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The Night Hunt
From Alexandra Christo, the author of To Kill a Kingdom, comes The Night Hunt, a dark fantasy romance about a monstrous girl who feeds on fear and the Gods-cursed boy who falls in love with her.
Atia is a monster who feeds on fear. As the last of her kind, she hides in the shadows of the world to escape the wrath of the unpredictable Gods. Silas is a Herald, carrying messages and ferrying the dead as punishment for a past he can’t remember. Stripped of his true name, he yearns to recover his identity.
Atia would never dream of allying with someone like him, but when she breaks a sacred law and the Gods send monsters to hunt her, Silas offers an irresistible deal: he’ll help avenge her family and take on the Gods who now hunt her, if she helps him break his curse and restore his humanity. All they need to do is kill three powerful creatures: a vampire, a banshee, and one of the very Gods who destroyed both their lives. Only together can they finally rewrite their destinies.
Atia is a monster who feeds on fear. As the last of her kind, she hides in the shadows of the world to escape the wrath of the unpredictable Gods. Silas is a Herald, carrying messages and ferrying the dead as punishment for a past he can’t remember. Stripped of his true name, he yearns to recover his identity.
Atia would never dream of allying with someone like him, but when she breaks a sacred law and the Gods send monsters to hunt her, Silas offers an irresistible deal: he’ll help avenge her family and take on the Gods who now hunt her, if she helps him break his curse and restore his humanity. All they need to do is kill three powerful creatures: a vampire, a banshee, and one of the very Gods who destroyed both their lives. Only together can they finally rewrite their destinies.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
294 people are currently reading
17738 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Christo
16 books5,857 followersAlexandra Christo is a British author whose characters are always funnier and far more deadly than she is. She studied Creative Writing at university and graduated with the desire to never stop letting her imagination run wild. She currently lives in Hertfordshire with a rapidly growing garden and a never-ending stack of books. Her debut novel To Kill a Kingdom is an international bestseller and her Young Adult fantasy books have been translated into over a dozen languages worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,039 reviews
January 10, 2024
2.5 stars✨
Well, am disappointed. I had high hopes for this one, especially knowing how talented the author is and the blurb simply sounded amazing.
The book starts off amazing, I was super into in and the plot was being set up nicely. After the 130 page mark, I found a lot went wrong.
❌What I didn't like-
1. Lack of clarity in the world building.
2. The characters fell flat. There was no depth to them despite the author trying to show how deeply haunted Silas and Atia were with their past. Both are forgettable.
3. The romance was subpar.I did not get how the two went from barely knowing each other to feeling things for each other. It felt unsettling and as if I missed a whole chunk of the book.
4. The plot execution was messy. The first half is slow and takes time to build, the middle is a bit action packed and the second half the author realises she needs to speed things up and a whole lot happens all of a sudden. It all felt misplaced and rushed.
✅What I liked-
1. The found family trope. It was good to see the characters work together as a team. A banshee, a human, a nefsa (or whatever she was) and a Herald do make an interesting team.
2. The ending. I liked the inclusion of betrayal and plot twists and reveals. Even though it was messy, I liked the last 60 pages.
Imo To Kill a Kingdom remains the author's superior work.
~•~•~
SHUT UP.. Dark fantasy romance about a monstrous girl who feeds on fear and a gods cursed boy who falls in love with her and it also has vampires and banshees?? AM IN.
Well, am disappointed. I had high hopes for this one, especially knowing how talented the author is and the blurb simply sounded amazing.
The book starts off amazing, I was super into in and the plot was being set up nicely. After the 130 page mark, I found a lot went wrong.
❌What I didn't like-
1. Lack of clarity in the world building.
2. The characters fell flat. There was no depth to them despite the author trying to show how deeply haunted Silas and Atia were with their past. Both are forgettable.
3. The romance was subpar.I did not get how the two went from barely knowing each other to feeling things for each other. It felt unsettling and as if I missed a whole chunk of the book.
4. The plot execution was messy. The first half is slow and takes time to build, the middle is a bit action packed and the second half the author realises she needs to speed things up and a whole lot happens all of a sudden. It all felt misplaced and rushed.
✅What I liked-
1. The found family trope. It was good to see the characters work together as a team. A banshee, a human, a nefsa (or whatever she was) and a Herald do make an interesting team.
2. The ending. I liked the inclusion of betrayal and plot twists and reveals. Even though it was messy, I liked the last 60 pages.
Imo To Kill a Kingdom remains the author's superior work.
~•~•~
SHUT UP.. Dark fantasy romance about a monstrous girl who feeds on fear and a gods cursed boy who falls in love with her and it also has vampires and banshees?? AM IN.
November 29, 2025
This story has such a special place in my heart — it was the book that opened the door to my reading girl era. 🌙💖✨
📖 Book: The Night Hunt
🖋️ Author: Alexandra Christo
🌟 Rating: 3.75 ✧
💖 Genre: YA dark fantasy romance
🌸 Summary: Atia, the last of her kind of fear-feeding monsters, accidentally breaks a law that sends Gods’ hunters after her. Silas, a Herald punished by the Gods and stripped of his identity, offers her a deal: avenge her kind and gain revenge against the cruel Gods, in exchange for helping him regain his humanity. Can fate be rewritten, or were they doomed from the start?
♡ What I loved most:
• The beautiful worldbuilding: it was lush, layered, and mythologically delicious ✨
• The slow-burn romance: it was soft and unrushed, melting my heart like candlewax🕯️
• The settings: the landscapes were dreamy, watercolor-like — pastel skies, starry forests, hazy mountains 🌫️
• The plot: it was a gentle mix of magic, mystery, and cozy tension 💫
• The reveal: I loved the reveal — it blew my mind and I loved the direction that the story took 💗
✘ What I didn't love:
• The pacing: some moments dragged a little — I craved a bit more urgency ⏳
• The romantic timing: I wish the romance had bloomed a tiny bit earlier 💔
───♡─────────────
୨ৎ Overall:
This story has such a special place in my heart — it was the book that opened the door to my reading girl era. When I stepped away from fanfics, made my first Goodreads account, and started building my very own cozy little bookshelf… The Night Hunt was the very first one waiting for me. And honestly? It was the perfect beginning. Soft magic, slow love, and a world that felt like an enchanted dream I never wanted to leave. ✨
I’ll always remember it as the daydream that whispered, “welcome home.” 🌙💫
xoxo, until the next book 💖📖🌸
📖 Book: The Night Hunt
🖋️ Author: Alexandra Christo
🌟 Rating: 3.75 ✧
💖 Genre: YA dark fantasy romance
🌸 Summary: Atia, the last of her kind of fear-feeding monsters, accidentally breaks a law that sends Gods’ hunters after her. Silas, a Herald punished by the Gods and stripped of his identity, offers her a deal: avenge her kind and gain revenge against the cruel Gods, in exchange for helping him regain his humanity. Can fate be rewritten, or were they doomed from the start?
“A monster of nightmares, trying to keep all the stars inside herself from burning out. And she is beautiful for it. Because of it. In spite of it.”
♡ What I loved most:
• The beautiful worldbuilding: it was lush, layered, and mythologically delicious ✨
• The slow-burn romance: it was soft and unrushed, melting my heart like candlewax🕯️
• The settings: the landscapes were dreamy, watercolor-like — pastel skies, starry forests, hazy mountains 🌫️
• The plot: it was a gentle mix of magic, mystery, and cozy tension 💫
• The reveal: I loved the reveal — it blew my mind and I loved the direction that the story took 💗
✘ What I didn't love:
• The pacing: some moments dragged a little — I craved a bit more urgency ⏳
• The romantic timing: I wish the romance had bloomed a tiny bit earlier 💔
───♡─────────────
୨ৎ Overall:
This story has such a special place in my heart — it was the book that opened the door to my reading girl era. When I stepped away from fanfics, made my first Goodreads account, and started building my very own cozy little bookshelf… The Night Hunt was the very first one waiting for me. And honestly? It was the perfect beginning. Soft magic, slow love, and a world that felt like an enchanted dream I never wanted to leave. ✨
I’ll always remember it as the daydream that whispered, “welcome home.” 🌙💫
xoxo, until the next book 💖📖🌸
Want to read
April 10, 2023Brb while I get this cover tattooed somewhere because WOW it is beautiful
October 30, 2023
2.50!
1 star for the cover. Respectfully.
Honestly disappointing as expected!
This had banshees, demons and vampires it was supposed to be good but it ended up being one of the most horribly executed books.
The author makes zero effort to connect the readers with her world. Her characters were the most boring characters ever. Writing style was mid asf and honestly SKIMABLE chapters.
Plot was fine but it didn't feel like the main focus which would be fine if the other things were done good bit ofcourse that didn't happen...
World building. Non existent.
Romance the dryest shit ever.
Alexandra Christo is a one hit wonder.
~~~
THE COVER IS 🤌🤌🤌🤌
I loved to kill a kingdom and this honestly looks and sounds way better!!
I can't wait to read this one.
1 star for the cover. Respectfully.
Honestly disappointing as expected!
This had banshees, demons and vampires it was supposed to be good but it ended up being one of the most horribly executed books.
The author makes zero effort to connect the readers with her world. Her characters were the most boring characters ever. Writing style was mid asf and honestly SKIMABLE chapters.
Plot was fine but it didn't feel like the main focus which would be fine if the other things were done good bit ofcourse that didn't happen...
World building. Non existent.
Romance the dryest shit ever.
Alexandra Christo is a one hit wonder.
~~~
THE COVER IS 🤌🤌🤌🤌
I loved to kill a kingdom and this honestly looks and sounds way better!!
I can't wait to read this one.
October 8, 2024
5/5
By w świecie ludzi i potworów panował porządek, bogowie ustalili solidne prawo. Zasada pierwsza; nie zabijaj. Dla tych, którzy jej nie przestrzegają, posłańcy - odprowadzający dusze do krainy umarłych, odnotowują surową karę. A Atia, właśnie przekonała się jak dotkliwa jest klątwa stając się celem mrocznych istot. Teraz sama wyrusza na łowy, by zdjąć z siebie przekleństwo.
Ależ to była przygoda! Od razu wkręciłam się w klimat tej książki, bo jak genialniej zacząć powieść niż, od polowania potworów na ludzi? Mimo że jest to książka młodzieżowa to brutalność tego świata, nie tylko obrazowana przez zachowanie potworów ale także surowego prawa bogów, oddała realizm postaci i wykreowanego świata.
Od razu zapajałam miłością do Atii. Jej humoru i stylu bycia, który określiłabym jako szary moralnie, gdy postanawia zemstę na bogach. Momentami bohaterka pokazuje jaka jest jej prawdziwa natura, natomiast samotność często potrafi wykrzesać z niej maskę bardziej ludzką, uczuciową. Choć sama karmi się strachem swoich ofiar, jest przerażona gdy zostaje przeklęta za swoje winy, dlatego z chęcią przystaje na sojusz z Sylasem.
Dzięki podwójnej perspektywie, wiemy jakie nastawienie mają do siebie główni bohaterowie i co nawzajem przed soba skrywają. Ich relacja powstaje na gruncie niepewności ale jej rozwój złapał mnie za serce, bo ta dwójka przepada dla siebie stopniowo lecz na zabój (dosłownie?). Do całej jednak wyprawy polowania na potwory w celu złamania klątwy przyłącza się Tristan - człowiek, którego naukowe usp0sobienie wpędza w kłopoty, oraz upiór Cillian, którego dusza jest tak przezroczysta jak on sam. Ta nietypowa grupa, sprawiła, że przyp0omniałam sobie za co kocham fantastykę dla młodzieży.
Przez całą książkę Alexandra serwuje podróż w najlepszym wydaniu. Zwiedzanie nawiedzonych domów, włamanie do królewskich lochów, czy spacer po krainie bogów to nieliczne misje, na drodze bohaterów. Całej akcji i magicznym lokalizacjom towarzyszą barwne postacie, które okażą się sprzymierzeńcami lub wrogami.
To jak, wyruszamy na łowy?
By w świecie ludzi i potworów panował porządek, bogowie ustalili solidne prawo. Zasada pierwsza; nie zabijaj. Dla tych, którzy jej nie przestrzegają, posłańcy - odprowadzający dusze do krainy umarłych, odnotowują surową karę. A Atia, właśnie przekonała się jak dotkliwa jest klątwa stając się celem mrocznych istot. Teraz sama wyrusza na łowy, by zdjąć z siebie przekleństwo.
Ależ to była przygoda! Od razu wkręciłam się w klimat tej książki, bo jak genialniej zacząć powieść niż, od polowania potworów na ludzi? Mimo że jest to książka młodzieżowa to brutalność tego świata, nie tylko obrazowana przez zachowanie potworów ale także surowego prawa bogów, oddała realizm postaci i wykreowanego świata.
Od razu zapajałam miłością do Atii. Jej humoru i stylu bycia, który określiłabym jako szary moralnie, gdy postanawia zemstę na bogach. Momentami bohaterka pokazuje jaka jest jej prawdziwa natura, natomiast samotność często potrafi wykrzesać z niej maskę bardziej ludzką, uczuciową. Choć sama karmi się strachem swoich ofiar, jest przerażona gdy zostaje przeklęta za swoje winy, dlatego z chęcią przystaje na sojusz z Sylasem.
Dzięki podwójnej perspektywie, wiemy jakie nastawienie mają do siebie główni bohaterowie i co nawzajem przed soba skrywają. Ich relacja powstaje na gruncie niepewności ale jej rozwój złapał mnie za serce, bo ta dwójka przepada dla siebie stopniowo lecz na zabój (dosłownie?). Do całej jednak wyprawy polowania na potwory w celu złamania klątwy przyłącza się Tristan - człowiek, którego naukowe usp0sobienie wpędza w kłopoty, oraz upiór Cillian, którego dusza jest tak przezroczysta jak on sam. Ta nietypowa grupa, sprawiła, że przyp0omniałam sobie za co kocham fantastykę dla młodzieży.
Przez całą książkę Alexandra serwuje podróż w najlepszym wydaniu. Zwiedzanie nawiedzonych domów, włamanie do królewskich lochów, czy spacer po krainie bogów to nieliczne misje, na drodze bohaterów. Całej akcji i magicznym lokalizacjom towarzyszą barwne postacie, które okażą się sprzymierzeńcami lub wrogami.
To jak, wyruszamy na łowy?
January 9, 2024
I really wanted to love this one since I was one of the BIGGEST fans of To Kill a Kingdom... but The Night Hunt definitely fell flat for me. There was just too much story in here that made every other aspect of the book feel lacking.
Now, I know it sounds like a good thing to have a jam-packed story, BUT HEAR ME OUT. I think what ended up happening here was that the author focused too much on incorporating as many events as possible into the story that she wasn't able to give any attention to the other aspects that should have driven the story forward, such as the characters and the world-building. I'm just going to give a brief rundown of what worked and what didn't.
WHAT I LIKED
⭐ I did appreciate the story for what it was. If you're into adventure- or quest-type stories, then you might enjoy this one. A LOT definitely went on, and it was nice to have a little taste of different mythical creatures and scenarios as the story progressed.
⭐ The general idea of the characters -- a big YES for me. I love myself a cast of characters with completely different backgrounds. The Night Hunt already gets bonus points for giving us monster girls and boys alone, despite their lack of personalities -- which brings me to the things I didn't like...
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
⭐ Good god were these characters super dry. The main characters felt like they were written for a much younger audience (or this could be a sign of aging for me) with their insta-love and cringe-y banter. I couldn't differentiate any of the side characters, and they were too conveniently thrown into the mix. I.e., there really isn't a lot of character development.
⭐ There was little to no world-building. The author tried to incorporate some, but it was done... not-so gracefully. I can't tell you anything about this world, because I am still confused about all of it.
⭐ The writing style was just NOT for me. It came off very juvenile sounding. I might have appreciated this book more if it was marketed to a younger audience, but given how dark this was supposed to be, I expected a LOT more maturity from it.
Basically: I didn't enjoy this as much as I would have liked, BUT I will still continue to read from this author because I do love the concepts she brings to the table.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Now, I know it sounds like a good thing to have a jam-packed story, BUT HEAR ME OUT. I think what ended up happening here was that the author focused too much on incorporating as many events as possible into the story that she wasn't able to give any attention to the other aspects that should have driven the story forward, such as the characters and the world-building. I'm just going to give a brief rundown of what worked and what didn't.
WHAT I LIKED
⭐ I did appreciate the story for what it was. If you're into adventure- or quest-type stories, then you might enjoy this one. A LOT definitely went on, and it was nice to have a little taste of different mythical creatures and scenarios as the story progressed.
⭐ The general idea of the characters -- a big YES for me. I love myself a cast of characters with completely different backgrounds. The Night Hunt already gets bonus points for giving us monster girls and boys alone, despite their lack of personalities -- which brings me to the things I didn't like...
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
⭐ Good god were these characters super dry. The main characters felt like they were written for a much younger audience (or this could be a sign of aging for me) with their insta-love and cringe-y banter. I couldn't differentiate any of the side characters, and they were too conveniently thrown into the mix. I.e., there really isn't a lot of character development.
⭐ There was little to no world-building. The author tried to incorporate some, but it was done... not-so gracefully. I can't tell you anything about this world, because I am still confused about all of it.
⭐ The writing style was just NOT for me. It came off very juvenile sounding. I might have appreciated this book more if it was marketed to a younger audience, but given how dark this was supposed to be, I expected a LOT more maturity from it.
Basically: I didn't enjoy this as much as I would have liked, BUT I will still continue to read from this author because I do love the concepts she brings to the table.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
October 26, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ Strasznie szkoda, że autorka nie zrobiła z tego dylogii, bo bohaterowie fajni, pomysł na fabułę ciekawy, ale wszystko się dzieje dosyć szybko i nie miałam kiedy poczuć chemii między bohaterami. Polubiłam ich, found family też mi się podobało, ale brakowało mi tutaj pogłębienia niektórych wątków. Ogólnie na plus, ale po prostu jest to za krótka forma na tę historię.
March 2, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
L'univers est très original, l'intrigue est intéressante et addictive... J'ai juste trouvé que ça allait un peu vite pour le développement de l'histoire et des personnages. Il y a un côté reprise de la mythologie grecque mais sans que ça soit vraiment assumé, du coup ça fait un peu redite sur certains points, mais dans l'ensemble, j'ai trouvé que c'était une chouette lecture malgré ces petits défauts !
L'univers est très original, l'intrigue est intéressante et addictive... J'ai juste trouvé que ça allait un peu vite pour le développement de l'histoire et des personnages. Il y a un côté reprise de la mythologie grecque mais sans que ça soit vraiment assumé, du coup ça fait un peu redite sur certains points, mais dans l'ensemble, j'ai trouvé que c'était une chouette lecture malgré ces petits défauts !
October 13, 2023
I adored this very unique YA fantasy!
Atia (a fear monster, cursed for killing a human) and Silas (a Herald who claims the souls of the dead, stripped of his human memories) are an unlikely pair that team up to bring the Gods down, restore Atia's powers and Silas' memories while falling for each other, and uncover mysteries along the way.
Atia and Silas were such well developed characters and I loved how the author blended Greek mythology with her own creative spins on it to build a fascinating fantasy world.
I thought the plot was clever with some reveals thatvwere surprising and the pace was very good. I had a hard time putting it down but especially towards the last 30% of the book.
Our characters really shine here as well, full of complexities and a dash of snark very fitting for the YA scene.
And The romance was both believable and swoony. Really enjoyed this fresh and fast paced fantasy romance!
I received an ARC for review.
Atia (a fear monster, cursed for killing a human) and Silas (a Herald who claims the souls of the dead, stripped of his human memories) are an unlikely pair that team up to bring the Gods down, restore Atia's powers and Silas' memories while falling for each other, and uncover mysteries along the way.
Atia and Silas were such well developed characters and I loved how the author blended Greek mythology with her own creative spins on it to build a fascinating fantasy world.
I thought the plot was clever with some reveals thatvwere surprising and the pace was very good. I had a hard time putting it down but especially towards the last 30% of the book.
Our characters really shine here as well, full of complexities and a dash of snark very fitting for the YA scene.
And The romance was both believable and swoony. Really enjoyed this fresh and fast paced fantasy romance!
I received an ARC for review.
November 16, 2023
If I had to use one word to sum up the entire reading experience of this book, it would be boring.
Rating: 1.5*
I was super excited to dig into this story, as the premise sounds amazing and unique: Atia, a monster who feeds on nightmares (called a Nefas) and her romance with a cursed boy called Silas. They become unlikely allies through a series of events and need to go on a quest to kill various mythical creatures as a result. This book had me at "gothic fantasy romance" in the description.
It lived up to none of my expectations. It took me 3 weeks to get 20% through this book and the entire story felt so dry that I was struggling to pick it up every time. You get the impression from the synopsis that Atia is a morally grey heroine (y'know, being a monster and all) but that is not the case. Her character was written in quite a juvenile way (in fact, most of the cast of characters felt very YA) and she was definitely as good as a 'monster' could be. So my attention was already waning despite the potential the story could have had.
Enter the love interest, and a few side characters who are all blander than unseasoned parsnip soup. Yikes. Silas spends the entire book wondering what he was like back when he was human (he is cursed to forget all his human memories by the Gods) and whilst that aspect kept me intrigued, there was literally nothing else interesting about him. I kid you not, I can't even recall another detail of his personality as I try now, and I finished this book yesterday. The other two characters Tristan and ?Cillian were equally forgettable and acted mainly as walking encyclopaedias for the info-dumped world building.
Now the quest plot. I pushed past the first 20% and put it down to the book having a slow start, but Christo built zero tension or intrigue later in the book either. The quest obstacles were way too easy and convenient for the characters to overcome, and the writing style was almost too comical and light-hearted for it to feel high-stakes. I considered DNF'ing at 40% but didn't and instead skimmed the rest of the book. Even skimming I was bored!
There is kind of an okay twist at the end and some scenes around 60-70% pulled me back into the book for a few pages here and there. If you're reading for the love story, I hate to break it to you, it lacks substance and you guessed it, is just as bland as the characters. Silas's backstory was interesting when revealed but ... that's the only positive thing I'll say about the book. That, and that the cover is nice.
World building is non-existent. There's all these Kingdoms we go to (Water Kingdom, Air Kingdom etc) and like zero descriptions or background history. I can't picture what kind of world this story was set in at all. Can barely picture some of the characters and monsters mentioned either.
Overall, a very generic YA fantasy romance, and not even an engaging one of those. I wouldn't waste my time with it tbh, one of the worst books I've read this year if you don't count my DNFs. If it wasn’t an ARC I would have DNF’d this at 20%.
I received the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 1.5*
I was super excited to dig into this story, as the premise sounds amazing and unique: Atia, a monster who feeds on nightmares (called a Nefas) and her romance with a cursed boy called Silas. They become unlikely allies through a series of events and need to go on a quest to kill various mythical creatures as a result. This book had me at "gothic fantasy romance" in the description.
It lived up to none of my expectations. It took me 3 weeks to get 20% through this book and the entire story felt so dry that I was struggling to pick it up every time. You get the impression from the synopsis that Atia is a morally grey heroine (y'know, being a monster and all) but that is not the case. Her character was written in quite a juvenile way (in fact, most of the cast of characters felt very YA) and she was definitely as good as a 'monster' could be. So my attention was already waning despite the potential the story could have had.
Enter the love interest, and a few side characters who are all blander than unseasoned parsnip soup. Yikes. Silas spends the entire book wondering what he was like back when he was human (he is cursed to forget all his human memories by the Gods) and whilst that aspect kept me intrigued, there was literally nothing else interesting about him. I kid you not, I can't even recall another detail of his personality as I try now, and I finished this book yesterday. The other two characters Tristan and ?Cillian were equally forgettable and acted mainly as walking encyclopaedias for the info-dumped world building.
Now the quest plot. I pushed past the first 20% and put it down to the book having a slow start, but Christo built zero tension or intrigue later in the book either. The quest obstacles were way too easy and convenient for the characters to overcome, and the writing style was almost too comical and light-hearted for it to feel high-stakes. I considered DNF'ing at 40% but didn't and instead skimmed the rest of the book. Even skimming I was bored!
There is kind of an okay twist at the end and some scenes around 60-70% pulled me back into the book for a few pages here and there. If you're reading for the love story, I hate to break it to you, it lacks substance and you guessed it, is just as bland as the characters. Silas's backstory was interesting when revealed but ... that's the only positive thing I'll say about the book. That, and that the cover is nice.
World building is non-existent. There's all these Kingdoms we go to (Water Kingdom, Air Kingdom etc) and like zero descriptions or background history. I can't picture what kind of world this story was set in at all. Can barely picture some of the characters and monsters mentioned either.
Overall, a very generic YA fantasy romance, and not even an engaging one of those. I wouldn't waste my time with it tbh, one of the worst books I've read this year if you don't count my DNFs. If it wasn’t an ARC I would have DNF’d this at 20%.
I received the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Want to read
October 10, 2023i’m still salty i didn’t get an arc, but i’m so excited for this to come out tomorrow😈
July 13, 2023
4.75!
I mean, this is just pure, good YA fantasy. As I was reading, I really just kept thinking to myself how confidently Alexandra Christo seems to write. This story was so much fun to read from page one. There were numerous things I was unsure about going into this, and I didn't even fully know what the central plot would be, but I was excited to give it a go and I'm so happy I enjoyed it as much as I did!
Starting off, I ADORED the FMC, Atia. She was monstrous, a bit grumpy, and very hungry for fear. She's what's called a Nefas, and this fact is a central plot of this story that really is the driving force of the narrative. Her relationship with all the characters is really fun to read because she's so very unapologetically herself and it makes it impossible not to love her. She's a monster, but a monster with honor and I loved reading her thoughts on things. The MMC, Silas, was also really great. Since I liked Atia so much, I wanted her to have a love interest I felt like made sense and that matched her lovability, and I'm glad that Silas did that. He's a stuffy Herald of Death who never seems to relax, so their dynamic together was so sweet to read. Of course, any good quest needs solid side characters as well and Cillian and Tristan definitely were just that :') I loved their group dynamic!
The characters were obviously all great to me, but what I think is the best thing about this story is the worldbuilding. It was so vivid and exciting. The lore of this world was immersive, yet never felt overwhelming or info-dumpy. Everything I learned about this world made more excited to dive further into it. I couldn't get enough of the tales of the gods and how the monsters and humans fit into this world. I could honestly read a sequel to this just because I was so invested. I especially loved the twists to the story that added onto the overall fantasy world. I truly can't say enough how much the world building made this an especially fun read.
My one, tiny complaint is that I just felt like sometimes the smaller, relationship-building moments between the main group were a bit rushed. This probably could've been another 20 pages longer to really round out those relationships, but this is a small thing. I loved this so much and I'll be screaming about it for a long time!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I mean, this is just pure, good YA fantasy. As I was reading, I really just kept thinking to myself how confidently Alexandra Christo seems to write. This story was so much fun to read from page one. There were numerous things I was unsure about going into this, and I didn't even fully know what the central plot would be, but I was excited to give it a go and I'm so happy I enjoyed it as much as I did!
Starting off, I ADORED the FMC, Atia. She was monstrous, a bit grumpy, and very hungry for fear. She's what's called a Nefas, and this fact is a central plot of this story that really is the driving force of the narrative. Her relationship with all the characters is really fun to read because she's so very unapologetically herself and it makes it impossible not to love her. She's a monster, but a monster with honor and I loved reading her thoughts on things. The MMC, Silas, was also really great. Since I liked Atia so much, I wanted her to have a love interest I felt like made sense and that matched her lovability, and I'm glad that Silas did that. He's a stuffy Herald of Death who never seems to relax, so their dynamic together was so sweet to read. Of course, any good quest needs solid side characters as well and Cillian and Tristan definitely were just that :') I loved their group dynamic!
The characters were obviously all great to me, but what I think is the best thing about this story is the worldbuilding. It was so vivid and exciting. The lore of this world was immersive, yet never felt overwhelming or info-dumpy. Everything I learned about this world made more excited to dive further into it. I couldn't get enough of the tales of the gods and how the monsters and humans fit into this world. I could honestly read a sequel to this just because I was so invested. I especially loved the twists to the story that added onto the overall fantasy world. I truly can't say enough how much the world building made this an especially fun read.
My one, tiny complaint is that I just felt like sometimes the smaller, relationship-building moments between the main group were a bit rushed. This probably could've been another 20 pages longer to really round out those relationships, but this is a small thing. I loved this so much and I'll be screaming about it for a long time!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
couldnt-finish
November 16, 2023adding it bc it’s by alexandra christo. that is all.
—
yeah… DNF at 32%.
—
yeah… DNF at 32%.
November 3, 2024
Środek ksiażki trochę się dlużył ale ostatecznie bardzo mi się podobało, romans był fajny mimo że nie nazwałabym go ani enemies to lovers ani slow burn jak można przeczytać na okładce
March 17, 2024
That was SUCH an easy 5*! I loved every single second of this book.
I’ve been following Alexandra Christo since I got her debut as an Arc so many years ago now and just honestly I’m always blown away by how her books manage to get better and better every time!
I’m always one for mythology and gods and this was truly amazing. Curses and gods and monsters? Utter perfection! You have to read this asap if it’s on your TBR, it’s just thrilling!
It’s paced so well, like there was never a lull in the story, it all had a purpose, an intent, every scene was just really satisfying and interesting…plus romance!! Oh and the twists! I’m in loveeee
I’ve been following Alexandra Christo since I got her debut as an Arc so many years ago now and just honestly I’m always blown away by how her books manage to get better and better every time!
I’m always one for mythology and gods and this was truly amazing. Curses and gods and monsters? Utter perfection! You have to read this asap if it’s on your TBR, it’s just thrilling!
It’s paced so well, like there was never a lull in the story, it all had a purpose, an intent, every scene was just really satisfying and interesting…plus romance!! Oh and the twists! I’m in loveeee
October 12, 2023
The cover of The Night Hunt is so beautiful that I was tempted to buy a finished copy even though I didn’t particularly enjoy this one. I was initially really hooked by the potential of world-building and characters. Unfortunately, the initial intrigue was not enough to sustain the story and I quickly grew bored.
The Night Hunt introduces a dark YA fantasy world filled with monsters and corrupt gods. The two main characters—Atia and Silas—are brooding, unapologetic badasses and I enjoyed their perspectives. There are parts of this book that I enjoyed and overall it was an engaging, quick read. However, the plot felt incredibly generic and wasn't properly fleshed out. The quest the characters go on quickly loses its appeal because the characters never face significant obstacles and are able to move through the different tasks unreasonably quickly. This short timeline also makes both the found family and the romance feel forced. The two non-POV main characters were incredibly shallow and only served as the comic relief and the walking encyclopedia of world-building. The dialogue between these characters was painfully corny and filled with cliche, tropey lines. The four characters really did not click together and I was honestly rolling my eyes at some of the heartfelt lines towards the end.
Spoilers for events at the very beginning of the book
Though it started off strong, The Night Hunt fails to capitalize on its interesting potential making it a forgettable read.
Thank you Macmillan for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
The Night Hunt introduces a dark YA fantasy world filled with monsters and corrupt gods. The two main characters—Atia and Silas—are brooding, unapologetic badasses and I enjoyed their perspectives. There are parts of this book that I enjoyed and overall it was an engaging, quick read. However, the plot felt incredibly generic and wasn't properly fleshed out. The quest the characters go on quickly loses its appeal because the characters never face significant obstacles and are able to move through the different tasks unreasonably quickly. This short timeline also makes both the found family and the romance feel forced. The two non-POV main characters were incredibly shallow and only served as the comic relief and the walking encyclopedia of world-building. The dialogue between these characters was painfully corny and filled with cliche, tropey lines. The four characters really did not click together and I was honestly rolling my eyes at some of the heartfelt lines towards the end.
Spoilers for events at the very beginning of the book
Though it started off strong, The Night Hunt fails to capitalize on its interesting potential making it a forgettable read.
Thank you Macmillan for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
November 7, 2023
I really liked this! It was a solid YA fantasy with great characters and an adventurous, quest-like plot. This was a really quick read and had a great twist towards the end. It was pretty simple as far as the fantasy and magical elements go but that made it easy to follow.
The highlight for me was definitely the found family feeling of the main group of characters. They all came from different backgrounds and worked together towards a common goal. They became so close throughout the book and I really enjoyed their whole dynamic. This was a fun fantasy read for fall!
The highlight for me was definitely the found family feeling of the main group of characters. They all came from different backgrounds and worked together towards a common goal. They became so close throughout the book and I really enjoyed their whole dynamic. This was a fun fantasy read for fall!
June 6, 2025
Una premisa buenísima… pero que mal ejecutado todo.
La trama ha ido a trompicones, el worldbuilding apenas tiene explicación y los personajes no tienen la profundidad que se espera.
La trama en sí prometía mucho y más con las criaturas que hay en la historia, pero es que el libro se queda en la promesa de lo que podría haber sido.
El romance no tiene mucho sentido. Pasan de odiarse a amarse en literalmente un capítulo.
Una pena. Eso sí, la portada es espectacular!
La trama ha ido a trompicones, el worldbuilding apenas tiene explicación y los personajes no tienen la profundidad que se espera.
La trama en sí prometía mucho y más con las criaturas que hay en la historia, pero es que el libro se queda en la promesa de lo que podría haber sido.
El romance no tiene mucho sentido. Pasan de odiarse a amarse en literalmente un capítulo.
Una pena. Eso sí, la portada es espectacular!
July 26, 2025
از ساعت 9شب تا دقیقا ساعت 7 صبح داشتم میخوندمش
خیلی چسبید
الهامشو از خدایان یونانی دوست داشتم
و اینکه الکساندرا_نمیدونم چرا_کتاباش همیشه به قلبم میشینه
(بازم منشن میکنم که فعلا خستگی روانی دارم یکم و برای همین طولانی نمینویسم)
خیلی چسبید
الهامشو از خدایان یونانی دوست داشتم
و اینکه الکساندرا_نمیدونم چرا_کتاباش همیشه به قلبم میشینه
(بازم منشن میکنم که فعلا خستگی روانی دارم یکم و برای همین طولانی نمینویسم)
November 2, 2024
3,5 / 5 ⭐️
Ta książka posiada praktycznie wszystkie moje ulubione motywy: found family, mitologia, slow burn i enemies to lovers. I o ile z pierwszymi trzema się zgadzam, że występują w tej historii, tak enemies to lovers wprowadza czytelnika w błąd. Dla mnie niestety 30 początkowych stron, gdzie ich relacje można podciągnąć pod enemies (choć dla mnie bardziej przypominało to hate) nie wystarcza, aby promować książkę tym motywem. Bohaterowie bardzo szybko zaczęli się ze sobą dogadywać, zawiązali sojusz i nawet ich zaufanie nie było tak kruche, jak powinno być. Być może za bardzo przywykłam do tytułów 18+, w których wyraźnie czuć, że bohaterowie się nie znoszą i na przestrzeni wydarzeń powoli powstaje między nimi zaufanie i zaczynają postrzegać się inaczej, w tej książce tego nie odczułam.
Wątek romantyczny po prostu był. Nie był zły, ale też mi się za specjalnie nie podobał, był mi po prostu obojętny. Relacja głównych bohaterów była płaska, nawet nie wiem, kiedy wykiełkowało między nimi uczucie. Próbuje sobie teraz przypomnieć całą ich podróż uczuciową i przepraszam, ale ja tam nie czuję miłości. Oni nawet nie mieli zbyt wielu scen razem i mam wrażenie, że wszystko zrodziło się między nimi poprzez obserwacje. I jeszcze podobno byli oni enemies (XD), ciekawe gdzie.
Z wyjątkiem wątku romantycznego cała reszta mi się podobała. Bardzo szybko wciągnęłam się w fabułę, a styl autorki dodatkowo to potęguje. Początek jest naprawdę niezły i już od pierwszej strony zaciekawia czytelnika, tak że chce się czytać więcej.
Dostaliśmy solidną dawkę mitologi, która nie była tylko tłem dla wydarzeń, a odkrywała główną rolę. Co chwilę pojawiły się postacie, przedmioty czy miejsca nawiązujące do niej. Dla mnie jako ogromnej fanki tej dziedziny, był to prawdziwy rarytas.
Zakończenie bardzo mi się podobało, ponieważ finałowa bitwa nie została skrócona do trzech stron i happy end, tylko bohaterowie serio musieli się natrudzić, żeby zwyciężyć.
„Nocne łowy” to świetna książka raczej dla tych młodszych czytelników niż starszych, choć i tak super się bawiłam. Myślę po prostu, że osoby dla których ta książka jest dedykowana, mogą lepiej wczuć się w historię i zrozumieć punkt widzenia bohaterów. A jeśli jesteś tak stary jak ja, to być ta książka nie stanie się twoją nową, wielką miłością, ale zdecydowanie przyjemnie spędzisz czas.
Ta książka posiada praktycznie wszystkie moje ulubione motywy: found family, mitologia, slow burn i enemies to lovers. I o ile z pierwszymi trzema się zgadzam, że występują w tej historii, tak enemies to lovers wprowadza czytelnika w błąd. Dla mnie niestety 30 początkowych stron, gdzie ich relacje można podciągnąć pod enemies (choć dla mnie bardziej przypominało to hate) nie wystarcza, aby promować książkę tym motywem. Bohaterowie bardzo szybko zaczęli się ze sobą dogadywać, zawiązali sojusz i nawet ich zaufanie nie było tak kruche, jak powinno być. Być może za bardzo przywykłam do tytułów 18+, w których wyraźnie czuć, że bohaterowie się nie znoszą i na przestrzeni wydarzeń powoli powstaje między nimi zaufanie i zaczynają postrzegać się inaczej, w tej książce tego nie odczułam.
Wątek romantyczny po prostu był. Nie był zły, ale też mi się za specjalnie nie podobał, był mi po prostu obojętny. Relacja głównych bohaterów była płaska, nawet nie wiem, kiedy wykiełkowało między nimi uczucie. Próbuje sobie teraz przypomnieć całą ich podróż uczuciową i przepraszam, ale ja tam nie czuję miłości. Oni nawet nie mieli zbyt wielu scen razem i mam wrażenie, że wszystko zrodziło się między nimi poprzez obserwacje. I jeszcze podobno byli oni enemies (XD), ciekawe gdzie.
Z wyjątkiem wątku romantycznego cała reszta mi się podobała. Bardzo szybko wciągnęłam się w fabułę, a styl autorki dodatkowo to potęguje. Początek jest naprawdę niezły i już od pierwszej strony zaciekawia czytelnika, tak że chce się czytać więcej.
Dostaliśmy solidną dawkę mitologi, która nie była tylko tłem dla wydarzeń, a odkrywała główną rolę. Co chwilę pojawiły się postacie, przedmioty czy miejsca nawiązujące do niej. Dla mnie jako ogromnej fanki tej dziedziny, był to prawdziwy rarytas.
Zakończenie bardzo mi się podobało, ponieważ finałowa bitwa nie została skrócona do trzech stron i happy end, tylko bohaterowie serio musieli się natrudzić, żeby zwyciężyć.
„Nocne łowy” to świetna książka raczej dla tych młodszych czytelników niż starszych, choć i tak super się bawiłam. Myślę po prostu, że osoby dla których ta książka jest dedykowana, mogą lepiej wczuć się w historię i zrozumieć punkt widzenia bohaterów. A jeśli jesteś tak stary jak ja, to być ta książka nie stanie się twoją nową, wielką miłością, ale zdecydowanie przyjemnie spędzisz czas.
August 30, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc <3
This is such a cozy read. There are so many sweet characters, and there’s a good blend of adventure, romance, and friendships. My only criticisms are that some of the characters are underdeveloped, and the world building is slightly lacking. Other than that, the plot is fun and unique, the twist at the end was unexpected, and the found family trope is adorable!
Christo’s writing is lovely and succinct, and I especially love the way she describes Atia’s thoughts and feelings. The book is very readable and suitable for readers who enjoy high fantasy and cozy fantasy alike.
Overall, a solid fantasy novel. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys mythology, as there are Gods and mythical creatures and legends scattered throughout. 4⭐️
This is such a cozy read. There are so many sweet characters, and there’s a good blend of adventure, romance, and friendships. My only criticisms are that some of the characters are underdeveloped, and the world building is slightly lacking. Other than that, the plot is fun and unique, the twist at the end was unexpected, and the found family trope is adorable!
Christo’s writing is lovely and succinct, and I especially love the way she describes Atia’s thoughts and feelings. The book is very readable and suitable for readers who enjoy high fantasy and cozy fantasy alike.
Overall, a solid fantasy novel. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys mythology, as there are Gods and mythical creatures and legends scattered throughout. 4⭐️
December 6, 2023
4.5 Stars
A deliciously immersive YA Fantasy steeped in Greek Mythology, magic and Alexandra Christo’s signature blend of fast paced action and rich character development. Not to mention how delightfully endearing our ragtag cast of monsters and humans were.
This is the second of Alexandra Christo’s books I’ve read but it is easily my favourite soo far. The worldbuilding and lore surrounding the Gods, monsters and the realm they all originated from was interesting. Though not as detailed as I would’ve liked, I loved the sense of mystery that not knowing everything really invokes (still I’d love an entire companion novel just on the history of the gods, waay before the events that led to the monster banishment.)
I was however, incredibly impressed with how beautifully detailed and endearing our protagonists were. The depth of emotion we encounter in both Atia, Silas and their respective backstories really tugged at the heartstrings and kept me emotionally invested the whole way through.
Especially Atia’s, having lost her family in such a devastatingly brutal manner, I don’t blame her for wanting to emotionally distance herself from everyone she meets. But, it’s her very “human” sense of compassion (and reluctant need to help a not-quite friend) that I loved the most.
The role reversal in her being a monster and being more caring than the majority of the “good” human characters we encounter was also rather refreshing. As was the witty back and forths she has with our other POV character, Silas.
Their chemistry is pretty much electric from the get go, so their fast paced relationship wasn’t a problem but fans who prefer their romance slower paced might not enjoy as much.
I loved the found family vibes and banter we encounter within this reluctant group of (almost) strangers, capturing (a much needed dose) of warmth and friendship that helped break up all the darker,more emotionally charged scenes.
Overall, a fast paced, plot twisty and richly crafted tale of gods and monsters that Alexandra Christo fans and lovers of all things dark YA fantasy definitely don’t want to miss.
A huge thank you to Readers First and Hot Key Books for the proof.
A deliciously immersive YA Fantasy steeped in Greek Mythology, magic and Alexandra Christo’s signature blend of fast paced action and rich character development. Not to mention how delightfully endearing our ragtag cast of monsters and humans were.
This is the second of Alexandra Christo’s books I’ve read but it is easily my favourite soo far. The worldbuilding and lore surrounding the Gods, monsters and the realm they all originated from was interesting. Though not as detailed as I would’ve liked, I loved the sense of mystery that not knowing everything really invokes (still I’d love an entire companion novel just on the history of the gods, waay before the events that led to the monster banishment.)
I was however, incredibly impressed with how beautifully detailed and endearing our protagonists were. The depth of emotion we encounter in both Atia, Silas and their respective backstories really tugged at the heartstrings and kept me emotionally invested the whole way through.
Especially Atia’s, having lost her family in such a devastatingly brutal manner, I don’t blame her for wanting to emotionally distance herself from everyone she meets. But, it’s her very “human” sense of compassion (and reluctant need to help a not-quite friend) that I loved the most.
The role reversal in her being a monster and being more caring than the majority of the “good” human characters we encounter was also rather refreshing. As was the witty back and forths she has with our other POV character, Silas.
Their chemistry is pretty much electric from the get go, so their fast paced relationship wasn’t a problem but fans who prefer their romance slower paced might not enjoy as much.
I loved the found family vibes and banter we encounter within this reluctant group of (almost) strangers, capturing (a much needed dose) of warmth and friendship that helped break up all the darker,more emotionally charged scenes.
Overall, a fast paced, plot twisty and richly crafted tale of gods and monsters that Alexandra Christo fans and lovers of all things dark YA fantasy definitely don’t want to miss.
A huge thank you to Readers First and Hot Key Books for the proof.
December 5, 2025
Tercer libro que leo de la autora y, en lo personal, el que más me ha gustado por ahora, aunque he visto que es una opinión algo impopular porque parece que mucha gente sigue prefiriendo Matar un reino. Y ese me gustó también pero me ha parecido que La caza nocturna está mejor desarrollado, no tuve la impresión de que fuera superficial como sí me pasó con Matar un reino y definitivamente no es olvidable como La princesa de las almas.
El mundo es interesante, bien pensado y retratado con corrección, por lo menos lo que ha mostrado, creo que lo ha sabido utilizar mejor al hacer a sus personajes moverse a través de él aunque aún podría haberlo aprovechado mucho más. Claro que comprendo que al ser autoconclusivo cuesta poderse explayar y no me voy a quejar de ello porque un respiro de tanta saga es bienvenido.
Con el romance me ha ido regular: es bonito, Atia y Silas me han agradado tanto juntos como separados (hasta me hicieron reír en algún momento) pero me faltó emoción; es una de esas parejas que te encanta que estén juntos y sean felices pero que no te tiene chillando de la emoción ni te llegan al corazón, no sé si me explico. Eso sí, adoro la apariencia real de Atia y alabo el hecho de que las protagonistas de la autora se salgan de lo común
Los secundarios han sido un plus, he disfrutado de esa "familia encontrada" que se ha formado así como de los personajes que se topan por el camino. Además de un giro por ahí que vi pero ya tarde, me sorprendió.
En definitiva, considero que Alexandra Christo ha sabido evolucionar y eso me motiva a seguir leyendo su trabajo.
El mundo es interesante, bien pensado y retratado con corrección, por lo menos lo que ha mostrado, creo que lo ha sabido utilizar mejor al hacer a sus personajes moverse a través de él aunque aún podría haberlo aprovechado mucho más. Claro que comprendo que al ser autoconclusivo cuesta poderse explayar y no me voy a quejar de ello porque un respiro de tanta saga es bienvenido.
Con el romance me ha ido regular: es bonito, Atia y Silas me han agradado tanto juntos como separados (hasta me hicieron reír en algún momento) pero me faltó emoción; es una de esas parejas que te encanta que estén juntos y sean felices pero que no te tiene chillando de la emoción ni te llegan al corazón, no sé si me explico. Eso sí, adoro la apariencia real de Atia y alabo el hecho de que las protagonistas de la autora se salgan de lo común
Los secundarios han sido un plus, he disfrutado de esa "familia encontrada" que se ha formado así como de los personajes que se topan por el camino. Además de un giro por ahí que vi pero ya tarde, me sorprendió.
En definitiva, considero que Alexandra Christo ha sabido evolucionar y eso me motiva a seguir leyendo su trabajo.
April 14, 2024
4.5 stars.
Unpopular opinion: Unexpectedly for me, I really liked it. In its simplicity, everything falls into place.
This book is told from the dual POV of the two main characters. Asia is a Nefas, a monster that feeds on fear, while Silas is a Herald, a kind of messenger of the gods and the one who carries the souls of the dead to their destination in the afterlife. They team up to help each other (Silas wants to regain his memory and Atia wants to get rid of the curse the gods put on her) and also to discover the secrets of their condition.
We have a map (hehe, I love maps) and we see that there is a mortal realm divided into four kingdoms, one for each of the four elements, and a divine realm called Oksenia, divided into districts by rivers. The mortal realm is also home to monsters such as vampires and banshees, all subject to the laws and punishments of the gods. Normally I would not like to see a mixture of different repertoires, but in this case I thought it worked quite well.
I also liked the side characters and in general the characters and romance were very endearing.
The weakest point of this book was its predictability. However, I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the magic so much that I didn't mind too much.
Recensione in italiano
Opinione poco popolare: Inaspettatamente per me, mi è piaciuto molto. Nella sua semplicità, ogni cosa trova il suo posto.
Questo libro è raccontato dal doppio punto di vista dei due personaggi principali. Asia è una Nefas, un mostro che si nutre di paura, mentre Silas è un Araldo, una sorta di messaggero degli dei e colui che trasporta le anime dei morti verso la loro destinazione nell'aldilà. I due si alleano per aiutarsi a vicenda (Silas vuole riacquistare la memoria e Atia vuole liberarsi della maledizione che gli dei le hanno lanciato) e anche per scoprire i segreti della loro condizione.
Abbiamo una mappa (hehe, adoro le mappe) e vediamo che c'è un regno mortale diviso in quattro regni, uno per ciascuno dei quattro elementi, e un regno divino chiamato Oksenia, diviso in distretti da fiumi. Il regno mortale ospita anche mostri come vampiri e banshee, tutti soggetti alle leggi e alle punizioni degli dei. Di solito non mi piacerebbe vedere un miscuglio di repertori diversi, ma in questo caso ho pensato che funzionasse abbastanza bene.
Mi sono piaciuti anche i personaggi secondari e in generale i personaggi e la storia d'amore erano molto accattivanti.
Il punto debole di questo libro è la sua prevedibilità. Tuttavia, i personaggi, l'ambientazione e la magia mi sono piaciuti così tanto che la scontatezza non mi ha disturbata più di tanto.
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Credits for the template below go to Melinda
CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
✅ well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲nothing memorable
✅ gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
✅ nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
✅ immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
✅ page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
Unpopular opinion: Unexpectedly for me, I really liked it. In its simplicity, everything falls into place.
This book is told from the dual POV of the two main characters. Asia is a Nefas, a monster that feeds on fear, while Silas is a Herald, a kind of messenger of the gods and the one who carries the souls of the dead to their destination in the afterlife. They team up to help each other (Silas wants to regain his memory and Atia wants to get rid of the curse the gods put on her) and also to discover the secrets of their condition.
We have a map (hehe, I love maps) and we see that there is a mortal realm divided into four kingdoms, one for each of the four elements, and a divine realm called Oksenia, divided into districts by rivers. The mortal realm is also home to monsters such as vampires and banshees, all subject to the laws and punishments of the gods. Normally I would not like to see a mixture of different repertoires, but in this case I thought it worked quite well.
I also liked the side characters and in general the characters and romance were very endearing.
The weakest point of this book was its predictability. However, I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the magic so much that I didn't mind too much.
Recensione in italiano
Opinione poco popolare: Inaspettatamente per me, mi è piaciuto molto. Nella sua semplicità, ogni cosa trova il suo posto.
Questo libro è raccontato dal doppio punto di vista dei due personaggi principali. Asia è una Nefas, un mostro che si nutre di paura, mentre Silas è un Araldo, una sorta di messaggero degli dei e colui che trasporta le anime dei morti verso la loro destinazione nell'aldilà. I due si alleano per aiutarsi a vicenda (Silas vuole riacquistare la memoria e Atia vuole liberarsi della maledizione che gli dei le hanno lanciato) e anche per scoprire i segreti della loro condizione.
Abbiamo una mappa (hehe, adoro le mappe) e vediamo che c'è un regno mortale diviso in quattro regni, uno per ciascuno dei quattro elementi, e un regno divino chiamato Oksenia, diviso in distretti da fiumi. Il regno mortale ospita anche mostri come vampiri e banshee, tutti soggetti alle leggi e alle punizioni degli dei. Di solito non mi piacerebbe vedere un miscuglio di repertori diversi, ma in questo caso ho pensato che funzionasse abbastanza bene.
Mi sono piaciuti anche i personaggi secondari e in generale i personaggi e la storia d'amore erano molto accattivanti.
Il punto debole di questo libro è la sua prevedibilità. Tuttavia, i personaggi, l'ambientazione e la magia mi sono piaciuti così tanto che la scontatezza non mi ha disturbata più di tanto.
Credits for the template below go to Melinda
CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
✅ well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲nothing memorable
✅ gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
✅ nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
✅ immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
✅ page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
April 23, 2025
Age rating: 12-13+
Wow, is this book underrated.
I’m just gonna go ahead and say it: I liked this book more than Alexandra Christo’s other novel I’ve read, To Kill a Kingdom. I enjoyed that one as well, but this one had hints of original folklore that had me wanting more of everything, from the dialogue (perfectly sprinkled with banter) to the worldbuilding to the delightful characters, coming together to form a touching found family trope. It was just overall a really pleasant, smooth-running, refreshing novel, and as it’s a standalone, feel free to give it a go without fear of commitment holding you back. I literally read this in a matter of hours.
A go-to book to get you out of a reading slump. Were I more emotionally impacted, I would probably rate this higher, but it was more entertaining and rejuvenating than it was heart-rending. Action-packed? Absolutely. Heartbreaking? No, and that’s a good thing, because that wasn’t what I was looking for.
Hope everyone else enjoys this as much as I did.
Happy reading!
Wow, is this book underrated.
I’m just gonna go ahead and say it: I liked this book more than Alexandra Christo’s other novel I’ve read, To Kill a Kingdom. I enjoyed that one as well, but this one had hints of original folklore that had me wanting more of everything, from the dialogue (perfectly sprinkled with banter) to the worldbuilding to the delightful characters, coming together to form a touching found family trope. It was just overall a really pleasant, smooth-running, refreshing novel, and as it’s a standalone, feel free to give it a go without fear of commitment holding you back. I literally read this in a matter of hours.
A go-to book to get you out of a reading slump. Were I more emotionally impacted, I would probably rate this higher, but it was more entertaining and rejuvenating than it was heart-rending. Action-packed? Absolutely. Heartbreaking? No, and that’s a good thing, because that wasn’t what I was looking for.
Hope everyone else enjoys this as much as I did.
Happy reading!
May 14, 2024
The summary had me intrigued but unfortunately that's about as far as my curiosity went with the book. The characters were bland. There was no sense of danger or tension despite what was happening. The romance was mediocre and it didn't really make a difference to me if they got together or not. The plot and dialogue were boring most of the time as well.
Would not recommend.
Would not recommend.
February 18, 2024
probably more of a 4.5 but i love monstrous girls and undead boys and found family so yeah. i loved this. and loved that it was a standalone!
REP: queer side characters
REP: queer side characters
Read
April 12, 2024dnf @ 64%
this was so bad????
this was so bad????
October 28, 2023
This book seals it. Unfortunaly, Alexandra Christo is not for me. The premises seem always so interesting but they don’t work out for me.
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