Rating is based on the 2010 parts. Normally I don't rate books I haven't read fully, but those 2010 parts deserve it and need to be noticed.

I received this book from Tor Nightfire in exchange of an honest review.

I was so excited when I got a mail from the publisher asking if I wanted to review their book, a big publisher asking me! It sounded awesome, vampires and toxic family relationships. I knew it wouldn't be easy given my own relationship with my mom (I have broken with my parents after a whole lot of things happened). But I wanted to give a shot.

And I have decided to just read the 2010 parts. It was that or a DNF at 15-20%. Because while the 2010 parts really drew me in, see how everything went darker and darker, how Mia lost her mom and how she started with the feeding stuff, see them struggle with life and more. The now parts? I just couldn't care about any characters, it just didn't draw me in, it just felt a struggle to read it. It was boring. It annoyed me. Whereas I read the 2010 parts in my normal speed, it took me way longer to get through just a chapter of now. I am glad that I decided to keep reading the 2010 parts and I would definitely give those 4-4.5 stars. Holy crap, the things that happened in there. Reading about the virus/the vampire stuff and how that works along with how things got more and more out of hand. About how a 10/11-year old has to be more adult than she ever wants to be at that age and how she has to grow up so fast. How she just wants love and safety and doesn't get that with a mom who needs to feed on blood (and LORD those parts were horrible to read *shivers*). How she has to handle so many things that no 10/11-year old should have to do. It was a freaking good read and definitely not the easiest. The 2010 parts? Recommended!
I also did read the Today part, which was confusing because of course I didn't read the Now parts, but I just needed to know if Mia was fine in the end. If she was able to get away or find her own space/life. I won't spoil anything, but I am happy I read that last chapter.

This version of a zombie virus but for making vampires is a fresh twist on classic vampires. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and didn’t want to stop reading as the story progressed. They all felt real, which added to the experience.

Night’s Edge sunk its fangs into me from the very beginning and never let go. I can’t believe I have to wait a entire year for book 2!

Wow this was so good, where do I even begin. Firstly I am a huge vampire lover. Have been sense I was a kid. I love when an author can put a new twist on the classic vampire story and I think Liz Kerin did this so well! I was so captivated by the mother and daughter bond. The things Mia has to do throughout this novel are heartbreaking. I can’t help but feel for her and connect to her.

My only complaint was how things transpired between Jade and Mia. The scene in the van was so frustrating. That part of the story made me so mad. I just wanted Mia to have one good thing in her sad life.

Overall I loved this book. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series next year. I would highly recommend this book to any vampire lover. The story of a mother and daughters bond during darkness was so beautifully done.
4.5/5 Stars!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, the concept of vampirism being a virus. Everyone is aware of the vampires, and they had a curfew to prevent more attacks, they have scanners at the entrances of places, I really liked the concept. It was a different take on it, which I found interesting and thoroughly enjoyed. 

The characters on another note I had a hard time with. I didn't like the fact that Mia had to be the adult and take care of her mom, I mean she had to do everything, I found her mother Izzy to be extremely selfish, I had a hard time getting past that. The way she treats her daughter and acts with her is in no case a sign of motherly love, it was so toxic. The fact that she became an ongoing source of food for her mom… I struggled. Also, the romance that builds between Mia and Jade broke my heart, I hated the way she was played.

This book definitely felt more YA to me then adult even if the FMC is 23 years old. It is described as an adult horror, in my opinion it felt more YA. 

Overall, I did enjoy the book, there is a sequel, but I don't know if I will pick it up, I was disappointed by the ending.

✨️Thank you @netgalley, @torbooks, @macmillanaudio for my free ARC & ALC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Readers who enjoy stories that delve deep into the issues of addiction and toxic relationships will enjoy this book. Personally, I wanted more about the vampirism and a faster paced. The exploration of the main character's feelings was okay but not interesting to me personally.

Man, I absolutely devoured this. The mother/daughter relationship here feels incredibly believable and it's so tense and terrifying throughout. Kerin is so exemplary in how they convey personhood - they're believable! They're interesting! They feel so authentic that it hurts!

Vampires in Tucson, Arizona? Say LESS! I rarely read books that take place in my state and was truly delighted to find that the setting was none other than the desert landscape I know all too well.

It was easy to go along with Mia throughout her day in a world that reminds you of post pandemic, but where the pandemic was a virus that turns you into a blood drinking, can only go out at night, variety of person. I think Mia is a character many will relate too. She's sweet, angry, confused, and complicated. We follow her as the safe world she's cultivated with her mom starts to breakdown. Her mother is keeping secrets, putting herself in danger and Mia meets Jade - a Starbucks barista by day, musician by night who forces Mia to wonder if there's more to life than she's let herself consider before.

The story is a slow-burn, my fave, which really lets you get to know Mia. While Mia is in her early twenties, the story has a coming-of-age feel as Mia realizes that living her life for someone else for all these years really hasn't gotten her anywhere.

Chase Sui Wonders does a phenomenal job narrating the story and bringing even more life to Mia. Her want, her nerves, her anger. It's just 🤌 As is the writing. I can't wait to see these already cinematic scenes play out on the big screen. I also cannot wait for the sequel.

This book is the epitome of Summerween and if it's not on your #tbr yet, it needs to be.

This was an easy 5 stars for me. I didn't want to put it down. At the core, this is a vampire story (although I don't believe the word vampire is ever used); rather an infection that is sweeping the world called Saratov Syndrome. But there is much more depth to be found and an exploration of codependency, survival, abuse + more.

Kerin did a spectacular job and interchanging the chapters with before (2010, 10 yr. old Mia) and the present. The before chapters are integral in helping us as the reader understand present-day Mia's thoughts; my heart broke for this fictional character and I never stopped rooting for her to have the happy ending and freedom she had thus been deprived of.

Thank you to the Nightfire team for keeping my horror needs satiated ❤️

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for allowing me to have an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:
There’s a new pandemic quietly taking over the world. It’s called Saratov’s syndrome and it renders the afflicted unable to consume anything other than fresh human blood. When Mia’s mom becomes infected, she takes it upon herself to make sure her mother is fed.

Review:
There are some heavy themes of addiction that really hit home. This story was very thought provoking and upsetting at times.

“We need to believe that everyone we give our love to is a good person. But if they change… and if that change hurts us… what then? Are they still good, deep down? Because they “weren’t always like this”?”

I found this book to be pretty engaging and fast paced- I read it all in one night! The science fiction in this tale was pretty believable at times- there are some COVID parallels to Saratov’s syndrome like lockdown, screening, and the mixed attitudes toward the disease. As a medical laboratory scientist, it’s my responsibility to point out that giving 4 ounces of blood (minimum) a day is not sustainable!
I felt like the relationships were extremely believable. I appreciate the care that the author took in developing the conflicts between MC and her mother and the eventual climax.
I would have loved to learn more about the disease progression and how it changes the body from a physiological perspective.

If you’re like me and you’ll read anything with a creature resembling a vampire, Night’s Edge comes out June 20th.
The sequel, First Light, has already been announced and will be released April 23rd, 2024!

A heart-pounding and riveting novel! I need the sequel asap. Mia’s character is phenomenally written and the mother-daughter dynamic is so heart-breaking and frustrating. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this. Definitely in the top 3 best books I’ve read this year so far. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for lending me an ARC of this novel! I really enjoyed this book. The metaphor of addiction/codependency/toxic relationships worked so well in the world Liz Kerin created here. I really felt for our protagonist and was rooting for her the whole time. Kerin also did a great job at creating tension and a really fast-paced, page turning plot. I couldn't wait to pick this up whenever I got the chance. Would definitely recommend this for a summer read!

I absolutely loved this book, and am so happy to have been introduced to Liz Kerin, an author I am sure to follow to future books. Including the already-announced sequel!

Description:
Mia has a secret: her mom, Izzy, suffers from Saratov’s Syndrome and can now only survive by consuming blood. If anyone finds out about this secret, they’ll take her mom away from her and place her in foster care. In order to avoid this scenario, Mia must become an adult at the age of ten and must avoid any human relationships to keep her and her mom together.

Review:
This story broke me. I’m so happy there is a sequel because I completely fell in love with Mia. My heart breaks for this fictional character and the situation she’s in. The author took a classic story of a vampire pandemic and made into a unique and beautiful story of a girl and her relationship with her mom. Oh! and threw in some horror. I’m extremely impressed. Liz Kerin is a legend.

Omg this book is jam packed with emotions. I found myself moved to tears at a few parts because many of the events in this book hit close to home with my own relationships.

I would definitely say this book falls into the sub-genre of familial horror.

Night’s Edge focuses on Mia and her mother Izzy. When Mia is only 10 years old, her mom is infected with a vampiric disease. They call the infected people Saras. Mia’s mom had her own insecurities which often leads her to hook up with toxic men who manipulate and abuse her. Enter Devon, a Sara on a mission to turn and recruit as many people as he can for his own pleasure and agenda. Devon bites and turns Mia’s mom forever altering her life. Mia and her mother must adapt to a new dangerous lifestyle. But will Mia sacrifice everything, including herself to keep her mom comfortable and protected?

This novel is absolutely gripping. It invokes so many emotions that I often had to put it down for a few minutes to let everything sink in. Codependency is a huge theme for the entirety of the book and it showcases how intense and toxic those relationships tend to develop.

I felt so terrible for Mia the entire time I was reading this. It’s almost as if you want to shout at her through the pages. It’s easier to be the one on the outside looking in. There’s more clarity.

Honestly this book felt too real but I sort of needed it to recognize some of my own issues with my parents.

I also really enjoyed how the author wrote this story with its own pandemic, including blood scanners that paid ode to temperature checks during Covid-19. We all went through a rough few years (and still going through it) so reading about something so similar adds extra tension and anxiety. It’s too familiar. It’s perfect.

Often times we forget that horror doesn’t mean gruesome monsters or boogeymen lurking in the closet. Horror is human and very real.

Everyone needs to read this book.

The books represented by Tor Nightfire can do zero wrong, in my opinion. Liz Kerin's Night's Edge is a post-zombie virus work of art for jaded pandemic survivors, and I cannot wait for publication day.

I am so thankful to Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio, Liz Kerin, and NetGalley for granting me physical copies of the book and digital/audiobook access. Night's Edge is set to hit shelves on June 20th, and I'm just counting down the days.

Mia has been playing "Mom" for practically forever, especially after her Mom fell victim to the Saratova virus, which means she can no longer go out in the sunlight, and forever craves blood in a bag or directly from a human vein. Talk about being a lifeline for someone. Mia is tired of the bruised inner-elbows and looking after her ravenous, potentially murderous mother, and wants more for her life. That's when she meets alt-rocker/barista, Jade and her life takes on a new light.

Falling head-first, quickly, for Jade, Mia finds herself breaking curfew and interrupting feeding schedules to hang with Jade and ditch her caretaker abilities. When a cult leader-ex from her mother's past resurfaces, Mia has more problems than she can handle, and seeks to find rehabilitative care for her mother in a Sara-center, but are Horror/Sci-Fi books meant to have happy endings???

Review
Title: Night’s Edge
Author: Liz Kerin

Synopsis: Having a mom like Izzy meant Mia had to grow up fast. No extracurriculars, no inviting friends over, and definitely no dating. The most important rule: Tell no one of Izzy’s hunger – the kind only blood can satisfy.

But Mia is in her twenties now and longs for a life of her own. One where she doesn’t have to worry about anyone discovering their terrible secret, or breathing down her neck. When Mia meets rebellious musician Jade she dares to hope she’s found a way to leave her home – and her mom – behind.

It just might be Mia’s only chance of getting out alive.

My thoughts: This was a completely immersive book that not only shows the reader that vampires are both good and bad, it explores the codependency between a mother and daughter. I loved it!

Night's Edge is a book I recommend going in to relatively blind.
We follow Mia, who has a very interesting and codependent relationship with her mother. However, Mia is starting to grow into being an adult, and is yearning for a bit more freedom. We find out what happens when she tries to get a little bit more freedom.

I thought this was great - Mia's character development was believable and heart wrenching. I had a lot of fun with this one - it took a pretty common type of "monster" and gave it a fresh (and sort of timely) spin.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Vampires, but not. This book revolves around Mia and her mom and the secrets that they keep. In this book there is a virus called Saratov that infects people and turns them into undead people with a thirst only for fresh human blood. The world adjusts to living with the Saras by taking precautions, like blood scanners, to keep people safe and the virus from spreading. Mia was forced to grow up quick when her mom was turned when she was 10 and they were left on their own to survive. After 10 years of hiding things begin to change for Mia when she meets the girl next door (literally, she works at the Starbucks next to the bookstore Mia works at). While this is a vampire-like book, it also deals with relationships, people changing, hurting people we love, and discovering who you are. Kind of a therapeutic read.

Night's Edge by Liz Kerin is a unique and wonderfully written thriller.
I have t been this hooked and devoted in some time.
This is one twisted, messed up story and honestly very intriguing.
Liz Kerin had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Night's Edge is a twisty psychological horror novel that had me so blown away by the storyline and writing.
I thought Kerin’s writing was hypnotic and totally immersive.
A total page-turner and an impressive novel.

I was honored to be given a free advanced review copy of Night's Edge courtesy of the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Overall, I enjoyed how the story flowed. I liked the dual POV, with the past POV being my favorite as it helps build the world we’re seeing in the present. I thought it was interesting to explore the toxic codependent relationship Mia had with her mom, and how they dealt with her mom’s “sickness”. I will say that I did enjoy the last half of the book more than the first half.

Trigger Warnings: gun violence, child abuse, blood/needles. Those are the ones that stick out the most.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Tor Nightfire for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. My review will go up on my Instagram account (@booksandbackstreet) closer to publication date.