This book had such an exciting premise that it drew me in right away - the beautiful cover was a help as well. While I did enjoy the story, I found this book pretty lacking. I really wished that this had been drawn out more to get the full effect of the story and its characters.

Atia and Silas were both characters that I liked and I wish that we had more time to develop their personalities and their relationship.

I also wished to get more from our side characters that just seemed add to create more than just the two going back and forth.

Overall, this was fine but rather predictable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Atia is the last of her kind - a monster that feeds on fear and nightmares. She hides among the mortals, and when she is cursed to extinction for protecting one, she makes a deal to save herself. Silas is a messenger for the gods and in charge of escorting souls into the After; as such, he has a duty to put a curse on Atia for breaking the rules. However, both of them have a common enemy: the Gods. Atia's family was killed by the Gods, and Silas is being punished for a crime he can't even remember. The two grudgingly unite to break each others' curses.

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to finish this book before the publish date. However, this seems like the perfect book to read during spooky season, so I'm looking forward to finishing it.

thank you so much to the publisher, netgalley and colored pages blog tours for gifting me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!!

at last i have read a book by Alexandra Christo and I'm IN LOVE 😍😍😍
i looved the world she created, with all its gods and story and drama, it's what makes me adore books like this. the best part is definitely the found family aspect, how they were repeating that they were not alone anymore, that they could do everything together, it melted my heart 😭😭 the dual POV was perfect for this, knowing how both MCs were starting to feel towards each other was just amazing and really enjoyable. and finally i've read a book with a bloodthirsty MC who really does it and is not afraid of being murderous, plus the guy being so in love with her that he is like "yeah, murder everyone, i will help you out" 😂😂
there weren't many twists but i didn't care at all. the magic and monsters and action-packed scenes did everything for me. it's a really easy fantasy to get into and it madee me smile a lot and forget about my issues, so that's why it has a soft spot in my heart 💜

A big thanks to Netgalley and MacMillian for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think it's safe to say that I'm not the biggest fan of Alexandra Christo, but I'm still going to read her works if they're interesting enough.

The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo is a YA fantasy about Atia, who is a monster that feeds on fear. As the last of her kind, she hides in the shadows of the world to escape the wrath of the unpredictable Gods. Silas is a Herald, carrying messages and ferrying the dead as punishment for a past he can’t remember. Stripped of his true name, he yearns to recover his identity. Atia would never dream of allying with someone like him, but when she breaks a sacred law and the Gods send monsters to hunt her, Silas offers an irresistible deal: he’ll help avenge her family and take on the Gods who now hunt her, if she helps him break his curse and restore his humanity. All they need to do is kill three powerful creatures: a vampire, a banshee, and one of the very Gods who destroyed both their lives. Only together can they finally rewrite their destinies.

I had high hopes for this book, given it was a Christo book with MONSTERS! But this book fell a bit flat. The worldbuilding was hard to get into and the characters were annoying at times. Plus the writing style just didn't match the intentions of this book. Which was a huge let down.

atia is a monster who feeds on fear. silas is a herald who’s forgotten his true identity. when atia breaks a sacred law, silas should help take her down…but instead, he strikes a deal to help her take down the gods who killed her family and are keeping silas’s identity from him.

i really liked the worldbuilding in this. all the different creatures were interesting to read about, especially the heralds. i loved the characters as well! there were even some side characters who stole my heart🫶 this was my second book by alexandra christo and i really want to read the rest of her backlist!

3.5*
This book was so fun! The beginning was probably the best part for me, I was really interested in the world and characters. Over the course of this book however, I started to get bored. The ending was not what I was hoping for and it dampened my enjoyment of it. Overall this is a great YA with a great story.

I adored this very unique YA fantasy!

Atia (a fear monster, cursed for killing a human) and Silas (a Herald who claims the souls of the dead, stripped of his human memories) are an unlikely pair that team up to bring the Gods down, restore Atia's powers and Silas' memories while falling for each other, and uncover mysteries along the way.

Atia and Silas were such well developed characters and I loved how the author blended Greek mythology with her own creative spins on it to build a fascinating fantasy world.

I thought the plot was clever with some reveals thatvwere surprising and the pace was very good. I had a hard time putting it down but especially towards the last 30% of the book.

Our characters really shine here as well, full of complexities and a dash of snark very fitting for the YA scene.

And The romance was both believable and swoony. Really enjoyed this fresh and fast paced fantasy romance!

4 stars

The cover of this book is stunning and I love the different hues of purple in this cover! I really enjoyed the found family aspect to this book and the dark fantasy genre to this book was great! There is romance in this book but no spice because it is the YA genre. My other favorite aspect of the book was that it was very adventurous and the world building with the adventures made the overall book enjoyable!


Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"There is darkness in me, I repeat."

"Look around Atia..."Where there is darkness, there are also stars."

Sometimes you just need a book about a monstrous girl who feed on the fears of other to survive.

AND, then you might need a little romance as she teams up with her enemy/hindrance to defeat corrupt gods and fulfill a bargain that will give each what they have been long looking for.

Throw in a band of misfits, creatures a plenty, a grand adventure and a curse breaking quest and you have yourself a solid standalone that will give plenty of fun to keep you entertained.

Its always a treat to read a book and feel like you haven't read something like it before. The Night Hunt contains elements of mythology as it goes back and forth between Atia and Silas' POVs. I enjoyed Atia as a main character. She's tough as nails but also just has this sweet center that is desperate for belonging and love which is refreshing and relatable.

The pacing is great and even though the overall themes are somewhat dark, there is more focus on the sweeter themes of friendship, lasting love, choosing your own family, and finding your destiny. This was a great standalone and I really wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone looking for a fast fun read.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for the ARCs. This is an honest review.

This is a dark YA fantasy that weaves together elements of the corruption of Gods and monsters that lurk in the shadows. This is a journey of self-discovery and redemption. At its heart, the story revolves around Atia, an enigmatic monster and the last of her kind, and Silas, a Herald of the Gods burdened with a mysterious past that is a secret even to him.

I enjoyed the world-building and the character development; the complex relationships and the enduring struggle between the divine and the monstrous were highlights. The characters, particularly Atia and Silas, are well crafted with depth and nuance, each grappling with their own inner demons and haunted pasts. The addition of a human scholar and a half-banshee add fun secondary characters and create a vibrant ensemble that forms a heartwarming found-family dynamic. Though they mostly fall into that state rather than allowing it to grow more naturally; as a result, it seems far more contrived than I anticipated.

While the premise of the story holds great promise, I found the pacing a bit rushed, with conflicts resolved too swiftly, occasionally impacting the depth of emotional engagement. Additionally, the quite contemporary dialogue, while relatable in some instances, may at times feel out of place, momentarily detracting from the overall immersion in a fantastical world.

Nevertheless, "The Night Hunt" boasts an intriguing exploration of the themes of identity and belonging, and plays with themes of good versus evil. The corruption of the Gods serves as a captivating backdrop. This is entertaining, as long as one doesn't mind younger-trending YA fantasy.

Let's start with a round of applause for this cover. How freaking gorgeous!!!! And then the main character? She is exactly what I needed her to be. The best kind of girl boss. The story was so entertaining as well. All around a wonderful book!

It’s a book about monsters, but it’s a nice cozy read. I love Atia’s found family. I love Atia and Silas’ match. Both anti-heroes. How they’re both hesitant to acknowledge their feelings for each other. The twist was done well. The world building is somewhat vague, but the dialogues and plot are good. Alexandra also describes their inner thoughts quite well.

The cover of The Night Hunt is so beautiful that I was tempted to buy a finished copy even though I didn’t particularly enjoy this one. I was initially really hooked by the potential of world-building and characters. Unfortunately, the initial intrigue was not enough to sustain the story and I quickly grew bored.

The Night Hunt introduces a dark YA fantasy world filled with monsters and corrupt gods. The two main characters—Atia and Silas—are brooding, unapologetic badasses and I enjoyed their perspectives. There are parts of this book that I enjoyed and overall it was an engaging, quick read. However, the plot felt incredibly generic and wasn't properly fleshed out. The quest the characters go on quickly loses its appeal because the characters never face significant obstacles and are able to move through the different tasks unreasonably quickly. This short timeline also makes both the found family and the romance feel forced. The two non-POV main characters were incredibly shallow and only served as the comic relief and the walking encyclopedia of world-building. The dialogue between these characters was painfully corny and filled with cliche, tropey lines. The four characters really did not click together and I was honestly rolling my eyes at some of the heartfelt lines towards the end.

I was initially drawn to The Night Hunt because of the vibes of the cover. I was looking for a dark story with the nightmare, demon monster the cover features. And yet Atia spends over 80% of the book as a human. Though the quest is motivated by the loss of her monster form, it could have easily been traded for another generic quest plot. Despite being stuck in her human form Atia is still unnaturally strong and easily able to defeat the monsters she faces. This directly contradicts her initial reaction to the curse and essentially makes her Nefas form irrelevant. The wasted potential of Atia’s identity as a Nefas was incredibly disappointing.

Though it started off strong, The Night Hunt fails to capitalize on its interesting potential making it a forgettable read.

My first book by Alexandra Christo and I really enjoyed it. It’s a female monster who eats fear and a cursed guy who falls in love with her. This book has simple world-building with a great storyline that will have readers hooked. It’s action-packed that makes this book so hard to put down. The characters are fun but a bit underdeveloped and their connection with each other would have been better. The romance is cute but the story is better. However, if you love Greek mythology with action and morally grey characters, then this book is for you.

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

The Night Hunt
By: Alexandra Christo

⭐5⭐

“We are both trapped in a lie and desperate to escape it. A girl, who wishes to become a monster again. And a monster, who wishes to become human again.”

The Night Hunt is a dark fantasy romance that tells the story of a monster and a Gods-cursed boy who must work together to defeat their curses. Atia is a Nefas, a nightmare creator who feeds on fear, and has been cursed after scaring a man to death by accident. By committing this murder, she has been cursed by the Gods. Having her powers and immortality taken from her, she isn’t sure what to do. Atia is the last of her kind and she had nowhere to turn. That is, until Silas arrives at the scene of the crime.

Silas is a Herald, a transporter of the dead and messages of the Gods. Silas does not remember his past but is being forced to serve a century as a Herald as punishment for it. He seeks to remember his past and his name, but in order to do that, he needs Atia’s help.

Atia and Silas are forced to work together as an unlikely pair, picking up some friends along the way as well that help them in their quest. Atia seeks to regain her immortality and power, but throughout the journey, Atia begins to wonder if living a solitary existence is something that she wants to continue doing or if somehow, she has created a family of her own after the devastating murder of her parents. Silas wishes to restore his memories and to regain his name, but he wonders if he’ll ever be able to live without Atia. She is nothing like the monster that he thought that she was.

Tropes:
Found family, enemies to lovers, lost powers, epic quest


Below are some of my highlight quotes while reading!
(P.S. - I had NO idea I had this many but looking back at them, I’m not surprised at all!)

“Once upon a time, a man died. Many men, actually. They’re prone to it, after all, because humans are fragile things and tend to fade with the stars. The important thing isn’t really the man, but what killed him and what happened after.”

“She was Atia. The Last of the Nefas. And the Gods did not like it.”

“Existing, but never doing anything so bold as living.”

“She’s a creature of night and shadow. A thing that wears humanity like a mask to lull her prey in close.”

“If it wasn’t for my immortality, I’d probably die of boredom.”

“You can’t forget yourself if you have a name.”

“People like you are why monsters like me exist.”

“The Nefas isa sight to behold. I have seen many monsters in my time, but never miracles. And the sight of her feels oddly miraculous.”

“She should look monstrous, but she doesn’t. She looks awful and beautiful. She looks sad.”

“That damn tie pin-wielding meddler.”

“In all my years torturing humans with their greatest fears, parading the streets with stark white hair and pretending to be a host of fanciful things–from seers, to rare shell collectors–I don’t think I’ve ever been called dramatic. Even murdering someone didn’t earn me the title.”

“It reminds me I’m more than what they made me to be, and to never accept a fate I’ve been given by someone else.”

“Death is such a messy, unsightly business. I’ll be glad when I have nothing more to do with it.”

“How can a person be so deadly and yet so beautiful?”

“We are both trapped in a lie and desperate to escape it. A girl, who wishes to become a monster again. And a monster, who wishes to become human again.”

“She is so determined to be heard, to be seen, to not be erased like so many of us have been. A monster of nightmares, trying to keep all the stars inside herself from burning out. And she is beautiful for it. Because of it. In spite of it.”

“I can see now how the Nefas were too dangerous–too illusionary–to keep in Oksenya. That smile could conquer worlds. Or destroy them.”

“Humans were things to be kept at a distance. True friends gave you something to lose and I’d lost too much already. But Tristan is my friend in a way Sapphir was never capable of and I really don’t want him to die.”

“‘Knowledge is a weapon,’ Tristan tells her earnestly. ‘It’s the truest power we can know. Through books, we’re made wiser by those who came before us.’”

“In a world of such wonder, who would choose to reject love, of all things?”

“We might not be with others exactly like us, but it doesn’t mean we’re alone. Not anymore. Family isn’t only about blood, but something far more rare and sacred. A bond forged in choice.”

“‘Part of me wants to kill you myself,’ she says. ‘But the other part wants to save you even more. Please don’t make me rethink the decision.’”

“I was desperate to leave behind this life in favor of one I don’t remember, because I assumed it had to be better. No dark creatures and darker nights. But how could I be so blind as to not see what wonders the darkness brought? What stars and warm nights. Atia is a miracle where there were only ever horrors before.”

“Two lives lived and neither of them could compare to the time I’ve spent by her side.”

“She is a monster and a miracle. A thing of light and shadows. Without her, the world does not make sense.”

She is a monster who feeds on fear, the last of her kind and he is the messenger of the gods, cursed to forget his past, when their paths cross it will lead to a journey to kill monsters, gods, break curses, and face betrayals and the possibility of an impossible romance. Atia is a Nefas, a monster who feeds on fears and can conjure nightmares. She is the last of her kind, having watched her mother and father be killed, she wanders in the shadows trying to escape the wrath of the unpredictable gods. There is only one rule the Gods have for monsters: do not kill a human, and by breaking that rule you will be punished. Silas is a Herald, a messenger of the Gods, people become messengers when they are deemed unworthy of moving on or for having sinned and the only way to escape is by breaking the curse on you. Silas yearns to be free, he has no memory of his past and knows the only way to break his curse is to trap Atia into helping do it. When Atia accidentally kills a human to protect her friend, Silas curses her as his duty from the Gods, but offers her a side bargain: he will help her regain her powers through her quest to kill a vampire, a banshee, and a god and in return she will help free him from being a Herald. Atia and Silas should be natural enemies, but they can't help but feel drawn together, both lonely people enduring, and yet they see something in each other that they never expected. Can they free themselves from their curse before the Gods hunt both of them down? This one was a really unique story, I loved the lore behind the monsters and I enjoyed learning about Atia. The romance was actually really sweet and seeing how much Atia and Silas cared for one another and got under each other's skin was great. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and think if you enjoy stories about monsters, breaking curses, and unlikely romances through journeys, give this one a go!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The concept of this book is what drew me in. Monster girl who feeds on fear called a Nefas. A cursed dead boy who is a messenger of the Gods and ferrying the dead to the otherside.

This book pulls you in and holds tight. I loved the different worlds, the different monsters, the gods. I wasnt expecting the twist at the end of the book but when it happened, I loved it. Alexandra Christo writes awesome characters. You can't help but love them. Even when they arent "good" characters. I have nothing negative to say about this book.

Duel pov between the two.
Found family.
Morally Grey Characters
Lgbtq+ representation.


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Alexandra Christo writes very addictive stories. I had an amazing experience reading The Night Hunt because the storyline was extremely interesting. I absolutely adored all of the characters in this story. I loved that is was dual POV. Our main character Silas and Atia were both interesting and getting to read their thoughts and feelings in each situation really helped me adore them even more. Enemies to lovers and found family are my favorite types of tropes. Tristan and Cillian were absolute adorable side characters and I wish there was more from them! I devoured the entire book because I really enjoyed the concept of Gods vs Monsters. I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy and share it with my students. Once again thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

Spooky vibes, monsters, and extraordinary imagery meets quests in The Night Hunt! I really enjoyed this world and following Atia and Silas through their quests and adventures in this brutal yet interesting world.

Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Children's Publishing Group!
Before even reading this book the cover is absolutely stunning. The cover made me extremely interested in reading it and I am so glad I did as the monsters and gods were extremely entertaining to read about. I love books with adventures and quests so this was right up my alley. The combination of people on the quest was extremely interesting and I love the different types of personalities and monsters. Definitely a great story to pick up for Halloween as it fits the monsters and magic vibes very well.