Book of Night
"A delicious, dark, adrenaline rush of a book. I'm already dying to see Charlie Hall's next con." - New York Times bestselling author, Alix E. Harrow
#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of betrayals, secret societies, and a dissolute thief of shadows, in the vein of Neil Gaiman and Erin Morgenstern.
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Community Reviews
Diving into Holly Black's world was like stepping into a shadowy dance—exciting at first but ultimately lacking the rhythm. As a non-fantasy reader, I was pumped to explore, but I found myself lost in a maze of terms and concepts.
Though my expectations were high, the experience fell a bit flat for me. I wanted to be enchanted, to feel the magic—but instead, it left me yearning for more.
This was my first Holly Black book, and I enjoyed it a decent bit. The magic was interesting and kept me hooked, and I really liked Vince and Charlie's relationship (though I wish we'd gotten a lot more of it than we did). Based on the ending I have a feeling there is going to be another book after this, which I honestly hope so with what happened.
Oh, this book. Where do I start?
"Book of Night" by Holly Black marked her first step into the adult fantasy genre, and while it showed promise, it fell short in a few key areas.
The pacing of the story was inconsistent, leaving readers feeling somewhat lost by the halfway point. Understanding the mechanics of the world remained a challenge, detracting from the immersive experience that fantasy readers crave.
Characterization also left something to be desired. While the main character was presented as both complex and formidable, the depth of their personality felt lacking. It was as though we were only given a surface-level glimpse into their inner workings, leaving us wanting more.
On a positive note, the conclusion did offer some closure. However, it was overshadowed by the clear setup for a sequel that has yet to materialize. This left readers questioning whether they would ever see the resolution they were hoping for.
In summary, while "Book of Night" had its strengths, such as an intriguing premise and glimpses of compelling characters, it ultimately struggled to deliver a fully satisfying experience. As for future installments, I won't be tuning in. Holly Black should stick to what she knows best. "The Cruel Prince," for example, was a great read, and the series has a book I've rated 5 stars.
It dragged a lot. It had a neat ending, but I was fighting losing interest throughout much of the book.
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