Emily Rath’s fantasy storytelling is so good! The multi POV with the stories kept me so entertained and on the edge of my seat with every chapter.

NITN is remarkable as a book but this audio changed my brain. It is LITERALLY PERFECTION. The voices were perfect

A very interesting book. Two best friends trying to return to each other after one is stolen away by the gods. There are two stories being told leading up to the ending. I found each one interesting in their own way. I recommend the audiobook to help with the names in this book. I’m not familiar with Finnish folktales but loved this one.

This book was not at all what I was expecting, and to be honest, I think I enjoyed it more for the fact that it completely surprised me. I love that it invokes feelings of European folklore, which is something I particularly enjoy reading about. I also found the story to be richly written and beautifully atmospheric. I loved the setting and world building that Rath created. I thought the characters were really well developed. I liked that they each had their own journey leading to distinct character growth. Truthfully, I think this was a story that I just vibed with really well. Since I read this via audiobook, I really appreciated that different narrators were chosen to voice the different POVs. Without this decision, I think I would have struggled to keep track of who was who. However, since each POV was distinctly different, I could easily keep the characters straight in my mind and tell when a POV switch happened. Overall, I really enjoyed this and plan to continue the series.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. This was an ok book in my opinion. Definitely not what I expected. I was expecting a really cool epic fantasy with queer characters who fall in love. That's definitely not what this book is. It is definitely beautifully written. Emily has a way with words that makes you almost feel like you are part of the story. I just didn't connect with the characters. The narration by Emily Lawrence and Khaya Fraites was very well done. They brought the characters to life really well.

The narrators did a fabulous job bringing the story to life. This book is awesome! It's definitely one of my best reads of the year. It scratched an itch that I didn't even know that I had. The world building is fantastic and the characters are amazing. I'm so glad this is part of a duet because I'm not ready to let this world go quite yet. The plot is wonderful and made the story very enjoyable. This is a great fantasy book. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia foe allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and alc — i will share a note that the formatting of the arc was not great and took away from my reading experience.

this was not the best but also not the worst book i’ve read in 2024. i did read that it was mistakenly marketed as sapphic when it truly was not, and that did disappoint me as reading siiri’s pov you can tell that aina is more than a friend to her.

i did enjoy the different insight to finnish folklore and mythology, and the dual narration though!

✨✨✨ NetGalley ALC Review✨✨✨

Tropes:
Romantasy
Based on Finnish folklore

This book wasn’t for me. I love the author and I looked forward to this book but it just drug for me. I had to take breaks in between and read different books because I was almost bored to tears.

3⭐️
1🌶️

🎧 Narrators:
Khaya Fraites and Emily Lawrence

North is the Night
by Emily Rath
Narrated by Khaya Fraites, Emily Lawrence
Book 1 of Tuonela Duet

Absolutely Recommend!

If you're a fan of dark, atmospheric tales steeped in folklore, North is the Night by Emily Rath is a must-listen. Drawing inspiration from Finnish mythology, the story masterfully weaves a narrative of mortals clashing with gods in a tumultuous world. Siri and Aina’s bond, tested by an evil god, is at the heart of this haunting tale, and Siri’s quest to save her friend unfolds against a backdrop of mythical creatures, breathtaking vistas, and sinister characters. I will let you discover the true beauty of this book--but expect a well-written fantasy that is easy to devour.

The audiobook narration is stellar, bringing the story to life with captivating depth. The richly descriptive prose, reminiscent of Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale, is a highlight, and fans of deeply immersive, folklore-driven storytelling will feel right at home. While the narration overall was excellent, one character—the almighty witch—felt slightly off. Her voice came across as petulant, which didn’t quite match the gravitas I expected for such a powerful figure. However, this minor issue didn’t detract from the overall experience; it was just a matter of personal preference.

Listening to this book in the winter months felt like the perfect choice. Its dark and cozy atmosphere, combined with its richly layered worldbuilding, created a story ideal for curling up with on a chilly night. The combination of lyrical prose, mythological depth, and compelling characters makes North is the Night a standout audiobook. Highly recommended for those who love darkly magical tales and long to be transported to a world of gods and mortals in unrest.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RB Media|Recorded Books

#NorthistheNight #NetGalley

I was so eager for this book since I first heard of it coming out. This was a lengthy audiobook told in dual POV. The two narrators did a great job! It was a bit slow in the beginning until the story got going, but once it was going it never stopped. I was surprised how quickly the 18 hours went by. I was emotionally invested in more than just our two main characters. I even found myself crying! There is so much left for our characters to do and I will be anxiously waiting for the next chapter.

I feel like this book took a piece of my soul with it when I closed the back cover. The folklore in this book is so beautiful. I know absolutely nothing about Finnish Folklore, and now I need to do my own research and learn more about it. I am so interested in learning more about it because this book was so gripping. The ending had me sobbing. It was so heartbreaking and selfless and so wholly beautiful. Siiri and Aina's unbending, unwavering love for one another was such a beautiful sight to see. It is such a beautiful and haunting love story. But this book is SO MUCH MORE than a romance.

I loved the narrators and the Finnish mythology/folklore elements of this book. However, the rest of this story did not work for me. The death God was a huge red flag, but the author wants you to believe he is the good side of death compared to the death witches. They were all horrible. The rest of the story moved slow and dragged in places. I think it could have been a more powerful story if it were shorter.

This Finnish Mythology/Fantasy Duology is about two women, determined to return to each other - defying gods and mortals (living and dead) and encountering magical creatures along the way.

As someone who is proud of her Finnish heritage, I simply had to give this book a chance. Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media, I was able to listen to the audiobook. I immensely enjoyed all the Nordic references - the Northern Wintry scene, the Finnish foods, the names, and even the MISPRONOUNCED "Sauna" (say it with me - SOWNA... now SAWNA).

Overall, I enjoyed the journey this story took me on. At times, I wasn't certain where the story would go and there were many characters (some with multiple names/references) so I almost wanted a chart. I think a re-read/listen would be great now that I made it once through to catch more of the folklore and character depth.

If you liked North Queen by Nicola Tyche or A Fate Inked in Blood, I think you'll like this one too.

Rounding up to 4/5

Thank you Netgalley and rb media for the alc.
My opinions are being left voluntarily. This was a good fantasy book, first by the author. I think there could have a bit more world building. I liked that it was easy to follow and the narrators did a phenomenal job.

I will check out book 2 in the duology when released.

Suggest giving it a try

4.5/5☆

This is a DNF for me for now at 52%. It's adult fantasy, inspired by Finnish folklore. However, the first person POV reads like YA for both Siiri and Aina's perspectives and it feels like a coming-of-age story rather than an adult fantasy epic. This isn't a bad thing, it just isn't the thing I'm interested in spending 18 hours listening to. If you like lucky girls against the patriarchy and taking on gods, this will really appeal to you. It might appeal to me again in the future, but for now feels too long and not what I need.

This was unlike the other Emily Rath I've read and i loved it in comparison. Very engaging magical story. Great narrators on the audiobook. Such vivid story telling and a great balance of action and drama with a sprinkle of romance. Thank you!

Aina and Siiri are two young women facing the norms of growing up and approaching adulthood. What life path will they take? Aina is ready to find a husband and to be a wife and mother, while Siiri wants to be a hunter. As the Swedes begin to invade Finland, these two women are forced to either submit to the new Christian faith that the Swedes bring or stay true to the gods of their people. While attempting to escape the Swedes, the girls are split up and thrust into the worlds of their gods, but vow to never stop trying to find and save the other.

I very much enjoyed what I am hoping are traditional folklore from Finland. The characters were interesting and their development was pretty well done. The story twisted and turned, and while it wove the bigger picture I was able to sit back and enjoy.

The two narrators did a great job and it was so helpful
To have two different voices to separate the two FMC’s stories. Their tone and pacing was spot on.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this ARC!

4.25/5

This book was a slow journey at times, but the ending was so good! I'm not sure where the sequel will take the story, things were wrapped well in this first installment. I was hesitant about this book, I was unfamiliar with the author and the book is quite long. In the first couple of parts, Siiri's point of view chapters had more action while Aina's was slower, I think it provided a good amount of balance, especially when it swapped and Aina's chapters got more interesting. It all culminated in the final part, which I found very strong.

Khaya Fraites and Emily Lawrence did a fantastic job narrating this book.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the setting and the Finnish mythology. The pacing of the first half of the book was very slow. The second half definitely picked up more and was more entertaining. I also had a difficult time with the relationships. I was looking forward to a sapphic love story but it fell very flat in that department. The second book might explore that more but it really was not what I was hoping for.

I enjoyed the narration by Chaya Fraites and Emily Lawrence.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Rath weaves a magical tale with this one. The story kept me intrigued in a way that I just couldn't stop listening. Aina and Siiri are both strong female characters, and I love the dedication they have to one another. The dual narration was absolutely mandatory with this one as way to distinguish between the two POVs. The narrator's inflections for the different characters (especially the witches) helped me to better visualize which character was speaking. I gave the story 4-stars only because the last quarter of the book felt very redundant, and the characters got a little whiny for me. Overall though, amazing story and I'll definitely be buying the next installment