Night Magic is such an wonderful book about the world around us as it thrives at night. There are so many wildly different creatures in the environments around us that enjoy and active night life.

I absolutely loved learning about fireflies in the appalachians. Especially the blue ghost which I had never heard of before. What an enchanting sight it must be to come across one on a moonlight night.

The wooly bear is a caterpillar that is incredibly common where I live with much folklore surrounding it. I have enjoyed passing on the knowledge I've acquired about them through this book. I am quite surprised how much they've come up in conversation and in friend's social media accounts since reading this. We here in Atlantic Canada are preparing for the coming winter, and there is a lot of insect folklore that claims to predict the winter weather to come, particularly in regards to snowfall amounts and temperature lows.

Salamanders have always been a favorite creature in our family. It's been such a joy over the years to flip a rock or log and find one hiding in the leaf matter. Learning more about these adorable critters was such a treasure.

There is a lot of focus and attention given to light pollution and how it affects these and many other critters in our environment, including ourselves. One section highlights a similar experience to my own in which an enchanting owl moved into our dark skies neighborhood. Located in the woods behind my home, we would listen to its calls at night with smiles of rapture on our faces. Then our community decided to abandon its dark skies mission in favor of an intensely lit up community center. Just like in this book the extra light drove this beautiful creature away. It is a stark reminder that our actions and choices have an impact on the broader world around us.

We must act to protect the incredible nocturnal species contained within these pages. So many are already rapidly declining such as the lightning bugs I have loved for as long as I can remember. A magical little insect that I want to survive, so our future generations can be just as enchanted by them as I have been.

I challenge you to go out on the next warm evening and give your eyes some time to adjust, then look and listen to see what amazing creatures you can take in.

Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henson talks about all the great things that happened at night from glo worms to fireflies to spotted salamanders and even hog moths The thing that was really fascinating to me was all of it was found around where she lives in Tennessee in the Appalachian mountains. I found this book really informational interesting and definitely a book I would recommend the only thing I didn’t like I felt the author came off a tad bit preachy and boastful. For example when homesteader Amy first got a glimpse of a hog moth she got a little bit emotional and the authors response was to say try living it but it wasn’t just that statement alone but I’m coming off as if I didn’t like her and I really did I found Amy story to be the most interesting and maybe instead of disliking the author I am jealous… Lol! this was a great book and one I highly recommend. I do want to say I’m so tired of people calling city lights light pollution and acting as if lights are A negative thing because the invention of artificial lights has more positive things in it’s corner than negative maybe you can’t see stars in the middle of New York City but you can always go to the shadowy corners of city park or out to the country if that’s what you want to see. I find people today cry about things that when they were invented were the best thing since sliced bread if you know what I am saying talk about Third World problems.#NetGalley,#Algonquin books, #LeighannHinion, #NightMagic,

There has been lost a sense of the presence of darkness and an understanding of what happens at night. The author explored this idea in her book starting with the world of fireflys, then onto salamanders and more. In the present day, we are in such an illuminate world at night, we forget the darkness that is part of our life and in nature. Nature in the dark is amazing yet forgotten. Why has this happened? There are so many amazing things that happened in nature that is good for our ecology. It is indeed unfortunate when that part of nature is destroyed by man for mundane projects. There is a sense of renewal throughout her book. The author realizes the importance of occasionally escaping from the world of unrelenting, artificial light: “It is only by the power of light and the grace of darkness that we’re able to rest and rise, then rest and rise again.” She is able through her writing to evoke the sense of wonder that follows from tuning in to the natural world:.

It’s a fantastic book to read and learn from. I remember my delight when I saw the firefly’s when I was a child. Sadly, I haven’t seen fireflys since I was a girl. I live out in the country again and have had the experience of seeing owls at night and even heard them talking. I see lizards doing push-ups to attract their mates. I’ve had so much fun as a child being outside in the dark at my home. I have been reminded to open my eyes to see more in nature at night by this author.

This lovely, meditative book on all things in the night is one of the most fascinating and soothing books I’ve read in a long time. Recommended for readers who need some help learning how to see the world again.

4.5⭐

In <b>Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark</b> by </b>Leigh Ann Henion</b> combines scientific facts with her own life experiences, ‘lore and much more as she takes us across the landscape of Appalachia exploring the magical beauty of the nocturnal world and the living creatures that thrive after the sun goes down.
The author writes beautifully with a reverent appreciation for nature in all its wonder. A running theme in this stressing how artificial light pollution and the use of blue light technology are negatively impacting the ecosystem and living creatures who thrive in the darkness. The author’s exploration of how we human beings perceive, resist and experience darkness is both insightful and thought-provoking.
My favorite segments were those on synchronous fireflies, the screech owl, moon gardens and foxfire. I only wish the text had been supplemented with actual imagery.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be a fascinating read. Finally, just look at that beautiful cover!
Many thanks to Algonquin Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on September 24, 2024.

#NightMagic
#LeighAnnHenion

This was the most magical, eye-opening book! Night Magic invites us to step outside our well-lit comfort zone into the lush realm of darkness that few of us experience anymore. Leigh Ann Henion details the natural wonders available to us when we overcome our fear of the night and explore the beautiful, active world that comes alive after sunset.

Each chapter delves into a different enchanting creature or plant: bioluminescent mushrooms, migrating salamanders, the fascinating variety of fireflies, giant moths, flowers that only bloom at night. We learn about gatherings dedicated to pursuing nighttime phenomena in ways that create an experience of awe, described as 'a self-expansive emotion, where the boundaries of a separate self are transcended to process a larger, complex reality.'

This book was so inspiring, asking us to move away from our screens and become aware of the richness all around us. It's beautifully-written, just meditative and peaceful but also captivating. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to Algonquin for this book!

This book spoke to my animal-loving heart. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but having studied biology, I love all things nature and animal-related. This book was fascinating!

The author takes us along on nature adventures to encounter animals and plants that we may have walked right by in forests, ponds, ditches, and even our backyards.

Henion’s descriptive writing flows beautifully. The book feels more like an amazing adventure story and not just scientific facts. You will be in awe of these night animals and the true “magic” they possess. From the brilliance of bioluminescence to an animal with plants living within their cells, this book will not only help us to understand but respect the natural world that surrounds us.

“𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑎𝑙.”

Thank you @algonquinbooks for this gifted book.

In Night Magic, Leigh Ann Henion invites readers to step into a world often overlooked—the vibrant, mystical life that awakens when darkness falls. With poetic grace, she intertwines scientific exploration with deeply personal reflections, creating a mesmerizing ode to the beauty of nighttime.

Henion’s writing flows effortlessly, shifting between the marvels of nature—glowworms lighting up the night, moon gardens blooming under the stars—and her own life experiences, enriching the narrative with a human connection to the natural world. The blend of factual details with her meditative tone makes this more than a book about nocturnal wonders; it feels like a love letter to the quiet, hidden life of the night.

One of the most captivating aspects is how Henion presents night not as a time of rest for all, but as a period when certain life forms truly come alive. Her descriptions offer a new appreciation for the rhythms of the natural world, which continue unseen by most, deepening the sense of awe with each page.

The book reads like a gentle meditation, perfect for those who seek to slow down and appreciate the subtle magic that occurs when the lights go off. For anyone curious about the mysteries of the dark and the creatures and plants that thrive in it, this beautifully written account will leave you enchanted.

I loved every moment of it. Night Magic is a reminder to pause, observe, and honor the beauty that surrounds us.

Wow, I truly cannot overstate how much I loved this book. I primarily read fiction so it takes a special non-fiction book to hold my interest. NIGHT MAGIC is absolutely fascinating, and the quality of the writing is top-notch. This is a smart and entertaining read, A remarkable achievement - this one should win awards. I will be adding Leigh Ann Henion to my list of favorite NF authors. Eye-opening, moving, inspirational, and elegant.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

his was a beautiful cover, and the information inside taught me a great deal. There is something magical about things that glow. The stories, experiments talked about, etc made for a good read. It also made me think, as artificial light is another thing that we, as humans, just take over and shine without thinking. There are things to be learned, and this book opened my eyes.
Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #Algonquin #NightMagic

This was such a sweet book! My kids loved the pictures and the information it shared. A beautifully put together book.

"Night Magic" is delightful and complex, like being led on a nature walk with a quirky and insightful guide. "May we find our way back to natural darkness, or at least hold fast to the wilderness that still exists, so that we'll be able to bear witness to night's living riches." Recommended for readers who enjoy information and anecdotes about the wonder of the natural world. Fans of poet Aimm Nezhukumathill's "World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments" will appreciate this book.
#NightMagic
#NetGalley

The author engages the reader's interest in the effects of artificial light and the benefits of natural darkness by sharing personal investigations and anecdotes. Musing about the luminous life forms - months, fungi, salamanders and more - in her Appalachian environs and taking us along on her investigative outings. Henion acts as storyteller, historian, mother, and seeker as she joins hands with a variety of biologists, citizen scientists, dark night enthusiasts, activists and "magical beings". As a confirmed night owl, I resonated with her message warning us of the detrimental effects of artificial light (especially LED and blue light from electronics) and felt profoundly uncomfortable for reading this treatise in an e-book format on my phone. Recommended or fans of Pine Island Paradox. #NetGalley #NightMagic

Another cover to love, but disappointed between the pages. I didn't think we were ever going to stop reading about moths. I like moths, but they can overstay their welcome. The lightening bugs left early. This book was also more scientific than I expected. I was hoping for more of an appreciation of wonder than the science behind the night world. The writing was also a bit lethargic for me. I got tired of walking around in the dark having conversations with whoever was accompanying the author. I thank NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the advance read.