This book grabbed me IMMEDIATELY. No slow start, no dragging setup, just straight into the world and vibes from page one.

This was genuinely beautiful. The writing had such an atmospheric feel to it (ghostly dark academia with witchy eerie vibes and portals and magic but like... in a fun paranormal way), and all the characters felt really distinct and alive.

The world itself felt super original to me too. Witches and shapeshifters exist, but not in the usual mainstream fantasy way, and then there are the night kin — people who die but don’t fully stay dead. Emrys is a revenant, basically this sad ghost/zombie hybrid who died at 17 and stayed emotionally stuck there despite existing undead for 157 years. This was quite interesting to explore. He lives in this massive library with other revenants, helping college students while being monitored by the Merlin Order that keeps track of supernatural creatures.
Then a brand new revenant appears for the first time in forever, and Emrys and his academic rival Aubrey both want the position of tutor/guide for them. However, the plot pops off and you're taken on an adventure and a spin through this magnificent world.

But honestly, the romance was my favorite part. It’s such a patient, gentle journey of self discovery and learning to let yourself want things despite fear, grief, or the possibility of getting hurt. It was soft in a way that made me absolutely swoon.

I also had no idea this had LGBTQ+ rep going in, and genuinely, I would’ve picked it up sooner if I had known because it was done SO well.

This book was made for me. Loved this from start to finish and I already know I want to revisit this world - in new and already published books.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC! This review reflects my own opinions.

A big thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC and YABC for providing a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh. Don't let this cover deceive you, this book is a wonderfully wild and emotional read.

Nightcurse by Emma Hinds is YA fantasy novel that turns the whole trope of vampires and ghosts on it's head. Emrys Swift is so dead. One hundred and fifty seven years worth of dead, to be exact. He’s a Revenant, nightcursed, destined to be stuck being seventeen forever. Hidden away, he spends his infinite days as an undead librarian of witchlore at the NeverEnd library–until a new Revenant arrives and magical artifacts start going missing, jeopardizing his beloved home. Emrys’s mortal enemy and annoyingly attractive shapeshifter Aubrey Vale is determined to solve the mystery – with Emrys’s help. Suddenly Emrys and Aubrey are magically bonded together on a quest into the dark and frost-bitten world of night-kin. But as Emyrs and Aubrey interrogate ghosts and face drowning by mermaids, deathly creatures aren’t the only spectres haunting them. With the ghoulish Night Hunt chasing them down, can they outrun the secrets of Emrys’ death and Aubrey’s life? And if they can save NeverEnd’s future, can they have a future together?

Where oh where to start with this book. I have never read a book quite like this one. As I have read plenty of vampires books, plenty of ghost books, plenty of books with reincarnation, but none quite like this. Much less any of them with dark academia backgrounds. What I liked most about this book, is the sheer fact that you don't know what is going to happen next. HInds created not only a story, but characters that are so real that they don't follow the usual cookie cutter expectations of plot and character arcs. Which in turn, makes this book so great.

One thing that did bug me about this book, was the setting. I mean, it was fantastic don't get me wrong. But I didn't think the dark academia quite fit the narrative. In the sense that it didn't fit as neatly as it should in the puzzle this book creates.

Regardless, Nightcurse is one that sticks with you, long after the last page is turned.