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Equinox
Everyone is not as they seem in this fantasy novel, replete with war, witchcraft and secrets.
Christophor Morden lives by night. His day-brother, Alexsander, knows only the sun. They are two souls in a single body, in a world where identities change with the rising and setting of the sun.
Night-brother or day-sister, one never sees the light, the other knows nothing of the night. Early one evening, Christophor is roused by a call to the city prison. A prisoner has torn his eyes out and cannot say why. Yet in the sockets that once held his eyes, teeth are growing.
The police suspect the supernatural, so Christophor, a member of the king's special inspectorate, is charged with finding the witch responsible. Night-by-night, Christophor's investigation leads him ever further from home, toward a backwards village on the far edge of the kingdom. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more his day-brother's actions frustrate him.
Who is Alexsander protecting? What does he not want Christophor to discover? And all the while, an ancient and apocalyptic ritual creeps closer to completion...
Christophor Morden lives by night. His day-brother, Alexsander, knows only the sun. They are two souls in a single body, in a world where identities change with the rising and setting of the sun.
Night-brother or day-sister, one never sees the light, the other knows nothing of the night. Early one evening, Christophor is roused by a call to the city prison. A prisoner has torn his eyes out and cannot say why. Yet in the sockets that once held his eyes, teeth are growing.
The police suspect the supernatural, so Christophor, a member of the king's special inspectorate, is charged with finding the witch responsible. Night-by-night, Christophor's investigation leads him ever further from home, toward a backwards village on the far edge of the kingdom. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more his day-brother's actions frustrate him.
Who is Alexsander protecting? What does he not want Christophor to discover? And all the while, an ancient and apocalyptic ritual creeps closer to completion...
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2022
38 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
David Towsey
9 books34 followersDavid Towsey is a graduate of the Bath Spa and Aberystwyth University Creative Writing programmes. Born in Dorset, he moved to Wales and managed to lose himself there for ten years. He’s now determined to see what the rest of the world has to offer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
March 31, 2022
3.5/5
Equinox provides plenty of thrills and exciting ideas. Imagine a world where two beings share a human body: One inhabits it during the day, the other at night. Both lead different lives, have different careers and personalities. The protagonists of Equinox, the day-born musician and hedonist Alexander and the night-born Special Inspector Christophor Morden, are drawn into a witchhunt.
They must act quickly or sorcery may spark a serious conflict and perhaps even war. The investigation takes place in the small town of Drakenford. The Brothers' different lifestyles often clash, and Alexander's naivete gets in the way of progress. I loved the concept of two beings sharing the body and Towsey's exploration of such bizarre life is fascinating.
The dark and dangerous magic is fascinating, but since its nature is revealed slowly I don't think I should spoil it for you. Suffice to say, I found it unique and scary. Equinox is a standalone and as such it impressed me with the amount of world-building seamlessly woven into the narrative. Of course, there are a few info dumps here, but that didn't bother me much.
The paranormal mystery unfolds at a steady (but slow) pace. It feels convoluted, especially in the beginning. Some readers may be scratching their heads trying to figure out what's going on and why exactly they should they care. If you enjoy the foreboding and tense atmosphere, you probably won't mind. However, if you prefer clearly defined storylines and a straightforward narrative, Equinox will probably disappoint you.
All in all, Equinox is an intriguing read that tries something new and fresh. I don't think it will appeal to all readers but I firmly believe it's a book worth trying.
Equinox provides plenty of thrills and exciting ideas. Imagine a world where two beings share a human body: One inhabits it during the day, the other at night. Both lead different lives, have different careers and personalities. The protagonists of Equinox, the day-born musician and hedonist Alexander and the night-born Special Inspector Christophor Morden, are drawn into a witchhunt.
They must act quickly or sorcery may spark a serious conflict and perhaps even war. The investigation takes place in the small town of Drakenford. The Brothers' different lifestyles often clash, and Alexander's naivete gets in the way of progress. I loved the concept of two beings sharing the body and Towsey's exploration of such bizarre life is fascinating.
The dark and dangerous magic is fascinating, but since its nature is revealed slowly I don't think I should spoil it for you. Suffice to say, I found it unique and scary. Equinox is a standalone and as such it impressed me with the amount of world-building seamlessly woven into the narrative. Of course, there are a few info dumps here, but that didn't bother me much.
The paranormal mystery unfolds at a steady (but slow) pace. It feels convoluted, especially in the beginning. Some readers may be scratching their heads trying to figure out what's going on and why exactly they should they care. If you enjoy the foreboding and tense atmosphere, you probably won't mind. However, if you prefer clearly defined storylines and a straightforward narrative, Equinox will probably disappoint you.
All in all, Equinox is an intriguing read that tries something new and fresh. I don't think it will appeal to all readers but I firmly believe it's a book worth trying.
June 25, 2022
7/10; Before I begin my review, I wanted to provide full disclosure that I received an advanced readers copy of Equinox by David Towsey. The following thoughts and opinions are my own.
The concept of day and night lives was fascinating and was the piece that had me picking up the story to read. The two characters were fleshed out enough yet I did seem to prefer one over the other. I loved how the decisions of one side affected the other - and also how the two sides found subtle ways to communicate. I’ve often felt that I would wake up in bed, feeling exhausted after a dream filled night of sleep like I had actually been awake all night living another light.
Equinox does become dark in parts, and I think that will appeal to many who love to venture into the darkness. I loved the elements of witchcraft and the ancient unknown. I think my only real critique here is with the way things wrapped up at the end. The ending felt a bit rushed and there were certain elements that were did not wrap up as much as I would have liked. Off the top of my head I can name the advancement of the army as a piece that was mentioned and discussed on page but then never brought up again at the end. As a reader, these are just some of those little details that I like having tied up. It makes a story feel complete to me. Now I do love ambiguous endings a whole lot if that is the nature of the story, which is not how Equinox plays out.
Overall, I enjoyed the story The book cover is gorgeous and reflects the nature of the story extremely well with the imagery and coloring.
The concept of day and night lives was fascinating and was the piece that had me picking up the story to read. The two characters were fleshed out enough yet I did seem to prefer one over the other. I loved how the decisions of one side affected the other - and also how the two sides found subtle ways to communicate. I’ve often felt that I would wake up in bed, feeling exhausted after a dream filled night of sleep like I had actually been awake all night living another light.
Equinox does become dark in parts, and I think that will appeal to many who love to venture into the darkness. I loved the elements of witchcraft and the ancient unknown. I think my only real critique here is with the way things wrapped up at the end. The ending felt a bit rushed and there were certain elements that were did not wrap up as much as I would have liked. Off the top of my head I can name the advancement of the army as a piece that was mentioned and discussed on page but then never brought up again at the end. As a reader, these are just some of those little details that I like having tied up. It makes a story feel complete to me. Now I do love ambiguous endings a whole lot if that is the nature of the story, which is not how Equinox plays out.
Overall, I enjoyed the story The book cover is gorgeous and reflects the nature of the story extremely well with the imagery and coloring.
January 23, 2022
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review!
When reading the description of this book, my first thought was, "this sounds intriguing!" My first thoughts were right, as this book was certainly intriguing. However, the first half of this book is confusing, and it takes far too long to get to the good parts of the story. Had the first half matched the second, I would have given this four stars.
Note: Though this is a good book, I firmly believe that it may be better suited for a television show (or long movie). I think that the concepts would play out much more nicely on screen, and I'm not usually the type of person to say that about a book.
The Good Things
1. The overall concept of the story is fantastic! The idea that day and night are wholly different is interesting.
2. The characters (though they were a tad lackluster) in relation to the concept of day and night: it's certainly a well-designed idea that the night and day parts of characters affect one another.
3. I think it is important to say that the cover is gorgeous. Many potential readers look at a book's cover FIRST, then turn to the book's summary (which is lacking), then to reviews.
The Bad Things
1. As I mentioned before, the book's first half was a tad confusing, and I had a hard time understanding where the plot was going. It can be hard to build an entire world right off the bat, but I feel like the first 50% (or so) was lacking significantly. The second half of the book gets much better and makes much more sense. If you can deal with this flaw, then read on!
2. I didn't LOVE the writing style. However, writing style IS the type of thing that is up to the reader, so my personal opinion on this matter may not matter much.
When reading the description of this book, my first thought was, "this sounds intriguing!" My first thoughts were right, as this book was certainly intriguing. However, the first half of this book is confusing, and it takes far too long to get to the good parts of the story. Had the first half matched the second, I would have given this four stars.
Note: Though this is a good book, I firmly believe that it may be better suited for a television show (or long movie). I think that the concepts would play out much more nicely on screen, and I'm not usually the type of person to say that about a book.
The Good Things
1. The overall concept of the story is fantastic! The idea that day and night are wholly different is interesting.
2. The characters (though they were a tad lackluster) in relation to the concept of day and night: it's certainly a well-designed idea that the night and day parts of characters affect one another.
3. I think it is important to say that the cover is gorgeous. Many potential readers look at a book's cover FIRST, then turn to the book's summary (which is lacking), then to reviews.
The Bad Things
1. As I mentioned before, the book's first half was a tad confusing, and I had a hard time understanding where the plot was going. It can be hard to build an entire world right off the bat, but I feel like the first 50% (or so) was lacking significantly. The second half of the book gets much better and makes much more sense. If you can deal with this flaw, then read on!
2. I didn't LOVE the writing style. However, writing style IS the type of thing that is up to the reader, so my personal opinion on this matter may not matter much.
May 9, 2022
Equinox is a book with a cool and unique concept, however, I find the slow pacing of the story had affected its quality, next just when things are getting interesting, I felt that the ending was rushed a bit, and finally I wished that the author had explained further how the magic system of the world works. Despite all this I would still recommend it to those who are looking something new and that is why I believe that it's still worth a try.
Thank you NetGalley for providing with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley for providing with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 6, 2023
Stars: 3 out of 5
There is a fascinating premise in this book. What if all humans have two souls inhabiting one body? One has the reigns during the day, the other one during the night? And those are completely different people. They have different names and personalities. They want different things in life. They have different professions. Heck, most of them are even married to different people either night or day. Or married at night but single during the day. Or the night-brother had committed a crime and stays in prison during the night, but their day-brother is released to live their life every morning because it's not fair to punish both souls for the mistakes of just one.
Some people are lucky enough to live harmoniously with their night or day sibling. Some even hold the same profession on both sides of the ettienne. Others are not so lucky. In fact, it seems like a horrible way to live, if you think about it. You wake up every morning/night next to a stranger that your day/night sibling is married to. How awkward is that? It also seems like one sibling will be more dominant over the other.
Like in the case of our protagonist. The night brother is a special inspector, so his job takes precedence over his day brother who is a musician. When the inspector has to leave town on an investigation, the day brother has no choice but to follow, no matter how inconvenient that is for his professional and personal life.
I would have loved to explore this fascinating world a bit more. Like what happens to the children of those married couples? If the night sister is the mother of the children, but the day sister is unmarried and leads a completely different life, who takes care of the children during the day? Especially when they are babies? Does the day sister have a choice in the matter or is she forced to care for them no matter what? Wouldn't that create resentment between the siblings? Wouldn't the children suffer because of that?
The mystery itself is rather complex and progresses at a very leisury pace. In fact almost half the book is setup, and even though the story picks up in the second half, it can still be a slog. There are also some leaps of logic that I found hard to follow. And some plot holes that were rather glaring. Like we are expressly told that the father packed up his family and left town after his wife was arrested. Yet, both the oldest and the youngest children are conveniently present to be sacrificed for the ritual. How did that happen? Also, where is the middle sister and the father? Also, this horrible murder of children isn't even mentioned or addressed in any way afterwards. And the mother doesn't express a single ounce of grief or regret over it. And that is the night-sister that gave birth and raised those children.
All in all, it was interesting mostly for the unique concept and worldbuilding, but I wasn't totally onboard for the story itself. And while I liked both Christophor and Alexander, I wasn't as thrilled with the other characters in this book. And I would have loved a few more answers to the day-to-day conundrum that having two souls in one body represents, because from where I stand, this is the definition of hell.
PS: I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is a fascinating premise in this book. What if all humans have two souls inhabiting one body? One has the reigns during the day, the other one during the night? And those are completely different people. They have different names and personalities. They want different things in life. They have different professions. Heck, most of them are even married to different people either night or day. Or married at night but single during the day. Or the night-brother had committed a crime and stays in prison during the night, but their day-brother is released to live their life every morning because it's not fair to punish both souls for the mistakes of just one.
Some people are lucky enough to live harmoniously with their night or day sibling. Some even hold the same profession on both sides of the ettienne. Others are not so lucky. In fact, it seems like a horrible way to live, if you think about it. You wake up every morning/night next to a stranger that your day/night sibling is married to. How awkward is that? It also seems like one sibling will be more dominant over the other.
Like in the case of our protagonist. The night brother is a special inspector, so his job takes precedence over his day brother who is a musician. When the inspector has to leave town on an investigation, the day brother has no choice but to follow, no matter how inconvenient that is for his professional and personal life.
I would have loved to explore this fascinating world a bit more. Like what happens to the children of those married couples? If the night sister is the mother of the children, but the day sister is unmarried and leads a completely different life, who takes care of the children during the day? Especially when they are babies? Does the day sister have a choice in the matter or is she forced to care for them no matter what? Wouldn't that create resentment between the siblings? Wouldn't the children suffer because of that?
The mystery itself is rather complex and progresses at a very leisury pace. In fact almost half the book is setup, and even though the story picks up in the second half, it can still be a slog. There are also some leaps of logic that I found hard to follow. And some plot holes that were rather glaring. Like we are expressly told that the father packed up his family and left town after his wife was arrested. Yet, both the oldest and the youngest children are conveniently present to be sacrificed for the ritual. How did that happen? Also, where is the middle sister and the father? Also, this horrible murder of children isn't even mentioned or addressed in any way afterwards. And the mother doesn't express a single ounce of grief or regret over it. And that is the night-sister that gave birth and raised those children.
All in all, it was interesting mostly for the unique concept and worldbuilding, but I wasn't totally onboard for the story itself. And while I liked both Christophor and Alexander, I wasn't as thrilled with the other characters in this book. And I would have loved a few more answers to the day-to-day conundrum that having two souls in one body represents, because from where I stand, this is the definition of hell.
PS: I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2022
Very strange but intriguing, and in some parts, horrifying. (As in the plot, not the writing). A couple things this story reminds me of:
1) Christopher, the night brother, is sent to a faraway town from orders of the King in order to find out who has been guilty of witchcraft and bring them to justice. The reception he gets is very similar to Ichabod Crane in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. The town understands why he's there and what he does, but not all of them trust him.
2) The horrific events that happen towards the victims of witchcraft are similar to the creepiness and oddity of the Brothers Grimm movie. This is not your typical, textbook witchcraft.
Most of the reviews so far for this book say the first half of the story is confusing, but I say it's the opposite. I thought the first half was fluid, bone-chilling, and formidable, and really made me excited/anxious to see who was behind the madness. But the second half was rushed. Details were flimsy, unnecessary add-ons like the Four Horsemen were mixed into the plot for no purpose, and loose ends were still not efficiently tied up towards the end. This is still a great book to read for readers who appreciate an eerie fantasy, I just wish there was a more strong, more concrete ending for the last few chapters.
Thank you Head of Zeus for the advanced digital copy!
1) Christopher, the night brother, is sent to a faraway town from orders of the King in order to find out who has been guilty of witchcraft and bring them to justice. The reception he gets is very similar to Ichabod Crane in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. The town understands why he's there and what he does, but not all of them trust him.
2) The horrific events that happen towards the victims of witchcraft are similar to the creepiness and oddity of the Brothers Grimm movie. This is not your typical, textbook witchcraft.
Most of the reviews so far for this book say the first half of the story is confusing, but I say it's the opposite. I thought the first half was fluid, bone-chilling, and formidable, and really made me excited/anxious to see who was behind the madness. But the second half was rushed. Details were flimsy, unnecessary add-ons like the Four Horsemen were mixed into the plot for no purpose, and loose ends were still not efficiently tied up towards the end. This is still a great book to read for readers who appreciate an eerie fantasy, I just wish there was a more strong, more concrete ending for the last few chapters.
Thank you Head of Zeus for the advanced digital copy!
August 15, 2022
A gripping read with a novel concept. . Imagine a world where two beings share a human body: One inhabits it during the day, the other at night. Both lead different lives, have different careers and personalities. In our case, we explore the life of the day-born musician and hedonist Alexander and the night-born Special Inspector Christophor Morden. Then, add some pretty dark witchcraft, the threat of war and you have a unique and mysterious story.
Though I enjoyed the concept, it took a little longer for me to get into this than I normally would. Things started to really speed up when the two 'brothers' moved onto the same goal, but until then I struggled a little to keep up.
Overall an engaging and dark paranormal mystery!
Though I enjoyed the concept, it took a little longer for me to get into this than I normally would. Things started to really speed up when the two 'brothers' moved onto the same goal, but until then I struggled a little to keep up.
Overall an engaging and dark paranormal mystery!
May 15, 2023
Eh. The blurb was amazing, but the execution was rather lacking. There are, however, some creepy scenes in there making the book worthwhile, at least, even if it's not reaching "amazing" levels.
I think that the main problem of Equinox was too much happening at the same time and not enough "space" to tackle everything properly. A plague, the threat of a war, a world where one body is inhabited by two souls, some romance (?), the burden of "old age", but also an investigation to find a witch that wants to start the apocalypse - these themes needed more space and definitely more "urgency".
But seriously, how can you make the hunt for a witch doing a ritual for bringing down the apocalypse boring?!
I think that the main problem of Equinox was too much happening at the same time and not enough "space" to tackle everything properly. A plague, the threat of a war, a world where one body is inhabited by two souls, some romance (?), the burden of "old age", but also an investigation to find a witch that wants to start the apocalypse - these themes needed more space and definitely more "urgency".
But seriously, how can you make the hunt for a witch doing a ritual for bringing down the apocalypse boring?!
October 8, 2022
An intriguing premise, fitting characters and an engrossing plot. This is a very well-written and well thought out book. I loved the slow burn, the mystery, the hidden details, the conflict between the day/night characters and how it ended. Excellent!
July 3, 2022
As a reader, I am always looking for fantasy novels that are not a saga but a standalone. It is not an easy task but when you find something like Equinox, by David Towsey, you know the search is worth it.
First, I was stunned by the cover, it just checks all my curiosity boxes and I am really looking forward to seeing how well it will do in our bookstore shelves as well.
The idea per se is an amazing one as well. Two people in the same body, one living during the day, one during the night, each with their separate and independent lives (there is even mention to day-husband and wife who have separate night husband/wife, which I am sure leads to a lot of shenanigans).
The story itself follow Christophor, a night-brother, in his mission to uncover the truth behind a truly, horrifying, teeth-gritting, vision. His day-brother goes along as well… at least at the beginning. One of the major points in the novel is how the day-night equilibrium can be easily broken and the consequences one brother may have in the life and choices of the other one.
The story could be better fleshed sometimes, there seems to be some information that the reader never really gets, but I do not think it comes in detriment of the novel as a whole. It could, however, push some readers. The characters are very well written, with their lights and their shadows, and the pacing is absolutely brutal and leaves no margin for taking a breath. Once you’re inside the world, you are not out until you are not finished with the story.
First, I was stunned by the cover, it just checks all my curiosity boxes and I am really looking forward to seeing how well it will do in our bookstore shelves as well.
The idea per se is an amazing one as well. Two people in the same body, one living during the day, one during the night, each with their separate and independent lives (there is even mention to day-husband and wife who have separate night husband/wife, which I am sure leads to a lot of shenanigans).
The story itself follow Christophor, a night-brother, in his mission to uncover the truth behind a truly, horrifying, teeth-gritting, vision. His day-brother goes along as well… at least at the beginning. One of the major points in the novel is how the day-night equilibrium can be easily broken and the consequences one brother may have in the life and choices of the other one.
The story could be better fleshed sometimes, there seems to be some information that the reader never really gets, but I do not think it comes in detriment of the novel as a whole. It could, however, push some readers. The characters are very well written, with their lights and their shadows, and the pacing is absolutely brutal and leaves no margin for taking a breath. Once you’re inside the world, you are not out until you are not finished with the story.
May 30, 2022
It’s the premise that is going to capture your attention initially when it comes to Equinox by David Towsey. The idea that everyone shares their body with someone else. The night is yours and the day is theirs or vice versa. You and your other half lead entirely separate lives, never meeting but existing just on the periphery of one another. Important decisions like your choice of career or who you decide to share your life with suddenly matter just that little bit more than they did before.
For the more morally ambiguous amongst you, the potential delights of infidelity or the dark promise of crime are beset with all manner of new factors to take into account. I don’t imagine for a second your body sharing counterpart is going to be over the moon if they wake up in a jail cell meant for you*. This is where Special Inspector Christophor Morden comes in. In the dark half of existence, he is tasked with uncovering the truth behind supernatural occurrences. For Christophor, demons and witchcraft are commonplace. He is a veteran of this nocturnal life and you can tell it has been grinding him down for years.
Christophor’s daytime brother, Alexsander, is quite the reverse. A musician by trade, Alexsander seems to have inherited the sunnier outlook; he lives in the light. He never sees the worst in people.
The chapters alternate between Christophor and Alexsander’s perspectives and I love how it quickly becomes obvious that though the two men are fundamentally different there is also a deep bond between them both. They describe one another’s actions, and you get the sense they have become passengers in one another’s lives.
There are moments where the narrative dances the fine line between fantasy and horror. We’re deep into the realms of magic and curses so a bit of body horror flavoured ickiness thrown in for good measure seems like a sensible approach to me.
Towsey writing paints an evocative picture, classic movies like Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter and Witchfinder General kept popping into my head. You know the sort of thing, isolated communities apparently innocent but in reality chock full of secrets with a big old slice of evil thrown in for good measure. I can’t help but be enthralled by this stuff. Where the book really excels is the thought the author has put into the smallest details. Want to annoy your alternate? Go to bed drunk and they wake with the hungover. I always appreciate when a writer goes the extra mile and considers everything about a fictional world they craft. That attention makes their work that much more enjoyable to devour.
I’m already a big fan of David Towsey’s work previous work. The Walkin’ trilogy was a wonderful interpretation of the zombie mythos and he has achieved a similar feat here. Equinox is the reimagining of the police procedural as a dark fantasy novel. I do hope that Special Inspector Morden and his brother will return.
*Actually, how that is dealt with is pretty clever but I won’t spoil the surprise. It’s clear the author has spent time pondering the logistics involved in his world-building.
For the more morally ambiguous amongst you, the potential delights of infidelity or the dark promise of crime are beset with all manner of new factors to take into account. I don’t imagine for a second your body sharing counterpart is going to be over the moon if they wake up in a jail cell meant for you*. This is where Special Inspector Christophor Morden comes in. In the dark half of existence, he is tasked with uncovering the truth behind supernatural occurrences. For Christophor, demons and witchcraft are commonplace. He is a veteran of this nocturnal life and you can tell it has been grinding him down for years.
Christophor’s daytime brother, Alexsander, is quite the reverse. A musician by trade, Alexsander seems to have inherited the sunnier outlook; he lives in the light. He never sees the worst in people.
The chapters alternate between Christophor and Alexsander’s perspectives and I love how it quickly becomes obvious that though the two men are fundamentally different there is also a deep bond between them both. They describe one another’s actions, and you get the sense they have become passengers in one another’s lives.
There are moments where the narrative dances the fine line between fantasy and horror. We’re deep into the realms of magic and curses so a bit of body horror flavoured ickiness thrown in for good measure seems like a sensible approach to me.
Towsey writing paints an evocative picture, classic movies like Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter and Witchfinder General kept popping into my head. You know the sort of thing, isolated communities apparently innocent but in reality chock full of secrets with a big old slice of evil thrown in for good measure. I can’t help but be enthralled by this stuff. Where the book really excels is the thought the author has put into the smallest details. Want to annoy your alternate? Go to bed drunk and they wake with the hungover. I always appreciate when a writer goes the extra mile and considers everything about a fictional world they craft. That attention makes their work that much more enjoyable to devour.
I’m already a big fan of David Towsey’s work previous work. The Walkin’ trilogy was a wonderful interpretation of the zombie mythos and he has achieved a similar feat here. Equinox is the reimagining of the police procedural as a dark fantasy novel. I do hope that Special Inspector Morden and his brother will return.
*Actually, how that is dealt with is pretty clever but I won’t spoil the surprise. It’s clear the author has spent time pondering the logistics involved in his world-building.
January 14, 2022
I love a good bit of escapism fantasy, and David Towsey does just that with his book "Equinox". A little reminiscent of what VE Schwab does with A Darker Side of Magic, or how Sarah Mass plays with the veil between the Fae world and the regular world, Towsey explores the idea of two separate worlds (and yet, the same world) - one in the day, and one at night. Every person has their day persona and their night persona (persona is maybe the wrong word, since the two are totally separate), and what happens during the day does not cross over into the night. The plot centers around the tension that occurs when what the day persona and the night persona want are at odds - and it's so fun to watch unfold.
Five stars for characters, pacing, and overall dark magic and fun.
Five stars for characters, pacing, and overall dark magic and fun.
September 6, 2024
Author David Towsey's “Equinox” is set in a world where everyone has a double, except the double shares the same body. To accomplish this, one person inhabits the body during the day, the other during the night. They each tend to live quite different lives, having different relationships, jobs and personalities.
Special Inspector Christopher Morden is a night inhabitant; he works for the crown and hunts witches. His day brother is Alexander, a naive musician. Both are somewhat aware of the other's activities, though on Morden's latest deadly assignment, Alexander proves to be a bit of a hindrance.
Morden is sent to the town of Drakenford; it seems someone has likely been practicing dark magic, after a Drakenford native turns up in Morden's town, mutilated. Morden is quickly dispatched to Drakenford, and gets to know the night inhabitants, asking questions, and slowly understanding who is causing trouble, and how, if they are not stopped, their actions could lead to war with the southern tribes. Meanwhile, Alexander becomes involved with the daytime individuals who are Morden's suspects, and Alexander takes it upon himself to insert himself into Morden's investigation, muddling Morden's efforts, but also leading to a better understanding between the two brothers.
Towsey slowly teases out the nature of the dark magic practiced by the antagonist, who commits atrocities several times (e.g., poor Tabitha!), and tension builds with each new, terrible act perpetrated.
Towsey's world is fascinating, and had me wondering at the complexity of existence in his world, and the relationships that are so segregated by day and night. For example, two day people could be married, but their night counterparts could live very separate lives, and have relationships with others.
The atmosphere is suitably dark, and I quite liked the style of writing. The pacing is slow, with the narrative taking a while to get going, but I liked the innovativeness of the way Towsey had two distinct people sharing the same body. And though I found the story meandered a little, I still found it intriguing.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Head of Zeus for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Special Inspector Christopher Morden is a night inhabitant; he works for the crown and hunts witches. His day brother is Alexander, a naive musician. Both are somewhat aware of the other's activities, though on Morden's latest deadly assignment, Alexander proves to be a bit of a hindrance.
Morden is sent to the town of Drakenford; it seems someone has likely been practicing dark magic, after a Drakenford native turns up in Morden's town, mutilated. Morden is quickly dispatched to Drakenford, and gets to know the night inhabitants, asking questions, and slowly understanding who is causing trouble, and how, if they are not stopped, their actions could lead to war with the southern tribes. Meanwhile, Alexander becomes involved with the daytime individuals who are Morden's suspects, and Alexander takes it upon himself to insert himself into Morden's investigation, muddling Morden's efforts, but also leading to a better understanding between the two brothers.
Towsey slowly teases out the nature of the dark magic practiced by the antagonist, who commits atrocities several times (e.g., poor Tabitha!), and tension builds with each new, terrible act perpetrated.
Towsey's world is fascinating, and had me wondering at the complexity of existence in his world, and the relationships that are so segregated by day and night. For example, two day people could be married, but their night counterparts could live very separate lives, and have relationships with others.
The atmosphere is suitably dark, and I quite liked the style of writing. The pacing is slow, with the narrative taking a while to get going, but I liked the innovativeness of the way Towsey had two distinct people sharing the same body. And though I found the story meandered a little, I still found it intriguing.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Head of Zeus for this ARC in exchange for my review.
May 26, 2022
Equinox is an intriguing book that lured me in for a number of reasons. Firstly it has an absolutely stunning cover and second it’s a fantasy standalone – something I definitely don’t read enough of. The story also has such a fascinating concept that I couldn’t resist diving straight into it.
Equinox tells the story of Christophor Morden. Christophor lives in a world where everyone has two identities – one for the day and one for the night. One only ever sees the darkness and the other the day. Christophor is a member of the king’s special unit, whereas his day brother Alexsander is a musician. When Christophor is called to the city prison to witness a prisoner who has torn out their eyes. The cause is thought to be supernatural in origin, sending Christophor and his day brother on a quest to find the witch responsible.
Equniox is such a unique story – it felt like such a fresh take on the fantasy story. It felt wholly original and unlike anything I’ve read before. It was so fascinating to see these two characters who lead completely different lives and have completely different personalities inhabit one body. I really liked Christophor as the main protagonist and felt the story was well-paced. It did take me a little while to get into the story but after the first quarter of the book, I was completely invested in the story.
Towsey does a really brilliant job of creating that tense atmosphere, particularly as the mystery begins to unfold. The magic in this story is pretty dark and it was probably the thing that intrigued me most about this book. There are some moments that are on the creepy/gory side and Towsey doesn’t shy away from scenes that send a shiver down your spine. Equinox is a brilliantly told dark fantasy story that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re looking for some dark, gripping fantasy this should definitely be on your reading list. Whilst this is my first book from David Towsey, I cannot wait to read more from this author!
Equinox tells the story of Christophor Morden. Christophor lives in a world where everyone has two identities – one for the day and one for the night. One only ever sees the darkness and the other the day. Christophor is a member of the king’s special unit, whereas his day brother Alexsander is a musician. When Christophor is called to the city prison to witness a prisoner who has torn out their eyes. The cause is thought to be supernatural in origin, sending Christophor and his day brother on a quest to find the witch responsible.
Equniox is such a unique story – it felt like such a fresh take on the fantasy story. It felt wholly original and unlike anything I’ve read before. It was so fascinating to see these two characters who lead completely different lives and have completely different personalities inhabit one body. I really liked Christophor as the main protagonist and felt the story was well-paced. It did take me a little while to get into the story but after the first quarter of the book, I was completely invested in the story.
Towsey does a really brilliant job of creating that tense atmosphere, particularly as the mystery begins to unfold. The magic in this story is pretty dark and it was probably the thing that intrigued me most about this book. There are some moments that are on the creepy/gory side and Towsey doesn’t shy away from scenes that send a shiver down your spine. Equinox is a brilliantly told dark fantasy story that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re looking for some dark, gripping fantasy this should definitely be on your reading list. Whilst this is my first book from David Towsey, I cannot wait to read more from this author!
May 21, 2022
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The concept of this book, as told by the blurb, had me hooked. I liked the idea of a body that housed two alternating souls and loved the idea of one of them somewhat hiding things from the other. The execution, however, left me feeling like perhaps the blurb hadn't been overly honest. The dual souls thing is a massive part of the book, so no gripe there, I just never felt like there was much being kept secret or hidden between the two souls. Which was a big hook for me.
As you can probably guess from my rating of 3 out of 5, there are positives and negatives. I'll start off with the positives.
The concept was fantastic and the dark nature of the storytelling really suited the world in which the story was happening. There was some very dark imagery throughout, especially near the end. Anything short of dark grimness really wouldn't have suited a witch hunter character. I also felt that what I was reading was fairly unique, that's always a nice feeling.
I enjoyed the vast difference between the two main characters. It added a good dynamic that one was incredibly dour and unfun to read/be around and the other was all about enjoying life. Had it simply been a story from Christophor's perspective, I'd have not even bothered finishing it. This needed Alexsander to take the oppressive dullness off of things that was Christophor's personality and bring a bit of flare and human compassion to the piece.
Slightly more negative aspects: The pacing/writing style was very slow and meandering. I found that I couldn't read it for very long periods of time because the longer I read, the slowness of it just made me struggle to focus and take in the words on the page.
My main negative was the main selling point. I did love the idea of a body harbouring a day soul and a night soul, but there was absolutely no explaining how a body could support being actively used for so long without burning up and dying of over-use. Yes, the author states they sleep ... but when? And for how long? It's the body that needs rest, not the consciousness, in order to prevent muscle damage. Surely if the body is awake twice as much, it'd need more rest? The author uses our dates (and religion in Christianity, something I felt came off a tad lazy) so, if you use our dates, in theory (I say in theory because it was never specified) you use our times as well. If a body goes about its day and then goes about its night ... when does it have a chance to sleep and recover from the strain it is put under during the waking hours? You could look deeper and deeper as to how the basic needs of the body aren't met and, sadly for me, I did. I can't simply accept a thing works when my scientific brain screams out that it can't. So I think my own mode of thinking soured me where other readers found only joy.
The slow pace, as mentioned before, was an issue that mildly hit the end as well. The end wasn't slow, it was quite quick and a lot happened in a short space of time but, due to it having come off the back of such a meandering plot, it hit me a little jarringly. It wasn't a bad ending, it had some of the best imagery of the book, but the pacing just felt off.
All in all, I enjoyed it, but felt I would have enjoyed it more if the world building (religion, events going on around the main plot etc ...) had been a tad more complete and the pacing had been more consistent. This also felt a bit more like a 'literary' fantasy rather than a straight up fantasy.
The concept of this book, as told by the blurb, had me hooked. I liked the idea of a body that housed two alternating souls and loved the idea of one of them somewhat hiding things from the other. The execution, however, left me feeling like perhaps the blurb hadn't been overly honest. The dual souls thing is a massive part of the book, so no gripe there, I just never felt like there was much being kept secret or hidden between the two souls. Which was a big hook for me.
As you can probably guess from my rating of 3 out of 5, there are positives and negatives. I'll start off with the positives.
The concept was fantastic and the dark nature of the storytelling really suited the world in which the story was happening. There was some very dark imagery throughout, especially near the end. Anything short of dark grimness really wouldn't have suited a witch hunter character. I also felt that what I was reading was fairly unique, that's always a nice feeling.
I enjoyed the vast difference between the two main characters. It added a good dynamic that one was incredibly dour and unfun to read/be around and the other was all about enjoying life. Had it simply been a story from Christophor's perspective, I'd have not even bothered finishing it. This needed Alexsander to take the oppressive dullness off of things that was Christophor's personality and bring a bit of flare and human compassion to the piece.
Slightly more negative aspects: The pacing/writing style was very slow and meandering. I found that I couldn't read it for very long periods of time because the longer I read, the slowness of it just made me struggle to focus and take in the words on the page.
My main negative was the main selling point. I did love the idea of a body harbouring a day soul and a night soul, but there was absolutely no explaining how a body could support being actively used for so long without burning up and dying of over-use. Yes, the author states they sleep ... but when? And for how long? It's the body that needs rest, not the consciousness, in order to prevent muscle damage. Surely if the body is awake twice as much, it'd need more rest? The author uses our dates (and religion in Christianity, something I felt came off a tad lazy) so, if you use our dates, in theory (I say in theory because it was never specified) you use our times as well. If a body goes about its day and then goes about its night ... when does it have a chance to sleep and recover from the strain it is put under during the waking hours? You could look deeper and deeper as to how the basic needs of the body aren't met and, sadly for me, I did. I can't simply accept a thing works when my scientific brain screams out that it can't. So I think my own mode of thinking soured me where other readers found only joy.
The slow pace, as mentioned before, was an issue that mildly hit the end as well. The end wasn't slow, it was quite quick and a lot happened in a short space of time but, due to it having come off the back of such a meandering plot, it hit me a little jarringly. It wasn't a bad ending, it had some of the best imagery of the book, but the pacing just felt off.
All in all, I enjoyed it, but felt I would have enjoyed it more if the world building (religion, events going on around the main plot etc ...) had been a tad more complete and the pacing had been more consistent. This also felt a bit more like a 'literary' fantasy rather than a straight up fantasy.
July 18, 2023
3 stars because the writing of the book was good and made me finish this.
I was actually quite disappointed in the book. The cover and synopsis made me think this would be a different story.
First of all, I did not expect all the Christian influences in the book. I was raised with the Christian religion, but it never resonated with me. However, being familiar with the religion, the topics and metaphors chosen made the course of the story rather obvious to me. But in the end, I have no idea what the Four Horsemen were to do in the story. Only as a “scary omen”. In the end their threat felt empty.
Just a vision to make it seem ominous.
The “prophecy” also made it clear when and which plot beat would come. I wasn’t surprised by what would happen next.
The story is interesting in the aspect that there are two people sharing one body. One living by day and the other by night. I liked how the conflict and the difference in personality between the brothers and sisters was written.
I liked Alexsander (day-brother) more than Christophor (night-brother). Alexsander was, for obvious reasons, more openminded and his POV was way easier to get through.
Also, flip the synopsis. It made me think that the story was told in a certain way, because it said: “but the closer he gets to the truth, the more his day-brother’s (Alexsander) actions frustrate him.”
You’d think we’d read it from the night-brother’s perspective right? BUT WE READ IT FROM ALEXSANDER’S PERSPECTIVE! So there is no mystery of what the day-brother is about! I was expecting mystery, putting together what his day-bro was doing, his motives. But we KNEW EVERYTHING! And Alexsander is just a good guy.
Also, the further the story progressed, definitely near the end, there were some parts that I’d liked to have explained. How did Rebecca feel about the oath? Or pact? Her night-sister made with “the witch”.
TRIGGER WARNING for crucifixion
Also, two people (one CHILD) were killed and used as a blood sacrifice. But they had a little sister and father. What happened to them? We have two sentences that they (for me implying the entire family at that point) “left” the house. But where did they go? Why didn’t they take these two children? Don’t they CARE about them?
Also, the witch was supposed, it was lightly implied, to have an affair with the day-father, but we didn’t explore this either. I WANT TO KNOW!!!!
Give me the JUICE! Not just the crucifixion as a shock value moment 💔.
I think I’m gonna give a 2 stars instead of 3.
The writing was good though 😫
I was actually quite disappointed in the book. The cover and synopsis made me think this would be a different story.
First of all, I did not expect all the Christian influences in the book. I was raised with the Christian religion, but it never resonated with me. However, being familiar with the religion, the topics and metaphors chosen made the course of the story rather obvious to me. But in the end, I have no idea what the Four Horsemen were to do in the story. Only as a “scary omen”. In the end their threat felt empty.
Just a vision to make it seem ominous.
The “prophecy” also made it clear when and which plot beat would come. I wasn’t surprised by what would happen next.
The story is interesting in the aspect that there are two people sharing one body. One living by day and the other by night. I liked how the conflict and the difference in personality between the brothers and sisters was written.
I liked Alexsander (day-brother) more than Christophor (night-brother). Alexsander was, for obvious reasons, more openminded and his POV was way easier to get through.
Also, flip the synopsis. It made me think that the story was told in a certain way, because it said: “but the closer he gets to the truth, the more his day-brother’s (Alexsander) actions frustrate him.”
You’d think we’d read it from the night-brother’s perspective right? BUT WE READ IT FROM ALEXSANDER’S PERSPECTIVE! So there is no mystery of what the day-brother is about! I was expecting mystery, putting together what his day-bro was doing, his motives. But we KNEW EVERYTHING! And Alexsander is just a good guy.
Also, the further the story progressed, definitely near the end, there were some parts that I’d liked to have explained. How did Rebecca feel about the oath? Or pact? Her night-sister made with “the witch”.
TRIGGER WARNING for crucifixion
Also, two people (one CHILD) were killed and used as a blood sacrifice. But they had a little sister and father. What happened to them? We have two sentences that they (for me implying the entire family at that point) “left” the house. But where did they go? Why didn’t they take these two children? Don’t they CARE about them?
Also, the witch was supposed, it was lightly implied, to have an affair with the day-father, but we didn’t explore this either. I WANT TO KNOW!!!!
Give me the JUICE! Not just the crucifixion as a shock value moment 💔.
I think I’m gonna give a 2 stars instead of 3.
The writing was good though 😫
April 23, 2022
This book tells the story of Christophor Morden, an investigator, and his day brother Alexsander. In this world everyone changes when the sun sets or rises between their day identity and their night identity. It has elements of the classic Jekyll and Hyde story. Christophor is brought in to investigate a crime with paranormal circumstances, and things slowly develop to reveal a much darker secret.
The plot and setting of this story reminded me a lot of tales like Sleepy Hollow or Tam O’Shanter. It’s full of darkness and some parts really made me squirm. The atmosphere of the story is created quite well, and is a great blend of 18th century countryside village, with plenty of magic and creepiness to keep you looking over your shoulder.
There is a solid crime solving element to this story too. As Christophor gets thrust deeper into things beyond his control the line between what is real and what is not gets blurred. As a result the plot can seem slow-paced but it’s not because the author wastes time on things that he shouldn’t. Rather it’s because reveals and mysteries are done with purpose and care, and are done slowly.
One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was the world building. The idea of everyone sharing a body between two people, and changing to become someone totally different each day or night is done very well. It’s a complex idea to convey in a believable way and I really found the author nailed it perfectly. It doesn’t take over the entire story but it is a solid and well realised concept that is different and really set this story apart from the rest for me.
My main improvement I would suggest would be that while I loved the story and the setting, I didn’t get quite as invested in the characters as I hoped I would. The conflict and tension between Christophor and his day brother Alexsander didn’t get the emotional reaction from me as a reader as was perhaps intended. However, I tend to be a character focused reader so perhaps this point is subjective to an extent.
Overall, this book has many promising elements and I’m glad I picked it up. It’s different to what I would typically read and I would love to thank the author and publisher for the ARC copy. This book comes out on May 12th.
The plot and setting of this story reminded me a lot of tales like Sleepy Hollow or Tam O’Shanter. It’s full of darkness and some parts really made me squirm. The atmosphere of the story is created quite well, and is a great blend of 18th century countryside village, with plenty of magic and creepiness to keep you looking over your shoulder.
There is a solid crime solving element to this story too. As Christophor gets thrust deeper into things beyond his control the line between what is real and what is not gets blurred. As a result the plot can seem slow-paced but it’s not because the author wastes time on things that he shouldn’t. Rather it’s because reveals and mysteries are done with purpose and care, and are done slowly.
One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was the world building. The idea of everyone sharing a body between two people, and changing to become someone totally different each day or night is done very well. It’s a complex idea to convey in a believable way and I really found the author nailed it perfectly. It doesn’t take over the entire story but it is a solid and well realised concept that is different and really set this story apart from the rest for me.
My main improvement I would suggest would be that while I loved the story and the setting, I didn’t get quite as invested in the characters as I hoped I would. The conflict and tension between Christophor and his day brother Alexsander didn’t get the emotional reaction from me as a reader as was perhaps intended. However, I tend to be a character focused reader so perhaps this point is subjective to an extent.
Overall, this book has many promising elements and I’m glad I picked it up. It’s different to what I would typically read and I would love to thank the author and publisher for the ARC copy. This book comes out on May 12th.
April 12, 2022
Equinox is a dark fantasy that isn’t afraid to delve. It delivers high-concept gothic gore- weird, wicked, and soaked in dread. Special Inspector Christophor is charged with hunting down a suspected witch in the hinterlands of the nation. Dark magic is at play, with gruesome results. The world is faintly familiar- gothic architecture and trappings, muskets and horses and even a familiar church and faith behind it- but this is a world where each body contains a night and day occupant, sibling souls that must live alongside one another, split by the rising and setting sun, though they may be utterly different. Our protaganist the meticulous Christopher’s own day-brother Alexsander is a dilettante musician. It’s a striking concept that allows a pacy mystery to develop- one sibling is never quite sure what the other is up to, and their ends do not always align. I found the novel Stoker-esque in its effortlessly grim setting. The care with which Towsey has delved into the history of witchcraft is meticulous (apotropaic marks! what a treat!)- the symbolism underlying the practice of witchcraft is treated with the sincerity it would be in a world where this magic is not only real, but can have deadly consequences. What could have stayed a light and mysterious gothic mystery quickly escalates into true horror, the novel punctuated by grisly set-pieces that are nicely contrasted with tender moments. A conceptually and structurally ambitious and gruesome tale of intrigue, witches, and the warring self- utterly transporting.
April 26, 2022
A book with an very interesting and unique concept for sure.
We are in a world where two people share the one body, one only being present for the night, and the other for the day. Both personalities are distinctly different and we follow the Night Brother Christophor and his Day Brother Alexsander, a Special Investigator and a musician respectively.
Christopher is sent to a small town to investigate accusations of witchcraft on the Kings orders and Alexsander has to tag along for the ride.
Definitely a slower burn book where you are trying to solve a murder mystery, with both brothers only present for their own allowed part of the day. Therefore, each only able to glean evidence and form connections with others available during their part of the day or night.
I really enjoyed this book, it is different from anything I have read. It does have dark themes and sometimes gory parts so bear that in mind.
We are in a world where two people share the one body, one only being present for the night, and the other for the day. Both personalities are distinctly different and we follow the Night Brother Christophor and his Day Brother Alexsander, a Special Investigator and a musician respectively.
Christopher is sent to a small town to investigate accusations of witchcraft on the Kings orders and Alexsander has to tag along for the ride.
Definitely a slower burn book where you are trying to solve a murder mystery, with both brothers only present for their own allowed part of the day. Therefore, each only able to glean evidence and form connections with others available during their part of the day or night.
I really enjoyed this book, it is different from anything I have read. It does have dark themes and sometimes gory parts so bear that in mind.
May 31, 2022
This is a book of conflict between two souls. One who is in the sun, and one who is in the night. It’s a complicated subject in its own way, and that’s the beauty of this world. This novel explores the horrific investigation of a suspect that is having some terrible pain, and by terrible I mean terrible. And that is our MC, Christopher, or perhaps Alexsander, is sent by the King to investigate the very cause of this issue.
What then occurs is a myriad of multiple mysterious events, conflicts between characters, and historical rivalry by nations. The writing itself is solid, but sometimes I was confused with the point of view switch between Christopher and Alexsander. I think there could have been improved in that area, as I strongly identified with Christopher’s view on the world, and as an investigator, he stood quite out strongly. He was sharp, witty, and knew what he had to do. Alexsander was the opposite, rather spending his time in leisure.
And there are a lot of hidden truths in this book. The ending does have a very…interesting ending. And the climax does do that well. Though I felt some parts of the books were slower paced, and could have been shortened for a faster pace. Still, this book is great because it reminds you of the consequences of decisions. Poor decisions can happen due to the nature of apathy itself perhaps? Or is it something else? This novel has great prose, an interesting adventure, and mysterious truth that must be covered. I totally recommend it!
What then occurs is a myriad of multiple mysterious events, conflicts between characters, and historical rivalry by nations. The writing itself is solid, but sometimes I was confused with the point of view switch between Christopher and Alexsander. I think there could have been improved in that area, as I strongly identified with Christopher’s view on the world, and as an investigator, he stood quite out strongly. He was sharp, witty, and knew what he had to do. Alexsander was the opposite, rather spending his time in leisure.
And there are a lot of hidden truths in this book. The ending does have a very…interesting ending. And the climax does do that well. Though I felt some parts of the books were slower paced, and could have been shortened for a faster pace. Still, this book is great because it reminds you of the consequences of decisions. Poor decisions can happen due to the nature of apathy itself perhaps? Or is it something else? This novel has great prose, an interesting adventure, and mysterious truth that must be covered. I totally recommend it!
April 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The description of this book is what hooked me. A world where two people inhabit the same body… one comes out during the day the other at night. Add to that the magical mystery and I was more than sold. While the book was entertaining, I feel that the first half was very slow, to the point where I was uncertain about continuing. It picked up during the second half, the story kept me guessing and the plot twists were mostly unexpected. I enjoyed the dual POV where you got to know how different the day brother was from his night brother. It is definitely a concept I would dive into more. I did find that the conclusion was somewhat convoluted for me. The resolution was equal parts confusing and disturbing (though not entirely in a bad way) for me. Overall it was enjoyable and interesting.
May 19, 2022
Every person has two souls in one body. Special Inspector Christopher Morden shares a body with his feckless musician brother Alexsander. They've always rubbed along together, but his latest case will put that to the test. Christopher is called to the city jail to see a young boy. He tore his own eyes out and teeth grew in their place. He quickly rules it to be the work of a witch and asks someone else, someone younger, to take the case. There's no such luck for him and he's forced to travel to a small village of Drekenford. A strange place that really doesn't want him there. It's up to him to discover the witch before they finish what they've started, with deadly consequences for everyone.
I love genre-bending books and Equinox is just that. It had elements of fantasy, magic and mystery combining to make an original and gripping read.
The story was quite dark and gritty, which I'm a huge fan of. There was also a tense and unnerving atmosphere over the story that gave it an extra dose of creepiness, which I enjoyed.
The two souls in one body is what drew me to this novel. I was thinking it was going to be some sort of Jekyll and Hyde situation, but it was more gentle than that. One person went to sleep, then the other would wake. Not that it didn't have its problems. Both people were very different. Alexsander was a musician and carefree spirit, whereas Christopher, as a Special inspector, was more uptight and serious. It was interesting to see their relationship and how each soul affected one another.
I did mention earlier that this had some mystery in it, but I will warn you it's not as strong as the other elements of the story and felt a little slow paced at the beginning.
Equinox is a dark yet enthralling fantasy novel, packed with atmosphere and peculiar characters.
I love genre-bending books and Equinox is just that. It had elements of fantasy, magic and mystery combining to make an original and gripping read.
The story was quite dark and gritty, which I'm a huge fan of. There was also a tense and unnerving atmosphere over the story that gave it an extra dose of creepiness, which I enjoyed.
The two souls in one body is what drew me to this novel. I was thinking it was going to be some sort of Jekyll and Hyde situation, but it was more gentle than that. One person went to sleep, then the other would wake. Not that it didn't have its problems. Both people were very different. Alexsander was a musician and carefree spirit, whereas Christopher, as a Special inspector, was more uptight and serious. It was interesting to see their relationship and how each soul affected one another.
I did mention earlier that this had some mystery in it, but I will warn you it's not as strong as the other elements of the story and felt a little slow paced at the beginning.
Equinox is a dark yet enthralling fantasy novel, packed with atmosphere and peculiar characters.
July 3, 2022
Awesome concept but execution could have been better at times. I felt like there was a lot of untapped potential in here because when it was good it was REALLY good. A chilling ending.
May 30, 2022
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. I liked how the story was told from different aspects and the themes that ran through the book.
The only negative for me, was that at times the story seemed to drag on a bit and didn't hold my attention in a way I would expect.
Overall though, a good read and would definitely recommend.
The only negative for me, was that at times the story seemed to drag on a bit and didn't hold my attention in a way I would expect.
Overall though, a good read and would definitely recommend.
November 18, 2022
Towsey has created an intriguing concept of a day and night version of one’s self. Living in a past timeline these ‘brothers’ must battle the evils out to tear them apart and all around them.
Beautifully written, dark and foreboding.
Beautifully written, dark and foreboding.
June 4, 2022
(This is a shortened version of the full review on my blog: https://dampskunk.wordpress.com/2022/...)
NB: I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. Inasmuch as I can be sure of such things, I believe that this has not affected the content of my review.
Equinox succeeds entirely because it has a fantastic conceit. And what a conceit it is! Basically, every person is two people sharing a body: During the day, you are one person, with one name (e.g., Aleksander), one job (e.g., musician), one set of hobbies (e.g., cheerfully debauched pleasure-seeking); and then you go to bed, and wake up an hour later as someone entirely different: new name (Christopher), new job (witch finder), new set of habits (collecting preserved birds’ eggs). You, a night-person, might have some vague, dreamlike memories of your day-sibling’s actions, but if the two of you want to communicate you need to leave notes for each other, and your lives remain entirely separate. Indeed, if your day-sibling is convicted of a crime, then you are released when you awake at night, but you have to report back to prison by daybreak (because, of course, if your day-sibling is hanged for prison-breaking, you die too). The whole world consists of two sets of people: those who live during the day, and those who live during the night.
The plot of this book is really nicely built upon this conceit: Christopher Morden, a witch finder, is summoned to the prison because one of the inmates has had a weird occult thing happen to him, and Christopher is dispatched to the inmate’s home village to see what’s what. Because of the body-sharing, his day-brother, Aleksander, must necessarily come along for the ride—which is of course wildly unfair for many reasons, but the one that really stuck out at me was the fact that the party that Christopher travels with moves by day, so it’s Aleksander who gets all the hassle of riding a horse for hours in the rain, while Christopher wakes up and hangs out in a tent chatting with people at night. Throughout the book this dual pattern of occupations continues: We see Christopher trying to figure out the occult badness at night, while Aleksander just kind of hangs around in the town during the day. Things are made all the more interesting because, remember, there are two sets of people in the town: The night-people, whom Christopher interacts with, and their day-siblings, who Aleksander makes friends with. They live mostly separate lives, except not really, because they share bodies with the night-people, and so the day-people can tell Aleksander things that are useful for Christopher’s investigation—but indirectly, of course, because, remember, the day-people are only telling Aleksander things that they sort of vaguely know about their night-counterparts, or the night-counterparts of their acquaintances, and so links get tenuous quite quickly. Still, as the plot progresses, the discoveries unfurl, things fall into place with a magnificent tour-de-force juggling act of characters and connections that would not be possible without the day/night body-sharing conceit.
And yet, although the book itself works quite well, it leaves behind many unanswered questions deriving from the logistics of how such a world might work. Some of these questions I think are perfectly fine to leave unresolved, but fascinating to think about. For example, day-siblings and night-siblings have separate jobs and are separate people, but live in the same house. How do things like political secrets, intelligence/spycraft work? Your sibling will have memories of what you know, even hazy ones, so do you both need to be cleared for intelligence work? Do you both have to agree to share a career if there’s sensitive information involved? There are a few characters who work in close proximity to their other selves—there’s a constable who has the same job day and night–but there’s not much discussion of how common that is.
Speaking of jobs, how does money work? It seems like the day-sibling/night-siblings have separate expenses and possessions and sources of income. Is it ever the case that one steals from another? Is there a branch of civil law specializing in day/night-sibling torts? Or what about physical movement? Aleksander didn’t kick up a fuss about being yanked away from his rather aimless life as a gig-musician to go on Christopher’s out-of-town investigation, but suppose he had? Suppose every morning he had started traveling back home, refusing to go along with Christopher? What happens if your day-sister gets a fabulous promotion that requires her to move to a new city, but you have a husband and children and family here, and don’t want to move?
Some of the weaknesses of this book are related to Towsey’s willingness to import just a bit too much of our own social order into this fascinating world he’s constructed. There are the broader issues about statehood and government and law and trade that I’ve brought up above, but there are simple things, too. In an entirely secondary world fantasy, I’m scratching my head every time Christianity is mentioned. Or consider sex: At one point Aleksander falls asleep after sex in bed with a partner, even though he knows perfectly well that this means that Christopher is going to wake up naked in bed with someone he absolutely does not want to be naked in bed with. And this will always happen if post-coital snoozes cross the day/night border. Why, then, do people still fall into a post-coital snooze? Much more likely in such a society, the connection between having sex and falling asleep would be completely severed.
Speaking of sex, let’s talk about its main weakness: its treatment of bodily autonomy and reproduction.* Several times in the book we have characters asking things like, ‘Is she your daughter or…?’ and receive answers like, ‘She’s a night-baby, if that’s what you’re asking.’ In other words, it really matters whether a child is born of your own consciousness, at the same time of day when you’re present, or during the other time of day, to your sibling. And there’s a whole horrible dystopian bit of world-building wrapped up in that concept. Suppose you are a day-person, and your night-sister decides to become pregnant: You are stuck bearing a child for nine months that you had no say in conceiving; and if you deliver the baby during the day, you are stuck with a child that is ‘yours’ that you never wanted.
And now consider it from the night-sister’s perspective: You desperately want a child, you carry one for nine months, and then it is born to someone else, and so can never be truly ‘yours’—assuming it is born at all, because your night-sister doesn’t abort it the moment she realizes that you’ve co-opted her body to do something with it she never wanted in the first place, or give away the child as soon as it is born, so you never even see it. And even in the best-case scenario, where the child is born at night, and becomes ‘yours’, that child’s day-sibling is going to fall under the care of your day-sister and your partner’s day-sibling—two people who may not even like each other, and have no desire for a child.
And now consider it from the perspective of the children: If Alexander, the day-brother, was wanted and loved by his parents, then Christopher, the night-brother, was born and raised by an entirely different set of people who were forced into caring for him by their day-siblings. And he would never have known anything different. Fully half the people in the world at any one time have grown up cared for by adults who never wanted them and may not love them.
There is no part of reproduction in this world that is not horrifying and sad, in a way that Towsey doesn’t seem to recognize. I see from his author bio that he is a man living in the UK, and I find myself, uncharitably, wondering whether his lack of uterus and insulation from the horrible anti-choice laws infesting the US, is part of why he doesn’t see the horror of what he’s constructed.
And yet, I can’t recoil from this, because the whole conceit is just so damn cool—and, indeed, is cool in ways that, like its horribleness, Towsey doesn’t seem to recognize. The fact that the entire world becomes populated by new people seems to offer an opportunity for some much more radical world-building than Towsey gave us. People switch jobs between day and night; maybe the king during the day is not the king during the night. Maybe the government during the day is not the government during the night. Maybe the laws and national boundaries of the people during the day are not the same as the laws and national boundaries governing the people at night. How would trade work? Would carters and shipping companies have cross-crepuscular contracts to ship goods for the night-people during the day, and vice versa? Suppose two countries are at war during the night, but are both part of the same nation during the day? There’s so much more to play with here!
This is a stand-alone book, which I usually appreciate these days. But in this case I want to read more set in this world. There’s so, so much more to play with, both horrifying and fascinating. And that is the core of good SFF.
*Bodily autonomy is not just a question that affects reproduction, of course. A sub-plot of the book involves a war brewing and soldiers. And if your day-brother goes for a soldier and gets his arms and face shot off, that’s going to have consequences for your career as a concert-pianist.
NB: I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. Inasmuch as I can be sure of such things, I believe that this has not affected the content of my review.
Equinox succeeds entirely because it has a fantastic conceit. And what a conceit it is! Basically, every person is two people sharing a body: During the day, you are one person, with one name (e.g., Aleksander), one job (e.g., musician), one set of hobbies (e.g., cheerfully debauched pleasure-seeking); and then you go to bed, and wake up an hour later as someone entirely different: new name (Christopher), new job (witch finder), new set of habits (collecting preserved birds’ eggs). You, a night-person, might have some vague, dreamlike memories of your day-sibling’s actions, but if the two of you want to communicate you need to leave notes for each other, and your lives remain entirely separate. Indeed, if your day-sibling is convicted of a crime, then you are released when you awake at night, but you have to report back to prison by daybreak (because, of course, if your day-sibling is hanged for prison-breaking, you die too). The whole world consists of two sets of people: those who live during the day, and those who live during the night.
The plot of this book is really nicely built upon this conceit: Christopher Morden, a witch finder, is summoned to the prison because one of the inmates has had a weird occult thing happen to him, and Christopher is dispatched to the inmate’s home village to see what’s what. Because of the body-sharing, his day-brother, Aleksander, must necessarily come along for the ride—which is of course wildly unfair for many reasons, but the one that really stuck out at me was the fact that the party that Christopher travels with moves by day, so it’s Aleksander who gets all the hassle of riding a horse for hours in the rain, while Christopher wakes up and hangs out in a tent chatting with people at night. Throughout the book this dual pattern of occupations continues: We see Christopher trying to figure out the occult badness at night, while Aleksander just kind of hangs around in the town during the day. Things are made all the more interesting because, remember, there are two sets of people in the town: The night-people, whom Christopher interacts with, and their day-siblings, who Aleksander makes friends with. They live mostly separate lives, except not really, because they share bodies with the night-people, and so the day-people can tell Aleksander things that are useful for Christopher’s investigation—but indirectly, of course, because, remember, the day-people are only telling Aleksander things that they sort of vaguely know about their night-counterparts, or the night-counterparts of their acquaintances, and so links get tenuous quite quickly. Still, as the plot progresses, the discoveries unfurl, things fall into place with a magnificent tour-de-force juggling act of characters and connections that would not be possible without the day/night body-sharing conceit.
And yet, although the book itself works quite well, it leaves behind many unanswered questions deriving from the logistics of how such a world might work. Some of these questions I think are perfectly fine to leave unresolved, but fascinating to think about. For example, day-siblings and night-siblings have separate jobs and are separate people, but live in the same house. How do things like political secrets, intelligence/spycraft work? Your sibling will have memories of what you know, even hazy ones, so do you both need to be cleared for intelligence work? Do you both have to agree to share a career if there’s sensitive information involved? There are a few characters who work in close proximity to their other selves—there’s a constable who has the same job day and night–but there’s not much discussion of how common that is.
Speaking of jobs, how does money work? It seems like the day-sibling/night-siblings have separate expenses and possessions and sources of income. Is it ever the case that one steals from another? Is there a branch of civil law specializing in day/night-sibling torts? Or what about physical movement? Aleksander didn’t kick up a fuss about being yanked away from his rather aimless life as a gig-musician to go on Christopher’s out-of-town investigation, but suppose he had? Suppose every morning he had started traveling back home, refusing to go along with Christopher? What happens if your day-sister gets a fabulous promotion that requires her to move to a new city, but you have a husband and children and family here, and don’t want to move?
Some of the weaknesses of this book are related to Towsey’s willingness to import just a bit too much of our own social order into this fascinating world he’s constructed. There are the broader issues about statehood and government and law and trade that I’ve brought up above, but there are simple things, too. In an entirely secondary world fantasy, I’m scratching my head every time Christianity is mentioned. Or consider sex: At one point Aleksander falls asleep after sex in bed with a partner, even though he knows perfectly well that this means that Christopher is going to wake up naked in bed with someone he absolutely does not want to be naked in bed with. And this will always happen if post-coital snoozes cross the day/night border. Why, then, do people still fall into a post-coital snooze? Much more likely in such a society, the connection between having sex and falling asleep would be completely severed.
Speaking of sex, let’s talk about its main weakness: its treatment of bodily autonomy and reproduction.* Several times in the book we have characters asking things like, ‘Is she your daughter or…?’ and receive answers like, ‘She’s a night-baby, if that’s what you’re asking.’ In other words, it really matters whether a child is born of your own consciousness, at the same time of day when you’re present, or during the other time of day, to your sibling. And there’s a whole horrible dystopian bit of world-building wrapped up in that concept. Suppose you are a day-person, and your night-sister decides to become pregnant: You are stuck bearing a child for nine months that you had no say in conceiving; and if you deliver the baby during the day, you are stuck with a child that is ‘yours’ that you never wanted.
And now consider it from the night-sister’s perspective: You desperately want a child, you carry one for nine months, and then it is born to someone else, and so can never be truly ‘yours’—assuming it is born at all, because your night-sister doesn’t abort it the moment she realizes that you’ve co-opted her body to do something with it she never wanted in the first place, or give away the child as soon as it is born, so you never even see it. And even in the best-case scenario, where the child is born at night, and becomes ‘yours’, that child’s day-sibling is going to fall under the care of your day-sister and your partner’s day-sibling—two people who may not even like each other, and have no desire for a child.
And now consider it from the perspective of the children: If Alexander, the day-brother, was wanted and loved by his parents, then Christopher, the night-brother, was born and raised by an entirely different set of people who were forced into caring for him by their day-siblings. And he would never have known anything different. Fully half the people in the world at any one time have grown up cared for by adults who never wanted them and may not love them.
There is no part of reproduction in this world that is not horrifying and sad, in a way that Towsey doesn’t seem to recognize. I see from his author bio that he is a man living in the UK, and I find myself, uncharitably, wondering whether his lack of uterus and insulation from the horrible anti-choice laws infesting the US, is part of why he doesn’t see the horror of what he’s constructed.
And yet, I can’t recoil from this, because the whole conceit is just so damn cool—and, indeed, is cool in ways that, like its horribleness, Towsey doesn’t seem to recognize. The fact that the entire world becomes populated by new people seems to offer an opportunity for some much more radical world-building than Towsey gave us. People switch jobs between day and night; maybe the king during the day is not the king during the night. Maybe the government during the day is not the government during the night. Maybe the laws and national boundaries of the people during the day are not the same as the laws and national boundaries governing the people at night. How would trade work? Would carters and shipping companies have cross-crepuscular contracts to ship goods for the night-people during the day, and vice versa? Suppose two countries are at war during the night, but are both part of the same nation during the day? There’s so much more to play with here!
This is a stand-alone book, which I usually appreciate these days. But in this case I want to read more set in this world. There’s so, so much more to play with, both horrifying and fascinating. And that is the core of good SFF.
*Bodily autonomy is not just a question that affects reproduction, of course. A sub-plot of the book involves a war brewing and soldiers. And if your day-brother goes for a soldier and gets his arms and face shot off, that’s going to have consequences for your career as a concert-pianist.
April 24, 2022
I respect anyone who can tell a compelling mystery, and 'Equinox' is a compelling mystery indeed. Combine this with a low fantasy element sprinkled throughout, adding extra depth and atmosphere, as well as providing some fascinating imagery, and there is a lot in this story to enjoy and appreciate.
Unfortunately, I'm struck by the feeling of a missed opportunity. The book's premise of two people sharing the same body, and switching control at night or day is both the focal point of the book's synopsis and an idea I find super interesting, but it's also one which plays a disappointingly small role in the story. There are minor scenes in the book's first half where this concept is explored, and the second half of the book devotes to it more fully by involving both of the protagonist's two sides in the solving of its central mystery, but by that point I was 60% of the way through the book and it felt too late.
Ultimately, I wanted the day-night duality to play a much larger role, and was left disappointed in this regard. Had the author chosen to either devote to the mind-swapping premise more fully, or alternatively forego it entirely to tell the fantasy detective story, this could have been an excellent dark fantasy detective story. As it is, it makes for a story with two potentially brilliant halves that feel underdeveloped by the end.
All this said, 'Equinox' does still make for a thoroughly entertaining story thanks to the mystery at the core of the story, as well as some fascinating ideas, that I just wish were explored more fully. Nevertheless, I would recommend the book for fans of both low fantasy, and mystery and suspense narratives.
[Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author]
Unfortunately, I'm struck by the feeling of a missed opportunity. The book's premise of two people sharing the same body, and switching control at night or day is both the focal point of the book's synopsis and an idea I find super interesting, but it's also one which plays a disappointingly small role in the story. There are minor scenes in the book's first half where this concept is explored, and the second half of the book devotes to it more fully by involving both of the protagonist's two sides in the solving of its central mystery, but by that point I was 60% of the way through the book and it felt too late.
Ultimately, I wanted the day-night duality to play a much larger role, and was left disappointed in this regard. Had the author chosen to either devote to the mind-swapping premise more fully, or alternatively forego it entirely to tell the fantasy detective story, this could have been an excellent dark fantasy detective story. As it is, it makes for a story with two potentially brilliant halves that feel underdeveloped by the end.
All this said, 'Equinox' does still make for a thoroughly entertaining story thanks to the mystery at the core of the story, as well as some fascinating ideas, that I just wish were explored more fully. Nevertheless, I would recommend the book for fans of both low fantasy, and mystery and suspense narratives.
[Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author]
July 7, 2022
I requested this book on Netgalley after reading the blurb and being totally intrigued with the concept.
Equinox is the story of a witch hunt, executed rather cleverly through a duel protagonist, both of which inhabit the same body and can to an extent observe, assist or foil the others work. Without doubt, it is a clever concept that is lusciously complicated and exciting. It is a slow burner, plot driven mystery. The author has a real talent for caricature and creating characters that can be both farcical and macabre simultaneously. I enjoy this writing style and regardless of Christophor being presented as the colder, less emotional “brother”, I was more curious for his side of the tale, perhaps because it was darker and that’s the type of story I enjoy. The world building was comprehensive and fully formed and while the idea of all the characters having a day and night persona (with different character names) sounds complex and elaborate, it was easy to follow.
The plot has numerous elements of horror and the author has created a story that is quite dark at times and very atmospheric throughout. However, although I hugely enjoyed the suspense and lead up to what I imagined would be a colossal battle of good and evil, I felt the ending was rushed considering how long the author took to build the plot. It was a little disappointing considering how whole heartedly invested I was in the fate of the people of Drakenford. I think that this story would make an outstanding tv series!
Equinox is the story of a witch hunt, executed rather cleverly through a duel protagonist, both of which inhabit the same body and can to an extent observe, assist or foil the others work. Without doubt, it is a clever concept that is lusciously complicated and exciting. It is a slow burner, plot driven mystery. The author has a real talent for caricature and creating characters that can be both farcical and macabre simultaneously. I enjoy this writing style and regardless of Christophor being presented as the colder, less emotional “brother”, I was more curious for his side of the tale, perhaps because it was darker and that’s the type of story I enjoy. The world building was comprehensive and fully formed and while the idea of all the characters having a day and night persona (with different character names) sounds complex and elaborate, it was easy to follow.
The plot has numerous elements of horror and the author has created a story that is quite dark at times and very atmospheric throughout. However, although I hugely enjoyed the suspense and lead up to what I imagined would be a colossal battle of good and evil, I felt the ending was rushed considering how long the author took to build the plot. It was a little disappointing considering how whole heartedly invested I was in the fate of the people of Drakenford. I think that this story would make an outstanding tv series!
April 19, 2022
3.5 stars
Interesting concept and intriguing book.
Equinox offers an interesting world - a world where day and night are two personalities, each having its careers, lifestyles, and unique characteristics and often at odds with each other. Our protagonist Christopher Mordan is a detective by night and uncaring musician by day. An early call to a prison one night pulls our protagonist into a witchhunt in a foreign land where everything might not be as it seems.
Equinox is a slow burn where understanding the world is as important as trying to figure out the antagonist trying to spark an apocalypse or a war. It was also interesting to see the events unfold from both day and night pov and their dynamics. Spend time with the book and you might be embroiled in rethinking fundamental things like family dynamics.
So, even though I enjoyed the writing and story, why am I still rating it 3? That's because after spending time with the book, I was disappointed with the second half. The culmination and final reveal were unsatisfactory. A lot of sub-plots ended up being loose ends that were not tied up. The depth of the plot frayed towards the end
Overall, good start but could have been a lot better in the second half.
Thanks NetGalley and Publisher for ARC.
Interesting concept and intriguing book.
Equinox offers an interesting world - a world where day and night are two personalities, each having its careers, lifestyles, and unique characteristics and often at odds with each other. Our protagonist Christopher Mordan is a detective by night and uncaring musician by day. An early call to a prison one night pulls our protagonist into a witchhunt in a foreign land where everything might not be as it seems.
Equinox is a slow burn where understanding the world is as important as trying to figure out the antagonist trying to spark an apocalypse or a war. It was also interesting to see the events unfold from both day and night pov and their dynamics. Spend time with the book and you might be embroiled in rethinking fundamental things like family dynamics.
So, even though I enjoyed the writing and story, why am I still rating it 3? That's because after spending time with the book, I was disappointed with the second half. The culmination and final reveal were unsatisfactory. A lot of sub-plots ended up being loose ends that were not tied up. The depth of the plot frayed towards the end
Overall, good start but could have been a lot better in the second half.
Thanks NetGalley and Publisher for ARC.
July 27, 2022
This book had a great premise and some really cool moments (the scene with Tabitha in the woods, oh my!), but ultimately, it feels as if it should have gone through at least another round of rewrites. Towsey mentioned in an interview that he often underexplains things, and that was definitely the case here. I'd have loved to know more about witches and witchcraft, and Christophor's previous hunts.
There were also a number of loose ends (SPOILERSPOILER if Mrs Eder wasn't a witch, then why did her right hand not bleed? Why is Louisa the innocent? ENDOFSPOILERSPOILER) and just some generally puzzling stuff (why does Christianity exist in this world? Surely the fact that one body houses two souls would make it look vastly different from what we know? This also ties back to the problem of underexplaining; if religion matters so much for the witchhunting, then why do we know so little of it? Is it because we are supposed to just understand because it is Christianity?). I didn't care much for the actual witch, either, and felt that the motives of this witch were never properly explained.
All in all a book with a lot of potential that, sadly, remains unrealised a bit too often. Still, I loved Tales of Fenest, which Towsey wrote with his wife, and I'll be sure to check out any of their work (and perhaps more of Towsey's future work, too).
There were also a number of loose ends (SPOILERSPOILER if Mrs Eder wasn't a witch, then why did her right hand not bleed? Why is Louisa the innocent? ENDOFSPOILERSPOILER) and just some generally puzzling stuff (why does Christianity exist in this world? Surely the fact that one body houses two souls would make it look vastly different from what we know? This also ties back to the problem of underexplaining; if religion matters so much for the witchhunting, then why do we know so little of it? Is it because we are supposed to just understand because it is Christianity?). I didn't care much for the actual witch, either, and felt that the motives of this witch were never properly explained.
All in all a book with a lot of potential that, sadly, remains unrealised a bit too often. Still, I loved Tales of Fenest, which Towsey wrote with his wife, and I'll be sure to check out any of their work (and perhaps more of Towsey's future work, too).
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