I almost couldn't finish this one. It's... not engaging. I found it a slog to get through. However, by the time I was about 70% done? It got really interesting. But having to get so far in to the book before I found it enjoyable, does not a good story make.

Also, I slogged through all of that, just to have an unhappy ending? Gross.

Holly Black is an incredible author and this book does not disappoint. An excited series launch and a strong transition from YA to Adult market publishing. Can't wait for book 2!

Slow start but then I could not put this down! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Charlie Hall is a con artist and thief who always messes up her own life. She meets Vince who seems too good to be true. Then she gets mixed up in a grift to steal a magic book, her own magic appears, and Vince has vanished. Can she pull off the ultimate con to save them both?
Can’t wait for book 2!

I’ve been putting off this review for a while now, it has sat with me for a few months since I read it, and yet I am still saddened to write this. I adore Holly Black, she was my favourite author as a teenager and I would read each of her books as they came out without hesitation. But this book was… a disappointment. I felt it was a drag to get into, yet not long enough, and jsut generally written differently than her other books. I understand this is her adult debut, but her writing seemed to change drastically and did not hook me like her previous books. There was a lot of info dumping and I wasn’t pulled into the moments of action, thrill, or distress which disconnected me from the story. I also could not relate to any of the characters and was unable to root for them.

Overall, I want to keep reading the series as I believe it has potential, and maybe from a new/different author I’d rate it higher- but I expected so much more from Holly Black.

This was a great fantasy read. Nothing like Holly has written before, it was a breath of fresh air. I went into this book with a fresh mind and was not disappointed. I wish there was a twing more romance, but alas that was not the case. Neither the less, a great read that picks up at the end, having readers grasping onto every word that Holly has written. I cannot wait for the second book!

Book of Night was a promising start to a dark fantasy world where the shadows come to life. Despite struggling to get into the first half of the book, when the action picks up in the middle I was glad I had stuck with it and I loved the ending. I'm excited for the sequel.

I loved this gritty urban fantasy. It drew me into a new world and I was captivated by Charlie and the people surrounding her. What an amazing story! I can't wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

Charlie Hall has never found it easy to live honestly, but she's trying. She's got a decent bartending job, a shadow-less boyfriend, and her magic-obsessed sister will be going to college soon (if they can scrounge up enough for tuition). But Charlie's past won't stay quiet, so when her boyfriend disappears and dangerous people start asking questions, she ends up embroiled in a scheme that could end with her dead or worse.

Holly Black's first foray into adult fantasy is a fascinating story of magic, shadows, and the inescapable histories that make us who we are.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

I do always enjoy Holly Black's books because they are always a little bit weird and sometimes hard to understand...enjoyable, nonetheless. This is Holly Black's first dip into the adult fantasy world and she does not disappoint. The magic and so forth in this novel is a little bit strange and confusing, but like I said before, that seems par for the course for me when it comes to her novels. I did like Charlie and her shady past that combined with some Veronica Mars level sleuthing and it was quite entertaining. The ending of this novel was satisfying, however, also seemed to leave it open for a sequel, so I am not sure what will occur. Entertaining!

You can read my full review of this book in The Brooklyn Rail June issue.

Holly Black states in the afterword to Book of Night that this is her debut adult novel. But Black’s previous YA novels are great reads, even for jaded grownups like me. Her stories of strong young women pushing back against oppression—whether from boys/men or the wicked folk of Faery, are compelling and entertaining. Book of Night isn’t set in the Faery realm but in a skewed version of the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts.

Holly Black creates incredible world's and characters, and Book of Night is no exception. Charlie Hall is a badass heroine, human and flawed but utterly likeable. The story weaves in twists and turns I didn't see coming, and the ending will leave you wanting more. Highly recommend.

This is a great book full of magic and wonder. I really love this entire book and Holly Black is just a wonderful writer.

A solid foray into the adult genre for Holly Black. I'm excited to see what else she does for the older crowd!

Every time I pick up Holly Black’s book, I expect the story to top The Coldest Girl in Coldtown which is my most favourite vamp book!! BOOK OF NIGHT, even though a most anticipated read of 2022 did not exceed my expectations. I felt like the story started off at a point and was left hanging at a different point and place at the end. It was good, but wasn’t better than Coldest Girl. Sorry Holly, you struck me weak with Coldest Girl, hence the personal benchmark choice!!

Thank you Tor books via Netgalley for the reader’s copy.

Book of Night opens Holly Black's new adult fantasy series, starring thief/con artist Charlie Hall.

Our heroine, who 'Never met a bad decision she wasn't willing to double down on' takes on the powerful in this tale of shadow magic.

The book ends with a great change in Charlie's life and circumstances - a cliffhanger that will leave fans (me included) very anxious for her story to continue!

I can't recommend The Book of Night enough. Not only is Holly Black one of my favorite authors but this is an excellent intro into her now writing for adults. Definitely would recomend giving it a shot.

Dive bars, con artistry, and magic-- what else could you want? This is my first dive into Holly Black's ouevre and her writing absolutely lives up to the hype. BOOK OF NIGHT combines Neil Gaiman's lyrical dreaminess with a raw and sexy horror that is all Holly Black's own. This will certainly not be the last of her books I read.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. To be honest, I don't know how I feel about this book. In Holly Black fashion, the fantasy and magic system of Book of Night is intricate and incredibly interesting, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep my attention for this book. I kept stopping and starting this book and would forget about it more than I would find myself drawn to pick it up and finish reading. I think I lost track of the plot at times and I didn't feel any real attachment to Charlie, the protagonist. I believe that this is the first in the series and am intrigued to see where the story goes, but as far as where this first book lies, it didn't stand out to me the way I hoped it would, as anticipated of a read it was.

It took me a little to understand the mechanics of the world, but as soon as the mystery really started in earnest, I was hooked—the pacing is very well done, and each step Charlie takes to uncover the truth opens up her world, her understanding of her role in it, and forces her to ask herself how far she's willing to go to protect the people she loves. A great read!

I love Holly Black, but this was just an absolute miss for me. I was struggling to get through the first 50 pages and before I could get to 100 I called it quits. It just felt really slow and the world didn't feel like it tugged you in like hers normally do.