Nevernight
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4.6 • 385 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Nevernight is the first in an epic new fantasy series from the New York Times bestselling author, Jay Kristoff.
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Launching the Nevernight fantasy series, Kristoff (the Lotus War trilogy) creates a splendid world of corruption and violence. Mia Corvere is the last survivor of her family's fall from grace in the capital city of Godsgrave. After witnessing her father's execution as a traitor and her mother and infant brother's imprisonment by the consul of the Itreyan Empire, she dedicates her life to bloody revenge. She escapes her own murder and has nothing left but shadows and the help of a pitiless tutor. Making the most of these meager treasures, she sets out to become a weapon fit to shatter an empire, though she may destroy her own world with it. Kristoff portrays a world as rife with villains and treachery as the ancient Italian civilizations it echoes. Absorbing in its complexity and bold in its bloodiness, this beginning promises (and delivers) equal shares of beauty and decay. With a delicate balance of the ancient and the magical, this tense and brutal tale is unflinching, thrilling, and satisfying.
Customer Reviews
NEVERNIGHT is a serious breath of fresh air in a very crowded genre.
Let me start by saying this book is exquisite. My jaw was literally on the floor when I got to the last page. It’s been YEARS since I was this excited after finishing a Fantasy book (GRACELING). Thank you, Jay Kristoff. NEVERNIGHT is a serious breath of fresh air in a very crowded genre.
NEVERNIGHT is a tale of of revenge. At the age of 10, Mia Corvere witnesses her father’s execution, sees her mother and baby brother dragged away to prison, and narrowly escapes murder at the hands of her father’s traitorous enemy’s lackeys. She is taken in by a retired assassin and begins her journey to become a member of the deadliest group of Assassins, the Red Church. By becoming one of the deadliest assassins, she hopes to murder those who took her family and her life from her.
Jay Kristoff is a masterful wordsmith and storyteller. His language is beautiful both in style and delivery. I love the way Kristoff weaves back and forth between Mia’s childhood journey and her very adult journey into the Red Church. However, just when you think you’ve caught on to his formula of storytelling, he flips the narrative on its head and goes in an entirely different direction. This author marches to his own beat and I love it. The humor he finds in some of the most intense situations is perfection.
The characters are complex and well fleshed out. Mia is a fascinating protagonist—she’s flawed and seemingly unlikeable, but you cannot help rooting for her. Deep down she’s loyal—someone who cares about others and cares about doing the right thing. Interesting, considering she’s a murderer, right? Tric’s narrative and place in Mia's story is the perfect complement and allows us to see her in a different light.
NEVERNIGHT is and excellent beginning to an exciting new series. I am eagerly anticipating the next story in this adventure!
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Going to go on a tangent for a moment…
I try not to read reviews of ARCs beforehand to make sure my opinions aren’t being swayed by others. I find it quite helpful to think on the book for at least 24 hours and if I’m still having trouble finding the right words I will read a variety of reviews to organize my own thoughts and see what discussions are going on. Let me just say: I am SO glad I didn’t delve into these reviews until after I’d finished. This book is seriously polarizing (seems people either love it or hate it).
I get the feeling that many of the negative reviews are a result of inappropriate expectations. From what I gathered (correct me if I’m wrong), Jay Kristoff’s previous bestselling series (THE ILLUMINAE FILES) is YA. This book… Not YA. I repeat: This book is NOT YA. There is a significant amount of adult content (violence and sex). Woo! ;) Nothing my teenage self wouldn’t have totally read anyway. BUT the language and writing style is highly elevated and could be viewed as a bit dense. This is not an easy peasy, vacay read. You’re going to have to DIG in. But OH MY WOW, is it worth it!!!
Note: I received a FREE ARC (advanced reader copy) from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bloody, brutal and hilarious
We need more heroines like Mia. I loved this savage book.
Best book ever.
READ IT!