This was my fault. I was lured by a pretty cover and the promise of folklore
I should've at the very least looked at the author and the page count. Couldn't get into it, and don't parts were mildly insulting

This book had me at Finnish folklore. And with its rough and wintery setting, I was completely hooked from the start. Let's add Finnish underworld and a quest to become more - and hell yeah, the vibes are vibing.

If you came for 'sapphic romantasy' though, this book might not be for you. Yes there's a bit of sapphic and a bit of romantasy, but not in the way you might expect.

Still, let yourself get immersed in this world and go root for the protagonists (dual POV oh yeah) and it's a perfect read for chilly temperatures outside and a hot tea in your hand.

I loved it a lot and I'm looking forward to book 2.

The audiobook is great as well. Both POVs were narrated in a way that brought the characters and the vast world to life. I can highly recommend listening to this if you're into audiobooks.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and RB Media for the eARC!

#NorthIsTheNight #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review

I thought that I was going to like it a lot more than I did. I did love the story but there were a few issues that I had with it. I felt like too much was going on
- Siiri is traveling to the north to get assistance of a shaman to save Aina from Tuonela and the Death God encountering issues of her own.
- While that is going on Aina is dealing with the Tuonela witches and gods and figuring out the mystery of the disappearing women.
- While that’s going on, the Swedes are invading with their new Christian god and the home village of Aina and Siiri is in danger.

With so much going on, this also created pacing issues where some stuff were dragged out where other things were quickly went over. I felt like this could have been 2 books and that would have allowed for the time for each plot point to have its times to shine.

I was excited for this epic fantasy set in an epic frozen backdrop. Unfortunately, the world is poorly built, there is barely any imagery, so I can't even tell you what the characters or settings look like and the fact that this was marketed as Sapphic/feminists and it's clearly not pisses me off. A bunch of girlpower one-liners does not make something feminist. Both the female leads NEED the help of a man to further their plot and help them along, either from marriage or training/assistance. Also making all the female goddesses villains, and having the indigenous Sami come off as antagonists. Wtf? Did they not someone go through and think about the implications of that?

I'd seen the book mentioned as bi or sapphic and was excited, especially since it was written by someone who is well known for writing extremely spicy books. But this book was sanitized of any real romance between them, there was longing on one side and dedication clearly but that's about it. I love books that highlight the power and importance of female friendship, that could have been enough, but if you are hinting at a lesbian romance either you go for it or remove implications completely

Wow, Emily Wrath is such an amazing author. The way she tells a story is so breathtaking. The Audio was beautiful. It flowed amazing and you really get like you were going in an adventure with the characters. The pacing was great and I really felt like the voices match the characters really well. I tend to only listen to fantasy books as opposed to read them, and this audiobook really kept my attention and made me feel like I was watching the story happen in front of me.

An enchanting story with fairytale elements, perfect for the wintery days.
There's adventure, friendship strong women and an epic quest.

The way the Gods are definded and historical aspects are incorporated makes a great worldbuilding in a well written story.

All in all, a beautiful YA fantasy.

This story was like an onion. On the surface, it is about two friends who are taking separate adventures to find each other. However, it is more than that. It is about self-discovery, hope, and love (in various forms). I enjoyed the narration. Khaya Fraites and Emily Lawrence brought the story to life. I would love to hear this story as a full cast.

This book was incredibly atmospheric, it was dark and twisted and I couldn't put it down.

The narrators were amazing, the writing was beautiful, the characters were incredible. I felt really strongly about them, I LOVED the main characters, was creeped out by the witches but especially by the king, ... It was so well written I could picture everything very vividly in my mind, I feel like I've just watched a movie instead of reading a book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!!

If you’re a fan of Finnish folklore and mythology, North of the Night offers an immersive journey into a world where gods, mortals, and death collide. The audiobook, brought to life through dual narration, skillfully enhances the mythical atmosphere, drawing listeners into the lush and dangerous Finnish wilderness.

At the heart of the story is Siiri, a courageous and determined main character whose loyalty and strength shine. I admired her bravery as she faced gods and death itself to rescue her beloved Aina. The vivid descriptions of Tuonela and the interplay of Finnish folklore added a unique layer to the story, giving it a fresh perspective compared to other fantasy tales.

However, while the premise and setting were compelling, the execution fell short for me. The pacing felt uneven, with moments that dragged and a narrative that was overloaded with too many storylines. The various threads didn’t connect as seamlessly as I hoped, leaving the plot feeling disjointed at times. Additionally, I struggled to feel invested in the romance, which lacked the emotional depth to fully captivate me.

Despite its flaws, North of the Night has its strengths - particularly Siiri’s character and the audiobook’s engaging narration. If you enjoy folklore-inspired fantasy and are looking for a dark and atmospheric listen, this one might be worth exploring.

Thanks Netgalley for this Audiobook arc.

I personally did not enjoy this book at all. The only reason I finished was because it was an audiobook and it just kept going and going and I could get through while doing some choirs.

I was SO BORED, no really, I was just bored out of my mind, nothing was interesting in this book and also, I feel like I have been lied to about the sapphic nature of this book, because... where? Also both women were just soo uninteresting and men dependant.

I wanted to dnf at 60% and I wish I did.

2 stars for still the effort of whiting a story based on Finnish folklore, which was interesting at times.

I did go into this book because it was labelled as sapphic when it really wasn't. however the story more then made up for it. I loved every second of it and the narrators did a phenomenal job on bringing it to life.

The first is an epic Finnish legend based fantasy duology, I am so glad I received an ALC so that I could hear the pronunciations of all the names. The dual narration was fitting for this story as it made it clear which characters POV we were on.

As for the plot, it begins with the kidnapping of Aina and the quest Siiri takes to rescue her from the Finnish Underworld. I liked hearing about the Finnish gods and goddesses but the story was overly long with another book to come. The relationships they built while apart were touching and the main reason I will probably read the sequel when it comes out. I’m hoping Tuoni, the god of death, gets his happy ending.

Thank you RBmedia for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

I’m not one for hockey romances hence my hesitation of reading an Emily Rath book BUT OH MY GOODNESS I am so happy I did.

Two girls who share a bond that is stronger than friendship. A great adventure. An arranged marriage. A beautiful reunion. I truly loved this book. To all of the people claiming that this book isn’t sapphic, I don’t know what you call the relationship between Aina and Siiri then. They are two halves of one soul. Maybe I don’t understand the word but these two characters are together. Yes, Aina loves Tuoni but her whole being calls of Siiri. Being bisexual does not negate the sapphicness of the book.

This was a fantastic read and I’m frothing at the mouth for the next books.

My four star is hinging on the second book being one million times more sapphic.

We follow two women who go on separate journeys where we get to learn a lot of folklore(arguably too much). One is in the underworld where she must learn how to survive (and just go along with it, at least more than I would have). And the other must go on her own journey of self discovery in order to get her back. I significantly enjoyed and was more invested in Siiri's storyline. I think this book could set up a great duology or set up nothing. I enjoyed so much about this and I'm looking forward to checking out South is the Sea.

3.5⭐ (Book)
4.5⭐ (Audiobook)

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.

This book has utterly befuddled me
I went in thinking I’m about to get a pair of kick ass best friends who are gonna take on the Christians and the old gods to save the people they love in the village! Hell yeah, girl power.
What I got was a pair of almost lesbians who let men save them??? I don’t know how I ended up reading a very anti-feminist book. Especially, one that is so down on a woman wanting to get married and have children. If it is someone’s choice, how is it wrong?
I read that it was marketed at first as a sapphic romance, then the marketing was changed to take away all mentions of their being a type of lesbian relationship. But the book itself has the weird unrequited, slightly creepy longing instead of a best friend vibe. In my mind if a “friend” is sabotaging your suitors because they are secretly in love with you, and you don’t feel the same way, they aren’t your friend and it’s creepy. They will ruin your life because they don’t get you??? Is that the vibe we want?
Anyway, I still feel as if the marketing description is off.
Maybe the writer didn’t know what to do with this book; in a lot of ways I feel like the plot bounced around and didn’t know where to go.
So, in my head- I’ve changed the story.
Siiri and Aina are best friends. Siiri isn’t looking to get married to a man, she likes women. Aina, wants to find a husband and her best friend is supportive.
Aina gets kidnapped by a goddess.
Siiri, meets a female shaman who she teams up with to find Aina.
As they battle their way to hell to get Aina, Siiri and the shaman fall in love.
Meanwhile, Aina is trying to get out of her cell, during one of her escape attempts, she meets the king of Hell.
He can’t get her out of his mind. So he decides to defy the goddess and break her out.
War ensues. During the great battle, Siiri and the shaman break out Aina, who refuses to leave until she kills the goddess.
She finds the goddess in a death duel with the god of hell, he is loosing and the goddess is about to deliver the death blow when Aina sneaks up and stabs her, giving the god of hell time to kill her.
He tells Aina he has been fighting for her this whole time.
They rule hell together
Then Siiri and the shaman go back to help heal the human world together.
Next book, they are still together and tackle the Christians

I enjoyed the Finnish folklore and dual narration of this book, but had some issues with the formatting. Wasn’t the book for me. But interesting read.

This book is confused. And it left me confused. It was a little slow in the beginning and then it picked up. As each of the girls traveled their separate paths, it got really good. It was an easy 4 star read for the majority of the book. The interwoven Finnish folklore was amazing. As Siiri left to go rescue Aina, I got really excited. I imagined them coming together to help Tuonela and bringing peace to death. That is the farthest thing from what happened.

It felt like the entire plot was lost the moment Siiri reached Aina. At no point did I feel there was any romantic chemistry between those two. But all of a sudden, Siiri loves Aina and that's all that matters. She completely dismisses the fact that Aina is married. Married to a man that she loves. The book goes from being a strong 4 star read to a 2 star read and that's me being generous. I split the difference and gave it 3 stars but it'll take a lot to convince me to read the next book.

18 hours of audiobook flew by. Those who compared it with Bear and the Nightengle were accurate. Finnish mythology and folklore were fascinating, and strong anti-Christian mission work throughout. Sad how old religions were killed by force and the new ideas were brutally enacted and enforced all over the world. I love to hear these old stories before Christianity forbade it all.

LGBTQ relationships, strong female characters, magic, polytheism, violent, and yet beautiful. Much love.

Aahhhhh I love Emily Rath and have been so excited for this book since the breath she announced it and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. Both FMCs were relatable (and stubborn in their own special ways) and I adored the moment they finally kissed. It was beautifully built.