Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for the ARCs. This is an honest review.

This is a dark YA fantasy that weaves together elements of the corruption of Gods and monsters that lurk in the shadows. This is a journey of self-discovery and redemption. At its heart, the story revolves around Atia, an enigmatic monster and the last of her kind, and Silas, a Herald of the Gods burdened with a mysterious past that is a secret even to him.

I enjoyed the world-building and the character development; the complex relationships and the enduring struggle between the divine and the monstrous were highlights. The characters, particularly Atia and Silas, are well crafted with depth and nuance, each grappling with their own inner demons and haunted pasts. The addition of a human scholar and a half-banshee add fun secondary characters and create a vibrant ensemble that forms a heartwarming found-family dynamic. Though they mostly fall into that state rather than allowing it to grow more naturally; as a result, it seems far more contrived than I anticipated.

While the premise of the story holds great promise, I found the pacing a bit rushed, with conflicts resolved too swiftly, occasionally impacting the depth of emotional engagement. Additionally, the quite contemporary dialogue, while relatable in some instances, may at times feel out of place, momentarily detracting from the overall immersion in a fantastical world.

Nevertheless, "The Night Hunt" boasts an intriguing exploration of the themes of identity and belonging, and plays with themes of good versus evil. The corruption of the Gods serves as a captivating backdrop. This is entertaining, as long as one doesn't mind younger-trending YA fantasy.

Let's start with a round of applause for this cover. How freaking gorgeous!!!! And then the main character? She is exactly what I needed her to be. The best kind of girl boss. The story was so entertaining as well. All around a wonderful book!

It’s a book about monsters, but it’s a nice cozy read. I love Atia’s found family. I love Atia and Silas’ match. Both anti-heroes. How they’re both hesitant to acknowledge their feelings for each other. The twist was done well. The world building is somewhat vague, but the dialogues and plot are good. Alexandra also describes their inner thoughts quite well.

The cover of The Night Hunt is so beautiful that I was tempted to buy a finished copy even though I didn’t particularly enjoy this one. I was initially really hooked by the potential of world-building and characters. Unfortunately, the initial intrigue was not enough to sustain the story and I quickly grew bored.

The Night Hunt introduces a dark YA fantasy world filled with monsters and corrupt gods. The two main characters—Atia and Silas—are brooding, unapologetic badasses and I enjoyed their perspectives. There are parts of this book that I enjoyed and overall it was an engaging, quick read. However, the plot felt incredibly generic and wasn't properly fleshed out. The quest the characters go on quickly loses its appeal because the characters never face significant obstacles and are able to move through the different tasks unreasonably quickly. This short timeline also makes both the found family and the romance feel forced. The two non-POV main characters were incredibly shallow and only served as the comic relief and the walking encyclopedia of world-building. The dialogue between these characters was painfully corny and filled with cliche, tropey lines. The four characters really did not click together and I was honestly rolling my eyes at some of the heartfelt lines towards the end.

I was initially drawn to The Night Hunt because of the vibes of the cover. I was looking for a dark story with the nightmare, demon monster the cover features. And yet Atia spends over 80% of the book as a human. Though the quest is motivated by the loss of her monster form, it could have easily been traded for another generic quest plot. Despite being stuck in her human form Atia is still unnaturally strong and easily able to defeat the monsters she faces. This directly contradicts her initial reaction to the curse and essentially makes her Nefas form irrelevant. The wasted potential of Atia’s identity as a Nefas was incredibly disappointing.

Though it started off strong, The Night Hunt fails to capitalize on its interesting potential making it a forgettable read.

My first book by Alexandra Christo and I really enjoyed it. It’s a female monster who eats fear and a cursed guy who falls in love with her. This book has simple world-building with a great storyline that will have readers hooked. It’s action-packed that makes this book so hard to put down. The characters are fun but a bit underdeveloped and their connection with each other would have been better. The romance is cute but the story is better. However, if you love Greek mythology with action and morally grey characters, then this book is for you.

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

The Night Hunt
By: Alexandra Christo

⭐5⭐

“We are both trapped in a lie and desperate to escape it. A girl, who wishes to become a monster again. And a monster, who wishes to become human again.”

The Night Hunt is a dark fantasy romance that tells the story of a monster and a Gods-cursed boy who must work together to defeat their curses. Atia is a Nefas, a nightmare creator who feeds on fear, and has been cursed after scaring a man to death by accident. By committing this murder, she has been cursed by the Gods. Having her powers and immortality taken from her, she isn’t sure what to do. Atia is the last of her kind and she had nowhere to turn. That is, until Silas arrives at the scene of the crime.

Silas is a Herald, a transporter of the dead and messages of the Gods. Silas does not remember his past but is being forced to serve a century as a Herald as punishment for it. He seeks to remember his past and his name, but in order to do that, he needs Atia’s help.

Atia and Silas are forced to work together as an unlikely pair, picking up some friends along the way as well that help them in their quest. Atia seeks to regain her immortality and power, but throughout the journey, Atia begins to wonder if living a solitary existence is something that she wants to continue doing or if somehow, she has created a family of her own after the devastating murder of her parents. Silas wishes to restore his memories and to regain his name, but he wonders if he’ll ever be able to live without Atia. She is nothing like the monster that he thought that she was.

Tropes:
Found family, enemies to lovers, lost powers, epic quest


Below are some of my highlight quotes while reading!
(P.S. - I had NO idea I had this many but looking back at them, I’m not surprised at all!)

“Once upon a time, a man died. Many men, actually. They’re prone to it, after all, because humans are fragile things and tend to fade with the stars. The important thing isn’t really the man, but what killed him and what happened after.”

“She was Atia. The Last of the Nefas. And the Gods did not like it.”

“Existing, but never doing anything so bold as living.”

“She’s a creature of night and shadow. A thing that wears humanity like a mask to lull her prey in close.”

“If it wasn’t for my immortality, I’d probably die of boredom.”

“You can’t forget yourself if you have a name.”

“People like you are why monsters like me exist.”

“The Nefas isa sight to behold. I have seen many monsters in my time, but never miracles. And the sight of her feels oddly miraculous.”

“She should look monstrous, but she doesn’t. She looks awful and beautiful. She looks sad.”

“That damn tie pin-wielding meddler.”

“In all my years torturing humans with their greatest fears, parading the streets with stark white hair and pretending to be a host of fanciful things–from seers, to rare shell collectors–I don’t think I’ve ever been called dramatic. Even murdering someone didn’t earn me the title.”

“It reminds me I’m more than what they made me to be, and to never accept a fate I’ve been given by someone else.”

“Death is such a messy, unsightly business. I’ll be glad when I have nothing more to do with it.”

“How can a person be so deadly and yet so beautiful?”

“We are both trapped in a lie and desperate to escape it. A girl, who wishes to become a monster again. And a monster, who wishes to become human again.”

“She is so determined to be heard, to be seen, to not be erased like so many of us have been. A monster of nightmares, trying to keep all the stars inside herself from burning out. And she is beautiful for it. Because of it. In spite of it.”

“I can see now how the Nefas were too dangerous–too illusionary–to keep in Oksenya. That smile could conquer worlds. Or destroy them.”

“Humans were things to be kept at a distance. True friends gave you something to lose and I’d lost too much already. But Tristan is my friend in a way Sapphir was never capable of and I really don’t want him to die.”

“‘Knowledge is a weapon,’ Tristan tells her earnestly. ‘It’s the truest power we can know. Through books, we’re made wiser by those who came before us.’”

“In a world of such wonder, who would choose to reject love, of all things?”

“We might not be with others exactly like us, but it doesn’t mean we’re alone. Not anymore. Family isn’t only about blood, but something far more rare and sacred. A bond forged in choice.”

“‘Part of me wants to kill you myself,’ she says. ‘But the other part wants to save you even more. Please don’t make me rethink the decision.’”

“I was desperate to leave behind this life in favor of one I don’t remember, because I assumed it had to be better. No dark creatures and darker nights. But how could I be so blind as to not see what wonders the darkness brought? What stars and warm nights. Atia is a miracle where there were only ever horrors before.”

“Two lives lived and neither of them could compare to the time I’ve spent by her side.”

“She is a monster and a miracle. A thing of light and shadows. Without her, the world does not make sense.”

She is a monster who feeds on fear, the last of her kind and he is the messenger of the gods, cursed to forget his past, when their paths cross it will lead to a journey to kill monsters, gods, break curses, and face betrayals and the possibility of an impossible romance. Atia is a Nefas, a monster who feeds on fears and can conjure nightmares. She is the last of her kind, having watched her mother and father be killed, she wanders in the shadows trying to escape the wrath of the unpredictable gods. There is only one rule the Gods have for monsters: do not kill a human, and by breaking that rule you will be punished. Silas is a Herald, a messenger of the Gods, people become messengers when they are deemed unworthy of moving on or for having sinned and the only way to escape is by breaking the curse on you. Silas yearns to be free, he has no memory of his past and knows the only way to break his curse is to trap Atia into helping do it. When Atia accidentally kills a human to protect her friend, Silas curses her as his duty from the Gods, but offers her a side bargain: he will help her regain her powers through her quest to kill a vampire, a banshee, and a god and in return she will help free him from being a Herald. Atia and Silas should be natural enemies, but they can't help but feel drawn together, both lonely people enduring, and yet they see something in each other that they never expected. Can they free themselves from their curse before the Gods hunt both of them down? This one was a really unique story, I loved the lore behind the monsters and I enjoyed learning about Atia. The romance was actually really sweet and seeing how much Atia and Silas cared for one another and got under each other's skin was great. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and think if you enjoy stories about monsters, breaking curses, and unlikely romances through journeys, give this one a go!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The concept of this book is what drew me in. Monster girl who feeds on fear called a Nefas. A cursed dead boy who is a messenger of the Gods and ferrying the dead to the otherside.

This book pulls you in and holds tight. I loved the different worlds, the different monsters, the gods. I wasnt expecting the twist at the end of the book but when it happened, I loved it. Alexandra Christo writes awesome characters. You can't help but love them. Even when they arent "good" characters. I have nothing negative to say about this book.

Duel pov between the two.
Found family.
Morally Grey Characters
Lgbtq+ representation.


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Alexandra Christo writes very addictive stories. I had an amazing experience reading The Night Hunt because the storyline was extremely interesting. I absolutely adored all of the characters in this story. I loved that is was dual POV. Our main character Silas and Atia were both interesting and getting to read their thoughts and feelings in each situation really helped me adore them even more. Enemies to lovers and found family are my favorite types of tropes. Tristan and Cillian were absolute adorable side characters and I wish there was more from them! I devoured the entire book because I really enjoyed the concept of Gods vs Monsters. I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy and share it with my students. Once again thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

Spooky vibes, monsters, and extraordinary imagery meets quests in The Night Hunt! I really enjoyed this world and following Atia and Silas through their quests and adventures in this brutal yet interesting world.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Children's Publishing Group!
Before even reading this book the cover is absolutely stunning. The cover made me extremely interested in reading it and I am so glad I did as the monsters and gods were extremely entertaining to read about. I love books with adventures and quests so this was right up my alley. The combination of people on the quest was extremely interesting and I love the different types of personalities and monsters. Definitely a great story to pick up for Halloween as it fits the monsters and magic vibes very well.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for providing and eARC of The Night Hunt!

The Night Hunt is an interesting story of monsters and Gods, and how sometimes the Gods are the real monsters.

Atia is the last of the Nefas, a monster of illusions and fears.

Silas is a Herald of the Gods.

What happens when a monster kills a human and is cursed by the Gods? How about the monster teams up with the herald and plot to take down the Gods themselves.

This is a fun little read, with a nice enough found family. I liked Silas as a character more than Atia, and I think the twist with him was well done.

This book didn't move me to tears, which is my usual criteria for being 5 stars, but it was a good story. The stakes didn't feel high enough, and there didn't really seem to be consequences that genuinely impacted the characters. Killing a human? Cool, you are "cursed" but let's just break that curse right away and pretend I didn't totally manipulate you!

Again, fun read, I would still recommend it!

4/5 stars
0/5 spice - YA fantasy

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Monster FMC
Cursed MMC
Quests
Found family
Forced proximity
Gods and curses
Dual POV

Gods, monsters, and curses oh my! This was an adventure and I really enjoyed it. I loved Atia's grumpiness and how she was unapologetically herself. Despite being a monster who feeds off fear she still has morals and is deeply troubled by killing. I loved the banter she had with Silas and enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. But I think my favorite relationship was the group as a whole. I love found family tropes in fantasy and each character brings something to the group dynamic. The world building wasn't so convoluted that it was difficult to understand. You can get a pretty clear picture of the world these characters live in. Overall, I really enjoyed this adventure filled story and highly recommend for everyone who love ya fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Need a new group of misfits to love? look no further than: Atia - a Nafas, Silas - a Herald, Tristan - a mortal, and Cillian - a banshee, are a ragtag band of unlikely companions on a quest to retake their lives. This is a YA paranormal romance for fans of Cassandra Clare, Tracy Wolff, and Sarah J Maas. Alexandra Christo's writing is so delicate, beautiful, and easy to read! This is Dual POV and a stand-alone yes a stand-alone!!! so if you need a quick read to meet your reading goal! Gods & Monsters with spooky vibes perfect for Halloween time! The found family is my favorite and speaks to my soul! Please give this novel a chance! Thank you so much to Alexandra Christo, the publisher, and Netgally for this wonderful book!

DNF @ 25%

Although this had an interesting premise I had a hard time getting through what I read due to the writing style. It felt like it didn't match with the plot and was kind of choppy if that makes sense. I also think it's time to realize that this author isn't for me. She was always cool sounding books but I have a hard time with them every time. I at least tried!

<i>Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.</i>

When I originally read about The Night Hunt, I was instantly drawn in. However upon reading this book, I felt there was something missing from both the plot and the budding romance.

Whilst I did enjoy the book, I didn’t really connect with the characters on any level and the romance in my opinion felt quite forced. It just needed something a bit extra to push it to the next level. That being said, this book had many parts that made me laugh and included some well written banter between characters and some very beautiful writing.

BUT I must say I loved the world building and all the different supernatural creatures being introduced throughout. This was a highlight for me.

Christo’s newest release is a staple for spooky season!

“The Night Hunt” follows Atia, a monstrous girl who feeds on fear, and Silas, a Herald of death that cannot remember his past, as they work together break their respective curses and destroy the Gods.

Christo’s world-building lured me in from the start and did not once lose my interest over the course of the novel. She familiarizes the reader with the supernatural beings that exist among humans in her world (vampires, nefas, banshees, and lykai to name a few), the limits of their power, and the rules they must abide by as enforced by the Gods. She does all this and more without overwhelming the reader with too much information, which is something I greatly appreciated.

I could not get enough of Atia and Silas’ forbidden love story, especially considering that it is born from forced proximity. In the beginning, the two despise each other because of the rift between Gods and monsters. The only reason they are willing to set aside their differences and work together is because they are preoccupied with breaking their own curses. With time, however, they begin to care for each other and rid themselves of the loneliness they once felt.

I also adored the found family that is established in this book. Atia and Silas do not embark on their quest without the help of Tristan, a monster scholar, and Cillian, who is half banshee and half human. At first glance, they all couldn’t be more different from one another, but the reason they work well together as a team is because they are accepting of those differences and find strength in them. I find that underlying message beautiful and loved the book all the more for it!

A fantastic fantasy novel!

I had such a fun time reading this. Monsters, gods, enemies to lovers....

A great read for this fall.

Let me tell y’all, I was hooked from the very start here.

The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo is a beautiful, character-driven story that had me turning all 380 pages very quickly.

I don’t even know where to start here. The characters are so loveable and Atia, our protagonist, quickly grew on me. I loved to see how her relationships developed and how she went through her life, no matter the hardships.

Additionally, I was absolutely swooning over Silas. Their dynamic was wonderful and kept me on the edge of my seat more than once.
But the romance wasn’t the only thing standing out to me – the found family trope in this was so< well done.

I often can’t really connect with side characters but I loved these a lot! I started to care for them so quickly and they topped off the book perfectly.

The world is just a fascinating one. It’s a mixture of Greek mythology, monsters and your familiar dark fantasy, but it works so well together. This setting made for a lot of great scenes, action-packed or suspenseful.

Also the cover?? I want to put that up on my wall and look at it every day.

Please give this one a try when you can! I enjoyed it so so much and I really wish there would be a continuation of sorts but so far, I think it will be a stand-alone 😵‍💫

A huge thanks to the author Alexandra Christo, the publisher and Netgalley as well as the Colored Pages Book Tour team that provided me with an Advanced Reader Copy!

The Night Hunt is the newest standalone by Alexandra Christo. I first read To Kill a Kingdom and loved it, so I was excited to see a new release. This story follows Atia, the villainous monster who feeds on fear called Nefas, and Silas, the Herald, who is sent to punish Atia for her misdeeds. The writing draws inspiration from Greek mythology and Christo makes it her own. The two end up on a journey as Atia is on a mission to avenge the death of her parents and Silas is trying to get his memories back. Since these are pivotal motivation, I wish the novel spent more time on building the foundation. As this is a standalone novel, there are answers in this novel, but I just wanted more. The two join to kill a God, which is a great goal in the story as it gives an interesting and simple plot.

I love quest tales, so I am glad that Christo wrote another one. While Kingdom was also a quest of some kind, this one was a new take on the concept. I did find some similarities between the two stories for the events and characters, so I do not know if this is just between these two stories or Christo’s style. It is a style that I enjoy, so it did not affect my enjoyment, but just something that felt familiar. This story does stand on its own, which is great, and I felt the pacing was well done. This novel is currently a standalone, however, I do wonder if there is a small chance it could expand into a series. To Kill a Kingdom started as a standalone and then became part of The Hundred Kingdoms series after the release of the second novel, Princess of Souls.

As a quest novel, there are some elements that were too convenient as the characters needed to get from point to point. These elements did make sense for this story and the writing itself was very enjoyable. There is the mystery of each character involved, too, which kept me interested throughout reading. The story does lag a bit in the middle, which works usually in novels of this genre; however, I think there needed to be a bit more in this section just to keep the reader hooked. I did put this novel down a few times, but I was still invested to pick it up again. There was a lot of potential with the characters and although they were enjoyable, I do wish some of them were explored in greater detail. Overall, I think Christo did a great job with this story and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Feiwel Friends, for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**