The Night House

Well this book totally blindsided me. I looked at the cover and expected urban fantasy then I started it and thought oh it's going to be dystopian. Well let me state here and now that I was totally wrong as our very accomplished heroine Taya stepped into a world that felt both magical and medieval. If I had to categorise this book it's probably fantasy but done in a very unique way.
There is romance but it's a slow build up which works well although as a reader I could see it coming. Taya is pretty awesome although I did find her change from normal everyday young woman to bloodthirsty assassin a little odd. Something was pretty obvious and the ending confirmed it but actually I didn't mind because I was thoroughly enjoying guessing what would happen next. The end and epilogue to my mind felt a little too quick but I guess it's left in such a way that if the author ever decided to revisit these characters she could. So in conclusion I really enjoyed my first book by this author and I'm struggling to rate it but as the ending did feel a little too rushed and trite I will go with four but honestly it's well worth your time.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe

This novel was an enjoyable read. It was different from other novels I had read. The plot was rather unexpected, which made the novel all the better. Taya is camping with her friends when something happens that only leaves her alive. She promises vengeance on those who killed her friends, Arkavia. Taya survives in hopes to get back to her family when she meets Lord Thane who was sent to kill her. Thane has a different interest in Taya. He gives her a choice, be a slave or become his assassin. She will learn to develop her magical abilities and become a better fighter than she already is. Taya begins to fall in love with Thane, especially since they have this “bond” between them. Thane has a difficult past, but sees something in Taya that he cannot give up. We see how Taya develops throughout the story, which leads to more about her family history and the involvement in the current leeching of the earth by the Arkavians. Thane and Taya both come to realizations and it has an impact on their growing relationship. A highly recommended novel to read.

The Night House
J.C. McKenzie

J.C. McKenzie .. The Night House is a futuristic dystopian Novel.
Very strong likable heroine Taya . Who must choose to be a Slave or Assassin . Great world building alternative dimension, With a slow burn romance.
Great story line concept. Fast paced and enjoyable to read.

I received this complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

The Night House by J.C. McKenzie is an amazing read. This story is an amazing with a very strong female charcter and an amazing story line. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about an amazing character using swords and marshal arts.

The Night House chronicles the story of a woman named Taya, and her adventures after the apocalypse hits Earth, killing her friends and separating her from her family. She discovers that invaders from an alternate dimension (Arkavia) have come to harvest Earth's energy. What begins as a survival story quickly changes into a more traditional fantasy narrative when she joins an Arkavian lord (Lord Thane) and his soldiers and journeys to Arkavia, where she hopes to exact revenge for the death they caused on Earth.

So...what did I think?

This book was a little bit of a rollercoaster for me. The first several chapters of the book are more of a survival story than the fantasy novel I was expecting, and it was a tad disappointing. Not badly written at all, and it actually did a good job of introducing us to our main character before the real fun begins. It just...felt a little disconnected from the rest of the book, and it probably took up a little bit too much of the run time.

Taya herself, though, was just the kickass heroine I was hoping for. She was really fun, and I'm personally a sucker (and I know this is weirdly specific) for characters who fight with two swords. As for our other main character, Lord Thane, he was pretty archetypal. The perfect alpha male love interest, he was incredibly strong and dangerous, but with a code of honor and valiant intentions. While I didn't like him as much, the story was told from Taya's perspective, and it didn't actually bother me that Thane wasn't very nuanced.

My biggest beef with this book was the pacing. Several times throughout the book, the narrative made a large (several weeks to several months) time jump, which just felt really jarring. I don't like it when books just time jump between chapters without even giving some kind of smoother transition, although that might just be personal taste. It just really bothered me and pulled me out of the experience, so I had to mention it. Besides the time jumps, the other pacing issue came in the end. The book focused a lot on Taya's journey and her relationship with Thane, which was well done. The problem, though, was that not enough time was dedicated to the actual plot of the book -- finding the culprit of some magical leeching. As a result, the end of the book felt extremely rushed to me, and also featured a couple of info-dumps that I would usually excuse if they came at the beginning of the book, but it bugs me when authors info-dump at the end of a book. I just want a satisfying conclusion, not more exposition!

I really enjoyed the second part of the book that took place in Arkavia (or just with Thane in general, since a good chunk of the time was them traveling there). It was a much more typical fantasy novel, which I'm a fan of. The world building was good, the sword fighting was fun. All the same, though, it was pretty similar to many other specimens in the genre, and didn't really do anything particularly innovative or different. Nonetheless, if you're into the adult fantasy genre like I am (sort of in the vein of Ilona Andrews), then you'll definitely like this book, like I did.

The story drew me in pretty fast and kept me interested in seeing where it would take me, and it was an enjoyable read. I generally love reading about strong female characters.

Could have done without the romance between Taya and Thane though. Without it, she would have been totally kick-ass. Now... not so much.

3,5 stars.

This was a fun futuristic dystopian novel. The MC was really fun and enjoyable, any time you give me a kickass female MC I will be the biggest cheerleader. Thane is also a well developed interesting character, the Lord who offers Taya a deal. The plot was intriguing and held my interest. The supporting cast was fun too, playful bantering amongst a group of friends is always fun when done right.

I would have liked a more developed world, it did seem like the other dimensional beings were essentially humans (felt human), also I had a hard time with the whole... well let's just say a big plot of the book was a bit hard to understand and why it was done etc.

I received a free ARC copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

What a brilliant book.....
I loved its when wasn't reading I was thinking about its has everything I enjoyed about a book in its adventure a slow burning romance some brilliant characters. I loved Taya so much. I would highly recommend this book to anyone its so good.
I received this book from net galley in exchange for a honest review.

Talk about addictive!! I picked this up and couldn't put it down until the very last tantalizing word. I inhaled this book in one sitting. I'm here, eyes burning from lack of sleep, throat sore from hours of disuse and poor hydration, wishing for more. There was Magic, court intrigue and Action. There was a swoon worthy slow burn. There were minor sexy time moments but mostly there was a need to read on, to live inside this world a moment longer. The world building was great and the character development even better. The pacing was intense and the action fierce. There was a butt kicking, wise ass heroine that you can really get behind and then there's Thane..... oh man is there Thane!! He was Yummmmy with a capital Y! He might have come off as too perfect though because no man can know the most elegantly perfect thing to say at the exact right moment... or at least no man I've met on this side of the pages. I was given a copy of this book but I honestly would have happily bought it. The only things that could have improved the experience were to have it be longer and to have more Thane... MUCH more Thane!!

Over all: I loved it!! I loved every second of this book and wished/craved/needed more! I'm sorry it ended and enjoyed every glorious moment in seclusion, immersed in this world.

*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

This novel surprised me in a good way. It's rare that I give a book with so strong hint of romance more than 3 stars, but here we had everything: a mystery, some survival themes, good character development and a relathionship than only little annoyed.

IIt's described as horror on goodreads and though it wasn't much scary, it has good climate. This novel is a lot of action and it;s definitely interesting for fans of fantasy and sci-fi stories.

Honestly, this is a solid 4/5 stars.

Why is this listed as horror? No idea, but I definitely wouldn't classify it as such.

What I can say is that this does have a kickass female lead who has to learn to weild power magic and some pretty sick weapons.

If you had to choose to become a slave or assassian for an overlord, what would you choose? I sure as hell would choose assassain, and that's exactly what Taya does. This mixes some very interesting genres, like medival, distopian, epic fantasy, and also dark fantasy unsurprisingly. It does it all very well, and it pairs nicely with the fast pacing of the plot. Also, the romance is very heavy in this book, but it doesn't overshadow Taya's growth as a powerful assassain and her mission. I thought it was really well done and a fun read! Kinda wish there was more of a buildup in the beginning when Taya must make a decision, but honestly it doesn't bother me much.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by J.C. McKenzie and I really, really liked it. It was nothing like I expected it to be in the best way possible. When I read the blurb I was intrigued and I'm happy to say the book didn't disappoint at all. It was unique and full of twists I didn't see coming and once the plot grabbed me I wasn't able to put it down untill I finished it. The start pointed at a completely different story but once the book found it's footing, oh boy, what a ride it was. The author creates a fantasy world full of magic and lords from an alternative universe, but she doesn't feel the need to spend time laying out that world for you. Instead, you discover it as you're reading the book. It feels much more natural that way. The book was different, entertaining, and kept my attention. And the characters were very interesting and were easy to root for. My only complaint is that the story sometime felt a little choppy, like some scenes that explained why or how something came to be were missing.
But overall, I enjoyed the book very much. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Four and a half stars..

This was my first J C McKenzie read, it definitely won't be my last. Taya and Thane's story pulled me in on the first page and kept me turning all the way through to the last. With a great storyline and even better characters it was easy to fall fast forward into McKenzie's dual realms of Earth and Arkavia and right into Taya and Thane's story relationship. Packed full of just the right amount of tension and atmosphere and the fact that the bad boy is actually hiding a true and good heart, will have you rooting for these two.

Pros:
The Night House is a very fast paced standalone book that had me on the edge of my seat. I quite literally devoured this book.
Ummm..ASSASSIN!


I fell in love with these characters.💕 They were intriguing, real, & had real temperaments & attitudes. I LOVED the main character Taya! She was so badass and fiesty as hell. A very strong character, and was not defined by no man.


The romance in this book. Oh my god. It had everything I wanted to see in a romance! Angsy vibes to enemies to lovers: it had all the feels. The anticipation of Taya and Thane’s moments was killing me!
“How could she not see him ? A beautiful beast of a man with features more likely cut from stone than a living person. His stillness set him apart from the rest of the soldiers before she identified his platinum-blond hair. He matched the snow surrounding them. Even his silver and black armour with white leather lining differentiated him from the rest.”

THANE! Holy F*#%! Thane is my big burly cinnamon roll that I just want to protect his fragile heart. His backstory just broke my heart to pieces.


The magic system was developed well. Portals+Magic+SO much action= amazing book!
The sassy heroine, Taya, wields two badass swords with lightning. Should I say more?
“Flashes of blue and white light traveled in bolts of lightning from the pommel to the tip of the blade. The scent of fresh rain and loam surrounded her and a tingling energy pulled at something inside. Like tugging the arm of a friend to come and play on the monkey bars, the power called to her, begged her. To do what? The sword wanted something and demanded payment. She shivered. The blade wanted blood.”

Strong language & content. However, it’s used perfectly and realistically.😍
Cons:
I just wish this was a series so I could binge read this world!
Recommend:


I recommend The Night House to lovers of fantasy & sci-fi with a steamy romance thrown in. It does have strong language and content, this isn’t a YA novel, more of an adult book. I rate this a 5 stars. I really enjoyed this! It was a fun fast read!

*I was given a copy via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *

The Night House by J. C. Mckenzie, a well written book. The apocalypse has occurred and Taya has remarkably been left alive after watching her friends disintegrate around her. What comes next is more than she could have imagined.

Lot of action and adventure in the story. Some mystery mixed in as well. Overall good solid writing and plot development.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was my first read from J.C. McKenzie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It includes a kick-ass heroine, a swoon-worthy book boyfriend (who is not an awful alpha-male type), political intrigue, and awesome fight scenes. I really enjoyed reading about Taya and her journey after an apocalyptic attack. Though this is promoted as a stand-alone, I hope we get to see more of this world and the group we were introduced to. Until then, I'm off to go check out her other books!

As as genre, there is a little bit of everything: dystopian post-apocalypse, sci-fi, a little urban fantasy feel, and romance. And it works!

Taya is out camping with her girlfriends when the Blue Wave hits, killing everyone she loves in an instant. Her friends are nothing but piles of ash but Taya appears to be none the worse off. Eerie. She packs when she can fit in her backpack and heads off for the nearest town. She appears to be alone but then she sees what’s she discovers later is the invading force known as the Arkavians. She’s captured by Lord Thane and he gives her a choice: become a slave in his house or bond herself to him as his own personal bodyguard. Once her choice is made, she’s thrust into a world she’s never known with powers she never knew she possessed. Her hatred of Arkavians and what they did to her loved ones burns bright but so does her attraction to Lord Thane. One way or another, she’ll survive because she’s her father’s daughter.



The Night House is one of those novels that straddles genres but readers don’t notice because they’re so engrossed in the story. From the beginning, one word echoes in the background: survival. The isolation Taya feels resonates is countered by all the lessons her father taught her. The action is intense, especially when she and Thane meet. He sees something unique in her and offers her a deal. Taya and Thane are a classic enemies to lovers couple yet with plenty of snark to make things interesting. The plot moves at a quick pace and the world-building is exceptional. I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like this before.



If you’re a swords and sorcery fan and looking for something completely new, I recommend this book. If you’re a fan of strong heroines and an equally strong hero, this book is for you. If you love dystopian fiction with a bit of romance thrown in, this is your next read. Highly recommend!



My Rating: 5 stars

Want a slow-burning fantasy romance?

Look no further because this book is just what you need! 

I was kind of surprised with this one. There were quite a few ups and downs when it came to the plot. The beginning chapters really drove me into the story, but as the plot progressed, I found myself coming in-and-out of interest. 

Particularly when it came to the romance.

Now, I am one for a good romance, but I just wanted more oomph when it came to them. Pretty much, I became a little impatient. 

But with that being said, this book was a fun fantasy novel. The world building created a sci-fi/fantasy/mythical vibe that I really enjoyed exploring. And, or course, I was in love when I saw assassins were mentioned. 

There's death, survival, and heroism along with action-packed scenes and unique twists. Overall, I gave this one 3 out of 5 stars.

Taya’s life is forever shattered after a blue wave kills all her girlfriends while on a camping trip. She has no idea why they died or who might be left alive as technology no longer works. She makes her way back to town and finds herself faced with more death, destruction and hostiles. These hostiles are an invading force that want to enslave humanity. While Taya is fighting against them, she gets captured and forced to work for Lord Thane as a bodyguard. Together Taya learns more about the invading force and together with Thane she learns how to stop them and free Earth.

This novel took off from page one with a great starting chapter of death, loss, and despair. The pacing kept on going as there was plenty of action and suspense throughout the novel. There was never a dull or slow moment. I loved Arkavia as it had the perfect medieval feel to it which fit perfectly with the Arkavian society.

The characters were well written with great depth and emotions. I loved seeing Taya slowly change from an angry woman who wants revenge on every Arkavian to a forgiving woman who is willing to analyze the situation and not hate someone based on their origin of birth.

Initially I thought the romance between Taya and Thane was going to be badly done. I figured it would be a forced Stockholm’s Syndrome romance. Instead it was realistic as Taya slowly grows to appreciate and care for Thane after he was kind and consider to her. They don’t just instantly fall in love. Taya feels bad for caring for Thane as he is the enemy who caused so many Earthen deaths and therefore she should hate him.

The conclusion, while slightly rushed, was perfect. It was a great happy ending for the majority of people. I wish Taya and Thane would have reflected on all the Earthens stuck on Akavia and how sometimes a price must be paid for the greater good.

Overall this was a great fantasy novel that I would strongly suggest to all fans of sword and sorcery fantasy. It has a great plot, amazing characters and lots of action.

While at the same time fast paced, with a slow burn plot.
A book you can't stop reading to see where it goes. With a character you already start the book feeling for ad hoping for!

I loved KJ.C's writing, and I really hope to see more of it in the future! If not with this character, with new ones!