Gods, Goddesses, Witches, Sharmans what's not to love about this book. Found the use of the Finnish mythology very interesting. It never dulls as there is always something happening to keep you gripped. Can't wait for the next book.

Thank you Emily Rath, Quercus books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was a rollercoaster. The start was too slow, it took a while for me to get into it. I liked the focus on Finnish folklore, it was interesting to learn more about this topic, and this was probably the strongest element in the whole book.

The antagonists felt like caricatures and not fully-developed characters. In this novel, most female characters are described as evil, treacherous, and scary. Lumi is described as a wicked witch. Kalma and Tuonetar are monstruous. The same cannot be said about the descriptions of male characters. It feels weird to see Tuoni, the god of the underworld, be described as kind and warm, when all the female characters are given entirely different treatment. Aina's arc is quite underwhelming and the love story is not convincing at all. In addition, the sapphic element is marginal - I wish it was given more space to blossom.

Another thing I want to point out is the unfair treatment given to Sámi people. They came into the story as background characters who are ruled by Lumi, daughter of Ajatar, the goddess who haunts the woods. Sámi people are indigenous people who have suffered (and still suffer today) repression, marginalization, assimilation and dehumanization. In this book, similarly to real life, Sámi people are not given a real voice. Their only representation seems to be Lumi who is described as a "nasty forest witch": she is the evil antagonist the mcs have to defeat. This characterization is both simplistic and harmful.

In conclusion, some aspects of this book worked, others didn't. The pacing felt weird at times and I wish women and Sámi people's characterization was treated with more care.

So I know Emily Rath as the queen of the hockey smut and now she’s wrote a fantasy book based on Finnish lore. It’s a chunky book around 600 pages give or take and I’m not going to lie I was so undecided if I was going to like it! The first few chapters I was so confused and reading it on kindle made it hard to flip back and forth to the who everyone was bit BUT 6 hours later and I’m finished! I literally couldn’t put it down! This book has consumed me in every way possible and I love it! The story was so good! Fast paced when it needed to be, my heart was in my mouth at the things being described, I both laughed and cried. The relationships described in this book were perfect, messy, not always what they seemed on the outside - so realistic but beautiful.
Besutifully written, small spice scenes - not what i expected from Emily but perfectly fitting for this storyline. I am going to think about this story for a long time! I already need book 2!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - Thursday 9th January

North is the Night is a dual-POV fantasy based on two tales from Finnish folklore. Whilst I enjoyed the writing, from the set up of the Swedish/ Christian colonisation at the start of the book, I expected this to be more of a focus throughout but this context seemed to just fizzle out. There are a number of content warnings for this book and potential readers should check this carefully. It is not an easy read at times. That said, I did enjoy the story and will likely continue the duology when the second book is released.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC

As some one that has married into a Finnish family I enjoyed the folklore and language in this and the Finnish culture that is throughout. This is the story of Siiri & Aina and their quest to find eachother after being separated by the gods. I did find the amount of gods & side characters in this confusing at times and I was hoping for more romance. I would have liked to have seen more of Tuoni & Aina and the other romantic storyline felt a bit rushed and sudden at the end

I loved the mythology part of this, and was intrigued to see how it would go. It isn't the worst book out there, and I enjoyed it. It was dark at times, which I can see may be off putting to others, but I thought the characters were great.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.75⭐️

So this book seems to have people very divided? Which is good! Reading is subjective and we all like different things. Me personally? I had a good time!

We follow 2 main POV characters Siiri and Aina living in their small village, whilst there is a string of strange occurrences of missing woman and girls occurring in the Finnish wilderness, unknown if it is the gods at play or sinister human forces. When Aina herself is kidnapped, Siirri will stop at nothing to get her back.

So I went into this knowing absolutely nothing, and going by other reviews I think this might have been for the best. I didn’t know it was marketed as a sapphic romance, I didn’t know it was Finnish mythology so everything was a pleasant surprise!

I enjoy the writing, even if it was a bit simple and I loved the imagery of all the gods and deities! My MAIN criticism and the reason why I have dropped a star as not one romance is even marginally believable which is such a shame as so much could be done with them!!! We are told the main characters love each other so much but you just never see it? Hoping this develops more in the next book.
Ll
Thanks as always to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

North is the Night by Emily Rath had an intriguing premise and moments of promise, but ultimately, it left me feeling a little disappointed. While there were aspects I enjoyed—such as the atmospheric setting and some heartfelt character moments—I found myself wanting more from the story overall.

The pacing felt uneven at times, with some sections dragging while others rushed through pivotal moments. While the characters had potential, I struggled to connect with a few of them, as their development felt a bit surface-level. That said, there were flashes of emotional depth that kept me engaged, and Rath’s writing style has a lyrical quality that I appreciated.

Despite my reservations, *North is the Night* had enough compelling elements to make me want to revisit it. I’d be curious to see if a re-read might change my perspective or help me pick up on details I may have missed the first time around.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Rath for the opportunity to read this eARC. While it didn’t fully meet my expectations, I appreciate the chance to explore Rath’s work and would be open to reading more from her in the future!

I want to preface this by saying I did enjoy it overall but there were elements I didn’t like which I think made me not want to read further books in this series.

I felt like the ending felt very rushed and the character arcs seemed a little odd. I liked the writing style and I enjoyed the world which really was the main thing I enjoyed about this book. I loved the vibes of this book and I found the mythology/folklore element really interesting.

Like I said I felt the character arcs were a little weird. I didn’t really buy into the relationship between two of the characters and also the love between the two main characters seemed a bit strange in places. I enjoyed how it ended but like I said it did feel kind of rushed.

Overall though, I would still recommend this book to other people I just don’t think I would go out of my way to carry on with this series. I ended up sitting on what star rating to give the book and ultimately ended up giving it a 3.5 ⭐️

2.5 ⭐

Was this dark and atmospheric? Sure.
But the writing was too simple and too surface level, I never felt lost in the story or the characters, the plot was very predictable.

The first 20% was such a struggle to get through. I could have definitely done without the attempted rape scene, it got way too close for my liking. I almost DNFd at this part.

There's a lot of emphasis on the balance between life and death, and I enjoyed how this was explored. Half the story takes place in the underworld, but all I got from the descriptions was the smell, not the overall ambience or visuals.

The book is described as sapphic, and I suppose in a way it was. But despite Aina and Siiri talking about how much they love each other, I didn't feel any romantic feelings between them, only friendship. I don't want to dismiss Aina potentially being bi, but there was no romantic love from Aina's side at all, none whatsoever. Right at the end she describes Siiri as being her soul, but all along the entire story it truly felt like any romantic feelings came from Siiri alone and were not reciprocated on Aina's side. There was a very brief kiss initiated by Aina, but this felt more platonic and as if it came from a place of gratitude, and not from romance or passion.

I had a very hard time believing any love in this book at all, because there was so little evidence of it. We were constantly told about feelings, but there was very little action or any deeper meaning behind it. I suppose Siiri risking everything to rescue Aina is a big act of love, but what about little ones?

Siiri was constantly telling us how brave and selfless she is too, and again, there's no need to blatantly state things like this, when they can be shown in different ways instead.

And so many things didn't make sense for these characters, like Aina suddenly becoming a confident goddess just before having sex with Touni, having never been with a man before.

Also, the one "smut" scene was terrible, vague, flowery. Obviously, not every book needs spice, but it honestly felt like that's what was coming, and it's what this author is known for in her contemporary romance, so to finally get to sex, and have to read THAT was disheartening.

I did like the dual POV and how things slowly started connecting in the individual stories, but was it really necessary to end most chapters with an awful cliffhanger? This doesn't work when it's overused, it frustrated me to no end, and was one of the reasons I almost gave up on this book so many times.

I follow the author on Instagram and everything she has shared about this book, including art, made me expect something completely different to what I actually ended up reading.

And whilst I was excited to read this for the Finnish mythology, I really did not like the religious aspects explored here at all.

It wasn't a completely bad book as such, most of the issues I had relate to preference, but I read a lot of fantasy and romantasy, and this story just doesn't stand out at all. I very much doubt I will read the sequel.

It was ok - not completely sold that the marketing was accurate, as others have said in their reviews.

Emily Rath's writing is absolutely delightful and intriguing, bringing this wintery story to life in the most vivid way. Two sisters are separated, and in their quest to get back to each other, the two girls end up on their own fulfilling journies. It was such a fantastic story to read, featuring Finnish folklore, which I don't think I've really read about before!

Thank you to Quercus Books for an e-arc of this one, all opinions are my own!

North is the Night by Emily Rath is a rich fantasy steeped in Finnish folklore and centering two lifelong friends, Siiri and Aina, who are torn apart when a witch spirits Aina away to Tuonela (the underworld). We follow both girls as they embark on their own journeys, with Aina trying to survive and navigate this new world of gods and death witches, and Siiri searching for legendary shaman Väinämöinen for help in order to rescue her friend.

The dual POV was a really effective tool for developing each character in depth, separately - at the beginning of the story, we get the impression that Siiri is strong, capable, and opinionated, whereas Aina is meeker, and happy to go with the flow. This couldn’t be more wrong! Through Aina’s narration, she really comes into her own, proving herself to be adaptable, determined, and fiercely protective of those she loves. She is a symbol of hope for the other human girls trapped in Tuonela, and her role in saving Tuoni (the god of the underworld) makes her a worthy leader and a strong character in her own right - outside of Siir’s shadow.

Siiri’s journey saw her saving a strangely human-like bear, convening with gods, and learning to open herself up to her own power. However, no matter how much her power grows or how far she travels, her thoughts never stray far from Aina. It is clear that her love for her is complete, transcending platonic or romantic limitations. I really enjoyed how the two girls were presented as soul mates in every sense of the word. Both characters are wholly changed when they reunite, yet their bond is just as strong as when they were ripped apart.

One of my favourite aspects of this book was the portrayal of the struggle between Paganism and Christianity in Finland at the time. Aina and Siiri’s people are being pushed further and further north by the crusading Swedes, who bring with them a new brand of violence and misogyny. The priest who visits the small village on Lake Päijänne impresses upon them the importance of women knowing their place, and even executes some women as witches. This is in stark contrast, of course, to Siiri embracing the power of the old ways and vowing to use it to fight for the Finns.

The history and mythology at the heart of this book seem thoroughly researched by Rath, and her passion for this setting shone through at many points in the story. North is the Night is a gem and an essential new addition to the folk-fantasy genre. I can’t wait for the sequel! 5/5

I thought this was fine. Set around Finish folklore and death magic we follow two young women, one who is kidnapped into the realm of death and one who is on a mission to save her. I liked each of the povs and both had enough action and character to stay invested throughout. It could have done with more atmosphere in places but overall a decent read.

Thanks to netgalley for a review copy.

Unfortunately, I decided to DNF this book. I was really excited for this book as Emily Rath is one of my favourite authors and I was super interesting to see her take on fantasy. Sadly, the formatting of the ARC was really off which made it harder for me to really get into the book. Still, I also didn't feel any connection with the characters whatsoever, and the writing also wasn't what I'm used to with Emily. I do feel like a lot of people would really enjoy this book as it is not bad at all! Just not made for me :)

I would still really like to thank Quericus for the eARC.

Having been raised on Nordic folklore and Scandinavian children’s fantasy stories, when I saw this title come up, I couldn't request it quickly enough.
Prior to picking up this book, I had read nothing about its marketing, but I have since come across a few frustrated reviewers who expressed disappointment about this book being unjustly marketed as a sapphic/ feminist romantasy. While I didn't think of this book as a romantasy, for me at least is probably a good thing. The main plot is not romantic, and although love guides most of the MC’s actions and decisions, I would firmly place this book in the folk-fantasy genre.

The first thing to say about this story is how quickly it engaged me. There are few fantasy books that don’t follow the format of extensive scene and world-setting before the plot begins to unravel, and that can pull it off. Here, the action kicks in very early on, and it’s used as a tremendous device to execute the dual PoV. The movement between Siiri and Aina’s plotlines doesn’t let you catch a breath. Almost every chapter and viewpoint change ends with a cliffhanger, making the story wonderfully binge-worthy.
The two MCs are well constructed, and I felt their fear, bravery, love, and determination throughout the story.

The premise is quite traditional: a young woman from a small fishing village grows up in harsh conditions, with a family as loving as a household ruled by men striving for survival allows. Siiri has a close childhood friend, Aina, who loves her like a sister, though as the story progresses, it becomes apparent that Siiri’s love for Aina goes beyond sisterly feelings.

When Aina is taken by Kalma, goddess of death and decay, to the underworld of Tuonela—sacrificing herself in Siiri’s place—the narrative splits into a dual PoV, bringing the first surprise: Aina’s character herself.
From the start, Siiri is presented as the strong, stubborn, and brave one, but once Aina is revealed as a narrator, her character comes to wonderful, multi-layered life.

Although the ordeals Aina and the other girls taken to Tuonela endure were difficult to read at times, those scenes felt necessary to bring to life and give credibility to the cruelty of Tuonetar and her daughters. As difficult as horror and violence against the innocent can be to read, as long as it’s not gratuitous and supports the emotional depth of the story, I believe it’s justified.

The decisions Aina makes to cement her role in Tuoni’s storyline further develop her as a character, weaving a wonderful coming-of-age tale. In parallel, Siiri’s quest fuels the fires of a fantasy adventure rich with Nordic folklore, featuring imagery reminiscent of stories like White Bear King Valemon and, of course, echoes of Odin, Niflheim, and Hel from Norse mythology.

My only complaint is the book’s depiction of the Sámi as villains, which I found damaging, in poor taste, and the main reason for deducting one star. I can see why this would enrage and completely alienate some readers. However, with this being a completely fictional fantasy story, if I were to get too mad at this, I’d also have to rant about the negative stereotypes Frozen perpetuates about Norwegians—and let’s face it, life is too short to get that mad at fictional stories.

My other minor issue is that Tuoni and the other male side characters could have been developed better. Aina’s relationship with Jaako and Siiri’s with Väinämöinen felt a bit told rather than shown, likely due to the author’s choice to prioritise action and plot over character development. This isn’t my favorite approach, but it’s entirely down to personal preference, as I’m a lover of great characters I tend to get hung up on missed opportunities.

North Is The Night is a lovely plot-led story that exceeded my expectations. The quality of its storytelling, imagery, and themes is top-notch. It injects a wonderful modern fantasy twist into Norse and Nordic folklore stories of old, with a rich, multi-layered plot and characters, and a story that twists and turns so much it’s impossible to predict where it will end up.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this great adventure in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book but I am NGL I was majorly disappointed….

To start on a positive, I really loved Aina’s storyline with Tuoni (god of death) and how she grew in confidence, essentially being about to save herself. I kinda routing for them in the end. I also really like the mythology and quest Siiri goes on to find Aina.

Nevertheless, this was marketed as a sapphic fantasy book when it was first announced and I was really looking forward to seeing Emily write this type of story. However, it barely exists in the plot and if it does it is very one-sided. I have also since spotted that this has all been removed from the marketing material in recent weeks. I struggled to keep engaged with the Siiri’s quest towards the end and the flip flopping between POVs didn’t help that either.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me but thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview - all opinions my own.

3.5⭐

I’m not sure where to start with this one, but the main thing is: it’s just not marketed right. It’s being sold as a romantasy, but honestly, it’s not. The romance is barely there and super confusing. I couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be a sapphic romance between two best friends or an enemies-to-lovers romance between a god and a mortal girl. Either way, it didn’t land for me.

That said, the story itself was interesting, and the lore kept me hooked. If you’re into high fantasy with little to no romance, this could be your thing. But for fans of this author’s usual romance-heavy books, this one might feel a bit off.

The plot follows two best friends on separate quests: one searching for a shaman to help rescue her kidnapped friend, and the other trying to survive a Nordic-inspired underworld. Both storylines had me turning the pages, but I still felt like something was missing.

What I did love was the sneaky theological discussions. The way Christianity was portrayed (especially highlighting its unchanging misogyny) was such a cool touch and gave me a lot to think about.

All in all, it wasn’t bad, but it didn’t blow me away. I don’t think I’ll be picking up the second book in the duet.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Quercus and Emily Rath for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

North is the Night is certainly a book that will keep you on your toes! Finnish folklore/mythology is completely new to me and I really enjoyed learning about it (creative license aside). It's a dark and fascinating history. There were a lot of complicated names and stories to keep track of but I didn't mind, especially with the glossary at the beginning.

You could tell how much Rath enjoyed writing this book and it was well-written for a fantasy debut. All of the characters were interesting and I enjoyed the dual POV/timeline.

The plot moved extremely quickly with the entire story taking place in 2-3 months. I would have liked to have seen deeper character development. The romance felt rushed and I didn't find any of the relationships believable aside from Siiri's and Aina's friendship and this was only because they're childhood friends.

The world building was okay. There was so much potential to make the scenes atmospheric but the writing was too one dimensional to make the reader feel like they were actually IN the story. All of the back and forth between the gods and the court politics were also too convoluted which detracted from the story.

All of the twists and turns did mean that I never knew where the story was going which was excellent. I'm intrigued enough to read the sequel and see how Rath finishes the duology.

This would be a great book for someone new to fantasy. Easy to read with lots of action and a fascinating, dark folklore to delve into.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author, Emily Rath and the publisher, Quercus Books for an arc of this book

I love mythology and grew up with Greek, Roman and Norse myths but Finnish mythology was new to me. One of the problems with that is that there are an awful lot of characters to get to know and learn the attributes of and that can be difficult to keep track of.

The 2 lead characters, Aina and Siiri, are childhood friends who are separated by a witch from the realm of death., come to steal young women. Siiri is determined to rescue her friend and the dual threads of the novel follow their journey as they try to find each other.

I think that the novel would have been better if it had had 200 pages less, as for me this was over-long. I understand that this is a saga and that overcoming obstacles is an inherent element of this kind of novel but considering that this is only part one, I found it tough going.