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 … 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.
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Jay Kristoff has such a way with words. His characters are fresh and exciting in this series about revenge, darkness and all the sparkling moments in between that make up life.
If you enjoy fantasy, check out Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. It’s the most imaginative fantasy I’ve read in a long time. See my favorite reads of 2018 for more detail.
http://patriciakeelyn.com/favorite-reads-2018/
The world-building and storytelling are masterful. Jay Kristoff has a way with words that is both poetic and brutal.
Highly recommend the audiobook, gentle friends.
A dark masterpiece.
4.5
I finished the book yesterday and I’m still not sure what to say. Other than I LOVED it ……A LOT.
I must admit I started this book like three or maybe even four times in hard cover but never made it passed maybe 50 pages. The writing and the footnotes, a lot of footnotes in the beginning made it somewhat confusing and hard to focus for me. So, I got the audio and I loved it. I was able to get the story without the confusion with the footnotes and such. It was so worth it.
I loved this complex, yet oddly simple world that Kristoff created. I should say that this book is defiantly not YA and has lots of swearing, blood, murder and some steamy times in it. That being said, while we get all that we still get plenty of humor and relief, it doesn’t feel all that dark, even though it still is.
I loved the setting of the school. Like Hogwarts for assassins, just more blood and gore.
I also loved all the side characters, especially Mr. Kindly the not cat with, no eyes. He is pretty much her companion or familiar throughout the book. There is more to it some we find out other things not so much.
I loved following Mia around, to see her discover herself, who or what she might be….. Learn more about herself and even her feeling she claims she doesn’t have.
Of course we meet some pretty awesome other people, some good, some bad, some we not sure yet. BUT, what a ride and we are getting thrown for loops, like crazy. There are some pretty wicked plot twist for sure.
As a side note, this is a book about assassins and I should have not been so surprised by so many deaths, which yeah I was a bit in an odd way. But some of those death hurt more than others
Overall I’m not sure what to say without spoiling it. But it was crazy, fun, funny and bloody with a side of tears and betrayal. Also if you like me a tried the book version and couldn’t get through it , try the audio , book. Worked like a charm for me and I’m not a huge fan for audio in general, but this one was great for me.
I rate it 4.5 just because I had such a hard time to get into the book.
A brilliant beginning to a trilogy that’ll make you crave for the final book!
Read my complete review here: https://mistyaquavenatus.com/2019/06/01/why-you-need-to-read-nevernight
Estelle Tang recommends 11 August reads, including Nevernight by Jay Kristoff: “Those of you who are mourning the lack of Game of Thrones in your life might just need to pick up Jay Kristoff’s latest. Nevernight is a bloody fantasy tale of assassins, sex, and revenge: smart-talking, deadly teenager Mia Corvere wants to join a legendary school for killers so she can avenge the death of her father. But first she has to find them.”
http://www.elle.com/culture/books/g28566/new-books-august-2016/
From footnotes with incredible world building, to clever characters, and descriptive actions. Nevernight is a sure choice. Interested in fantasy, but also like Roman myth–it’s got you. Want clever characters who are driven and have depth–it’s got you. Want a compelling story–it’s got you. Rated four stars because I’m only about 9 chapters in. Will rerate when I finish (probably soon).
Wonderfully original. Great writing. Fabulous — and unexpected — characters. The entire series is great.
As you can probably tell by my profile, there’s a bit of a theme to my interests at the moment. Nonetheless, this series has made it to my recommendations. Though it may seem impossible, Jay Kristoff writes in an even darker voice than J. Maas (I’ve already recommended her books and they’re still my favorites). His world-building is excellent and his characters seem almost real enough to touch. If you do decide to read these books I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Complex and different kind of world building. The story itself is one of coming of age and revenge. Very interesting.
This book, the first in a series, takes place in a world full of violent vengeance. It’s weirdly romantic, has a kickass heroine, a clever shadow cat, and a witty narrator. Kept me riveted.
You know those books that fully immerse you into the story? So much so, that when someone from the real world tries talking to you while you’re reading, you actually feel jet-lagged when you’re dragged away?
This book had me HOOKED.
It’s become my new favorite series, and I haven’t even read the next two yet (which I’m going to start right this second because I NEED more of the Nevernight Chronicles in my life!).
What a great introduction this book has provided me to this author. I loved the story and the characters. The footnotes are simply brilliant. In simplest terms it’s a revenge story. However, who imagines that a little girl becomes a member of the assassin’s guild to go about getting her revenge. Must read, and I will get book two in the series.
My last read of 2019 and it was one of the best. I stayed up long into the night to finish this one. The world building was great, I was with Mia every step if the way through her action packed, sometimes heartbreaking story. All the characters are well developed and I have my favs which I can’t wait to hear from again in book 2. If you like teen fantasy and game of thrones, you’ll love this!
What can I say about this book? It is stunningly written, a writing style I can only strive towards. Mia is strong and daring and I love everything about her. The world-building is unique and flawless and I can’t wait to keep reading!
I can’t say enough about this book. It was EVERYTHING I look for in reading material. Nevernight is like the Wizarding World of HP, If Harry and the gang were would-be assassins rather than wizards. There is so much awesome here. Characters, storyline/s, twists and turns, and overall excellence in storytelling. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
But be warned, Mr. Kristoff does NOT believe in Happily Ever After. And for that, I thank him to the abyss and back!
NEVERNIGHT is the first book I have read by author Jay Kristoff, and it exceeded ALL of my expectations. (I just finished its sequel, had pre-ordered the final book in this trilogy, and purchased another book of his based on his writing style alone). This was an example of an author’s style that I immediately “connected” with, from his sarcasm-laced comments, to his unflinching portrayal of gore and suffering that others might shy away from. Kristoff is not afraid to say it like it is.
“. . . The last thing you will ever be in this world, girl, is someone’s hero . . . But you will be a girl heroes fear.”
Mia Corvere is a ten-year-old girl when she is forced to watch her father be publicly executed by hanging, and branded a traitor to the ruling Illuminate. Suddenly thrust from a life of ease into running for her life, she discovers a “shadow” she names Mr. Kindly, that speaks to her and helps take away her fears while protecting–to the extent that a shadow can.
Mia’s motto–instructed to her by her mother while her father died–“Never flinch. Never Fear. And never, ever, forget.”
With this, the story truly begins.
“. . . Own nothing . . . Know nothing. Be nothing . . . Because then you can do anything.”
I can not stress enough how much Kristoff’s “style” impressed me. Dark, edgy, sarcasm-laced comments in the face of the most dire of situations, combined with an imagination that is not afraid to write “unpopular scenes”–as opposed to lighter topics/endings that many readers desire–makes for an author I can respect. I love that he doesn’t take the “easy” route, but rather pushes against traditional boundaries.
“If you can’t hurt the ones who hurt you, sometimes hurting anyone will do.”
The first of a trilogy, NEVERNIGHT shows us Mia’s journey to a deadly school of assassins, in order to prepare herself for her own vengeance.
“. . . what constituted “severe punishment” among a flock of murderous fanatics . . .”
The scenes and imagination shown were breathtaking, and mainly in the least pleasant way possible. Scenes of torture, mutilations, and murder are common, while the dark humor blends it into a great combination.
Have I mentioned how much I love this style?
“The Light is full of lies . . . the Suns serve only to blind us.”
Where Mia’s conversing with the shadows remains a mystery, I loved it as such. This way your mind is free to conjure up your own reasons and origins for the enigmatic and sarcastic Mr. Kindly.
“Those who call the Dark . . . well, eventually it calls them back.”
Overall, this was a fantastic story, set with elements of the darkest fantasy, physical horror, psychological horror, thriller, supernatural, and even conflicting emotions.
“. . . in truth, no child thinks of herself as anything less than immortal . . . ”
Kristoff is able to take a ten year old girl, and in less than the span of a decade, morph her into something new, and yet . . . believable. For those “sensitive” to dark, horrific scenes and adult content, this is probably not the book for you.
“. . . it’s best to be polite when dealing with lunatics.”
However, I have discovered an “instant favorite” author, and can not wait to read more of his novels.
Highly recommended.
I cannot believe I waited so long to read this! I loved the world, the characters, and the feel of mystery to it even though it is a fantasy story. A story of revenge, murder, and a double cross. Mia is an amazing character and I look forward to getting to know her as the series continues.
Guys. I’m so ridiculously in love with Nevernight. I thought if I’d leave the review for a few weeks it’d be easier to write, with more useful info and less incoherent gushing, but just be warned that there will be gushing. And lots of it.
One of my favourite parts were the footnotes. I know a lot of people don’t enjoy them – if you don’t you can skip them and you won’t miss any necessary details – but I loved them. They added a bit of extra humour (something the book has plenty of), and as someone who likes a world with lots of lore and history I loved the insights, too. Many of them sounded like Kristoff took a brief break in his storytelling to let us in on a secret, or to say something the characters couldn’t, and I adored loved the hell out of that.
My other favourite thing was Mister Kindly, the glorious ghostly not-cat which feeds on Mia’s fear:
“The thing called Mister Kindly waited. A patience learned over eons. A silence like the grave. Soon now. Any moment she’d begin to whimper. Whisper for him. What would she dream of tonight? The ones who came to drown her? Her father’s legs kicking, face purpling, guh guh guh? The Philosopher’s Stone and the horrors she’d found within, fourteen years old and lost in the dark?
No matter.
They all tasted the same.”
One of my other many favourites (there are just so. many. of them!) was the main character, Mia Covere. She trains at this school for assassins (how cool is that?), learns how to poison people, how to steal their belongings and secrets, but she can’t get herself to stop caring. She’s my ideal heroine – lethal when she needs to be, loyal best friend at all other times – unless, of course, her best friends betray her. But who wouldn’t draw the line at that?
I also had a soft spot for Chronicler Aelius. He didn’t feature much but you get the feeling that there’s a depth to him the book only hints at. *sigh* Gotta love sublety!
Honestly, I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this book. It has everything I want in a book and far more than I expected when I started. I didn’t really know what I was in for, but I love the mature take and strong language throughout. I even pre-ordered the sequels, which I don’t do often!