I was hoping this would be one I loved, and I did like some elements, but I found the writing to have a full quality to it. It was compared to a Stephen King book, but the only similarities I could pinpoint were the use of “the shine” type of storyline.

I enjoyed this author’s short stories but found the writing in this one didn’t work for me and had to DNF. I would be curious to try another book of hers. Maybe it was just this one.

Such a shame!

I absolutely love this author's short story collections, and I was so excited to read her first full-length novel, but unfortunately, I didn't like this one. I didn't hate it either, but it was too long and tedious. A little too wordy for my taste. I'm still going to give it a 3-star rating because Enriquez is a brilliant writer. The overall plot was too convoluted for me. Too much was happening. Too much backstory that felt unnecessary. The story dragged in a lot of places. I wanted a faster-paced and a shorter novel.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Random House Publishing Group- Random House for an advance copy of this book of horror, the burdens of parenting and we we leave for our children.

The problem with family is that many times it adds a burden to people that is both impossible to live up to, or even want to live up to. Blood is a tie that binds, and binds some families to the end, even sometimes passed the end. When one rebels, or even just looks back and says, 'Hey that was odd', or not want to share these strictures on their children there are sometimes repercussions. Some mental, some physical even damnation of the soul. Argentinian writer and journalist Mariana Enríquez, translated by Megan McDowell, in her novel Our Share of Night has written a story about dark rituals, darker politics, running from the past, and the fate of both the dispossessed and the disappeared in sprawling book of horror, family and real world politics.

A boy and his father set out on a car trip, being careful not to be noticed by anybody, not the public or even worse the security forces that fill the streets of 1980's Argentina. They travel with a fully stocked first aid kit, maps and sadness in the fact that the father's wife and the child's mother has recently passed away, something neither one has recovered from. Incidents happen on the road, some sad, some strange some good. However the father's health Juan, seems to be failing, sleeping more like in a coma, with wounds that don't seem to heal hindering him. As we travel along, readers learn that Gaspar the son is heir to a powerful legacy from his mother. A group known as the Order want him and his skills, skills his father have, for use in their organization, one of both ritual power and dark arts.

A big sprawling novel that hops in both time and location, but never really losing itself, the narrative of the sense of dread that permeates the book. Along with sadness, for family, for the family that might have been, and love of parents for their offspring, and the many regrets that parents feel for not providing or protecting their children. The book does take a little to get into, and to follow what is going along. Readers familiar with the works of South American authors will have an easier time. The story unfolds carefully, not spelling things out, more an awareness that something is going on, something is being seen that is not being explained. There is also a lot that can be disturbing, so be aware. Body horror, trauma, sadness, politics and atrocities, and a bit of medical procedures. The characters are very well written and readers do get attached, though a lot of bad things do happen. The writing might seem a bit detached in the beginning, but that is more for the mood, the disquiet that fills the novel, and sets a reader up for a lot reveals.

For readers who enjoy their horror both real in the politics that is discussed, and imagined. Again readers of South American literature and those knowledgeable about the politics of the era will get quite a bit out of it, but this is still a powerful tale full of shock, awe and sadness. This is the first that I have read by Mariana Enríquez, I hope that more will be coming.

This book is such a hefty undertaking, and so dense and dark, that I feel like it will take me some time to fully process everything I've read and what I feel about it.

In short summary, the book is about a father whose life has been entirely shaped by his family's involvement in a ritualistic demonic cult, and his desperation to save his son from sharing his fate. The story went so much deeper though, lovingly and critically examining the culture of Argentina in the 80s and 90s, political unrest, brutality, relationships, social class, gender, sexuality... So much is contained inside this epic and sprawling story that unfolds over many years with many contributing voices.

This was absolutely unique, unsettling, at times challenging or even sickening: a true horror novel that draws you into the lives of its characters and doesn't let go. I loved how atmospheric it was, the imagery that was evoked, the vivid descriptions, and the writing style that blended prose and dialogue seamlessly. The story comes together gradually, in bits and pieces, and it works so well because of the multiple narrative voices, all of whom have a different perspective on what's happening. At times I was completely mesmerized by the horrors unfolding, and I feel like some sections even have a dream (or nightmare)-like quality. This would make a fantastic television show, if done right. It has that magical, cinematic quality.

This book is definitely not for everyone, so I would suggest looking at content warnings and avoiding it altogether if graphic descriptions of violence bother you. That being said, if you love the occult and big books that really dig into a massive story, this is absolutely perfect.

This author also has two short story collections translated into English, and after reading this, they are being bumped up on my tbr list. I will absolutely be keeping up with Mariana Enriquez and any of her forthcoming works.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF - Suffice it to say that this was not for me; plot nor 600+ pages of everything in between. I might try & revisit this in the future but for now I am dropping off.

Just started this one and its just epic and perfect and shades of a masterpiece. I will be reviewing a physical copy of this book on my social media platforms but thank you agin to Hogarth for the digital arc

I’m learning that I love Enríquez’s stories as much as I hate them. I am revolted but compelled; I can’t look away.

Based on how much I loved The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, I was expecting to love Our Share of Night. Overall, I think Enríquez’s debut novel is good. I ended up liking it, not loving it.

In Our Share of Night, body horror, abuse, and demons are interspersed and intertwined with generational trauma, colonialism, and white supremacy.

The world of Initiates, rituals, and dark magic is terrifying and intertwined with Argentina’s tumultuous history, which plays a major role in the story. There are a lot of things I don’t know about Argentina’s history and culture, so some things surely went over my head. The structure of the dark society our medium, Juan, is a part of is an apt metaphor for the workings of colonialism and White supremacy.

Some parts were a bit too meandering for my taste. I wasn’t really sure how some parts contributed to the plot. Other parts were a bit incoherent and could have used some better editing.

In terms of horror, there are some visuals that won’t be leaving my mind anytime soon. All of the characters are unlikeable, but I love a good unappealing character. In this case, their unlikeability makes the horrors of the plot easier to cope with.

Because of the content of Marquez’s work, I honestly wouldn’t recommend her work to anyone unless I knew them very well. Like I said before, her stories are very disturbing and contain content that is absolutely not for everyone. However, I personally find her work interesting and think she’s one of the best contemporary horror writers I’ve read so far.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for providing me with a free digital ARC.

Juan is a medium, able to channel powerful, horrifying forces. Unfortunately, he is completely under the thumb of a cult of wealthy sociopaths seeking immortality: his in-laws. He has already lost his wife to an “accident” and he himself is dying by inches, so he will do absolutely anything to give his young son Gaspar a chance at a normal life. Juan and Gaspar struggle against insatiable demonic entities, intergenerational trauma, and the unrest of later twentieth century Argentina. It is difficult to say whether the cultists or the government are guilty of worse atrocities. Slow-burning and stomach-turning.

Really interesting narrative structure, spanning decades and generations. It opens with a general mystery and plotting by a father seeking desperately to find a way to save his son from a cult that is looking to exploit and possibly destroy him. All set during a period of social and political upheaval that makes the murderous cult able to exist without much question.

A great overall plot and memoriable characters that hook you into the story right away! I will be recommending this title to my fellow readers!

Well, I don't even know what to say about this sprawling horror show. It's epic, it's dark and gross and honestly terrifying in some parts, it's too long and also somehow not long enough, it was over ten hours on my kindle but the ending felt rushed. Come on in if you want to read over 600 pages of the nightmare that is the lives of Juan Peterson and his son Gaspar; in another author's hands this likely would've descended into tedium, but I had a great time.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc. I eventually gave up on this one, because I found it to be more depressing than I wanted to read. So not a fault of the writer/writing, this was just a story I hadn't enjoyed.

4.5/5

This is one scary book! Even in spite of instances where it was hard to connect with the writing or narrative, this had me on the edge of my seat feeling dread and horror. Well done!

I'm a bit embarrassed to say I've read very few Latin American writers. When I saw this book and the plot description, I knew I should give it a try. I'm very glad I did.

Juan is born with a defective heart into a poor Argentinian family. When a wealthy heart surgeon takes an interest in him, he is sold into a world of wealth with dark secrets. The family is part of a cult called the Order that worships the occult through black magic. Juan grows up being a medium for accessing the Darkness through spells and sacrifices and although he knows he is being used, he is captive in more ways than one. He eventually marries into the cult and has a child, Gaspar, who he swears to protect from the Order. Fast forward in time: the recently widowed Juan escapes the Order's compound and flees with Gasper.but as Juan's health deteriorates the Order is even more interested in getting their hands on Gaspar. Will Gaspar also fall prey to the cult?

Switching back and forth in time and focusing on different characters, the story reveals the extent of the evil perpetuated by the Order and the struggle for Gaspar's survival. It is an engrossing read that captured my imagination and brought the politics and culture of Argentina to life. The writing is outstanding and the story compelling: will Gaspar escape the clutches of the powerful Order? That is a question Gaspar must confront as well. The only problem I had with the book was that occasionally the writer would go pages with dialog and no quotation marks. That slowed the pace of the story as I had to follow try and follow what was being said and by whom. Overall, it is a wonderful book and one I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Hogarth/Random House Publishing for an advance copy of this book. The publication date is February 7, 2023.

I'm sorry, I tried.

Based on other reviews, the last part of this book is supposed to be amazing and haunting, like her short stories. But I couldn't make it that far. I reread the first 5% and 10% of this book a few different times, having put it down and forgetting what had happened.

But each time I remembered it was too boring to continue. That's why it took me 2.5 months to finally give up. I'm never finishing this. The writing is really cool, the tone is spooky, but the characters and story are slow and boring. Little creepy bits here and there, but not enough to keep me reading for longer than 15 min.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolute stunner! Mariana Enríquez “Nuestra Parte de Noche” is finally translated to English!

This has to be hands down my favorite novel from Mariana. From the moment I first started reading this 700 page book, I knew I was in for a wild ride. The book setting, you know, it was during “La Guerra Sucia” back in the 60s-70, a very difficult time for Argentine people.

The story follows Gaspar & His father, after Gaspar mother dies “unexpectedly” this Father-son duo story is one of a king. A love that doesn’t measure what a father will do to protect his son from politically very dangerous and powerful groups.. Because, Our Gaspar is.l not a regular human.

This story is as horrific as it’s beautiful.. it’s that realist horror that Mariana Enriquez knows how to describe .. or NOt. 💀 anyway, I need you to pick this one up!

Her writing style is just so intoxicating that I promise you won’t be able to put this book down.

I absolutely loved this book!
Told from different points of view, it tells the story of a family. It is wrapped in Argentine history (1960's - 1990's) and the occult. It is a dark book.


I just reviewed Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez. #OurShareofNight #NetGalley

I was thrilled to get an ARC of this novel by an author I admire. This is the story of black magic, cults, and complicated love, set in a time of political upheavals of a corrupt and violent government to the heartbreaking fear and losses of the AIDS crisis. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't prepared for the length, and breadth of this book, and at times I felt weighed down by the details, but as I approached the end of my allotted reading time, I wish I'd given myself more time with it, because my notebook is filled with quotes, and references to explore more in the future, a neurodivergent book lovers dream, all those Easter Eggs! As the last section unfolded, all the connections developed, and things unfolded in an exciting and captivating manner, and the imagery was haunting and disturbing. This book broke my heart more than once, and gave me so much to think about and explore. The author drops in much music, art, poetry and even fashion throughout the book. I kept stopping to look things up along the way, before I decided just to make notes. It really was such a developed read that felt as epic as it did horrific due to the beautiful writing and visceral descriptions, creating a visual and emotional landscape that will long live on in this readers minds eye.

This book was really good! I like that there was a supernatural component without it being tied to Christianity (or some other religion). It was engaging, made me want to visit Argentina, and had me wanting more. The only downside is I think the ending came on fast without a ton of resolution, but it actually seemed more like real life.

I was very much into the story of Our Share of Night in the first section. I fell off the train during the section recounting Gaspar's youth, and never quite got back onboard. I like how the author set a mood and followed through. On top of the horror, there's the ever present danger in the air of the book and I absolutely respect how Mariana Enriquez wove together the supernatural horror with the institutional threats of an evil secret society and intergenerational trauma borne out of the unrest in the book's historical setting. This book got really disturbing at times (curse my vivid imagination), which would either scare people off or attract them to the book. (I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)