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Yarnsworld #1
They Mostly Come Out at Night
He locked himself away from the dark, but in the Magpie King’s forest nowhere is safe…
Lonan is an outcast, accused of letting the monsters that stalk the night into the homes of his fellow villagers. Now, he will not rest until he wins back the heart of his childhood love and reclaims the life that was stolen from him. However, locked safely in his cellar at night, in his dreams Lonan finds himself looking through the eyes of a young prince…
Adahy has a destiny, and it terrifies him. How can he hope to live up to the legend of the Magpie King, to become the supernatural protector of the forest and defender of his people? But when the forest is invaded by an inhuman force, Adahy must rise to this challenge or let the Wolves destroy his people.
Watching these events unfold in his sleep, Lonan must do what he can to protect his village from this new threat. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to earn back their trust or watch the monsters kill everyone that he holds dear.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is a Dark Fantasy novel from Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series. If you like Neil Gaiman and Patrick Rothfuss then you will love this captivating, dangerous world in which ordinary people struggle to find their place in a land ruled by stories.
Start reading today to discover this epic tale of dreams, fables and monsters!
Lonan is an outcast, accused of letting the monsters that stalk the night into the homes of his fellow villagers. Now, he will not rest until he wins back the heart of his childhood love and reclaims the life that was stolen from him. However, locked safely in his cellar at night, in his dreams Lonan finds himself looking through the eyes of a young prince…
Adahy has a destiny, and it terrifies him. How can he hope to live up to the legend of the Magpie King, to become the supernatural protector of the forest and defender of his people? But when the forest is invaded by an inhuman force, Adahy must rise to this challenge or let the Wolves destroy his people.
Watching these events unfold in his sleep, Lonan must do what he can to protect his village from this new threat. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to earn back their trust or watch the monsters kill everyone that he holds dear.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is a Dark Fantasy novel from Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series. If you like Neil Gaiman and Patrick Rothfuss then you will love this captivating, dangerous world in which ordinary people struggle to find their place in a land ruled by stories.
Start reading today to discover this epic tale of dreams, fables and monsters!
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2016
805 people are currently reading
5908 people want to read
About the author
Benedict Patrick
21 books384 followersBenedict Patrick is from a small town in Northern Ireland called Banbridge, but has been living and working in Scotland since he moved there at the age of eighteen. Tragically, that was quite a while ago.
He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series.
Try out some free Yarnsworld stories by signing up to the mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b4UNHj
He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series.
Try out some free Yarnsworld stories by signing up to the mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b4UNHj
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 383 reviews
February 5, 2020
Reading They Mostly Come Out at Night was my fourth time venturing into Patrick's enchanting, fantastical and haunting Yarnsworld. His stories are as enriching as they are captivating with stunning imagery, likeable lead characters and they are extremely addictive. They Mostly Come Out at Night has been my favourite reading experience that Patrick has presented me so far and I consider him as one of my favourite self-published authors alongside Rob J. Hayes.
They Mostly Come Out at Night is presented in two distinct ways. Firstly we follow Lonan. He is a young gentleman who lives in Smithtown which is found in the middle of the forest. He is a forager and lives a simple life. He is hated by almost everyone from the village. This is because eight years ago the grotesque creatures that haunt the forest attacked the settlement. There was much havoc, Lonan's father was murdered, the lady he was besotted with at the time was disfigured and all blame Lonan. When Lonan sleeps he dreams about a Prince called Adahy. Adahy is the son of The Magpie King - a legendary character who is the protector of the forest. Events take place and it transpires that Adahy has to embark on a quest for the Kingdom and Lonan hitches a ride in his mind whilst he sleeps.
The second distinct style is standalone fairy tales that take place in between chapters. These were often bewitching, atmospheric and had a distinct European/ Brother Grimm fairy stories vibe. In the current day world, these are the myths and tales that villagers repeat to their children. Examples including The Magpie King and The Black Squirrel, and Artemis and Mother Web. These acted as picturesque, enjoyable and interesting interludes and they add extra depth to Yarnsworld.
“Because I am overcome with you. You are in every thought that invades my mind. Even if you forced me to chase you until the ends of my days, growing to hate me as I hate death itself, I would still continue to pursue you.”
They Mostly Come Out at Night is well written. It is pretty short at approximately 200 pages and I raced through this narrative within a couple of days. Although it isn't that long, the main characters are pretty well developed. My favourite segments to follow were interactions between Lonan and the scarred Branwen, Lonan and the healer he boards with, and finally Adahy and The Magpie King. The Magpie King is a legendary figure in the mythology of the forest and it was great to see both sides of the King of the Eyrie. The tale features some unpredictable twists, gruesome moments aplenty and there quite possibly might not be a happy ever after. It was an extremely enjoyable read and I can't wait to jump back into Yarnsworld again although I might not have the epic and extraordinary grace of the Magpie King. Highly recommended.
Finally, I have to comment on how amazing the cover art is for They Mostly Come Out at Night and all the Yarnsworld novels. The artist is Jennifer Zemanek and her work can be seen at www.seedlingsonline.com
They Mostly Come Out at Night is presented in two distinct ways. Firstly we follow Lonan. He is a young gentleman who lives in Smithtown which is found in the middle of the forest. He is a forager and lives a simple life. He is hated by almost everyone from the village. This is because eight years ago the grotesque creatures that haunt the forest attacked the settlement. There was much havoc, Lonan's father was murdered, the lady he was besotted with at the time was disfigured and all blame Lonan. When Lonan sleeps he dreams about a Prince called Adahy. Adahy is the son of The Magpie King - a legendary character who is the protector of the forest. Events take place and it transpires that Adahy has to embark on a quest for the Kingdom and Lonan hitches a ride in his mind whilst he sleeps.
The second distinct style is standalone fairy tales that take place in between chapters. These were often bewitching, atmospheric and had a distinct European/ Brother Grimm fairy stories vibe. In the current day world, these are the myths and tales that villagers repeat to their children. Examples including The Magpie King and The Black Squirrel, and Artemis and Mother Web. These acted as picturesque, enjoyable and interesting interludes and they add extra depth to Yarnsworld.
“Because I am overcome with you. You are in every thought that invades my mind. Even if you forced me to chase you until the ends of my days, growing to hate me as I hate death itself, I would still continue to pursue you.”
They Mostly Come Out at Night is well written. It is pretty short at approximately 200 pages and I raced through this narrative within a couple of days. Although it isn't that long, the main characters are pretty well developed. My favourite segments to follow were interactions between Lonan and the scarred Branwen, Lonan and the healer he boards with, and finally Adahy and The Magpie King. The Magpie King is a legendary figure in the mythology of the forest and it was great to see both sides of the King of the Eyrie. The tale features some unpredictable twists, gruesome moments aplenty and there quite possibly might not be a happy ever after. It was an extremely enjoyable read and I can't wait to jump back into Yarnsworld again although I might not have the epic and extraordinary grace of the Magpie King. Highly recommended.
Finally, I have to comment on how amazing the cover art is for They Mostly Come Out at Night and all the Yarnsworld novels. The artist is Jennifer Zemanek and her work can be seen at www.seedlingsonline.com
February 18, 2019
There are many things to like in this the first novel of the Yarnsworld series, as many as there are to dislike.
The things I like the most are actually linked to how the book was constructed. One chapter following the story's timeline, one chapter giving us a little folktale of the world, hence enriching our experience of the narrative. But, haven't those little folktales been blatantly taken from Native American folklore and changed only the minimum to fit this new place Patrick has created? You bet! So obvious is this issue, I found myself cringing at the cultural misappropriation, but I pushed through.
I also like how the two parallel story lines--one showing us real life, one showing us the dream world--collide in a very satisfying climax. I thought it was a clever way to keep us guessing about what was happening, hence keeping good tension throughout the book.
The darkness and folksy feeling of the whole book is also pretty enjoyable, even if some aspects of the story feel untenanted or out of place.
Now, about the things I really didn't like.
Contrary to the climax, which pulled at all the right strings to keep my interest, the resolution and ending feel quite bland. Yes, I know, there are sequels, but that doesn't mean there's no need to close the story in a place that makes sense for this book.
Also, and this I dislike beyond believe, every single female character is as flat as a squashed bug. They are all empty archetypes, the healer, the battered woman, the suffering queen, they all have one dimension and one purpose: To elate the right reactions in the main character. That's all. The male characters on the other hand, are shown to have many facets, even the villainous ones get to explain themselves and show a softer, more vulnerable side, which is exactly what's missing from the female characters: depth.
All in all, a very mix read. I liked it a times, I hated at times, but I'm certainly not going to read the following books.
The things I like the most are actually linked to how the book was constructed. One chapter following the story's timeline, one chapter giving us a little folktale of the world, hence enriching our experience of the narrative. But, haven't those little folktales been blatantly taken from Native American folklore and changed only the minimum to fit this new place Patrick has created? You bet! So obvious is this issue, I found myself cringing at the cultural misappropriation, but I pushed through.
I also like how the two parallel story lines--one showing us real life, one showing us the dream world--collide in a very satisfying climax. I thought it was a clever way to keep us guessing about what was happening, hence keeping good tension throughout the book.
The darkness and folksy feeling of the whole book is also pretty enjoyable, even if some aspects of the story feel untenanted or out of place.
Now, about the things I really didn't like.
Contrary to the climax, which pulled at all the right strings to keep my interest, the resolution and ending feel quite bland. Yes, I know, there are sequels, but that doesn't mean there's no need to close the story in a place that makes sense for this book.
Also, and this I dislike beyond believe, every single female character is as flat as a squashed bug. They are all empty archetypes, the healer, the battered woman, the suffering queen, they all have one dimension and one purpose: To elate the right reactions in the main character. That's all. The male characters on the other hand, are shown to have many facets, even the villainous ones get to explain themselves and show a softer, more vulnerable side, which is exactly what's missing from the female characters: depth.
All in all, a very mix read. I liked it a times, I hated at times, but I'm certainly not going to read the following books.
February 3, 2017
Review to come on Fantasy-Faction! For now, suffice to say I *loved* this book, and can't wait to read more Yarnsworld awesomeness from Benedict Patrick.
March 6, 2018
I DNF-ed this book after three chapters because of the disappointing quality of the writing. I heard so many good things about this that I imagined the author to be the next Robin Hobb. I guess my expectations where way to high and I put myself up for disappointment.
The first chapter is like the recipe for mediocre fantasy: an infodump on what the starting situation for the hero is like, his background and relationships with people, hidden under a little bit of plot. It does seem like the author was told to start in medias res, because the first page does throw you right in, but after that, the first chapter is mostly just telling. The writing is mediocre at best, and I had problems sympathizing with the main character, mainly because he sulks a lot and doesn't do any work.
The way the characters think and reason was sometimes ok, but at other times it was like what I wrote when I wanted to be a fantasy author at 14. There are also logical errors, like when main character Lonan wastes a whole day in the forest and tells us that he didn't forage anything, but when he arrives at the healers hut, he still delivers fresh herbs he picked for her.
In addition, the characters have too much of a modern mindset, and the medieval fantasy setting does not come of as realistic. There is a clear lack of knowledge about what life would really be like in a word without modern technology. Again, you can compare it to Robin Hobb's or George R. R. Martin's descriptions of every day life in a medieval world, and it falls way short.
Maybe there are ways to explain some of what I perceived as logical errors, and it might make sense later in the book, but even if this is the case, the writing would still come of as immature and under developed.
It's such a shame when a book with a good premise and interesting mythos is spoiled by the writing and characters. I might continue reading later, for I think the plot and plot twists might be good, or try one of the other Yarnsworld books, because this is a world I did truly want to like.
The first chapter is like the recipe for mediocre fantasy: an infodump on what the starting situation for the hero is like, his background and relationships with people, hidden under a little bit of plot. It does seem like the author was told to start in medias res, because the first page does throw you right in, but after that, the first chapter is mostly just telling. The writing is mediocre at best, and I had problems sympathizing with the main character, mainly because he sulks a lot and doesn't do any work.
The way the characters think and reason was sometimes ok, but at other times it was like what I wrote when I wanted to be a fantasy author at 14. There are also logical errors, like when main character Lonan wastes a whole day in the forest and tells us that he didn't forage anything, but when he arrives at the healers hut, he still delivers fresh herbs he picked for her.
In addition, the characters have too much of a modern mindset, and the medieval fantasy setting does not come of as realistic. There is a clear lack of knowledge about what life would really be like in a word without modern technology. Again, you can compare it to Robin Hobb's or George R. R. Martin's descriptions of every day life in a medieval world, and it falls way short.
Maybe there are ways to explain some of what I perceived as logical errors, and it might make sense later in the book, but even if this is the case, the writing would still come of as immature and under developed.
It's such a shame when a book with a good premise and interesting mythos is spoiled by the writing and characters. I might continue reading later, for I think the plot and plot twists might be good, or try one of the other Yarnsworld books, because this is a world I did truly want to like.
June 14, 2019
5-stars.
I really enjoyed this. It's a stand-alone and that is pretty rare these days. This is the dark fantasy folk-lore tale of the Magpie King. The people are afraid to leave their homes at night because of the giant wolves that roam their forest. But the Magpie King will protect them, won't he?
This is a short story that contains lots of other short stories within it. There are a number of dream-sequences that help you to understand what is going on. The people of the village have their own skills 'Knacks' as they are described by the author that are basically their professions. But our main character doesn't appear to have found his Knack yet.
Here's a short excerpt that made me chuckle:
"How is she?"
"Her husband tried to kill their child, and she thinks the man who she is falling in love with is a raving lunatic. She has had better weeks," came the chiding reply.
If you like stand-alone novels that are based on folk-lore then I would heartily recommend you read this. I will check out more of his work in the future.
Thanks for reading.
I really enjoyed this. It's a stand-alone and that is pretty rare these days. This is the dark fantasy folk-lore tale of the Magpie King. The people are afraid to leave their homes at night because of the giant wolves that roam their forest. But the Magpie King will protect them, won't he?
This is a short story that contains lots of other short stories within it. There are a number of dream-sequences that help you to understand what is going on. The people of the village have their own skills 'Knacks' as they are described by the author that are basically their professions. But our main character doesn't appear to have found his Knack yet.
Here's a short excerpt that made me chuckle:
"How is she?"
"Her husband tried to kill their child, and she thinks the man who she is falling in love with is a raving lunatic. She has had better weeks," came the chiding reply.
If you like stand-alone novels that are based on folk-lore then I would heartily recommend you read this. I will check out more of his work in the future.
Thanks for reading.
February 26, 2019
Ooh, I love a fairytale. Most of my earliest memories involve them, most notably in the form of my grandmother reading them out loud to me and adjusting the endings to some of the more gruesome stories on the fly (she was a bit squeamish, my gran).
In They Mostly Come Out at Night, Patrick has taken the tried and tested Hero’s Journey format, given it a twist, and interspersed it with morality stories that fill in the world’s background and culture. This makes for very interesting reading, as we have a main narrative juxtaposed with fables, which causes the reader to pause and consider how one eventually becomes the other. I absolutely adored this element of the novel; Patrick’s folk stories really shine, and could easily sit alongside traditional proverbs and lore without feeling out of place. Each one is well thought out, fits into the world and provides commentary for the main narrative. It’s an exceptionally clever bit of storytelling, and a wonderful idea.
Our main storyline centers on Lonan, a young man who is something of an outcast within his village. He has no “knack”, a system of magic in which people develop a sort of specialist skill at a young age in order to benefit the people of the village. His father’s knack had been as a gifted Blacksmith, and Lonan had expected to follow in his footsteps. Instead Lonan finds that he has strange dreams that may lead him to a different destiny. Meanwhile, the son of the Magpie King is having his own problems living up to his father’s expectations. As the story progresses, their worlds begin to intersect and the result is a fast-paced adventure with some strong twists and colorful characters.
If you’re a fan of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen you will find much to enjoy here, and you’ll know not to expect a typical “Happily Ever After”. However, in places the main story is somewhat rough in the execution. Some of the secondary characters are not well developed, and Lonan’s love interest in particular lacks agency and has little to do besides wait around to be rescued. The prose needs work in places and the structure is a little off here and there. However, this is a highly ambitious story told in some 200 pages (an impressive feat in itself), and having seen a glimpse of how Patrick’s writing will develop via his entry in The Art of War Anthology, I’m very interested to pick up the rest of the series. There is a huge amount of potential here and I’m excited to continue.
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 for GR.
In They Mostly Come Out at Night, Patrick has taken the tried and tested Hero’s Journey format, given it a twist, and interspersed it with morality stories that fill in the world’s background and culture. This makes for very interesting reading, as we have a main narrative juxtaposed with fables, which causes the reader to pause and consider how one eventually becomes the other. I absolutely adored this element of the novel; Patrick’s folk stories really shine, and could easily sit alongside traditional proverbs and lore without feeling out of place. Each one is well thought out, fits into the world and provides commentary for the main narrative. It’s an exceptionally clever bit of storytelling, and a wonderful idea.
Our main storyline centers on Lonan, a young man who is something of an outcast within his village. He has no “knack”, a system of magic in which people develop a sort of specialist skill at a young age in order to benefit the people of the village. His father’s knack had been as a gifted Blacksmith, and Lonan had expected to follow in his footsteps. Instead Lonan finds that he has strange dreams that may lead him to a different destiny. Meanwhile, the son of the Magpie King is having his own problems living up to his father’s expectations. As the story progresses, their worlds begin to intersect and the result is a fast-paced adventure with some strong twists and colorful characters.
If you’re a fan of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen you will find much to enjoy here, and you’ll know not to expect a typical “Happily Ever After”. However, in places the main story is somewhat rough in the execution. Some of the secondary characters are not well developed, and Lonan’s love interest in particular lacks agency and has little to do besides wait around to be rescued. The prose needs work in places and the structure is a little off here and there. However, this is a highly ambitious story told in some 200 pages (an impressive feat in itself), and having seen a glimpse of how Patrick’s writing will develop via his entry in The Art of War Anthology, I’m very interested to pick up the rest of the series. There is a huge amount of potential here and I’m excited to continue.
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 for GR.
November 8, 2016
Here's a case where the cover and the story go together like a raw sausage and a hot pan. I mean,
I
think this cover is just sublime, and without building up any tension towards my rating this time: so was the book.
Let me start with a few words about the world building (most of them copied from 'A Word from the Author' at the end of the book). This story (or actually, it's a lot of stories within a story) takes place in a dark, almost borderless forest. There are two types of peoples: the High Corvae and the Low Corvae. The Low Corvae are the people who live in small villages deep inside the forest. The High Corvae can be seen as a bit of the elite. Both come from different places originally and it really shows in the storytelling as a whole. The Low Corvae stories are based on real-world traditional tales and folklore, mostly from Central Europe; think the Brothers Grimm. The High Corvae stories have strong ties to Native American culture. Now if that doesn't sound absolutely fantastic and fascinating to you already, I don't know what will!
We start off in one of the small villages. As soon as the sun sets, the inhabitants retreat to their cellars while making sure to lock everything to the max because, as the title suggests, they mostly come out at night. 'They' is referring to monsters who will rip you into pieces and eat you if you don't lock yourself in properly before sunset. Every night, it's the same procedure; for as long as the villagers have known.
Lonan, a young man ( this is not YA !) from the village, has been shunned ever since he got his father killed by screaming in the middle of the night, and therefore, having lead the monsters to their basement. Everybody hates him, except for Mother Ogma, the village healer. Mother Ogma is such a badass old lady, I believe she's my favourite character in the entire book (and there are quite a few of those).
When Lonan starts dreaming of the Magpie King, one of the High Corvae who's supposedly keeping the forest folk safe during the night (yet no one really knows whether he's a myth or not) shit starts hitting the fan. I think that's about all of the story I'm going to give away here.
I'm now simply going to tell you that this was absolutely fantastic. There are basically three storylines, neatly divided into separate chapters in a specific order, so you shouldn't get confused about it. All three storylines are equally fascinating. If you're a fan of classic retellings or rich stories in general, this is the book for you. If you don't easily shy away from a bit of blood and guts, this is the book for you.
There is depth, excitement, adventure, horror, general creepiness, and humour!
"The sensible, selfless thing would be for Lonan to walk away now. "Wait here a moment," he said, and made his way down the river.."
I chuckled out loud a few times, especially when it comes to Mother Ogma's dialogues. She's one feisty granny!
With the rich storytelling, you won't become bored in the first place, but then there's the added bonus of some of the characters who keep dying with the intensity of Sean Bean in front of a camera.
The only reason I'm a party pooper and not giving this one the full five brownies on my blog is because of a few minor things not adding up entirely. Such as Mother Ogma not believing Lonan while she was the one telling him about his Knack for something in the first place.
That's right, Knack with a capital K because a Knack is like a talent every one of the villagers eventually develops. It could be for tailoring or cleaning, but it could also be something a bit more magical. Not that I'm saying cleaning can't be magical...okay, never mind, I am saying that exactly.
TL; DR
Fantastic world building. In-depth characters. Dark Fantasy with a twist of horror. Exquisite storytelling. Highly recommended!
Let me start with a few words about the world building (most of them copied from 'A Word from the Author' at the end of the book). This story (or actually, it's a lot of stories within a story) takes place in a dark, almost borderless forest. There are two types of peoples: the High Corvae and the Low Corvae. The Low Corvae are the people who live in small villages deep inside the forest. The High Corvae can be seen as a bit of the elite. Both come from different places originally and it really shows in the storytelling as a whole. The Low Corvae stories are based on real-world traditional tales and folklore, mostly from Central Europe; think the Brothers Grimm. The High Corvae stories have strong ties to Native American culture. Now if that doesn't sound absolutely fantastic and fascinating to you already, I don't know what will!
We start off in one of the small villages. As soon as the sun sets, the inhabitants retreat to their cellars while making sure to lock everything to the max because, as the title suggests, they mostly come out at night. 'They' is referring to monsters who will rip you into pieces and eat you if you don't lock yourself in properly before sunset. Every night, it's the same procedure; for as long as the villagers have known.
Lonan, a young man ( this is not YA !) from the village, has been shunned ever since he got his father killed by screaming in the middle of the night, and therefore, having lead the monsters to their basement. Everybody hates him, except for Mother Ogma, the village healer. Mother Ogma is such a badass old lady, I believe she's my favourite character in the entire book (and there are quite a few of those).
When Lonan starts dreaming of the Magpie King, one of the High Corvae who's supposedly keeping the forest folk safe during the night (yet no one really knows whether he's a myth or not) shit starts hitting the fan. I think that's about all of the story I'm going to give away here.
I'm now simply going to tell you that this was absolutely fantastic. There are basically three storylines, neatly divided into separate chapters in a specific order, so you shouldn't get confused about it. All three storylines are equally fascinating. If you're a fan of classic retellings or rich stories in general, this is the book for you. If you don't easily shy away from a bit of blood and guts, this is the book for you.
There is depth, excitement, adventure, horror, general creepiness, and humour!
"The sensible, selfless thing would be for Lonan to walk away now. "Wait here a moment," he said, and made his way down the river.."
I chuckled out loud a few times, especially when it comes to Mother Ogma's dialogues. She's one feisty granny!
With the rich storytelling, you won't become bored in the first place, but then there's the added bonus of some of the characters who keep dying with the intensity of Sean Bean in front of a camera.
The only reason I'm a party pooper and not giving this one the full five brownies on my blog is because of a few minor things not adding up entirely. Such as Mother Ogma not believing Lonan while she was the one telling him about his Knack for something in the first place.
That's right, Knack with a capital K because a Knack is like a talent every one of the villagers eventually develops. It could be for tailoring or cleaning, but it could also be something a bit more magical. Not that I'm saying cleaning can't be magical...okay, never mind, I am saying that exactly.
TL; DR
Fantastic world building. In-depth characters. Dark Fantasy with a twist of horror. Exquisite storytelling. Highly recommended!
January 13, 2018
I really enjoyed the fairy tale vibe of this book. I was a fan of the little interludes between chapters, and how as the book progressed towards the end, the folktales and the main plot start to converge until we get that ending that I thought was spot on.
While I loved the style and world, I disliked the characters which made it hard for me to want to read it at times. I actively disliked Lonan. Did not sympathize with him. I disliked that Branwen's whole purpose was to be an object of love interest and motivate Lonan to finally do something. About halfway in we do get a couple sentences dedicated to how she used to adventurous, but this was only to give more motivation to our MC rather than actually try and build her character. Adahy was a total idiot, but more likeable for the most part.
Edit; This was a rating I was really conflicted with, I've kept thinking about how it really didn't reflect my enjoyment, so to make my ratings more meaningful to myself I'm going to bump this down from a 3 to a 2. I did really love certain parts of this book, but no joke, I really, really hated Lonan. And I was so busy hating him it just tainted the cool parts and I couldn't enjoy it. To be fair, he just really hit a pet peeve of mine, so I'd still recommend giving it a try and if you don't absolutely hate the guy definitely keep going!
While I loved the style and world, I disliked the characters which made it hard for me to want to read it at times. I actively disliked Lonan. Did not sympathize with him. I disliked that Branwen's whole purpose was to be an object of love interest and motivate Lonan to finally do something. About halfway in we do get a couple sentences dedicated to how she used to adventurous, but this was only to give more motivation to our MC rather than actually try and build her character. Adahy was a total idiot, but more likeable for the most part.
Edit; This was a rating I was really conflicted with, I've kept thinking about how it really didn't reflect my enjoyment, so to make my ratings more meaningful to myself I'm going to bump this down from a 3 to a 2. I did really love certain parts of this book, but no joke, I really, really hated Lonan. And I was so busy hating him it just tainted the cool parts and I couldn't enjoy it. To be fair, he just really hit a pet peeve of mine, so I'd still recommend giving it a try and if you don't absolutely hate the guy definitely keep going!
January 23, 2017
This was another book I really struggled on how to rate it with this goodreads system.
Originality 5/5
Plot/story 4/5
characters 3/5
dialogue/structure 3/5
This was a shorter book that read pretty quickly and was cheap for an e-book, so I have no regrets picking it up. That said, it feels a little rough around the edges, the dialogue was a tad cheesy at points and a little bit cliché, but the storyline and plot was very unique. So it was a combination of things I really really liked, and didn't like at all.
Overall: 3.75
I gave it a 4 anyway because I think for an independently published book that wasn't expensive, and as this was the authors very first book - I think it deserves the 4. If this had been a book by an established author in the middle of a series I would have given it a 3.
What's exciting is that the next book in the series has a much higher goodreads rating, They Mostly Come out at Night is 3.99 at the time of this review, while book 2 has a 4.33
I'm absolutely going to read the second book as well, I'm very interested to see where this story is going, the first book was good enough where I want to read the second, and I'm excited to see that people like the second one even more.
The cover for the second book is even MORE stunning than the first, which I love love love. I'm a sucker for some awesome cover art - I need to find out who that artist is and see if they sell their work.
Originality 5/5
Plot/story 4/5
characters 3/5
dialogue/structure 3/5
This was a shorter book that read pretty quickly and was cheap for an e-book, so I have no regrets picking it up. That said, it feels a little rough around the edges, the dialogue was a tad cheesy at points and a little bit cliché, but the storyline and plot was very unique. So it was a combination of things I really really liked, and didn't like at all.
Overall: 3.75
I gave it a 4 anyway because I think for an independently published book that wasn't expensive, and as this was the authors very first book - I think it deserves the 4. If this had been a book by an established author in the middle of a series I would have given it a 3.
What's exciting is that the next book in the series has a much higher goodreads rating, They Mostly Come out at Night is 3.99 at the time of this review, while book 2 has a 4.33
I'm absolutely going to read the second book as well, I'm very interested to see where this story is going, the first book was good enough where I want to read the second, and I'm excited to see that people like the second one even more.
The cover for the second book is even MORE stunning than the first, which I love love love. I'm a sucker for some awesome cover art - I need to find out who that artist is and see if they sell their work.
February 1, 2019
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!
April 9, 2017
This was a really engaging dark fantasy with a healthy dose of horror mixed in. Lonan is of the Low Corvae, a people who populate villages in a vast forest. Every night, he and the rest of the village must barricade themselves into cellars and basements; the night belongs to dark ravenous creatures, and no one who values their life would be out after the sun goes down. This particular detail brings to mind the main premise of The Warded Man, but the similarities end there. Lonan begins to dream about the Magpie King, who is sworn to protect the Corvae against the threats the night brings. These dreams kick off a series of events that surprised me as they were revealed. I'm not kidding when I say it's a delight to have a plot twist hit me in the gut, especially when I didn't see it coming. The author also uses in-world folklore between chapters as another way to immerse the reader, and I found it both effective and entertaining. I'm looking forward to the next book!
July 5, 2017
This book would have been amazing if it wasn't so...empty?
Most of the book is filled with fairytale stories that, while I think were ingenuous, were actually so irrelevant to the progression of the plot or characters involved that they would have worked better if they'd ended up in a sort of "side-book" in which they were compiled. It just felt like the folktales/fairytales interrupted the flow of the actual story going on, and for not much except to add lore that wasn't very relevant in the end.
I absolutely loved this ending. It's gritty, grimmy, bloody, and imaginative. That's the thing with this story, it was all those things, in the end. The characters were practically irrelevant to the book, actions and feelings moving on so fast that it was impossible for me to grasp at any emotion I might have felt for them.
My biggest issue with this book tho: the horrible "romance". First of all, I had a hard time remembering the name of the main character while writing this review, which says a lot by itself. But then I remembered Lonan. I only felt interested by him at the end, which, if you've read this, also says a lot by itself.
Lonan spends most of the book lusting (yeah, lusting) after a woman who's not with him, constantly saying "You should have been with me instead of your husband." "I'll make you happy, not him." basically telling the woman she chose wrong, he's the one she wants because he's good and nice and oh so nice. Obviously this is all explained with some supernatural excuse, like the husband having a supernatural power to convince people but I still hate this narrative.
First of all, it's terrible to have a narrative like this when this is a very real problem in a woman's life: a man who thinks he's all that and that he'd be better for a woman because he's the "nice guy" to the terrible, horrible antagonist that is the other man in the woman's life. . And then of course, by the end, the husband turns out to be actually this overall terrible guy who is abusive and Lonan gets his moment of "See? I told you I was the one you wanted, that he was bad" and the woman (Her name is Branwen but she's so completely irrelevant to the entire story -which just makes my point- that it's hardly worth mentioning) ends up falling all over Lonan's arms and just...This is such a laughable, unrealistic man-fantasy that I almost choked myself to death reading it.
If the author had weaved this to be the story of two people finding each other (again), I would have to hand it to him, but this "romance" was written as entirely Lonan's possession, with Branwen hardly getting any say, and only having relevance when she's literally being punched by her argh evil husband argh (and later on Lonan is aggressive towards her, despite knowing what her husband did, so we get a peek at how nice guys are actually really very nice). Yawn. I see your man-goggles and I don't care for them. Come to me when you actually write women as characters instead of plot devices for you angsty "manhood".
In the end, some things connect, some things don't, but mainly, I think I probably would have loved this writing style and book as a fairytale compilation instead, because the actual lore was so imaginative and intriguing it actually got me to finish the entire book.
Most of the book is filled with fairytale stories that, while I think were ingenuous, were actually so irrelevant to the progression of the plot or characters involved that they would have worked better if they'd ended up in a sort of "side-book" in which they were compiled. It just felt like the folktales/fairytales interrupted the flow of the actual story going on, and for not much except to add lore that wasn't very relevant in the end.
I absolutely loved this ending. It's gritty, grimmy, bloody, and imaginative. That's the thing with this story, it was all those things, in the end. The characters were practically irrelevant to the book, actions and feelings moving on so fast that it was impossible for me to grasp at any emotion I might have felt for them.
My biggest issue with this book tho: the horrible "romance". First of all, I had a hard time remembering the name of the main character while writing this review, which says a lot by itself. But then I remembered Lonan. I only felt interested by him at the end, which, if you've read this, also says a lot by itself.
Lonan spends most of the book lusting (yeah, lusting) after a woman who's not with him, constantly saying "You should have been with me instead of your husband." "I'll make you happy, not him." basically telling the woman she chose wrong, he's the one she wants because he's good and nice and oh so nice. Obviously this is all explained with some supernatural excuse, like the husband having a supernatural power to convince people but I still hate this narrative.
First of all, it's terrible to have a narrative like this when this is a very real problem in a woman's life: a man who thinks he's all that and that he'd be better for a woman because he's the "nice guy" to the terrible, horrible antagonist that is the other man in the woman's life. . And then of course, by the end, the husband turns out to be actually this overall terrible guy who is abusive and Lonan gets his moment of "See? I told you I was the one you wanted, that he was bad" and the woman (Her name is Branwen but she's so completely irrelevant to the entire story -which just makes my point- that it's hardly worth mentioning) ends up falling all over Lonan's arms and just...This is such a laughable, unrealistic man-fantasy that I almost choked myself to death reading it.
If the author had weaved this to be the story of two people finding each other (again), I would have to hand it to him, but this "romance" was written as entirely Lonan's possession, with Branwen hardly getting any say, and only having relevance when she's literally being punched by her argh evil husband argh (and later on Lonan is aggressive towards her, despite knowing what her husband did, so we get a peek at how nice guys are actually really very nice). Yawn. I see your man-goggles and I don't care for them. Come to me when you actually write women as characters instead of plot devices for you angsty "manhood".
In the end, some things connect, some things don't, but mainly, I think I probably would have loved this writing style and book as a fairytale compilation instead, because the actual lore was so imaginative and intriguing it actually got me to finish the entire book.
May 27, 2019
A very original story that has a a dark fairytale kind of feel to it. I truly enjoyed it as a fast, interesting and different read.
The folktales that are told between chapters were very interesting and really added something.
I've added the other books in the series to my tbr, looking forward to see where the series will take me next.
The folktales that are told between chapters were very interesting and really added something.
I've added the other books in the series to my tbr, looking forward to see where the series will take me next.
April 15, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
September 26, 2018
In They Mostly Come Out at Night Benedict Patrick has given us a wonderful folktale. This is what Patrick excels at, and the world he begins crafting in this first of his Yarnsworld novels is captivating. Between each chapter there is a short vignette that gives us some background to the world, told as if someone was sharing the story around a camp fire one evening. It’s a risky device, but it works really well here.
In fact, there is a lot that works well in this book. As I mentioned, the setting is captivating. There is something about the world that Patrick crafts in this novel that is compelling. It feels very much like it’s a yarn someone’s grandfather would tell on cold winter nights. Even though the story is original, there is a certain nostalgia associated with the telling. Not a nostalgia of classic fantasy, but a nostalgia for stories themselves—especially tragic stories passed down from generation to generation. Add to this some interesting “magic” in the form of knacks and it really is an intriguing read. Patrick’s stories tend to be filled with tragedy, and this one is no exception. If you enjoy tragic circumstances and that ache that a tragic story causes, this is definitely one for you.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found that I didn’t particularly connect with the characters. I liked Lonan well enough, but while I found the world compelling and the plotline intriguing, I didn’t feel the same way about the characters. It isn’t that the characters are bland, per se. Rather—and I think this may well be a really personal thing—they just didn’t connect. I had a similar experience with the characters in Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords, though in that novel I was able to put my finger on some reasons I didn’t connect. In this case I can’t quite put my finger on why. Lonan is the sort of self-sacrificial character that I normally love. And I do love him. But I just didn’t feel any connection. I guess I simply didn’t find him compelling.
This is a fun book, and it’s one you could conceivably read on a lazy Saturday with nothing else to do. While it has a certain dark, spookiness that would be well suited to October, I believe readers will find plenty of enjoyment any time they read it. 4.2/5 stars
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
In fact, there is a lot that works well in this book. As I mentioned, the setting is captivating. There is something about the world that Patrick crafts in this novel that is compelling. It feels very much like it’s a yarn someone’s grandfather would tell on cold winter nights. Even though the story is original, there is a certain nostalgia associated with the telling. Not a nostalgia of classic fantasy, but a nostalgia for stories themselves—especially tragic stories passed down from generation to generation. Add to this some interesting “magic” in the form of knacks and it really is an intriguing read. Patrick’s stories tend to be filled with tragedy, and this one is no exception. If you enjoy tragic circumstances and that ache that a tragic story causes, this is definitely one for you.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found that I didn’t particularly connect with the characters. I liked Lonan well enough, but while I found the world compelling and the plotline intriguing, I didn’t feel the same way about the characters. It isn’t that the characters are bland, per se. Rather—and I think this may well be a really personal thing—they just didn’t connect. I had a similar experience with the characters in Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords, though in that novel I was able to put my finger on some reasons I didn’t connect. In this case I can’t quite put my finger on why. Lonan is the sort of self-sacrificial character that I normally love. And I do love him. But I just didn’t feel any connection. I guess I simply didn’t find him compelling.
This is a fun book, and it’s one you could conceivably read on a lazy Saturday with nothing else to do. While it has a certain dark, spookiness that would be well suited to October, I believe readers will find plenty of enjoyment any time they read it. 4.2/5 stars
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
June 10, 2016
** I was sent this by the author in exchange for an honest review **
Initially what attracted me to this book was the cover art. One thing I really appreciate from an indie author is taking the time to place value on their work by getting a good designer to make their book look good. The cover of this definitely looks good, it also really does represent the book, both big pluses!
Moving on to the story. This is a story which moves fast. It reminded me at various points of Peter V Brett, Brent Weeks and Bradley Beaulieu, but there are also a few pacing issues with this book which I feel are probably a result of this being a debut. As a whole this book has a lot of good ideas, and my only major criticism was that I felt this should either have been longer (for more character development and more believability on timescale) or should have had a second book of a similar length. Either way I believe this would have come out as a very good book if that had been the case, as it stands it's still a very enjoyable read.
This story begins in a town where wolven creatures attack each night and the villagers aren't safe to go out at night. We follow a character called Lonan who has been outcast by the majority of his village for 'supposedly' causing the death of his best friend's mother and his own father year ago. Lonan is the only one who seems to know the truth of the situation, and he feels deeply upset and angry still by the way his friends and family have turned on him.
There's also a second story we follow, told through dreams of Lonan. This story follows the Magpie King, the protector of the night who is supposed to hunt the beasts and help protect the villages. The Magpie King is definitely more legend than reality for most of the village people, but when Lonan starts to see visions in his dreams which match up to the nighttime events in his village he believes he's on the cusp of learning the real secrets of the Magpie King.
Another element of this book is folk/fairy tales. Between every chapter we see tales of this world and the people inhabiting it. These tales are drawn strongly from those of the Brother's Grimm and may seem fairly familiar to the reader, but they do add to the story and make it feel a bit more fleshed out.
The magic of this world comes in the form of Knacks which everyone develops based on what they do in their day-to-day lives (e.g if your father is a Blacksmith with the Knack and you train under him, you'll probably get the Blacksmithing Knack too). Unfortunately at the point in the story where we join Lonan hasn't developed his own Knack and this only enhances his isolation.
What I did like about this book was the female Healer Lonan lived with. She was a strong and wise woman and she definitely helped Lonan on multiple occasions. I also liked Branwen (Lonan's ex-friend) and Lonan's younger sister, but we didn't see too much of them and I would have liked to see some more.
This book definitely falls into the trap of pacing. I do think that the second half of this book felt a bit too rushed for my liking after the more suspenseful beginning. I was definitely convinced (at the 80% mark) that there was going to be a second book, as I felt that there HAD to be in order to make everything come through and work for the ending. However, the author did bring everything together in the end, just a lot faster than I think was effective and sadly that meant my immersion was lost a bit and the story didn't feel as strong.
On the whole, a good, fun, fast story with some good ideas and which is well written. It's not the best book I've ever read, but in terms of the indie books I have read it's one of the much better ones. I will for sure be on the look out for another book by this author and I hope that the next one will have better pacing and therefore be a very strong read. Recommended if you're looking for a fast, easy fantasy - 3.5*s
Initially what attracted me to this book was the cover art. One thing I really appreciate from an indie author is taking the time to place value on their work by getting a good designer to make their book look good. The cover of this definitely looks good, it also really does represent the book, both big pluses!
Moving on to the story. This is a story which moves fast. It reminded me at various points of Peter V Brett, Brent Weeks and Bradley Beaulieu, but there are also a few pacing issues with this book which I feel are probably a result of this being a debut. As a whole this book has a lot of good ideas, and my only major criticism was that I felt this should either have been longer (for more character development and more believability on timescale) or should have had a second book of a similar length. Either way I believe this would have come out as a very good book if that had been the case, as it stands it's still a very enjoyable read.
This story begins in a town where wolven creatures attack each night and the villagers aren't safe to go out at night. We follow a character called Lonan who has been outcast by the majority of his village for 'supposedly' causing the death of his best friend's mother and his own father year ago. Lonan is the only one who seems to know the truth of the situation, and he feels deeply upset and angry still by the way his friends and family have turned on him.
There's also a second story we follow, told through dreams of Lonan. This story follows the Magpie King, the protector of the night who is supposed to hunt the beasts and help protect the villages. The Magpie King is definitely more legend than reality for most of the village people, but when Lonan starts to see visions in his dreams which match up to the nighttime events in his village he believes he's on the cusp of learning the real secrets of the Magpie King.
Another element of this book is folk/fairy tales. Between every chapter we see tales of this world and the people inhabiting it. These tales are drawn strongly from those of the Brother's Grimm and may seem fairly familiar to the reader, but they do add to the story and make it feel a bit more fleshed out.
The magic of this world comes in the form of Knacks which everyone develops based on what they do in their day-to-day lives (e.g if your father is a Blacksmith with the Knack and you train under him, you'll probably get the Blacksmithing Knack too). Unfortunately at the point in the story where we join Lonan hasn't developed his own Knack and this only enhances his isolation.
What I did like about this book was the female Healer Lonan lived with. She was a strong and wise woman and she definitely helped Lonan on multiple occasions. I also liked Branwen (Lonan's ex-friend) and Lonan's younger sister, but we didn't see too much of them and I would have liked to see some more.
This book definitely falls into the trap of pacing. I do think that the second half of this book felt a bit too rushed for my liking after the more suspenseful beginning. I was definitely convinced (at the 80% mark) that there was going to be a second book, as I felt that there HAD to be in order to make everything come through and work for the ending. However, the author did bring everything together in the end, just a lot faster than I think was effective and sadly that meant my immersion was lost a bit and the story didn't feel as strong.
On the whole, a good, fun, fast story with some good ideas and which is well written. It's not the best book I've ever read, but in terms of the indie books I have read it's one of the much better ones. I will for sure be on the look out for another book by this author and I hope that the next one will have better pacing and therefore be a very strong read. Recommended if you're looking for a fast, easy fantasy - 3.5*s
January 20, 2021
They Mostly Come Out At Night is an easy five star read for me.
I read the audiobook, which was brilliantly narrated, and actually contained two books: They Mostly Come Out At Night (book 1), and From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court (book 4 in the Yarnsworld series) - they can be read out of order as each is a stand-alone, simply sharing the universe.
Both stories were wonderful, although I think I preferred TMCOAT a little bit more. They have a kind of dark fairytale vibe with a rich mythology and strong characters. With narration by Derek Perkins, who was absolutely wonderful, this bizarre world was brought to life in an epic way.
I’ve never read anything quite like these books. From the stunningly spectacular covers to the richly built worlds, the mythology and magic, and of course, fantastic characters who seem to jump off the page. The prose is rather beautiful, almost lyrical, and it’s a delight to listen to/read - even if there are some awful things happening at that point!
Both stories take place in the same universe, where there are people beholden to various spirits - the Corvay follow the Magpie King, the Titonieday have an Owl Queen. There are mouse folk, lion folk, fox folk etc. It’s rather breathtaking and revolves around a mythology I’ve never encountered before, which made it all the more fantastical.
Much of the story takes place in the Magpie King’s forest, where there are numerous beasts, magical creatures, and other spirits vying to live and survive. There are villages of people whose life can be envious or dangerous depending on what’s happening with the Magpie King and other creatures nearby - whether or not there is a madness, how relations are with the other forest folk etc.
There are certain parts which are definitely more abstract/weird, but they aren’t too frequent to take away from the excellent stories that are written here. I particularly loved the folk tales squeezed in between chapters, where we learned about the people’s own mythologies, tales, and characters doing heroic (or less than heroic) deeds. It fleshes out the world and brings it to life in such a wonderful way.
They Mostly Come Out At Night introduces us to the last Magpie King, and how a simple village boy, Lolan, ends up embroiled in a life-changing, world-changing plot rife with magic, betrayal, love, and sorrow. We’re introduced to “knacks,” a kind of magic that mostly peasant folk have that usually helps them with their work.
From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court takes place some time after the end of the TMCOAN, following a new set of characters in a forest changed by the events of the past. Through Braden and Nascha, we see new branches of magic, new spirits and new powers, and how one person can change everything - although for better or worse remains to be seen.
I don’t want to say too much because I really think going in blind, with as few expectations as possible, is best for a book like this. I was constantly amazed with the small details, the creatures, the different beliefs that characters had, and how it influenced their behaviours. Most of the time I had no idea where the plot would go, how characters would connect or get themselves out of ever-greater peril.
There is a tonne of heart in these books, and many sections are incredibly emotional to read. I found I cared for all the characters in their own way, and wanted them all to succeed or at least be okay.
Benedict Patrick is now an auto-buy author for me, and I really hope his other words are turned into audio - having experienced this in audio I would love to hear the rest of his worlds narrated in similar fashion.
If you love obscure magic, curses, madness, mythology, characters in peril, the shifting of a forest over ages, gods and people, and everything in between, you’ll love this brilliant book. It’s a slice of the most fantastical fantasy and I adored every single word.
I read the audiobook, which was brilliantly narrated, and actually contained two books: They Mostly Come Out At Night (book 1), and From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court (book 4 in the Yarnsworld series) - they can be read out of order as each is a stand-alone, simply sharing the universe.
Both stories were wonderful, although I think I preferred TMCOAT a little bit more. They have a kind of dark fairytale vibe with a rich mythology and strong characters. With narration by Derek Perkins, who was absolutely wonderful, this bizarre world was brought to life in an epic way.
I’ve never read anything quite like these books. From the stunningly spectacular covers to the richly built worlds, the mythology and magic, and of course, fantastic characters who seem to jump off the page. The prose is rather beautiful, almost lyrical, and it’s a delight to listen to/read - even if there are some awful things happening at that point!
Both stories take place in the same universe, where there are people beholden to various spirits - the Corvay follow the Magpie King, the Titonieday have an Owl Queen. There are mouse folk, lion folk, fox folk etc. It’s rather breathtaking and revolves around a mythology I’ve never encountered before, which made it all the more fantastical.
Much of the story takes place in the Magpie King’s forest, where there are numerous beasts, magical creatures, and other spirits vying to live and survive. There are villages of people whose life can be envious or dangerous depending on what’s happening with the Magpie King and other creatures nearby - whether or not there is a madness, how relations are with the other forest folk etc.
There are certain parts which are definitely more abstract/weird, but they aren’t too frequent to take away from the excellent stories that are written here. I particularly loved the folk tales squeezed in between chapters, where we learned about the people’s own mythologies, tales, and characters doing heroic (or less than heroic) deeds. It fleshes out the world and brings it to life in such a wonderful way.
They Mostly Come Out At Night introduces us to the last Magpie King, and how a simple village boy, Lolan, ends up embroiled in a life-changing, world-changing plot rife with magic, betrayal, love, and sorrow. We’re introduced to “knacks,” a kind of magic that mostly peasant folk have that usually helps them with their work.
From The Shadows of The Owl Queen’s Court takes place some time after the end of the TMCOAN, following a new set of characters in a forest changed by the events of the past. Through Braden and Nascha, we see new branches of magic, new spirits and new powers, and how one person can change everything - although for better or worse remains to be seen.
I don’t want to say too much because I really think going in blind, with as few expectations as possible, is best for a book like this. I was constantly amazed with the small details, the creatures, the different beliefs that characters had, and how it influenced their behaviours. Most of the time I had no idea where the plot would go, how characters would connect or get themselves out of ever-greater peril.
There is a tonne of heart in these books, and many sections are incredibly emotional to read. I found I cared for all the characters in their own way, and wanted them all to succeed or at least be okay.
Benedict Patrick is now an auto-buy author for me, and I really hope his other words are turned into audio - having experienced this in audio I would love to hear the rest of his worlds narrated in similar fashion.
If you love obscure magic, curses, madness, mythology, characters in peril, the shifting of a forest over ages, gods and people, and everything in between, you’ll love this brilliant book. It’s a slice of the most fantastical fantasy and I adored every single word.
May 24, 2016
This book, peeps, is not awesome. This book is rawrsome. Yes, awesome with a rawr. I mean, look at this freaking cover… It’s creepy, but just like in the scary movies where they know they shouldn’t open the door and go outside and they still do, this cover makes you want to do just that. Explore further, see under the mask, ruffle those feathers and wish you had x ray vision to see underneath. No? Does the cover not make you feel so? Then let me change your mind by telling you a bit more about this brilliant piece of work.
Let me strip away the cover and some of the mystery…
Meet Lonan. Lonan loves, always has loved, Branwen. Branwen is now wed to Jarleth and hasn’t spoken a kind word to Lonan for years. In fact, none of the villagers have. Lonan, to them, is like vermin that nobody wants around but they can’t quite get rid of him either. You see, everyone blames Lonan for the horrible night which claimed the lives of Branwen’s face and Lonan’s father. Because his own mother even refuses to speak to her son, Lonan is taken in by Mother Ogma, the village healer who also houses an older disabled man. During the day, every villager has their task- their Knack- by which they serve. Be it cooking, cleaning, smithing, fixing, etc. During every night, however, they come and every night the villagers descend to their cellars to protect themselves. They haven’t see the nightsky dotted with stars ever. Is this about to change, though? And is Lonan losing his mind or will he earn back his place amongst the villagers?
Now, this is a rather complex story… because in addition to the villagers, we have a parallel sidestory about Adahy and the Magpie King. And that’s not all- there are also the stories and legends about Artemis and the Magpie King which have been told generation to generation. Not to worry though- it all ties together quite fantastically and makes way for some proper twists and turns to the story. Of course, I haven’t given you the full picture here nor the overview of the full cast of characters- the whole novel entails so many more fabulous elements but I will leave it up to you to go and discover them. If you like dark fantasy then I doubt you will feel disappointed by it.
Overall, Benedict Patrick wrote an absolute gem of a 5 star novel mixing the fairytale, horror, legends and adventure. I was entirely satisfied with the ending, even though for me personally it was a sad one. I still feel it was the best ending this novel could have.
Let me strip away the cover and some of the mystery…
Meet Lonan. Lonan loves, always has loved, Branwen. Branwen is now wed to Jarleth and hasn’t spoken a kind word to Lonan for years. In fact, none of the villagers have. Lonan, to them, is like vermin that nobody wants around but they can’t quite get rid of him either. You see, everyone blames Lonan for the horrible night which claimed the lives of Branwen’s face and Lonan’s father. Because his own mother even refuses to speak to her son, Lonan is taken in by Mother Ogma, the village healer who also houses an older disabled man. During the day, every villager has their task- their Knack- by which they serve. Be it cooking, cleaning, smithing, fixing, etc. During every night, however, they come and every night the villagers descend to their cellars to protect themselves. They haven’t see the nightsky dotted with stars ever. Is this about to change, though? And is Lonan losing his mind or will he earn back his place amongst the villagers?
Now, this is a rather complex story… because in addition to the villagers, we have a parallel sidestory about Adahy and the Magpie King. And that’s not all- there are also the stories and legends about Artemis and the Magpie King which have been told generation to generation. Not to worry though- it all ties together quite fantastically and makes way for some proper twists and turns to the story. Of course, I haven’t given you the full picture here nor the overview of the full cast of characters- the whole novel entails so many more fabulous elements but I will leave it up to you to go and discover them. If you like dark fantasy then I doubt you will feel disappointed by it.
Overall, Benedict Patrick wrote an absolute gem of a 5 star novel mixing the fairytale, horror, legends and adventure. I was entirely satisfied with the ending, even though for me personally it was a sad one. I still feel it was the best ending this novel could have.
April 12, 2018
They Mostly Come Out At Night is wonderfully put together, with a consistent folk tale atmosphere that blends two cultures, histories, myths, and current scenes, with a coming of age journey.
The setting is an old forest filled with dangers and secrets, and some disagreement about whether the dangers are mythical or real. The villagers haven't been in touch with the forest dwellers in at least a generation, and what used to be accepted knowledge has become rumor.
The main character, Lonan, is a bit of an outcast. He doesn't really have a skill or a place in the village. When he starts having strange dreams, he wonders if they are leading him toward some new meaning in his life. What dangers lurk in the forest? Are the villagers doing enough to protect themselves? Do they even need protection anymore? The dreams end up connecting directly with Lonan's future, in an excellent way that I didn't see coming.
Yarnsworld weaves a spell that entranced me completely. From the beginning of the story, I sank into this world. Chapters are divided with short folk tales of the culture that are referred to in other parts of the story. It's a charming way to fill out the oral history of the characters and develop the cultures better. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to create folk tales that sound old and well-established but are original to a fantasy world. This author makes it look easy.
This short novel is a complicated piece that fits together very tightly and celebrates the value of oral histories, and the heroes and lessons they share. I highly recommend it for dark fantasy readers who enjoy folk tales, tribal customs, witches, tricksters, and intricate storytelling.
The setting is an old forest filled with dangers and secrets, and some disagreement about whether the dangers are mythical or real. The villagers haven't been in touch with the forest dwellers in at least a generation, and what used to be accepted knowledge has become rumor.
The main character, Lonan, is a bit of an outcast. He doesn't really have a skill or a place in the village. When he starts having strange dreams, he wonders if they are leading him toward some new meaning in his life. What dangers lurk in the forest? Are the villagers doing enough to protect themselves? Do they even need protection anymore? The dreams end up connecting directly with Lonan's future, in an excellent way that I didn't see coming.
Yarnsworld weaves a spell that entranced me completely. From the beginning of the story, I sank into this world. Chapters are divided with short folk tales of the culture that are referred to in other parts of the story. It's a charming way to fill out the oral history of the characters and develop the cultures better. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to create folk tales that sound old and well-established but are original to a fantasy world. This author makes it look easy.
This short novel is a complicated piece that fits together very tightly and celebrates the value of oral histories, and the heroes and lessons they share. I highly recommend it for dark fantasy readers who enjoy folk tales, tribal customs, witches, tricksters, and intricate storytelling.
February 5, 2017
(You can see a bigger and prettier version of this review here, on my blog.)
First of all, the stories between chapters were all amazing, and that was a really cool way to give sort of a backstory on the folklore this world is mired in. I loved them. I think that my favorite one was The Magpie King and The Black Squirrel.
This story starts off scary. Enter a world where everyone has to hide in their cellars at night because monsters, literal monsters who will eat you, come out at night and… well they try and eat you. So you have villages and villages of people hiding in their cellars at night. Then… it gets darker, weirder, and more complex.
This story more or less reads like a folktale would. The in between chapters are certainly folktales, but Adahy’s story reads like one too. It’s as if Lonen is being told the story night after night. I was absolutely immediately immersed in this novel. Which means two things:
1. Awesome job award to Benedict Patrick for keeping my attention for more than a half an hou-I SHOULD CHECK MY TWITTER!
2. ‘Shame on me for starting this book at 11:30pm,’ I said at 3am. ‘MMMmuuursmgggrrph,’ I said at 6am, as the alarms chimed.
Lonan was a character that I instantly rooted for, because I love a character who is pretty snarky (which he is) and I really like the sort of wrongfully condemned hero that we can hope for because we are in the know of what really happened that day. I hoped for Lonan to regain the respect that he lost for something that he didn’t do. I hoped that the dude that did this to him got his comeuppance. I even hoped that Lonan got his girl back, despite not ever really feeling that she deserved him… though she had her own situation there, I guess. Lonan becomes legit badass throughout he story.
I didn’t start off liking Adahy as much, but he sort of grew on me as the story progressed. I found myself cheering for him before long, hoping that he would find the courage and the power of the Magpie King that he needed in order to fight the monsters who come in the night. I hoped that he and Maedoc, his whipping boy/bestie would go on a grand adventure to find the power!
The magic/not magic/but actually totally magic system of Knacks that the villagers had, depending on what their trade was or what they’ve learned over the course of their lives was a really interesting idea that was applied in an interesting way. Lonan’s mother has a Knack for cooking, the old woman he stays with has a Knack for healing, which come from years of practice. However, the guy responsible for Lonan’s outcast situation has a Knack for making people believe him. That’s something more like magic. It’s not infallible though. If people are on the edge of incredulity, they won’t take the bait… at least, not all the time. But it works enough that he can ruin someone’s life with it for 8+ years. That was well thought out.
So, this story took a lot of turns. You think you know what’s going to happen. You’re pretty convinced that you know what’s going down and who is who and then this story up and surprises the shit out of you. I’ll not ruin it for you, but suffice to say that I gave a hearty ‘oh, shit.’ more than once when a plot point I was expecting instead turned into the exact opposite of what I was expecting. Stuff I hoped happened… uh… didn’t… didn’t at all happen. I certainly love a novel that will keep me on my toes. The truth of the situation gets revealed slowly but surely, and it was fantastic. The story was amazingly well thought out and was just chock full of surprises. It was one of the darkest fairytales I’ve ever read. Loved it!
Everything wrapped up in one book. This was one complete story in a world of stories. Yarnsworld is a great name for it, because it is yarns and yarns and yarns of tales. I’m definitely excited to read the next book in the series.
First of all, the stories between chapters were all amazing, and that was a really cool way to give sort of a backstory on the folklore this world is mired in. I loved them. I think that my favorite one was The Magpie King and The Black Squirrel.
This story starts off scary. Enter a world where everyone has to hide in their cellars at night because monsters, literal monsters who will eat you, come out at night and… well they try and eat you. So you have villages and villages of people hiding in their cellars at night. Then… it gets darker, weirder, and more complex.
This story more or less reads like a folktale would. The in between chapters are certainly folktales, but Adahy’s story reads like one too. It’s as if Lonen is being told the story night after night. I was absolutely immediately immersed in this novel. Which means two things:
1. Awesome job award to Benedict Patrick for keeping my attention for more than a half an hou-I SHOULD CHECK MY TWITTER!
2. ‘Shame on me for starting this book at 11:30pm,’ I said at 3am. ‘MMMmuuursmgggrrph,’ I said at 6am, as the alarms chimed.
Lonan was a character that I instantly rooted for, because I love a character who is pretty snarky (which he is) and I really like the sort of wrongfully condemned hero that we can hope for because we are in the know of what really happened that day. I hoped for Lonan to regain the respect that he lost for something that he didn’t do. I hoped that the dude that did this to him got his comeuppance. I even hoped that Lonan got his girl back, despite not ever really feeling that she deserved him… though she had her own situation there, I guess. Lonan becomes legit badass throughout he story.
I didn’t start off liking Adahy as much, but he sort of grew on me as the story progressed. I found myself cheering for him before long, hoping that he would find the courage and the power of the Magpie King that he needed in order to fight the monsters who come in the night. I hoped that he and Maedoc, his whipping boy/bestie would go on a grand adventure to find the power!
The magic/not magic/but actually totally magic system of Knacks that the villagers had, depending on what their trade was or what they’ve learned over the course of their lives was a really interesting idea that was applied in an interesting way. Lonan’s mother has a Knack for cooking, the old woman he stays with has a Knack for healing, which come from years of practice. However, the guy responsible for Lonan’s outcast situation has a Knack for making people believe him. That’s something more like magic. It’s not infallible though. If people are on the edge of incredulity, they won’t take the bait… at least, not all the time. But it works enough that he can ruin someone’s life with it for 8+ years. That was well thought out.
So, this story took a lot of turns. You think you know what’s going to happen. You’re pretty convinced that you know what’s going down and who is who and then this story up and surprises the shit out of you. I’ll not ruin it for you, but suffice to say that I gave a hearty ‘oh, shit.’ more than once when a plot point I was expecting instead turned into the exact opposite of what I was expecting. Stuff I hoped happened… uh… didn’t… didn’t at all happen. I certainly love a novel that will keep me on my toes. The truth of the situation gets revealed slowly but surely, and it was fantastic. The story was amazingly well thought out and was just chock full of surprises. It was one of the darkest fairytales I’ve ever read. Loved it!
Everything wrapped up in one book. This was one complete story in a world of stories. Yarnsworld is a great name for it, because it is yarns and yarns and yarns of tales. I’m definitely excited to read the next book in the series.
April 30, 2022
They Mostly Come Out at Night is a case of judging a book based on its cover. I bought this and the next three books in the series literal years ago, because I thought that the cover art was gorgeous. And there they have sat since I pulled them from their packaging. I very randomly decided this week that they had wasting away, unread and thus unloved, for more than long enough. I’m glad I did, because I ate up this little book in two sittings and enjoyed my time with it.
While brief, this is not a light read. They Mostly Come Out at Night is a dark, folklore-inspired fantasy that edges the tiniest bit into horror during certain scenes. Unlike our Disney-fied fairy tales, this is not a story in which they all live happily ever after. There is death here, and more than a little brutality. It’s got teeth. I know this the rest of the series is a loose one, comprised of standalone with very little in common, But I was intrigued enough by the style to continue sometime in the future. Especially considering I already own three more of them.
My favorite element of this little book was the inclusion of original folktales between each chapter of the main narrative. This is where Patrick’s voice and style shone the brightest and steadiest. He beautifully captured the tone of a good fairytale, the blend of whimsy and darkness and the singsong quality to the writing. Honestly, I could have happily read a much longer book of just these original folktales. They felt both fresh and timeless, cheeky and serious, and I was very impressed with the balance in their telling. If the rest of the story had felt this effortlessly confident and smooth, it would have been an easy 5 stars. However, the writing in the other two-thirds or more of the book did not in fact have that same ease. There were moments of it, yes, but they were undercut by spans of the book where I felt that I was being told a synopsis of what happened after the fact, instead of being shown the action as it occurred. And, strangely enough, this issue wasn’t the worst during the dream sequences, but during the main narrative.
We have two perspective characters, in a sense. First we have Lonan, the village outcast who has been blamed for the brutal death of his own father and others, as well as the mauling of the girl he loved. He never developed his Knack, a useful talent that each person in this area develops into an almost supernatural affinity. These Knacks could be anything, from cooking to healing to blacksmithing. Lonan’s father was a blacksmith with a wonderfully robust Knack, and Lonan should have followed in his footsteps. Instead, his life was highjacked by his rival in the village following the night his father was killed, and Lonan ekes out his life on the fringes. That is, until the dreams begin. This brings us to our secondary perspective character: Adahy. He is the son and heir of the great Magpie King, ruler and protector of the realm. Somehow, Lonan and Adahy are linked, and Lonan begins to see some of the truth behind the myths of the Magpie King. With his village suddenly in greater danger than ever before, Lonan must step out of his obscurity to protect them.
I liked Lonan just fine, and found Adahy on the likable side of tolerable. But neither won me over in any kind of meaningful way. Whether this was due to novel length, or writing style, or something else I can’t put my finger on, I couldn’t tell you. I will say that I was far more invested in the aforementioned folktales that were woven in between the chapters. Patrick’s voice in these was charming and witty, and I was always a bit sad when they were over and we had to return to the “real” story. I know this was his debut, so I’m interested to see if his style becomes more seemless in his later novels.
They Mostly Come Out at Night was wonderfully different than my usual read. It transported me into a world that was different and interesting, but which I would never want to visit outside of the book’s pages. Knowing that this was a self-published debut made me even more impressed with the overall quality of the book, from the writing to the editing to the cover art and print-type. If you’re a fan of darker fantasy, folklore, and a dash of horror, then I recommend this one.
While brief, this is not a light read. They Mostly Come Out at Night is a dark, folklore-inspired fantasy that edges the tiniest bit into horror during certain scenes. Unlike our Disney-fied fairy tales, this is not a story in which they all live happily ever after. There is death here, and more than a little brutality. It’s got teeth. I know this the rest of the series is a loose one, comprised of standalone with very little in common, But I was intrigued enough by the style to continue sometime in the future. Especially considering I already own three more of them.
My favorite element of this little book was the inclusion of original folktales between each chapter of the main narrative. This is where Patrick’s voice and style shone the brightest and steadiest. He beautifully captured the tone of a good fairytale, the blend of whimsy and darkness and the singsong quality to the writing. Honestly, I could have happily read a much longer book of just these original folktales. They felt both fresh and timeless, cheeky and serious, and I was very impressed with the balance in their telling. If the rest of the story had felt this effortlessly confident and smooth, it would have been an easy 5 stars. However, the writing in the other two-thirds or more of the book did not in fact have that same ease. There were moments of it, yes, but they were undercut by spans of the book where I felt that I was being told a synopsis of what happened after the fact, instead of being shown the action as it occurred. And, strangely enough, this issue wasn’t the worst during the dream sequences, but during the main narrative.
We have two perspective characters, in a sense. First we have Lonan, the village outcast who has been blamed for the brutal death of his own father and others, as well as the mauling of the girl he loved. He never developed his Knack, a useful talent that each person in this area develops into an almost supernatural affinity. These Knacks could be anything, from cooking to healing to blacksmithing. Lonan’s father was a blacksmith with a wonderfully robust Knack, and Lonan should have followed in his footsteps. Instead, his life was highjacked by his rival in the village following the night his father was killed, and Lonan ekes out his life on the fringes. That is, until the dreams begin. This brings us to our secondary perspective character: Adahy. He is the son and heir of the great Magpie King, ruler and protector of the realm. Somehow, Lonan and Adahy are linked, and Lonan begins to see some of the truth behind the myths of the Magpie King. With his village suddenly in greater danger than ever before, Lonan must step out of his obscurity to protect them.
I liked Lonan just fine, and found Adahy on the likable side of tolerable. But neither won me over in any kind of meaningful way. Whether this was due to novel length, or writing style, or something else I can’t put my finger on, I couldn’t tell you. I will say that I was far more invested in the aforementioned folktales that were woven in between the chapters. Patrick’s voice in these was charming and witty, and I was always a bit sad when they were over and we had to return to the “real” story. I know this was his debut, so I’m interested to see if his style becomes more seemless in his later novels.
They Mostly Come Out at Night was wonderfully different than my usual read. It transported me into a world that was different and interesting, but which I would never want to visit outside of the book’s pages. Knowing that this was a self-published debut made me even more impressed with the overall quality of the book, from the writing to the editing to the cover art and print-type. If you’re a fan of darker fantasy, folklore, and a dash of horror, then I recommend this one.
October 7, 2019
I feel like I could easily rate the first 50% of this book 2.5 stars and the last 50% 3.5 stars. It steadily got better but not great.
They Mostly Come Out at Night is split, in a sense. Every other chapter there's a Grimm styled chapter that focuses on a tale of that world. Such as Artemis and the Mouse, The Magpie King's Bride, The Thief and the Lady, all of which have to do with the present story. It's a uniquely written book.
When brought to the present, you follow two young men. One is the son of the Magpie King and the other is a shunned villager. Every night the village is attacked by wolves and they must sleep in cellars and make no noise or the wolves will find them and kill them.
The young villager has dreams every night about the past and learns what has happened to the Magpie King. The village thinks he's crazy but he knows his dreams to be true.
While I did think the first half of this book was a little boring, I really liked the last of it. I was completely unprepared and only realized certain things in the moment you were meant to learn them. It was a clever build up.
Now, will I read the other books in this series? Probably not. While I did enjoy this and thought it was great, I'm not a big fan of grim endings. So, if you're looking for not exactly a happy ending, this would be a good one to pick up.
They Mostly Come Out at Night is split, in a sense. Every other chapter there's a Grimm styled chapter that focuses on a tale of that world. Such as Artemis and the Mouse, The Magpie King's Bride, The Thief and the Lady, all of which have to do with the present story. It's a uniquely written book.
When brought to the present, you follow two young men. One is the son of the Magpie King and the other is a shunned villager. Every night the village is attacked by wolves and they must sleep in cellars and make no noise or the wolves will find them and kill them.
The young villager has dreams every night about the past and learns what has happened to the Magpie King. The village thinks he's crazy but he knows his dreams to be true.
While I did think the first half of this book was a little boring, I really liked the last of it. I was completely unprepared and only realized certain things in the moment you were meant to learn them. It was a clever build up.
Now, will I read the other books in this series? Probably not. While I did enjoy this and thought it was great, I'm not a big fan of grim endings. So, if you're looking for not exactly a happy ending, this would be a good one to pick up.
April 30, 2017
A dark fairy tale in the old school Grimm vein told from two main POVs. Lonan is the outcast of the village since his cries as a young boy brought death to his immediate family and damage to his village. Adahy is the son and heir to the Magpie King but struggles to live up to his own expectations of what that means. The author uses these POVs to provide a neat little twist as the story progresses. There are fairy tales set in this world that are interspersed throughout the book that serve as a worldbuilding device. As mentioned above this is old school so there are plenty of deaths and a bit of the horrific thrown in to spice it up. There are some good secondary characters including a old woman healer and Lonan's first and only love but this is fairly short so the fleshing out is as expected, a little thin. An entertaining story that just breaks into 4 star territory.
7/10
7/10
April 14, 2017
This was a very enjoyable read. It had a very classic fantasy/fairy-tale feel. It's been a while since I read a story like that, and it was a refreshing change of pace. Overall, I found the writing was competent, with very few noticeable errors.
I didn't quite love it, but it was still a very good read. As an added plus, this is a standalone story. There's another novel set in the world, but this story is complete. That's rare these days in fantasy.
Rating: 8/10
I didn't quite love it, but it was still a very good read. As an added plus, this is a standalone story. There's another novel set in the world, but this story is complete. That's rare these days in fantasy.
Rating: 8/10
May 21, 2024
Sunset is where an unnatural chill sets in your bones.
The terror increasing creeps in.
For the horrors have arrived.
Frightening. Lyrical. Set in a dark fairytale world of spiritual protectors and nightmarish demons. Completely entrancing. Spellbinding!
The terror increasing creeps in.
For the horrors have arrived.
Frightening. Lyrical. Set in a dark fairytale world of spiritual protectors and nightmarish demons. Completely entrancing. Spellbinding!
October 8, 2018
They Mostly Come Out at Night is an entertaining fantasy story interspliced with a series of folktales each adding to the lore and history of the forest land in which the book is set. The folktales provide an innovative worldbuilding device in support of the primary narrative through which the author has ceated an eerily atmospheric world with a sense of historical and cultural depth that is not easily achieved in such a short novel.
My only gripe is that the dialogue was often jarring for me as, the main protagonist, Lonan's inner monologue set a mature tone to his thinking, but his spoken dialogue turned out to be much more immature and combative. That junxtaposition just didn't work well for me.
Overall this was a wonderfully unique Fantasy story set in a dark, atmospheric fairytale world. I look forward to returning to Yarnsworld in the future as this world has the potential for some truly amazing stroytelling yet to come!
My only gripe is that the dialogue was often jarring for me as, the main protagonist, Lonan's inner monologue set a mature tone to his thinking, but his spoken dialogue turned out to be much more immature and combative. That junxtaposition just didn't work well for me.
Overall this was a wonderfully unique Fantasy story set in a dark, atmospheric fairytale world. I look forward to returning to Yarnsworld in the future as this world has the potential for some truly amazing stroytelling yet to come!
October 27, 2016
If there is one thing to be said about this book, Patrick’s story telling ability is as beautiful as it is complex and breathtakingly unique. A great find for lovers of dark fantasy!
The story is told in three alternating narratives; the first being our main character Lonan, folklore excerpts, and Lonan’s dream about a strange man named Adahy and a mysterious man with extraordinary powers that goes by the name of The Magpie King. We begin the journey with Lonan, a current outcast in his society due to a horrible incident that happened in his village long ago that the local villagers have blamed Lonan for causing. Lonan struggles to find his knack, a special talent or ability that that everyone in Lonan’s world has that makes them especially good at accomplishing certain tasks. Knacks can be for just about anything: cooking, black smithing, music, medicine, dancing, story-telling, leadership, and even lying. The villagers do not leave their houses after dark due to the presence of creatures that, wouldn’t you know, mostly come out at night and that are dangerous and known for killing anyone who may unfortunately find themselves outdoors.
Upon reading this book, I immediately fell in love with the story. The folklore excerpts were expertly used to not only contribute to the storyline but as a smart world building technique that gave authenticity and insight into Lonan’s world, much in the same way that our own fables, folklore, fairy tales, and legends speak loudly of our cultures. Patrick’s story creates a world easy for us to explore, a smooth sail on a calm sea to fall into as we are led down this rabbit hole of adventure. I couldn’t help but identify with Lonan as his search to find happiness and his own place in his world echoes my own questions about what my knack would be. With each turn of the page, we are drawn further and further in, each paper thin layer of story telling carefully crafted until we get to the end of our journey. A delightful plot twist reveals just how each of those layers came together in a seamless reveal and readers will be able to look back and marvel at the journey that brought them there.
So, if you’re in the need of a great story, a wonderful fast-paced adventure stuffed with some everyday magic, a good dose of legend, and stitched together with a little bit of darkness, grab this book!
The story is told in three alternating narratives; the first being our main character Lonan, folklore excerpts, and Lonan’s dream about a strange man named Adahy and a mysterious man with extraordinary powers that goes by the name of The Magpie King. We begin the journey with Lonan, a current outcast in his society due to a horrible incident that happened in his village long ago that the local villagers have blamed Lonan for causing. Lonan struggles to find his knack, a special talent or ability that that everyone in Lonan’s world has that makes them especially good at accomplishing certain tasks. Knacks can be for just about anything: cooking, black smithing, music, medicine, dancing, story-telling, leadership, and even lying. The villagers do not leave their houses after dark due to the presence of creatures that, wouldn’t you know, mostly come out at night and that are dangerous and known for killing anyone who may unfortunately find themselves outdoors.
Upon reading this book, I immediately fell in love with the story. The folklore excerpts were expertly used to not only contribute to the storyline but as a smart world building technique that gave authenticity and insight into Lonan’s world, much in the same way that our own fables, folklore, fairy tales, and legends speak loudly of our cultures. Patrick’s story creates a world easy for us to explore, a smooth sail on a calm sea to fall into as we are led down this rabbit hole of adventure. I couldn’t help but identify with Lonan as his search to find happiness and his own place in his world echoes my own questions about what my knack would be. With each turn of the page, we are drawn further and further in, each paper thin layer of story telling carefully crafted until we get to the end of our journey. A delightful plot twist reveals just how each of those layers came together in a seamless reveal and readers will be able to look back and marvel at the journey that brought them there.
So, if you’re in the need of a great story, a wonderful fast-paced adventure stuffed with some everyday magic, a good dose of legend, and stitched together with a little bit of darkness, grab this book!
November 13, 2025
Updated, extended, nice long review can be found here: https://starlitbook.com/2018/03/25/th...
This is a very unusual book. I liked that there was two different story lines which came together eventually. It started a bit slow, though. Oh, and the short stories between chapters! I loved them! And the ending... now that was a good one. Not exactly a happy end but not tragic either (well, depending on your point of view anyway). Well written, though it could have used some more editing in places, sometimes I felt there were too big gaps in the text. But other than that it is an entertaining one for those who like their fantasy a bit dark and bloody.
On a side note: I couldn't get used to the fact that the mythical hero is called Artemis, and that he is a male. If you say Artemis, I say goddess of hunting (and many more). But maybe it was disturbing only to me.
This is a very unusual book. I liked that there was two different story lines which came together eventually. It started a bit slow, though. Oh, and the short stories between chapters! I loved them! And the ending... now that was a good one. Not exactly a happy end but not tragic either (well, depending on your point of view anyway). Well written, though it could have used some more editing in places, sometimes I felt there were too big gaps in the text. But other than that it is an entertaining one for those who like their fantasy a bit dark and bloody.
On a side note: I couldn't get used to the fact that the mythical hero is called Artemis, and that he is a male. If you say Artemis, I say goddess of hunting (and many more). But maybe it was disturbing only to me.
May 24, 2017
This was an interesting read. The folktale vibes gave it a distinct flavor and the aesthetic of the Magpie King was great. Reminded me of Eileen the crow from Bloodborne. There is a bit of roughness but no more than any other debut novel. The worst thing you can say about that kind of roughness is you can see the potential of the writer. Mostly, this is a fun story. Mostly. Give it a read.
September 11, 2018
Plot: 12/15
Prose: 4/5
Character: 9/15
Setting: 25/25
Dialogue: 6/10
Enjoyment: 24/30
Overall: 80/100 (4 stars)
Prose: 4/5
Character: 9/15
Setting: 25/25
Dialogue: 6/10
Enjoyment: 24/30
Overall: 80/100 (4 stars)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 383 reviews