ARC Review: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff


5/5 Stars
Published by Thomas Dunne Books
Published August 9th, 2016

Synopsis: 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, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

Have you ever read a book before and had no words to describe the emotional turmoil you just endured? because that was me and this book. Nevernight is a brilliant, brilliant, book that can only be described as a masterpiece. To me, this is Jay Kristoff's best work. His writing style is eloquent and elegant, yet dirty and explicit at the same time, making it the eighth wonder of this world. From the moment this book begins, you're lured in with captivating visualizations, beautiful writing, and a set of characters with layers upon layers of baggage. Somehow able to make you feel safe and at home even in the presence of bloodthirsty killers, Jay Kristoff is a master manipulator of feelings. You will be blindsided, enraged, and distressed, but regardless of the fact, you will be content and in love. 



I love this world so much. The descriptions are so elaborate and the history is so well thought out. From the beginning of the book to maybe a little before the halfway point, the pages are annotated and the backstory is explained in the most clever ways possible. There's an element of mythology that is introduced and revisited all throughout the story, and I could not get enough of it. The origin of Itreya is so fleshed out, nothing is left to your imagination. If you have a question, I can guarantee you it's answered in the annotations. While I was reading, I could just picture myself walking the streets of Godsgrave or sneaking out of my room in the Red Church. Every aspect of this world has something special about it and I cannot wait to see what parts of Itreya we explore in the sequel.

I have a special place in my heart for assassins, but an even more special place in my heart for one Mia Corvere. Mia is the perfect main character and an excellent badass. She's driven by her past and her thirst for vengeance, which hones her instincts - making her as sharp as a blade. Though Mia is now amongst the ranks of the deadliest killers, she's beyond much more than just another sword wielder. First and foremost, she's a teenage girl. So besides her thirst for blood, Mia has feelings that are completely understandable, but they also make her different from her "companions." Another assassin that has a special spot in my heart is Tric. you guys, I love Tric. He adds a light humor to the dark theme by cracking jokes and poking fun at Mia, which added to the dynamic of this book. Together, Mia and Tric are a great team and know how to watch out for each other, despite the inevitable consequences. 

y'all, this is currently my favorite read of 2016, so if you don't get on it, I don't know what I can do to convince you. Jay Kristoff is so amazing at what he does. Nevernight is going to murder you (which quite frankly is funny because it's a book about killers haha), but maybe in the best way possible. I honestly do not have a big of enough vocabulary to describe the beauty I saw in this writing, nor do I think I ever will. For a story set in the light of three suns, Nevernight is of the darkest themes and deepest sorrows. It's a book driven forward by the force of anger and loss, and about reaching into your darkest shadows to find yourself. By the time you think you've built a mutual trust between yourself and this book, the rug will be pulled right from under you. I can only imagine what the future holds for Mia Corvere, but from the looks of that epilogue ... we're in store for something great.



No comments :

Post a Comment