinding thrilling ride where I was gripping the edge of my seat as I waited to see how the events unfolded. I love everything about this Ya a fantasy book. It’s definitely a wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading captivating fiction.

NIGHT SPINNER is a story of deception and betrayal, friendship and family, with magic and war woven throughout, and a touch of romance. The fantasy world is intriguing and the characters well drawn, while the story will have readers turning pages as quickly as they can. Highly recommended to YA fantasy fans!

LOOK!!! A girl’s gotta be honest, I love retellings and I almost enjoy the contemporary spin every author adds, but I loved this HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME retelling a little bit whole lotta more!! I plunged into the book with zero expectations, without reading the synopsis, nada and my oh my did it come at me with all them glorious feels! An amazing cast, a fierce resilient heroine who is every bit fierce, loyal and devoted to her people and so many shady side characters!! PLUS PLOT TWISTS, BETRAYALS that hit you in the face BAM! BAM! BAM!

There’s only one word for that kind of devotion. One reason you’d sacrifice yourself for someone else.

We have Enebish, who calls upon night and wears it as her second skin, a traitor accused of being a monster finds herself swaying between choice of her freedom and betraying the kingdom she once fought for. I KNOWWWW, right?? It’s so INTENSE! If you feel the need to pick up the book now, I probably should let you know that what follows is a series of big reveals that is gonna break your heart and an ending that I hope would atleast mend your broken heart!

“So sleep for a moment. Dream with me, Enebish.”

Thorley’s breathtaking storytelling, blended with elements of magic, traditions, myths, wars, a history of battles between age old rival kingdoms, made NIGHT SPINNER a memorable read for me! Sometimes, but mostly in fantasy it’s difficult to relate with characters on a personal level, but with Night Spinner  , the whole myriad of characters had a purpose and that extra attention the author paid to each character made me empathise with each of them! Be it Ghoa’s passion to serve her country, Temujin’s thirst for revenge against the kingdom that betrayed him, Serik’s grudge against Ghoa and his consequent outbursts or the complex relationship dynamics between Ghoa and Enebish, each of them factored the story as a whole and as an outcome the ripple effect of the story was beyond brilliant!!

This is what I dreamed of, all those days we spent lying under the larch trees,” he murmurs. “You and me, against the world.”

The perfect pacing made me add another half stars to the book cause honestly I found it diificult to put the book down!! 

A shining 4.5 STARS to this amaze-ing book!!!!

You had me at Hunchback of Notre Dame retelling! It was my favorite Disney movie as a kid, and while this book is obviously darker and grittier I absolutely loved it. I would definitely recommend!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Page Street Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.

All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

Content Warning: Death, Gore, Blood, Starvation, Torture, War

"You don’t need a master, Enebish. Be your own hero. You can save yourself--and me--but only if you open your eyes."

Enebish has known a life of duty and battle her entire life. Having been known as one of the best warriors in the Sky King’s army, she created her identity around that. Also being a Night Spinner--a special Kalima power that allows one to have the ability to bend night within her grasp--she was an indispensable asset. Until, one day, she lost control and slaughtered a merchant caravan. Forced to quell her storm, her dearest friend and surrogate sister Ghoa had to maime her in order to get her under control.

"Followers of the New Order attain exaltation by reporting the mistakes of others. The more grievous the infraction, the closer they come to rapture. And I, the most notorious criminal in the empire, am imprisoned in the heart of their den."

In the aftermath, Enebish becomes known as Enebish the Destroyer, and is branded a traitor to the kingdom. Ghoa, being the commander of the Sky King’s army, is able to secure her a spot hidden away in a monastery, where she will be looked after under strict supervision, instead of executed for her crime. A moonstone is placed into her chest in order to sever her connection with her magic, and secure the safety of others around her.

"The sky doesn’t care that I am wicked and ugly. The clouds never rain down judgment for my crimes, and the moon shines without flinching on my injured limbs and scarred face. The majority of Ashkar may despise me, but the heavens will always embrace me in arms of frost and wrap me in a blanket of starlight. In the eyes of the Lady of the Sky and Father Guzan, I am accepted. Wanted."

Enebish, scorned and fallen from her pedestal, severed from her magic, crippled, and left without much purpose, is forced to create a new life for herself. She finds purpose in training the king’s eagles, but still flirts with the night when it comes around each evening. In a land where the Lady of the Night and Father Guzan are no longer worshiped as the Sky King had denounced their existence, Enebish finds herself yet another outcast, as her relationship to the night leaves no question that they are alive and real.

One day, Ghoa visits the monastery. It is the first time Enebish has seen her since her banishment. There to retrieve the king’s eagles, Ghoa gives Enebish leave along with Serik, a monk at the monastery, to see the eagles safely to the celebration. The excursion doesn’t go without a hitch, however, and Enebish finds herself at the center of ridicule. From out of nowhere, a group of rebels led by the notorious Temujin interfere and tell Enebish to seek them out.

When Ghoa learns about her interaction with Temujin, she offers Enebish a reward if she can hunt the criminal down. She would be reinstated to the army if she could infiltrate enemy lines and capture Temujin. Wanting her old life back more than anything, Enebish agrees, but underestimates the difficulty involved. The truth behind the ongoing war is also underestimated, as the empire’s situation is much more dire than she ever realized. Between the Sky King’s empire and the rebel forces, citizens are desperately in need. Enebish stretches herself to appease Ghoa, but finds that what she thought was the right path may end up being the wrong one.

Night Spinner’s main character Enebish certainly embodies many admirable traits. First, she’s a warrior, but this “past-life” is not a honed edge any longer, and allows fraying to occur at the sharpness in her character. She’s courageous, but also fearful due to being branded a traitor for a terrible crime. Humbleness mirrors pride knowing what her Kalima can do but now is unable to do anything with the night. It is in these attributes that The Hunchback of Notre Dame is visible. Other than this and her obvious disfigurement, I didn’t find much correlation between the two. To be honest, I haven’t read or watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame, so my memory may be jaded by time.

Full of unique mythology, culture, and magic, Night Spinner offers a rich setting for a probing tale of politics and betrayal. The beginning of this story is especially contextual, and gives the reader a fine sense of the world in which it is set. Several plot twists also hide themselves within the plot, but some I had guessed before the truth had been revealed, which was a little disappointing. Despite this, Night Spinner offers a familiar, yet unique story about a character that faces an impossible situation, only to rise above to face head-on yet another.

Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: Minimal.
Violence: Moderate, including graphic and torture scenes

My Rating: ★★★★

(Link will go live 02/26) 

Another beautiful cover! It seems like I'm a broken record recently in my praise of the cover art of my books, but it's also just true that many of them have been extraordinary! It's nice to see original cover art that properly reflects the book itself rather than trying to brazenly mimic other successful titles in an attempt to trick readers into picking books up. I mean, I get it, publishing is a business and all of that. But a beautiful cover will do the job just as well, as many readers, myself included, will pick up titles like this because the cover is lovely and unique. The book was also marketed at a retelling of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." And because I can't even really picture what that looks like, this was an immediate request for me!

Enebish's life is now one of seclusion and repression, a far fall from a few years ago when she had been on the cusp of becoming a great warrior and great leader for her people. But when a horrific accident occurs, killing many and crippling Enebish, her life takes a drastic turn, leaving her hated and feared by those who used to respect her. But, after years of hiding from her own powers and ignoring the temptations of the night, she is finally given a path forward to redeem herself. As she chases down a notorious criminal, however, she learns that there are many secrets in the night, not least of all her own.

While this book wasn't the home run I'd been hoping for, there was still a lot I ended up liking about it. For one thing (and in my book, most importantly), Enebish was an excellent character. While some of her secrets and the reveals she discovers throughout the book were easy to guess, her own process of exploring these new insights was always sympathetic and relatable. As the story progresses, we see more and more clearly that her physical injuries are not nearly as crippling as her fear. Fear of her past, fear of the judgement of others, and, of course, fear of herself.

I was also a fan of the writing style and world-building. It was the kind of book that I was able to immediately sink into. Writing is always one of the hardest aspects of a book to review because what makes one author's style work and another's struggle can be both very subjective to the reader as well as almost impossible to pinpoint with specifics. I can usually tell within the first few chapters of a book whether the writing is going to click for me, and right off the bat, this one did. The world-building was also interesting, and I was able to easily picture the various locations that Enebish travels to.

The romance is definitely on the slow-burn side and there were hints of a love triangle at points. Luckily, the story didn't commit fully to said triangle and the romance itself was very sweet, what little we had of it.

My struggles had to do with the length/pacing of the story, as well as the comparison to " The Hunchback of Notre Dame." To the latter point, I found this expectation more distracting than anything. I can see the base elements for why this was referenced in the blurb, but frankly, in the first half of the book I spent way too much time comparing characters and events to that story and not enough appreciating the book before me. I think, as a whole, the comparison is too weak to add anything to the story and is likely to prove more distracting to readers. I recommend trying to put that thought out of your head immediately to better enjoy the book. The middle of the story also lagged a bit, and, overall, I think the book was a bit longer than what was necessary. As the writing and characters were strong, these were minor concerns, but still worth noting.

Overall, I thought this was a really interesting read. I'm not biting at the bit to get to the second one, but it laid down a decent foundation for the plot going forward, and I'm fairly invested in Enebish herself. If you're looking for an original fantasy novel this spring, this might be one worth checking out!

Rating 7: A bit longer than was necessary, but a compelling lead character and interesting magic system pulled this one into the "win" column.

I received an advanced copy of Night Spinner from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Enebish the Destroyer possesses the rare ability to control darkness, weaving it to conceal or blind people at her whim.  This power was not give lightly, and she considers it her duty to serve the goddess and kingdom that have defined her life thus far.  After an incident by Enebish’s hand that devastates the kingdom, she is deemed unfit for service, and sentenced to spend the rest of her days in a monastery dedicated to gods she has no faith for.  Chained with the title of “Destroyer” and an insurmountable pile of guilt, Enebish feels as though redemption can never be achieved.  But when her adopted sister gives her a mission for the crown, Enebish finally sees her chance to prove herself to the kingdom once again.  To reclaim her identity, she will have to hunt down the most notorious rebel in the kingdom, and discover what darker plans lurk under the surface of everyones’ facades.

Addie Thorley has written a compulsively readable fantasy novel in Night Spinner!  I wasn’t quite sure what it was in particular that kept me coming back, but I couldn’t seem to put this book down!  The story is a retelling of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, a story which I am not particularly familiar with, so my opinions on the book are separate from the source material.  I really enjoyed seeing Enebish grow throughout the story, and the plot twists certainly kept me on my toes!  

You can get your copy of Night Spinner now from Page Street Kids!

My Recommendation-
This tundra-inspired retelling is perfect for those people still reveling in the winter season!  If you enjoy books by Natasha Ngan or Rosaria Munda, you will love the high-stakes conflicts in Night Spinner!   Also, if you feel that many stories have become too predictable, Night Spinner contains enough twists to entertain even the most active plot sleuth!

I went into this book without any expectations and without any prior inclination of what this book is about. I just loved the cover so much and requested and was very very glad to be approved for the Blog Tour. And boy was I surprised. This as we all know is the retelling of Hunchback of Notre Dame, and it is mostly is different and unique YA Fantasy take on the classic. It kinda felt like a lot of characters were inspired Grishaverse with flavours of their own and that was just cherry on top. The world building is beautifully done and the twists and turns just adds to the great plot. A vibrant and harsh magical world with streaks of custom and religion woven into it, this book had it all and showed it all as well. I definitely definitely wanna read the next book and asap.

I absolutely loved this book!

It drew me in from the first page, and had me until the very end. Needless to say, I'm happy it has a little one next to the title because I need more!

Thorley is such a great writer. Her prose are lyrical and beautiful; she sets the scene and brings it to life before your eyes. The characters she created are full of life, with emotions and drives that build a solid foundation for a story.

I have never read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but I have seen the Disney movie. Even with that knowledge, I believe Thorley does a great job of weaving the old with the new and creating a story that stands apart from any kind of source material.

There were enough twists and turns to keep me on my feet, and just a touch of romance to sate my need for love. I felt connected to the characters and found myself rooting for them until I hated them. I really liked that my inklings weren't all founded while some of them were, and I enjoyed the reveals as they came.

Overall, this was such a great read and I can't wait for more Enebish!

Going into this review I think it only fair to mention, that Night Spinner is supposed to be a retelling of the classic "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", which I haven't read so I'm not going to compare it to that (since my whole knowledge of that story is based on watching the Disney movie as a child).

The story starts out with our protagonist Enebish, exiled amongst monks for a crime that branded her a traitor and left her physically disfigured. Her only solice is her best friend and monk, Serik and her birds that she trains for the king. Enebish used to be one of the Kalima, a magic-wielding warrior, able to control the threads of darkness. Much like her adoptive sister Ghoa, who controlls the king's armies.

- 

Startingt the book, we as a reader didn't really know much about Enebish or her history, which is something we came to learn over the course of the book. The same goes for the other character that we meet as the story progresses. Usually I think learning things as we go is a good thing because it feels less interruptive especially if it goes hand in hand with the worldbuilding, but to me the first third of the book felt a little slow. We met some of the important characters, learnt about the world and magic system but it took me a while to warm up to the book and writing. Things got better after a certain point and picked up speed though. 

We quickly came to realize who the important characters were going to be and they were definitely more fleshed out than some of the others. Enebish, Serik, Ghoa and Temujin were by far the most realistic characters, or at least felt more real and fleshed out than the others. We had characters with different beliefs and character traits, opposing agendas and emotions. Unfortunately some of the side characters felt flat compared to the "main cast" and I felt myself not really invested in their fates.
 Generally I feel like the wordlbuilding was there but not enough to give me a better understanding of the world and it conflicts, which I think is a pity since there was an active war going on and I would have loved to know more which would have made some of the motivations more tangible.

But overall I think that the story was captivating and always kept me curious. I had the feeling that there were things that were hidden to Enebish and the reader but couldn't quite figure out what exactly it was, which also left me questioning many of the character's motives and actions. The last third was especially good and I devoured it in one go wanting to know what would happen next.

I liked how relationships changed and evolved, how people grew and changed but sometimes I wished that things would have happened a little slower. In general I felt that some parts were a little rushed and that a 100 pages more would have been great to elaborate more on the worldbuilding and characters. I would also have loved to know more about the other Kalima powers, because I'm sure we barely got a glimpse of it.

What I really loved about the book though, was the slow burning romance. I'm not gonna go into detail here but to me it felt really relatable and I'm already excited to hopefully see more of it in the next book.

The ending itself was really satisfiying and definitely made me look forward to the release of a sequel (?). It ended at a great moment with much potential for another book.

Overall I would give it 3.5 to 4 stars.

Thank you to Page Street Publishing for a copy of the arc and Addie Thorley for this wonderful book, in exchange for an honest review.

These are my initial thoughts after finish the arc last night. I absolutely loved and enjoyed every minute of this book. Addie Thorley's world building is so distinct, intricate and exquisite, I can feel myself walking down the street alongside Enebish. The author beautifully crafted a world full of culture, religion, practices and magical system. It is like a perfectly made souffle, made with careful hands, baked and has risen to perfection.

The complex characters and relationships are also wonderfully made. This book was said to be a Hunchback of Notre Dame retelling, and there are similarities in the beginning but it takes on a flight of it's own. Enebish is somehow like Quasimodo, in the aspect that she has physical deformities as punishment from her past actions that she didn't have any much control of. Sometimes, I felt so much for her because we have all made mistakes, I have made a lot of them, in my short time in this world, but everyone deserves to be heard and be forgiven and have a second chance at life. I love Enebish's character development and cannot wait for the next book!

And of course, my weakness in books are morally gray characters. Ghoa, at first I thought she was going to be the extremely good character from how she was so loyal to the King, and how she was the commander, but then she turned out to be one of the unexpected gray ones. Temujin is also one of the characters that intrigued me and I loved reading his thoughts and perspectives.

I'm so glad this book will have a sequel because that first one was so good I can't wait for more!

This is a hunchback of Notre Dame inspired story. instead of your traditional Quasimodo, you have a wounded ex warrior who's dealing with a lot of fallout and PST from things that have happened war. It is set in this very rich, lush, landscape, of a completely new world with completely new rules. There's a magic system here that has been very thoroughly set up in some fairly interesting ways. People can spin the night, control fire, manipulate ice and different elements such as these.

I started this book not very sure of what I was getting into or if I really liked what was going on and where it was headed. But by the end of the book, I was invested. There were things going on both action-wise and politically that I need to know the end results of. Thorley created this very rich world with a lot of lore and a magical system that I don't fully understand it yet, I want to know more, but built on faith and I find that intriguing. 

She also managed to develop a lot of character depth. In the beginning, I wasn't entirely sure about Enebish. I struggled with the fact that she was supposed to be this battle-hardened warrior but she was acting very meek and mild. She was invested in the war efforts but there were a lot of things that made her feel like she wasn't a true warrior. She wasn't acting like I expected a warrior to act. As the series progressed and started to understand that maybe because of everything that she has gone through and everything that was happening, this has changed her in ways and shifted her back into this very weak state. Throughout her journey, as she is starting to rely more on herself and starting to discover some of these truths, she started to grow and become more of what I would expect that this warrior was supposed to be at the very beginning. I like seeing that character arc. And with Enebish, you have her adopted sister Ghoa, adopted cousin Serik, and this whole band of criminals that also grow and morph and shift as different plot points happen in very unexpected ways. 

I like it when I can read a story and start to try and guess where the plot is going but then it twists and morphs into something that I wasn't expecting. And this story does that very well. There were hints and bits and pieces of what the ending was going to be. And these little inklings of, maybe things aren't quite what you're expecting them to be, but it was hard to see how that actually was going to fall out until the very end. So I think Thorley did a very good job of giving enough of that anxiety to keep on pushing through and not being sure of anything. This coincides very well with everything that was going on with Enebish as she's struggling to decide who to help, how to help and what she is doing throughout this war. 

There's a little bit of romance in it as well. There's a line within this story that just pinpoints how this romance goes and I liked it so much for it.
"This is no time for kissing."

I'm excited to see where all this finally wraps up.

"A must-read for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, transforming The Hunchback of Notre Dame into a powerful tundra-inspired fantasty.

Before the massacre at Nariin, Enebish was one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army: a rare and dangerous Night Spinner, blessed with the ability to control the threads of darkness. Now, she is known as Enebish the Destroyer—a monster and murderer, banished to a monastery for losing control of her power and annihilating a merchant caravan.

Guilt stricken and scarred, Enebish tries to be grateful for her sanctuary, until her adoptive sister, Imperial Army commander Ghoa, returns from the war front with a tantalizing offer. If Enebish can capture the notorious criminal, Temujin, whose band of rebels has been seizing army supply wagons, not only will her crimes be pardoned, she will be reinstated as a warrior.

Enebish eagerly accepts. But as she hunts Temujin across the tundra, she discovers the tides of war have shifted, and the supplies he’s stealing are the only thing keeping thousands of shepherds from starving. Torn between duty and conscience, Enebish must decide whether to put her trust in the charismatic rebel or her beloved sister. No matter who she chooses, an even greater enemy is advancing, ready to bring the empire to its knees."

While The Hunchback of Notre Dame angle interests me, I'm mainly here for the "fans of Legin Bardugo's Grishaverse."