NEVERNIGHT by Jay Kristoff

Nevernight (The Nevernight 

Chronicle #1)

by Jay Kristoff

From Goodreads:

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic — the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church’s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires.

Revenge. 

What I thought:

This is one of those books that people seem to LOVE LOVE LOVE or HATE with a thousand burning suns (or maybe just three). *Shrugs* I fall into the LOVE camp, but there is something to be said for the latter. Mainly, some of those DNF reviews are hilarious. Some are actually in the voice of the book's narrator, which, again, hilarious. But it also tells me the book spoke to them...just not in a way they liked.

Ahem.

The beginning is a little tricky. Time-shifty and complicated.  The reader is tossed right in; left to sink or swim. I like complicated. I like dark. This book is both. I read it at a slower pace than my normal. First, because I wanted to savor it. Second, so I didn't miss anything. As far as pacing, the book really picks up about a third of the way through and hauls ass until the end. 

The story is clever and so well done. It's vivid and gory in a delightful way. Did I mention it's dark? Yep, dark. The voice here is fabulous. Like, I fell in love from the first page. There's a large cast of characters and they are all unique and fully fleshed. I had an "aha" moment about 75% of the way through, where I knew what was going to happen next, though it made it no less enjoyable when it actually happened. 

But, holy shit, I did not see that ending coming. At all. Late in the story, some of the...happenings (no spoilers here) felt a tiny bit too anticlimactic, which stifled some of the feels I might've had in the feels department. Of course, I don't know if the finished version changed anything. Overall, I'm 100% on-board with this series and can't wait to see where it goes.

I give it 5 ***** glowing stars, because I will definitely read it again. I loved it so much, I pre-ordered a copy for my bookshelf so I can pet it. (Don't judge me.) This is not a YA book. YA protagonist, yes. YA content, not so much. It's dark and not for the faint of heart, but if that's your thing, you need this book in your life. If you're not sure if dark and complicated is your thing, start with this book. 

Find more reviews and links to buy on Goodreads. And leave me a comment, tell me what you think. 

Happy reading,
Chelly
@chellypike

*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  

RATING SCALE:

5* = OMFG loved it. Will read it again. Touch my book and I will cut you.
4* = Really good. Highly recommend. Miiiight reread. Maybe. Don't touch my book.
3* = Good. I liked it. 
2* = Not for me, finished but struggled. Didn't connect.
1* = DNF. Couldn't do it.