Scan barcode
pagestarfire's review against another edition
4.0
The way this book discusses gender and how ones identity can change over time, I have never felt so seen. Also, there is a unicorn!!!
stacywill8's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars!
It started a bit slow, but after letting the world building happen around me, I really enjoyed the story. Watching Nothing grow from nothing to a powerful independent character was wonderful. There was a lot of personal growth in many of the characters, and I find myself wondering where they went after the story was over.
Definitely one I will recommend.
It started a bit slow, but after letting the world building happen around me, I really enjoyed the story. Watching Nothing grow from nothing to a powerful independent character was wonderful. There was a lot of personal growth in many of the characters, and I find myself wondering where they went after the story was over.
Definitely one I will recommend.
gabibooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If Fire by Kristin Cashore and Studio Ghibli had a very dark and twisty offspring, it would be Night Shine by Tessa Gratton. A lush and dark Beauty and the Beast retelling, Night Shine has many story elements I love - gorgeous magic, LGBTQ+ characters abounding, darling side characters, and villainous love interests. For me though, it was missing something that kept me from full on loving it. A gorgeous story to be sure, and I will 100% put this in the hands of teens, but I wasn’t fully satisfied.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Deadnaming
caseyvalhalla's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
creatrix's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The characters, setting, and themes of this book were brilliant. This is all about change and finding yourself and all those spaces between hard binaries that we impose on ourselves and others. This is Tessa Gratton, so of course she explores gender, but there's also a lot of talk about morality not just being black and white in this book as well. There's also just such a beautiful and deep exploration of relationships. I loved and hated the characters in turn, and I wanted to see them all happy.
But the book also had several shifts in the plot, and not all of them worked for me. And the ending itself was a huge let down. Spoilers below for details why, but it just didn't quite sit well.
For one, I didn't love the shift to Kirin being a more raditional villain. I think it was supposed to be more complex and nuanced than it ended up. As for the ending, it just ended up a little too happy. I think something a little more bitter would have been more fitting, and a lot of better endings (for my taste) presented themselves along the way Shine tied to the mountain and unable to leave, or banned from the palace by Moon and unable to return, or giving up her heart for Shadows. And I can't believe Sky just accepted Kirin after everything he did! I know their relationship wasn't the focus, but Kirin was a dick.
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
Setting: 10/10
General Appeal: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 5/10
But the book also had several shifts in the plot, and not all of them worked for me. And the ending itself was a huge let down. Spoilers below for details why, but it just didn't quite sit well.
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
Setting: 10/10
General Appeal: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 5/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Torture
evilcallie's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fascinating book that I had to read in bits and pieces. In a single sentence summary: it is a queer fantasy romance with demons, sorceresses, dragons, spirits, and a world that seems inspired by pre-20th century East Asian cultures.
The main character is Nothing, a girl with no past who we meet when she kills the heir to the throne of her kingdom, and the journey she undertakes afterwards. It's a book of questions: Who is Nothing? What is Nothing? Who is the Sorceress Who Eats Girls? Why did the Sorceress want Kirin Dark-Smile? What does Kirin really want? Luckily, over the course of the book, these questions are answered, though never in the ways the reader might expect, especially for a young adult fantasy book. It is more than a stereotypical coming-of-age story. I can't say more without significantly spoiling the mysteries of the book.
I do find, though, that the cover of this book is deceiving. I know that book covers are often inaccurate, but this one in particular is just... not great. Sure, it's pretty, but it doesn't fit the story in anyway.
This was a fascinating book that I had to read in bits and pieces. In a single sentence summary: it is a queer fantasy romance with demons, sorceresses, dragons, spirits, and a world that seems inspired by pre-20th century East Asian cultures.
The main character is Nothing, a girl with no past who we meet when she kills the heir to the throne of her kingdom, and the journey she undertakes afterwards. It's a book of questions: Who is Nothing? What is Nothing? Who is the Sorceress Who Eats Girls? Why did the Sorceress want Kirin Dark-Smile? What does Kirin really want? Luckily, over the course of the book, these questions are answered, though never in the ways the reader might expect, especially for a young adult fantasy book. It is more than a stereotypical coming-of-age story. I can't say more without significantly spoiling the mysteries of the book.
I do find, though, that the cover of this book is deceiving. I know that book covers are often inaccurate, but this one in particular is just... not great. Sure, it's pretty, but it doesn't fit the story in anyway.
kylieqrada's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Tessa Gratton's writing is just RIDICULOUS. I absolutely adored both of her adult novels, Lady Hotspur and The Queens of Innis Lear, so when I saw an upcoming novel from her that was pitched as a dark sapphic fairy tale I was HERE FOR IT even though it was YA. Turned out not only is it sapphic, but it also has nonbinary rep (it is not explicitly stated what the character identifies as), and gay/polyamorous characters! The vibe of this is classic Tessa Gratton, but instead of being 10/10 dark and gritty like her adult stuff, she dials it back and adds a little whimsy for her YA audience, which I needed right about now. There were a few problematic elements, hence the 3.5 ⭐s. I'm not super comfy with the age gap, especially given the conclusion of this novel. Also, the author could have done a better job of clarifying her racial diversity without describing everybody as white or copper-colored. And there is a clear abuse element that wasn't resolved to my satisfaction. But overall I really enjoyed this. Definitely a "guilty" (I have no guilt) pleasure fantasy romance! Now to get started on Tessa Gratton's YA backlist!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Toxic relationship
pastelwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Let me type a review for this book before I take too long, and then have absolutely no coherent thoughts left in my head.
I’m going to go simple here. I really really loved this book. It was MAGICAL.
I was essentially living vicariously through Nothing throughout this book. I felt everything she felt. When she was feral and happy, I felt the same. When she was angry and sad, I felt the same. Ugh. Truly, so good.
All of Nothing’s relationships with other characters were soooo goooood! Her and Sky? Perfection. Her and the sorceress? Perfection. Her and Kirin? Perfection.
Speaking of my prince who is also a maiden. When I tell you I had to fight the urge to fight him like 5 times in this book. I loved him, but I also hated him. What a jealous and petty and arrogant thing. Good lord. Why do I love him so? I love him so much even though he tested my patience time and time again.
I don’t even know what else to say about this book...
I think I can confidently say this is the easiest book to read by Tessa Gratton (at least of the ones I’ve read—which have been 4 including this one). I found this book well-paced and written prettily enough to still make me swoon but leaning more towards comprehensible purple prose than incomprehensible. The characters were all sufficiently developed, and I liked the progression of the novel.
I think my one complaint, and the main reason this got 4 stars instead of 5, is that the ending of this novel left a lot to be desired. I wanted more and more and more. I guess I’ve grown greedy with Tessa Gratton. I’m too used to her long books. Nevertheless, despite wanting this to be longer, I loved it so so much!
I’m going to go simple here. I really really loved this book. It was MAGICAL.
I was essentially living vicariously through Nothing throughout this book. I felt everything she felt. When she was feral and happy, I felt the same. When she was angry and sad, I felt the same. Ugh. Truly, so good.
All of Nothing’s relationships with other characters were soooo goooood! Her and Sky? Perfection. Her and the sorceress? Perfection. Her and Kirin? Perfection.
Speaking of my prince who is also a maiden. When I tell you I had to fight the urge to fight him like 5 times in this book. I loved him, but I also hated him. What a jealous and petty and arrogant thing. Good lord. Why do I love him so? I love him so much even though he tested my patience time and time again.
I don’t even know what else to say about this book...
I think I can confidently say this is the easiest book to read by Tessa Gratton (at least of the ones I’ve read—which have been 4 including this one). I found this book well-paced and written prettily enough to still make me swoon but leaning more towards comprehensible purple prose than incomprehensible. The characters were all sufficiently developed, and I liked the progression of the novel.
I think my one complaint, and the main reason this got 4 stars instead of 5, is that the ending of this novel left a lot to be desired. I wanted more and more and more. I guess I’ve grown greedy with Tessa Gratton. I’m too used to her long books. Nevertheless, despite wanting this to be longer, I loved it so so much!
dreaming_of_eutony's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC of Night Shine.
Non-binary magic, pure, wild and tangible, that is what this book is.
A tale of girls and demons, spirits and sprites, of truth and deception, of mountains and shadows, of princes and maidens and everything both and more and in-between.
We follow Nothing, a girl who goes unseen and unnoticed by all but her dearest friend, Prince Kirin and the great demon of the palace, where they both live.
But Nothing’s safe and unchanging life is thrown into turmoil when the prince is kidnapped by the Sorceress Who Eats Girls.
And so a journey begins, one that will take Nothing and the prince’s bodyguard, Sky, from crossroad shrines to the deepest depths of the rain-forest and finally to the towering Fifth Mountain, where the sorceress resides.
A journey that will change, create and reveal secrets, truths and hearts in ways Nothing, Sky nor Kirin could have ever dreamed.
Our hero, Nothing is a beautifully complex girl of sixteen, a girl who is loyal to her friends and true to her heart. I adored her growth and development throughout this story so very much.
Kirin is a prince and so much more too, he is beautiful and selfish and caring and proud and I loved how Gratton wove his intricate nature perfectly and smoothly with simple words and emotions that somehow gave an unending depth to his personality.
Sky is strong and steadfast and easy to love. I really appreciated the growth of his friendship with Nothing and his own personal character arc throughout the story.
The Sorceress herself is as seductive and beautiful as she is terrifying and awe-inspiring and she may have entirely stolen my heart as I read this book.
The plots flows and twists and turns like a clever and sparkling river with many streams and waterfalls.
Romantic and full of wild intensity, this is a journey of friendship, self discovery and revealed potential.
Gratton’s writing is literal magic. I’ve never read another author who crafts words quite like this.
The world is layered and full of colour and beauty and wilderness.
My breath was stolen every time a robe or gown, embroidery or face-paint, mountain or fern was described. And yet, while each description was minimal and simple it somehow created a fully-fleshed out and realized image in the reader's mind.
I love this story with all my being. It tugged at my heart-strings and toyed with my emotions and left me breathless and full of warmth.
This story is also delightfully queer, with representation at every turn and more than one lgbtq+ romance that will give you all the feels.
Night Shine is an exquisite saga. Dark and wondrous and thrilling. It will tingle over your skin and leave you dreaming of stars and shadows and all that’s in-between.
Fans of Uprooted, The Boneless Mercies and The Song of Achilles will love Night Shine.
Non-binary magic, pure, wild and tangible, that is what this book is.
A tale of girls and demons, spirits and sprites, of truth and deception, of mountains and shadows, of princes and maidens and everything both and more and in-between.
We follow Nothing, a girl who goes unseen and unnoticed by all but her dearest friend, Prince Kirin and the great demon of the palace, where they both live.
But Nothing’s safe and unchanging life is thrown into turmoil when the prince is kidnapped by the Sorceress Who Eats Girls.
And so a journey begins, one that will take Nothing and the prince’s bodyguard, Sky, from crossroad shrines to the deepest depths of the rain-forest and finally to the towering Fifth Mountain, where the sorceress resides.
A journey that will change, create and reveal secrets, truths and hearts in ways Nothing, Sky nor Kirin could have ever dreamed.
Our hero, Nothing is a beautifully complex girl of sixteen, a girl who is loyal to her friends and true to her heart. I adored her growth and development throughout this story so very much.
Kirin is a prince and so much more too, he is beautiful and selfish and caring and proud and I loved how Gratton wove his intricate nature perfectly and smoothly with simple words and emotions that somehow gave an unending depth to his personality.
Sky is strong and steadfast and easy to love. I really appreciated the growth of his friendship with Nothing and his own personal character arc throughout the story.
The Sorceress herself is as seductive and beautiful as she is terrifying and awe-inspiring and she may have entirely stolen my heart as I read this book.
The plots flows and twists and turns like a clever and sparkling river with many streams and waterfalls.
Romantic and full of wild intensity, this is a journey of friendship, self discovery and revealed potential.
Gratton’s writing is literal magic. I’ve never read another author who crafts words quite like this.
The world is layered and full of colour and beauty and wilderness.
My breath was stolen every time a robe or gown, embroidery or face-paint, mountain or fern was described. And yet, while each description was minimal and simple it somehow created a fully-fleshed out and realized image in the reader's mind.
I love this story with all my being. It tugged at my heart-strings and toyed with my emotions and left me breathless and full of warmth.
This story is also delightfully queer, with representation at every turn and more than one lgbtq+ romance that will give you all the feels.
Night Shine is an exquisite saga. Dark and wondrous and thrilling. It will tingle over your skin and leave you dreaming of stars and shadows and all that’s in-between.
Fans of Uprooted, The Boneless Mercies and The Song of Achilles will love Night Shine.