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A review by its_justine
They Mostly Come Out at Night by Benedict Patrick
5.0
This is a tale of a young man, an outcast, who has carried the burden of unwarranted blame for many years after an attack on his village that left two people dead, one of which was his own father. His life changed that fateful night, and he has been haunted ever since with scornful whispers and looks of contempt from all those he held dear. Reduced to a forager with no Knack, he lives out his days in solitude and relies solely on the kindness of the village healer for survival. One night he dreams of a boy, a prince, and witnesses the Magpie King valiantly protect his village from the monsters that come at night, or so he believes. He wakes questioning the validity of these visions. But that night, the dream returns and he continues his adventure through the eyes of Adahy as he sleeps. Has he finally developed his Knack or are these dreams a warning of what’s to come?
They Mostly Come Out at Night is an enchanting story with a genuinely unique concept, relying heavily on the many darker mechanics of magical, old-time folklore to draw its readers in. As with many folktales, this certainly has a cautionary air, pinpointing the consequences of greed, mistrust, and complacency in your expected lot in life. It reminds its readers that there is always more to be found beyond the edge of the forest for those willing, while also proving there is such thing as wanting too much.
We’re presented with alternating chapters of the main storyline and fables known to both low and high Corvae, the people of the forest. At first, it seems these short yarns are random, but Patrick beautifully weaves these into a magnificent tapestry that serves as a core foundation to explain the current state of of the world surrounding us, which I found to be absolutely marvelous. When the pieces began to finally fall into place, I was blown away with the thoughtful intricacies that went into creating this story, making this truly a wonderful experience.
The world itself is so carefully crafted with deep histories and a multitude of strange people and creatures. Dipping its toes into the realm of horror, there’s no shortage of shadowed monsters and menacing characters to keep you on the edge of your seat. As the story progresses, there’s a profound sense of tragedy that begins to bleed in, adding a whole new dimension and forewarning us of what may happen in the future. I found it interesting when I began to see parallels between Lonan’s own life and that of Adahy, again amazed at the amount of punch packed into this relatively short book.
They Mostly Come Out at Night is an amazing introduction in Patrick’s Yarnsworld universe and I’m excited to dig deeper. The legend within surely matches the whimsical feel of the book’s cover, which, if I may point out, is gorgeous. If you’re in the mood for a story that is very reminiscent of a tale told around a campfire, this is the one! Onto the next!
They Mostly Come Out at Night is an enchanting story with a genuinely unique concept, relying heavily on the many darker mechanics of magical, old-time folklore to draw its readers in. As with many folktales, this certainly has a cautionary air, pinpointing the consequences of greed, mistrust, and complacency in your expected lot in life. It reminds its readers that there is always more to be found beyond the edge of the forest for those willing, while also proving there is such thing as wanting too much.
We’re presented with alternating chapters of the main storyline and fables known to both low and high Corvae, the people of the forest. At first, it seems these short yarns are random, but Patrick beautifully weaves these into a magnificent tapestry that serves as a core foundation to explain the current state of of the world surrounding us, which I found to be absolutely marvelous. When the pieces began to finally fall into place, I was blown away with the thoughtful intricacies that went into creating this story, making this truly a wonderful experience.
The world itself is so carefully crafted with deep histories and a multitude of strange people and creatures. Dipping its toes into the realm of horror, there’s no shortage of shadowed monsters and menacing characters to keep you on the edge of your seat. As the story progresses, there’s a profound sense of tragedy that begins to bleed in, adding a whole new dimension and forewarning us of what may happen in the future. I found it interesting when I began to see parallels between Lonan’s own life and that of Adahy, again amazed at the amount of punch packed into this relatively short book.
They Mostly Come Out at Night is an amazing introduction in Patrick’s Yarnsworld universe and I’m excited to dig deeper. The legend within surely matches the whimsical feel of the book’s cover, which, if I may point out, is gorgeous. If you’re in the mood for a story that is very reminiscent of a tale told around a campfire, this is the one! Onto the next!