“Come on, Charlatan, you could steal breath from a body, hate from a heart, the moon from the sky.”

Holly Black does it again! I am always bewitched by her ability to write messy, morally grey characters who I root for. Book of Night follows Charlie in present and past, thieving, sassing, and being a general badass. I was delighted to never quite know what would happen next. Murder? The con of a lifetime? Heartbreak?

Also, I found the magic system here with the shadows to be utterly singular despite there being so many “shadow daddies” now in the fantasy genre. Very different concept. This was very cool.

Considering the cliffhanger, I cannot wait for the next book. Thank you NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for this honest review.

Wow! Amazing! Once again Holly Black creates a unique and fantastical world. For so much of this story I was simultaneously horrified and entranced. It was excellent. Un-put-down-able. A must read!

Black does not disappoint!
Book of Night by Holly Black is a gripping dark, action-packed and chilling adult contemporary fantasy novel.
The rich magical system in this world was absolutely stunning.
The writing is truly top-notch, with a sharpness that keeps me on my toes.
The way Black writes and describes, and builds a world and its characters is beautiful.
I can’t wait for book two.

Thank you to NetGalley & The Publisher for allowing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It is a little funny I was approved for this ARC 2 years after its release, but here we are -- & I am so glad I was!! This book really took me by surprise. It was definitely a slow burn which took me a minute to get into this world/book, and Charlie is not my favorite MFC, but once it got rolling I found myself really wanting to know what came next!

Some thoughts -- I wouldn't say the twists were really shocking or 'twisty', not that it's a large problem. However they were twists I liked and did make the plot more interesting. They were the right choices in the end, it felt like. I do wish the end hadn't been quite the way it was, but book 2 will tell me how that last one is going to play out.

Sometimes I do think the logic was a little hard to follow, especially at first while we are still learning characters and the way the world works. I do think the shadow concept works well as the main fantasy element to the novel, but ultimately is a little weak in terms of interesting plot devices (at least at first, while we are adjusting). Or maybe it just took me a while longer to warm up to the idea. I don't think the concept of shadows themselves has been explored enough in this novel. Or maybe I was just expecting more humanity to be explored that wasn't. Either way, I do think the novel would have benefited greatly from more exploration into this.

I did really enjoy the MMC, though we didn't get enough of him. I am hoping we get more insight in book 2 so we the reader can solidify that bond with the character. Right now he's more like the shell of a person. Unsure how intentional that is, but with not enough glimpses into his personality it makes it hard to invest long term in the relationship.

Lastly though, what smart little fables the author made at the end! I loved them and it was a perfect addition to the world of this novel. Those are the types of additives that make for a strong fandom by the end of it all.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I think the series has a really strong start and most of what I disliked was minor. This was a very solid read & it's earned a place on my favs shelf. I am excited for book 2 this September 2025!

I can't do it. I made it 10% and whatever is going on with the ebook through netgalley just harvested 💀 it. I can only hope the spelling and grammar were not that atrocious in the printed book.
I don't believe I get overly picky and every off is written as of, most words with a double like 'matter' or 'spell' are misspelled like 'mater' and 'spel'. Just an example. Some parts have no spacing between words and it's causing my reading to be so choppy I lost interest.

This was such an interesting concept and I’m super interested in seeing where things go from here!

The magic system woven into a modern world is fascinating here. There are so many different ways the next book can go, and it’s such a testament to the complex world building that happened in this book. The end of this story really pays off and where our main characters end is perfect.

I’ve seen criticism that the book starts slowly, I would personally say that I thought the book started fast, but slowed down a bit in the middle. The story jumps between the past and present and some of the skips slowed the story down. When the pieces fall into place in the end, the jumps make way more sense, but on initial read, it does break up the flow of the story. I’d expect on re-read I’d find way more hints about the conclusion!

Overall, a fascinating concept with so much potential, I’ll be looking into the second book for sure.

I have loved all of Holly Black’s books I’ve read since like middle school and this continues the streak! Despite not being a faerie tale like a big chunk of her YA stuff it still has those vibes which she does amazingly. My main criticism is that I didn’t really feel emotionally connected to the romance.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
I'm not really feeling a connection to any of the characters and not much is really happening. I can't seem to get into it and also don't have a grasp on the magic system. There are also wayy too many pop culture recenters and brand drops that are irritating.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel terrible, but I DNF. I couldn't. I struggled to get past the first half. I had to push myself, and I just couldn't do it. I couldn't connect with it. the Prologue was fine, which made me interested, but after that, I felt like it just face planted into the ground. it was not for me. I'm sure there are others who will be more interested.

I have not yet read other book from Holly Black and now I’m scared to even start them.

Start of this book was ROUGH for me. Main character Charlie is not a likable character. Her action and treating of others really made it hard to care what happens to her.

I actually was close to DNF this book but I decided to read some of the reviews and see few people having the same issue but liking the book in the end so I pushed forward.

I did not get immersed to the story. I didn’t like the characters. This felt like a very long book even though it was just over 300 pages.

Recommended to adult Holly Black readers.. I guess. Since haven’t read more of hers I’m not sure if this is what to expect.

Thank you @torbooks for providing this book for review consideration via @netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This was definitely a book that lived up to the title. I loved the dark vibes and the way the fantasy elements were blended into the urban setting! Very different from other Holly Black Books, but still similar styles!

Holly Black is an exceptional writer and I've read her other books with well-written and nuanced characters, strong female leads, and deep world-building. Unfortunately, while still an enjoyable read, Book of Night fell short of my expectations.

I will say that the bones of an interesting story were all there and I had glimpses of potential with Charlie, Vince and the unique magic system she had set up. It still read pretty easily and the overall plot was engaging.

There were two big misses for me. The first was the intense exposition where there would be paragraphs of random people's names, the brand names of specific products being used mixed in with random magic system terminology that made it hard to read at some points. The second was that the characters never really felt like they reached potential or experienced any type of growth. I love a more morally grey main character, but from start to end I can't say that she really came out that different of a person.

4.5 Stars

When I say Holly Black never misses!!

I’ve only ever read YA from this author so I was super curious about an adult book by her and I absolutely loved it! It’s reminiscent of her earlier works that are a lot darker and grittier but even better in this dark and wicked urban fantasy.

Like many of Black’s characters, Charlie is an underdog who is very very human, complete with mistakes, desires, anger, selfishness, and lies. As a human thief in a world filled with magic, she has to be tough and closed off to survive and I found her responses to the world very relatable. She’s basically the epitome of a middle finger and I love it.

I also really loved Vince and all his mysteries. I’m always down for the big tough sweet guy and I loved how bits and pieces of him were dropped along the way. His and Charlie’s relationship was so sweet and real and had me kicking my feet a couple of times.

The magic system in this book was sooo creepy and cool, with all the magic being regulated by your shadow. It was such a unique take that I was fascinated with throughout the story.

This was en epic-ly dark “who dunnit” mystery that had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. Once I hit the halfway point I literally couldn’t put it down!! The ending has me in an absolute chokehold and I can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I couldn't get into this! I think the main character was just too edgy for me in terms of personality, like it was too focused on her quirks and not focused enough on the plot or actions of the book. Not for me!

This was my first Holly Black book, and I'm so glad. (I LOVE Elfhame but this is so different, I'm worried it would have tainted my expectations.)

The main character is so flawed I love her. The magic system and world is SO unique. I thought I wasn't a huge fan of urban fantasy, but this book changed my opinion.

I also enjoy a good mystery. Honestly, this book had so much going on simultaneously but it never felt convoluted. The twists and turns throughout were so creative and really got me.

And the ending?! Girl.

I loved The Cruel Prince series, but this book disappointed. It felt oddly rushed in places and then it drug out in others. The idea was a great one but it just wasn’t my favorite of Holly’s. It didn’t have that emotional grab for me, and, although there were dark back stories, I just couldn’t get pulled into the plot like some of her other works.

That being said, I will still likely read what happens next. Fingers crossed that the second book redeems Charlie and Vince’s story!

Charlie Hall is a con artist, and great at making bad life choices. She has spent way too much time working with gloamists (magicians who control shadows).
Charlie has decided to change her ways and distance herself from her shady past.
All is going well until someone from that past life returns. Charlie finds herself getting sucked back into the mess she escaped. Chaos ensues, but Charlie is determined to win the fight.
Book of night is an adventure, and a fun read! I'm looking forward to reading part 2!

Holly Black's writing conjures a noir-ish, moody version of our world, where magic feels both alluring and threatening. The concept of “gloamists,” shadow manipulators who’ve found power in the intangible, is unique and well-developed. Charlie is a complex protagonist—damaged but determined, cynical but not without hope—and her voice is one of the stronger aspects of the novel. The tone is more adult than Black’s previous work, leaning into themes of trauma, addiction, and the long-term consequences of poor choices. Fans of morally gray characters and slow-burn mysteries may find plenty to enjoy here.

Despite the intriguing premise, Book of Night suffers from pacing issues and uneven plotting. The middle section drags, bogged down by exposition and a sometimes murky mythology. Supporting characters, including Vince (Charlie’s enigmatic boyfriend), lack the development needed to fully engage the reader, and some twists feel underwhelming or confusing rather than revelatory.

There’s also a sense that the novel is setting up for something bigger, leaving Book of Night feeling more like a prologue than a complete story. The ending, in particular, is abrupt and raises more questions than it answers. Book of Night has all the ingredients of a great fantasy thriller, but its uneven execution and lack of narrative payoff prevent it from reaching its potential.

I was SO excited for this book but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. I’m a huge fan of this author so when I tell you I was shocked to dislike this so much, believe me. This story needed to go through way more edits. The worldbuilding- where was it? The plot was not it and the dual POV timelines really made the pacing not work for me. I can’t believe I am actually rating a Holly Black book this low, but this felt sooo undercooked. There were so many one dimensional side characters that they begin to blur together. Even the main characters felt pretty dull and lifeless. There was too much telling and not enough showing when it came to characters. Idk if I’ll even read the second book unfortunately because I love shadow magic.

Holly Black happens to be one of my favourite authors. I have truly enjoyed her books - although I admit I do try to forget that she gave Carden a tail (ick). That being said, this book is a trippy and strange. The world building is lacking and therefore leads to a fair amount of confusion. There seems to be a million characters and some very traumatic themes. Overall I enjoyed it just fine, but it isn't one of my favourites.