An enthusiastic five stars for this novel that has everything: family and loss and bonding, the supernatural and eerie quest a father and son embark on to solve an old mystery, queer love, threads of political oppression, and some straight-up horror. It is so good. Now that I’ve written this review, I’m also downloading the audiobook so I can experience this immersive story all over again!

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc.

And now for an Argentinian horror novel, by the author of the supremely excellent short story collection, Smoking in Bed, Mariana Enriquez. This hefty novel begins as a horror story, and often returns to that genre, leaning heavily on gore. But there's a lot of book here, so this is also a family saga, the story of four childhood friends and a coming-of-age story.

A cabal of super wealthy people worship an entity they think of as Darkness, an entity that they believe can bring them a sort of immortality. In order to reach this entity, they need a conduit, but mediums are hard to find and, once found, quick to die, as each manifestation takes a physical toll and this group of worshippers insist on frequent ceremonies. A boy is found in Argentina and raised to be the medium by one of the families in the cabal. But despite marrying into the family, he isn't as docile as they would like. When he has a son, he takes steps to protect the boy, despite being desperately ill himself, steps that will protect the boy for a certain period of time.

The ceremonies are graphically described and there's a fair amount of child torture, although this takes place mostly off the page. It's intense in places, but also prone to long digressions and side plots. If you like your horror to involve ancient evil powers and contain a quantity of mutilations and dead bodies, while also enjoying a story that takes its time and wanders off on tangents about politics, social movements, history and the lives of secondary characters, you'll like this one. Enriquez has a wild and dark imagination and Megan McDowell's translation is, as usual, extremely smooth and readable. I'll also note that there are ample descriptions of child abuse in this book.

A brilliant book with the touch of horror and historical fiction that is filled with the Mariana Enriquez touch!

What an interesting foray into the world of the South American supernatural- in this instance, vampire cult family adventures in Argentina- which is also in the midst of turbulent political upheaval in the 60's. I was unable to finish the final book, but began the story of the father son journey to their deceased wife/mother's ancestral home. I'm not able to read books with plotlines involving young children and abuse either physically or emotionally. Gaspar being the six year old foil between his abusive medium dad and his mother's billionaire cult order family was not for me. Those who love atmospheric horror with a backbone in colonialism will enjoy, especially when juxtaposed against the actual atrocities perpetuated during the Argentine political upheaval of the 60's.

This is my first Mariana Enriquez and it’s certainly not the last. Despite being a huge book, I got hooked from the start. The author is great at keeping the readers’ curiousity up until the end of the book. Such a huge and chunky book but so worth reading. I got the hardcover and I’m glad to add this book in my collection. I would highly recommend this for people who are into literary horror. Such an immersive reading experience. Note that it might take you awhile to finish this but it’s so worth it.

Everytime I think I don’t like horror Mariana proves that I just don’t like poorly written horror. This book was addicting and ended up being one of my favorite books of this year (so far). It was a bizarre and epic and enthralling.

Our Share of Night is a haunting and evocative story that explores themes of horror, violence, and the supernatural. It is set in Argentina and draws on the country's rich culture and decades of political turmoil during Argentina's military dictatorship and its aftermath to create a sense of unease.

Mariana Enriquez's writing is lyrical, with vivid characters, set on an atmospheric backdrop. Due to the fact that it draws upon historical elements, I found the book to be extremely disturbing and thought provoking. It led me down a rabbit hole of the Perons, their relationship with Jose Lopez Rega and alleged ties to the occult. I have found that horror that is inspired by real life always seems to be scarier.

This book is very lengthy, long winded, and a slow burner. It also deals with a lot of fantastical as well as historical elements. These are some things to keep in mind in determining if this is a book you would want to read.

Our Share of Night will live rent-free and haunt my mind for years to come.

This is my first time reading Enriquez but it won't be my last. This multi-generation, multi-voice horror family saga has a lot going for it. There were many gasp out loud moments that made me positively gleeful and images that I'll never forget. Queerness abounds, which is a blessing on us all. The bads are wealthy, English-born or -descended landowners in a death cult that tortures and murders (particularly children--lots of child abuse in this book) and side with a violent dictatorship during a war that disappears something like 30,000 people in Argentina. They are evil and they get some measure of what they deserve, which is always satisfying.

That said, it drags in too many places to justify 600 pages. A sharp-knifed editor could have trimmed at least a quarter of the book and it wouldn't lose any of its impact. Still, a little boredom here and there isn't so high a price to pay for a book of such dark and brutal imagination.

I went into this completely blind and I'm glad I did, because there's really no way to describe or encapsulate everything happening in this book. Nearly every character commits horrific acts that could be argued as irredeemable, yet I loved reading about them all. The magic system was vague enough to remain ominous yet explained well enough to paint a rich picture. Overall, a fascinating look at generational trauma with some lovely exploration of gender and sexuality.

The length of this book will surely turn people away, but I need you all to understand that taking the plunge is something you will not forget. The language is beautiful. The story is all-consuming. The characters are unsettling. The story is terrifying. God. A work of art.

This is an incredibly ambitious novel, and it is clear that the author is immensely talented. However, it did not fully come together for me. That being said, I would recommend reading and will be keeping an eye on the author’s future work.

Just a quick amount of feedback here. I think that Enriquez is incredibly talented, however I think that this book was much too long and at the same time not a lot happened. It felt like a crucible to get through a lot of it, and the lead up was far to grueling for me to actually enjoy what happened after.

That all being said, the writing is gorgeous and I see why this has such amazing reviews.

I have no idea what this book is but I absolutely loved it?! Highly recommend if you like horror, gothic, fantasy type books. It's honestly a mix of everything and will totally keep you guessing!

4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for e-ARC. I also listened to the audiobook which was a great experience and performance.

"Our Share of Night" by Marina Enriquez is a captivating exploration of a cult and the story revolves around a young boy and his father who are desperately trying to escape its clutches. The father possesses a peculiar ability to control or connect with the dead and possibly even demonic entities. The question arises as to whether his son has inherited the same ability. This is the reason why they find themselves entangled in the cult. The father's powers attracted the attention of the cult, and he has been trapped within its confines for his entire life. Complicating matters, his wife tragically passed away six months ago, leaving him to navigate the harrowing task of saving his son from this dark and demonic cult.

While the book primarily follows their journey and the pursuit of liberation, it also delves into the nature of the cult itself. The narrative introduces us to the father and son as the main characters, but a significant portion of the middle section delves into a flashback that explores the life of the deceased wife. This flashback provides crucial context and eventually intertwines with the main storyline. Initially, I found the structure somewhat disconcerting, as it disrupted the flow of the story. However, in retrospect, I can appreciate how it enhanced the overall effectiveness of the book.

What truly stands out in "Our Share of Night" is the skillful blending of the supernatural horror elements with a sense of realism. As a fan of horror, I often encounter a disconnect between the real world and the fantastical elements in such stories. However, Marina Enriquez managed to create a fully realized world that not only immersed me in its supernatural aspects but also offered a fresh perspective on our own reality.

Growing up in the South with a specific worldview, I found the depiction of the cult and its demonic presence aligned with my perception of satanic entities, albeit in a more creative and sinister way. The book masterfully captured the essence of a dark fantasy, heavily steeped in horror. It felt like a glimpse into a previously unknown dimension, a world where the supernatural exists alongside our own. This complete immersion in the narrative is what compelled me to persevere through the book's hefty 700-plus pages.

Returning to my one criticism, which concerns the structural choices, I must admit that my investment in the father-son dynamic played a significant role in my initial reluctance to be displaced by the flashback. However, as the story progressed and the connection between the past and present became clearer, I could appreciate the narrative choice and its effectiveness.

On the whole, "Our Share of Night" deserves a solid four and a half stars. The book excels in its realization of complex characters, the intriguing cult, and the fully immersive world it creates. Exploring the father-son relationship and the enduring trauma associated with their upbringing in the cult adds depth and complexity to the story. The book skillfully addresses the question of when trauma becomes justifiable and whether it is truly the only option.

While I may not have articulated this point effectively, I wanted to share my thoughts as honestly as possible. The book expertly blends various themes, including family dynamics, trauma, the occult, and political horror set against the backdrop of the Argentine Civil War. Although my knowledge of the specific historical context is limited, it is evident that the cult holds significant power and intertwines with the corrupted political structure of the time.

At its core, "Our Share of Night" is a haunting exploration of a family's struggles, particularly the journey of a young boy attempting to break free from the clutches of the cult while searching for answers and empowerment. In this deeply personal narrative, the book delves into the complexities of family dynamics, much like the works of Shirley Jackson, evoking a sense of darkness and foreboding. The characters, flawed yet captivating, contribute to the book's overall appeal, drawing readers into their world. Additionally, the seamless integration of supernatural and psychological elements adds depth and intrigue to the story.

In conclusion, if the elements I have discussed resonate with you, I highly recommend reading "Our Share of Night." However, be prepared for a substantial commitment, as the book spans a considerable length. Personally, I quickly realized that this book was a perfect match for my preferences, and I am delighted to share my positive experience with you.

Our Share of Night is not my first foray into Enriquez’s writing (I’ve also read the incredible Things We Lost in the Fire), and I now know for certain this will not be my last. I don’t know if it’s a testament to the strength of the writing, the quality of the translation, or – as I suspect – a bit of both, but this book is absolutely stunning.

The writing here is frankly amazing. Enriquez has a flow that I’m starting to feel might be unmatched by any of her peers. I can’t for the life of me understand how she crafted such a lengthy story, with so much exposition that the story certainly could have survived the loss of into such a work of art. I mean, really. She probably could have shaved 200 pages off and still had a perfectly good, scary story. But instead, she delivered what was essentially a cult-heavy epic.

While the whole of the story is revealed almost agonizingly slowly. The pacing is reminiscent of some of my favorite horror films of the 60’s and early 70’s. Where you spend a good portion of the movie getting the idea that although things seem sort of okay on their surface, they most definitely are not. Like, at face value everything is a little off, but nothing you can entirely pin down. Then, after you’ve put in some time on exposition – BLAM! Everything is completely bonkerballs.

The family is involved in something so brutally violent and terrible that it’s hard to believe. The Order is guilty of some pretty heinous stuff, all in the service of their stupid end goal. They are willing to lie, cheat, steal, murder, traffic, etc. to get what they want. They’re despicable people. Gaspar and his father are such well-rounded characters. They are both so bent by trauma that it can be hard to sympathize with some of the choices each of them makes (or has made) throughout the story. But that is the magic of Our Share of Night – nobody is perfect, but some are light years better than others. That moral greyness makes for a much more interesting and nuanced reading experience.

I highly recommend Our Share of Night if you’re the type of person who is in to long, narrative-heavy reading. This is a really wonderful book.

This wasn't quite what I expected but I had a great time with it anyways! I absolutely loved the writing style and I became so invested in these characters. For a longer book, it read so quickly!

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I tried very hard to read this over a period of a few months, but couldn't ever get to far. The writing seems perfectly fine, but something about it is just so... slow. You'll have moments of being pulled in, but for the most part my mind wandered quite a bit.

Moody, hallucinatory, and unputdownable. This is the perfect book for our upcoming Strong Sense of Place episode about Argentina. The writing is gorgeous and slinky, the characters feel lived in, and the story really gets under the skin.

A fever dream and I loved it. The mystery and darkness of the Order, a father trying to protect his son from the experience he suffered through himself, the intricacies of family and power. Beautiful, ugly and compelling.

I couldn’t get through this one. Not because the story or the writing wasn’t good but it’s hard for my brain to keep up with the way it was translated. The description was so interesting and I was hoping to get through it but sadly, I can’t. Giving it a higher rating because I’m sure it’s just me!