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vannielou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Gore and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
martharosen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Minor: Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
readwithria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wasn’t vining with the writing style for the first 70-80% of this book, but the climactic scenes were quite a wild ride. With books this short I usually with there had been more, but with Book of Night I actually think it could have been shorter. The beginning really dragged, the main plot didn’t seem to start until about 50% of the way through the book, and the magic system doesn’t really get explored until even later. The concept is cool, but the execution was lacking.
I will likely read the sequel from the library, but this book won’t be getting added to my personal collection. 3 stars.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
carlyoc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Charlie Hall used to be known as Charlatan, the thief. She's trying to put that life behind her and not screw up the stability she's built with a steady job, a good boyfriend named Vince, and funds to just barely put her little sister Posey through college. But Charlie can never resist a little bit of danger.
Besides, Posey doesn't want to go to school; she wants to figure out how to join the ranks of Gloamists, the people who can consciously manipulate their shadows to become corporeal and act independently from their bodies to various degrees.
Meanwhile, there's a reason Vince never ever talks about his past. Charlie is keeping secrets from him, too, but the truth will out.
Charlie is hired to find a mysterious book from the collection of rich and cruel Lionel Salt, which allegedly contains a ritual for a shadow to rid itself of its human controller and be fully autonomous. She must pull together different threads of clues to out-smart everyone hoping to watch her fail.
The structure of the novel alternates scenes from Charlie's perspective in the present storyline with vignettes from both Charlie's and Vince's pasts.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Car accident
I included Toxic relationship to refer to the emotional neglect Charlie and her sister experienced from their mother as children.ceruleanseas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Holly Black's first foray into adult fantasy is a fascinating story of magic, shadows, and the inescapable histories that make us who we are.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
zzaakkiiyyaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, and Sexual content
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Incest, Sexual content, and Abandonment
alexifairbanks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual content
katvou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content
shadesofkate26's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Incest