I was NOT anticipating giving this story five stars when I started reading it. Even at 70% complete, I was still planning on giving this a three star rating, specifically because of the amount of grammatical errors I found in the first half of the book.
I’ve quit reading books in the middle—GOOD books, at that—because of too many grammatical errors, but the fact that I not only continued reading this story to completion, but that at the end of it, I’m STILL giving it a five-star review should be all the information you need about Emily Goodwin’s absolute GENIUS ability to plot a novel.
I hit 80% when I was trying to go to sleep last night. (There’s been MANY nights where I fall asleep reading, this book and others. Not because they’re boring in any way, but just because I want to read MORE and I end up just passing out mid-chapter. Who doesn’t, amiright?) I knew I was getting into the climax section of the story, but I thought I had a pretty good idea of where things were going.
*spoiler alert* I did NOT.
I TORE through chapters 30-33, and when I got to the last word of Chapter 33 (at 3:30am, no less) I sat up in bed, and just stared. I was so dumbfounded that I was going through THAT kind of reveal, and my husband was just sitting at his computer, playing a game like nothing was even happening.
So, of course, I had to fill him in on the absolute genius that led up to this 3:30am epiphany. He’s been privy to my loving sighs at Lucas’ words of adoration, and, c’mon, the sex is PHENOMENAL. So he knew enough about the hold this series has had on me up to this point, but he got a LESSON last night. He got the 4 side-plot backstory that has been interweaved throughout the two previous books, the parallels and symbolism of each, and, of course, my theories on what this means for THE NEXT SIX BOOKS. (Does he remember a word I said? Probably not, but he gets points for being an active listener.)
I finished the final 10% of the book this morning, and I’m still catching myself staring off into the distance, and trying to decipher how some one can weave a story together that’s THAT good. I was so enthralled, that upon completion I immediately sat down and composed an email to the author. Granted, most of it was probably keyboard smashing nonsense of me processing what I’d just read, but I’ve NEVER emailed an author before. And I’d like to point out again—THERE’S STILL SIX MORE BOOKS! And another that’s slated to come out next September (2023)
The last 20% of Call of Night ON IT’S OWN, is enough to warrant reading the first two. And there’s still so much that Emily’s set up for, that I’ve already bought the fourth book and am counting the hours until I can start it uninterrupted!
It’s been a LONG time since a story has done this to me. I can’t remember the last time a story has altered me this way. For me to change a three star rating to five stars in a matter of three chapters, AND immediately emailing the author after completing it? This is a first for me. I’ve NEVER done that before.
I’ll sing Emily Goodwin’s praises until I’m blue in the face—go read Thorne Hill so you can join me!