15 Jan Book Review: The Night Hunt
The Night Hunt
by Alexandra Christo
In a world of gods and monsters, we follow two beings who couldn’t be more at odds. Atia, a monster of illusion, a creature of dreams that feeds on your greatest fears and nightmares. She is the last of her kind, hunted by the gods. Silas, one of the heralds, the servants of the gods, and one who ferries the souls of the dead. He would do anything to reclaim the past that was taken from him for a crime he can’t even remember. Atia would never have anything to do with a creature like Silas. But when she breaks one of the gods’ most sacred laws, she finds herself accepting a deal with Silas to break both their curses or risk losing everything that she is. The deal is straightforward enough—all they have to do is kill two of the most powerful types of monsters around, and, oh, a god.
This story was an enjoyable take on the “pulled into an adventure” type of tale, following the viewpoints of both main characters and providing insight into the reasoning behind their actions—even some of the decisions that seem like they’ll backfire in a big way. One of the things I appreciated most about the story is that both main characters are fully capable individually, and the author doesn’t make Silas weak to make Atia strong, which happens sometimes in stories like this. Their friends and allies—Cillian, Tristan, and Thia—are solid characters who add to the story and provide actua
l support to the main characters, not just added to increase the party size. Secondary characters, who only make occasional appearances, are welcome additions with their own personalities that leave a lasting impression. Some of the villains feel a bit one-dimensional, and there are a few plot points, particularly near the end, that are a bit convoluted and require some suspension of disbelief. But overall, it’s a fun read.
This story would be a fun choice if you’re into fantasy and adventure with a few unique monsters mixed in. A solid 7 out of 10.
– written by Alex B, Teen Central Library Assistant
