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Comes the Night
A superb YA fantasy set in the near future, full of secrets, high stakes, peril, deceptions and dreamwalkers from the internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of the Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering.
Will Helloran is sixteen years old and lives with his father in the Canberra dome complex that protects its inhabitants from the corrosive atmosphere outside.
At night his dreams are haunted by his beloved uncle Adam, who unexpectedly died in his sleep almost a year ago. As the nightmares grow increasingly more disturbing, Will comes to believe that his uncle's death may have been suspicious - and he begins investigating.
Meanwhile, his best friend Ender is becoming concerned about her brilliant, troubled twin Magda. When Magda disappears, Will is drawn into a web bigger than he can imagine - and, if he and his friends are to survive, he must navigate his way out of the treacherous dreamscape while staying safe in the waking world.
Featuring a reluctant hero in a near-future city on an epic quest into an alternative dream world, Comes the Night is a thrilling new novel from Australia's queen of YA fantasy.
Will Helloran is sixteen years old and lives with his father in the Canberra dome complex that protects its inhabitants from the corrosive atmosphere outside.
At night his dreams are haunted by his beloved uncle Adam, who unexpectedly died in his sleep almost a year ago. As the nightmares grow increasingly more disturbing, Will comes to believe that his uncle's death may have been suspicious - and he begins investigating.
Meanwhile, his best friend Ender is becoming concerned about her brilliant, troubled twin Magda. When Magda disappears, Will is drawn into a web bigger than he can imagine - and, if he and his friends are to survive, he must navigate his way out of the treacherous dreamscape while staying safe in the waking world.
Featuring a reluctant hero in a near-future city on an epic quest into an alternative dream world, Comes the Night is a thrilling new novel from Australia's queen of YA fantasy.
480 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2024
53 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Isobelle Carmody
104 books1,736 followersIsobelle Carmody began the first novel of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still in high school. The series has established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.
Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.
Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.
She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.
Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 14, 2025
Will Helloran lived with his father, Padraig, in the Canberra suburb of Fyshwick, in a future where cities were domed to protect residents from outside weather events, and other corrosive invasions. Will's mother Klare, had left Padraig and Will to live and work in a domed Sydney, where she was a politician's assistant, travelling back and forth between the two cities. Will's best friend was Ender, while her twin sister Magda was a prickly, brilliant person, working for the government. Will's uncle Adam had been dead for almost a year, and he still missed him terribly. But the things Adam had taught Will, saw him able to work his way through when things went wrong...
When Magda disappeared, it wasn't long before Ender vanished as well. Will was beside himself, knowing he needed to find the two young women, and for that he knew to go to Adam's old apartment. What he would find, he wasn't sure, but the specially made kite, Lookfar, which had been a gift from Adam, was something Will wanted badly. And when his nightmares started again, centred around Adam, Will's suspicions were aroused. Could he plan to enter the dreamscape purposely, and if he could, what would he find? How could Will stay safe in the waking world, while navigating the dangers of the dreamscape?
Comes the Night is an outstanding read from Aussie author Isobelle Carmody and I loved it! Teenage Will was in over his head, but an exceptional character who had empathy and caring, determined to help those who needed it. The villains in the story were nasty pieces of work - perfect for their roles. This is my first read by this author and I'll be looking for more (although it's YA, and it's a long time since I was one of those!) Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.
When Magda disappeared, it wasn't long before Ender vanished as well. Will was beside himself, knowing he needed to find the two young women, and for that he knew to go to Adam's old apartment. What he would find, he wasn't sure, but the specially made kite, Lookfar, which had been a gift from Adam, was something Will wanted badly. And when his nightmares started again, centred around Adam, Will's suspicions were aroused. Could he plan to enter the dreamscape purposely, and if he could, what would he find? How could Will stay safe in the waking world, while navigating the dangers of the dreamscape?
Comes the Night is an outstanding read from Aussie author Isobelle Carmody and I loved it! Teenage Will was in over his head, but an exceptional character who had empathy and caring, determined to help those who needed it. The villains in the story were nasty pieces of work - perfect for their roles. This is my first read by this author and I'll be looking for more (although it's YA, and it's a long time since I was one of those!) Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read and review.
March 21, 2025
Firstly let me say that I am not a fantasy reader normally but for one of the challenges I do I was to read a fantasy, I decided on this one, the cover is beautiful and the story takes in a lot as we get to know two young people Will and Ender as they try to find answers about the sudden death of Will’s Uncle Adam, this story is set in future Canberra in 2070 where the people live in domes, but there has been some turmoil around the domes and it seems to be some dangerous events occurring.
This is a YA story and Will and Ender are young teenagers and are determined to find answers to the sudden death of Will’s uncle Adam who he was very close to, when Will starts dreaming strange dreams that seem to be pulling him into a strange different world where he meets different characters the danger is ramping up, then there is the kite that Adam left Will a beautiful thing called Lookfar does she hold the answers and what about Ender’s twin sister Magda who is what they call an XD, could she help them before it is too late?
It did take me a while to finish this one but for anyone who loves a fantasy, one that set in Australia I would recommend this one, it just wasn’t for me, sadly, it has some fabulous reviews.
3.5 stars
This is a YA story and Will and Ender are young teenagers and are determined to find answers to the sudden death of Will’s uncle Adam who he was very close to, when Will starts dreaming strange dreams that seem to be pulling him into a strange different world where he meets different characters the danger is ramping up, then there is the kite that Adam left Will a beautiful thing called Lookfar does she hold the answers and what about Ender’s twin sister Magda who is what they call an XD, could she help them before it is too late?
It did take me a while to finish this one but for anyone who loves a fantasy, one that set in Australia I would recommend this one, it just wasn’t for me, sadly, it has some fabulous reviews.
3.5 stars
January 11, 2025
I'm good at nitpicking and if I really wanted to I could nitpick this or that but the fact is I enjoyed my way through the whole book.
For people who are sad that Obernewtyn is over this offers something. For people who used to love Madeleine L'Engle back in the 90s but now need a more modern iteration this offers something. For people who are hurting from the sadness and paranoia that climate change and modern politics offered this is a thoughtful piece.
And even for people who are sick to death of boy-girl romance and didn't really want the one in the book to be one it was at least one based on respect and joy not just desire for a cardboard cut-out. There's some autistic representation which seems stereotypical at first but is to some extent developed, there is a possibly intentional look at the agency we don't allow to teens and how trying to keep them safe ironically sometimes does the opposite. And there is a very cool kite. It's a futuristic world with cool gadgets, some of the villains were all too obviously the bad-guy as soon as they appeared. Some were more uncertain and some of the good guys were reassuringly just what we needed them to be.
There's a hint of spirituality (hence the Madeleine L'Engle comparison) but it's very restrained and inclusive. There are difficult but loving relationships. There are wholesome but not always obedient teenagers and a restrained, brief discussion of why history and poetry matters.
I loved it. I am in awe of Isobelle Carbody's skill and how carefully she writes to such great effect!
For people who are sad that Obernewtyn is over this offers something. For people who used to love Madeleine L'Engle back in the 90s but now need a more modern iteration this offers something. For people who are hurting from the sadness and paranoia that climate change and modern politics offered this is a thoughtful piece.
And even for people who are sick to death of boy-girl romance and didn't really want the one in the book to be one it was at least one based on respect and joy not just desire for a cardboard cut-out. There's some autistic representation which seems stereotypical at first but is to some extent developed, there is a possibly intentional look at the agency we don't allow to teens and how trying to keep them safe ironically sometimes does the opposite. And there is a very cool kite. It's a futuristic world with cool gadgets, some of the villains were all too obviously the bad-guy as soon as they appeared. Some were more uncertain and some of the good guys were reassuringly just what we needed them to be.
There's a hint of spirituality (hence the Madeleine L'Engle comparison) but it's very restrained and inclusive. There are difficult but loving relationships. There are wholesome but not always obedient teenagers and a restrained, brief discussion of why history and poetry matters.
I loved it. I am in awe of Isobelle Carbody's skill and how carefully she writes to such great effect!
February 17, 2025
I think my main issue with this book was a lack of cohesion - between part 1 and part 2, between the scifi real world setting and the abstract dreamscape, and the story just sort of ended without explaning how their actions led to the outcomes? idk the first half of the story was good and engaging and then it sort of lost it
the anti-government surveillance/propaganda messaging was also incredibly heavy-handed. the initially cool setting of Canberra enclosed in a protective dome very quickly became only a representation of government imposition instead of something the characters actually interacted with and the bad guys were cartoonish in their motivations which sucks cos the main characters were quite nuanced
the anti-government surveillance/propaganda messaging was also incredibly heavy-handed. the initially cool setting of Canberra enclosed in a protective dome very quickly became only a representation of government imposition instead of something the characters actually interacted with and the bad guys were cartoonish in their motivations which sucks cos the main characters were quite nuanced
July 17, 2025
I enjoyed this return to Isobelle Carmody’s storytelling. The setting and the richness of the worldbuilding were captivating. I genuinely liked the teenage characters, which is not always the case with YA fiction. The plot had elements of what I loved about her earlier series: misfits, dreamwalking, eco-political commentary, a quest to find someone lost, heroism and sacrifice, and compelling bad guys with a thirst for power. Not to mention the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
However… I have notes.
I’m sad she still can’t seem to stick a landing. Did I miss something?? Why and how did Will’s dramatic gesture at the end scuttle all the evil plans? I feel like we’re missing some important plot here. Hard to appreciate the sweet epilogue feels when I’m still scratching my head about how we got there.
I wish the individual bad guys had been slightly less cartoonish. As usual, the protagonists are likeable and flawed, so not applying the same subtleties to the antagonists felt a little flat, especially when, as a collective, the Despoilers were a terrifying and weirdly believable concept. (Then again, the antagonists in Earth 2025 are pretty cartoonish, so who am I to criticise?)
Finally, someone please explain why the dialogue hated grammatical contractions?? I had to apply a live editing filter to my brain in order to cope with the plethora of stilted instances of “I am” and “I will” and “I have” etc. Much of this from the mouths of teenagers who were, concurrently, using plenty of slang. Drove me batty. It wouldn’t have been hard to smooth out the dialogue - namely a few hundred apostrophes - and I might be wrong but I don’t recall her other works suffering from the same issue.
Pros: set in a futuristic Australia, imaginative imagery and worldbuilding, diverse characters
Cons: at times somewhat patchy and clumsy in its execution, including the ending
Overall: I’ll continue to read anything IC writes, because there’s something magical and nostalgic and gratifying about how well she pairs deep emotion (grief, trauma, longing, loneliness, betrayal, fury, love, belonging, madness, destruction, etc.) with fantasy. If only she could get the endings right, it would make the 25 year wait for them slightly less agonising…
However… I have notes.
I’m sad she still can’t seem to stick a landing. Did I miss something?? Why and how did Will’s dramatic gesture at the end scuttle all the evil plans? I feel like we’re missing some important plot here. Hard to appreciate the sweet epilogue feels when I’m still scratching my head about how we got there.
I wish the individual bad guys had been slightly less cartoonish. As usual, the protagonists are likeable and flawed, so not applying the same subtleties to the antagonists felt a little flat, especially when, as a collective, the Despoilers were a terrifying and weirdly believable concept. (Then again, the antagonists in Earth 2025 are pretty cartoonish, so who am I to criticise?)
Finally, someone please explain why the dialogue hated grammatical contractions?? I had to apply a live editing filter to my brain in order to cope with the plethora of stilted instances of “I am” and “I will” and “I have” etc. Much of this from the mouths of teenagers who were, concurrently, using plenty of slang. Drove me batty. It wouldn’t have been hard to smooth out the dialogue - namely a few hundred apostrophes - and I might be wrong but I don’t recall her other works suffering from the same issue.
Pros: set in a futuristic Australia, imaginative imagery and worldbuilding, diverse characters
Cons: at times somewhat patchy and clumsy in its execution, including the ending
Overall: I’ll continue to read anything IC writes, because there’s something magical and nostalgic and gratifying about how well she pairs deep emotion (grief, trauma, longing, loneliness, betrayal, fury, love, belonging, madness, destruction, etc.) with fantasy. If only she could get the endings right, it would make the 25 year wait for them slightly less agonising…
October 2, 2025
There is a quote on the front cover calling Isobelle Carmody 'The queen of YA fantasy'. It couldn't be more accurate.
It took a little while for me to fully get my head into this dystopian Canberra of the future but I really think that was mostly due to my mind being still partly fixed on the last book I'd read rather than Carmody's writing. After a few chapters though, I was all in.
Carmody weaves current issues of technology advancement, AI, and the climate crisis into this world of Dreamwalkers and political power seeking. But underlying all the fantasy and dystopian qualities lies the truth of human connection. Friendship, family, respect and love.
I really enjoyed that rather than set the story in a non-fictional city, Carmody chose the setting of our humble national capital. Often referred to as a big country town rather than a metropolis, it quite suited this world where ordinary people come up against extraordinary power and manipulation.
4.5★
It took a little while for me to fully get my head into this dystopian Canberra of the future but I really think that was mostly due to my mind being still partly fixed on the last book I'd read rather than Carmody's writing. After a few chapters though, I was all in.
Carmody weaves current issues of technology advancement, AI, and the climate crisis into this world of Dreamwalkers and political power seeking. But underlying all the fantasy and dystopian qualities lies the truth of human connection. Friendship, family, respect and love.
I really enjoyed that rather than set the story in a non-fictional city, Carmody chose the setting of our humble national capital. Often referred to as a big country town rather than a metropolis, it quite suited this world where ordinary people come up against extraordinary power and manipulation.
4.5★
July 21, 2025
The world building is phenomenal and the issues around what not to do about climate change are hideously prescient.
It's way too long for my liking, but I'll pass it on to the 11 year olds who love +500 page books.
I felt the ending was too abrupt for such a long book. It was almost as if
It's way too long for my liking, but I'll pass it on to the 11 year olds who love +500 page books.
I felt the ending was too abrupt for such a long book. It was almost as if
Read
September 17, 2024It's a tome, dealing with big issues of our time. It has lots to say, and it's asking young people to think about the future.
Will is a strong character, a reluctant and imperfect hero. But he never strays from the course, he never gives up and we cheer him on.
I am still thinking about stars and ratings.
Will is a strong character, a reluctant and imperfect hero. But he never strays from the course, he never gives up and we cheer him on.
I am still thinking about stars and ratings.
December 9, 2024
This review is for the Audio edition: 9781038009821 read by the author
and published by Bolinda Audio, 29 October 2024,
(not in the Goodreads catalogue at the time of this review).
This is the first time that I have logged a book and its default edition was the one I was listening to. It's currently a new release, and by an Aussie author, so that possibly accounts for it. Coming from NZ we often get access to Australian books before other countries.
This is a sci-fi story set in the capital city of Australia, in 2070. It is a city under domes which have been erected to protect the city from extreme weather and radiation. There's a little dystopia going on, as those in charge want to revise the history books, and the citizens live in surveillance state for their own Protection. There is terrorist action and daily news bulletins that cultivate fear in the populace. The theme that an undereducated or disengaged populace will allow corruption in government, is explicit.
Will has been having recurring nightmares since his uncle Adam died, and has been seeing a therapist. His best friend, Ender (yes really, that's her name) is nervous of being monitored by drones, phone taps, and even household interactive hub technology. She and her twin are coded Autistic, and the implication is that they are genetically engineered by a government program to be savants. (This all feels a bit like Ender's Game.) In this world, Indigenous Australians are self governed and have made subterranean shelters.
Will finds out that he can lucid dream (with a few The Matrix tropes thrown in) and that the last puzzle left behind by his dead uncle has something to do with a prototype kite that he was given by him, that has a haptic feedback rig, like a VR set up.
The cast is a mix of age, Ability, Ethnicity, and men and women. The dream stuff is kind of cool. The plot is only a little convoluted and throws you in the deep-end and lets you figure out what is happening the hard way. I still found it a little predictable, but probably because it's written for a younger audience (probably 10-14 yo?).
and published by Bolinda Audio, 29 October 2024,
(not in the Goodreads catalogue at the time of this review).
This is the first time that I have logged a book and its default edition was the one I was listening to. It's currently a new release, and by an Aussie author, so that possibly accounts for it. Coming from NZ we often get access to Australian books before other countries.
This is a sci-fi story set in the capital city of Australia, in 2070. It is a city under domes which have been erected to protect the city from extreme weather and radiation. There's a little dystopia going on, as those in charge want to revise the history books, and the citizens live in surveillance state for their own Protection. There is terrorist action and daily news bulletins that cultivate fear in the populace. The theme that an undereducated or disengaged populace will allow corruption in government, is explicit.
Will has been having recurring nightmares since his uncle Adam died, and has been seeing a therapist. His best friend, Ender (yes really, that's her name) is nervous of being monitored by drones, phone taps, and even household interactive hub technology. She and her twin are coded Autistic, and the implication is that they are genetically engineered by a government program to be savants. (This all feels a bit like Ender's Game.) In this world, Indigenous Australians are self governed and have made subterranean shelters.
Will finds out that he can lucid dream (with a few The Matrix tropes thrown in) and that the last puzzle left behind by his dead uncle has something to do with a prototype kite that he was given by him, that has a haptic feedback rig, like a VR set up.
The cast is a mix of age, Ability, Ethnicity, and men and women. The dream stuff is kind of cool. The plot is only a little convoluted and throws you in the deep-end and lets you figure out what is happening the hard way. I still found it a little predictable, but probably because it's written for a younger audience (probably 10-14 yo?).
January 18, 2025
What Carmody has been doing brilliantly since Obernetwyn is world building, creating a mystery around it that makes you want to keep reading to learn more. In the decades since, she's also honed how to write teenagers naturally and in ways that model relationship skills and social responsibility. Which is a way of saying that Comes the Night is a highly enjoyable read, hard book to put down, and peppered with characters you desperately want to be okay.
I often - okay maybe always - feel with her books that the third act plotting isn't at the level that the rest has me hoping for. It is not bad, it is just that it isn't the stupendous payoff that all that great teasing in the first half has me set up for.
But if for nothing else, it is so nice to have a novel set in Canberra - a futuristic Canberra no less - which manages to capture the vibe of the city in a very dystopian way. And it is nice to have a dystopian novel that acknowledges the likely trade offs ahead of humanity.
As a lucid dreamer - one who developed the capability as a way to manage nightmares - I also both appreciated the acknowledgement of lucid dreaming and then eye rolled as it all turned into something else entirely.
I often - okay maybe always - feel with her books that the third act plotting isn't at the level that the rest has me hoping for. It is not bad, it is just that it isn't the stupendous payoff that all that great teasing in the first half has me set up for.
But if for nothing else, it is so nice to have a novel set in Canberra - a futuristic Canberra no less - which manages to capture the vibe of the city in a very dystopian way. And it is nice to have a dystopian novel that acknowledges the likely trade offs ahead of humanity.
As a lucid dreamer - one who developed the capability as a way to manage nightmares - I also both appreciated the acknowledgement of lucid dreaming and then eye rolled as it all turned into something else entirely.
October 25, 2024
Comes the Night is exactly what I needed from one of my favourite childhood authors.
It follows Will, a teen living in Fyshwick, a suburb of futuristic Canberra, which is contained within a dome like many cities, due to all the horrible things going on with the environment and air pollution.
Will had lost his uncle Adam, who he had been very close with, and was under pressure from his family and psychiatrist Dr Bacchus to move on and move forward with his life. But Will can't. Something about Adam's death didn't add up, but Will is powerless to investigate. Until he and his best friend Ender share a dream and uncover a whole new world of danger.
The world in this book is fantastic. Full of lots of great tech names as well as lots of recognisable references to the "past". Carmody made it feel like this could really be what Australia looks like in the not-to-distant future.
Will, Ender, Magda and all the other characters Will meets along the way are so interesting. The XD characters were very neurodivergent coded and very cool to read.
It's got a bit of a chosen one vibe but it's done really well and the way the story unfolds made it very hard to put down! I could totally picture this book as a film.
Comes The Night would be great for fans of dystopian fiction like Obernewtyn, Maze Runner, and Hunger Games over the age of about 12.
It follows Will, a teen living in Fyshwick, a suburb of futuristic Canberra, which is contained within a dome like many cities, due to all the horrible things going on with the environment and air pollution.
Will had lost his uncle Adam, who he had been very close with, and was under pressure from his family and psychiatrist Dr Bacchus to move on and move forward with his life. But Will can't. Something about Adam's death didn't add up, but Will is powerless to investigate. Until he and his best friend Ender share a dream and uncover a whole new world of danger.
The world in this book is fantastic. Full of lots of great tech names as well as lots of recognisable references to the "past". Carmody made it feel like this could really be what Australia looks like in the not-to-distant future.
Will, Ender, Magda and all the other characters Will meets along the way are so interesting. The XD characters were very neurodivergent coded and very cool to read.
It's got a bit of a chosen one vibe but it's done really well and the way the story unfolds made it very hard to put down! I could totally picture this book as a film.
Comes The Night would be great for fans of dystopian fiction like Obernewtyn, Maze Runner, and Hunger Games over the age of about 12.
December 6, 2024
Comes The Night is a Dystopian YA fantasy/sci-fi novel that incorporates both fantasy and reality to create a potential future we could be living in.
The story follows our protagonist Will, as he navigates life in domed Canberra after the death of his close uncle, Adam. During this time, all the main Cities in Australia are domed as the air pollution and toxins are too dangerous to breathe in and be around.
Will learns that there are cryptic messages hidden in his dreams and must uncover them in order to save his friend Ender and her twin sister Magda.
I love Dystopian and found this to be such a joy to read! I loved that it’s set in Australia and found so many of the themes to be relevant in current times. So many times during this book, I had to sit and just think about what I just read and the observations I made. Like the lack of meat products consumed by the characters! Which makes sense if the animals are being mutated/poisoned by the toxic atmosphere outside the domes. Or that the hubs in everyone’s houses could be spying on them! So many things had me thinking!! I also loved watching Will mature, as another theme explored is Coming of Age. We see Will discover his friendship for Ender, changing in a way he has never experienced.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me a physical copy to read and review!
The story follows our protagonist Will, as he navigates life in domed Canberra after the death of his close uncle, Adam. During this time, all the main Cities in Australia are domed as the air pollution and toxins are too dangerous to breathe in and be around.
Will learns that there are cryptic messages hidden in his dreams and must uncover them in order to save his friend Ender and her twin sister Magda.
I love Dystopian and found this to be such a joy to read! I loved that it’s set in Australia and found so many of the themes to be relevant in current times. So many times during this book, I had to sit and just think about what I just read and the observations I made. Like the lack of meat products consumed by the characters! Which makes sense if the animals are being mutated/poisoned by the toxic atmosphere outside the domes. Or that the hubs in everyone’s houses could be spying on them! So many things had me thinking!! I also loved watching Will mature, as another theme explored is Coming of Age. We see Will discover his friendship for Ender, changing in a way he has never experienced.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me a physical copy to read and review!
December 31, 2024
With intricate worldbuilding, Carmody paints a dystopian setting which seems an eerie possible reality. Dreamwalkers add a compelling fantasy element to the unsettling mood which is reminiscent of movies like The Matrix and Inception. Comes the Night explores themes of technological advances, climate change, government control and media bias and provides many discussion opportunities. With its at-times complex scientific descriptions, the novel will appeal to sci-fi fans 13+.
March 22, 2025
I've adored Isobelle Carmody's world-building and worldview since 1993. That's how much I adore her writing - I can remember the year I first read Obernewtyn.
Some parts of this story felt clunky or forced, but it didn't detract from the story for me.
I really enjoyed the characters, the dystopian climate-affected setting, the embedded tech in the world, and the ideas behind dreamwalking.
Really special storytelling.
Some parts of this story felt clunky or forced, but it didn't detract from the story for me.
I really enjoyed the characters, the dystopian climate-affected setting, the embedded tech in the world, and the ideas behind dreamwalking.
Really special storytelling.
March 23, 2025
I came across this by accident and was so excited, having grown up with the Overnewtyn series! The language is so similar, it was really comforting to read. The story was great and the characters were well drawn. My only complaint is that the names made up for future technology were a bit jarring, e.g. "computabs".
June 27, 2025
2.5?
Sometimes I have irrational dislikes of authors, even if I haven’t read their books, Isobel Carmody is one of them. The fact that the last book in the Obernewtyn Chronicles is over 1000 pages, and the general consensus is that it is pretty wafty and not worth the wait put me off her books, sorry. But of course when she writes a new book with a nice-ish cover, it ends up on the CBCA shortlist.
Overall, it wasn’t completely and utterly terrible. But nothing really happened, it was full of waft, Isobel Carmody clearly does not know how to write show not tell, and too many things were way over explained.
It was a good concept, I haven’t read too much dystopian, but this was a pretty cool and unique idea, the execution just fell a little flat. I also liked how it wasn’t so very dystopian, there was still some freedom, and there was not complete and utter constant surveillance. The fact that every aspect of their lives was not being controlled kind of made it even more scary and realistic, and relevant. The message of fear being a powerful motivator to do nothing and let others take control is certainly something to think about, and very relevant to the current state of the world.
Now all the bad things, and there are a lot. As far as MCs go, Will didn’t entirely suck, but it did not feel like he was 17. He had a good heart and was curious etc etc, but he overthought everything! To the point of insanity! It was slightly ridiculous! And I did not like at all how him and Ender got together, why could they not just have been friends!? There was no chemistry at all between them, it was so basic and forced and definitely put in there just for the sake of it. Oh why could they not just have been friends? Will’s reactions to his discovery of these feelings was also kind of odd, no one cares that much about his ‘hormones’. Ender was fine. Both her and Will were definitely a bit more than two-dimensional charters, but they were still rather basic. I don’t know really why, but I liked Klare, and I think she got a bit of the short send of the stick, she had a bit of a redemption but I think she deserved more. And then I didn’t really like Padraig, good on him for supporting Will and being there for him and obviously he’s been through a bit too but the drinking and the sexism were literally just glossed over, did that not deserve some of the page time that instead went to Will overthinking some early morning mist?
The blatant-in-you-face pop culture references (of which there were many) were not appreciated. I like a few, when they are clever, but not this many. It just got so annoying. It felt like Carmody was trying to be cool, but she way over did it.
It was also very anti-government, which was fine. But back to the complete lack of show don’t tell, it was all ‘here is the evil deputy prime minister’ or whatever who says the same speech twice a day (which us lucky readers got to learn all about!) about how bad the Scandi Federation (or something like that) was and how they kept bombing everything. That was it. What about all the other bad things the government had done, why were they not explained? It was all ‘the government is bad’, and didn’t really explain why or the things they were doing. Like the re-envisioning. What exactly was that? I think that could have done with some more explanation. It didn’t really make sense or serve a purpose. What exactly was the point of it? And if the government is all of a sudden changing and removing documentaries and films and poems and novels, how on earth are they still allowed to watch Star Wars? That is a great lesson in how to overthrow the evil government.
And then the complete and utter lack of diversity. All the First Nations Australians now lived in their own domes and the rest of Australia is now all white and straight. Seriously, it is not that hard to include some more interesting and diverse characters.
The dreamwalking was cool but a bit odd and not very well explained, most of it was just Will walking through places. It could have been good! But it was not! There was just too much waft, the things that didn’t need as much attention and were over-explained, and the things that needed to be expanded were not. It was all rather disjointed, things were built up, then went no where, there were random ideas and conversations that didn't serve a purpose, I could go on.
The sleep science stuff was really fascinating and well explained, I think there could have definitely been more of a focus on that.
And then the ending. Where do I even begin with that? It just ended. Will all of a sudden had saved the world, by not doing much at all. And nothing was as bad as it seemed, and the government is already on the way to being better and everything is suddenly all better and solved. How? There was literally no resolution, or build up. Practically all of the book was slow paced and nothing happened, and then by the end there was all these random things that could have been great but didn’t have the time. But by the end I didn’t care too much, I was just glad it was finished.
Nothing really happened for the whole book, it was a cool concept and had potential but the execution was disappointing, but I wasn’t really expecting anything different. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of Isobel Carmody’s books.
Sometimes I have irrational dislikes of authors, even if I haven’t read their books, Isobel Carmody is one of them. The fact that the last book in the Obernewtyn Chronicles is over 1000 pages, and the general consensus is that it is pretty wafty and not worth the wait put me off her books, sorry. But of course when she writes a new book with a nice-ish cover, it ends up on the CBCA shortlist.
Overall, it wasn’t completely and utterly terrible. But nothing really happened, it was full of waft, Isobel Carmody clearly does not know how to write show not tell, and too many things were way over explained.
It was a good concept, I haven’t read too much dystopian, but this was a pretty cool and unique idea, the execution just fell a little flat. I also liked how it wasn’t so very dystopian, there was still some freedom, and there was not complete and utter constant surveillance. The fact that every aspect of their lives was not being controlled kind of made it even more scary and realistic, and relevant. The message of fear being a powerful motivator to do nothing and let others take control is certainly something to think about, and very relevant to the current state of the world.
Now all the bad things, and there are a lot. As far as MCs go, Will didn’t entirely suck, but it did not feel like he was 17. He had a good heart and was curious etc etc, but he overthought everything! To the point of insanity! It was slightly ridiculous! And I did not like at all how him and Ender got together, why could they not just have been friends!? There was no chemistry at all between them, it was so basic and forced and definitely put in there just for the sake of it. Oh why could they not just have been friends? Will’s reactions to his discovery of these feelings was also kind of odd, no one cares that much about his ‘hormones’. Ender was fine. Both her and Will were definitely a bit more than two-dimensional charters, but they were still rather basic. I don’t know really why, but I liked Klare, and I think she got a bit of the short send of the stick, she had a bit of a redemption but I think she deserved more. And then I didn’t really like Padraig, good on him for supporting Will and being there for him and obviously he’s been through a bit too but the drinking and the sexism were literally just glossed over, did that not deserve some of the page time that instead went to Will overthinking some early morning mist?
The blatant-in-you-face pop culture references (of which there were many) were not appreciated. I like a few, when they are clever, but not this many. It just got so annoying. It felt like Carmody was trying to be cool, but she way over did it.
It was also very anti-government, which was fine. But back to the complete lack of show don’t tell, it was all ‘here is the evil deputy prime minister’ or whatever who says the same speech twice a day (which us lucky readers got to learn all about!) about how bad the Scandi Federation (or something like that) was and how they kept bombing everything. That was it. What about all the other bad things the government had done, why were they not explained? It was all ‘the government is bad’, and didn’t really explain why or the things they were doing. Like the re-envisioning. What exactly was that? I think that could have done with some more explanation. It didn’t really make sense or serve a purpose. What exactly was the point of it? And if the government is all of a sudden changing and removing documentaries and films and poems and novels, how on earth are they still allowed to watch Star Wars? That is a great lesson in how to overthrow the evil government.
And then the complete and utter lack of diversity. All the First Nations Australians now lived in their own domes and the rest of Australia is now all white and straight. Seriously, it is not that hard to include some more interesting and diverse characters.
The dreamwalking was cool but a bit odd and not very well explained, most of it was just Will walking through places. It could have been good! But it was not! There was just too much waft, the things that didn’t need as much attention and were over-explained, and the things that needed to be expanded were not. It was all rather disjointed, things were built up, then went no where, there were random ideas and conversations that didn't serve a purpose, I could go on.
The sleep science stuff was really fascinating and well explained, I think there could have definitely been more of a focus on that.
And then the ending. Where do I even begin with that? It just ended. Will all of a sudden had saved the world, by not doing much at all. And nothing was as bad as it seemed, and the government is already on the way to being better and everything is suddenly all better and solved. How? There was literally no resolution, or build up. Practically all of the book was slow paced and nothing happened, and then by the end there was all these random things that could have been great but didn’t have the time. But by the end I didn’t care too much, I was just glad it was finished.
Nothing really happened for the whole book, it was a cool concept and had potential but the execution was disappointing, but I wasn’t really expecting anything different. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of Isobel Carmody’s books.
did-not-finish
December 18, 2024Too much info dumping at the beginning, that made it so confusing.
November 30, 2024
Will lives with his father in a future domed Canberra where citizens are safe from extreme weather events, dangerous solar radiation and civil unrest. He has recurring dreams with cryptic clues that lead him into a shadowy alternate dimension, where he must grapple with dark forces that operate in both worlds, with the help of his best friend Ender, her brilliant but difficult twin sister Magda, and a mysterious gift from his uncle.
This book sneaked up on me, and smacked me in the face! I hadn’t read (nor watched) an epic story like this for a long time. Don’t let the middle grade/YA label deter you from picking it up, it’s definitely one for all ages! It had the vibe of Total Recall and Inception, and I was in love.
I loved that Will lived a ‘normal’ teenager life, with his coming-of-age challenges in finding his identity and place in the world, especially a dystopian one where survival was more prominent. I appreciated the grief element that gave WIll another layer of depth. I loved his not-perfect relationships with his parents, and that both of them were distinctive characters on their own - I’d love to read more about Will’s parents in future books!
Another highlight for me was Ender - whose name might have been a nod to the all-time classic sci-fi Ender’s Game (did I guess right, Isobelle?). She was a great character - smart, assertive, kind. Her relationship with her twin sister Magda was super interesting to follow, as they had a great bond despite of having two completely different personalities.
This was a very exciting opening to a new series (and new world for us, readers). I was fully immersed in the story, and I could visualised the scenes clearly in my head while reading. Oh, this would make a beautiful screen adaptation for sure! I’m so ready for book two.
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy, and NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the ALC)
See my bookstagram review.
This book sneaked up on me, and smacked me in the face! I hadn’t read (nor watched) an epic story like this for a long time. Don’t let the middle grade/YA label deter you from picking it up, it’s definitely one for all ages! It had the vibe of Total Recall and Inception, and I was in love.
I loved that Will lived a ‘normal’ teenager life, with his coming-of-age challenges in finding his identity and place in the world, especially a dystopian one where survival was more prominent. I appreciated the grief element that gave WIll another layer of depth. I loved his not-perfect relationships with his parents, and that both of them were distinctive characters on their own - I’d love to read more about Will’s parents in future books!
Another highlight for me was Ender - whose name might have been a nod to the all-time classic sci-fi Ender’s Game (did I guess right, Isobelle?). She was a great character - smart, assertive, kind. Her relationship with her twin sister Magda was super interesting to follow, as they had a great bond despite of having two completely different personalities.
This was a very exciting opening to a new series (and new world for us, readers). I was fully immersed in the story, and I could visualised the scenes clearly in my head while reading. Oh, this would make a beautiful screen adaptation for sure! I’m so ready for book two.
(Thanks to Allen & Unwin for a gifted review copy, and NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the ALC)
See my bookstagram review.
March 3, 2025
Will lives in a futuristic world protected from the extreme weather conditions on the outside. Over the years he has embarked on many challenges designed by his uncle to solve clues and uncover their hidden meanings. Little does he realise how important these challenges will be after his uncle dies unexpectedly.
This book has a range of supporting characters that hold the attention of the reader just as much as the main character, Will. His best friend Ender and her twin sister Magda are both created with significant differences, but just as important to the storyline. The relationship that plays out between Will and his separated parents adds another layer of complexity to the story. As does the new feelings for Ender that begin to creep to the surface for Will. Plus, there is also the additional layer of grief that is embedded in the storyline after the loss of Will’s uncle.
This story is packed with multiple storylines, characters, action, danger and high stakes as well as interesting characters that have their own traits that the reader soon gets to know. Carmody has created two thrilling worlds full of detail and description. The first world is the real-world Will lives in with the threats of danger and extremist actions as well as the carefully constructed world that is closely monitored including food eaten and exercise had. The second is the dreamscape Will finds himself in that soon becomes one of sinister characters and extreme danger. Both are carefully constructed and written in a way that shows a huge breadth of imagination, planning and consideration by Carmody.
The precarious position that Will finds himself him as the story unfolds, soon builds to an exciting and dramatic conclusion. Comes The Night is perfect for any fan of fantasy or science fiction. It is suitable for a 12+ readership.
This book has a range of supporting characters that hold the attention of the reader just as much as the main character, Will. His best friend Ender and her twin sister Magda are both created with significant differences, but just as important to the storyline. The relationship that plays out between Will and his separated parents adds another layer of complexity to the story. As does the new feelings for Ender that begin to creep to the surface for Will. Plus, there is also the additional layer of grief that is embedded in the storyline after the loss of Will’s uncle.
This story is packed with multiple storylines, characters, action, danger and high stakes as well as interesting characters that have their own traits that the reader soon gets to know. Carmody has created two thrilling worlds full of detail and description. The first world is the real-world Will lives in with the threats of danger and extremist actions as well as the carefully constructed world that is closely monitored including food eaten and exercise had. The second is the dreamscape Will finds himself in that soon becomes one of sinister characters and extreme danger. Both are carefully constructed and written in a way that shows a huge breadth of imagination, planning and consideration by Carmody.
The precarious position that Will finds himself him as the story unfolds, soon builds to an exciting and dramatic conclusion. Comes The Night is perfect for any fan of fantasy or science fiction. It is suitable for a 12+ readership.
September 6, 2025
What struck me first was the author’s assured, confident prose. It was so natural, so RIGHT, that I was drawn into Will’s world immediately. That consistency was maintained throughout the novel and it was a real breath of fresh air after some of the other books I’d read recently, which often seemed like they were trying a bit too hard. Isobelle Carmody is a master storyteller with nothing to prove, and it shows.
The story itself is an interesting mix of quiet and thriller. As a coming-of-age tale, it follows Will, a really decent guy who’s into photography, running, and climbing, and lives in a future Canberra that has been domed to protect it from the dangerous environmental conditions outside. It was actually really cool to see Australia as the epicentre of a world takeover by a secret society rather than the US for once! And since I lived in Canberra for a while, I was familiar with many of the places mentioned.
The neurodiverse rep was well done too. Sympathetic, yet not shying away from the difficulties of living with loved ones who process things differently. As a mother of two kids on the spectrum, I appreciated the balanced view.
I also really loved the understated romance. The love that slowly blossomed between best friends was respectful, just like love should be. And Isobelle gets extra points for creating an unusually self-aware boy who had been raised well, and considers whether or not what he was feeling was just hormones.
This ticks all the boxes for YA, and I highly recommend it!
The story itself is an interesting mix of quiet and thriller. As a coming-of-age tale, it follows Will, a really decent guy who’s into photography, running, and climbing, and lives in a future Canberra that has been domed to protect it from the dangerous environmental conditions outside. It was actually really cool to see Australia as the epicentre of a world takeover by a secret society rather than the US for once! And since I lived in Canberra for a while, I was familiar with many of the places mentioned.
The neurodiverse rep was well done too. Sympathetic, yet not shying away from the difficulties of living with loved ones who process things differently. As a mother of two kids on the spectrum, I appreciated the balanced view.
I also really loved the understated romance. The love that slowly blossomed between best friends was respectful, just like love should be. And Isobelle gets extra points for creating an unusually self-aware boy who had been raised well, and considers whether or not what he was feeling was just hormones.
This ticks all the boxes for YA, and I highly recommend it!
January 5, 2025
When I first heard that Carmody was working on a dystopian novel set in Fyshwick, I was highly intrigued and eagerly waited. I wasn't disappointed; Carmody's Canberra in the novel is spot on. Her characters are compelling and easy to empathise with, and her futuristic tech felt like a good blend of old and new. Overall, it was a very believable dystopian Canberra.
Carmody's exploration of politics and power is similar in Comes The Night to her other books and strikes a nice balance between being overt, but still leaving a lot for you to think about. The hubs and their connection to the government were a lot like Big Brother, but there was enough innovation on the theme that it wasn't stale. The one part of the book that I really didn't enjoy was Dr Bacchus - particularly his appointments with Will. These didn't feel right and he wasn't a convincing psychiatrist. Without going anywhere near spoilers, Dr Bacchus was a little too much of a stereotype, and I found it hard to believe that he would be giving Will such overt advice on career and interpersonal relationships in his professional capacity.
Still, a great read and very enjoyable, and a must-read if you live or have spent a substantial amount of time in Canberra. It's nice to have a book set in Canberra that doesn't just bag it out for being a place for the pollies to talk the big talk while sitting around doing nothing.
Carmody's exploration of politics and power is similar in Comes The Night to her other books and strikes a nice balance between being overt, but still leaving a lot for you to think about. The hubs and their connection to the government were a lot like Big Brother, but there was enough innovation on the theme that it wasn't stale. The one part of the book that I really didn't enjoy was Dr Bacchus - particularly his appointments with Will. These didn't feel right and he wasn't a convincing psychiatrist. Without going anywhere near spoilers, Dr Bacchus was a little too much of a stereotype, and I found it hard to believe that he would be giving Will such overt advice on career and interpersonal relationships in his professional capacity.
Still, a great read and very enjoyable, and a must-read if you live or have spent a substantial amount of time in Canberra. It's nice to have a book set in Canberra that doesn't just bag it out for being a place for the pollies to talk the big talk while sitting around doing nothing.
July 12, 2025
I had to read this for shadow judging and I think that was the only reason I didn't dnf. I found it really hard to get into this from page one and it was just too slow.
The Plot:
I was very confused for the majority of this book. I think my main concern was the overload of information every chapter, every time I thought I understood the last concept something new was added to make the storyline even more hard to understand. At first I thought maybe it was just the dystopian genre that I had trouble with but at the same time I was reading '1984 by George Orwell' and I really enjoyed that so I think it was just this book.
The Characters:
I didn't deeply care for any characters to be honest. I thought Will was really plain like we didn't really learn anything about him except that he likes rock-climbing and photography and both things were only mentioned like once. Ender was probably the only character that I slightly cared for and about. I thought the distress of her sister Magda being taken away was written quite well.
The Romance:
This was cringy. I usually don't mind a romance sub-plot but this wasn't well written, you could tell it wasn't written by a teenager. Everything regarding this was just cringe like an actual line from the text is "my hormones started hopping". Like excuse me!?? I just found it really unecessary.
The actual book:
I think it was just too long. The chapters always dragged on too long for my liking. I kept putting the book down, that's probably why it took me 2 months to finish!
I think the only thing I genuinly enjoyed was the surveillance trope. I thought it was done really well!
And yeah those were my thoughts! Sorry if that sounded offensive, that was just my opinion!
The Plot:
I was very confused for the majority of this book. I think my main concern was the overload of information every chapter, every time I thought I understood the last concept something new was added to make the storyline even more hard to understand. At first I thought maybe it was just the dystopian genre that I had trouble with but at the same time I was reading '1984 by George Orwell' and I really enjoyed that so I think it was just this book.
The Characters:
I didn't deeply care for any characters to be honest. I thought Will was really plain like we didn't really learn anything about him except that he likes rock-climbing and photography and both things were only mentioned like once. Ender was probably the only character that I slightly cared for and about. I thought the distress of her sister Magda being taken away was written quite well.
The Romance:
This was cringy. I usually don't mind a romance sub-plot but this wasn't well written, you could tell it wasn't written by a teenager. Everything regarding this was just cringe like an actual line from the text is "my hormones started hopping". Like excuse me!?? I just found it really unecessary.
The actual book:
I think it was just too long. The chapters always dragged on too long for my liking. I kept putting the book down, that's probably why it took me 2 months to finish!
I think the only thing I genuinly enjoyed was the surveillance trope. I thought it was done really well!
And yeah those were my thoughts! Sorry if that sounded offensive, that was just my opinion!
February 7, 2025
An interesting standalone (though there's room for a sequel) from the author of the Oberchrons. It's been awhile since I've read a new book from Isobelle and her world-building and imagination remains second to none. She's also excellent at capturing the voice of children and teens and Will especially felt very realistic. I also found the romance to be well-done and the grief element to be quite beautiful. There was also some nice imagery, particularly around the kite and a chapter towards the end that speculates on what might happen in this world when you die. The story lost some stars for me because the writing felt rushed in the last act, I wasn't a fan of how neurodiversity was portrayed (my brother is autistic so maybe I'm just overly sensitive) and it also has some quirks of Isobelle's that have been in other books before. I do acknowledge, however, that I am not the target audience for this book (which is probably tweens/young teens) and that if I was in that age range I'd probably have devoured this. I could see this being a 4 or even 5 star read for this age group and would recommend it to parents at the library I work at. All in all, I think this is a 3.5 star read for me.
October 27, 2024
Comes the Night is set in a futuristic Canberra, Australia where people live under domes to help them survive from the ruined environment. Not everyone agrees with the way Domes have been erected and on the Northern Hemisphere they don’t live in domes. This of course leads to disagreements and tensions between the two ways of life.
Within the Dome we meet Will who’s uncle has recently died in his sleep and who’s best friends twin has been taken away to work on a government project without much details being available to the family.
Will’s uncle has left a few clues for him to send him on a bit of a treasure hunt, just like he always did when he was alive. Testing Wills skills and abilities. But where will these clues lead him, this time? Were the previous hunts a lead up to one final set of clues?
With his kite, his best friend and his dreams, Will sets out to figure out what his uncle was trying to tell him before he died.
This story is very atmospheric, and the world is vividly described throughout the story.
the book deals with loss, grief, growing up, and figuring out who you are.
Within the Dome we meet Will who’s uncle has recently died in his sleep and who’s best friends twin has been taken away to work on a government project without much details being available to the family.
Will’s uncle has left a few clues for him to send him on a bit of a treasure hunt, just like he always did when he was alive. Testing Wills skills and abilities. But where will these clues lead him, this time? Were the previous hunts a lead up to one final set of clues?
With his kite, his best friend and his dreams, Will sets out to figure out what his uncle was trying to tell him before he died.
This story is very atmospheric, and the world is vividly described throughout the story.
the book deals with loss, grief, growing up, and figuring out who you are.
February 1, 2025
I will always have a soft spot for Isobelle Carmody's worldbuilding. There is a distinctive tone to it that I could pick out of a line up. I love her exploration of future catastrophes, and I especially enjoyed this novel being set in Canberra. There were a few elements here that echoed some of her previous works, and definitely exposes Carmody's personal story telling biases / defaults for better or for worse (I had mixed feelings).
That being said, this definitely skewed younger than some of her other novels (or maybe I've just grown up). Some of the antagonists / politics were too easily reduced to "bad people want to spread chaos" and once this "bad influence" is removed everyone will be good again. From a story telling perspective, the second half could be a lot tighter and I wish the ending had been less of an easy fix. Ultimately a lot of Will's successes were stumbled into rather than earned. There were also a number of characters who showed up only one time to impart a certain lesson and could have been combined into one character.
Three stars for quality, and three and a half stars for enjoyment.
That being said, this definitely skewed younger than some of her other novels (or maybe I've just grown up). Some of the antagonists / politics were too easily reduced to "bad people want to spread chaos" and once this "bad influence" is removed everyone will be good again. From a story telling perspective, the second half could be a lot tighter and I wish the ending had been less of an easy fix. Ultimately a lot of Will's successes were stumbled into rather than earned. There were also a number of characters who showed up only one time to impart a certain lesson and could have been combined into one character.
Three stars for quality, and three and a half stars for enjoyment.
March 29, 2025
Comes The Night is a Dystopian YA fantasy/sci-fi novel that incorporates both fantasy and reality to create a potential future we could be living in.
The story follows our protagonist Will, as he navigates life in domed Canberra after the death of his close uncle, Adam. During this time, all the main Cities in Australia are domed as the air pollution and toxins are too dangerous to breathe in and be around.
Will learns that there are cryptic messages hidden in his dreams and must uncover them in order to save his friend Ender and her twin sister Magda.
Misinformation is a huge part of this story, and too close for comfort at the moment. This made the story even more challenging.
I loved the flawed character of Will, who grows through the story. I thought I had missed something in the ending, but I've noted that other reviewers found the conclusion rushed and not developed in a satisfying way. This would be my only criticism in an otherwise gripping and hugely enjoyable read.
It was wonderful to read another Isobelle Carmody novel after such a long break, and I look forward to recommending it.
The story follows our protagonist Will, as he navigates life in domed Canberra after the death of his close uncle, Adam. During this time, all the main Cities in Australia are domed as the air pollution and toxins are too dangerous to breathe in and be around.
Will learns that there are cryptic messages hidden in his dreams and must uncover them in order to save his friend Ender and her twin sister Magda.
Misinformation is a huge part of this story, and too close for comfort at the moment. This made the story even more challenging.
I loved the flawed character of Will, who grows through the story. I thought I had missed something in the ending, but I've noted that other reviewers found the conclusion rushed and not developed in a satisfying way. This would be my only criticism in an otherwise gripping and hugely enjoyable read.
It was wonderful to read another Isobelle Carmody novel after such a long break, and I look forward to recommending it.
April 21, 2025
Set in Canberra in a future where destructive environmental damage has resulted in major cities being domed, a series of attacks on connectors between the domes provides an excuse for increased surveillance and control. Will lives with his father and mourns the loss of his uncle who was a mentor, he begins to question the controlled nature of his life after a cryptic, recurring nightmare haunts after his uncles death. When his best friend Together Ender is distressed by the sudden removal of her brilliant twin sister Magda, Will harnesses his dreams and learns to journey to a secret dreamscape dimension. He discovers a powerful force trying to take control.
Certainly an original futuristic plot but I found it was overly complex and very slow to build momentum. 14 hours of listening with the pace and action only really picking up for about the last three hours. The fact that characters extraneous to the main story with the teenagers had to brought in to ‘explain’ and contextualise the broader political landscape and the existence of the dreamscape was problematic to the overall believability of the storyline.
2025 CBCA Book of the Year older Readers title.
Certainly an original futuristic plot but I found it was overly complex and very slow to build momentum. 14 hours of listening with the pace and action only really picking up for about the last three hours. The fact that characters extraneous to the main story with the teenagers had to brought in to ‘explain’ and contextualise the broader political landscape and the existence of the dreamscape was problematic to the overall believability of the storyline.
2025 CBCA Book of the Year older Readers title.
January 19, 2025
In the future people have to live in domes as the climate has become unpredictable. Will lives in Fyshwick an outer suburb of Canberra with his father. Life for Will is tough, his Uncle's passing does not sit easy with him as feels something seems off. What is worse no one is listening to him, not his Dad, his mother or therapist. His mother is more concerned about wanting Will to move to Sydney to follow a career path that is advantageous to her political ambitions. Will is feeling pulled in a multitude of directions. Talking to his friend Ender, rock climbing and taking pictures help Will relax. The nagging doubts about his Uncle's death set Will off to try and discover what happened. What Will does not expect is that his Uncle's death is part of a bigger conspiracy that will impact everyone around him.
Each of the characters are nuanced, distinctive and come to the page fully formed. Will is a wonderful confused mess, trying to balance the expectations of parents and is own dreams. Ender is a treat, she is feisty, opinionated but a fragility. The challenges that Ender faces really heightens the tension in the story.
Carmody is able to create a world with complex governance and social structures that as a reader you easily inhabit. You feel like this a world you intimately know as Carmody is so good at crafting a strong sense of place. Not only that, the mystery to be unravelled is deftly laid out, allowing you to pull the pieces together. The added bonus was as someone who has lived in Canberra there were little mentions like the Green Shed, which made me smile. This simply just a great from a master story teller.
Each of the characters are nuanced, distinctive and come to the page fully formed. Will is a wonderful confused mess, trying to balance the expectations of parents and is own dreams. Ender is a treat, she is feisty, opinionated but a fragility. The challenges that Ender faces really heightens the tension in the story.
Carmody is able to create a world with complex governance and social structures that as a reader you easily inhabit. You feel like this a world you intimately know as Carmody is so good at crafting a strong sense of place. Not only that, the mystery to be unravelled is deftly laid out, allowing you to pull the pieces together. The added bonus was as someone who has lived in Canberra there were little mentions like the Green Shed, which made me smile. This simply just a great from a master story teller.
March 15, 2025
Set in a futuristic, domed Canberra, Comes the Night explores a world where technology ensures comfort but at the cost of true freedom. Will, the protagonist, has grown up under the watchful eye of his enigmatic uncle, whose sudden death leaves him questioning everything he thought he knew. As he navigates grief, teenage struggles, and the power of dreams, the novel slowly peels back the layers of a controlled existence.
Carmody’s exploration of neurodiversity through the XD characters is thought-provoking, showing both their value and the uneasy tolerance of their presence. While the book can be slow-paced and dense with technological details, its themes - especially the responsibility to care for the Earth - are beautifully woven in. Will is a compelling character, and his friendship with the fierce and likeable Ender adds warmth to the narrative.
Overall, Comes the Night is an introspective and atmospheric read that lingers in the mind, blending science fiction with a deep sense of responsibility for the world beyond the dome.
Carmody’s exploration of neurodiversity through the XD characters is thought-provoking, showing both their value and the uneasy tolerance of their presence. While the book can be slow-paced and dense with technological details, its themes - especially the responsibility to care for the Earth - are beautifully woven in. Will is a compelling character, and his friendship with the fierce and likeable Ender adds warmth to the narrative.
Overall, Comes the Night is an introspective and atmospheric read that lingers in the mind, blending science fiction with a deep sense of responsibility for the world beyond the dome.
December 11, 2024
Complicated feelings about a complicated book. It's not her best work, but I'm not her target audience. The politics of the dystopian future are interesting and timely, and might open the eyes of teenagers to the subtle ways fascism grows, but on the other hand the book does a lot more telling and explaining in the final third, so it gets clunky and distracts from the action.
I don't know if I love it or if it's just average. Certainly the dreamworld and its rules are fascinating world building, and I didn't hate the autistic representation. I wish we'd seen more of Magda actually, for most of the story she was more a plot piece than a character (but Will's a flawed teenager who struggled to connect with her and the book's his PoV, so I get it, but...)
I'm glad to have read this book. It's a standalone novel, so we don't have the usual question "will I have to wait 20 years for the sequel to this isobelle carmody book?"
I don't know if I love it or if it's just average. Certainly the dreamworld and its rules are fascinating world building, and I didn't hate the autistic representation. I wish we'd seen more of Magda actually, for most of the story she was more a plot piece than a character (but Will's a flawed teenager who struggled to connect with her and the book's his PoV, so I get it, but...)
I'm glad to have read this book. It's a standalone novel, so we don't have the usual question "will I have to wait 20 years for the sequel to this isobelle carmody book?"
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