Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc. Emily Rath shows with this book she can write in any genre. I will say I read her hockey romance series right before reading this book so I was expecting some spice and that is not what this book is about. This book is based in Finnish folklore and introduced me to the Finnish gods. This author has range I would have never guessed this was an Emily Rath book if I didnt already know. This book is written from the viewpoints of Siiri and Aina. These character have quite a journey that I very much enjoyed. I would recommend this book highly to anyone who likes mythology or folklore. I look forward to reading book two.

3.5 stars rounded up. I have some mixed feelings about this one.

I adore the Finnish setting and all of the Finnish folklore and traditions that set the backdrop for North is the Night. Finland is an often overlooked Nordic setting, with the Scandinavian Vikings taking the majority of the fame so I really appreciated this unique setting. The gods and the realm of the dead were well done and intriguing, with Tuonela truly coming alive on the page. I also loved the character of Siiri and her journey through the wilderness to find the famed lost shaman. She was the character I could root for and connect with throughout the entire book. Though, I think some of the antagonists in her story were a tad underdeveloped and one-note.

Unfortunately, I did not care as much for Aina and her storyline, especially after about the halfway mark. The Tuonela setting was amazing and characters like the goddesses Kalma and Loviatar were layered and interesting, but Aina herself left something to be desired. I did not care for her storyline with the god of the dead and felt like it was a weird addition to the story that gave me major ick vibes at times. I also could easily feel Siiri's yearning and passion for Aina but did not feel like Aina had the same yearning for Siiri.

I will probably pick up the sequel but hope that it focuses less on the M/F relationship.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC and share my views on the book.

The book starts with a quick introduction and then jumps right into the action which gripped my attention and didn't let up until the end!
The story surrounds two FMCs that through their journeys discover just how strong they are by trying to take control of their own destinies. I loved the dual POV and found myself more drawn to Aina's story.
My heart broke for Tuoni, but it sings for Aina and Saari. I really loced this story!

As a Finn, it was really interesting to see Emily Rath's take on the mythology and characters. The book is packed full of it, and I believe it's a lovely representation of Finnish culture and life. I enjoyed seeing Sámi words in there along with Finnish, but I would hope there are redeeming stories about the Sámi people in the next book. Thanks to the character, Lumi, the Sámi people overall are shown as the villains, or at least helpless.

I'm really looking forward to book 2 and continuing their journey!

Let me start with saying this book is nothing like any of Emily’s other books! However her passion and love of her characters shines through regardless.

North is the Night is the all encompassing feeling of sitting around a blazing fire, surrounded by woods, listening to the tales of old. It is the warmth of the fire on your face and that ever present feeling to look over your shoulder and make sure nothing is sneaking up behind you, all while the warmth of your loved ones and the stories they spin lull you into a feeling of safety and familiarity.

The Finish mythology in this book is told through the eyes of Siiri and Aina and is captivating and educating rather than overwhelming. I found myself eager to learn more of the different gods and traditions, and amazed at how beautifully it all wove into the story being told. The passion and love that the author has for her Finish heritage was unmistakable.

As for the story, Siiri and Aina take us on a journey of sacrifice, bravery, love, friendship, and loyalty. I found myself cheering for them to succeed and torn between wanting them to reunite quickly or find more strength in themselves by being separated. I hope other readers will be as moved as I was by sacrifices made in this book. Not only by the main characters but multiple side characters who lay down everything, some including their own lives, to save a loved one.

I cannot wait to see the adventure Emily takes us on in South is the Sea.

This was a wonderfully researched and well-written book, but it was not for me. I love the author and her other works, but this book was very different than her other titles. With that being said, I think this book is great for the right person. I will continue reading her work, and would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Finnish folklore.

I loved This book! Such an interesting story. Emily’s writing is as always so riveting. Such a cozy read. Highly recommend! ❤️

Thank you to our lovely author, Emily Rath and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive this ARC. It turned out to be a new favorite! It's my first read from Emily Rath and definitely didn't disappoint. I laughed, I loved, I cried, this story pulled all my heartstrings.

It's a captivating story of love, courage, and grit built in two young women who cease at nothing in their path to get back to one another.

A magical adventure that accumulated all the best features of an epic novel filled with the enchanting lore of Finnish gods and magic weaving the lands in a time of religious colonization. An epic journey to do the impossible, following a worthy chosen on a mission to fulfill her prophesy, and a sacrificial lamb willing to give up everything in the name of love.

I devoured this book and immediately ran to preorder the Special Edition to go on my trophy case. I'm very excited for this release and to see where the story takes Siiri and Aina.

This was such a departure from the author's previous works I've read. I wasn't the biggest fan her other books I've tried, but I really enjoyed this one. I really enjoyed the retelling inspired by Scandinavian folklore and thought the author painted a beautiful picture of the setting and characters. I feel like this book was more about strong friendship and romance per se. There were romantic elements, but I didn't feel it was the driving force of the story. I hope Rath will continue in this genre, as I definitely liked it better than her other books I have checked out.

"North is the Night" by Emily Rath is a captivating and haunting tale set against the backdrop of the Arctic. The author's vivid descriptions bring the harsh beauty of the North to life, and the characters are richly drawn and deeply compelling. Rath's storytelling is powerful, and she weaves together themes of isolation, survival, and human connection in a way that kept me gripped from beginning to end. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys atmospheric and thought-provoking literary fiction.

This was such an epic, unique, and lovely fantasy full of longing, friendship, and love. Very interesting characters with lots of depth and feeling. I loved it! What an adventure.

I didn't realize the book didn't have on page spice like many of Emily's other books. I don't want to punish her in a rating for my failure to look into a book. I won't be reviewing further.

"Do not hide like a frog in the mud, pretending the winter is not happening all around you. The gods are real."

Author Emily Rath takes her beloved Finnish history and folktales, and weaves for us a tapestry of epic fantasy proportions.

Siiri is an amazing character - brave and broken, strong and scared, carrying the hopes and dreams of an entire people, while just hoping to save her other half. Her story is tangled and beautiful - and I couldn't put it down until the very end!

This book is a perfect fit for fans of Katherine Arden's Winternight and SA Chakraborty's Daevabad. A blend of fantasy and history and the old gods, this story harkens back to The Odyssey and the Finnish pantheon, and every campfire story we tell in the dark.

"My dearest friend, my truest north, she followed me to the very depths of death."

This was so different from the normal Emily Rath books that I've read but she did a fantastic job with the fantasy element. I was afraid I wouldn't be a fan because it's not her normal genre but Rath is such a talented writer and storyteller that I had no issues falling in love with this book.

Richly written and evocative, this was not what I was expecting from the author of the "Pucking Around" series (Which I have not read, but know by reputation)..

Those coming in seeking a purely sapphic relationship will be disappointed, however, as I feel it is somewhat misrepresented by the blurb. The women are apart of the majority of the book, and it does feel as though from one's perspective it is more a "soul sisters" friendship than a full-blown relationship - even with some kissing. Maybe this will be resolved in future books, or maybe we shall end up in a "Why Choose" situation - future will tell. As it stands, the only intimacy scenes are very much cisgendered. So if you're coming into this seeking wlw, you will likely be disappointed.

The writing style was beautiful and the lore intriguing, and I especially enjoyed the delving into mythology that I was unfamiliar with. Not Nordic, as you commonly see from Scandinavian books, but something deep and dark and dangerous. However, it was very, very long. And whilst the plot moved at a reasonable pace, there were plenty of cliff-hanger/page-turner chapter endings (usually marking a change of narrator, which was a bit rough), I did find my attention dwindling around 300 pages in. This may not be so much a fault of the book, but more the fault of my attention span, which has suffered greatly since covid-times. Nevertheless, I feel it should be enjoyed by anyone who loves the back-stabbery and complexity of fae politics (these are not fae, but it has a distinctly similar vibe).

North is the Night is the first title in the Tuonela Duet written by Emily Rath.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Spice level:🌶️

When I first heard about this title I was so excited!! I love Emily Rath. She is one of my favorite authors. HUGE fan of the Jacksonville Rays series!!

I also love sapphic romance books, I think this is a relationship that needs more support in the romance field. When I saw this new book offered on NetGalley and I immediately requested it.

Unfortunately I learned quickly that this just wasn’t the book for me. Fantasy romance is a hit or miss with me due to the world building, in this case it was a miss. I just couldn’t get into the plot and found a lot of the story very confusing.

This is a case of it’s me, not the book. Others who love fantasy romance will enjoy this title. It’s just hard for me to get wrapped up in the book.

I am still a huge fan of Emily Rath and will continue to read her books, just maybe not this duet.

Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I liked it for the most part, but it kind of dragged in places and the romance was told to the reader instead of shown. I would have liked more buildup and more of the main characters past than just being told that they were super close and they had gone through a lot. Love the idea and intertwining Finnish Mythology, it just didn’t really work for me.

This was my first fantasy book by Rath and I really enjoyed the slow burn whimsical writing! I adore Rath’s sports series so I was very curious about this book and it did not disappoint.
It’s heartfelt and sweet, slow burn and I loved the weaving of the FF romance in a Finnish inspired fantasy setting.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for honest review.

Emily Rath has stolen my heart again. I think I cried the entire last 10% of the book. Aina and Siiri's story. The story of love and friendship and doing everything you can for that love. Aina and Siiri live in a small village in Finland, when a goddess attacks and takes Aina to Tuonela. It is ruled by an evil Witch Queen and Aina must learn to survive. Siiri decides to travel north in search of a shaman who can help her rescue Aina.

The book has such a beautiful world, and chapter switch back and forth between the two women. It was a beautiful story, and I cannot wait for the second.

OK, WOW. If you love historical fantasy or myth retellings, you NEED to read this gorgeous book. And you know what's wild? If I didn't know this was written by Emily Rath, I would have NEVER guessed - this woman has RANGE. North is the Night is SO different from Emily's hockey books - it's an atmospheric and sweeping epic. I have a soft spot for European folklore, and the story told in this book is incredibly interesting. Part Hades and Persephone vibes, part Moana vibes, part His Dark Materials maybe? Go into this book expecting something totally different, and I think you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

The story begins with two best friends, Siiri and Aina, being violently separated by a vengeful goddess who steals Aina away to the Finnish underworld, Tuonela. Siiri decides that she must rescue her by seeking out the help of a mythical shaman in the north. Her journey leads to her discovering as much about herself as her own powers. Meanwhile, Aina must survive with a number of other young women as they are put through tortuous trials by several horrible goddesses who have upset the balance of good and evil. As Aina learns more about what's going on, she comes to the realization that she might be able to help free Tuonela and her friends. But will her sacrifice be worth it? Can Siiri truly save Aina after what she's experienced?

While this first book isn't as much as romance as it is an adventure/quest story, you can feel the undercurrents of romance between Siiri and Aina from the beginning. They are incredibly devoted to each other - some serious pining going on, especially from Siiri. Both of their stories are told in parallel, and it's really masterfully done. I was especially interested in Aina's story in Tuonela - I LOVE Hades and Persephone retellings, and I was getting ALL the vibes.

Y'all, Finnish folklore is WILD, and this book just makes me want to know more. One of the main themes of the book is how modern culture and religion is taking over the traditional Finnish way of life, and with it, their gods. The exploration of religion and myth reminded me a bit of some Neil Gaiman books I've read - super interesting stuff.

North is the Night is one of the better historical fantasy/myth retellings I've read. You can really tell how much Emily knows and cares about Finnish folklore, and I was able to just get lost in the story. Again, I'm SO incredibly impressed that this was written by the same author as my favorite hockey romance - this book is SO totally different and yet they are both SO GOOD.

I have read every single one of Emily Rath’s books and I had high expectations for this one because she is an amazing writer and passionate about being true to Finnish mythology. I was left a bit disappointed. This book is HEAVY on the folklore and fantasy and extremely light (non existent, more like) romance.

I appreciate that we were not given a huge info dump at the very beginning. The Finnish mythology was introduced at a relatively comprehendible pace. But the more I read the more confused I got about where the romance was. This book is marketed as a Sapphic YA fantasy romance and I think it’s more of a folklore fantasy. While the mythology is easy to follow, it is not my preference. I was expecting this to have a bit more romance in it.

It’s clear that Emily is passionate about Finnish mythology and folklore and it reflects in this book. If that is what you’re wanting to read, this book is for you! But based on her previous books, I was expecting this to be a bit more romance-heavy