The premise for 'Down Comes The Night' drew me at an instance.

Two people trapped together in a strange and creepy mansion who hate one another, but have to work together to save their kingdoms? Yep, I am in!

Unfortunately, the story itself fell flat for me - I was super disappointed.

Everything about this book was intriguing and the description had really hooked me but I found too many things that I really disliked.

I did loved the main character, Wren. She was an interesting character, as well as being kind-hearted and caring.

I could tell from the beginning that she was a good person who would struggle with herself if she did the "wrong" thing.

I also loved that she is bi-sexual and so it was wonderful to have that representation within the narrative.

But at the same time, I HATED, her relationship between her and Hal.

It almost felt that Wren could never seem to stick to a feeling or an opinion.

She seemed to quickly 'changed' into a different person to the one I was growing to like and it did not suit her, or the story for that matter.

I knew where their relationship was heading too – it was pretty obvious from the start. But there was no real development and so their relationship felt painfully forced.

Because of this, I think this story could have been better if it was a duology. That way we could have seen the characters develop more and the relationship. A nice slow burn!

Another thing that bothered me was the character, Hal. By not having his POV in the book I felt that really lacked in his development. I never really felt that we got to know him, the real him.

It kinda felt like guesswork.

Lastly, the ending of the book was so rushed, I could not make heads or tails of what was really going on.

This was great!! The right amount of magic, mystery, intrigue, and romance. In a race against time two enemies must work together to solve a deadly mystery. Soldiers from neighbouring countries are going missing along their borders without a trace and an uneasy truce has been shaken by the disappearances. To prevent war from breaking out again Wren, a healer, must help Hal, the most deadly mage of the neighbouring kingdom, to recover from an unknown illness as well as find the missing soldiers. As they circle closer to the truth a tangled web of lies and madness is revealed.
I was sucked right into this story. I couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between Wren and Hal. As they uncover mystery after mystery they realize they must trust one another in order to survive. If you love enemies to lovers, magic, murder, and political intrigue you will love this novel. I highly recommend and hope to read more from this author in the future.

I really enjoyed the way that the author wrote. However I felt that the romance was a bit heavy-handed too early. The character seemed to give up really easily on previous relationships and the tension that should have existed between enemies. I would definitely read something else by the same author because I enjoyed her writing, but the book itself fell flat for me.

Oh how I loved this book! I admit I went into this with some level of expectations because I've heard good things, and these expectations were absolutely met. "Down Comes the Night" has a beautiful cover and an intriguing premise, its atmosphere being likened to Guillermo del Toro's movies which is the aspect that got me the most interested. Admittedly, it started a little too slow for my taste and it took me a moment to really get hooked, but once the book moved into its more gothic scenery, I was sold. Once Wren, the protagonist, arrives at the eerie mansion of Colwick Hall, the atmopshere gets darker and grittier and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.
Saft has a beautiful writing style that she uses for rich world building and great character development. Wren is sympathetic and endearing, and her love interest Hal appropriately dark, mysterious and different-than-she-thought. They have chemistry and the perfect amount of enemies-to-lovers-tropeyness to make the reader root for them. While the book never really hides its antagonist, the mystery is still fun to solve especially due to the tense, dark atmosphere of Colwick Hall.
Some aspects of the story would have needed a bit more development - the relationship between and reconsiliation of Queen Isabel and Wren being one example - but these little things never took away from the enjoyment of reading this gothic little gem.

I'm confused as to what Down Comes the Night is trying to be. It's an okay read. With a slightly gothic atmosphere. And I'm here for all the enemies-to-lovers stuff. And I absolutely loved that the MC was bisexual. But the overall story was just... okay. I'm not sure what I expected going into it but I sadly didn't get it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a review copy.

trigger warning
<spoiler> child neglect, trauma, grief, mutilation </spoiler>

Hoping to redeem herself, soldier and healer Wren Southerland accepts a post that seems fishy at worst and mysterious at best. If she succeeds, she could be reinstated to her post at the side of the person she loves. But what if she fails?

The predicament is simple. In her homecountry, mages like Wren have three options: Serve in the army, serve in the order of the Goddess, or let their magic be severed. It is believed that only while serving your magic can be under control and used for good.
This sounds so stupid it sounds realistic to me.

Since Wren doesn't want to lose a part of herself, which would be option three, and has never liked living in the abbey, which would be option two, there is only option one. Which isn't ideal, because she has a tendency to ignore orders. For good reasons like compassion and kindness, which endears her to the reader but not to the higher ranks.
She feels like she has nothing to lose by the risky plan and fears losing her best friend/ crush at the same time, which, again, is relateable. Humans are not necessarily logical creatures.

Some parts of this novel felt redundant, and my main problem is that we're constantly told if she uses her magic <i>one more time</i> she risks losing it, up to a point at which every new use of her healing powers felt ridiculous.
Yes, of course you need to do it. And of course there will be next to none repercussions, the book <i>needs</i> you. Not a huge fan of the plot armor, to be honest.

I would have liked to learn more about different countries, but in the context it makes sense. Other issues were more important.
All in all, I'd say it's an okay read. I am sure I just am a tad too critical with my books to really enjoy this, but then to fifteen years ago I'd have adored this .

The arc was provided by the publisher.

I loved this book so much! I was drawn in by the atmospheric settings and stayed for the twisty mysterious plot. Seriously I couldn't eve tell what was going to happen next or who to trust and it threw me for a loop but like in a great way. The magic system was super unique but integrated really well into the world so I never struggled to understand its uses. I loved the multi-gender attraction representation we got with Wren, which is something I don't see too much of in fantasy. Plus the enemies to lovers romance gave me some ever elusive Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy vibes. I also really appreciated the nuanced discussion about war and how awful it is that the characters were actual child soldiers. You don't typically get that in YA so it was a really nice change of pace. And even though it covered these really intense concepts it still made me laugh multiple times. All around amazing!

Sometimes deciding to step outside your comfort zone and reading a new genre is a good thing and sometimes it's a disaster. Thankfully, this was a good thing. I rarely read YA. I don't do sci-fi/fantasy. I went into the book knowing very little about it and not having much experience with books about a magical healer. I loved it. It was a bit slow to start and took me a bit to get into, but it picked up, and then I couldn't put it down. It had an interesting storyline unlike what I've read before, but that might be because I don't usually read books like this. The mystery twists that were thrown in definitely helped gain and keep my attention since mysteries are my jam. In many ways, it read more like a mystery than what I'd expect from a fantasy/sci-fi book.

I loved loved loved this goth story that I didn't even know I needed. holy crap the characters are amaaaaaaaaaaaaing.

3.5 Stars

Format | eBook/ARC

STORY

Characters | 3 stars
I enjoyed how Wren's character is not the standard badass heroine, able to fight and always wearing a mask. The author has does something specific with her character, never swaying from the fact that Wren's kindness and compassion do not make her weak. I liked how she stayed true to this the entire story.
Hal is an interesting, albeit typical love interest - character as well, and Lowry was a fun a puzzle to figure out.

Plot | 4 stars
My main gripe with the plot is how two countries have been at war for centuries and yet they are all up in arms because 6 people are missing. 6 people. Wars have thousands of casualties, yet 6 people is the breaking point. But I liked the mystery of the plot and appreciated the political and military details included with the medical analysis.

Setting | 4 stars
Loved the wintery, gothic setting of the creepy estate house cased in snowfall. However I am still confused as to what kind of world this is...is it steampunk? There's magic and science, mechanics and trains and advanced medicine, etc. and yet Wren has never heard of electricity. Also, there were some mentions of neurons and other highly specific scientific vernacular that was very out of place.

TECHNICAL

Writing | 4 stars
DOWN COMES THE NIGHT was well-written, however my biggest complaint with it is in the technical terms. I actually really appreciated the author's medical knowledge and how Wren sees through an anatomical lens, but even as that aids the writing in some places, it hurts others. For example, if you say "he trailed his fingers down her antebrachium" it loses literally all romanticism. Just say her effing forearm. (This is just an example and not an actual quote).

Editing | N/A
As an ARC, this is not a final version and editing will not be rated.

Execution | 3 stars
I liked how the story played out; some twists were predictable but overall it kept me guessing.

EMOTIONAL

Engagement | 5 stars
I was engaged with the characters and story from the first page. The mystery of who the patient was going to be when Wren arrived was easy to guess, but the rest held me captivated.

Emotional Connection | 3 stars


Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for this advanced copy!

This was a lovely book. Wren is a bi disaster with healing powers, who really doesn't want to cry, and Hal is actually adorable behind his killer facade.
What I liked: Normally I don't like horror in any way but the Gothic mansion was okay for me, not too scary but also not unscary. Also I not a medical professional of any kind but it seems like Allison Saft did her research which I always appreciate. Also, the worldbuilding was properly executed and it made it really easy to imagine the world. That said in some spots it was a bit too much and overtook the story.
By far the best thing I do have to say was the character development and how the relationship between Hal and Wren changed. You could actually understand why and how it changed and no Insta-Love at all!
What was a bit of a letdown was the villain and the finale, not to spoil anything but it was not that hard to guess the secret and the finale was a bit anti-climatic. I also would have liked to see more of Vesria.
But overall a really good debut and I will definitely pick up a book by Allison Saft again

A girl with the magic of healing deserts her country’s army to answer the call for help from a nobleman of a neighboring neutral country in exchange for their support in the ongoing conflict between Danu and Vesria. When Wren arrived at Colwick Hall she discovers the patient she has been asked to treat is none other than Hal Cavendish, Vesria’s strongest soldier and Danu’s greatest threat. Wren is torn between following her heart and healing Hal and kidnapping him to get back into her aunt, the queen’s good graces.

A little bit haunted house, a little bit of romantic tension and a whole lot of mystery. Lots of fun twists! My only complaint - author goes in to a bit too much detail on a couple of Wren’s medical procedures and it’s a bit cringey. As my partner often reminds me “I don’t want to even watch you put your contacts in. Eyes are magical.”

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was as a fantasy YA novel that was a bit slow at the start but picked up pace quickly. The plot and world building were very good but I didn't love Wren as a main character. Overall a good read and appreciated that this wasn't a duology or trilogy.

A beautiful story that will tug at the heartstrings of any romantic, Down Comes the Night is full of compassion, duty, mystery, and magic.

Wren is a young healer of Danu, an expert in her craft who relies not only on her well-honed magic, but on the more "advanced" skills of science to diagnose and treat even the most severe injuries and illnesses. As a member of the queen's guard, her utmost duty is to serve her country and protect her comrades-in-arms. But a mystery lurks in Danu as members of the Guard have been going missing quite abruptly, including one of her good friends, Jacob Byers. Just as Wren gets a lead on the case, her kindness seems to get the best of her and she finds herself suspended from the Guard, with little prospect of reinstatement. As if the loss of her career has not done enough to erode her sense of self, she finds she must leave behind the commanding officer she has fallen in love with to pursue the most unlikely of opportunities...in Cernos of all places.

Once outside the bounds of her queendom, everything seems a little off. She is hosted by a nobleman who has been the darling of the Danubian gossip columns for ages, yet there is something about him that seems just the slightest bit more sinister than his reputation has suggested. The patient that she has come to treat suffers from an illness the likes of which she has never encountered, and its rate of progression does not lend itself to a good prognosis. As Wren begins to slowly uncover the many mysteries that surround her, she finds herself torn between a traditional duty to country and a more hopeful dream of the peace that could be. But what must she give up to restore peace to Danu? And what leverage could she possibly have to make a difference?

The writing in Down Comes the Night is rich and enveloping. Danu is a sight to behold, painted majestically for the reader in all of its foggy and snow-capped glory. The characters--not just Wren, but Hal and Una and even some of the more supporting characters as well--develop noticeably and wonderfully throughout the novel. Any reader will leave this novel feeling well-acquainted with the character of each and every individual, and will fully feel the complexities of the challenges that they face.

My biggest gripe with this novel was in fact that I felt so immersed in Wren's character that I could not at any point root for her relationship with Una. It felt stilted, imbalanced, and often inappropriate from beginning to end. I wanted so much better for Wren, and longed for the point in the novel where she could just let Una go. It felt so thoroughly like a young woman's fascination with a first love who just is not right for her, who is limiting and constraining her and holding her back from her greatest potential--which I suppose is exactly what it is. I just didn't love it. Especially when juxtaposed with the romance of Hal Cavendish, who was always willing to step back and support Wren to be at her best.

Overall, I'm not big on romance, but I actually really loved this book and loved all of the trope-y scenes and Hal's over-the-top lines. It's well done, and even in its most predictable moments, quite enjoyable. Highly recommend.

Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for the review.

A solid standalone YA fantasy! Down Comes the Night is its own unique self, but it has a similar flavor to Sorcery of Thorns, which I loved. Wren and Hal remind us that enemies to lovers is a classic for a reason—especially when it involves good banter. Their hesitance to trust each other is counterbalanced by their desperate desire to trust *someone,* making for a tense but believable romantic arc. Speaking of romance, I really appreciated the great bi content here and the treatment of Wren's romantic relationships.

What the Lowry storyline lacked in mystery (it was clear fairly early on who was responsible) is made up for twofold in tension arising from that lack of mystery and the confines of the manor. That said, the primary settings and the world as a whole felt a bit thin, which in turn drove down the tension/suspense. Perhaps my greatest disappointment was the depth of the characters, because while their concepts were intriguing and their banter charming, their motivations and thoughts were often less complex than I'd like for characters involved in some exceedingly morally gray war efforts.

I received a digital advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was exactly what I was in the mood for! I need more standalone YA fantasies honestly. The romance was delightful (though I would have like a bit slower of a burn) and the Frankenstein/science aspects were interesting.

When I saw the author tweet that this book is her “love letter to YA fantasy, Gothic romance, and, of course, fanfiction”, I knew there was great potential for me to enjoy this book and that turned out to be the case. Saft has managed to take common fanfiction tropes like sickfic and forced proximity and wrap them up in an atmospheric gothic YA fantasy setting that felt reminiscent of Margaret Rogerson’s Sorcery of Thorns.

The story follows protagonist Wren Southerland as she departs to a mysterious manner whose inhabitants might prove to be the key to peace between Wren’s home country, Danu, and Vesria, the country Danu is at war with. As a healer, Wren’s services are requested by Alistair Lowry, who owns the manor, but when she meets the patient she has been asked to heal, it turns out to be a familiar enemy face in the form of Hal Cavendish. Secrets are slowly revealed, and of course it turns out there is more to Lowry and his mysterious manner than meets the eye…

From the start of the novel it becomes apparent that Wren struggles with feeling “too much” and more than once she has already let that get in the way of important missions with the Queen’s Guard. It was refreshing to see this being addressed in a YA fantasy novel for once, since YA heroines have a tendency to equate strength to not feeling or showing emotions. The novel questions this idea throughout the story and challenges common traits found in YA heroines, which I really enjoyed. Questions about kindness, emotion, and forgiveness also tie into the larger themes of the novel and I enjoyed seeing how lessons from personal conflicts were applied on a bigger scale to the conflict between countries as well, even though sometimes these ideas were a little too much on the nose.

Speaking of conflicts, the enemies-to-lovers romance between Wren and Hal was simply delightful. Their banter was amusing to read and perfectly spiced up with some fanfiction-esque situations that lovers of fanfiction will surely appreciate. These lighter moments are nicely balanced with serious conversations about the war they have both fought in that lead them to understand one another better, which made for a fun and believable romance.

Of course, there is also the more major plot of discovering who is behind soldiers’ disappearances along Vesria and Danu’s borders, which turned out to be quite predictable but was still enjoyable to read. Really, though, the characters are the stars of this book, and I would recommend it mostly for them. Apart from Hal and Wren, there is Una, Wren’s best friend, who goes through some development of her own even though she is not there for most of the novel. I found myself relating deeply to her trouble with showing emotion, so it was touching to see her reunion and reconnection with Wren after the two have hurt one another deeply earlier in the book.

Overall, a lovely YA fantasy that might not have too much to offer plot-wise but makes up for it by having lovely characters, a fun romance, and an atmospheric gothic setting that is inspired by the Victorian Age. Definitely recommended for fans of fanfiction-esque romance and YA fantasy with a twist.

Before we get into the review, I have to say a big thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. Down Comes the Night is what I would consider a Gothic Fantasy story about two people from opposing sides of a multi-centuries long war that have to come together to deal with a horrific enemy. This book is slated for a March 2, 2021 release and is available for preorder now.

There was so much to like about this book. I think the author does a good job with the magic system and explaining it to the reader without having to go rambling on for pages at the beginning of the book. Also, the main character is a healer and the author seemed to really do their research into all the tiny details a healer would need to know. I felt like our main character also went on a journey to become a much stronger person. Our main character is bi so it was great to see that diversity there. I also appreciated that her being bi wasn’t this huge deal. It was just who this character is, without comment or question. That was really nice to see.

The problems I had were what drove down the rating for me because these problems are fundamental for me as a reader. I felt like the author didn’t do enough world building. I’m hoping that will be different in the final print copies and that an addition of a map will help there as well. I was invested in the story for the gothic setting and the characters, but the world building and family history wasn’t there. I could have done with an extra 50 or more pages explaining this all to me. Without it, I felt like I was at arms length for a lot of the story.

This seems to be a debut novel so I’m excited to see where this author goes from here. It looks like this was a standalone Fantasy novel which we don’t get a lot of so it was nice to see everything end well. This is a good time for anyone looking to get a little creeped out and a little horrified by the things humans do to each other.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to read an early review of this book. This book started out well and I was immediately intrigued. Wren was a very likable character and early on we can see her compassion. I thought that the world building was done well and more of the world and setting are revealed throughout the book. I also really liked Hal and how the relationship between he and Wren developed as they got to know each other. I liked the gothic atmosphere at the house and was very interested to find out the culprit of the mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would be interested in reading more in this world or by this author.

Down Comes the Night by Alison Saft is a dark gothic novel that fans of the recent gothic boom are sure to love. The novel focuses on Wren, a healer, who is in a conflicted position in the Queen’s Guard between duty and doing what is right.

When Wren heals a potential enemy insurgent which leads to the boy’s escape she is finally punished by the Queen by being stripped of her title and being sent back to the Abbey, where she was rescued from and never wanted to return. While at the Abbey, she receives a mysterious letter from a Lord asking for her help to heal his staff who have fallen to a mysterious illness. The staff member happens to be no other than Hal Cavendish, a sworn enemy to Wren’s country of Danubia.

This book is riddled with tension and gorgeous setting description. Our main character is bisexual and I am so so glad to see more bi-rep in books; we even get two potential love stories with Wren. One between her unrequited love with her best friend Una and then later on with the mysterious Hal Cavendish.

The mystery that unfolds at the Lord’s manor, Colewick Hall, is intriguing, creepy, and at once tender.

This book is a perfect dark gothic romance to curl up to and devour in a sitting.

Thank you, Net Galley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity at an early read.