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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Let me start with the bad before I get to the good. Unfortunately, I still felt like the world building here could’ve used a lot more explaining or maybe just explained better or differently. There was an issue in book one that I found disgusting that was kind of just glossed over in that book however, in this book, it is a much more prominent issue, and I was truly deeply disgusted by it. It truly saddened me that somebody that could SA a family member Literally got in zero trouble.
OK onto the good. I am so glad that they decided to use more narrators in this book The narration was phenomenal. I did enjoy this book a lot more than the first one. Some of this was a little easy to guess but still a little shocking! I feel the ending was a little rushed, but I did enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my audio arc. This was my honest review.
OK onto the good. I am so glad that they decided to use more narrators in this book The narration was phenomenal. I did enjoy this book a lot more than the first one. Some of this was a little easy to guess but still a little shocking! I feel the ending was a little rushed, but I did enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my audio arc. This was my honest review.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
While I enjoyed the first book just fine with the introduction of shadows and how magical they can be when awakened and about Charlie, the woman with no sense of self preservation and a tendency to take the path that leads to self destruction, I enjoyed the sequel so much more! I think what helped it was getting to know Red better, his wishes, despite all those trying to control him. Charlie herself is more compelling too, both in her new job and also trying to figure out this strange new relationship/bond with the enigmatic Red while keeping him alive and sane.
You still get the great background of urban grit, and so many morally grey characters, even the good ones have darker sides and of course tons of murders by shadows/blights and a great mystery of why Charlie is being tasked to unravel it all, which she does in a very messy, typically Charlie kind of way. While I winced quite a bit at some of her choices, it did make for a great story that I really had fun listening to. There are also a few funny parts, mostly with Charlie's sister and the trouble she gets into and Ophelia at her side job that give bits of lightness in this dark novel. And I will say that I absolutely loved the ending of this book. It was so perfect for Charlie and Red (really summed up their relationship, so bad for each other, yet so perfect as well!)
This was a great audiobook to listen to. The narrators, Jonathan Davis, Sara Amini, and Vikas Adam, did a wonderful job in bringing all the characters and their dark world of shadows and the people who control them and the people who live side by side with them. A fitting sequel that outshines its first book! I am very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook.
You still get the great background of urban grit, and so many morally grey characters, even the good ones have darker sides and of course tons of murders by shadows/blights and a great mystery of why Charlie is being tasked to unravel it all, which she does in a very messy, typically Charlie kind of way. While I winced quite a bit at some of her choices, it did make for a great story that I really had fun listening to. There are also a few funny parts, mostly with Charlie's sister and the trouble she gets into and Ophelia at her side job that give bits of lightness in this dark novel. And I will say that I absolutely loved the ending of this book. It was so perfect for Charlie and Red (really summed up their relationship, so bad for each other, yet so perfect as well!)
This was a great audiobook to listen to. The narrators, Jonathan Davis, Sara Amini, and Vikas Adam, did a wonderful job in bringing all the characters and their dark world of shadows and the people who control them and the people who live side by side with them. A fitting sequel that outshines its first book! I am very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the sequel to Book of Night and wraps up Charlie’s story. I had a lot of questions at the end of the last book! I knew to expect an intriguing take on the amnesia trope which I usually dislike, but I love how it was set up to leverage the unique shadow-based magic system because it’s already been established that you can lose or give up parts of yourself through shadow.
We get more side characters, some limited but insightful dual narration, higher stakes, and some incredibly deep soul searching from both Charlie and Red to decide who they are in society, how they want to live, and what they’re willing to give up. They both get a second chance at being authentic after both being so performative in book 1 and that’s a scary painful process given their criminal histories.
There were so many twists I gave up predicting them and just enjoyed the ride.
The ending was unexpected but chefs kiss.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately I just couldn't remember book 1 enough to be invested in this one, it's been too long and I just switched off and didn't want to continue it at the 33% mark. Maybe in the future but I would have to reread book of night first.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
By the time Book of Night ended, I was like, “Um, what happens next?!” While a good amount of both books did feel slow, I enjoyed the storyline a lot. At first, I was reminded of Peter Pan losing his shadow and how he has to chase after it because it has a will of its own. This series has shadows like that, plus magic and a secret society--the Cabal--controlling everything. Charlie has all the bad luck in the world and really struggles with a lot of heavy baggage. She is super loyal and has alllll the scheming skills I wish I had, if only to know how to protect myself and my property, of course. AND, she has a cat named Lucipurr because he’s an asshole. Hahaha. Red is so grumpy and aloof that I wanted to scream since Charlie sacrificed so much for Vince, but as I learned more about his past in this second book, I understood him so much more and didn’t blame him. Besides me wishing one of the side characters had perished, *angry eyes* the ending was honestly unexpected and a PERFECT conclusion to the duology. The narrators did a fantastic job portraying feelings, emotions, and overall vibe of the story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Yes