Night's Edge

I devoured this book. It is rare to find such a poignant story of difficult mother/daughter relationships while at the same time fully immersing you in the created world. Kerin’s writing is powerful and finds the places where it hurts, but it is a good hurt. The pacing is incredible, and at the same time you truly feel as if you know the characters.

Highly recommend for those who are looking for a twist on the average fantasy, and get ready to feel some feelings.

Night's Edge by Liz Kerin is a unique and wonderfully written thriller.
I have t been this hooked and devoted in some time.
This is one twisted, messed up story and honestly very intriguing.
Liz Kerin had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Night's Edge is a twisty psychological horror novel that had me so blown away by the storyline and writing.
I thought Kerin’s writing was hypnotic and totally immersive.
A total page-turner and an impressive novel.

I was honored to be given a free advanced review copy of Night's Edge courtesy of the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Omg this book is jam packed with emotions. I found myself moved to tears at a few parts because many of the events in this book hit close to home with my own relationships.

I would definitely say this book falls into the sub-genre of familial horror.

Night’s Edge focuses on Mia and her mother Izzy. When Mia is only 10 years old, her mom is infected with a vampiric disease. They call the infected people Saras. Mia’s mom had her own insecurities which often leads her to hook up with toxic men who manipulate and abuse her. Enter Devon, a Sara on a mission to turn and recruit as many people as he can for his own pleasure and agenda. Devon bites and turns Mia’s mom forever altering her life. Mia and her mother must adapt to a new dangerous lifestyle. But will Mia sacrifice everything, including herself to keep her mom comfortable and protected?

This novel is absolutely gripping. It invokes so many emotions that I often had to put it down for a few minutes to let everything sink in. Codependency is a huge theme for the entirety of the book and it showcases how intense and toxic those relationships tend to develop.

I felt so terrible for Mia the entire time I was reading this. It’s almost as if you want to shout at her through the pages. It’s easier to be the one on the outside looking in. There’s more clarity.

Honestly this book felt too real but I sort of needed it to recognize some of my own issues with my parents.

I also really enjoyed how the author wrote this story with its own pandemic, including blood scanners that paid ode to temperature checks during Covid-19. We all went through a rough few years (and still going through it) so reading about something so similar adds extra tension and anxiety. It’s too familiar. It’s perfect.

Often times we forget that horror doesn’t mean gruesome monsters or boogeymen lurking in the closet. Horror is human and very real.

Everyone needs to read this book.

The books represented by Tor Nightfire can do zero wrong, in my opinion. Liz Kerin's Night's Edge is a post-zombie virus work of art for jaded pandemic survivors, and I cannot wait for publication day.

I am so thankful to Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio, Liz Kerin, and NetGalley for granting me physical copies of the book and digital/audiobook access. Night's Edge is set to hit shelves on June 20th, and I'm just counting down the days.

Mia has been playing "Mom" for practically forever, especially after her Mom fell victim to the Saratova virus, which means she can no longer go out in the sunlight, and forever craves blood in a bag or directly from a human vein. Talk about being a lifeline for someone. Mia is tired of the bruised inner-elbows and looking after her ravenous, potentially murderous mother, and wants more for her life. That's when she meets alt-rocker/barista, Jade and her life takes on a new light.

Falling head-first, quickly, for Jade, Mia finds herself breaking curfew and interrupting feeding schedules to hang with Jade and ditch her caretaker abilities. When a cult leader-ex from her mother's past resurfaces, Mia has more problems than she can handle, and seeks to find rehabilitative care for her mother in a Sara-center, but are Horror/Sci-Fi books meant to have happy endings???

Review
Title: Night’s Edge
Author: Liz Kerin

Synopsis: Having a mom like Izzy meant Mia had to grow up fast. No extracurriculars, no inviting friends over, and definitely no dating. The most important rule: Tell no one of Izzy’s hunger – the kind only blood can satisfy.

But Mia is in her twenties now and longs for a life of her own. One where she doesn’t have to worry about anyone discovering their terrible secret, or breathing down her neck. When Mia meets rebellious musician Jade she dares to hope she’s found a way to leave her home – and her mom – behind.

It just might be Mia’s only chance of getting out alive.

My thoughts: This was a completely immersive book that not only shows the reader that vampires are both good and bad, it explores the codependency between a mother and daughter. I loved it!

This was an easy 5 stars for me. I didn't want to put it down. At the core, this is a vampire story (although I don't believe the word vampire is ever used); rather an infection that is sweeping the world called Saratov Syndrome. But there is much more depth to be found and an exploration of codependency, survival, abuse + more.

Kerin did a spectacular job and interchanging the chapters with before (2010, 10 yr. old Mia) and the present. The before chapters are integral in helping us as the reader understand present-day Mia's thoughts; my heart broke for this fictional character and I never stopped rooting for her to have the happy ending and freedom she had thus been deprived of.

Thank you to the Nightfire team for keeping my horror needs satiated ❤️

A heart-pounding and riveting novel! I need the sequel asap. Mia’s character is phenomenally written and the mother-daughter dynamic is so heart-breaking and frustrating. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this. Definitely in the top 3 best books I’ve read this year so far. Highly recommend!

I absolutely loved this book, and am so happy to have been introduced to Liz Kerin, an author I am sure to follow to future books. Including the already-announced sequel!

Description:
Mia has a secret: her mom, Izzy, suffers from Saratov’s Syndrome and can now only survive by consuming blood. If anyone finds out about this secret, they’ll take her mom away from her and place her in foster care. In order to avoid this scenario, Mia must become an adult at the age of ten and must avoid any human relationships to keep her and her mom together.

Review:
This story broke me. I’m so happy there is a sequel because I completely fell in love with Mia. My heart breaks for this fictional character and the situation she’s in. The author took a classic story of a vampire pandemic and made into a unique and beautiful story of a girl and her relationship with her mom. Oh! and threw in some horror. I’m extremely impressed. Liz Kerin is a legend.