Dark and graphic, I really love this book. Jay's writing is raw and powerful and despite the fact that this isn't my usual kind of book, it's impossible not to love it. I'll edit this review when I have a full review written up for my blog.

This isn't your typical fantasy read. It's neither lighthearted nor is it an easy read. It's going to take a bit more effort to read and digest, but if you can take the time to do this you're in for an enjoyable ride. If you can't, then avoid even trying to read this and instead pick up Theft of Swords. The writing style in Nevernight takes a little more effort to get used to, but that's not to say that it's poorly written. It's just different. Did I love it? Not after the first read, but somehow I feel that by coming back and reading it again I'll enjoy it even more than I did the first time around. What was it that I didn't like? Well, by now most of my followers know that I'm a bit of a grammar nerd and that I've knocked down a rating due to poor writing skills. I really didn't like the halting, grammatically incorrect sentences, however, I can see why it was written that way. Not that I agree with the style, just that I can understand on some level the reasoning behind it. That said, the story is quite good. I enjoyed the characters and the setting and feel that overall, this is a good read.

Not for the faint of heart, Jay Kristoff’s NEVERNIGHT introduces Mia Corvere, a young would-be assassin whose unique abilities and burning desire for revenge make her a formidable foe…

Despite her many flaws, I immediately connected to Mia. Her need to be accepted into the Red Church, a school of assassins in the service of the Lady of Blessed Murder bordered on an insane desperation that spoke of a seriously dark backstory. And as Kristoff slowly peels back her layers, Mia’s need to avenge her familia and take down the corrupt Consul who had them killed becomes more and more nuanced.

NEVERNIGHT got off to a rocky start, with an opening chapter plagued by purple prose and that ultimately made very little sense. But I persisted in spite of my confusion, and was rewarded by a gripping novel with high stakes and fascinating world building. Stories of teen assassins who do very little actual killing are a dime a dozen, but have no fear: Mia and her classmates at the Red Church are in no way reluctant to kill. The blood flows fast and furious in this story, and as Mia navigates her way through the trials presented by her instructors, you’ll find yourself swept up in this story of vengeance, family, and personal discovery.

While some readers may disagree, I personally loved the sporadic footnotes throughout the text, which were used to explain various intricacies of the world. Kristoff uses his dry humour to perfection in these footnotes, breaking up the admittedly quite grim narration and expanding upon the ancient Roman-inspired social, cultural, and political structure of the Republic. I needed those moments of calm during which to catch my breath and take stock of what was going on around Mia and her shadow.

Yes, this brings me to the fantasy elements of NVERNIGHT, which were a bit too absent for my tastes. Sure, the gods and goddesses are considered real and alchemical practices are well-known, but that does not a fantasy novel make. But as I suggested, Mia is no ordinary initiate of the Red Church: she has a sentient shadow who never leaves her…and whose insatiable hunger she feeds with her own fear. YUP, that’s right: a fearless assassin who can use magic to bend shadows. What could possibly go wrong?

Read the book to find out!

I feel like this would have been a good book if the first third of it weren't so confusing or slow. Things were happening, but it took a loooong time, and with the heavy writing that felt downright clumsy and awkward at times, it didn't give me energy to continue. So, DNF

I was unable to read this book as I lost my phone and was unable to retrieve the book file that was sent to me. This title has since been archived.