I usually take my time, and can be quiet erudite when it comes to expressing my love for a book. Today is not that day.
No, you see, you can’t be eloquent and merciful to a book whose main theme is stabbing. Not just other people but stabbing you, in particular, right in the heartsole (Because, at my heart, I am an arsehole – get it? No….?)
Anyway, before I read this book, I was a deadened husk inside. That book didn’t change that aspect of me much except to poke so many holes in my exterior facade that water leaks in when it rains.
Let’s roll things back.
So I read this book back when it was a glimmer of a book. I loved it then but I LOVE everything about it now. This book is to breaking readers hearts as maestros are to music. Sorry, I’m still so hung up on this book.
I don’t want to say the theme of this book is stabbing. I want to say something more intellectual like it’s theme is revenge and the slow leaking of the humanity in one who has lost so much. But if you said the main theme was stabbing in your SAT test I just don’t frankly think you’d be wrong.
Mia, as our protagonist, drives the story along with three other great supporting characters: Mister Kindly, Tric and our mysterious narrator with their many, many delicious footnotes. Mia, herself is a dry, witty, savage, raw creature who is being moulded into a deadly weapon at a school for assassins. (Think Hogwarts, except if you fail a lesson – you die.) Mister Kindly is her shadow assistant. Acerbic and snarky and part of her special abilities which is all I’ll say about that. Tric – I have no words for. No. Words. Don’t touch me!
As for our narrator, I feel like it’s humour and the many, many world building details included in the footnotes really brings this story to life. What would otherwise be a tense, dramatic story is added a certain levity through the narrator’s wit. It carries it in a way, where the sadness and more depressing aspects of this story might usually bog a reader down – is lifted and given perspective by the narrator.
The writing is outstanding, with the usual Kristoff flair. It was simply stunning, rich bodied and full of flavour. If I sound like I’m describing a coffee then I can only attest to my sleep deprived state. The pacing and the plot, I felt, were fantastic. Right when you started to feel bogged down in world building and such, Kristoff throws in some stabbing or some sex to liven it up. It’s like he’s come across the perfect formula for me, personally. Which, if he has, I ain’t gonna complain.
A word to the wary – this book is graphic. In violence, in sex, in language. It’s definitely for the more mature readers out there. But if drinking the blood of your enemies is your thing, as it is mine – then I highly suggest you give it a try.
Giveaway
This is a giveaway I am sponsoring for one paperback AU copy of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.
Please see the contest rules below for eligibility and instructions on how to enter!
-All Contestants must be over the age of 13 to enter.
-This contest is open internationally to wherever book depository ships.
-Please fill out the rafflecopter form below. You can gain points by tweeting or leaving a comment down below.
Juliana Mattos
I LOVE Jay Kristoff and I never read anything written by him. Shame on me!!! I want to start with Nevernight, sounds amazing!!! <3
Maria Angelica
Great review. I first got here through your giveaway, but I’ll surely subscribe to your blog.
Kami
Jay Kristoff is the best! And I love the UK/AUS cover! Thanks for the giveaway!
looloolooweez
This sounds right up my alley. I’m a sucker for silly footnotes. Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
Veronica Vasquez
I keep hearing wonderful things about this book and I would love to read it and find out for myself. It’s definitely my kind of book!!
Haraiah
Because it’s Jay Kristoff’s book, and because it sounds badass and bloody and totes my thing. LOL.
Emma
I just finished Stormdancer and I am kicking myself for taking so long. Hopefully won’t be as late to this
Alison
Kristoff is a an excellent author. Can’t wait to read this one.
Patricia Lopez
I love Jay Kristoff’s books and this one looks like my kind of book! Can’t wait to read it ^^
Thanks for the giveaway!
Artemis Giote
WOW, this book sounds great!!!!
I have read so many good reviews. It is definitely one of next reads, thank you for the chance.
Ramona
I just want to read anything from Jay Kristoff.And the synopsis sounds great. Thank you for this giveaway!
Nina
Hi! Most of the people love this book! I need to read it as soon as posible.
Jasmine
Thank you for the give away! I’m so excited to read it.
Maraia
I don’t think I’ve seen a single negative review for this book. Everyone I know who has similar reading tastes to me has loved it! Also, it’s gorgeous. How could I NOT want to read it? Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Bube
Because sounds super awesome 😀
And I have read so many great reviews and heard great things about this book!
So excited,yay! 🙂
Super awesome review 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
Tiara Amany
I’ve been seeing this book everywhere, with a different cover I think. I never tried a Kristoff, but I’m willing to try.
Caitlin
I’ve been seeing so much hype about the book. The story sounds amazing and the cover is stunning. Haven’t had a chance to read Kristoff’s work yet but I would love to give this one a go 🙂
Elisquared
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading a book by Jay Kristoff. Based on all the reviews of Nevernight, I plan on rectifying this immediately! Murder, Sex, & Mayhem? Sign me up!!! This sounds just up my dark twisty alley!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Autumn
I love badass heroines and Mia sounds crazy ( in a good way)
Natalie Monroe
I’m so excited for Nevernight! It’s one of my most anticipated 2016 releases.
Amber Hsu
The UK/AU cover is so pretty too! Kickass heroines is right up my lane, and I also loved Jay’s Lotus wars series so this series is a must- read for me!
Jolien @ The Fictional Reader
I have never read ANYTHING by Jay Kristoff. I do follow him on Twitter, and he seems like a great person! I really have to pick up one of his books soon, and I’d love for it to be this one. It just seems epic.
Natasha
I would love to read Nevernight because it sounds like an amazing read!
Thanks for the chance to win!
TT @ IntroToBlurb
Nevernight SOUNDS LIKE A MUST READ – dark fantasy?! SIGN ME UP *throws self at screen* Super pumped now, after hearing your review! Haven’t ever tried Kristoff’s work yet (although, Illuminae is sitting pretty on my shelf for next week) but really feel like I should. THE HYPE.
Zoe Galarneau
I love Jay Kristoff’s writing dearly. What else can one say about japanese-esque steampunk with a female bad-ass main character FLYING A GRIFFIN? Nothing. You can’t say anything. I have wanted to read his other books for forever, especially Illuminae (written with Amie Kaufman), but my library is always out of copies which, to me at least, indicates that it must be fantastic. I want to read Nevernight, because it seems similar in some ways to the Throne of Glass series, but with more stabbing, and written by Jay Kristoff. I want to read that. I want to read that a lot. Also, I follow Jay Kristoff on Instagram and OH MY LORD DID YOU SEE THAT CAKE? IT IS EPIC. I WOULD READ ANY BOOK THAT RELATES TO A CAKE SO EPIC. Nevernight just sounds too awesome to pass up! Stabbing and satire are my kryptonite, and Jay Kristoff is hilarious.
Beth W
Well it started when an Aussie blogger I follow designed the font for the cover (different cover than the AUS one, oddly enough). And then the synopsis. And everyone raving about his books, which I haven’t read yet (gah!). And the cover. And the summary. Oh, and everybody who has read it already has raved about it!
Alexandra Soto
Yay, before Illuminae I had never read anything from either Amie Kaufman or Jay Kristoff. I was excited about Nevernight ,but also a little hesitant since this is in a more traditional format, but this definitely reassures that I’m gonna like it.
Nessa Luna
I read Illuminae last year, and before that book I hadn’t read any of Jay’s books, though I had heard great things about them. I fell in love with Illuminae and I think and hope that this book will be just as great!
Megan S.
I want to read Nevernight because I have heard such great things from all of my friends! Also, the cover is gorgeous! <3
Jenny
After reading Illuminae last year, I’m dying (perhaps not the best word choice considering the theme of Nevernight) to read everything he’s written.
Kate @ Hounds and Habits
Thanks for the shot at Nevernight! I read Illuminae but I’m curious how the writing style will compare when he’s not sharing with another author.
Alice
This sounds amazing! I’ve never read this author, but the cover is absolutely gorgeous and I’m always down for some demonic murder cults.
bn100
looks different
Natasa
I want to read Nevernight because Kat designed the title typeface and because the story sounds BAD. ASS.
Alyssa L.
I’ve heard so many good things about Nevernight. And it’s about assassins so I’m all in.
Ishita
Love whatever I have heard about the MC!!
LK
Because I enjoy having my heart smashed by Kristoff. 😛
In all seriousness, the premise sounds badass and I enjoyed Stormdancer so whats there not to look forward to? 😀 Thanks for the opportunity.
Aida
I loved Illuminae so much and i’d love to read some of jay’s other works!
Cree Cullimore
Jay Kristoff is by far one of the best Aussie authors. I’ve loved all his previous books and I can’t wait to read this one next.
Morgyn Star (@MorgynStar)
Been wanting to read Jay & your review made me decide the time is now!
Natalie DePalma
The hype surrounding this book is astronomical, and rightly deserved by Jay. Plus it’s about assassin school? That’s my dream school, believe it or not. Also, all the editions of this book are BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for the giveaway!
Debbie (@DebbieK427)
I want to read this book because the synopsis just drew me in instantly! I love that it’s a YA venturing into NA novel and it’s dark, funny, and badass!
Hannah @ Hannah Plus Books
I’ve not heard one bad thing about Nevernight! I can’t wait to read it 🙂 Great review!
Alecia
Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway! The hype alone has me eager to read Nevernight but also the fact that it’s written by Jay Kristoff (ILLUMINAE!!!), featureas a kick ass MC, has humour (which I can never get enough of) and an awesome story by the sounds of it has me desperate to get my hands on a copy!
Jenelle Riane
I drink the blood of my enemies all the time so I know I’m gonna enjoy this 😉 haha but seriously, Jay Kristoff’s one of my favourite authors and assassins and all the stabstabstab makes me so excited to read this!
Kyra Morris
This book sounds SO GOOD but I’m not a fan of hectic violence and sex (which I’ve heard it has quite a lot of) but maybe one day! 🙂 Great review!
Sara Strauss
OMG! I’ve been hearing about this book for MONTHS! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! It sounds so amazing and dark and bad ass!
~Sara
Hebe
I’ve heard that Illuminae is fantastic but haven’t had a chance to get round to it yet – would love a chance to try Kristoff’s work.
sherry butcher
dark fantasy?! Nevernight SOUNDS LIKE A MUST READ for me.
Raisa Santos
I’ve been hearing such good things bout Nevernight!! It sounds right up my alley too. 🙂
kes
THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD. the synopsis reminds me of the young elites and i LOVE that series so i really can’t wait to read this one! i’m a little iffy though, because my only experience with Jay Kristoff was his Stormdancer books (and I know you loved it) and I couldn’t get into it at all even though the premise sounded really intriguing.
Still I’ll probably give this a try. it sounds amazing.
Caterina
I want to read Nevernight because I’ve read some fantastic reviews, and from the blurb I can tell that it sounds ah-amazing!
Stacy Renee
I read an earc of Nevernight and LOVED it but would love a physical copy to re-read right before the sequel comes out! 🙂
_Sandra_
I’ve just recently finished and loooved his The Lotus War trilogy and can’t wait to dive into this one. Heard great things about it, also as a big fantasy fan this one has my name written all over it. 😀
Thanks for the chance ti win it! 🙂
Jane
So excited to finally read this! And congrats again to Meg for doing the typography for the US cover! Thanks for another great review Kat, I do love books where the main theme is stabbing. 😉
Ross S
Because I’m always looking for a new favourite author and he sounds like a great one to try.
Stephanie Chen
The book already has so many great reviews and it’s absolutely gorgeous inside and out!
Meedah
I have re-read this twice, I am obsessed with it and i think i want all the editions. It caters to my Dark Shadow, ( really think everyone has it)
Asher
Jay Kristoff is such a cool person, I’ve recently ordered Illuminae, and everyone is just fangirling everyday with Nevernight it MUST be as awesome as I’ve heard. I love fantasy and I want to try something a little different, darker, that what I usually read, also, that cover, so beautiful, and I prefer the one with the raven rather than the US one
Patrycja
I want to read his book because the book has great review and I love the cover! 🙂 (I know, I should’t judge book by its cover.. but well. I do 😉
Jessica Bonilla
I LOVE LOVE LOOOVED ILLUMINAE AND I REALLY WANT TO READ OTHER TITLES BY HIM !
Michelle
It looks so amazing! 🙂 Especially the cover.
Aisha Farah
Awesome review! I want to read NEVERNIGHT because I really enjoyed Jay’s previous works, and NEVERNIGHT sounded perfect! I have only heard good feedback so far! Also, the cover is just gorgeous! I can’t wait to read it!!
Antonela
I’ve read nothing but positive reviews, and I want to see why people like it so much. And besides, I’m looking for a fantasy to read right now! ^^ Thanks a lot for the giveaway! A huge hug from Argentina =D
Carina Olsen
You are awesome Kat 😀 Lovely review, as always. <3 I loved Nevernight SO MUCH 😀 And I am so happy that you did too. <3 Sigh. Jay is THE BEST 😀 I loved all the violence in this book. And the sex. And the sort of romance. And ahhh. Perfect book 😀 Just, yeah. That one death. I think it will end up being reversed. Fingers crossed 🙂 Anyway. Thank you for sharing. <3