Loved this book and the narrators. The story is sweeping and epic and felt like reading a fairy tale at times. I was so invested is seeing how this story ended and loved the two differen story lines. It felt like the perfect winter read.
I do think the marketing of this book didn't match well with what I read which may bother some but I try and go into books as blind as possible and wasn't bothered. Don't expect spicy saphic, don't expect heavy romance plot, don't expect heavy political/religious plot.

I received the arc from Netgally and this is my first book I read from this author. If you are a fan of witches and goblins, this book is for you.The character development was well done and I listened to the audio book and I liked the narrator. I am looking forward to part two.

I was so excited to get a new genre experience from Emily Rath and I also adore this cover! This was such a unique and different fantasy and I really enjoyed all the Finnish lore that I knew nothing about to begin with. It was dark and full of nonstop adventure. The narrators were fabulous and embodied each of their characters well. They also did a great job with the side characters and bringing them to life.

Emily Rath, what can you not do?! This fantasy was delivered on a silver platter and although it’s only the fourth book I’ve read this year, I’ve enjoyed it so much that’s it’s my favorite so far this year!

This is a story of true friendship and love. There’s so much heroic adventures that I was entertained throughout the whole book. So much reflection, and transformation of the characters. The whole story was complex and the world building was easily understood because I listened to the audiobook while following along with the copy I bought. Highly suggest doing that if you struggle with following along with world building!

It is a dual POV between Siiri and Aina was amazing. I found myself wishing I got more information and story from one character until I read the next chapter and then I wanted more from the other. Each of the girls were so interesting and I wanted more and more. THANK GOD SOUTH IS THE SEA is already planned on coming out! I can’t wait to get my hands on that when it’s released!

If you’re interested in mythology, Finnish religion, death gods, and shamans this book is for you! I didn’t know I’d like this book as much as I did! My first 5 star of the year!

2.25 Stars!

Nothing brings me more joy than listening to the audiobook of a book I’ve been eager to read.

What intrigued me the most about this story was its foundation in Finnish mythology. I don't think I’ve ever encountered a fantasy novel inspired by it before, and that made the book even more fascinating.

However, despite being categorized as a sapphic romance, the romantic aspect between the two female characters was quite underdeveloped. It was mentioned frequently, especially by one of the characters, but it's a pity that it was rarely in this story. It almost felt like North is the Night served more as a setup to prepare readers for the much-anticipated second book in the series.

Additionally, since I listened to the audiobook, I found it challenging to keep track of all the names, as many of them were unfamiliar and difficult to remember.

All in all, if you're already familiar with Emily Rath's books, you should definitely give this one a try. It’s a romantasy, which is quite different from her other works, most of which are new adult sports romances that many of us are probably already familiar with.

over all for her first fantasy book i think it was very good, its extremely descriptive and well written. i had seen emily’s video saying that book one is very world building and plot driven and that the romance is kind of a subplot and that it will ramp up in the following books but i guess i still expected a little more out of something that was marketed as sapphic?

it did get a little hard to follow and stay entertained at a certain point as this is a massive book with a lot of info you need to retain. i look forward to giving the next book and try to see if some of the issues i had with it correct themselves.

it wasnt a bad book but i wasnt in love.

I’m gonna be honest and say that this audiobook just didn’t do it for me. I was really excited for it, but it fell really flat to me and didn’t capture my attention

This was very different from the other books by Emily Rath that I have read. I really enjoyed it, and the story was interesting, though maybe a bit long.

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

I went in not expecting to like this book. But the combination of mythology, the strong relationship between the girls, the side characters. The court intrigue of the gods and the slow fall of Paganism in this book is amazing. The character development between the girls is just perfection.

This book is perfect if you love complex characters, sapphic longing, bi-rep, and friendship. I loved how the God of Death was so complex, you couldn't determine if you liked him or want to set him on fire. I will say, I didn't like Siiri's brothers or father. Men need to learn they don't know everything.

This is a perfect winter read.

Wow! I went in blind to this, and I'm so glad I did. This is now a top 5 favorite romantasy of mine. It was a fresh story including a few familiar themes. Such complex and moving relationships woven from start to finish. The narrators did a phenomenal job representing each of the main characters and I can't wait to hear them again in the sequel. 10/10, no notes.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

What a way to end 2024. Finnish mythology? Death gods? Shamans? This legit had it all.

Siiri and Aina have been friends (and maybe a bit more) since forever. But when a death goddess comes and takes Aina away to Tuonela (the underworld), Siiri is determined to get her back. We follow both girls, going back and forth between their POVs -- Siiri and her dash to find the great shaman to help her bring Aina back, and Aina as she navigates the underworld and tries to stay alive despite the efforts of the Witch Queen. I loved both of them. Their characters felt very unique, and not once was I confused as to who was speaking.

The world building was wild. We are in Finland during the time where Christianity was taking over, trying to destroy pagan beliefs and shrines in order to convert people. Siiri does her best to keep the old faith alive for her village, but no one believes her when she claims one of the death goddesses has taken Aina, setting into motion her daring rescue. The pushback against Christianity is a theme that runs throughout the book, and will most definitely be a major theme in the sequel. But once we embrace the gods and magic, we are introduced to a world of gods and monsters, where magic reigns and the dead walk. It was beautiful and breathtaking, the writing itself lyrical.

I honestly could not put this book down. I was hooked from page one and got very, very angry once I got to the end and realized I would have to wait for the sequel to be released. Bonus: the audiobook was very well done, and I would definitely recommend it as they pronounce all of the Finnish words way better than I ever could. What a phenomenal book all around.

Thank you Netgallery and RBMedia for providing me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

North is the Night is a folktale fantasy with romantic elements. I have read that some people are disappointed in this book due to incorrect marketing but I found that this book focuses heavily on the folklore fantasy elements and drives an incredible story.

Siiri and Aina are both going through their separate journeys throughout a majority of this book which kept the story very engaging as every chapter you would find the characters making their way through challenges and gaining knowledge to not only reach each other again but to also prepare for many threats that head into their village.

Though this is a duology I love that this story by itself feels complete. There is plenty of information to create intrigue into the second book but I am satisfied with how things are left in this book where I'm not itching to get an answer to one scene and instead looking forward to following the continuation of the whole story.

First, thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of the "Jacksonville Rays" series by Emily Rath, I knew I had to read her debut Fantasy novel and it didn't disappoint, but it was a BIG change from her hockey romance writing! Some other reviews have stated this as well, but this is a fantasy book with a touch of romance. If you go in expecting "romantasy" you might be disappointed. As someone who doesn't know much about Finland or Finnish folklore I feel like I learned a lot of information over the course of this book. The lore and characters kept me intrigued up until the end. And as an audiobook, I thought both narrators did very well. Fantasy audiobooks are sometimes hard for me to stay engaged with but this one was very well done.

North is the Night follows two best friends, Aina and Siiri. When Aina gets taken to Tuonela (the land of the dead) Siiri vows to do everything she can to save her friend. I found the story very interesting and really liked the dual timeline of Siiri in Finland trying to figure out how to save Aina and Aina in Tuonela trying to figure out her own escape. Both women face their own challenges and obstacles along the way. I'm VERY interested to see where the second book of the duology leads.

Including a brief content warning for attempted assault, torture, death, blood & gore, and pregnancy.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an advance copy of this audiobook!

I really enjoyed this book - it's so different from Rath's other works, which made me even more curious about it. (For the record, I love Rath's other writing a whole lot, so I was instantly pulled in because of that!)

Without revealing a lot, I really appreciated the development of both of the main characters.

I don't know a ton about Finnish folklore, but that wasn't an issue for getting into this book. Can't wait for the second book! Highly recommend.

<strong>Impressed </strong>

Wow !
This dark fantasy book was such a captivating read ! The plot had me by a chokehold the whole time . Every twist and turn had me holding my breath chapter to chapter. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat .

Low spice but wow was the plot worth it . I finished and immediately needed more . The next book can’t come fast enough!

The audiobook was so well done ! The female narrators brought this story to life, the way I felt every single emotion!

I only wish this was a graphic audio. My only suggestion.

📖5/5
🎧5/5
🌶️.5

I did enjoy this story taking place in the early times of Finland complete with gods and goddesses fighting to survive as the Finnish people living there do the same. There is much danger, both from the wilds and priests from Sweden bringing word of the new god and making their case with violence against those still worshipping the old ways and gods. With a background like that, it really makes the story seem real. Focusing on Siiri and Aina, two young women with an unbreakable bond and who are willing to do anything to protect each other, I dived into it and really enjoyed both characters on their very different journeys (one to the North and the other dragged into Tuonela). Both are strong, but in different ways and with those strengths they find help in unexpected sources and also learn more about themselves. With Aina's compassion and willingness to bear burdens to save others (even scary death goddesses), and Siiri's determination to never give up and always find a way (even to learning how to separate her soul to travel to Tuonela), it is a good adventure for those two who are soul bound and only complete with each other.

As this is the first book in a duology, it does a good job in building up the world and getting it ready for what I am assuming is going to be a bang of a story in the second book. But this still was a fun book to listen to and I am looking forward to finding out the rest of the story!

The narrator did a great job in bringing the characters to life and it was easy to tell if it was Siiri or Aina's point of view.

For fans of romantasy and folklore, North is the Night follows two best friends Siiri and Aina as the fight to get back to one another after Aina is taken to Tuonela, the realm you go to when you die, by a death goddess. The incorporation of Finnish folklore was really well done and felt immersive. I especially loved the narration of all the Finnish names/locations. Both narrators did a great job at making the listener feel like they were in this folktale.

Outside of the immersive folklore, the novel suffered from pacing issues and forgettable characters. We defeat the villain introduced at the beginning about halfway through the novel then the listener is left wondering where the plot is going. There was also this push to have Siiri and Aina be romantically interested later in the novel where I truly thought they were blood relatives up till that point. On top of that, I really didn’t care for Siiri or Aina as the book progressed. They both did have some evolution as characters but I couldn’t find myself really rooting for either of them. The best character was Loviator, the goddess of illness, and she still lacked some depth.

As much as I loved the folklore and the setting, I don’t think I’ll be grabbing the sequel when it releases.

Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This book was enjoyable. The world building, the folklore, the characters but I also felt like a lot was happening in this book and at times I was left confused or felt rushed through certain situations.

This was an outstanding read full of Finnish folklore and mythology woven together with phenomenal storytelling and world building. I was hooked from start to finish. The narrators presentation was incredible. I never would have been able to decipher proper pronunciation of the girls names let alone all of the gods and goddesses. I highly recommend for anyone who loves mythology and epic fantasy tales.

I really enjoyed this book, despite the mixed reviews. I was worried, not going to lie, but this was great! The narration was fantastic. I admit though, I did like Aina's narrator better. I would definitely recommend this audiobook though!