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literarycherub's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This post was delayed a day, but I just had to listen to the audiobook! I am happy to say, it was magnificent. It was just as atmospheric as I had hoped and I adored all the accents. I actually read a physical review copy as well which I won from the author’s giveaway! I am extremely grateful for that because I was anticipating this book for months!
I first heard about Down Comes the Night from my lovely friend Cossette and ever since I was itching to get my hands on it. She knows I am obsessed with gothic literature and fantasy novels. Once it arrived, I just stared at it for a long while because the cover is so beautiful. As I started to flip through, I saw the dedication and instantly I knew I would fall in love.
For all the girls who feel too much.
Down Comes the Night was atmospheric, emotional, and romantic. We are quickly introduced to Wren who is seen as being weak for her empathetic ways. She is always trying to do the right thing, even if it gets her in trouble with the queen, who is also her aunt. This was a running theme throughout and I loved how Wren constantly stayed true to herself and her ways. I got very emotional at the end of chapter 28, where Wren reflects on the way she is and how she needs to be seen and cared for.
On the topic of being seen, Wren is a bisexual character. As a bisexual myself, it was refreshing for me to see. Not only is it not a big deal in her world, but she cares for someone of the opposite sex, which usually isn’t the interest for a bisexual character. Sometimes people discredit bisexual people if you don’t end up with the same sex. I am married to a man and am constantly being seen as “choosing a side”. Seeing characters who end up with the opposite sex and not be disowned for it is what we all need more of. I am happy I am properly seen in this novel. I will move on now because this can easily be its own post.
Hal. My broken and misunderstood babe. Saft really crafted this antihero perfectly. Seeing him and Wren grow close was so beautiful to watch. Who can resist enemies to pining to lovers? Not me! They were such a delight to read and I my heart was constantly fluttering and swooning over them!
A terrible fate indeed, to be your prisoner.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but yes this lives up to the hype. The writing is gorgeous and the atmosphere is eerie. This has been marketed as Crimson Peak if it were a young adult novel and I definitely agree!
This was also a buddy read with Victoria, but really she finished immediately and I read a couple weeks later.. I’m sorry Victoria! I had some other deadlines that caused me to pushback my reading, but as soon as I hit ‘publish’ on this review, I am moving into her DMs to scream.
Thank you to Allison Saft for the arc! This title was released March 2, 2021.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Murder and Torture
Minor: Death of parent
mezzarella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Down Comes the Night is an enchanting read fit for any lover of fantasy and adventure. While this book was advertised and marketed as a ghost story, the narrative is more of a romance mystery in terms of genre. The imagery is spell-bounding as a romance slowly forms throughout the book. In the background, tensions rise between the very nations our romantic leads are from. This story has enough tension and background plot to keep the reader invested in the overarching narrative, while creating genuinely intimate scenes which will have you rooting for the couple's happiness together (despite the odds).
At times, this plot feels slow and like many fantasy novels, it can be hard to keep track of the intricacies of the world itself. Restricting the story mostly to one central location was a great choice for this story, as it allows the reader to focus on a handful of characters rather than the sociopolitical state of the two warring nations. For fantasy readers who love exposition and battle details, this book won't be for you. For readers who like fantasy elements and want to try their hands at reading more stories with magic systems, this is a great introduction.
The representation in the book is very casual, with the main character being bisexual and another character in the story is a lesbian. These points are only brought up briefly and is not a plot point to the story. This is certainly refreshing in its own way, as many LGBT narratives tend to be about the character's identity. I can appreciate a story which has representation which remains a minor detail to the character.
Overall, this is a great March read and is highly recommended. With spell-bounding writing and passionate characters, Down Comes the Night is a swift read sure to make a rainy evening magical.
At times, this plot feels slow and like many fantasy novels, it can be hard to keep track of the intricacies of the world itself. Restricting the story mostly to one central location was a great choice for this story, as it allows the reader to focus on a handful of characters rather than the sociopolitical state of the two warring nations. For fantasy readers who love exposition and battle details, this book won't be for you. For readers who like fantasy elements and want to try their hands at reading more stories with magic systems, this is a great introduction.
The representation in the book is very casual, with the main character being bisexual and another character in the story is a lesbian. These points are only brought up briefly and is not a plot point to the story. This is certainly refreshing in its own way, as many LGBT narratives tend to be about the character's identity. I can appreciate a story which has representation which remains a minor detail to the character.
Overall, this is a great March read and is highly recommended. With spell-bounding writing and passionate characters, Down Comes the Night is a swift read sure to make a rainy evening magical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Drug use, and Chronic illness
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