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The Night Is Not for You
From the award-winning author of The Bride at Sea comes this visceral tale of feminine rage and magical realism as Layla learns the very human pains of growing up and realizing the world isn't as safe a place as it should be.
A man's body is found viciously murdered behind a neighborhood's corner store, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community in this small-town neighborhood. All the victim's family and bystanders want is to make sense of this brutal crime and move on with their lives.
But all seven-year-old Layla wants is a pet donkey. To her, a donkey is the epitome of freedom and being self-sufficient—to think for herself, go anywhere by herself and live an independent life.
As the killings continue, Layla's world unravels. Rumors start to fly of supposed hoofprints and a woman with hair like black silk. As the ambiguous messages in lipstick and sweet smell of perfume cause the finger of blame to point towards the women, Layla herself grows into a woman.
The kind of woman she has always dreamt of becoming—a woman with sharp instincts. A woman who cannot be tamed.
The night is not for you. It has always belonged to her.
A man's body is found viciously murdered behind a neighborhood's corner store, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community in this small-town neighborhood. All the victim's family and bystanders want is to make sense of this brutal crime and move on with their lives.
But all seven-year-old Layla wants is a pet donkey. To her, a donkey is the epitome of freedom and being self-sufficient—to think for herself, go anywhere by herself and live an independent life.
As the killings continue, Layla's world unravels. Rumors start to fly of supposed hoofprints and a woman with hair like black silk. As the ambiguous messages in lipstick and sweet smell of perfume cause the finger of blame to point towards the women, Layla herself grows into a woman.
The kind of woman she has always dreamt of becoming—a woman with sharp instincts. A woman who cannot be tamed.
The night is not for you. It has always belonged to her.
320 pages, Paperback
Published October 7, 2025
26 people are currently reading
7610 people want to read
About the author
Eman Quotah
7 books111 followersI'm the author of the novels "Bride of the Sea," which won the Arab American Book Award for fiction, and "The Night Is Not for You." My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Rumpus, Literary Hub, and other publications. I live with my family near Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 17, 2025
I feel a bit sad about this review but also happy I get to explain well what my thoughts are because numbers and star ratings can be so cold and not really convey how one really feels about a book. A 3 star rating isn’t bad. At all. But why is it a 3 and not a 5? That’s what I’ll try to explain.
The reason I picked up this book is that it promised to explore Arabic folklore. I feel like I know a fair amount about Arabic culture despite it not being my culture but I have a lot to learn. I enjoy stories based on folklore from cultures I don’t know much about because there is so much we can play with when it comes to writing. Folklore, myths, …some of the best stories ever told are there.
However, I don’t feel this book explored that in the way I expected. I was craving more details that made the story unique to that culture and didn’t get them. Or not as often as I hoped for. So that’s why I want to say that perhaps it was my own expectations that caused the slight disappointment with the book.
Because it’s a beautifully written book. We got two kind of narrators, I guess I could call them. It’s hard to explain without spoiling but one of those was what I wanted from the book and it was the part we didn’t visit as often. The story is mostly about Layla and her coming of age. There’s a lot of commentary about parenting and how it can affect children. These are extreme situations, sure. But we can all relate them to our personal experiences as children. We fall and barely hurt our arm and our parents decide we can’t play that game again. How is that fair? Don’t they understand we can learn from that small amount of pain? But also, it’s understandable that parents want to keep kids safe and might get it wrong while having the best intentions. So all that commentary was very interesting. But I wanted more of the action. More of the pure darkness of the story. That was more fast paced too and I felt the book was a bit slower and it took me way longer to read it than I originally expected. That frustrated me a little bit.
I also wanted to know more about those superstitions. It was interesting to see how some were told not to believe those old tales but we didn’t get much of an explanation as to what those tales are and it felt like a missed opportunity. It all felt a little surface level so perhaps if the book was a bit longer, that could have helped.
Again, I want to mention the book is very well written and I constantly thought about that while reading. The exploration of Layla’s life throughout the years was very good too. It built up to where the story ended really well.
And also, something else I personally loved was the perfume talk. As someone who’s also obsessed with scents, I really enjoyed that part. Maybe others find it redundant or that it went on for too long. It’s all a matter of personal taste after all. But scents are such an integral part of this story and so it being also a big part of Layla’s story makes all the sense. I could relate to her fascination with fragrances as well and I swear I could smell those perfumes Layla described.
So I think the best way to summarise my issues is I expected more of the folklore and more horror. Had I known it would be more of a coming of age story, I could have enjoyed it more. But I’d lie if I didn’t praise this book despite it not being my favourite read.
Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of my book in exchange for an early copy.
The reason I picked up this book is that it promised to explore Arabic folklore. I feel like I know a fair amount about Arabic culture despite it not being my culture but I have a lot to learn. I enjoy stories based on folklore from cultures I don’t know much about because there is so much we can play with when it comes to writing. Folklore, myths, …some of the best stories ever told are there.
However, I don’t feel this book explored that in the way I expected. I was craving more details that made the story unique to that culture and didn’t get them. Or not as often as I hoped for. So that’s why I want to say that perhaps it was my own expectations that caused the slight disappointment with the book.
Because it’s a beautifully written book. We got two kind of narrators, I guess I could call them. It’s hard to explain without spoiling but one of those was what I wanted from the book and it was the part we didn’t visit as often. The story is mostly about Layla and her coming of age. There’s a lot of commentary about parenting and how it can affect children. These are extreme situations, sure. But we can all relate them to our personal experiences as children. We fall and barely hurt our arm and our parents decide we can’t play that game again. How is that fair? Don’t they understand we can learn from that small amount of pain? But also, it’s understandable that parents want to keep kids safe and might get it wrong while having the best intentions. So all that commentary was very interesting. But I wanted more of the action. More of the pure darkness of the story. That was more fast paced too and I felt the book was a bit slower and it took me way longer to read it than I originally expected. That frustrated me a little bit.
I also wanted to know more about those superstitions. It was interesting to see how some were told not to believe those old tales but we didn’t get much of an explanation as to what those tales are and it felt like a missed opportunity. It all felt a little surface level so perhaps if the book was a bit longer, that could have helped.
Again, I want to mention the book is very well written and I constantly thought about that while reading. The exploration of Layla’s life throughout the years was very good too. It built up to where the story ended really well.
And also, something else I personally loved was the perfume talk. As someone who’s also obsessed with scents, I really enjoyed that part. Maybe others find it redundant or that it went on for too long. It’s all a matter of personal taste after all. But scents are such an integral part of this story and so it being also a big part of Layla’s story makes all the sense. I could relate to her fascination with fragrances as well and I swear I could smell those perfumes Layla described.
So I think the best way to summarise my issues is I expected more of the folklore and more horror. Had I known it would be more of a coming of age story, I could have enjoyed it more. But I’d lie if I didn’t praise this book despite it not being my favourite read.
Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of my book in exchange for an early copy.
October 15, 2025
4.25 stars - dark, folklore filled, coming of age, female rage.. great book
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July 29, 2025
Imagine viewing a world from a child’s eye, then add not understanding certain human interactions, societal dynamics/norms and last but not least.. murder.
The atmosphere appears very foggy, or too bright.. always off in a way making the reader feel unease. The more you explore, the more your dread grows. Eman Quotah writes in a way that transports you into a scene, allowing you to smell, taste, hear and see the events unfold. I kept thinking “I don’t like this, I don’t like this at all!” .. which was my alarm bells going off and sensing danger. Now that I had a couple of days to think about it, I don’t recall having ever read anything that triggered this exact feeling before.
If you’re into exploring a more psychological horror with some bloody bits, this is the perfect read for you!
Thank you to Eman Quotah for giving me plenty to think and worry about, and thank you to Orbit Books for allowing me to explore this magnificently dread-filled story!
The atmosphere appears very foggy, or too bright.. always off in a way making the reader feel unease. The more you explore, the more your dread grows. Eman Quotah writes in a way that transports you into a scene, allowing you to smell, taste, hear and see the events unfold. I kept thinking “I don’t like this, I don’t like this at all!” .. which was my alarm bells going off and sensing danger. Now that I had a couple of days to think about it, I don’t recall having ever read anything that triggered this exact feeling before.
If you’re into exploring a more psychological horror with some bloody bits, this is the perfect read for you!
Thank you to Eman Quotah for giving me plenty to think and worry about, and thank you to Orbit Books for allowing me to explore this magnificently dread-filled story!
October 25, 2025
3.5🌟 (Rounded up)
The Night Is Not for You is a coming-of-age folk-horror novel. The story incorporates the Arabic legend of Umm Al-Duwais—a seductive woman who hides inhuman features & lures unfaithful/predatory men to kill them.
The story begins with Layla, age 7, in a tight-knit Arab community. Her sense of safety is fractured when a murder occurs in her neighborhood. As more men are found dead under strange circumstances, it becomes unclear whether the killings are supernatural or human.
The book has a strong sense of atmospheric dread right from the start. There are horror scenes, but most of the psychological tension comes from sensory descriptions—perfume, hoof prints, unsettling night air, shadows—and the author describes them so vividly that it’ll send shivers down your spine!
What makes this book really original is how it draws upon the folklore of Umm Al-Duwais—a half-donkey, half-woman who’s alluring & deadly! The legend sends the community into a frenzy of fear, rumor, and speculation—and turns Layla’s young life upside down! There’s a lot of ambiguity around the murders—are they coming from a supernatural force or an evil human trying to incite fear?
This isn’t just a horror novel—there’s also a strong coming-of-age subplot as Layla grows from childhood to womanhood. Her place in her community as a girl is explored—many treat women with fear, blame, and mistrust—and Layla has a very difficult time accepting this & it shapes her into a sort of “reluctant rebel” young woman, which makes her very compelling.
The story has a slow-burn start, but as Layla matures into adulthood, the pacing improves and the tension increases tenfold! The ending is vague with regards to the mystery—but what’s clear is that the community’s fear & oppression are real monsters—and they mirror our own world in many ways!
Readers who enjoy speculative fiction, coming-of-age stories, folklore, & stories oozing with psychological tension should consider this book!
The Night Is Not for You is a coming-of-age folk-horror novel. The story incorporates the Arabic legend of Umm Al-Duwais—a seductive woman who hides inhuman features & lures unfaithful/predatory men to kill them.
The story begins with Layla, age 7, in a tight-knit Arab community. Her sense of safety is fractured when a murder occurs in her neighborhood. As more men are found dead under strange circumstances, it becomes unclear whether the killings are supernatural or human.
The book has a strong sense of atmospheric dread right from the start. There are horror scenes, but most of the psychological tension comes from sensory descriptions—perfume, hoof prints, unsettling night air, shadows—and the author describes them so vividly that it’ll send shivers down your spine!
What makes this book really original is how it draws upon the folklore of Umm Al-Duwais—a half-donkey, half-woman who’s alluring & deadly! The legend sends the community into a frenzy of fear, rumor, and speculation—and turns Layla’s young life upside down! There’s a lot of ambiguity around the murders—are they coming from a supernatural force or an evil human trying to incite fear?
This isn’t just a horror novel—there’s also a strong coming-of-age subplot as Layla grows from childhood to womanhood. Her place in her community as a girl is explored—many treat women with fear, blame, and mistrust—and Layla has a very difficult time accepting this & it shapes her into a sort of “reluctant rebel” young woman, which makes her very compelling.
The story has a slow-burn start, but as Layla matures into adulthood, the pacing improves and the tension increases tenfold! The ending is vague with regards to the mystery—but what’s clear is that the community’s fear & oppression are real monsters—and they mirror our own world in many ways!
Readers who enjoy speculative fiction, coming-of-age stories, folklore, & stories oozing with psychological tension should consider this book!
October 10, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4
The Night Is Not For You seems to draw a lot of inspiration from folklore and I enjoyed that aspect of the story the most. I think the narration is done well and the story is fairly short so I was able to get through it quickly. The main issues I had was with the pacing. This is definitely a bit of a slow burn, and honestly it's just not my favorite. Something else that fell a little flat for me is I wanted more horror and this was definitely more coming of age story than anything else. Regardless, it was actually still beautifully written, I just wasn't the perfect audience for this one.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Night Is Not For You seems to draw a lot of inspiration from folklore and I enjoyed that aspect of the story the most. I think the narration is done well and the story is fairly short so I was able to get through it quickly. The main issues I had was with the pacing. This is definitely a bit of a slow burn, and honestly it's just not my favorite. Something else that fell a little flat for me is I wanted more horror and this was definitely more coming of age story than anything else. Regardless, it was actually still beautifully written, I just wasn't the perfect audience for this one.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
This audiobook had a lot of promise, blending folklore, suspense, and coming-of-age elements, but it didn’t fully land for me. The narration was engaging and easy to listen to, which helped bring the eerie, mystical moments to life. I appreciated the atmospheric tension and the glimpses into Layla’s journey, but some parts felt slow, and a few plot threads didn’t get enough development.
Fans of folklore-infused stories with a slow-burn vibe might enjoy it more than I did. It’s an interesting listen, just not one I found fully satisfying.
This audiobook had a lot of promise, blending folklore, suspense, and coming-of-age elements, but it didn’t fully land for me. The narration was engaging and easy to listen to, which helped bring the eerie, mystical moments to life. I appreciated the atmospheric tension and the glimpses into Layla’s journey, but some parts felt slow, and a few plot threads didn’t get enough development.
Fans of folklore-infused stories with a slow-burn vibe might enjoy it more than I did. It’s an interesting listen, just not one I found fully satisfying.
October 2, 2025
✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The night is not for you. The night is mine”
‼️‼️Check Triggers‼️‼️
This mystery/ psychological horror novel is full of beautiful Arabic folklore and dread! We read this book through two POVs, Layla a young girl and a mystery monstrous woman.
Layla starts the narrative as a young girl and we get to see the setting through her eyes, the added wonder is a nice touch. When Layla gets scared the narrative does become a little unnerving and leaves you with a sense of dread. We get to see how her inner thoughts change as she becomes more mature.
There is a monstrous woman on the loose killing men who are bad whether it’s known or unknown of their sins and honestly good on the monstrous woman for ridding the world of evil men. Like men who beat their wives. This book does leave the reader questioning if Layla and the monstrous woman are two different entities or actually the same person.
The Night is Not For You is being released October 7th and I think this novel is great for this Halloween season! Thank you to Orbit and the author for sending me this ECopy in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The night is not for you. The night is mine”
‼️‼️Check Triggers‼️‼️
This mystery/ psychological horror novel is full of beautiful Arabic folklore and dread! We read this book through two POVs, Layla a young girl and a mystery monstrous woman.
Layla starts the narrative as a young girl and we get to see the setting through her eyes, the added wonder is a nice touch. When Layla gets scared the narrative does become a little unnerving and leaves you with a sense of dread. We get to see how her inner thoughts change as she becomes more mature.
There is a monstrous woman on the loose killing men who are bad whether it’s known or unknown of their sins and honestly good on the monstrous woman for ridding the world of evil men. Like men who beat their wives. This book does leave the reader questioning if Layla and the monstrous woman are two different entities or actually the same person.
The Night is Not For You is being released October 7th and I think this novel is great for this Halloween season! Thank you to Orbit and the author for sending me this ECopy in exchange for my honest review!
August 30, 2025
I think i get it, but im not sure if i liked the execution. I feel like some plot points could’ve been better connected and solved in a way that was still psychologically thrilling
October 7, 2025
Audiobook/Book Review 📖🍂🩸
Thank you partner @orbitbooks_us @hachetteus @hachetteaudio for the gifted copy + audiobook! #TheNightIsNotforYou #NetGalley
The Night Is Not for You
by Eman Quotah
Narrated by Ezra Saifie
About the book 👇🏽
A man’s body is found viciously murdered behind a neighborhood corner store, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community. All the victim’s family and bystanders want is to make sense of this brutal crime and move on with their lives.
All seven-year-old Layla wants is a pet donkey. To her, a donkey is the epitome of freedom—the ability to think for herself, go anywhere by herself, and live an independent life.
The killings continue, and rumors fly of supposed hoofprints and a woman with hair like black silk. The ambiguous messages in lipstick and sweet smell of perfume at the crime scenes causes the men to suspect the women around them. As Layla’s world unravels, she realizes she must grow into the type of woman she’s always dreamed of becoming. A woman with sharp instincts. A woman who cannot be tamed.
🩸 My thoughts:
A coming of age story infused with folklore! I was lucky enough to be able to hybrid read this one, splitting my time just about equally between physical read and audiobook listen. I felt the narrator kept me engaged in this one slightly more than the physical read. I will say it is more of a slow burn but the atmospheric and eerie set up made for an enjoyable story. What I like most about coming of age stories, is being able to see the change in mindset, and we definitely get that in this book. It is tense, full of rage, and bound to keep you immersed. If you enjoy storytelling with a slower build but keeps you glued to the pages while showing you the monstrous side of things, you’ll need to give this book a read! The Night is Not for You is out TODAY 10/7/25!
Happy reading 📖🍂🩸
Thank you partner @orbitbooks_us @hachetteus @hachetteaudio for the gifted copy + audiobook! #TheNightIsNotforYou #NetGalley
The Night Is Not for You
by Eman Quotah
Narrated by Ezra Saifie
About the book 👇🏽
A man’s body is found viciously murdered behind a neighborhood corner store, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community. All the victim’s family and bystanders want is to make sense of this brutal crime and move on with their lives.
All seven-year-old Layla wants is a pet donkey. To her, a donkey is the epitome of freedom—the ability to think for herself, go anywhere by herself, and live an independent life.
The killings continue, and rumors fly of supposed hoofprints and a woman with hair like black silk. The ambiguous messages in lipstick and sweet smell of perfume at the crime scenes causes the men to suspect the women around them. As Layla’s world unravels, she realizes she must grow into the type of woman she’s always dreamed of becoming. A woman with sharp instincts. A woman who cannot be tamed.
🩸 My thoughts:
A coming of age story infused with folklore! I was lucky enough to be able to hybrid read this one, splitting my time just about equally between physical read and audiobook listen. I felt the narrator kept me engaged in this one slightly more than the physical read. I will say it is more of a slow burn but the atmospheric and eerie set up made for an enjoyable story. What I like most about coming of age stories, is being able to see the change in mindset, and we definitely get that in this book. It is tense, full of rage, and bound to keep you immersed. If you enjoy storytelling with a slower build but keeps you glued to the pages while showing you the monstrous side of things, you’ll need to give this book a read! The Night is Not for You is out TODAY 10/7/25!
Happy reading 📖🍂🩸
October 6, 2025
Thank you To Orbit for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this book, if you like horror coming of age book than I think you will too!! I do wish there was a biiittt more horror/focused more on the horror aspect. I would say this leans more towards a coming of age novel set in a horror book than a horror book with a coming of age story in it if that makes sense. I still really enjoyed that but I was expecting more details or focus on the horror aspect itself. I really enjoyed the POVs too which it is mainly in Layla’s, the main girls, POV, but would switch every now and then to an omnipresent pov. I usually like minimal POV switching and really liked how it was done here. I enjoyed how we grew up/we watched Layla grow up and how her life shifted yet stayed the same throughout the book and the impact the events had on her and her town. This did such a good job showing sisterhood and girlhood while not dumbing it down. The complexities of siblings, friends, and growing up, esp as a girl were showcased very well here. The book itself was beautifully written and I would highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this book, if you like horror coming of age book than I think you will too!! I do wish there was a biiittt more horror/focused more on the horror aspect. I would say this leans more towards a coming of age novel set in a horror book than a horror book with a coming of age story in it if that makes sense. I still really enjoyed that but I was expecting more details or focus on the horror aspect itself. I really enjoyed the POVs too which it is mainly in Layla’s, the main girls, POV, but would switch every now and then to an omnipresent pov. I usually like minimal POV switching and really liked how it was done here. I enjoyed how we grew up/we watched Layla grow up and how her life shifted yet stayed the same throughout the book and the impact the events had on her and her town. This did such a good job showing sisterhood and girlhood while not dumbing it down. The complexities of siblings, friends, and growing up, esp as a girl were showcased very well here. The book itself was beautifully written and I would highly recommend!
September 24, 2025
ALC 🎧 Book Review 🤍
⭐️⭐️
I’m just so… lost?
I feel like I understand what they were trying to go for, but I don’t feel like it landed for me.
Other than that, this was beautiful and full of culture. The focus on scents!!
I just loved the focus on scents, esp knowing how important it is in some cultures.
*i.e when a woman marries, the craftsmanship in making her own scent and the woman that gather to help make it is tradition.
“Monstrosity is, we tell ourselves an aberration of human condition and we rarely see it coming, though it’s common as kindness.”
Overall, I kinda wanted more focus on the horror aspect. I also got really lost in the storyline…
The beginning held my interest though!!
Ezra Saifie did a good job narrating 💋
⭐️⭐️
I’m just so… lost?
I feel like I understand what they were trying to go for, but I don’t feel like it landed for me.
Other than that, this was beautiful and full of culture. The focus on scents!!
I just loved the focus on scents, esp knowing how important it is in some cultures.
*i.e when a woman marries, the craftsmanship in making her own scent and the woman that gather to help make it is tradition.
“Monstrosity is, we tell ourselves an aberration of human condition and we rarely see it coming, though it’s common as kindness.”
Overall, I kinda wanted more focus on the horror aspect. I also got really lost in the storyline…
The beginning held my interest though!!
Ezra Saifie did a good job narrating 💋
October 9, 2025
2.75/5 ⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads
The Night Is Not For You follows Layla as she grows up in a town struck by gruesome and violent acts committed by what appears to be a supernatural entity.
While the first chapter had me instantly on the edge of my seat, Layla’s teenage and adult life dropped this book from a 3.5 to 2.75 ⭐️ for me. She describes feeling hollow and reclusive but I didn’t feel connected enough to her character to care… harsh but true. While the folklore and horror elements kept me intrigued, the coming of age story was lackluster.
I really wished there would’ve been more of the folklore explored because that part of the book was the most interesting to me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Night Is Not For You follows Layla as she grows up in a town struck by gruesome and violent acts committed by what appears to be a supernatural entity.
While the first chapter had me instantly on the edge of my seat, Layla’s teenage and adult life dropped this book from a 3.5 to 2.75 ⭐️ for me. She describes feeling hollow and reclusive but I didn’t feel connected enough to her character to care… harsh but true. While the folklore and horror elements kept me intrigued, the coming of age story was lackluster.
I really wished there would’ve been more of the folklore explored because that part of the book was the most interesting to me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Author for sharing this book with me! First off I love this narrator she’s one of my favorites I always really enjoy every book she narrates and I think her narration combined with how beautiful this writing was was a big reason I enjoyed this book as much as I did!
I loved how scent was described in the book, truly magic and made me way more aware of my own perfumes and smells and I really enjoyed getting to know Laila.
However, I think the serial killer feminine rage aspect could have been connected a bit better, There’s some hint of connection and supernatural essence to the killer but I think exploring the spooky and thriller side of this and learning more about the murders would have added more to the story, it kinda felt like two different plots that intersected at times but didn’t blend as well as it could. But overall I finished this in like a day and really enjoyed it!
I loved how scent was described in the book, truly magic and made me way more aware of my own perfumes and smells and I really enjoyed getting to know Laila.
However, I think the serial killer feminine rage aspect could have been connected a bit better, There’s some hint of connection and supernatural essence to the killer but I think exploring the spooky and thriller side of this and learning more about the murders would have added more to the story, it kinda felt like two different plots that intersected at times but didn’t blend as well as it could. But overall I finished this in like a day and really enjoyed it!
October 8, 2025
Rating: 3.5/5
I read and listened to The Night is Not for You, an audiobook. I find that, especially with suspenseful books, I feel more immersed in the story if I listen to the audio. Though the story’s themes and undertones are very much psychological horror, it’s not the jump-scare type that I typically read. The imagery and folklore were quite interesting, woven into the story.
Thank you to Orbit and Author Eman Quotah for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I read and listened to The Night is Not for You, an audiobook. I find that, especially with suspenseful books, I feel more immersed in the story if I listen to the audio. Though the story’s themes and undertones are very much psychological horror, it’s not the jump-scare type that I typically read. The imagery and folklore were quite interesting, woven into the story.
Thank you to Orbit and Author Eman Quotah for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
August 8, 2025DNF @26%
November 15, 2025
It had it moments and I can honestly say "unreliable narrator" for this one.
The ending I had a hunch might happen, but the I dismissed it due to age. Though I am still mulling this over. I'll edit this once I decide
This was a library read, good but not shelf-trophy worthy.
The ending I had a hunch might happen, but the I dismissed it due to age. Though I am still mulling this over. I'll edit this once I decide
This was a library read, good but not shelf-trophy worthy.
October 2, 2025
2.5 stars
The premise of this story is intriguing and spooky: small town and serial murders and Arabic folklore. This is why I picked it up in the first place.
However, in execution it left a lot to be desired. The voice of our main character, Layla, is very compelling and kept me reading, especially during the childhood years. Once Layla grows up though, she loses most of her charm. Despite how long we spend with her, I didn't feel like we got to know her very well at all. As an adult she felt hollow, with certain traits and feelings assigned to her for plot with nothing behind them as a driving force. A bummer since her characterization when she is a child is very vivid and real.
The whole murder mystery is extremely obvious and predictable from the very beginning and I immediately doubted it because I didn't think it would be that easy. But unfortunately it was. The feminist/anti-patriarchial sentiments were also so elementary that it almost felt like parody. Ham-fisted without an ounce of nuance.
Overall, I feel like I wouldn't have lost anything by not reading this. It wasn't necessarily a bad read and the prose was good when it wasn't wacking me over the head with constant paragraphs on smells and perfume scents. But in general a very mid read.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for my eARC copy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPT3-F1jZ...
The premise of this story is intriguing and spooky: small town and serial murders and Arabic folklore. This is why I picked it up in the first place.
However, in execution it left a lot to be desired. The voice of our main character, Layla, is very compelling and kept me reading, especially during the childhood years. Once Layla grows up though, she loses most of her charm. Despite how long we spend with her, I didn't feel like we got to know her very well at all. As an adult she felt hollow, with certain traits and feelings assigned to her for plot with nothing behind them as a driving force. A bummer since her characterization when she is a child is very vivid and real.
The whole murder mystery is extremely obvious and predictable from the very beginning and I immediately doubted it because I didn't think it would be that easy. But unfortunately it was. The feminist/anti-patriarchial sentiments were also so elementary that it almost felt like parody. Ham-fisted without an ounce of nuance.
Overall, I feel like I wouldn't have lost anything by not reading this. It wasn't necessarily a bad read and the prose was good when it wasn't wacking me over the head with constant paragraphs on smells and perfume scents. But in general a very mid read.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for my eARC copy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPT3-F1jZ...
October 7, 2025
Thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of The Night Is Not For You in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was absolutely incredible. I loved how the storytelling evolved alongside the main character as she aged, bringing depth to her narrative. Some moments elicited deep empathy, while others were immersive and poignant, capturing a sense of sadness that resonated beautifully. It truly demonstrates how profoundly one can connect with a story through reading. This is some of the best folk horror meets good for her horror I’ve read this year.
Rating: 5/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was absolutely incredible. I loved how the storytelling evolved alongside the main character as she aged, bringing depth to her narrative. Some moments elicited deep empathy, while others were immersive and poignant, capturing a sense of sadness that resonated beautifully. It truly demonstrates how profoundly one can connect with a story through reading. This is some of the best folk horror meets good for her horror I’ve read this year.
October 12, 2025
The Night Is Not for You by Eman Quotah
Published by Hachette Audio and | Run For It — Thank you to the publishers for my gifted book and Alc.
Let me start by saying this: I’m not okay, and it’s Eman Quotah’s fault. This book crawled under my skin like the lingering scent of unfamiliar perfume in your hallway at midnight—something you can’t quite name, but that still makes your neck prickle with the very real suspicion that you are not alone.
The Night Is Not for You is what happens when folklore and feminist horror meet in a dark alley and quietly, methodically, burn the patriarchy to the ground. It’s eerie, lush, deeply unsettling, and weird in all the ways that matter. Is it a murder mystery? Yes. Is it a coming-of-age story? Absolutely. Is it horror? Not the jump-out-and-yell-BOO kind, but the “I feel very wrong and I don’t know why” kind. You know—the kind that lingers long after the last page and makes you side-eye your own reflection in the bathroom mirror.
The story opens with seven-year-old Layla, a girl whose most pressing desire is not for safety, or attention, or even answers to the growing number of murders in her community—it’s for a donkey. A donkey she can name, love, and ride out of her very small, very suffocating life. The donkey is a symbol, of course. Of freedom, of rebellion, of independence. But don’t worry. The book will slap you in the face with real horror soon enough.
The first body is found behind a corner store. Brutally killed. Whispered about. Barely processed before the next one appears, and the next. The town descends into paranoia, and rumors begin to swirl. About hoofprints. About perfume. About a woman with hair like black silk. Suddenly, the men are locking their doors and looking suspiciously at their wives and sisters and daughters, as if their own fear is more important than anyone else’s truth. Which—surprise—is exactly how things work in real life too.
Quotah’s prose is slippery. Gorgeous, but disorienting, like walking through a dream you half-remember. She doesn’t spoon-feed the reader. She lets the story unfold the way trauma does: in fragments, smells, sounds, little moments that don’t make sense until years later. Layla’s narrative grows with her—from wide-eyed innocence to exhausted clarity—and watching her evolve is like watching a fire slowly catch and then erupt.
What makes this book so effective is how it plays with ambiguity. Is the killer a supernatural being? Is she real? A metaphor? Is Layla dreaming her? Becoming her? Are we witnessing a haunting or an awakening? And more importantly: does it matter? Because what’s clear is this—there’s something stalking these men. Something old, furious, and female. And she smells amazing.
Ezra Saifie’s narration is, frankly, a performance art piece. I don’t say this lightly. They don’t just read the book; they live in it. Their voice shimmers with menace, then tenderness, then cold calculation. Listening to the audio felt like being led down a dark path by someone who knew where the monsters were hiding—but wasn’t about to warn you. They shape each character with precision and manage to evoke dread without overplaying the horror. If the audiobook had fangs, I’d still have the bite marks.
And let’s talk horror. No gore-for-gore’s-sake. No cartoon villains. Just dread, shame, repression, and the quiet scream of being a girl in a world that punishes you for existing too loudly. There are moments of violence, yes, but they’re woven into something bigger. Something mythic. The murders feel like rituals—cleansing, accusatory, deserved. They are punishment and prophecy, and they turn the town upside down. Men are afraid to walk alone at night. Women don’t feel safer—but at least now they’re being noticed.
Still, this is more a story of transformation than vengeance. Layla doesn’t become a monster. She becomes something better. Something wilder. Something untouchable. Watching her navigate her girlhood, and then womanhood, through the shifting lens of her community’s fear is an exercise in slow-burn brilliance. She isn’t heroic in the traditional sense. She’s messy. Confused. Angry. But she’s also smart. And patient. And unwilling to shrink.
I want to quote the line again, because it’s the heartbeat of the whole book: “The night is not for you. The night is mine.” I literally stopped walking when I heard it. That line isn’t just a claim; it’s a reclamation. It’s a snarl wrapped in silk. And it perfectly captures what this book is doing—turning every whispered warning, every fairy tale threat, every cultural “you should stay home, sweet girl” into a challenge.
And the book does have its flaws. The middle lags. The plot wavers. You may wish for more clarity. But that’s part of the point—nothing about growing up is clear, especially when you’re doing it inside a system designed to mistrust you. What’s more important is the feeling it leaves behind: like you’ve just been told a secret older than language. One you were always meant to remember.
This book isn’t going to work for everyone. Some people will want more horror, more explanation, more structure. Others will find it a perfect blend of myth, menace, and mood. I fell into the latter camp,
Published by Hachette Audio and | Run For It — Thank you to the publishers for my gifted book and Alc.
Let me start by saying this: I’m not okay, and it’s Eman Quotah’s fault. This book crawled under my skin like the lingering scent of unfamiliar perfume in your hallway at midnight—something you can’t quite name, but that still makes your neck prickle with the very real suspicion that you are not alone.
The Night Is Not for You is what happens when folklore and feminist horror meet in a dark alley and quietly, methodically, burn the patriarchy to the ground. It’s eerie, lush, deeply unsettling, and weird in all the ways that matter. Is it a murder mystery? Yes. Is it a coming-of-age story? Absolutely. Is it horror? Not the jump-out-and-yell-BOO kind, but the “I feel very wrong and I don’t know why” kind. You know—the kind that lingers long after the last page and makes you side-eye your own reflection in the bathroom mirror.
The story opens with seven-year-old Layla, a girl whose most pressing desire is not for safety, or attention, or even answers to the growing number of murders in her community—it’s for a donkey. A donkey she can name, love, and ride out of her very small, very suffocating life. The donkey is a symbol, of course. Of freedom, of rebellion, of independence. But don’t worry. The book will slap you in the face with real horror soon enough.
The first body is found behind a corner store. Brutally killed. Whispered about. Barely processed before the next one appears, and the next. The town descends into paranoia, and rumors begin to swirl. About hoofprints. About perfume. About a woman with hair like black silk. Suddenly, the men are locking their doors and looking suspiciously at their wives and sisters and daughters, as if their own fear is more important than anyone else’s truth. Which—surprise—is exactly how things work in real life too.
Quotah’s prose is slippery. Gorgeous, but disorienting, like walking through a dream you half-remember. She doesn’t spoon-feed the reader. She lets the story unfold the way trauma does: in fragments, smells, sounds, little moments that don’t make sense until years later. Layla’s narrative grows with her—from wide-eyed innocence to exhausted clarity—and watching her evolve is like watching a fire slowly catch and then erupt.
What makes this book so effective is how it plays with ambiguity. Is the killer a supernatural being? Is she real? A metaphor? Is Layla dreaming her? Becoming her? Are we witnessing a haunting or an awakening? And more importantly: does it matter? Because what’s clear is this—there’s something stalking these men. Something old, furious, and female. And she smells amazing.
Ezra Saifie’s narration is, frankly, a performance art piece. I don’t say this lightly. They don’t just read the book; they live in it. Their voice shimmers with menace, then tenderness, then cold calculation. Listening to the audio felt like being led down a dark path by someone who knew where the monsters were hiding—but wasn’t about to warn you. They shape each character with precision and manage to evoke dread without overplaying the horror. If the audiobook had fangs, I’d still have the bite marks.
And let’s talk horror. No gore-for-gore’s-sake. No cartoon villains. Just dread, shame, repression, and the quiet scream of being a girl in a world that punishes you for existing too loudly. There are moments of violence, yes, but they’re woven into something bigger. Something mythic. The murders feel like rituals—cleansing, accusatory, deserved. They are punishment and prophecy, and they turn the town upside down. Men are afraid to walk alone at night. Women don’t feel safer—but at least now they’re being noticed.
Still, this is more a story of transformation than vengeance. Layla doesn’t become a monster. She becomes something better. Something wilder. Something untouchable. Watching her navigate her girlhood, and then womanhood, through the shifting lens of her community’s fear is an exercise in slow-burn brilliance. She isn’t heroic in the traditional sense. She’s messy. Confused. Angry. But she’s also smart. And patient. And unwilling to shrink.
I want to quote the line again, because it’s the heartbeat of the whole book: “The night is not for you. The night is mine.” I literally stopped walking when I heard it. That line isn’t just a claim; it’s a reclamation. It’s a snarl wrapped in silk. And it perfectly captures what this book is doing—turning every whispered warning, every fairy tale threat, every cultural “you should stay home, sweet girl” into a challenge.
And the book does have its flaws. The middle lags. The plot wavers. You may wish for more clarity. But that’s part of the point—nothing about growing up is clear, especially when you’re doing it inside a system designed to mistrust you. What’s more important is the feeling it leaves behind: like you’ve just been told a secret older than language. One you were always meant to remember.
This book isn’t going to work for everyone. Some people will want more horror, more explanation, more structure. Others will find it a perfect blend of myth, menace, and mood. I fell into the latter camp,
October 28, 2025
I had a really hard time rating The Night is Not For You because there were aspects that I really enjoyed, and aspects I didn’t. I also tried to keep in mind as I was reading that this book centers around a culture I am not very familiar with, which I didn’t want to affect my rating based my lack of knowledge as I was learning cultural information.
I really enjoyed reading out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in Arabic culture, traditions and folklore. Eman Quotah’s writing drew me in right away. She writes from Layla’s perspective, a seven-year-old girl in a tightknit community who is forced to navigate coming of age simultaneous with frequent murders. This danger increases tension among the adults, which alters the way Layla and her siblings grow up.
The killings feel very human in the beginning and feel less so as the plot continues. We start to see indicators that the killer may not necessarily be human. I feel like we really didn’t see much of the folklore aspect until much later in the book, which was disappointing I feel like. However, with plot following Layla as she grows up, I do understand the reasoning behind this decision.
I think another aspect of the plot that threw me was the emphasis on fragrance and the sensation of smell. Layla, as she grows older, becomes fascinated with perfuming and learns the trade from her aunt. I appreciated how the author took the time to really detail her learning process which made the reading experience feel visceral. However, I am not used to my sense of smell being challenged while reading, so I had a hard time picturing the smells the author was describing to readers.
I also felt that the pacing of the story was uneven. There were times that the plot was advancing quite quickly and other parts that seemed to drag. There was a fair bit of suspense and tension in regards to uncovering the reasoning behind the killings, but other areas of the story that were left underdeveloped. And while this overall affected my rating, I still enjoyed the psychological suspense and scenes of gore while still focusing on Layla’s journey. It just felt a bit like reading two different plots rather than one cohesive plot.
Overall, Eman Quotah’s writing was enjoyable, and I look forward to reading more books outside my own culture! Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed reading out of my comfort zone and immersing myself in Arabic culture, traditions and folklore. Eman Quotah’s writing drew me in right away. She writes from Layla’s perspective, a seven-year-old girl in a tightknit community who is forced to navigate coming of age simultaneous with frequent murders. This danger increases tension among the adults, which alters the way Layla and her siblings grow up.
The killings feel very human in the beginning and feel less so as the plot continues. We start to see indicators that the killer may not necessarily be human. I feel like we really didn’t see much of the folklore aspect until much later in the book, which was disappointing I feel like. However, with plot following Layla as she grows up, I do understand the reasoning behind this decision.
I think another aspect of the plot that threw me was the emphasis on fragrance and the sensation of smell. Layla, as she grows older, becomes fascinated with perfuming and learns the trade from her aunt. I appreciated how the author took the time to really detail her learning process which made the reading experience feel visceral. However, I am not used to my sense of smell being challenged while reading, so I had a hard time picturing the smells the author was describing to readers.
I also felt that the pacing of the story was uneven. There were times that the plot was advancing quite quickly and other parts that seemed to drag. There was a fair bit of suspense and tension in regards to uncovering the reasoning behind the killings, but other areas of the story that were left underdeveloped. And while this overall affected my rating, I still enjoyed the psychological suspense and scenes of gore while still focusing on Layla’s journey. It just felt a bit like reading two different plots rather than one cohesive plot.
Overall, Eman Quotah’s writing was enjoyable, and I look forward to reading more books outside my own culture! Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 10, 2025
I just finished The Night Is Not for You, and wow… what an experience. I read part of it and listened to the audiobook, and honestly, the audio made it hit even harder. Suspenseful books always pull me in more when I can hear the tension building, and this one had me holding my breath more than once.
This isn’t your typical jump-scare horror; it’s psychological, lyrical, and quietly terrifying. The story opens with seven-year-old Layla growing up in a close Arab community. Everything changes when a brutal murder rocks her neighborhood, and soon more men are found dead in strange, almost mythical ways. Are these deaths the work of something human… or something not?
The mix of folklore and horror here is perfection. Eman Quotah blends Arabic mythology and the haunting legend of a half-woman, half-donkey creature that lures men to their deaths. It’s creepy, mesmerizing, and gorgeously written. The atmosphere? Pure dread. From the smell of perfume to the sound of hoofprints in the dark, you feel everything.
But beneath the horror is a raw coming-of-age story. Watching Layla grow up in a world where girls are silenced, judged, and underestimated gives the book an emotional depth that sticks with you. It’s about rage, resilience, and the slow realization that sometimes the real monsters aren’t the ones in the dark.
The narration was flawless, completely immersive. The dual POVs added layers to the story and made every reveal even more chilling.
The Night Is Not for You is eerie, empowering, and utterly unforgettable. If you love folklore-based horror with a psychological twist and beautiful writing, add this one to your TBR.
Thank you so much to @orbitbooks_us for the free copy of the book!
Thank you so much to @hachetteaudio for the complimentary ALC!
This isn’t your typical jump-scare horror; it’s psychological, lyrical, and quietly terrifying. The story opens with seven-year-old Layla growing up in a close Arab community. Everything changes when a brutal murder rocks her neighborhood, and soon more men are found dead in strange, almost mythical ways. Are these deaths the work of something human… or something not?
The mix of folklore and horror here is perfection. Eman Quotah blends Arabic mythology and the haunting legend of a half-woman, half-donkey creature that lures men to their deaths. It’s creepy, mesmerizing, and gorgeously written. The atmosphere? Pure dread. From the smell of perfume to the sound of hoofprints in the dark, you feel everything.
But beneath the horror is a raw coming-of-age story. Watching Layla grow up in a world where girls are silenced, judged, and underestimated gives the book an emotional depth that sticks with you. It’s about rage, resilience, and the slow realization that sometimes the real monsters aren’t the ones in the dark.
The narration was flawless, completely immersive. The dual POVs added layers to the story and made every reveal even more chilling.
The Night Is Not for You is eerie, empowering, and utterly unforgettable. If you love folklore-based horror with a psychological twist and beautiful writing, add this one to your TBR.
Thank you so much to @orbitbooks_us for the free copy of the book!
Thank you so much to @hachetteaudio for the complimentary ALC!
September 26, 2025
4.5/5
This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by Ezra Saifie.
Set in a small town in the middle east, a man is brutally murdered near a neighborhood store and it sets the town down a path of mistrust and suspicion as the people seek the safety of home rather than community.
Layla, 7, is oblivious to the goings on of adults though, she's focused on the fact that she wants a pet.
Not just any pet, she's obsessed with getting a donkey.
The murders continue over the next few years as we follow Layla's life from child to adulthood. As the town continues to fray Layla is impacted in several ways as friends and people come in and out of her life and she grows to have good instincts and a need to not be independent and free to make her own way.
This was tense, brutal, and beautifully written. The rage flowed clearly (at least to me, though looking through some of the other reviews, I have to wonder at what people thought they were reading) through the words on the page.
The need for justice and the freedom to be yourself was easy to empathize with. The character work was superb. You get a very clear picture of who Layla is and who she wants to be as she grows up.
I will admit, I saw where the plot was headed by the time the 2nd murder came around. I'm sure many people will have guess by that point, what's really going on in this town, but still it kept me immersed in the story and I finished this in less than a day.
This is definitely worth the time to read.
This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by Ezra Saifie.
Set in a small town in the middle east, a man is brutally murdered near a neighborhood store and it sets the town down a path of mistrust and suspicion as the people seek the safety of home rather than community.
Layla, 7, is oblivious to the goings on of adults though, she's focused on the fact that she wants a pet.
Not just any pet, she's obsessed with getting a donkey.
The murders continue over the next few years as we follow Layla's life from child to adulthood. As the town continues to fray Layla is impacted in several ways as friends and people come in and out of her life and she grows to have good instincts and a need to not be independent and free to make her own way.
This was tense, brutal, and beautifully written. The rage flowed clearly (at least to me, though looking through some of the other reviews, I have to wonder at what people thought they were reading) through the words on the page.
The need for justice and the freedom to be yourself was easy to empathize with. The character work was superb. You get a very clear picture of who Layla is and who she wants to be as she grows up.
I will admit, I saw where the plot was headed by the time the 2nd murder came around. I'm sure many people will have guess by that point, what's really going on in this town, but still it kept me immersed in the story and I finished this in less than a day.
This is definitely worth the time to read.
November 5, 2025
Thank you Eman Quotah and Run For It for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I am left with so many questions after this book, but, like, in a good way. Not only am I now thinking about how our childhood experiences affect us as we age, but I'm also left wanting to learn more about Arabic folklore. I think I missed out on a lot of the folklore elements because I'm not familiar with the Arabic culture, but this was still written well enough that I got a taste of it that it piqued my curiosity.
As for the story, even though this is more of a slow burn horror, I was hooked from the very beginning. Learning about Layla and her love of Bumbo, as well as seeing everything going on around her through the eyes of a child. Yet as the story continues, we continue to get her POV as she ages, but we get to see how those childhood experiences have woven their way into her life as a teen and adult. I also loved how Eman Quotah brought the story to life through scents. It was something I latched onto without realizing it.
This is told in dual POV, which I love in general, but it really brought something special to this book. And I really enjoyed the narrator. Something about her voice was so soothing, even as she's telling us about atrocities happening to young girls and women. I do think this would be an excellent physical read, it also really lends itself well to the audiobook format.
While this coming of age horror is one I recommend reading, the horror aspects can hit a bit close to home, so check your trigger warnings.
I am left with so many questions after this book, but, like, in a good way. Not only am I now thinking about how our childhood experiences affect us as we age, but I'm also left wanting to learn more about Arabic folklore. I think I missed out on a lot of the folklore elements because I'm not familiar with the Arabic culture, but this was still written well enough that I got a taste of it that it piqued my curiosity.
As for the story, even though this is more of a slow burn horror, I was hooked from the very beginning. Learning about Layla and her love of Bumbo, as well as seeing everything going on around her through the eyes of a child. Yet as the story continues, we continue to get her POV as she ages, but we get to see how those childhood experiences have woven their way into her life as a teen and adult. I also loved how Eman Quotah brought the story to life through scents. It was something I latched onto without realizing it.
This is told in dual POV, which I love in general, but it really brought something special to this book. And I really enjoyed the narrator. Something about her voice was so soothing, even as she's telling us about atrocities happening to young girls and women. I do think this would be an excellent physical read, it also really lends itself well to the audiobook format.
While this coming of age horror is one I recommend reading, the horror aspects can hit a bit close to home, so check your trigger warnings.
October 7, 2025
I read the first half of The Night is Not for You on a long train ride and promptly had a nightmare that night.
If that’s not the mark of an excellent horror tale, I don’t know what is.
The lens through which I read this book is as an African American, gay man. This is the first novel I’ve read from an Arab perspective, and I was prepared to not understand cultural references or even not even connect with the novel at all. However, I connected almost immediately. Eman Quotah’s choice to begin this tale through the eyes of a seven-year old (though the narrator is in the future) is why I was able to connect so soon. We are introduced to the mundanity of youth in the foreground while the horror appears in the background. Over time, young Layla herself is in the horror. It’s no longer a specter—it’s all encompassing.
The novel is quite suspenseful, and I had questions throughout. Without spoilers, I will say that my questions were not the point of the book at all. There is supernatural horror, to be sure, but like other great works of horror of the past ten or so years, Eman Quotah turns horror tropes on their heads and forces us to look at ourselves—and our societies—as the first villains, long before witches, ghosts, or goblins have a chance to invade our psyches.
If that’s not the mark of an excellent horror tale, I don’t know what is.
The lens through which I read this book is as an African American, gay man. This is the first novel I’ve read from an Arab perspective, and I was prepared to not understand cultural references or even not even connect with the novel at all. However, I connected almost immediately. Eman Quotah’s choice to begin this tale through the eyes of a seven-year old (though the narrator is in the future) is why I was able to connect so soon. We are introduced to the mundanity of youth in the foreground while the horror appears in the background. Over time, young Layla herself is in the horror. It’s no longer a specter—it’s all encompassing.
The novel is quite suspenseful, and I had questions throughout. Without spoilers, I will say that my questions were not the point of the book at all. There is supernatural horror, to be sure, but like other great works of horror of the past ten or so years, Eman Quotah turns horror tropes on their heads and forces us to look at ourselves—and our societies—as the first villains, long before witches, ghosts, or goblins have a chance to invade our psyches.
October 8, 2025
I’m honestly at a loss for how to rate and review this incredibly original piece of work. While reading I couldn’t put it down as the writing was unique, the mystery surrounding the killings was intriguing, and the use of the jinn myth to terrorize the community was so compelling. On the other hand the book had a very slow pace that I wasn’t expecting and caused me to not really want to pick it up again whenever I put the book down.
I really appreciated what Quotah did in telling a coming of age story from the perspective of a girl whose childhood was slowly stripped away as her home was terrorized. It was a great study of the psychological ramifications of growing up in an environment full of terror and just how those terrors manifest monsters of their own.
Personally I may have liked it more if the parts of the book from the girl’s perspective had been a little more dynamic. The chapters that detailed what happened to the victims and what led them there were so dynamic, spooky and mythical that going back to the main character felt jarring and slightly boring. That being said, I found the ending both jarring and brilliant. I haven’t stopped thinking about the ending and the book as a whole since I finished it several weeks ago.
I hope to see more from this author and can’t wait to see what she does to my brain next.
I really appreciated what Quotah did in telling a coming of age story from the perspective of a girl whose childhood was slowly stripped away as her home was terrorized. It was a great study of the psychological ramifications of growing up in an environment full of terror and just how those terrors manifest monsters of their own.
Personally I may have liked it more if the parts of the book from the girl’s perspective had been a little more dynamic. The chapters that detailed what happened to the victims and what led them there were so dynamic, spooky and mythical that going back to the main character felt jarring and slightly boring. That being said, I found the ending both jarring and brilliant. I haven’t stopped thinking about the ending and the book as a whole since I finished it several weeks ago.
I hope to see more from this author and can’t wait to see what she does to my brain next.
October 15, 2025
It is hard to review this book. I did go into it expecting more horror and in depth delving into the folklore of Umm Al-Duwais, a fascinating monster that goes after the unfaithful or horrible husbands. I found her to be quite fascinating and loved the chapter beginnings with her and her murders. Most of the book however, was in the eyes of Layla, a child living in the town where most of the murders took place. And I will admit it was interesting to see how those murders shaped her and the town and how Layla's journey in life paralleled Umm Al-Duwais a bit with her rage against cockroaches of men who treated her badly, and her fascination with perfumery.
So, in summary it was mostly a coming age story, which was interesting to see the differences in culture expectations an how murders would shape a town, and its people (curfews and other restrictions for safety) and only light touches of the horror of Umm Al-Duwais and her masterpieces through the years. It was pretty well written though and Layla was intriguing, especially when she started making the perfumes and her fascinations with scents, not just the sweet ones, but the musks and even stenches because they all tell a story and we are made up of all different kinds of smells so you can figure out people by their odors.
I did enjoy reading this book, even if it was not what I expected.
So, in summary it was mostly a coming age story, which was interesting to see the differences in culture expectations an how murders would shape a town, and its people (curfews and other restrictions for safety) and only light touches of the horror of Umm Al-Duwais and her masterpieces through the years. It was pretty well written though and Layla was intriguing, especially when she started making the perfumes and her fascinations with scents, not just the sweet ones, but the musks and even stenches because they all tell a story and we are made up of all different kinds of smells so you can figure out people by their odors.
I did enjoy reading this book, even if it was not what I expected.
October 17, 2025
I can understand why Layla would feel the way she does, growing up in a neighborhood plagued by mysterious murders supposedly committed by a woman with donkey legs and knives for hands, leaving behind hoofprints and the smell of perfume. How it and the after effects of curfews, areas blocked off or destroyed, and the fear that the Umm Al-Duwais might come after your father, lover, brother or son if they prove to be troublesome to women. As well as Layla's desire to become like the Umm Al-Duwais and take her vengeance on those who hurt her, or tried to take what didn't belong. I am pretty sure most women have thought that way one time or another.
So, it was an interesting story in the regard. I do wish there had been more background on the folklore of the area where Layla and her family lived and grew up, more on the Umm Al-Duwais and her infamous reputation though Layla's experiences were intriguing, especially when she became serious about becoming a perfumer and how smells shaped her memories and experiences. It would be tough to live in her world and I was amazed at her strength when it mattered.
I am glad I got the chance to read this view into another culture and a bit of their folklore and how it shadowed Layla's generation and how she dealt with it on her journey to find herself and freedom from the terror of men.
So, it was an interesting story in the regard. I do wish there had been more background on the folklore of the area where Layla and her family lived and grew up, more on the Umm Al-Duwais and her infamous reputation though Layla's experiences were intriguing, especially when she became serious about becoming a perfumer and how smells shaped her memories and experiences. It would be tough to live in her world and I was amazed at her strength when it mattered.
I am glad I got the chance to read this view into another culture and a bit of their folklore and how it shadowed Layla's generation and how she dealt with it on her journey to find herself and freedom from the terror of men.
October 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an advanced audiobook for review.
The Night is Not for You (It has always belonged to her) is something of a meandering, dark, coming of age tale. It’s all at once bleak and rich and falls into the category of what I would consider “weird girl lit” with the addition of folklore.
We follow Layla (a certified Weird Girl) from the age of seven, who desperately wants a pet donkey and who is oblivious to the struggles of the adults in her community. She doesn’t understand quite how serious the string of brutal murders is, but she does know that they’ve made her village more closed off, more oppressive. We follow her and most of her relationships through to adulthood in the city, as the murders continue to color her life and the life of her family and friends back home.
I feel like I can’t explain more without giving away the bit. But Eman Quotah’s writing is beautiful and immersive. Her descriptions of all of the senses (with a special focus on smell), and her ability to capture changing relationships made the story feel real.
The narration by Ezra Saifie was stunning. Her character voices were varied and distinct, without straying into the “goofy man voice” territory.
The Night is Not for You (It has always belonged to her) is something of a meandering, dark, coming of age tale. It’s all at once bleak and rich and falls into the category of what I would consider “weird girl lit” with the addition of folklore.
We follow Layla (a certified Weird Girl) from the age of seven, who desperately wants a pet donkey and who is oblivious to the struggles of the adults in her community. She doesn’t understand quite how serious the string of brutal murders is, but she does know that they’ve made her village more closed off, more oppressive. We follow her and most of her relationships through to adulthood in the city, as the murders continue to color her life and the life of her family and friends back home.
I feel like I can’t explain more without giving away the bit. But Eman Quotah’s writing is beautiful and immersive. Her descriptions of all of the senses (with a special focus on smell), and her ability to capture changing relationships made the story feel real.
The narration by Ezra Saifie was stunning. Her character voices were varied and distinct, without straying into the “goofy man voice” territory.
July 20, 2025
Out October 7th, 2025
The Night Is Not for You by Eman Quotah casts a hypnotic spell—subtle yet lingering long after the final page. With deft prose and eerie restraint, Quotah pulls us into a shadow-laced narrative where the night doesn’t just conceal danger, it breathes with it. The atmosphere is rich with unease, like creaking floorboards in an empty house, and the characters feel haunted by things they refuse to name. It’s a story as much about fear as it is about identity and the unseen spaces between.
There’s no need for jump scares here; the dread is psychological, creeping in with exquisite tension. Quotah blends literary depth with quiet horror in a way that chills without showing its teeth—leaving you wondering what’s real and what’s remembered through trembling eyes. It’s not a perfect book—there are moments where the ambiguity threatens to cloud rather than deepen—but the mood and message are unforgettable. I'd recommend it to readers who crave ghost stories with soul and stories that whisper when they could scream.
Thank you to NetGalley and Run For It for the ARC!
The Night Is Not for You by Eman Quotah casts a hypnotic spell—subtle yet lingering long after the final page. With deft prose and eerie restraint, Quotah pulls us into a shadow-laced narrative where the night doesn’t just conceal danger, it breathes with it. The atmosphere is rich with unease, like creaking floorboards in an empty house, and the characters feel haunted by things they refuse to name. It’s a story as much about fear as it is about identity and the unseen spaces between.
There’s no need for jump scares here; the dread is psychological, creeping in with exquisite tension. Quotah blends literary depth with quiet horror in a way that chills without showing its teeth—leaving you wondering what’s real and what’s remembered through trembling eyes. It’s not a perfect book—there are moments where the ambiguity threatens to cloud rather than deepen—but the mood and message are unforgettable. I'd recommend it to readers who crave ghost stories with soul and stories that whisper when they could scream.
Thank you to NetGalley and Run For It for the ARC!
October 14, 2025
4.25 ⭐
This was a really, really good audiobook. The plot was really gripping, anxiety-inducing and oddly empowering and relatable. The narration was great: very engaging and simple to follow.
The book follows Layla, who is 7 at the start of the book. It follows her journey to adulthood as she learns about the realities of life as a woman through a series of murders in her home town before moving to the equally scary city.
Her journey into adulthood (minus the murder!) felt relatable as Layla went through experiences that most women have faced. The weaving of murder and folklore really enriched the story, making it different to a usual feminist coming of age horror.
I particularly loved the use of smell in this book. Though I obviously cannot smell the story, the writing was amazing and I really felt like I was there. It made me think of all the important scents in my life and added an extra dimension to the story.
As I mentioned, the narrator was great, with a clear and engaging voice.
I will definitely be on the look out for future books by Eman Quotah and read by Ezra Saifie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC audiobook.
♀️💐🫏
This was a really, really good audiobook. The plot was really gripping, anxiety-inducing and oddly empowering and relatable. The narration was great: very engaging and simple to follow.
The book follows Layla, who is 7 at the start of the book. It follows her journey to adulthood as she learns about the realities of life as a woman through a series of murders in her home town before moving to the equally scary city.
Her journey into adulthood (minus the murder!) felt relatable as Layla went through experiences that most women have faced. The weaving of murder and folklore really enriched the story, making it different to a usual feminist coming of age horror.
I particularly loved the use of smell in this book. Though I obviously cannot smell the story, the writing was amazing and I really felt like I was there. It made me think of all the important scents in my life and added an extra dimension to the story.
As I mentioned, the narrator was great, with a clear and engaging voice.
I will definitely be on the look out for future books by Eman Quotah and read by Ezra Saifie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC audiobook.
♀️💐🫏
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