I enjoyed how we were given flashbacks into Charlie’s past and how it all began as it gave us a bigger insight into her origin story and helped the reader to understand how she became this low-level con artist/thief. This was clearly an adult dark fantasy as it was much darker than the Folk in the Air series and the characters felt more complex and with mirkier pasts.

There were a lot of side characters introduced quite early on so at first, I was spending a bit of time flicking back and reminding myself who they were (reminded me of GoT reading) but once you got the grips with who’s who it was easier to just let yourself be absorbed by the world and the story. Just like Leigh Bardugo did with Ninth House, Holly set her debut dark fantasy novel in the real world which made it all the darker and at times unsettling. As she becomes older she tries to escape this world by becoming a bar tender, but she can’t help being sucked back into the world of shadow magic and the dangers it poses to those who alter their shadows. However, Charlie Hall is tough and clever, having spent her life stealing and conning her way against the elite to earn her keep, stay alive and look after her family, especially her sister. It is a world where dark magic although mostly hidden is still a threat to many areas and as a talented con artist and thief, Charlie is well aware to be afraid of what lurks in corners, the dark shadows which can cause considerable harm to those it seeks. She lives in a world where shadows can be altered in multiple terrifying ways and can even be separated from their human. So, without further ado, lets jump straight in…īook of Night is about Charlie Hall.

However, Leigh Bardugo has proved it can be done and a clear line can be made between YA and adult through her debut adult title, Ninth House which I also read and reviewed recently. There is of course always some trepidation when a YA author turns their hand to adult fiction as there is always the concern that there will be little difference in the writing.

Having read all of the Folk in the Air series by Holly Black in the last few years I was very excited about her foray into adult fantasy.

Holly black book of night series