I have to say I’m impressed with this series, and that doesn’t happen often. While I like all kinds of books and have a soft spot for indie books, the Nevernight Chronicle is a step above most. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular, despite being a dark story in many ways.
In the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristof provides an epic, original, tightly-told story that holds nothing back, delivers spectacularly, and makes no apologies.
It’s the story if Mia, a young girl set on a path of vengeance after she barely escapes with her life following her father’s failed rebellion.
Taken in by former assassin Mercurio, Mia is determined to enter the Red Church and become an assassin herself so she can avenge her family. It’s not going to be easy.
Headstrong, angry and flawed, Mia treads a fine line between hero and anti-hero, caring little for the destruction and death she leaves in her wake, yet she remains a character you can’t help feel empathy for. You want her to win even while she’s showing her wilder, more violent, darker side. That’s because while revenge motivates and drives her, she loves with just as much passion.
The series is gritty and dark and full of twists and turns as Mia develops her skills and puts her revenge plans into motion.
To say more would invite spoilers, so let me just state that I’m impressed by Kristof’s tight plotting, vivid worldbuilding, brilliant characterisation, and the overall depth of his storytelling.
While there’s plenty of swearing and inappropriate content (including highly graphic ‘smut’, as Kristof might put it himself. He’s not above poking fun at himself as the series goes on, by the way) which may not be appropriate for a younger audience, but I couldn’t recommend it more highly despite that.
