Uncompromising entertainment. 4.5/5 stars.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me an e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Nevernight is published in the US today, August 9th, and in the UK on August 11th.
The blurb:Β Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death. Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.
But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.
The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student. The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.
My take:
I’ve been quite surprised by how Nevernight appears to be dividing readers into clear “hate it/DNF’d it” vs. “loved it” camps. So, what did I think? Well, I loved it. This book is very, very good. In fact, it’s “stay-awake-past-2-in-the-morning-willing-your-eyes-to-stay-open-so-you-can-finish” good.
So, what else do you need to know? Firstly, we are warned in the prologue that this book is going to be unflinching, uncompromising and unsentimental. And it delivers on all that and then some. Be prepared for graphic everything: language, sex and violence. However, that said, I didn’t feel that any of the swearing, nastiness or sex was gratuitous or an attempt to shock (apart from when a character might have been trying to provoke another), but rather was all in keeping with plot and character development.
It is true that I didn’t feel the story fully got into its stride until Mia gets to the Red Church, although you could hardly call her journey there uneventful. But I’d urge you to stick with the story because if you’re looking for action, the later parts of the book deliver it in spades.
The characterisation is excellent. The main character – Mia – is pleasingly complex; every time you think you have her figured out she does something unexpected to keep us intrigued. The secondary characters are also a varied and interesting bunch.
Although this is a bloody, dark and ruthless story, fantasy fans will notice lots of echoes of more familiar, less X-rated tales, which I think may partly explain why this book never feels like it’s pushing you away. The assassins’ school is basically a far deadlier version of Hogwarts. For example, the potions master, oh I’m sorry, the “Master of Truths”, actually poisons her students and waits to see if any of them are smart enough to figure out the antidote and so not die. I think we all know that Snape would have LOVED to do that! π The final section of the plot reminded me of The Worst Witch (hope that’s not a spoiler for anyone who remembers that one!) and then, of course, a main character who’s a bad-ass female assassin brings to mind the entire Throne of Glass series. Finally, and by no means least, the footnotes reminded me so much of the Discworld series, I think they could have won my goodwill alone.
I’m not saying there’s nothing original here, because the Nevernight world has lots of interesting features which were new to me. These include the three suns which keep the world in an almost perpetual daytime (which, in turn, has very interesting consequences for social and religious order). However, perhaps its the original combination of somewhat familiar elements in a new setting with complex characters and high stakes which makes this a winner.
I dithered a lot more than usual about what rating to give this book. In the end I didn’t think I could quite give it 5 stars because I don’t feel desperate to get my hands on book 2, although I do look forward to reading it when it comes out.
Overall: Highly recommended for fantasy fans, but go in expecting graphic content. Not one for the easily offended!
Claire, this is a wonderful review! You cover all the elements of the book. I was one of the people in the opposing camp; I didn’t love the book, mainly because the writing style just wasn’t my taste. But yes, the book DEFINITELY gets better as it goes along- I’m glad I stuck with it long enough to get to the better parts. π
~ Aimal @ Bookshelves & Paperbacks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! π
I can understand why some people have given up on it. The whole dual perspective thing at the very beginning all in italics wasn’t the clearest way to start a book! And then it does drag along a bit until they finally cross the desert… I’m glad you stuck with it too π And, who knows? Hopefully he’ll listen to the feedback of the people who were put off by the style and Book 2 will be better? π
LikeLike
Great review! I have heard many different opinions about this one but still a book I want to read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! π
It’s definitely worth reading so you can make up your own mind. I hope you love it!
LikeLike
I see this title everywhere, it could well become a hype this one, if it’s not already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it might be already there. If it’s not, it’s just because I’ve seen as many “hated it” reviews as “loved it”! If I were the author, I think I’d be pleased I’d provoked such a strong reaction in my readers. Better than 100% “meh, whatever” reviews! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
True! Much better to be a topic of discussion than not be talked about at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marked as ‘want to read’ on Goodreads because of your review Claire, but have to say I was a little put off by some of the other reviews. I guess I will have to check a sample and see how I cope with the writing style.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I really hope you like it.
The start of the book is a little odd. He does this strange, slightly poetic dual beginning which is all in italics. But that is just the first chapter… it all becomes clear quickly after that. I actually expected it to be more offensive in terms of swearing, violence and sex than it was! If you can cope with Game of Thrones, then you’ll be fine π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I gave in and just got my copy after I saw you enjoyed this one. There have been a lot of mixed reviews about Nevernight, but I’m pretty sure I will enjoy this one after reading your review. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hooray! The start is a little odd… but stick with it because it all makes sense quickly π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to getting my copy even more after reading your review! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
I have a good feeling you’ll like it π The first chapter is a bit odd… but once you get past that and into the story “proper”, it’s great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So I’ve been seeing this book around and wasn’t really interested in it until I read your review. It’s one I might pick up now if I come across it at the library. Nice review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
Definitely a good idea to get it from the library. That way, if you do decide it’s not your cup of tea, you can abandon it without having wasted any money π I do that quite a lot! (although I find it very hard to abandon books, I tend to skim to the end instead).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m the same way! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think definitely have to add this to my wishlist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I think you’d enjoy it π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! I am so glad you also loved this book! Your review touched on everything I loved about it! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
It’s so nice to know you loved it too. Before I saw your review I’d only seen negative ones and I was really worried! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have convinced me Claire to pick up this book for myself! Thank you for sharing your review with us. I love adding reads to my massive TBR π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you π
Yay! It’s so good. A bit odd at the very start, but I understand that the author wanted to start his book a little differently. It soon settles down though.
I think it might be better to read in physical format too because then the footnotes will be neatly at the bottom of the page. In the e-version I got they often didn’t turn up until a few pages later which made reading them a bit tricky…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank goodness I err towards tangible book unless it doesn’t exist ;P I’ll let you know when I finally get around to it π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, I haven’t read it yet, just a few pages from Amazon, but the writing is excellent. It flows…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree!
There have been lots of reader who say it’s too complicated or lyrical, but I never found it difficult to follow. As you say, the flow is good π
LikeLike
Great review! Adding it to my TBR list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
I really enjoyed it. Yes, there are some more “shocking” scenes, but anyone who has ever read or watched Game of Thrones won’t find them a problem π
LikeLike
Great review. I love sci-fi so I am adding it to my reading list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it π
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve heard of this book, but it never peaked my interest. Until now! Fabulous review – this is definitely going on my tbr. I love books that are so polarizing. You know they are going to stir up emotion one way or the other.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
It’s very good. I think you do need to stick with it at first and a physical copy will make the footnotes much easier to read (in my e-ARC they sometimes appeared several pages after the place in the story where they were relevant, which didn’t help!). I hope you love it π
LikeLike
Pingback: WWW Wednesday 10th August 2016 | Art and Soul
This sounds really good. Especially the Discworld-esque footnotes! Looking forward to getting my hands on this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you can get a physical copy, I’d recommend that over an e-copy. With the e-ARC I had, the footnotes didn’t appear at the bottom of the relevant page and it made it quite hard to follow them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yay- finally a really positive review about this book- I really wanna read it but have been put off cos so many reviews are super negative
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s brilliant. But if you can get a physical copy, I think that will be easier to read. In my e-ARC, the footnotes often didn’t turn up for 8 pages or so after the notemark, which made them difficult to read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh awesome- thanks for the tip!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! π I got a copy in one of my subscription boxes for the summer (sometimes, you just have to pamper yourself a little eh π ) and can’t wait to get started on it now! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I think you’ll enjoy it. Stick with it if you don’t like the beginning because it gets better π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: My top 10 books of 2016 | Art and Soul
Delightful review! This book pushed my limits, but it was… interesting enough that I didn’t care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you π Once we get past the initial set up phase the pace was great and hardly a dull moment. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
LikeLiked by 1 person