Book Review: Beware the Night by Jessika Fleck
Media Type: Ebook (ARC)
Title: Beware The Night
Author: Jessika Fleck
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: Hardcover; 320
Release Date: March 12, 2019
Source: FFBC Tours / Publisher
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Content Screening: Mild Violence
HDB Rating: 3 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Readers who are looking for a Fantasy with a brave heroine facing unspeakable odds.
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
When her world divides, pitting light against dark, Veda must join a dangerous revolution to save her grandfather and fight against injustice…even if it costs her the boy she loves.
On the island of Bellona, life is peaceful–as long as the citizens dutifully worship the Sun, which protects them from all harm. Seventeen-year-old Veda knows that keeping the Sun happy will protect her and her grandfather from the Night, the dangerous people who snatch innocent citizens from their beds under the cover of darkness, never to be seen again. As long as Veda follows the rules, she will be safe.
But when Veda’s grandfather is offered up as the next sacrificial offering to keep the Sun’s favor, she starts to see that the safety she’s been promised comes at a dangerous price. Maybe there is more to fear above than there is below.
With a mysterious young man, Dorian, at her side, Veda has to figure out if the scary bedtime stories she grew up hearing are real–or dangerous lies.
Kudos to Fleck on the pacing of this book, because it all but flies by. From the moment that the reader meets Veda, to the final page, everything is laid out in perfect order. There was really no time to stop and breathe, because every page turn brought about some new revelation that once again set Veda’s world on edge. I also thought that the slow world building that was done in this story was actually rather good. Instead of starting by describing the world that Veda inhabits, Fleck opts to allow the reader to uncover it with her while she explores. At first I was worried that I’d be lost, but I soon found myself intrigued by the descriptions of day to day events and (as brutal as they were) the sacrifices that the people of this world made to keep it safe.
Character wise, I felt like most of the important people in this story were a little flat. Still, their interactions with one another were what really sold things. I’m not a fan of love triangles, but I did feel like Veda’s attractions were at least warranted. Nico, with his childhood friendship and sweet gestures. Then on the flip side, Dorian with his kindness and intrigue. It’s not often that I like both love interests for a main character, but Veda has good taste.
I’ll end here by saying that really the thing that kept me from falling in true love with this book was simply that it’s so predictable. There’s nothing that you haven’t seen before in a Fantasy. The good side of that though, is that this is a comfort read. You know you can believe in Veda. You know that you can believe in good over evil. Like I said above, this is an excellent gateway book! I can’t wait for it to get into the hands of readers.
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FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
