The Book of Night by Holly Black was a novel I recently procured at my local library and thoroughly enjoyed. I had previously read the author’s young adult series, The Cruel Prince, so when I saw she had an adult fiction book published last year, knew I had to check it out.

I tend to read more fantasy fiction and romance than any other genre, so I was surprised that I found this book so enjoyable. Although it is set in the world we know, there is an element of magic that helps add something exciting to the plot. I really enjoy how the author wrote the main character, Charlie. She’s not a typical protagonist which I like; she’s more of a morally gray anti-hero if anything. But despite this, she is written so well as a character that she is still likeable.

Even the other characters like Posey and Vince are intriguing and dynamic and really add a lot to the story. The relationship between Charlie and Vince was raw and realistic and was really impactful to the story, and I love how the author portrayed them together. I also enjoyed the pacing of this novel. It was simple enough to follow easily yet still had twists and turns that I couldn’t figure out myself until they were revealed at the end.

The time jumps and flashbacks within the book were done well. They helped to give a glimpse into Charlie as a character but were added in in a way that didn’t take me out of the main story. The details of the unsettling shadows, gore, and fear really immersed me in the book and I commend the author for her talent in that regard.

If you want an action-packed, easy to follow, only a small amount of romance added in type of book with a snarky female main character, I recommend The Book of Night.

– A.B.