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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
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:
Yes
I received this audiobook in a StoryGraph giveaway. I really liked the first book, and read it specifically because I had won this book. Overall I liked the story, and there are a lot of twists and turns as Charlie investigates and cons her way through the mystery, just like in the first book. Overall, the plot was solid and kept me interested and guessing, which is fun. However, I felt the love story/journey could’ve been stronger in this book. I feel like the struggle for Vince/Red to come back to himself and understand his feelings for Charlie should’ve been a harder challenge to overcome. It just kind of felt like after hardly any time he’s acting out of love for her. And maybe if it had been described as a love that transcends all boundaries, or because Red wasn’t created like other quickened shadows, this would’ve made more sense, but it wasn’t well explained why this was overcome so quickly, and so that fell kind of flat for me. I also feel like the interviews interspersed could’ve been really great at giving insight to red’s state of mind but you didn’t really know when they took place, or who was listening to them, so they didn’t really add to anything and were kind of forgotten altogether near the end of the story so there was never any conclusion of the interviews. And tbf, I could’ve missed something as I listened at 1.35x that caused the confusion over the interviews. But over all, solid second book to the series, and finishing this book does leave me wondering what will come next in the story. I know it’s a duology, but I’m definitely hoping for another book. I think it’d be cool to have the series adapted into a show with multiple seasons because it’s a really interesting concept.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
The latest installment of the Book of Night series raises the stakes and gets even darker and more twisted. Charlie has really taken her family curse to new levels with the number of life-altering choices she is making for a man. She’s a clever FMC, though, and always has a good card up her sleeve when needed. Because this book doesn’t depend on so much world-building, we can experience the plot to the full extent. It’s gripping and gritty. Did I mention Shadow Daddy? 😏
This didn't feel like a duology. I wanted this series to continue because there were a few things that didn't wrap up as nicely as I would have liked. I thought for sure it was set up to continue, but recently saw a post from Holly Black that it is the conclusion :(
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
This didn't feel like a duology. I wanted this series to continue because there were a few things that didn't wrap up as nicely as I would have liked. I thought for sure it was set up to continue, but recently saw a post from Holly Black that it is the conclusion :(
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Thief of Night is the closing novel in Holly Black’s adult fantasy duology. I often enjoy a fantasy set in the modern world and seeing how authors blend the same, but unfortunately this series fell short for me. There was nothing wrong with it per se, but I also didn’t find it memorable. The characters never really grabbed me, meaning I wasn’t invested in the relationships. I seem to be in the minority however!
The narrators did a good job and I do think the audiobook allowed me to stick through until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!
The narrators did a good job and I do think the audiobook allowed me to stick through until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
I felt like things really played out nicely in this one. Charlie is now tied to Red, and there are a host of problems that arise with that entire situation. Of course, they're not out of the woods by any means, and there is constantly something getting in their way or trying to kill them. Posey knows more than she should and has befriended a scholar that may be one of Charlie's most useful tools so far.
I love that we got to see Charlie and Vince fall for each other all over again, and that they're really seeing everything fall down around them and only reaching for each other.
I love that we got to see Charlie and Vince fall for each other all over again, and that they're really seeing everything fall down around them and only reaching for each other.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A satisfying conclusion to Book of Night.
There was a lot of descriptions about cocktails for a story about a bartender who hunts untethered shadows and I think it may have made a mockery of S&M, but I liked it.
It was nice to get to know the characters more and I think the pacing was better than in its predecessor.
There was a lot of descriptions about cocktails for a story about a bartender who hunts untethered shadows and I think it may have made a mockery of S&M, but I liked it.
It was nice to get to know the characters more and I think the pacing was better than in its predecessor.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!
Holly Black is a master at creating characters that are both complicated and lovable. Charlie Hall is passionate and gritty which makes it exciting to be in her head as the storyline progresses. The magic system is unique and clever: adding to the dark, atmospheric tone of the story. If you have read book one in the Charlatan duology, this book is an even faster-paced conclusion to the shadow stealing story that started in "Book of Night."
Holly Black is a master at creating characters that are both complicated and lovable. Charlie Hall is passionate and gritty which makes it exciting to be in her head as the storyline progresses. The magic system is unique and clever: adding to the dark, atmospheric tone of the story. If you have read book one in the Charlatan duology, this book is an even faster-paced conclusion to the shadow stealing story that started in "Book of Night."
Is Charlie a good person? No. Does she want to be? Also no. She has her priorities (eating, making sure her sister can eat) and she'll do whatever she has to in order to make sure those priorities are met.
This picked up not long after the ends of the first book and is dealing with the fallout of that ending. It hooked me in and dragged me through the finish line without stopping for breath. I enjoyed the conclusion to the duology!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free review copy of the audiobook!
This picked up not long after the ends of the first book and is dealing with the fallout of that ending. It hooked me in and dragged me through the finish line without stopping for breath. I enjoyed the conclusion to the duology!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free review copy of the audiobook!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
I think I love this one more than the first book, and I really enjoyed the first book. Holly Black brings us back into the world of Charlie Hall, filled with mystery, murder, shadow thieves and puppet masters. This one is action packed in all the best ways. Guy, I can't believe I almost forgot how much I enjoyed Charlie Hall! Always making reckless and passionate decisions.
Now that she is the Hierophant, with Red as her shadow, everyone is expecting things of Charlie Hall. Red's cousin who is finding every way to hold Charlie hostage to her demands, the new cabal leader demanding she take on the most dangerous of cases, her sister Posey, who demands to be included. Everyone is coming for Charlie and she doesn't even know how to feel about Red. He's not the Vince she knew, but he also isn't quite Remy Carter like everyone seems to want him to be.
I loved the story building here and the reluctant and genuine relationship that forms between Charlie and Red as they learn to work together and trust each other as they are tasked with more and more dangerous things with deadly consequences.
The audio narrators did an amazing job! I feel like I could feel Red's anguish and Charlie's determination. It was so beautifully done I was sad to see it end.
If you love intrigue, morally grey characters, determination and taking down powerful people because you can, I highly recommend this. Holly Black weaves this story together so well and the prose is beautiful. Thank you to the publisher for providing an ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.75 Stars
Won the audiobook in a storygraph giveaway! I really loved the plot and grungy vibes of this book. It was a fitting conclusion to the duology! Holly Black does well managing stakes and scale, and I absolutely loved the mystery, because it was compelling and fun figure out. I was still invested in the characters, and also the romance. The character development was handled well and I genuinely loved the new insights we got into the world~