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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
I’m not exaggerating when I say this book has everything in it. A gorgeous and chilling gothic horror plot provides an alluring curtain behind which a story about grief, trauma, sickness, and the inherited sins of the family lurk. There were so many things I loved about this book - a special shout out to hungry houses, I love it when houses are hungry
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
A political commentary on the abuse and trauma a country has inflicted on its people told as a gothic horror story about a group, led by a family, seeking immortality. It was moving, deep, horrifying and had more than a couple parallels to our modern world.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
"Our Share of Night" by Mariana Enriquez is a sprawling, haunting novel that weaves together horror, political commentary, family legacy, and a raw exploration of desire. From the opening chapters, the story establishes a heavy, unsettling atmosphere that never truly lifts, pulling the reader into a world of dread and lingering shadows.
This book is ambitious in scope, covering decades and exploring the weight of inherited trauma through the lens of the supernatural. At its heart is a father and son, bound together by love and by a terrifying legacy that neither can escape. Enriquez uses horror as a vessel to examine grief, sexuality, and generational pain, making the novel feel both deeply intimate and socially urgent. The way magic and ritual are depicted here is horrifying and visceral, yet always tied to the humanity of the characters, which is what makes the story resonate so powerfully.
One of the most compelling aspects of this novel is how it treats sexuality and queerness. Desire in Our Share of Night is not just a private matter but a tool of power, vulnerability, and resistance. Queerness is shown as both liberating and dangerous, revealing characters’ attempts to find intimacy and identity in a world consumed by violence and oppression. The way sexuality intertwines with the horror elements underscores how bodies are used, controlled, and sometimes reclaimed, adding another layer of intensity to the narrative. These moments expose the complexity of the characters; their choices in love and desire often mirror their struggles with loyalty, survival, and self-definition in a hostile world.
I found the strength of the book in its atmosphere and themes. The darkness feels relentless, and Enriquez excels at creating imagery that sticks with you. The exploration of family, especially the complicated bond between father and child, provides an emotional anchor in the midst of horror. That said, the novel’s ambition sometimes makes it feel uneven. The pacing can be heavy, with certain sections dragging before the narrative picks up again. At times, the density of detail and history weighed the story down for me, though the payoff remained worthwhile.
I give this book 4 stars. It is a remarkable work of literary horror that challenges the reader as much as it enthralls, but its pacing issues and sheer length keep it from being flawless.
I would recommend "Our Share of Night" to readers who appreciate horror layered with political and social commentary, and who are open to complex depictions of sexuality and identity alongside terror. I would not recommend it to those looking for fast-paced horror or light escapism, as this story demands patience and emotional investment.
This book is ambitious in scope, covering decades and exploring the weight of inherited trauma through the lens of the supernatural. At its heart is a father and son, bound together by love and by a terrifying legacy that neither can escape. Enriquez uses horror as a vessel to examine grief, sexuality, and generational pain, making the novel feel both deeply intimate and socially urgent. The way magic and ritual are depicted here is horrifying and visceral, yet always tied to the humanity of the characters, which is what makes the story resonate so powerfully.
One of the most compelling aspects of this novel is how it treats sexuality and queerness. Desire in Our Share of Night is not just a private matter but a tool of power, vulnerability, and resistance. Queerness is shown as both liberating and dangerous, revealing characters’ attempts to find intimacy and identity in a world consumed by violence and oppression. The way sexuality intertwines with the horror elements underscores how bodies are used, controlled, and sometimes reclaimed, adding another layer of intensity to the narrative. These moments expose the complexity of the characters; their choices in love and desire often mirror their struggles with loyalty, survival, and self-definition in a hostile world.
I found the strength of the book in its atmosphere and themes. The darkness feels relentless, and Enriquez excels at creating imagery that sticks with you. The exploration of family, especially the complicated bond between father and child, provides an emotional anchor in the midst of horror. That said, the novel’s ambition sometimes makes it feel uneven. The pacing can be heavy, with certain sections dragging before the narrative picks up again. At times, the density of detail and history weighed the story down for me, though the payoff remained worthwhile.
I give this book 4 stars. It is a remarkable work of literary horror that challenges the reader as much as it enthralls, but its pacing issues and sheer length keep it from being flawless.
I would recommend "Our Share of Night" to readers who appreciate horror layered with political and social commentary, and who are open to complex depictions of sexuality and identity alongside terror. I would not recommend it to those looking for fast-paced horror or light escapism, as this story demands patience and emotional investment.