I have very mixed feelings regarding this book. On the one hand I really enjoyed the folklore and Finnish inspired mythology! I loved the magic, the setting and the world building and I think the author did an amazing job at bringing a the gods/goddesses/witches to life. I really like the dual POV, it was great to follow both characters and the author left each POV at the perfect point, which constantly made me want to continue reading!
On the other hand though, this book was described to me as a sapphic Romantasy and as a tale of female friendship and I feel like both descriptions were wrong (?). The 'sapphic' relationship seems very one sided, we only really get one quick kiss and a few loving words, which compared to the heat and passion between Aina and the God of Death, the sapphic romance seemed very underwhelming, and quite unrequited in my opinion. However, the fact it still exists even a little means, to me, that the tale isn't really about friendship as the characters are obviously supposed to be more than friends. It just confused me and I felt as though it wasn't sapphic enough to be classed as a sapphic Romantasy, but because there are romantic intentions you can't really classify as a tale of friendship either.

I loved Aina's character and her development throughout the first two thirds of the novel but then it felt like it was all undone. She claims her power, takes a little control for herself, embraces her role as the queen of the dead and starts to actually fall in love with her husband and then ends up running away and just being 'saved' by Sirri after all so all of her 'I am powerful, I am a goddess, I am a queen' moments in the middle just ended up being pointless to me. I think I would have preferred her to choose to stay in the land of the dead, and would've enjoyed reading the angst this caused if she'd have rejected Sirri entirely.

I'm not sure if I will read the second one. I'll need to think on it, I'm still not really sure how I feel about the book overall. I loved certain parts, but I also didn't like some aspects.

North Is the Night by Emily Rath

Release date: December, 17th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

"North Is the Night" by Emily Rath is a captivating sapphic romantasy that weaves together adventure, intrigue, and the defiance of gods, set against the backdrop of Finnish folklore.

In a land where more than wolves roam the dark forests, Siiri and her best friend Aina face the encroaching threat of land-hungry Swedes, the condemnation of old ways by a zealous Christian priest, and the mysterious disappearance of young women. Bold and determined, Siiri vows to protect Aina, but even her resolve is tested when a death goddess abducts Aina to Tuonela, the mythical underworld.

Siiri's quest to save Aina leads her on a perilous journey north, in search of the legendary shaman who has traversed the realm of death and returned. Meanwhile, in Tuonela, Aina endures the torment of the Witch Queen, discovering the king of the underworld's sinister plans for her. Their paths are a testament to true friendship, heroic courage, and the transformative power of love and hope.

Emily Rath's rich portrayal of Finnish paganism is a beautiful journey, offering a compelling storyline that contrasts the native religion with the encroaching Christian invaders. The novel is filled with adventure, suspense, sacrifice, and the formation of unlikely friendships, all woven together with Rath's signature beautiful and complete storytelling.

While marketed as a sapphic romantasy, the book may surprise readers with its focus on deep friendship and the minimal romantic content, which includes both sapphic and male/female relationships. The romantic elements are not the central focus, and the story shines in its exploration of courage, self-reflection, and transformation.

"North Is the Night" is a story that promises to captivate readers with its wintery vibes, blending the dark and terrifying underworld with the frigid Finnish wilderness. It's a tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the duology.

Emily Rath's "North Is the Night" is a masterful blend of fantasy, adventure, and the exploration of deep human connections. It's a story that transcends genres, offering a rich tapestry of Finnish folklore, mythology, and the indomitable spirit of its characters. Whether you're a fan of sapphic romantasy or simply love a good fantasy adventure, this book is sure to enchant you with its wintery charm and heartwarming tale of friendship and love.

Thank you to The Publisher Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books ,The Author Emily Rath & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Incredibly impressive for a fantasy debut. I’ve read all other books by Emily and this one might be my favorite. The mythological references and lore this is based off of is one of my favorites and this is done well and with respect. 100/10 cannot wait for the conclusion.

“We are done waiting for the menfolk to hurry up and change things. If we want change, I think it must begin with us.” Mythologies no longer favor the male victors in this Finnish folklore re-telling. Aina and Siiri must put their friendship to the test when the death god haunting their village targets them next. Are they strong enough to find one another while bringing faith back to their people?

Funny, heart-breaking, adventurous, and hopeful. You will leave this Finnish epic with eyes wide to the magic and wonder around you and a severe case of book hangover.

For fans of the Witch’s Heart, Circe, and Achilles.

Overall, it was an engaging read and I will reread once the BEAUTIFUL physical book is released.

As another reviewer noted, the first half primarily focuses on world-building. I do wish there had been more emphasis on character development, as the characters seemed to lack a lot of depth for how much world building there was. I am hopeful that this will be addressed in the second book and we get to see more of the history.

This book was marketed as a sapphic romance, a description I find VERY inaccurate. The very limited romantic content was exclusively heterosexual, and the sapphic relationship felt very one-sided and ambiguous. It was unclear to me whether it was or would be romantic or simply a deep, lifelong friendship.

I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of Finnish folklore. Although I usually avoid religious themes, this book successfully integrates them without overwhelming the story. I anticipate that these elements will play a larger role in the sequel.

Beautifully immersive tale of love. Absolutely adored getting to experience Finnish folklore and to get utterly swept away in this story!

North is the Night by E. Rath, published by Kensington Books, is the first book in the Tuonela Duet.
Telling the story of Siiri and Aina, best friends who're about to go on an epic adventure, including ancient gods, finnish folklore, the story of true friendship, amazing adventurw, suspense, unexpected twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat from start til the very last page.
The story starts out a bit slow, the intriduction to story and characters is in depth, a slow build up. Their story concludes in South is the Sea. I recommend the book, 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Siiri and Aina are best friends, Siiri has always been the protector of the two while Aina has always been the kindhearted softie. Aina is kidnapped by a witch to the mythical underworld, Tuonela, along with several other young women. The women are tortured by the Witch Queen and her daughters, but a mysterious raven begins to help Aina. Siiri is determined to find Aina, the woman she realizes she cannot live without, and begins her mission to find a lost shaman so she can travel to the underworld to bring Aina back.

I enjoyed getting a taste of Finnish folklore. I’m always down for stories that have the Christian vs paganism storylines, but in this book it was like we really focused on it early on but forgot about it until the end. I’m assuming the next book will have more of this storyline which is exciting. Most of the antagonists in this book lacked a little depth, I wanted more of their reasonings behind their evilness. I would not consider this a sapphic Romantasy, not a dealbreaker for me but I don’t think it should be marketed as such. There’s sapphic content but the little amount of romantic content we really get is male/female (fyi not very spicy). I’m really excited to see what will happen next. I loved the folklore/mythology aspect as well as the dive into shamanism. I think this will be a great winter read when it is published! The dark and terrifying underworld mixed with the frigid cold Finnish wilderness definitely gives winter vibes.

This enthralling story of Finnish folklore and love is a unique escape. Action suspense love loss friendship family belief and bravery are explored in the magical mystical Finnish forests. What a fun read!

Two friends go on epic adventures after one is snatched by the gods to Tuonela, the Finnish underworld.

This book feels like it starts quickly, but the exposition takes you to the halfway point before things get interesting. This whole book ends up feeling like a prelude to book 2. There’s a lot of world-building here. In fact, I’m hoping that the meat and potatoes story of this duology is in South is the Sea.

I don’t know that I would classify this as “sapphic romantasy.” I would say this is a fantasy with sapphic content. But you should be warned that there is MF content in these pages. In fact, I think that should be a trigger warning for all the sapphic women for whom a man in the mix is a dealbreaker.

In fact, I’m hoping we get a lot more (about 100x more) sapphic content in South is the Sea. My hopes and dreams are pretty much pinned on this story going the way Emily’s set me up to ask her for. Be prepared for the scarcest love crumbles between our characters in the meantime.

For me, the reason I loved this story was the fantasy element. Emily treated us to a rich portrayal of Finnish paganism and it was a beautiful journey. I especially loved the storyline with the Christian invaders trying to wrest the Finns away from their native religion.

I also loved our ladies, but I must confess I loved Siiri more than Aina. Siiri gives big masc top vibes, and her protective instincts drive this book. I can’t decide if I want to be her or be with her. The sapphic woman’s big question in her daily life, I suppose.

Also, we are treated to evidence of the bear vs man debate. Siiri meets a bear and a man in the woods. Guess which one is the threat?

Anyway, I tore through this book and you will too. Read it when it comes out and then we can both wait eagerly for the shenanigans to continue in South is the Sea.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
POV: Dual 1st Present

North Is the Night
by Emily Rath
Pub Date: Dec 24 2024

In the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark forests. For Siiri and Aina, summer’s fading light is a harbinger of unwelcome change. Land-hungry Swedes venture north, threatening the peace; a zealous Christian priest denounces the old ways; and young women have begun to disappear.

Siiri vows to protect Aina from danger. But even Siiri cannot stop a death goddess from dragging her friend to Tuonela, the mythical underworld. Determined to save Aina, Siiri braves a dangerous journey north to seek the greatest shaman of legend, the only person to venture to the realm of death and return alive.

In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But armed with compassion and cleverness, Aina learns the truth of her capture: the king of the underworld himself has plans for her. To return home, Aina must bargain her heart—as Siiri plots a daring rescue of the woman she loves the most.