Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Publication: August 9th 2016 by Thomas Dunne Books

Genres: Mature Adult, Fantasy

Format: eARC Source: Publisher via Netgalley

My Rating: 2.75 –3 Stars

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In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

 

~Review~

Arya Stark meets Prince Hamlet, in this dark fantasy full of killers. Did I love this book? No. Like it? Yes. However much I hate how it’s written, I still like the premise. Yet, it is with a sad heart that I can say I won’t be continuing on with this series. I am a reader who loves some deep words. This? This book is the holy grail of deep words. I appreciate colorful, rich fantasy. I love to picture the scenery that I’m reading about. I do not like when the author takes advantage of the use of metaphors. It takes the reader away from what is going on. Well, a reader like me anyway. I spent too much time repeating phrases, and not enough really getting to know the characters and their agendas. And please please please do not mistake this book for YA. Yes, the characters are young, but this is no book for anyone under the age of 18. SEX Drugs Rock and Roll, Violence, and foul language are abundant throughout.

Kristoff is a great writer, no doubt about it. I like my fantasy very well written, but this format doesn’t work for me. I haven’t thought this hard reading a book since I read Animal Farm; or better yet, any Shakespeare that I had to read in high school. I think if you can read this book fast, without having to think twice about something, then there’s a good chance you will absolutely love this. Once Mia gets to the Red Church, it all starts coming together. Tric is a character that I was suspicious of at first meet. It just seemed like his and Mia’s meeting wasn’t coincidental. I’m very paranoid. LOL! As Mia and Tric show off their skills and the action picks up, I began to settle down. But then, something would be said, and I’m right back to working my brain overtime. This was a very hard book to get through. 

I like the feel of the Red Church. I could picture Mia and the others training there. As more of the story took shape, more of Mia’s history is told. Revenge is a dish best served cold, would be an apt saying for this story. Though, by the end it doesn’t fit Mia’s character because she has learned a lot. I think “like” is as far as I can get with this story. It took a little over a week to get finished because I kept putting it down. I can’t see myself trudging through this series. If all the books are written like this (and I’m pretty sure they will. Makes no sense to change the format), then I just can’t go on. OAN: looking forward to Gemina!  

I can’t tell anyone how to spend their money, but please really consider borrowing this from the library, in case you don’t like it. That way if you do love it, you can buy it for your shelf. It’s an acquired taste. This is not Illuminae. I can’t give this book more stars because I like the author’s other work, or because I don’t want to be the “black sheep”. I think I’m being generous with my 2.75 – 3 stars. It’s not bad, but it was not a great reading experience for me.