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A review by looseleafellie
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
5.0
This was one of my most anticipated 2021 reads, and it was every bit as awesome as I hoped it would be! From the gorgeous writing to the swoony romance, Down Comes the Night hit every beat and left me a puddled mess of feels *sobs but in a good way*
Hal and Wren's romance was SUPER cute, especially since I'm a SUCKER for the hurt/comfort trope. It helped that I loved both characters in their own right to begin with. Wren learns over the course of the story that her compassion is not a weakness, but a strength, and I was cheering her every step of the way! And Hal is everything a supposedly-villain love interest should be -- learned his lesson, willing to do better, and secretly a huge cinnamon roll who's head-over-heels for Wren.
The magic system is one of the best I've seen in a YA fantasy. I loved the biological aspects of Wren's magic and the descriptions of how her healing powers work. It came across as very well thought-out and well researched, and really helped draw me further into the world!
I'm also a sucker for a good mystery, and this book reminded me a lot of the historical mysteries I used to DEVOUR as a kid. Nothing like a creepy old mansion full of secrets to suck you into a story! All the twists kept me sprinting through the pages to find out what happened next. I especially loved how well the mystery, fantasy, and romance elements balanced and played off each other, rather than any one element seeming underdeveloped. BRAVO!
In conclusion, anyone looking for a great standalone romantic fantasy with perfect pacing, immersive atmosphere, and lovable characters should definitely check this one out!
Hal and Wren's romance was SUPER cute, especially since I'm a SUCKER for the hurt/comfort trope. It helped that I loved both characters in their own right to begin with. Wren learns over the course of the story that her compassion is not a weakness, but a strength, and I was cheering her every step of the way! And Hal is everything a supposedly-villain love interest should be -- learned his lesson, willing to do better, and secretly a huge cinnamon roll who's head-over-heels for Wren.
The magic system is one of the best I've seen in a YA fantasy. I loved the biological aspects of Wren's magic and the descriptions of how her healing powers work. It came across as very well thought-out and well researched, and really helped draw me further into the world!
I'm also a sucker for a good mystery, and this book reminded me a lot of the historical mysteries I used to DEVOUR as a kid. Nothing like a creepy old mansion full of secrets to suck you into a story! All the twists kept me sprinting through the pages to find out what happened next. I especially loved how well the mystery, fantasy, and romance elements balanced and played off each other, rather than any one element seeming underdeveloped. BRAVO!
In conclusion, anyone looking for a great standalone romantic fantasy with perfect pacing, immersive atmosphere, and lovable characters should definitely check this one out!