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felisingkang's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
634's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
transparent_tea's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I've seen this book in passing a few times at a local bookstore but wanted to wait until I can pick it up at the library instead. Upon further investigation, I realized I had read a book from the author before (Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop) and per Goodreads, gave it a 4-star rating, but wished the story was more about the title than others.
Night For Day starts ominous, with two strangers looking at a drunken couple, using them as pawns to decide the results of a war. The only information we're given is that the couple must choose one side and they need to be separated from each other, meaning they decide on their own.
We get to the present and understand that Camille Buhay and Edward "Ward" Dunbar were ex-s, only to stumble upon each other in London, taking some job opportunity. As the readers continue the story, we find that both are transported to a magical world dealing with gods and ghosts, only to realize they need to work together to get out.
Overlooking the "steamy sex scenes", I felt that the "moral" of the story is there, but executed in a rush. Despite the hurdles Camille and Ward had to work through, I felt the story could have included more fantasy/magical themes, rather than focusing on how horrible Theo is, or how Ernya appeared a few times, not being a part of the story unless it was drastic.
With this being a romance story, you can anticipate how the ending is written. And I do enjoy that Camille did do a 180 from the start of the story to the end. Other than that, if you're in a mood to read a sappy romance novel, go for it.
Night For Day starts ominous, with two strangers looking at a drunken couple, using them as pawns to decide the results of a war. The only information we're given is that the couple must choose one side and they need to be separated from each other, meaning they decide on their own.
We get to the present and understand that Camille Buhay and Edward "Ward" Dunbar were ex-s, only to stumble upon each other in London, taking some job opportunity. As the readers continue the story, we find that both are transported to a magical world dealing with gods and ghosts, only to realize they need to work together to get out.
Overlooking the "steamy sex scenes", I felt that the "moral" of the story is there, but executed in a rush. Despite the hurdles Camille and Ward had to work through, I felt the story could have included more fantasy/magical themes, rather than focusing on how horrible Theo is, or how Ernya appeared a few times, not being a part of the story unless it was drastic.
With this being a romance story, you can anticipate how the ending is written. And I do enjoy that Camille did do a 180 from the start of the story to the end. Other than that, if you're in a mood to read a sappy romance novel, go for it.
lavdisy's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.0
Another one with a great concept but poor execution. I kept drifting away while reading it because the plot lacked anything to grip me. It felt like I was waiting for some development, but I couldn't find it. The romance was also nothing to admire. Lastly, regarding the plot, what happens with these gods and their war that bothers humans in their mess? I'm just really annoyed by all of them.
jacktardis's review
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brucethegirl's review against another edition
I wanted to DNF after the first few chapters but pushed through because it was all I had access to with an internet issue. That said, I can't take it anymore. Almost 50% through and absolutely no explanation. On top of not caring about the relationship because "the sex was never the problem" they have such limited time together and they keep wasting it. They don't talk to each other, not about anything important. Their memories are directly related to what they're about to speak about. She randomly remembers how he never challenges where an offer of help comes from and so randomly she yells at him about not questioning anyone that offers help. He responds by... not questioning any help offered to him. And to be honest, this conversation made sense, without the need to tell the reader why she was going to have this discussion with him. It made sense without the hand holding.
But that's most of the book. Lim tells the reader the background information before acting on it, tells the reader the justification for what is about to happen before it happens. It all felt very juvenile in story telling which made the more steamy scenes and mentions very uncomfortable, not even touching on the lack of chemistry I felt between the two.
It's not 44% and I just can't bring myself to waste more time. Such an interesting idea, and yet such a let down. All because the author didn't trust her readers to be able to follow motivation and character drive.
But that's most of the book. Lim tells the reader the background information before acting on it, tells the reader the justification for what is about to happen before it happens. It all felt very juvenile in story telling which made the more steamy scenes and mentions very uncomfortable, not even touching on the lack of chemistry I felt between the two.
It's not 44% and I just can't bring myself to waste more time. Such an interesting idea, and yet such a let down. All because the author didn't trust her readers to be able to follow motivation and character drive.
dryad23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lucysky1989's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
katiemack's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The ideas are compelling, but the execution is...poor. There are plenty of blanket statements about the vicissitudes of love and human existence, but the actual storytelling is scattershot and doesn't make sense. A good fantasy book has solid world-building and balances explanation of magical rules with an assumption that the reader is a (somewhat) intelligent person; this has neither. I wish Roselle Lim had more clearly outlined Camille and Ward's previous relationship and current predicament (and, in fact, the plot in general); I went back to review certain chapters because I thought I had missed something when, in fact, the explanation was never there.
Perhaps this received better editing before final publication, but even so...it needs improvement.
The ideas are compelling, but the execution is...poor. There are plenty of blanket statements about the vicissitudes of love and human existence, but the actual storytelling is scattershot and doesn't make sense. A good fantasy book has solid world-building and balances explanation of magical rules with an assumption that the reader is a (somewhat) intelligent person; this has neither. I wish Roselle Lim had more clearly outlined Camille and Ward's previous relationship and current predicament (and, in fact, the plot in general); I went back to review certain chapters because I thought I had missed something when, in fact, the explanation was never there.
Perhaps this received better editing before final publication, but even so...it needs improvement.