challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book had moments where it was hauntingly beautiful, where the author’s prose made me stop and reflect on how well-written a sentence was. And then it had moments where I felt it was dragging and where there was unnecessary violence. Maybe it wasn’t for me, but I just couldn’t get into it. 

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dark tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

There’s a lot to digest here… loved the world building, the mysterious way the lore was revealed (and not revealed) to the reader. Characters were super complex, and I could sense that Gaspar was becoming more similar to his father at the end. The variety of perspectives was really cool and how the stories intertwined with each other. This was truly terrifying at many parts, and disturbing. I also enjoyed the political commentary and class discussion, although I’m not too familiar with Argentina’s history and politics. The writing and translation was really beautiful and macabre, and often chaotic (when it aided the story) I don’t know what my final takeaway is, I’m not sure if I fully pieced together all of the elements of the story. The ending is kind of ambiguous, which I suppose is fitting. One thing I didn’t really get was
the intent of having Esteban and Stephen for the name of one character (I know that Esteban is the Spanish translation of Stephen).
Overall, even though it was a long book, it was never a slog and I could’ve read even more. 

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dark slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Review:
Our Share of Night is the first book by Mariana Enriquez that I have read. Although the plot and the story (mostly) kept my interest throughout its 500+ pages, I struggled to feel emotionally invested in the story. The horror element of the story, while certainly objectively horrifying, failed to scare me. At most, I felt slightly unnerved. The story is well-crafted and comes together nicely, but it did not need to be as long as it is. 
 
The book explores themes of family/generational trauma, relationships, PTSD, war, queer love, and violence. Personally, I did not find the way the story handles these topics to be particularly insightful or original, and I think the book struggles under the weight of all the themes and issues it touches upon. However, I could definitely see someone else connecting to this story on a deeper level than I did, especially if they have a personal connection to the setting or topics.
 
Some of the representation of physical disability struck me as a bit insensitive, but as an able-bodied person I do not feel qualified to speak on that. One thing I do feel qualified to object to, however, is the unnecessary and problematic representation of two individuals who undergo sex changes. These characters are described as undergoing these procedures in order to better worship the god of Darkness, an evil demon, and the narrator notes that people would freak out if they knew how the Order (the demonic cult in the story) had infiltrated the NHS. Given how trans health care is under attack, any portrayal of these procedures as being related to demonic worship is inherently problematic—but what makes me especially angry is that these characters are literally of no importance to the story whatsoever. These characters are briefly mentioned, only to die shortly after their introduction. 
 
 
The Run-Down: 
You will probably like Our Share of Night if:
·      You have a personal connection to the story’s setting or its themes
 
You might not like Our Share of Night if:
·      You don’t want to read a really dark book (please read the content warnings! This book is not for the faint of heart)
·      You dislike morally questionable main characters
 
A Film like Our Share of Night:
Hereditary, directed by Ari Aster (2018). Similarities between these two pieces of media include:
·      Intense horror plotlines that explore grief, family inheritance, and generational trauma
·      Demon cults and possession
 

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challenging dark slow-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

Hard to know where to start with this one… it’s more like a 4.5 rating. It’s an intense read, with unimaginable cruelty- imagined. Politics and cults aside… this is a story about generational trauma and how we often hurt the ones we love while trying to protect them from the pain we know. Lots left to unpack.

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

One of the most exciting and interesting books I've ever read. Taking place throughout the 20th century, primarily in Argentina, this massive horror epic tells the story of a family torn apart by a demon-summoning cult. Steeped in true Argetinian history and cultural trauma; dictatorships, natural disasters, the AIDS crisis, workers rights activism, class struggles, etc. etc. this is a brutal and enthralling family saga of inherited trauma that has infected my thoughts and has not let go.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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

Our Share of Night is a masterpiece of slow-burn intrigue and horror. This novel has everything: demons, millionaires obsessed with immortality, human sacrifices, toxic family members, polyamory, lifelong friendships, portals, poetry, and colonial mansions in the jungle. Each of these features is then set against the backdrop of the bloodiest and most disturbing era in Argentina's recent history, the so-called Dirty War.

At 600 pages, Our Share of Night is definitely the longest horror novel I have ever read. At first, this fact seemed like a detriment. The novel is also slow-paced and I couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for it all to come together. Eventually, though, I settled into the rhythm and skill of Enriquez's writing and McDowell's translation.

The central focus of Our Share of Night is the father-son relationship between Juan and Gaspar. Juan is a disabled medium whose entire life is controlled by a cult known as the Order. Gaspar, his son, is an inheritor not only of the Order's prestigious bloodline but also of Juan's ability to connect with the spirit world. Hoping to protect Gaspar, Juan stops him from developing skills as a medium. Juan is seductive, repulsive, and frustrating. Gaspar is sweet and loyal and a victim of his father's dark moods and the Order's disturbing world.

In addition to Gaspar & Juan, the supporting cast of characters are well-developed and interesting, too. Gaspar's childhood friends Pablo, Vicky, and Adela are each delightful. Their strong lifelong friendship is realistic and empathetic. Two more excellent secondary characters are Tali and Stephen. I wish we had been gifted more of Tali in this novel. A priestess of the Saint of Death, she has the most fascinating life.

Overall, I'd highly recommend Our Share of Night to anyone willing to invest their time in a world of dark magic and complicated characters.

A big thank you to @netgalley and @hogarthbooks for the advanced digital copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

An extremely unsettling supernatural epic set amidst the backdrop of the dictadura in Argentina. 

With its evocative and imaginative writing soaked with visceral images of gore and violence, this is a very challenging and difficult read. 

However, Enriquez’s masterful storytelling and characterisation make  OSON a really compelling and impactful book to immerse yourself in. 

I really enjoyed the multi character perspectives and the intersections between them. Definitely will reread again at a later date! 

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