Scan barcode
A review by nataliealane
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
3.0
After being enchanted by Saft’s sophomore novel, A Far Wilder Magic, I was excited to finally drive into her debut, which promised a spooky atmosphere, gothic mystery, and a lush romance as the main characters are snowed in. I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator did an excellent job, I ultimately have very mixed feelings about the story’s execution.
~
The plot was so predictable. I guessed nearly every big plot point and twist from a mile away. The clues are laid out so clearly, but the characters don’t see them. While it creates tension as the reader wonders if they will figure it out before it’s too late, it’s incredibly frustrating as well. I get Wren is a more naive, trusting person, but she was so oblivious! I wanted to yell at her so many times in the book. The answers were right in front of her! Even Hal, the more strategic practical of the two, made some dumb decisions.
There are 2 main plots, the mysterious happenings in the castle and the disappearance of the soldiers as Wren is attempting to stop the war between Danu and Vesria from worsening. The plots came together well eventually, but they weren’t cohesive for at least the first half of the book, where the book and characters’ focus jump back and forth between the two. Additionally, I still had questions about the world building. For example, we’re only told that Danu and Vesrians are genetically predisposed/capable of magic, while Sinosians don’t have that gene. Why? Lastly,The villain had so much potential but comes off as very cartoonish.
~
Where Down Comes the Night shines is its character development and slow-burn romance. This is a true enemies to lovers romance, and it’s beautifully and realistically executed. Wren and Hal have to confront their own prejudices and their countries’ history if they are to work together to save the people they care about. Wren’s character development is integral to the story as she is desperately trying to gain her aunt, the queen’s approval and show that she can be a “good soldier.” It was so beautiful watching her realize and accept that her emotions, compassion, and sensitivity don’t make her weak, but rather stronger.
While the world building in A Far Wilder Magic was still a weak point to me, it further reinforces how excellently Saft captures and develops characters and romance. I think character-driven books are much more her strength compared to books with complicated plots. I’m excited to see what comes next!
More on the villain because I can’t resist (spoilers): Lowry’s motivations are a combo of getting back at Vesria for imprisoning his father and getting his own magic/giving magic to Sinosians. In combination with their advanced tech, they’d be the superior country and end the war by conquering the others. It’s stereotypical villain taking over the world stuff while also feeling incredibly delusional and boring. A much more interesting backstory and motivation for him was if Lowry *was* descended from someone magical. You’re telling me they in the entire history of this world, a Sinosian has NEVER fallen in love with and had a child with a magical person? Picture this: One of Lowry’s ancestors had magic, but it’s lain dormant/been recessive for generations just like in Hal’s family. and that’s why he’s so obsessed with trying to study and attain it himself. It’s much more interesting and believable than his take over the world and advance his country motivation. It gives clearer reason as to why he personally feels he “deserves” magic. It also would make him a foil to Hal, who is going through something similar representing and redeeming his family as the first in 2 gens to have magic, but is at risk of losing from overuse.
~
The plot was so predictable. I guessed nearly every big plot point and twist from a mile away. The clues are laid out so clearly, but the characters don’t see them. While it creates tension as the reader wonders if they will figure it out before it’s too late, it’s incredibly frustrating as well. I get Wren is a more naive, trusting person, but she was so oblivious! I wanted to yell at her so many times in the book. The answers were right in front of her! Even Hal, the more strategic practical of the two, made some dumb decisions.
There are 2 main plots, the mysterious happenings in the castle and the disappearance of the soldiers as Wren is attempting to stop the war between Danu and Vesria from worsening. The plots came together well eventually, but they weren’t cohesive for at least the first half of the book, where the book and characters’ focus jump back and forth between the two. Additionally, I still had questions about the world building. For example, we’re only told that Danu and Vesrians are genetically predisposed/capable of magic, while Sinosians don’t have that gene. Why? Lastly,The villain had so much potential but comes off as very cartoonish.
~
Where Down Comes the Night shines is its character development and slow-burn romance. This is a true enemies to lovers romance, and it’s beautifully and realistically executed. Wren and Hal have to confront their own prejudices and their countries’ history if they are to work together to save the people they care about. Wren’s character development is integral to the story as she is desperately trying to gain her aunt, the queen’s approval and show that she can be a “good soldier.” It was so beautiful watching her realize and accept that her emotions, compassion, and sensitivity don’t make her weak, but rather stronger.
While the world building in A Far Wilder Magic was still a weak point to me, it further reinforces how excellently Saft captures and develops characters and romance. I think character-driven books are much more her strength compared to books with complicated plots. I’m excited to see what comes next!
More on the villain because I can’t resist (spoilers): Lowry’s motivations are a combo of getting back at Vesria for imprisoning his father and getting his own magic/giving magic to Sinosians. In combination with their advanced tech, they’d be the superior country and end the war by conquering the others. It’s stereotypical villain taking over the world stuff while also feeling incredibly delusional and boring. A much more interesting backstory and motivation for him was if Lowry *was* descended from someone magical. You’re telling me they in the entire history of this world, a Sinosian has NEVER fallen in love with and had a child with a magical person? Picture this: One of Lowry’s ancestors had magic, but it’s lain dormant/been recessive for generations just like in Hal’s family. and that’s why he’s so obsessed with trying to study and attain it himself. It’s much more interesting and believable than his take over the world and advance his country motivation. It gives clearer reason as to why he personally feels he “deserves” magic. It also would make him a foil to Hal, who is going through something similar representing and redeeming his family as the first in 2 gens to have magic, but is at risk of losing from overuse.