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Nightstrider #1
Nightstrider
To stop a vicious demon’s conquest, nightmares and humans will band together in book one of a heart-stopping new dark fantasy series.
Wren is a a deadly manifestation of the frightening dreams of humans. She is forever bound to the insidious Para Warwick, the only night creature who can cross the boundary between the dream and waking realms. When she fails to retrieve information on a weapon that could finally end Warwick’s reign and is severely punished, she makes a snap decision to aid the growing rebellion in finding it. Here, she meets Alaric, another nightmare hell-bent on atoning for his sins. Though wildly suspicious of one another, they form a tentative pact to take down Warwick once and for all.
The waking world is no better off. Prince Caine Fallon, Warwick's ignorant human son, prepares to wed Ila Enevoldson, the young queen from a neighboring kingdom. But Ila is more than she She is a weaver, a protector of the ancient Boundary that separates the realms, and she has lost a precious weapon entrusted to her. She will do anything to retrieve it, including agreeing to an engagement with the son of her sworn enemy.
When Caine catches Ila opening a portal to the dream realm and follows her through, he finds himself in a universe stranger than he could have imagined, where his father is more monstrous than he could have fathomed. Their destinies collide with those of the two lethal nightmares, and they are forced to band together to stop the vicious dictator—and prevent the very fabric of reality from unravelling.
From TikTok sensation Sophia Slade (@theneonvulture), a stunning new voice in epic fantasy, comes this dark, romantic tale about a world split in two and the four misguided souls who must come together save it, for fans of Holly Black and Hannah Whitten.
Wren is a a deadly manifestation of the frightening dreams of humans. She is forever bound to the insidious Para Warwick, the only night creature who can cross the boundary between the dream and waking realms. When she fails to retrieve information on a weapon that could finally end Warwick’s reign and is severely punished, she makes a snap decision to aid the growing rebellion in finding it. Here, she meets Alaric, another nightmare hell-bent on atoning for his sins. Though wildly suspicious of one another, they form a tentative pact to take down Warwick once and for all.
The waking world is no better off. Prince Caine Fallon, Warwick's ignorant human son, prepares to wed Ila Enevoldson, the young queen from a neighboring kingdom. But Ila is more than she She is a weaver, a protector of the ancient Boundary that separates the realms, and she has lost a precious weapon entrusted to her. She will do anything to retrieve it, including agreeing to an engagement with the son of her sworn enemy.
When Caine catches Ila opening a portal to the dream realm and follows her through, he finds himself in a universe stranger than he could have imagined, where his father is more monstrous than he could have fathomed. Their destinies collide with those of the two lethal nightmares, and they are forced to band together to stop the vicious dictator—and prevent the very fabric of reality from unravelling.
From TikTok sensation Sophia Slade (@theneonvulture), a stunning new voice in epic fantasy, comes this dark, romantic tale about a world split in two and the four misguided souls who must come together save it, for fans of Holly Black and Hannah Whitten.
537 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2022
248 people are currently reading
14880 people want to read
About the author
Sophia Slade
10 books276 followersSophia Slade (formerly Sophia Elaine Hanson) has been writing since she was still losing her baby teeth. As a teenager, she amassed an impressive 35 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards including two National Gold Medals. She independently published seven books before her dark fantasy NIGHTSTRIDER was acquired by Orbit Books in a three book deal scheduled for release in 2024. Sophia is a graduate of New York University and now lives in the Midwest with her lovely husband and their two cats, Mothman and Matcha. She loves Star Wars, twenty one pilots, and frogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
September 25, 2024
this is just reluctant allies to lovers core and so incredibly bisexual. everyone say thank you sophia slade!
when negative or mundane descriptors become terms of endearment >>
if picturing tamino as the dark brooding love interest is ever made a crime know that i’m already in jail
thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc
Read my full review here
Bookstagram
when negative or mundane descriptors become terms of endearment >>
if picturing tamino as the dark brooding love interest is ever made a crime know that i’m already in jail
thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc
Read my full review here
Bookstagram
July 27, 2024
“You’re a fool,” she repeated. “And you’re without a doubt the worst monster I’ve ever met.”
rating: 4.5 ☆
did i drop everything for this arc bc i saw it described as besties with one dark window, the wolf and the woodsman, pan's labyrinth, maleficent, and six of crows? hell yeah!
this was such a fun, fast-paced ride, i literally could NOT put this book down!
“Humans dream us in the Wake. We manifest in the Reverie. What about our dreams? Where do the dreams of dream beings go?”
the magic system and world was unique and intriguing; people create entities (with strengths of varying degree) from their dreams, which enter an actual existence in a dream world (Reverie) that mirrors our reality (Wake).
i felt like for a higher fantasy with a more complex magic system, slade does a good job of delivering the information without overwhelming or dragging the story. i also find piecing it together more and more as you read makes for a more fun experience.
“You may believe you are different... But in my experience, passivity is as deadly as any blade.”
this was reminiscent in atmosphere, tone, and themes to one dark window, but has its own unique distinctions that sets it apart as a peer (rather than any copy). even with the darker themes and storyline, there managed to be lines that had me cackling out loud.
“You’re awfully preoccupied with my safety for someone who tried to poison me!”
when i first saw that it was 4 POVs ngl i was a little wary - but again, slade managed to balance it well. it helps that they're a bit "paired up" 2 and 2 by the plot. it's fun to have the slight perspective change between the 2 paired characters in that respect. the POV switch-up also added to the fast pacing.
i loved the main cast: wren, ila, caine, and alaric. certain relationships were established to a point in this book, but i'm eager to see how different dynamics work in future books from this one. while there's some hints of romance, it's a slowburn vibe for now. i adored caine, and wren (bi queen) & alaric's dynamic especially had great banter.
“Are we done comparing shoe sizes, or should we jump off the cliff and see who hits the ground first?”
“You call walking through a ravine half a league long and crawling with cannibalistic vexes fun?”
“You don’t?”
"It took me years to find joy in anything besides killing.”
“And you found joy in baking?”
my only complaint is that i wish there was more, which i RARELY say nowadays with how a lot of authors are starting to bloat their books! bc of the fast pace, we didn't linger on smaller details of the world or side characters. i think future books are going to get more into that bc even while i loved this, i feel the "set-up" vibe of it (don't get it wrong though, there's plenty of action still).
i'm super excited for the next book!
“Some nightmares are worse than others, and they all come to an end."
an honest arc review <3
rating: 4.5 ☆
did i drop everything for this arc bc i saw it described as besties with one dark window, the wolf and the woodsman, pan's labyrinth, maleficent, and six of crows? hell yeah!
this was such a fun, fast-paced ride, i literally could NOT put this book down!
“Humans dream us in the Wake. We manifest in the Reverie. What about our dreams? Where do the dreams of dream beings go?”
the magic system and world was unique and intriguing; people create entities (with strengths of varying degree) from their dreams, which enter an actual existence in a dream world (Reverie) that mirrors our reality (Wake).
i felt like for a higher fantasy with a more complex magic system, slade does a good job of delivering the information without overwhelming or dragging the story. i also find piecing it together more and more as you read makes for a more fun experience.
“You may believe you are different... But in my experience, passivity is as deadly as any blade.”
this was reminiscent in atmosphere, tone, and themes to one dark window, but has its own unique distinctions that sets it apart as a peer (rather than any copy). even with the darker themes and storyline, there managed to be lines that had me cackling out loud.
“You’re awfully preoccupied with my safety for someone who tried to poison me!”
when i first saw that it was 4 POVs ngl i was a little wary - but again, slade managed to balance it well. it helps that they're a bit "paired up" 2 and 2 by the plot. it's fun to have the slight perspective change between the 2 paired characters in that respect. the POV switch-up also added to the fast pacing.
i loved the main cast: wren, ila, caine, and alaric. certain relationships were established to a point in this book, but i'm eager to see how different dynamics work in future books from this one. while there's some hints of romance, it's a slowburn vibe for now. i adored caine, and wren (bi queen) & alaric's dynamic especially had great banter.
“Are we done comparing shoe sizes, or should we jump off the cliff and see who hits the ground first?”
“You call walking through a ravine half a league long and crawling with cannibalistic vexes fun?”
“You don’t?”
"It took me years to find joy in anything besides killing.”
“And you found joy in baking?”
my only complaint is that i wish there was more, which i RARELY say nowadays with how a lot of authors are starting to bloat their books! bc of the fast pace, we didn't linger on smaller details of the world or side characters. i think future books are going to get more into that bc even while i loved this, i feel the "set-up" vibe of it (don't get it wrong though, there's plenty of action still).
i'm super excited for the next book!
“Some nightmares are worse than others, and they all come to an end."
an honest arc review <3
July 3, 2022
This was GOOD. Like really, really good, from the writing to the world-building to the dialogue and fight scenes, not even mentioning Nightstrider (the character), who's in the same league as Manon for me.
I especially liked the world. Two connected worlds, the Wake and the Reverie, the Reverie being populated by dream beings created by the dreams of the people in the Wake. People who can walk between them. Different types of dream beings for different types of dreams, the most powerful being the ones born out of sleep paralysis. All in all a lush world with a solid magic system.
I say you only need to read the first chapter to convince yourself.
Also, there are two enemies-to-lovers arcs, like wow ok :))
I especially liked the world. Two connected worlds, the Wake and the Reverie, the Reverie being populated by dream beings created by the dreams of the people in the Wake. People who can walk between them. Different types of dream beings for different types of dreams, the most powerful being the ones born out of sleep paralysis. All in all a lush world with a solid magic system.
I say you only need to read the first chapter to convince yourself.
Also, there are two enemies-to-lovers arcs, like wow ok :))
August 20, 2024
5/5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OHMYGOSH what an adventure this book was. Dare I even say potential for my favorite fantasy of 2024? What a perfect blend of action, slow burn romance, magic, a dark atmosphere and a world I could only dream of seeing. Be prepared to refer to the glossary of terms multiple times, but holy hell I consumed this book with every fiber of my being and I need more.
Firstly, let's start with the worlds. There are two realms in this world. The Wake and The Reverie. The Wake is essentially the human realm. The Reverie is the realm where the dreams and nightmares of humans come to life, in the form of objects, people and creatures. Para Warwick rules the Wake, and is the king of the human kingdom, Wolfhelm. You are going to have to get lost in the description of these worlds yourself, because they are incredible. 🌌🍄🌲
The characters? We get to read from the point of views of four main characters: Alaric, Wren, Caine & Ila, who all team up to stop Para Warwick from having absolute power in both realms. BEST GROUP OF CHARACTERS I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF READING ABOUT. I often find myself bored with multiple point of view books, especially if there's a character I don't vibe with, but this was not the case here. We get a god of a nightmare (Alaric), a bi sexual winged assassin (Wren), a cinnamon roll prince (Caine), and a badass weaver queen who doesn't take any shit. (Ila). Love. The side characters are also perfection, they aren't there just to be there, they all have a purpose and play a role. Found family at it's finest. ❤️❤️
The romance is definitely there, but it is not the main focus, and doesn't need to be. The parts we get are so filled with emotion and hit you right when they need to. However, if you love arranged marriage, enemies to lovers and a prince willing to sacrifice everything for a queen who wants nothing more than to leave, this is ittttt. ❤️🔥
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I loved everything about it. Go read it. 🏰
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for the arc!
OHMYGOSH what an adventure this book was. Dare I even say potential for my favorite fantasy of 2024? What a perfect blend of action, slow burn romance, magic, a dark atmosphere and a world I could only dream of seeing. Be prepared to refer to the glossary of terms multiple times, but holy hell I consumed this book with every fiber of my being and I need more.
Firstly, let's start with the worlds. There are two realms in this world. The Wake and The Reverie. The Wake is essentially the human realm. The Reverie is the realm where the dreams and nightmares of humans come to life, in the form of objects, people and creatures. Para Warwick rules the Wake, and is the king of the human kingdom, Wolfhelm. You are going to have to get lost in the description of these worlds yourself, because they are incredible. 🌌🍄🌲
The characters? We get to read from the point of views of four main characters: Alaric, Wren, Caine & Ila, who all team up to stop Para Warwick from having absolute power in both realms. BEST GROUP OF CHARACTERS I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF READING ABOUT. I often find myself bored with multiple point of view books, especially if there's a character I don't vibe with, but this was not the case here. We get a god of a nightmare (Alaric), a bi sexual winged assassin (Wren), a cinnamon roll prince (Caine), and a badass weaver queen who doesn't take any shit. (Ila). Love. The side characters are also perfection, they aren't there just to be there, they all have a purpose and play a role. Found family at it's finest. ❤️❤️
The romance is definitely there, but it is not the main focus, and doesn't need to be. The parts we get are so filled with emotion and hit you right when they need to. However, if you love arranged marriage, enemies to lovers and a prince willing to sacrifice everything for a queen who wants nothing more than to leave, this is ittttt. ❤️🔥
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I loved everything about it. Go read it. 🏰
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for the arc!
August 4, 2024
Good somnia, what a rollercoaster!
There are two realms. Humans who dream in the Wake manifest nightmares or luminaes. The two realms collide through Para Warwick a night terror, ruler of the Reverie, and the King of Wolfhelm in the Wake.
Queen Ila is a former Weaver, part of a human sect meant to maintain the Boundary between the Wake and the Reverie, otherwise the worlds themselves would disintegrate. Ila rescues a child, a dreambreaker who can change the tide of the rebellion. Only thing is, the child is stolen from her by the King before Ila can whisk her to safety.
In the Wake, Queen Ila is arranged to marry the King’s innocent and ignorant son Prince Caine. Caine is a cinnamon roll and nothing like his father. Which is unexpected for Ila.
Wren is one of the worst nightmares created by Para Warwick; known as Nightstrider, once an honoured title, now a collar around her neck.
Then we have a luminaire and a nightmare working in tandem to aid the rebellion.
All these characters find themselves working in different realms, for different sides, but all for the same purpose: to get their hands on the dreambreaker to harness her power. Some for devious reasons, others to gain advantage, few for love.
There’s a lot to take in as you can see. But the inclusion of a glossary at the start helps you get acclimatised and the world-building quickly becomes apparent with constant, subtle reminders throughout.
The writing is engaging and funny filled with morally grey characters, great sibling dynamics, and burgeoning emotions and morality.
"You may believe you are different, Prince Caine," Ila said quietly. "But in my experience, passivity is as deadly as any blade."
I thought this was Young Adult. Nope. Definitely not. Not as gruesome and vivid as other adult books, but there are explicit moments.
There is excessive torture, sometimes bordering on feeling like trauma and pain indulgence. And some scenes and exchanges played out like predictable fanfiction.
Saying that, I know that these very facts will appeal to certain audiences.
"I am not my father," he gritted out. "I've spent my life trying to evade the role he crafted for me. He would have me leading battalions, collecting kingdoms for him like trinkets-“
“As you've collected mine!"
"Because I ran out of places to run, Ila! Same as you." He dragged a hand down his face, trying not to scream again. "He would have me treat you as a prisoner, but even when you betrayed me, I protected you. I all but crawled after you."
This was extremely fast-paced. Not a moment let up which made it an extremely fast and hard to put down read.
I am glad I got to this as I have been following the author’s work for a while and had the indie book on my shelf for a while!
Thank you to Orbit for providing me an arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
There are two realms. Humans who dream in the Wake manifest nightmares or luminaes. The two realms collide through Para Warwick a night terror, ruler of the Reverie, and the King of Wolfhelm in the Wake.
Queen Ila is a former Weaver, part of a human sect meant to maintain the Boundary between the Wake and the Reverie, otherwise the worlds themselves would disintegrate. Ila rescues a child, a dreambreaker who can change the tide of the rebellion. Only thing is, the child is stolen from her by the King before Ila can whisk her to safety.
In the Wake, Queen Ila is arranged to marry the King’s innocent and ignorant son Prince Caine. Caine is a cinnamon roll and nothing like his father. Which is unexpected for Ila.
Wren is one of the worst nightmares created by Para Warwick; known as Nightstrider, once an honoured title, now a collar around her neck.
Then we have a luminaire and a nightmare working in tandem to aid the rebellion.
All these characters find themselves working in different realms, for different sides, but all for the same purpose: to get their hands on the dreambreaker to harness her power. Some for devious reasons, others to gain advantage, few for love.
There’s a lot to take in as you can see. But the inclusion of a glossary at the start helps you get acclimatised and the world-building quickly becomes apparent with constant, subtle reminders throughout.
The writing is engaging and funny filled with morally grey characters, great sibling dynamics, and burgeoning emotions and morality.
"You may believe you are different, Prince Caine," Ila said quietly. "But in my experience, passivity is as deadly as any blade."
I thought this was Young Adult. Nope. Definitely not. Not as gruesome and vivid as other adult books, but there are explicit moments.
There is excessive torture, sometimes bordering on feeling like trauma and pain indulgence. And some scenes and exchanges played out like predictable fanfiction.
Saying that, I know that these very facts will appeal to certain audiences.
"I am not my father," he gritted out. "I've spent my life trying to evade the role he crafted for me. He would have me leading battalions, collecting kingdoms for him like trinkets-“
“As you've collected mine!"
"Because I ran out of places to run, Ila! Same as you." He dragged a hand down his face, trying not to scream again. "He would have me treat you as a prisoner, but even when you betrayed me, I protected you. I all but crawled after you."
This was extremely fast-paced. Not a moment let up which made it an extremely fast and hard to put down read.
I am glad I got to this as I have been following the author’s work for a while and had the indie book on my shelf for a while!
Thank you to Orbit for providing me an arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
September 24, 2025
4.0 ★— Normally, I hate books that have more than two regular POVs, but the cover and incredibly cool title (Nightstrider? And a leather-clad baddie with dark wings? Hello??) were way too intriguing to pass up. And luckily, the story totally delivered!
Set across two parallel-existing realms: the waking world and the dream world, the book follows Ila, Wren, Alaric, and Caine.
In the waking world, King Warwick rules his kingdom and is the father of Prince Caine. But in the dream realm, he’s Para Warwick, a brutal, immensely powerful being who commands a terrifying group of warriors he’s created himself.
✦ Ila is the newly crowned queen of her own kingdom, and a weaver, which means she can move between both worlds.
✦ Wren is the titular Nightstrider, a fearsome warrior who serves in the dream realm, under Para Warwick’s iron rule.
✦ Caine, the prince, has no idea about his father’s double life. In the waking world, he’s betrothed to Ila, and their arranged match is a key political alliance.
✦ Then there’s Alaric, a warrior like Wren, but unlike her, he’s defected from Para Warwick’s control. Now, he leads a rebellion in the dream realm against his former master.
The story takes a little while to unravel all these threads and connections, but once it does, it really takes off and runs with it. It’s complex, but in a way that’s rewarding once you find the rhythm and get to know more of the characters.
Ila and Wren, the two female leads, are both strong in very different ways. Wren is very much a hot-head, being a jaded, sharp-edged warrior who’s not remotely interested in redemption. Ila, on the other hand, is a more intentional and cunning type. A queen, who schemes when she must and will put her duty above anything else. She was definitely my favorite POV to follow!
Thus, I especially loved Ila and Cain’s relationship. Their dynamic builds slowly, and the whole arranged betrothal situation is done well. I adored how dutiful they both were to their roles, and also how quickly Caine was absolutely down-bad for her.
Now, this book is labeled as LGBTQ+, which set up some expectations for me that more queer relationships would be explored. Unfortunately, that wasn’t really the case. Wren is queer, but her sapphic relationship is very brief and gets left behind early on, which kind of left me a little wanting. I definitely acknowledge that this is my own fault in having some other expectations, though.
Much of Wren’s character growth comes through her interactions with Alaric. Their bond develops over their shared trauma at the hands of Warwick, and Alaric seeing parts of himself in Wren.
The ending sets up a lot of really exciting possibilities for the sequel, and I’m giddy to see how it all unfolds and goes on!
I loved the dark, brutal tone of this book and the concept of two interconnected realms with entirely different rules. It all felt fresh, and I ate it up. I need more, like, yesterday!
🎧Audiobook Note
🎙️Narration Style: Solo
I listened to parts of this on audio, and while mostly I loved the female narrator here, I have to comment on her doing a character called Bloodreaper’s voice, lmao. The character is supposed to be brutal and terrifying, and the tone she took on to portray it was just a little too goofy and kind of ruined the intimidation factor of this character!! It wasn’t bad, because the character didn’t play a huge role in the story, but it did break my immersion which is why I’m mentioning it.
Set across two parallel-existing realms: the waking world and the dream world, the book follows Ila, Wren, Alaric, and Caine.
In the waking world, King Warwick rules his kingdom and is the father of Prince Caine. But in the dream realm, he’s Para Warwick, a brutal, immensely powerful being who commands a terrifying group of warriors he’s created himself.
✦ Ila is the newly crowned queen of her own kingdom, and a weaver, which means she can move between both worlds.
✦ Wren is the titular Nightstrider, a fearsome warrior who serves in the dream realm, under Para Warwick’s iron rule.
✦ Caine, the prince, has no idea about his father’s double life. In the waking world, he’s betrothed to Ila, and their arranged match is a key political alliance.
✦ Then there’s Alaric, a warrior like Wren, but unlike her, he’s defected from Para Warwick’s control. Now, he leads a rebellion in the dream realm against his former master.
The story takes a little while to unravel all these threads and connections, but once it does, it really takes off and runs with it. It’s complex, but in a way that’s rewarding once you find the rhythm and get to know more of the characters.
Ila and Wren, the two female leads, are both strong in very different ways. Wren is very much a hot-head, being a jaded, sharp-edged warrior who’s not remotely interested in redemption. Ila, on the other hand, is a more intentional and cunning type. A queen, who schemes when she must and will put her duty above anything else. She was definitely my favorite POV to follow!
Thus, I especially loved Ila and Cain’s relationship. Their dynamic builds slowly, and the whole arranged betrothal situation is done well. I adored how dutiful they both were to their roles, and also how quickly Caine was absolutely down-bad for her.
Now, this book is labeled as LGBTQ+, which set up some expectations for me that more queer relationships would be explored. Unfortunately, that wasn’t really the case. Wren is queer, but her sapphic relationship is very brief and gets left behind early on, which kind of left me a little wanting. I definitely acknowledge that this is my own fault in having some other expectations, though.
Much of Wren’s character growth comes through her interactions with Alaric. Their bond develops over their shared trauma at the hands of Warwick, and Alaric seeing parts of himself in Wren.
The ending sets up a lot of really exciting possibilities for the sequel, and I’m giddy to see how it all unfolds and goes on!
I loved the dark, brutal tone of this book and the concept of two interconnected realms with entirely different rules. It all felt fresh, and I ate it up. I need more, like, yesterday!
🎧Audiobook Note
🎙️Narration Style: Solo
I listened to parts of this on audio, and while mostly I loved the female narrator here, I have to comment on her doing a character called Bloodreaper’s voice, lmao. The character is supposed to be brutal and terrifying, and the tone she took on to portray it was just a little too goofy and kind of ruined the intimidation factor of this character!! It wasn’t bad, because the character didn’t play a huge role in the story, but it did break my immersion which is why I’m mentioning it.
January 21, 2025
OH MY GOD, THIS BOOK IS AMAZING.
I read a lot of fantasy, and so sometimes it's hard to find a book that really stands out BUT NIGHTSTRIDER EXCEEDED ANY EXPECTATIONS I HAD. A unique fantasy world that is like nothing I've read before, check. My favorite trope, enemies to lovers? CHECK! (Times Two) A plot that had me hooked on every chapter? CHECK CHECK CHECK.
Nightstrider is a whirlwind of the best that fantasy can offer, and Sophia's writing is absolutely phenomenal. Nightstrider brings powers to dreams and nightmares and crafts a beautifully intricate and tragic world that I cannot wait to dive into again. The characters are amazing, the tension everything I could have wanted AND MORE, and I am still completely shook writing this review because MY GOD IT'S AMAZING.
I read a lot of fantasy, and so when I tell you YOU NEED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR I MEAN IT.
Nightstrider takes place in a world divided in two, the waking realm (aka the normal fantasy world) and the reverie (the dream/nightmare world). Dreams and nightmares have the power to create monstrous and magical beings in the reverie. Magic spills from the edges as the ruler of both, Para Warwick, makes an attempt to ultimately tip the scales of power in both. You read from four POVs, the winged Assassin Nightstrider, Alaric, Queen Ila, and Prince Caine. The dynamic four are thrown into a high-stakes mission to stop the Para from ruining both worlds and save the dreamweaver-- a gifted child who has the power to maintain the divide and sees what is to come. Past and present clash as literal nightmares come to life and they must work together and survive the unsurvivable to save the realm. Step into the dark and twisted world of the reverie and into a realm of nightmares... and try your best to cling to the light...
(make sure to check Trigger Warnings before reading! Sophia noted them in the front of the book.)
I read a lot of fantasy, and so sometimes it's hard to find a book that really stands out BUT NIGHTSTRIDER EXCEEDED ANY EXPECTATIONS I HAD. A unique fantasy world that is like nothing I've read before, check. My favorite trope, enemies to lovers? CHECK! (Times Two) A plot that had me hooked on every chapter? CHECK CHECK CHECK.
Nightstrider is a whirlwind of the best that fantasy can offer, and Sophia's writing is absolutely phenomenal. Nightstrider brings powers to dreams and nightmares and crafts a beautifully intricate and tragic world that I cannot wait to dive into again. The characters are amazing, the tension everything I could have wanted AND MORE, and I am still completely shook writing this review because MY GOD IT'S AMAZING.
I read a lot of fantasy, and so when I tell you YOU NEED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR I MEAN IT.
Nightstrider takes place in a world divided in two, the waking realm (aka the normal fantasy world) and the reverie (the dream/nightmare world). Dreams and nightmares have the power to create monstrous and magical beings in the reverie. Magic spills from the edges as the ruler of both, Para Warwick, makes an attempt to ultimately tip the scales of power in both. You read from four POVs, the winged Assassin Nightstrider, Alaric, Queen Ila, and Prince Caine. The dynamic four are thrown into a high-stakes mission to stop the Para from ruining both worlds and save the dreamweaver-- a gifted child who has the power to maintain the divide and sees what is to come. Past and present clash as literal nightmares come to life and they must work together and survive the unsurvivable to save the realm. Step into the dark and twisted world of the reverie and into a realm of nightmares... and try your best to cling to the light...
(make sure to check Trigger Warnings before reading! Sophia noted them in the front of the book.)
December 5, 2024
Nightstrider
by Sophia Slade
Nightstrider #1
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Sept 17, 2024
Orbit Books
Ages: 16+
In the Reverie where the dreams of humans manifest, King Para Warwick rules with an iron fist and can create and bring Nightmares to life. Wren, aka Nightstrider, is one of them, but she is punished when she fails at bringing a weapon back to him. He had punished her once before, and now she seeks revenge.
In the Wake, Queen Ila Enevoldson is the queen of Galesborough, but she is also a Weaver, able to cross into the Reverie, but when she became queen she had to step down. Now she is forced to wed Caine Fallon, the son of Warwick, the king of Wolfhelm, or her kingdom will fall to Wolfhelm's forces.
But when Caine stumbles upon Ila opening a portal to the Reverie, he follows her into a place he had never known existed.
I was worried when I started this book because right at the beginning it had an appendix of characters, places, and word definitions. It concerns me because when books start this way, (I think they need to be at the end of the book where the appendix belongs) because sometimes the author is lazy with descriptions and history. Luckily, this wasn't a big issue with this book, but I do feel as if there was some laziness with the character and world-building.
And I am not a big fan of multiple POVs, but I get why it was needed.
Other than that, I liked the story. Sure it was obvious of the who, what, why, etc, but it's a unique world with very interesting characters, though I wish the story described them and their differences instead of the appendix.
While the story did start off slow, it picked up as the plot progressed and even though I can guess where it's going, I am interested in reading the next book of the series.
3 Stars
by Sophia Slade
Nightstrider #1
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Sept 17, 2024
Orbit Books
Ages: 16+
In the Reverie where the dreams of humans manifest, King Para Warwick rules with an iron fist and can create and bring Nightmares to life. Wren, aka Nightstrider, is one of them, but she is punished when she fails at bringing a weapon back to him. He had punished her once before, and now she seeks revenge.
In the Wake, Queen Ila Enevoldson is the queen of Galesborough, but she is also a Weaver, able to cross into the Reverie, but when she became queen she had to step down. Now she is forced to wed Caine Fallon, the son of Warwick, the king of Wolfhelm, or her kingdom will fall to Wolfhelm's forces.
But when Caine stumbles upon Ila opening a portal to the Reverie, he follows her into a place he had never known existed.
I was worried when I started this book because right at the beginning it had an appendix of characters, places, and word definitions. It concerns me because when books start this way, (I think they need to be at the end of the book where the appendix belongs) because sometimes the author is lazy with descriptions and history. Luckily, this wasn't a big issue with this book, but I do feel as if there was some laziness with the character and world-building.
And I am not a big fan of multiple POVs, but I get why it was needed.
Other than that, I liked the story. Sure it was obvious of the who, what, why, etc, but it's a unique world with very interesting characters, though I wish the story described them and their differences instead of the appendix.
While the story did start off slow, it picked up as the plot progressed and even though I can guess where it's going, I am interested in reading the next book of the series.
3 Stars
July 31, 2024
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
♰ eh.
The writing
The tone and voice in this book were distinct and unique, offering a casually formal style that felt refreshing. Each character had their own voice, making it easy to tell who was speaking without checking the POV, which made them feel more real and relatable. The pacing was good overall. it started strong, slowed down a bit in the middle, but picked up again towards the end, keeping things interesting. The dialogue felt natural and genuine, with conversations that flowed well and never felt awkward or forced.Except with Caine and Ila
I was really impressed with the author's descriptive language and world-building. The world felt original and well-thought-out, giving me a clear and vivid image of the setting. It was a nice change from typical fantasy tropes and felt fresh and new. The story's structure and flow were smooth, making it easy to follow along. Nightrider and the other characters had some solid development, and it was nice to see them grow throughout the story. They were well-rounded and engaging, and their journeys felt real.
the plot
The plot revolves around two realms: the Wake, where humans reside, and the Reverie, a dreamland created from their dreams. In the Reverie, various dream characters exist, including nightmares and other creatures, all spawned from human dreams. The leader of this realm is Para Warwick, who has a dangerous ambition to merge the Wake and the Reverie, which would upset the balance and cause chaos.
The story follows a group of characters who each have their own reasons for opposing Warwick. Ila, for instance, fears for her adopted child, a dream breaker, who Warwick could use to become even more powerful. Nightrider seeks revenge against Warwick, driven by a deep-seated hatred for him. Alaric and others in the rebellion are motivated by a desire to challenge the oppressive hierarchy between nightmares and other beings in the Reverie and Cainewanted to get his dick wet was just going with the flow.
Despite their different motivations, these characters unite with the common goal of stopping Power Warwick and preventing the two realms from merging. They work together to protect the dream breaker, knowing that if Warwick succeeds in capturing this , he could potentially become unstoppable and bring about the end of both worlds.
the characters
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Wren(Nightstrider) ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
An icon. What can I say? I have a soft spot for queer poc main characters🙂↕️7.5/10
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Alaric(Bone hunter) ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
He was just okay. Not my personal favorite but he was okay enough 5/10
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚Caine ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
I despise him, sorry. 0/30
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Ila ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Honestly she was okay. But I didn’t like her with Caine so she’s not my personal favorite either. 4/10
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Para Warwick ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Probably the only one dimensional character in this book. Maybe because we didn’t get his perspective. We don’t know why he’s doing what he’s doing. We don’t know anything about him except he’s evil?? And frankly I feel I could beat him in a fight so he’s not really that threatening, sorry 🙂↔️🤞🏾
My issues
☾ The queer baiting 🙂↕️
I wasn't planning to bring this up, but the queer baiting in the book was disappointing. The story hinted at a sapphic relationship, only to abruptly discard it. Wren and Ondine seemed to have a budding love story, but it was quickly dismissed as if they were never in love. To make matters worse, Wren stabs Ondine, and Ondine is portrayed as a one-dimensional character who simply follows whatever Warwick says without much depth. Then, Wren suddenly "falls in love" with Alaric in just three days, which felt rushed and unconvincing.
I demand justice for Ondine. She deserves more depth and development as a character. It would be great to see her redeemed and given a meaningful role, possibly as a love interest, in the next book.
Thanks :)
Conclusion
Overall this book was good! Despite its minor faults, I see potential. Can’t wait for the next book
♰ eh.
The writing
The tone and voice in this book were distinct and unique, offering a casually formal style that felt refreshing. Each character had their own voice, making it easy to tell who was speaking without checking the POV, which made them feel more real and relatable. The pacing was good overall. it started strong, slowed down a bit in the middle, but picked up again towards the end, keeping things interesting. The dialogue felt natural and genuine, with conversations that flowed well and never felt awkward or forced.
I was really impressed with the author's descriptive language and world-building. The world felt original and well-thought-out, giving me a clear and vivid image of the setting. It was a nice change from typical fantasy tropes and felt fresh and new. The story's structure and flow were smooth, making it easy to follow along. Nightrider and the other characters had some solid development, and it was nice to see them grow throughout the story. They were well-rounded and engaging, and their journeys felt real.
the plot
The plot revolves around two realms: the Wake, where humans reside, and the Reverie, a dreamland created from their dreams. In the Reverie, various dream characters exist, including nightmares and other creatures, all spawned from human dreams. The leader of this realm is Para Warwick, who has a dangerous ambition to merge the Wake and the Reverie, which would upset the balance and cause chaos.
The story follows a group of characters who each have their own reasons for opposing Warwick. Ila, for instance, fears for her adopted child, a dream breaker, who Warwick could use to become even more powerful. Nightrider seeks revenge against Warwick, driven by a deep-seated hatred for him. Alaric and others in the rebellion are motivated by a desire to challenge the oppressive hierarchy between nightmares and other beings in the Reverie and Caine
Despite their different motivations, these characters unite with the common goal of stopping Power Warwick and preventing the two realms from merging. They work together to protect the dream breaker, knowing that if Warwick succeeds in capturing this , he could potentially become unstoppable and bring about the end of both worlds.
the characters
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Wren(Nightstrider) ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
An icon. What can I say? I have a soft spot for queer poc main characters🙂↕️7.5/10
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Alaric(Bone hunter) ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
He was just okay. Not my personal favorite but he was okay enough 5/10
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚Caine ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
I despise him, sorry. 0/30
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Ila ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Honestly she was okay. But I didn’t like her with Caine so she’s not my personal favorite either. 4/10
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Para Warwick ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Probably the only one dimensional character in this book. Maybe because we didn’t get his perspective. We don’t know why he’s doing what he’s doing. We don’t know anything about him except he’s evil?? And frankly I feel I could beat him in a fight so he’s not really that threatening, sorry 🙂↔️🤞🏾
My issues
☾ The queer baiting 🙂↕️
I wasn't planning to bring this up, but the queer baiting in the book was disappointing. The story hinted at a sapphic relationship, only to abruptly discard it. Wren and Ondine seemed to have a budding love story, but it was quickly dismissed as if they were never in love. To make matters worse, Wren stabs Ondine, and Ondine is portrayed as a one-dimensional character who simply follows whatever Warwick says without much depth. Then, Wren suddenly "falls in love" with Alaric in just three days, which felt rushed and unconvincing.
I demand justice for Ondine. She deserves more depth and development as a character. It would be great to see her redeemed and given a meaningful role, possibly as a love interest, in the next book.
Thanks :)
Conclusion
Overall this book was good! Despite its minor faults, I see potential. Can’t wait for the next book
July 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the arc! It seems Orbit is finally finding their fire again, because this novel was an explosive, romantic, heart wrenching, dark, surreal, fantastic mindfuck of a start to a series I’m begging to devour. Here are some things I loved about it:
The characters: they’re incredible. I was engaged and felt for them the entire journey. They were complex; they felt so real. I love them all. There was not a single POV I wasn’t excited to get back to.
Caine:
Normally when people refer to a male character as a “golden retriever” I just end up wanting to euthanize them, but I loved Caine, and the metaphor actually applies here. He drooled over Ila the entire time, and it was adorable to watch. In addition, my intrigue with him grew throughout the book, and I’m VERY excited to learn more about and also read about where his character goes throughout the series.
Ila:
Speaking of Ila, my heart hurts for her. I’m wishing nothing but happy things for my fierce, no bullshit weaver. Also her powers are so fucking cool. I hope we get to see more of her weaver magic and roots as the series progresses. Caine better give this woman the life she deserves after this shitstorm is over.
Alaric:
Of course, I can’t talk about characters without mentioning my 2 favorites, Alaric, and my absolute favorite: Nightstrider (Wren) herself. Alaric, my man, my sexy and perceptive nightmare of a man. I haven’t been this feral for a man since I read Foul Days (I love you Asen), which wasn’t too long ago tbh, but still. I rarely want to devour a character, but Alaric is one of the two male characters I’ve been obsessed with this year. He was so real, convoluted, but had a softness and heart to him that makes me rabid. The way he held out love for Wren, was so patient with her… oh my god. All he wants is for her to find her light, for her to be happy, and lord I’ve seen what you’ve done for others! WHEN IS IT MY TURN?
Wren:
Don’t even get me started on Wren, the titular, complex, and heartbreaking character. My eyes are welling up as I’m writing this, because I see so much of myself in Wren. Her pushing others away to self destruct reminds me of myself. The image she has of herself reminds me of the image I have of myself, and that I’m trying to unlearn. I’m in a better place now, thank goodness, but I see her for all that she is (as does Alaric), and she allows me to take a step back and realize that I deserve good things too. I’m also with Alaric on his mission to make her see herself as he does. She is a tragic character, but there is hope for her. She deserves the world, my fierce, loyal, sharp, hardheaded, firecracker of a woman. I fucking love her. I fucking love them all.
Side Characters:
The side characters had beef to them as well. They were also well rounded and deeply engaging. I fucking hate Ondine, but I understand her. Morthil and Mica I’d like to tuck into bed and kiss them on each of their foreheads. There are some characters I will not mention who I’d like to do the same to. They’re ephemeral, barely there, but I loved them regardless and as intended. I felt my love of them through the mcs, which is hard to do, but the author wrote it perfectly with grace.
King/Para Warwick:
My only nitpick is with the character of the Para, the King. I do understand Warwick, I was engaged when reading about his bitchass, and I hate his guts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, but I wish I knew a bit more about his background and what led him on this bloody and abhorrent path. I have a feeling that’s saved for the next book, though.
The world building: I was suspicious at first, reading about a dream world and waking world. Whenever I’ve come across a book that has a similar concept in the past, it’s usually poorly done and juvenile. That is not the case here, thank fuck. In fact, it’s one of the more unique and one of the most mind melting worlds I’ve come across. I drooled over anything involving weaving in particular. Take the tapestry in Disney’s Brave, and put it on steroids and LSD, and you’ve got the foundation for the world in here, and it’s fascinating. There are rules, but they are made to be broken. Everything makes sense, and yet nothing does. If you love Everything Everywhere All at Once, come get your soup! Weird creatures, stunning landscapes, terrifying and fascinating manifestations, lovely descriptions, a world that breathes and cowers (two actually). The author didn’t just throw shit in a pot; as weird and bizarre as this world is, the foundation is solid. Things make sense, even when they don’t. My brain is mush, but it’s good mush. In addition, woven (hehe) within the fabric of this world, you can feel the oppression just like in ours. It’s all an insane allegory of fear and division allowing masses to be easily controlled, but it works, and wonderfully. In addition, we also get themes of power building on power, and how absolute power rots you absolutely. How it takes one to break a world, and one to change it for the better. What fierce messages.
The plot:
I was engaged the entire goddamn time. Every second of the plot, and of the novel was not a second wasted. The plot does take a bit to truly kick in, yet in the exposition I kept on wanting to turn the page nonetheless -it’s indulgent and interesting. When the plot does kick in, prepare to be on the edge of your seat until the book ends. I’m also happy to report that the book doesn’t hold your hand. You will need a working brain for this, and you’ll likely need to return to your glossary, but it’s worth it and then some. There are many twists as well, with only a couple more predictable than all the others. Even the predictable twists I enjoyed, as everything else in this novel kept me hooked and engaged, and also guessing things early on makes me feel like an intellectual and shit. The ones that are not as much so will shatter your brain like dropped pottery. To truly get a grasp on everything, you will need to read this novel a few times. Each time I go back to a passage, I pick up something that I didn’t notice prior; annotating girlies, you’ll love this. Once again, as the world building suggests, everything and nothing make sense. Once again, prepare for a mind fuckening!
In conclusion, hell fucking yeah. Orbit, you picked a winner. We’re so back. With amazing characters that definitely need cognitive behavioral therapy, a world that is bizarre and intricate, and plot that will hook and melt you, read this book. I need the second installment so bad actually. -4.75 nightmares, rounded up
Update: I cannot stop thinking about Wren. She genuinely means so much to me, as I identify with her to the 10th degree. I cannot stop thinking about her and Alaric; they’re set up to become my absolute favorite fictional couple. Alaric and Wren are some of my favorite mcs of all time as well. The world itself is incredible, and nearly every aspect of this book I love immensely. The nitpick I had earlier is negligible in comparison to the way this book and its characters make me feel. She’s a 5 star!
The characters: they’re incredible. I was engaged and felt for them the entire journey. They were complex; they felt so real. I love them all. There was not a single POV I wasn’t excited to get back to.
Caine:
Normally when people refer to a male character as a “golden retriever” I just end up wanting to euthanize them, but I loved Caine, and the metaphor actually applies here. He drooled over Ila the entire time, and it was adorable to watch. In addition, my intrigue with him grew throughout the book, and I’m VERY excited to learn more about and also read about where his character goes throughout the series.
Ila:
Speaking of Ila, my heart hurts for her. I’m wishing nothing but happy things for my fierce, no bullshit weaver. Also her powers are so fucking cool. I hope we get to see more of her weaver magic and roots as the series progresses. Caine better give this woman the life she deserves after this shitstorm is over.
Alaric:
Of course, I can’t talk about characters without mentioning my 2 favorites, Alaric, and my absolute favorite: Nightstrider (Wren) herself. Alaric, my man, my sexy and perceptive nightmare of a man. I haven’t been this feral for a man since I read Foul Days (I love you Asen), which wasn’t too long ago tbh, but still. I rarely want to devour a character, but Alaric is one of the two male characters I’ve been obsessed with this year. He was so real, convoluted, but had a softness and heart to him that makes me rabid. The way he held out love for Wren, was so patient with her… oh my god. All he wants is for her to find her light, for her to be happy, and lord I’ve seen what you’ve done for others! WHEN IS IT MY TURN?
Wren:
Don’t even get me started on Wren, the titular, complex, and heartbreaking character. My eyes are welling up as I’m writing this, because I see so much of myself in Wren. Her pushing others away to self destruct reminds me of myself. The image she has of herself reminds me of the image I have of myself, and that I’m trying to unlearn. I’m in a better place now, thank goodness, but I see her for all that she is (as does Alaric), and she allows me to take a step back and realize that I deserve good things too. I’m also with Alaric on his mission to make her see herself as he does. She is a tragic character, but there is hope for her. She deserves the world, my fierce, loyal, sharp, hardheaded, firecracker of a woman. I fucking love her. I fucking love them all.
Side Characters:
The side characters had beef to them as well. They were also well rounded and deeply engaging. I fucking hate Ondine, but I understand her. Morthil and Mica I’d like to tuck into bed and kiss them on each of their foreheads. There are some characters I will not mention who I’d like to do the same to. They’re ephemeral, barely there, but I loved them regardless and as intended. I felt my love of them through the mcs, which is hard to do, but the author wrote it perfectly with grace.
King/Para Warwick:
My only nitpick is with the character of the Para, the King. I do understand Warwick, I was engaged when reading about his bitchass, and I hate his guts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, but I wish I knew a bit more about his background and what led him on this bloody and abhorrent path. I have a feeling that’s saved for the next book, though.
The world building: I was suspicious at first, reading about a dream world and waking world. Whenever I’ve come across a book that has a similar concept in the past, it’s usually poorly done and juvenile. That is not the case here, thank fuck. In fact, it’s one of the more unique and one of the most mind melting worlds I’ve come across. I drooled over anything involving weaving in particular. Take the tapestry in Disney’s Brave, and put it on steroids and LSD, and you’ve got the foundation for the world in here, and it’s fascinating. There are rules, but they are made to be broken. Everything makes sense, and yet nothing does. If you love Everything Everywhere All at Once, come get your soup! Weird creatures, stunning landscapes, terrifying and fascinating manifestations, lovely descriptions, a world that breathes and cowers (two actually). The author didn’t just throw shit in a pot; as weird and bizarre as this world is, the foundation is solid. Things make sense, even when they don’t. My brain is mush, but it’s good mush. In addition, woven (hehe) within the fabric of this world, you can feel the oppression just like in ours. It’s all an insane allegory of fear and division allowing masses to be easily controlled, but it works, and wonderfully. In addition, we also get themes of power building on power, and how absolute power rots you absolutely. How it takes one to break a world, and one to change it for the better. What fierce messages.
The plot:
I was engaged the entire goddamn time. Every second of the plot, and of the novel was not a second wasted. The plot does take a bit to truly kick in, yet in the exposition I kept on wanting to turn the page nonetheless -it’s indulgent and interesting. When the plot does kick in, prepare to be on the edge of your seat until the book ends. I’m also happy to report that the book doesn’t hold your hand. You will need a working brain for this, and you’ll likely need to return to your glossary, but it’s worth it and then some. There are many twists as well, with only a couple more predictable than all the others. Even the predictable twists I enjoyed, as everything else in this novel kept me hooked and engaged, and also guessing things early on makes me feel like an intellectual and shit. The ones that are not as much so will shatter your brain like dropped pottery. To truly get a grasp on everything, you will need to read this novel a few times. Each time I go back to a passage, I pick up something that I didn’t notice prior; annotating girlies, you’ll love this. Once again, as the world building suggests, everything and nothing make sense. Once again, prepare for a mind fuckening!
In conclusion, hell fucking yeah. Orbit, you picked a winner. We’re so back. With amazing characters that definitely need cognitive behavioral therapy, a world that is bizarre and intricate, and plot that will hook and melt you, read this book. I need the second installment so bad actually. -4.75 nightmares, rounded up
Update: I cannot stop thinking about Wren. She genuinely means so much to me, as I identify with her to the 10th degree. I cannot stop thinking about her and Alaric; they’re set up to become my absolute favorite fictional couple. Alaric and Wren are some of my favorite mcs of all time as well. The world itself is incredible, and nearly every aspect of this book I love immensely. The nitpick I had earlier is negligible in comparison to the way this book and its characters make me feel. She’s a 5 star!
August 3, 2024
4.25 ⭐️ Reading a good book is awesome but have you ever read a book you’d never heard of before, had zero expectations and ended up loving it?
When I saw that there were FOUR different povs I automatically thought I would hate it but guess what, I loved it too!!!!! Ila, Wren and Alaric were like love at first sight for me, tbh the only mc that took longer to win me over was Caine but in the end I ended up loving him just the same. One of the things I liked the most was how the author brought the stories together in Ila x Caine & Wren x Alaric’s povs and how in the end it was all intertwined.
The world building was super well done, but maybe too well? I totally understand that the universe is kinda complex (which consequently demands more details and explanations) but sometimes I got a little bored 🫣 it was a great setup for the rest of the series but I hope the next one is more focused on the characters and their relationship.
I tried *so hard* to not have favorites but I couldn't help but love Wren and Alaric a little more than the others, their story got me more deeply precisely bc it was kinda the same. The fact that they loved and suffered for the same thing without knowing it broke me even more 😭 btw when Wren admits that she wanted to die and makes the pact with Alaric I was the one who almost died (from crying)
I really wish that you-know-who didn't you-know-what in the end but I can't say I didn't see it coming 🕊️ at least now all of them are together and I couldn't be more excited to see how their dynamic will be like, I really wouldn't complain if book 2 came out like…… tomorrow 😁
When I saw that there were FOUR different povs I automatically thought I would hate it but guess what, I loved it too!!!!! Ila, Wren and Alaric were like love at first sight for me, tbh the only mc that took longer to win me over was Caine but in the end I ended up loving him just the same. One of the things I liked the most was how the author brought the stories together in Ila x Caine & Wren x Alaric’s povs and how in the end it was all intertwined.
The world building was super well done, but maybe too well? I totally understand that the universe is kinda complex (which consequently demands more details and explanations) but sometimes I got a little bored 🫣 it was a great setup for the rest of the series but I hope the next one is more focused on the characters and their relationship.
I tried *so hard* to not have favorites but I couldn't help but love Wren and Alaric a little more than the others, their story got me more deeply precisely bc it was kinda the same. The fact that they loved and suffered for the same thing without knowing it broke me even more 😭 btw when Wren admits that she wanted to die and makes the pact with Alaric I was the one who almost died (from crying)
I really wish that you-know-who didn't you-know-what in the end but I can't say I didn't see it coming 🕊️ at least now all of them are together and I couldn't be more excited to see how their dynamic will be like, I really wouldn't complain if book 2 came out like…… tomorrow 😁
September 20, 2024
2024 reads: 269/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
when wren, a deadly manifestation of people’s frightening dreams, is punished for failing to retrieve information on a deadly weapon intended for her creator, para warwick, she decides to join the rebellion in finding it. she meets alaric, a fellow nightmare wanting to atone.
prince caine, warwick’s son, prepares to wed queen ila, who’s looking for a weapon and will do anything to retrieve it. caine discovers ila opening a portal and follows her through it. in this other world, he finds out his father is more monstrous than he knew.
this was such an interesting book! i really enjoyed it the entire time i was reading it. despite its length, it’s very fast-paced, and i never felt like it was dragging on. i loved reading about the different worlds and the main characters. we get four points of view, and each one was engrossing.
i’d recommend this to adult fantasy fans!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
when wren, a deadly manifestation of people’s frightening dreams, is punished for failing to retrieve information on a deadly weapon intended for her creator, para warwick, she decides to join the rebellion in finding it. she meets alaric, a fellow nightmare wanting to atone.
prince caine, warwick’s son, prepares to wed queen ila, who’s looking for a weapon and will do anything to retrieve it. caine discovers ila opening a portal and follows her through it. in this other world, he finds out his father is more monstrous than he knew.
this was such an interesting book! i really enjoyed it the entire time i was reading it. despite its length, it’s very fast-paced, and i never felt like it was dragging on. i loved reading about the different worlds and the main characters. we get four points of view, and each one was engrossing.
i’d recommend this to adult fantasy fans!
February 11, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy
3.5
This one wasn't for me, but I'm giving it a more (than usual) objective rating because I would actually recommend it to so many readers. Well constructed characters, interesting and original world, fast paced even though I felt completely lost during the first 15%. I kept going because it was so readable.
A very lush, dar, keep-you-on-your-toes fantasy Im glad found its way to a traditional publisher, because now I get to recommend it to everyone who doesn't really vibe with my preferred type of fantasy (whimsical and fun), knowing they will love it.
Again, not my thing but I can see it being that for so many.
3.5
This one wasn't for me, but I'm giving it a more (than usual) objective rating because I would actually recommend it to so many readers. Well constructed characters, interesting and original world, fast paced even though I felt completely lost during the first 15%. I kept going because it was so readable.
A very lush, dar, keep-you-on-your-toes fantasy Im glad found its way to a traditional publisher, because now I get to recommend it to everyone who doesn't really vibe with my preferred type of fantasy (whimsical and fun), knowing they will love it.
Again, not my thing but I can see it being that for so many.
September 18, 2024
overall impression:
nightstrider is such an underrated read! 10/10 would recommend to all my fantasy girlies who love mulitpov. this was definitely a hit, having all our favourite tropes along with an extensive magical universe:
* broody mmc with a dark past (alaric)
* strong female heroines who couldn’t be more different (ila & wren)
* arranged marriage
* fake betrayal
* slow SLOW burn
* forced proximity x2
* also getting found family vibes towards the end
…. just to name a few.
magical system:
this is set between two worlds: the wake which is home to mortals vs the reverie where their dreams and nightmares come to life. only weavers like ila, the queen of galesborough, who possess magic, are able to pass through the boundary between the two. both are ruled by the king/ para warwick, the first of his kind who is able to traverse the worlds.
he dominates the wake through war with his skysteel guard while in the reverie, he creates an elite army of, “nightmares,” who all have unique powers to do his bidding - nightstrider, bonehunter, spineripper and souldrinker. the complete opposite to these, ‘supposed,’ monsters are the luminae like mica, who are formed of dreams. they are innately kinder and calmer souls. other creatures include vexes, kips, satyrs and any mystical creature you could imagine with horns and wings.
summary:
this action packed novel begins with queen ila on the run from king warwick’s guard. he wants the weapon she possesses to completely conquer both worlds. ila has magically locked away a powerful dreambreaker, a young girl called saorise and portals her to the reverie while on the run. the young queen is also engaged to prince caine of wolfhem to protect her people from invasion. little does she know that this is all a ploy in warwick’s grand scheme as saorise ends up in his hands. ila then goes to the reverie in an attempt to recuse her, accidentally dragging the prince along. here, they are captured and tortured during their travels.
on the flip side, we follow the life of wren, a nightstrider who is bound in service to the para via an anchor. her life of destruction and death in his name has become tiresome, causing her to grow vengeful. she betrays the para and aids the rebellion. she then meets alaric, a nightmare and ex-soldier, who was freed by a deceased dreambreaker, bram. they go on a high stakes recuse mission to caer sidi - where bonds form, tension arises, secrets are revealed and and murder ensues.
main characters:
i am so deeply invested in every character as they are all so unique. we have prince caine: a strong warrior and a newly discovered wielder of magic. we watch his evolution from living in fear of his father’s shadow to carving his own path. there is his romantic interest, ila, who struggles with losing her entire family to sickness while balancing ruling and saving the two worlds from destruction.
we are also introduced to wren and alaric. these two nightmares have suffered at the hands of the para and barley escaped, both mentally and physically. they bond over learning to navigate their newfound freedom in the wake of their haunted past.
other mentionables:
- all sides characters were well involved in the storyline e.g solene, morthil and theodosia. they didn’t feel like extras in the background, but had profound roles in progressing the storyline.
5⭐️!!! going in my top 10 reads for the year. thank you to netgalley for giving me this opportunity to immerse myself in this world. i would definitely revisit just for wren and alaric. veilweaver coming when miss sophia?? 👀
nightstrider is such an underrated read! 10/10 would recommend to all my fantasy girlies who love mulitpov. this was definitely a hit, having all our favourite tropes along with an extensive magical universe:
* broody mmc with a dark past (alaric)
* strong female heroines who couldn’t be more different (ila & wren)
* arranged marriage
* fake betrayal
* slow SLOW burn
* forced proximity x2
* also getting found family vibes towards the end
…. just to name a few.
magical system:
this is set between two worlds: the wake which is home to mortals vs the reverie where their dreams and nightmares come to life. only weavers like ila, the queen of galesborough, who possess magic, are able to pass through the boundary between the two. both are ruled by the king/ para warwick, the first of his kind who is able to traverse the worlds.
he dominates the wake through war with his skysteel guard while in the reverie, he creates an elite army of, “nightmares,” who all have unique powers to do his bidding - nightstrider, bonehunter, spineripper and souldrinker. the complete opposite to these, ‘supposed,’ monsters are the luminae like mica, who are formed of dreams. they are innately kinder and calmer souls. other creatures include vexes, kips, satyrs and any mystical creature you could imagine with horns and wings.
summary:
this action packed novel begins with queen ila on the run from king warwick’s guard. he wants the weapon she possesses to completely conquer both worlds. ila has magically locked away a powerful dreambreaker, a young girl called saorise and portals her to the reverie while on the run. the young queen is also engaged to prince caine of wolfhem to protect her people from invasion. little does she know that this is all a ploy in warwick’s grand scheme as saorise ends up in his hands. ila then goes to the reverie in an attempt to recuse her, accidentally dragging the prince along. here, they are captured and tortured during their travels.
on the flip side, we follow the life of wren, a nightstrider who is bound in service to the para via an anchor. her life of destruction and death in his name has become tiresome, causing her to grow vengeful. she betrays the para and aids the rebellion. she then meets alaric, a nightmare and ex-soldier, who was freed by a deceased dreambreaker, bram. they go on a high stakes recuse mission to caer sidi - where bonds form, tension arises, secrets are revealed and and murder ensues.
main characters:
i am so deeply invested in every character as they are all so unique. we have prince caine: a strong warrior and a newly discovered wielder of magic. we watch his evolution from living in fear of his father’s shadow to carving his own path. there is his romantic interest, ila, who struggles with losing her entire family to sickness while balancing ruling and saving the two worlds from destruction.
we are also introduced to wren and alaric. these two nightmares have suffered at the hands of the para and barley escaped, both mentally and physically. they bond over learning to navigate their newfound freedom in the wake of their haunted past.
other mentionables:
- all sides characters were well involved in the storyline e.g solene, morthil and theodosia. they didn’t feel like extras in the background, but had profound roles in progressing the storyline.
5⭐️!!! going in my top 10 reads for the year. thank you to netgalley for giving me this opportunity to immerse myself in this world. i would definitely revisit just for wren and alaric. veilweaver coming when miss sophia?? 👀
October 19, 2025
Nightstrider. Wow. I have so many words, and I'm not sure how to say them all, but here we go!
Nightstrider was one of the most unique worlds I've had the pleasure of reading about. It was so original and new, I'd never read anything like it before. The world-building was so well done, and even though I was a little confused at first (simply because I've never read a world like this before), the author did an absolutely amazing job of building up the world of the Wake and the Reverie. The descriptions were great, and I felt very grounded after just a few chapters.
The writing itself was stunning, and the quotes, THE QUOTES!!! Everything flowed so well together, and let me tell you Sophia Slade knows how to write some ANGST. I was living for it. (#angststan4lyfe)
I absolutely adore all of the characters in this book. I thought I was going to have a difficult time with four different POVs in a high fantasy book, but each character was so interesting and complex, and well-written, it was no trouble at all! Although Wren is cool and confident, she still struggles with internal guilt and frustration, which I think makes her interesting and relatable to read about. I can't wait to read more about Alaric in the coming books, even though we saw both his ruthless and sweet side, I feel like there's even more to him than what meets the eye. Caine. CAINE!!!!! This man. I'm crying he is so sweet and honest and true and honorable. I could go on. And Ila!!! She is so!!! I was worried for her for a bit in the last section, but she pulls through. Okay, I could go on, but I have to stop there or I'll never shut up.
The first half of the book was spent on a lot of world and character building which I really appreciated, but I think the second half could have been a bit longer. I understand there will be a second book to come (so excited!), but a part of me felt like the ending was a little bit rushed. I wanted just a little bit more from the scene where the four finally all meet with Para Warwick. Also, this could entirely just be on me, but I was a little bit confused by the magic system. I totally understand how the Wake and Reverie came to be, but my only question is: do the dream-beings (of all sorts) get their powers simply from being dreams? Alaric was shown to have a type of energy-power, but I was confused as to where it originated from. Also, the 'mares have innate abilities to hear, smell, and taste, better than other dream-beings, is this simply how they were made, but how and why is my question? I would have loved a little more background on that aspect, but maybe that's to come in the second book.
Even though, those two aspects knocked it down one star for me, I really really enjoyed this book. Honestly one of my favorite reads of this year so far (fantasy-wise). Can't wait for the next installment!
Nightstrider was one of the most unique worlds I've had the pleasure of reading about. It was so original and new, I'd never read anything like it before. The world-building was so well done, and even though I was a little confused at first (simply because I've never read a world like this before), the author did an absolutely amazing job of building up the world of the Wake and the Reverie. The descriptions were great, and I felt very grounded after just a few chapters.
The writing itself was stunning, and the quotes, THE QUOTES!!! Everything flowed so well together, and let me tell you Sophia Slade knows how to write some ANGST. I was living for it. (#angststan4lyfe)
I absolutely adore all of the characters in this book. I thought I was going to have a difficult time with four different POVs in a high fantasy book, but each character was so interesting and complex, and well-written, it was no trouble at all! Although Wren is cool and confident, she still struggles with internal guilt and frustration, which I think makes her interesting and relatable to read about. I can't wait to read more about Alaric in the coming books, even though we saw both his ruthless and sweet side, I feel like there's even more to him than what meets the eye. Caine. CAINE!!!!! This man. I'm crying he is so sweet and honest and true and honorable. I could go on. And Ila!!! She is so!!! I was worried for her for a bit in the last section, but she pulls through. Okay, I could go on, but I have to stop there or I'll never shut up.
The first half of the book was spent on a lot of world and character building which I really appreciated, but I think the second half could have been a bit longer. I understand there will be a second book to come (so excited!), but a part of me felt like the ending was a little bit rushed. I wanted just a little bit more from the scene where the four finally all meet with Para Warwick. Also, this could entirely just be on me, but I was a little bit confused by the magic system. I totally understand how the Wake and Reverie came to be, but my only question is: do the dream-beings (of all sorts) get their powers simply from being dreams? Alaric was shown to have a type of energy-power, but I was confused as to where it originated from. Also, the 'mares have innate abilities to hear, smell, and taste, better than other dream-beings, is this simply how they were made, but how and why is my question? I would have loved a little more background on that aspect, but maybe that's to come in the second book.
Even though, those two aspects knocked it down one star for me, I really really enjoyed this book. Honestly one of my favorite reads of this year so far (fantasy-wise). Can't wait for the next installment!
February 6, 2025
Jan 2025 reread: SLAPS ON AUDIO OK? I LOVE THEM.
—
okay full review to come but this took me so by surprise!!! it’s definitely a set up book for what’s to come but I am so sat for the four main characters. I can’t wait for more romance to blossom!!!! More adventure!!! More dream beings!!! 4.5 for now!
--
“He would have me treat you as a prisoner, but even when you betrayed me, I protected you. I all but crawled after you.”
HELLO IT’S FANTASY FALL AND YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS BOOOOKKK. If you want a book that is One Dark Window meets Shadow and Bone meets The Witcher…look no further. Nightstrider is HERE.
This book has all the best things— a dream world, slow burn romance, beautiful writing, INCREDIBLE plot lines and AMAZING character arcs. While it’s not your typically romantasy (it’s definitely more fantasy forward), you’ll be begging for more between the main characters— of which there are FOUR!
Wren, a baddie nightmare (yes you heard me); Ila, a QUEEN who can also travel between the dream and waking world; Caine, a prince who is kind of like a bumbling, well meaning idiot for most of this book (i say this lovingly); and ALARIC 🥵 another nightmare who is part of *a rebellion*. When I say the cast is stacked..I MEAN it. Because you have 4 POVs, you have alternating plot lines that are hurtling toward each other and y’all the ending will have you SAT.
I picked this up on a whim because of (1) single post that Maggie made and I couldn’t put it down once I started. I was IN IT from the very beginning and I am on my knees begging for book 2.
—
okay full review to come but this took me so by surprise!!! it’s definitely a set up book for what’s to come but I am so sat for the four main characters. I can’t wait for more romance to blossom!!!! More adventure!!! More dream beings!!! 4.5 for now!
--
“He would have me treat you as a prisoner, but even when you betrayed me, I protected you. I all but crawled after you.”
HELLO IT’S FANTASY FALL AND YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS BOOOOKKK. If you want a book that is One Dark Window meets Shadow and Bone meets The Witcher…look no further. Nightstrider is HERE.
This book has all the best things— a dream world, slow burn romance, beautiful writing, INCREDIBLE plot lines and AMAZING character arcs. While it’s not your typically romantasy (it’s definitely more fantasy forward), you’ll be begging for more between the main characters— of which there are FOUR!
Wren, a baddie nightmare (yes you heard me); Ila, a QUEEN who can also travel between the dream and waking world; Caine, a prince who is kind of like a bumbling, well meaning idiot for most of this book (i say this lovingly); and ALARIC 🥵 another nightmare who is part of *a rebellion*. When I say the cast is stacked..I MEAN it. Because you have 4 POVs, you have alternating plot lines that are hurtling toward each other and y’all the ending will have you SAT.
I picked this up on a whim because of (1) single post that Maggie made and I couldn’t put it down once I started. I was IN IT from the very beginning and I am on my knees begging for book 2.
Want to read
June 14, 2024I am so so feral for this book!!! more queer dark fantasies always please!!
January 14, 2025
3.5⭐️
“She had been forged to please him, forged to want to please him.”
A very promising dark fantasy debut from young writer, Sophia Slade. I’ve seen Nightstrider compared to Hannah Whitten’s Wilder Wood duology as well as Rachel Gillig’s Sheppard King duology. I would argue it’s more similar to Neil Gaiman’s Sandman of the 90’s.
“Wren was a bug tacked to a square of cloth in his devouring gaze.”
As a teen who was obsessed with Sandman comics, I love how Nightstrider explores the sleeping realm of Reverie, full of demonic night terrors and fantastical creatures. The supporting characters were fascinating and . I hope to see more of their backstories in the next novel, Veilweaver, which I’ll definitely be reading.
“Do you know why I created you Nightstrider?”
“To Kill,” she answered.
“To do anything and everything I ask without hesitation or remorse. I created you to be ruthless, loyal, and brutal.”-Para Warwick
Slade’s description of the dual Caer Sidi echopoint castles that exist in both realms was immaculate. The inclusion of a glossary for terms, locations, and characters at the beginning of the book, as opposed to at the end, was perfect. I hope Orbit starts placing all their glossaries in the front from now on, it’s way more convenient.
One thing that hindered my enjoyment of Nightstrider was its focus on romance. The novel would be so much better as a badass, feminist, political, grimdark fantasy series without trying to force it into romantasy territory, and forced indeed is exactly how it reads.
As they say in Wake and Reverie, Good somnia!
“She had been forged to please him, forged to want to please him.”
A very promising dark fantasy debut from young writer, Sophia Slade. I’ve seen Nightstrider compared to Hannah Whitten’s Wilder Wood duology as well as Rachel Gillig’s Sheppard King duology. I would argue it’s more similar to Neil Gaiman’s Sandman of the 90’s.
“Wren was a bug tacked to a square of cloth in his devouring gaze.”
As a teen who was obsessed with Sandman comics, I love how Nightstrider explores the sleeping realm of Reverie, full of demonic night terrors and fantastical creatures. The supporting characters were fascinating and . I hope to see more of their backstories in the next novel, Veilweaver, which I’ll definitely be reading.
“Do you know why I created you Nightstrider?”
“To Kill,” she answered.
“To do anything and everything I ask without hesitation or remorse. I created you to be ruthless, loyal, and brutal.”-Para Warwick
Slade’s description of the dual Caer Sidi echopoint castles that exist in both realms was immaculate. The inclusion of a glossary for terms, locations, and characters at the beginning of the book, as opposed to at the end, was perfect. I hope Orbit starts placing all their glossaries in the front from now on, it’s way more convenient.
One thing that hindered my enjoyment of Nightstrider was its focus on romance. The novel would be so much better as a badass, feminist, political, grimdark fantasy series without trying to force it into romantasy territory, and forced indeed is exactly how it reads.
As they say in Wake and Reverie, Good somnia!
October 3, 2024
this is a bi persons dream (ﾉ ˃ˋᗜˊ˂ )ﾉ
THIS WAS SO GOOD. world building, characters, chemistry, beautiful writing, fast paced, all of it! i’m always reluctant when going into multiple pov’s, i always end up not liking one of them/finding one boring. but nope, every pov in this mattered and i loved them all equally, the four povs paired into 2 different journeys was also such a nice way to read and easy to stick with rather than 4 separate ones. i was never bored or lost with the story, something was always happening and keeping you wanting more. the world created in this story was also so interesting and unique, but never too overwhelming considering the two worlds used in the story. i would love to know more so im hoping this gets expanded on in the second book and we can meet some other cool characters and sick powers! wren was my favourite character by far, i loved her story so much.
her and alaric .·°՞(≧□≦)՞°·.
i cannot wait for book 2!!🖤
THIS WAS SO GOOD. world building, characters, chemistry, beautiful writing, fast paced, all of it! i’m always reluctant when going into multiple pov’s, i always end up not liking one of them/finding one boring. but nope, every pov in this mattered and i loved them all equally, the four povs paired into 2 different journeys was also such a nice way to read and easy to stick with rather than 4 separate ones. i was never bored or lost with the story, something was always happening and keeping you wanting more. the world created in this story was also so interesting and unique, but never too overwhelming considering the two worlds used in the story. i would love to know more so im hoping this gets expanded on in the second book and we can meet some other cool characters and sick powers! wren was my favourite character by far, i loved her story so much.
her and alaric .·°՞(≧□≦)՞°·.
i cannot wait for book 2!!🖤
September 8, 2024
Wow, this was amazing. Fast paced, original and refreshing. I loved all 4 of the POV characters, especially Wren (Nightstrider). The world building and lore were excellent and the author didn’t info dump at all, you kind of just learn as you go. This was just what I needed to get out of my reading slump. I’m very much looking forward to the next book!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this arc!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this arc!
September 5, 2024
Girl what the fuck do you mean I have to wait ANOTHER YEAR for the next book. I DID MY WAITING.
February 13, 2025
arcane, dark, and full of nightmares - this book belongs on your fall tbr. I am absolutely floored by how much I cannot stop thinking about this fantasy debut and these characters that gripped me from the very beginning, and now refuse to let go. I would protect every single one of them to my last breath I swear. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a fantasy book like this before. However, if you love dark and eerie fantasy then keep your eye on this series because I am calling it now, it WILL take the fantasy world by storm.
Nightstrider takes the reader on an immersive journey into the Reverie, the dream realm where the manifestations of humanity’s dreams reside. The worldbuilding of this book combines the off-putting creepiness of One Dark Window with the spine-chilling and monstrous darkness of The Witcher. There are four POVs in this book… FOUR!!! We follow Wren, a nightmare who is forever bound to serve the realms evil ruler; Alaric, another nightmare who is a part of the growing rebellion; Prince Caine, the ignorant human son of aforementioned evil ruler; and finally, Queen Ila, who is a weaver tasked with protecting the boundary between the dream and waking realms. When circumstances caused by the insidious ruler wreaking havoc and destruction in both the dream and waking realms force our four main characters to cross paths, they may just have to be the ones to try to stop him…
“𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
please note that this book is NOT a romantasy, while there is definitely romance and elements of these character relationships that still had my chest aching from their tender moments, it is also slowwwww burning to the max, this book is definitely for my fantasy lovers!!!
tropes:
- multiple POVs
- nightmare realm
- “scary? my god you’re divine.”
- mutual yearning
- thrilling fight scenes
- unique magic & creatures
- arranged marriage
- plot twists
____________________________
2/13 audio reread, still love this world and characters just as much the second time <3
____________________________
4.5 full review coming tomorrow!!!
Nightstrider takes the reader on an immersive journey into the Reverie, the dream realm where the manifestations of humanity’s dreams reside. The worldbuilding of this book combines the off-putting creepiness of One Dark Window with the spine-chilling and monstrous darkness of The Witcher. There are four POVs in this book… FOUR!!! We follow Wren, a nightmare who is forever bound to serve the realms evil ruler; Alaric, another nightmare who is a part of the growing rebellion; Prince Caine, the ignorant human son of aforementioned evil ruler; and finally, Queen Ila, who is a weaver tasked with protecting the boundary between the dream and waking realms. When circumstances caused by the insidious ruler wreaking havoc and destruction in both the dream and waking realms force our four main characters to cross paths, they may just have to be the ones to try to stop him…
“𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
please note that this book is NOT a romantasy, while there is definitely romance and elements of these character relationships that still had my chest aching from their tender moments, it is also slowwwww burning to the max, this book is definitely for my fantasy lovers!!!
tropes:
- multiple POVs
- nightmare realm
- “scary? my god you’re divine.”
- mutual yearning
- thrilling fight scenes
- unique magic & creatures
- arranged marriage
- plot twists
____________________________
2/13 audio reread, still love this world and characters just as much the second time <3
____________________________
4.5 full review coming tomorrow!!!
September 21, 2024
ok, so it took me a while to get into this book but once i did i was so invested. i really liked the world building— its split in two: the Wake and the Reverie, the Reverie holds all types of dream beings that are created by the people in the Wake. there’s 4 povs: Wren (nightstrider), Ila, Alaric and Caine & i found each of them to have a distinct personality so i never got them confused. it also helped that the characters are sort of grouped together with Wren and Alaric being together and then the same for Caine and Ila. both the fast paced plot and the authors writing complemented eachother so well. i wish that the ending didn’t feel as rushed and that certain character dynamics had more development but i actually would love to reread this book with the finished copy, as i don’t think i was completely in the right mood when i started this arc and i think it has potential to be rated more highly if i gave it another go. but either way, i definitely recommend this book and ill be looking forward to reading the sequel whenever it’s released!
↳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
↳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
December 26, 2025
Way more fun than I was anticipating! A solid blend of fast-paced action, an intriguing fantasy world, and compelling main characters (well...three out of four of them, at least). It felt a bit like a "set up" book preparing for its sequel, but that didn't make this any less enjoyable. Good binge to break my end of the year slump.
May 1, 2025
3.0/5
This book walks on the edge between adult fantasy and romantasy.
The story isn't super original but it's gripping and fast paced, I was seriously hooked to some aspects of it.
The characters were typical romantasy characters but well written... most of the time.
But then the romantic cliches and troupes had to make their appearance and turn the plot into a side quest and I considered DNFing.
I don't think I'll continue the series, but I know I won't be badmouthing this book either.
This book walks on the edge between adult fantasy and romantasy.
The story isn't super original but it's gripping and fast paced, I was seriously hooked to some aspects of it.
The characters were typical romantasy characters but well written... most of the time.
But then the romantic cliches and troupes had to make their appearance and turn the plot into a side quest and I considered DNFing.
I don't think I'll continue the series, but I know I won't be badmouthing this book either.
August 26, 2024
Well well well, Sophia Slade, it appears you have written the best high fantasy novel I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year.
I cannot begin to describe how unbelievably fantastic this entire book was from start to finish. I’m kind of star struck if we are being honest with each other. I will be recommending this to everyone for the foreseeable future, so beware. Every high fantasy reader needs to read this.
*Goes to preorder this book right now*
————————————
Nightstrider by Sophia Slade
Publishing date: September 17, 2024
Dark, dark, dark high fantasy
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ Five bloody stars, six if we’re being honest
⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆
In Nightstrider, we are introduced to two worlds: the Wake, and the Reverie (and the Boundary that keeps the two apart). The Wake resembles the human realm: there’s a King, a prince, nobles, etc. Only humans. The Reverie mirrors the Wake, but it is essentially what the humans dream of, both dreams and nightmares. There are magical beings in the Reverie, both good and evil. However, the all-powerful Para Warwick (ruler of the Reverie) also is King Warwick of the Wake.
The worldbuilding is absolutely divine. This is indeed a high fantasy novel, and at first it is hard to piece everything together. Eventually, it will all click in your brain, and you’ll be shocked at what Slade has created. The creativity in this story is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I am still marveling at all the different pieces of this story.
The plot never slows for a second, but it also doesn’t move so fast that you don’t understand what’s going on. Essentially - the pacing was perfect. The plot was woven together so intricately, that once again, I am just in awe. How did she create this masterpiece?
THE CHARACTERS. We follow 4 main characters: Ila, Caine, Wren, and Alaric. This means we get 4 POVs, but DO NOT let this stop you. I have never read a book with so many POVs where I actually thoroughly enjoyed my time in each characters thoughts.
⊹.✮₊⋆Ila: Queen of Gainesborough, but also once a weaver. Ila is our strong female character who will do anything to fight for what she believes in. She’s fiercely loyal, and a badass.
⊹.✮₊⋆Caine: Do I say, my favourite character in the book? Prince Caine of Wolfhelm - I adore you. He’s our softy who will protect what he loves (but also maybe a shadow daddy?)
⊹.✮₊⋆Alaric: A fellow nightmare who left the work of the Para and lives to fight for the rebellion. Gosh his character is fantastic.
⊹.✮₊⋆Wren: aka Nightstrider. A lethal killer. Is she the coolest character I have ever had the pleasure of knowing? I think so. She is such a badass. I think I’m obsessed.
Each of these characters is developed so fully and so well - Slade really did an impeccable job.
All of these characters find their way to each other because of the same common denominator: the dream breaker, Saoirse.
Also can I just say: r*pists getting what they deserve? Finally.
⊹.✮₊⋆Vibes: Dark king, dark court, atmospheric forests and haunted woods, nightmarish creatures, forced marriage, dare I say enemies to lovers??, found family
Now - this is definitely a high fantasy novel first and foremost with romance as a subplot (which WORKS here you guys).
————————————
I cannot wrap my head around how perfect this was. This is THE fantasy novel of the year.
READ IT.
Thank the gods to NetGalley and Orbit for giving me this treasure of an arc.
I cannot begin to describe how unbelievably fantastic this entire book was from start to finish. I’m kind of star struck if we are being honest with each other. I will be recommending this to everyone for the foreseeable future, so beware. Every high fantasy reader needs to read this.
*Goes to preorder this book right now*
————————————
Nightstrider by Sophia Slade
Publishing date: September 17, 2024
Dark, dark, dark high fantasy
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ Five bloody stars, six if we’re being honest
⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆ ⊹.✮₊⋆
In Nightstrider, we are introduced to two worlds: the Wake, and the Reverie (and the Boundary that keeps the two apart). The Wake resembles the human realm: there’s a King, a prince, nobles, etc. Only humans. The Reverie mirrors the Wake, but it is essentially what the humans dream of, both dreams and nightmares. There are magical beings in the Reverie, both good and evil. However, the all-powerful Para Warwick (ruler of the Reverie) also is King Warwick of the Wake.
The worldbuilding is absolutely divine. This is indeed a high fantasy novel, and at first it is hard to piece everything together. Eventually, it will all click in your brain, and you’ll be shocked at what Slade has created. The creativity in this story is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I am still marveling at all the different pieces of this story.
The plot never slows for a second, but it also doesn’t move so fast that you don’t understand what’s going on. Essentially - the pacing was perfect. The plot was woven together so intricately, that once again, I am just in awe. How did she create this masterpiece?
THE CHARACTERS. We follow 4 main characters: Ila, Caine, Wren, and Alaric. This means we get 4 POVs, but DO NOT let this stop you. I have never read a book with so many POVs where I actually thoroughly enjoyed my time in each characters thoughts.
⊹.✮₊⋆Ila: Queen of Gainesborough, but also once a weaver. Ila is our strong female character who will do anything to fight for what she believes in. She’s fiercely loyal, and a badass.
⊹.✮₊⋆Caine: Do I say, my favourite character in the book? Prince Caine of Wolfhelm - I adore you. He’s our softy who will protect what he loves (but also maybe a shadow daddy?)
⊹.✮₊⋆Alaric: A fellow nightmare who left the work of the Para and lives to fight for the rebellion. Gosh his character is fantastic.
⊹.✮₊⋆Wren: aka Nightstrider. A lethal killer. Is she the coolest character I have ever had the pleasure of knowing? I think so. She is such a badass. I think I’m obsessed.
Each of these characters is developed so fully and so well - Slade really did an impeccable job.
All of these characters find their way to each other because of the same common denominator: the dream breaker, Saoirse.
Also can I just say: r*pists getting what they deserve? Finally.
⊹.✮₊⋆Vibes: Dark king, dark court, atmospheric forests and haunted woods, nightmarish creatures, forced marriage, dare I say enemies to lovers??, found family
Now - this is definitely a high fantasy novel first and foremost with romance as a subplot (which WORKS here you guys).
————————————
I cannot wrap my head around how perfect this was. This is THE fantasy novel of the year.
READ IT.
Thank the gods to NetGalley and Orbit for giving me this treasure of an arc.
November 21, 2024
Entertaining! Took some time to really feel a connection with the characters during the first half but the second half definitely made up for it.
Excited for book 2. 🔥⚔️
Excited for book 2. 🔥⚔️
October 24, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
Nightstrider is the first book in the eponymous dark fantasy series, written by Sophia Slade (which represents her traditional debut), and published by Orbit Books. An ambitious and fast-paced story where nightmares and human will have to ally to stop the conquest of both worlds, waking and dream one, by Para Warwick, a vicious demon which is one of the few night creatures with the ability of jumping between realms, told using several POV and that includes a great layer of romance.
Wren is a nightmare, bound to Para Warwick; when she fails to retrieve information about a weapon that might be used to end Warwick's realm, she's severely punished. After losing the grace from Para Warwick, she decides to aid the growing rebellion in finding it; there, she gets to know Alaric, another nightmare that is trying to get redemption for his past actions. Despite they are initially wary of each other, they decide to collaborate if that means taking down Para Warwick and liberating Wren from the bond that ties her to the Para.
In the waking world, Prince Caine, Warwick's human son, is preparing to wed Ila Enovoldson, queen of a neighbouring kingdom; a step to cement Warwick's ambitions of conquest in this plance. But Ila is also a Weaver, a protector of the Boundary that separates the waking world from the Reverie (the dream one), and she has accepted this agreement as the mean to retrieve a weapon that was trusted to her; when Caine finds her opening a portal to the Reverie, he will follow her, finding himself in a world where his father is even more monstrous. Their paths will collide with the one of the two nightmares, and they will need to collaborate to stop Para Warwick and preserve the Boundary between the planes.
We are gradually introduced to the four POV, slowly weaving the plot together; four characters that are splendidly developed, and that evolve through the whole story: from the Wren that started her journey just as a means to get revenge to the Alaric that hoped for something better and to wash away his sins; the innocent Caine that cuts the cords used by Warwick to control him, and Ila, probably my favourite one, a strong female character that will sacrifice herself if that means saving the rest.
The Para himself is an excellent villain, ambitious, but with his own secrets; a creature that craves for the control of both worlds.
The worldbuilding is at the level of the best epic fantasy, with the two mirror worlds and a unique magic system, based on those manifestations formed on the dreams; Slade doesn't give us much information at the start, choosing to show partial pictures of it, in consonance with how her characters start.
The story is relatively fast-paced, avoiding slow moments; smartly playing with the different points of view, in a way that not many novelists could do it. The romance will be delightful for those that prefer slow burn and enemies to lovers as their mojo.
Nightstrider is an excellent debut novel, one that I recommend if you like multi-POVs high fantasy stories but with its own dash of uniqueness. Sophia Slade is a voice to watch, and honestly, I can't wait to continue reading the Nightstrider series.
Nightstrider is the first book in the eponymous dark fantasy series, written by Sophia Slade (which represents her traditional debut), and published by Orbit Books. An ambitious and fast-paced story where nightmares and human will have to ally to stop the conquest of both worlds, waking and dream one, by Para Warwick, a vicious demon which is one of the few night creatures with the ability of jumping between realms, told using several POV and that includes a great layer of romance.
Wren is a nightmare, bound to Para Warwick; when she fails to retrieve information about a weapon that might be used to end Warwick's realm, she's severely punished. After losing the grace from Para Warwick, she decides to aid the growing rebellion in finding it; there, she gets to know Alaric, another nightmare that is trying to get redemption for his past actions. Despite they are initially wary of each other, they decide to collaborate if that means taking down Para Warwick and liberating Wren from the bond that ties her to the Para.
In the waking world, Prince Caine, Warwick's human son, is preparing to wed Ila Enovoldson, queen of a neighbouring kingdom; a step to cement Warwick's ambitions of conquest in this plance. But Ila is also a Weaver, a protector of the Boundary that separates the waking world from the Reverie (the dream one), and she has accepted this agreement as the mean to retrieve a weapon that was trusted to her; when Caine finds her opening a portal to the Reverie, he will follow her, finding himself in a world where his father is even more monstrous. Their paths will collide with the one of the two nightmares, and they will need to collaborate to stop Para Warwick and preserve the Boundary between the planes.
We are gradually introduced to the four POV, slowly weaving the plot together; four characters that are splendidly developed, and that evolve through the whole story: from the Wren that started her journey just as a means to get revenge to the Alaric that hoped for something better and to wash away his sins; the innocent Caine that cuts the cords used by Warwick to control him, and Ila, probably my favourite one, a strong female character that will sacrifice herself if that means saving the rest.
The Para himself is an excellent villain, ambitious, but with his own secrets; a creature that craves for the control of both worlds.
The worldbuilding is at the level of the best epic fantasy, with the two mirror worlds and a unique magic system, based on those manifestations formed on the dreams; Slade doesn't give us much information at the start, choosing to show partial pictures of it, in consonance with how her characters start.
The story is relatively fast-paced, avoiding slow moments; smartly playing with the different points of view, in a way that not many novelists could do it. The romance will be delightful for those that prefer slow burn and enemies to lovers as their mojo.
Nightstrider is an excellent debut novel, one that I recommend if you like multi-POVs high fantasy stories but with its own dash of uniqueness. Sophia Slade is a voice to watch, and honestly, I can't wait to continue reading the Nightstrider series.
September 21, 2024
It has been awhile sense a fantasy book has had me in their claws and Nightstrider dug them in deep! I flew through this novel. There is so much happening I couldn't stop reading it. It's really fast paced there were no slow parts.
This is multiple pov and I found that each character had equal parts through out the story which I liked a lot. I found each character to be very likable. Wren and Ila are two badass fmc's. I loved that they both had no nonsense attitudes. Alaric and Caine were both great MCs!
The world building in this was great. You basically have two realms the "real" world and the "dream" world. There are living nightmare/dream beings. I think the magic in this was really cool too. I am so looking forward to book 2!
Thank you @orbitbooks for the gifted copy.-Ash
July 29, 2024
What a unique world! The characters were great. Better review to come.
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