Night Fall

Secret Histories #12

by Simon R. Green

From the New York Times bestselling author of Moonbreaker comes the epic final Secret Histories adventure, where the Droods will take on the most unexpected of enemies: the inhabitants of the Nightside.

The Droods are all about control, making people do what they’re told for the greater good. The Nightside is all about choice: good and bad and everything in between. The Droods want to make the world behave. The Nightside wants to party. They were never going to get along.

For centuries, ancient Pacts have kept the Droods out of the Nightside, but now the Droods see the Nightside as a threat to the whole world. They march into the long night, in their armour, to put it under their control. All too soon, the two sides are at war. It’s Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf against John Taylor and Shotgun Suzie. The Drood Sarjeant-at-Arms and their Armourer against Dead Boy and Razor Eddie. More groups join in: the London Knights, the Ghost Finders, the Spawn of Frankenstein, Shadows Fall, and the Soulhunters. Science and magic are running wild, there’s blood running in the gutters, and the bodies are piling up.

Is anyone going to get out of this alive?

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Horror, Magic, Mystery

464 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2018

About the author

Simon Richard Green is a British science fiction and fantasy-author. He holds a degree in Modern English and American Literature from the University of Leicester. His first publication was in 1979.

His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Angus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed most of Simon Green’s books, but this one was a struggle to wade through. The combination of two popular series—Secret Histories and Nightside—could have been promising, but ultimately it just led to most of the book being filled with each side beating up on the other in a preposterous, ever-escalating excess of violence...Droods and Nightsiders in a furious contest to see whose dick was biggest. (The result, an inevitable draw...because neither side could be allowed to actually win and upset the fans, now, could it?!)

This was truly an idiot plot: that is, one that would have been over quickly if either side had stopped acting like idiots. Any opportunities for cleverness or plot twists—and I spotted several points that seemed to be leading somewhere interesting—simply dribbled away into nothing, or worse, into more pointless violence. The ultimate enemies were caricatures that made very little sense.

Well, it’s over, and I can’t say I’m sorry. Based on his afterword, I don’t think Green is sorry either. Maybe he’ll have a chance to work on something better now, something that doesn’t get bogged down in endlessly repetitive sequels. I hope so.

[Magdalena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might have faced reading this book with a bit of trepidation. I have only read one book before in the Secret Histories series (MOONBREAKER) and no books from the Nightside series and Ghost Finders series. However, I did not need to worry. This book was just as much fun reading as MOONBREAKER. NIGHT FALLS is the conclusion of both the Secret Histories and the Nightside series. It's a massive book, with lots of characters popping in and out of the story and it's a bloody marvelous book. Ever since I started to read the Ishmael Jones series has I been a big fan of Simon R. Green, and I just love the fact that I now have several new series that I want to read.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: NIGHT FALL by Simon R. Green
(Secret Histories #12)

Author Simon Green brings to a conclusion his Secret Histories and the alternate dimension of London known as the Nightside. Where good and evil are not white and black but infinite shades of gray, where literally anything imaginable is available and so is the unimaginable, where anyone can lose wallet, life, soul: this is the Nghtside. Suddenly it's boundaries expand, so the Droods, the extended and extensive ancient clan sworn to protect Humanity, leaps into the fray. The results are disastrous, but the pace is unrelentingly riveting. I'm sorry to see the Nightside move offstage--but Mr. Green sure did it up right. An amazing finale.

[Jeremiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very tempted to give this book one star. By the time I get to the end of this review, I may well do that.

Simon R Green finally brings together his longest running series: The Nightside and The Secret Histories. They obviously exist in the same universe. (along with his Deathstalker series and Ghost Finders series as well). I didn't seek out Secret Histories until I was deep into the Night Side and someone mentioned Droods and how they weren't allowed in. Then I went and read about the Droods. (A series I found long on posing and short on character and plot).

At last the two series come together! We could see Eddie/Molly teaming up with John Taylor/Suzie Shooter and solving the puzzle. Hooray!

It was not meant to be.

Instead of teaming up, these characters that I've spent 17 years reading about act stupidly towards each other, and the opposite occurs. Nobody can ever find a copy of the agreement between the Droods and the Night Side. There's no fine print to analyze or interpretation or loophole to avoid a full on war. So it's war. The Droods beam their house into the Night Side and start systematically leveling it. All our favorite characters are killed off. Everyone is unreasonable. You realize how similar the Eddie/Molly relationship is compared to the John/Suzie one. It's pretty much identical! Does Green have anything else in his bag of tricks? Some very thin plotting about the person behind the scenes hoping to cause the universe to implode for an enemy that barely seems like a threat in the end.

What a crushing disappointment. Nobody is clever. Some mysteries are never solved. There's a bit of Deus Ex Machina when it's needed. Tons and tons of people die for no real reason. The characters are terrible towards each other for no good reason. i never got the sense that Green even wanted to write this book. It seemed to be done just to "get things over with" and ultimately it was like he lined up all his popular characters and then used his arm to brush them off the board.

Oh, and Eddie gets in conflict with his family who overreacts and gets corrupted. Gee whiz, didn't see that coming.

I'm actually irritated so I'm going to go back and give this one star I think.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This effectively is not only the finale of the Secret Histories series, but also the Nightside.

lt's clear from the beginning that a 3rd party is the instigator of the war between the Nightside and the Droods. But things happen, and the Matriarch is convinced that the Droods need to clean up the Nightside, while the Authorities are sure they need to kill them to stop them.

All of the characters l've loved from both series are doing what they do and it's really a fight that will have no winners. A down and dirty fight with no holds barred and a fantastic book to end both series, though l'll miss them.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much to talk about so little will to bring it up.

This book feels 100% that Mr. Green was fed up with requests for more books or stories in the Nightside.

It is an amazing thing to see plot armor vs plot power and see the author's favourite come out, no wait scratch that, it felt like the opposite of that.

This book you see that the Droods are still the monster that they've been since the beginning of the series and that though they get beaten repeatedly except for scion Eddie swooping in and winning the day they can't be defeated by beings much more powerful than all their enemies combined at this point.

The barely powered seem to be the winners here and then just to finish with a: "Let's swap places." ending it felt like it was just a way to close stories off and not even have a reason to revisit any of it since the threads are burned up.

Has to be the biggest let down of multiple series I've ever read...

[Krista D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked parts of this, and I'm not sure there was a way to really conclude two entire series all wrapped up in one book. I've never really been a huge fan of the Drood family, and they were total shits in this book. I found parts of the book dragged, since a lot of the people I honestly just wanted to die quickly and get back to the main story. (Seriously, I hated the Droods in this book, though.)

[Melanie's · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Histories novels are like take on a futuristic James Bond with almost comic book like adventures and I love them. Those of you that take the time to read the synopsis (of which I am not one of them - When the book landed on my doorstep I just dived right in), will see that this is the final book in this series and it is described as epic. This description is not only accurate, it could probably be described as an understatement.

As the story progressed I realized very quickly that things were building up to a conclusion, and I had very mixed feelings about it because I wasn't sure I was ready to say goodbye to these adventures. That being said I have to say this was, quite possibly, the best book in the series and definitely the way any series should aim to end. Right down to the very last line in the book, I think Simon R Green has done fans of the series a real justice and I can't wait to see what adventures he has planned for us next (as in a very rare for him afterword he lets us know there are new stories to come).

I am not sure (unlike other books in the series, I personally started with book 10 and went back to reread) that you could enjoy this as much as a stand-alone without knowing all the character history, but I would definitely recommend urban fantasy fans give these a shot.

A well deserved, definitely epic, 5 stars from me!


V""V


***A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher but all opinions are my honest thoughts.
Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fan Site: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG***

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, shoot! Just when I discover a new (to me) series and it goes and ends. Heavy sigh. But what an epic ending Night Fall has! Droods are all about control and the Nightside is anything but. Something is making the Nightside borders expand and the Droods are not having it so naturally, they have to go in and reign it all in. Ya just know that can’t be good!

So many new faces and characters for me to experience! I don’t even know where to begin. Holy crow epic doesn’t even begin to describe what happens. Battle after battle ensue. Both sides win and lose. It was obvious no matter how much the Droods pushed the Nightside was going to push back just as hard. The Drood Sarjeant-at-Arms is just a wacko as far as I’m concerned. Actually, the only Drood that seems to have his head on right is Eddie. Somebody, please put him in charge! Ahem- hint hint...don't miss out on the epilogue!

So, like I said I’m new having just read the previous book. Frankly, it doesn’t matter that I didn’t start from the beginning. I love the wackadoodleness that the series and Droods had to offer. Let me go even further and say this is only my second book by this author but by checking out his other books it was easy for me to see Night Fall ties several series together. Is that where all the characters come from? Dead Boy, Razor Eddie, John Taylor, Shotgun Suzie, London Knights, the Ghost Finders, the Spawn of Frankenstein and so many more. ACK! More reading for me to get in. I don’t even care that I haven’t read the other books, I know perfection when I read it and IMHO, this is probably the best finale to a series I have ever read.

I received this book from The JeepDiva with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars – 4.5

[Notthatcatwoman · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're thinking of reading this book because you loved the Nightside series and want more, take my advice: Don't.
Warning, I'm going to rant and give spoilers.

Enjoyed the ending given in The Bride Wore Leather? This book basically pisses all over it.
People act completely out of character, people die, some act completely out of character and then die. Seriously by the end of the book most of the major characters, good or bad are all dead or gone, with John and Suzie deciding to switch places with Eddie (not Razor Eddie, drood Eddie) and his partner Molly. They go to live in Drood Hall with their unnamed new daughter, and Eddie becomes the new Walker. To me, this book makes the whole Nightside series feel worthless, and I wish I hadn't of read it. Hopefully I can save others from making my mistake.
Oh and btw, the 'bad' guys? The ones behind the pointless war between the Droods and the Nightside that makes up most of the 'plot'? = Puck the fairy and Henry (the OG series) Walker, only he's not back from the dead, its just his magic's and stubbornness that are making him 'real'. He ends up going into the Light with Mark (the Collector that he killed) and Charles (John's father who is suppose to be locked in Limbo with Lilith - Don't get me started on that plot change) You're welcome.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! The two worlds FINALLY meet!!

THIS is the book I've been waiting for from Mr Green, and he does NOT disappoint!

Love this man and his work!!

[Kurt Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The End

Many, many years ago, I had the good fortune of having breakfast with Simon Green at a science fiction convention. I was a young artist and writer at the time, and more than a little in awe of having breakfast with a real writer, but I found Simon to be fascinating, funny, and remarkably intelligent. He would have a profound influence on my own desire to become a writer thereafter.

Night Fall is in many respects The End, at least for many of the series that Simon has written over the years. It is, at its core, one of those great tropes from comics, the grand cross-over, where characters from different stories (and possibly different universes) prove which superhero was better than the other. Who would win in a battle between Batman and Wolverine, that sort of thing. What was fascinating here was that in the process of doing so, Simon Green also used the opportunity as an extended curtain call for his characters, tying loose ends, resolving outstanding mysteries, even providing a bit of deeper philosophizing here and there. The story was about how fast things can spiral out of control, how war is so easy to begin and so hard to end, how duty and honor can, without reflection and compassion, turn into the most banal forms of evil.

But of course, this is the Nightside ...

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always liked the Nightside a bit better than the Droods, as they're less judgemental. And the crossovers never quote worked. Someplace all about order, and close-minded, dealing with someplace about chaos and embracing your true nature? Of course they don't get along.

This is exactly the epic battle it promises, and I'm torn between finding it pointless and liking the very end, where several good points are finally found. But there is some good substance at the end, and it does wrap up both stories in a very appropriate way.

[The_J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going out with a bang, revitalizing the tired Secret Histories, giving the Nightside a proper send off, and dispatching ancilary series with their own pirotes down the catwalk. Thank you for the joy, and best wishes on your next endevours (even if you perhaps never wrote anything finer than the opening chapter to Man with the Golden Torc)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books Green has written. Nightside vs. the Droods. Many twists, all of the interesting characters from both sides just the best.

[Elar · Rating 1 out of 5]

This final merge of two great series was total letdown. Ending was ok, but whole intention building and conflict creation was too artificial.

[B. Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon R. Green's work has long been my guilty pleasure of choice as literature goes. The man's a master with witty turns of phrase and his worldbuilding is downright addictive. Perhaps most importantly, he enjoys what he does and it shows in the way he writes--I can go on at length about the technical merit of a Kelly Link, Ted Chiang, or even Green's most frequent comparison, Jim Butcher, and I adore all their work quite a bit. But none of them brings Green's sheer enthusiasm to the page. It's one of the reasons I suspect the Nightside series, in particular, is going to end up aging better than the Dresden Files, even if it takes a long, long while before it hits a similar level of popularity (if it ever does).

Night Fall is odd in that it's missing some of that enthusiasm. The phrases are still mostly great, the worldbuilding is still mostly top notch, but there's a sense that Green is tired of this shared 'verse he's built and wants to do something new. So he's burning down the set, blowing up the building in which the set resides, and then calling in an artillery strike just to be really sure about it. The end result is a wild, fun ride--especially when it focuses more on the Nightside portion of the cast--but it's also got a sense of fatigued finality to it. It especially shows in the signature Green Twist, which I'd define as "a Deus ex Machina that you don't mind because it's fun, dammit." The fun's just missing sometimes, and most often at key moments when its presence can make or break a scene for you.

More than most of his work, Night Fall is a crossover. It struggles a bit, I think, because it's more Secret Histories than Nightside. The Droods just aren't all that interesting compared to the glitz, glitter, glory, and godawfulness of the Nightside. They make for extremely effective antagonists, especially as the Nightside struggles to overcome their armour, but the story as a whole would benefit from having less of their perspective for that very reason. Moreover, Eddie and Molly mostly just get in the way, while John and Suzy don't really do all that much in the grand scheme of things.

And there's no real comeuppance for any of the war's architects (direct or indirect). That got me the most. It kinda felt like Green forgot about some of his earlier writing, shrugged when someone brought it up, and just kept going because he wanted to be done already. The epilogue in particular feels like he sat down after the final page, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Screw it, here's one more curveball. TIME TO THROW TOGETHER THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DO SOMETHING ELSE!"

Although his best twist is the one that closes out the issue of what's affecting the Nightside's borders. Looking at the timeline of the book, then looking at the politics of the real world UK during both its writing and publication--Green saw Brexit and decided to have a little purely implicit fun with it. Nobody else could or would do that, and nobody else could get away with it the way Green does (if you're even keyed in enough to notice it). No one can convince me otherwise, except by arguing that it was a brilliant accident, and even then I'd second guess them.

Without diving too deep into it or giving away any major spoilers: A whole freaking lot of characters die off in Night Fall, including some fan favorites. Some of these deaths are satisfying, some are intensely problematic, just about all of them make sense, and most are quick, brutal, and undignified--which is fine, but a few of the last ones in particular would've benefited from slowing down a bit and making it more of a struggle. I'd also argue it's a tie for best death in the book: there's a long, drawn-out redemption that works beautifully and gives us a visit from an old favorite, and there's a short emotional roller coaster of two minor characters dying off that perfectly encapsulates all of Green's writing. The short one takes up less than half of page 360, the long one spans pages 342-347.

One last thing, and I admit it's petty as Hell, but there's a ton of grammatical stuff in Night Fall that had me side-eyeing the copyeditor. Some of it works because Green's so damned good with his phrasing, but some of it just looks like the editor fell asleep at the wheel. I'm not normally one to call out an editor, especially since I'd like to be one and authors are finicky beasts that can and do ignore your advice at their peril, but it really does detract from the reading at certain points.

[Scott Magill · Rating 1 out of 5]

The biggest disappointment of any series I’ve read this year, possibly ever. (I mean I couldn’t even finish The Dresden Files so maybe that’s hyperbolic.)
I loved the Nightside and all its shades of grey. It introduced me to the urban fantasy genre. So of course I’m bias toward their side of the conflict. I didn’t love the Drood family and the secret histories series as much. Still I thought they were at least often trying to find a balance between their messy beginnings and being the force for good they aspired to be.
This novel ruined a lot of what I liked about both series though. It felt like none of the characters were as clever as they were built up to be in previous stories. I suspect Green just wanted to kill off as much of the Nightside as possible because he didn’t want to revisit that world anymore. Though the Droods suffered losses too, many of the characters weren’t as fleshed out as the Nightside ones. Most of the characters who died on the Drood’s side either were introduced in the battle they died in or got so little time in previous stories as to be strangers.
The worst part was the complete lack of urgency from Eddie Drood. We’ve spent several books talking about how if the family got bad enough he’d come back in and take over again to save it from itself. But this was the worst they’ve ever been and it feels like he’s wasting time for most of the book. His family has gone full on Germany in WW2 on the Nightside, deciding anything different must be destroyed. I don’t think that’s an overdramatized comparison they’re clearly in the wrong from the very beginning. Most disappointing for me though was Molly in this story. She’s almost a non-character. Standing by Eddie’s side while his family destroys and kills so many people feels like the ultimate sign that she was never her own person just an accessory to further separate Eddie from his family in previous novels.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was shocked that this book is the last in three of Mr. Green’s series: Nightside, Droods, and Ghostfinders (I think those are the ones) according to the note at the end by the author. I’ve always been a fan of the Nightside books, my favorite actually, so I was very happy to see some old favorites in this book. One thing I must state right up front is that this book is probably one of the most death-filled books I’ve read by this author. If you are bothered by the death of some of your favorite side characters, you might want to rethink reading this one; I was saddened by some of the deaths in this book. However, I will also say this book was probably my favorite of the Drood books, and one of my favorites of the Nightside series. Deaths aside, this book was full of action-packed plot and fun. I loved this book in spite of all of the negative things above: if you’re going to go out, go out in style! If you are a fan of any of the series mentioned above, give this one a try. You will love it! Highly recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy of the e-book which I reviewed voluntarily.

[Breane Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! You MUST read this book, especially if you like the Secret Histories series and the Nightside series. WOW is all I can say for now as the book is not out yet. I'm telling you to run and get this book when it comes out.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

It’s the end of the world as they know it, in a hail of bullets and a shower of blood, with a chaser of hellfire. This is where the implacable force meets the immovable object – and both decide that they’ve had enough.

Night Fall is the official 12th volume of the Secret Histories. Unofficially, it’s also the 13th book of the Nightside and the 7th story about the Ghost Finders. And also the unofficial last and final volume of all of this author’s current long-running series, at least according to the note at the back. Night Fall, as its name implies, is an ending and not a beginning. An ending with a bang – and plenty of whimpering. But that’s the Nightside for you.

Consider that a warning – this isn’t the place to start with any of these series.

For those who have at least a nodding acquaintance with the Nightside and the Secret Histories, this is a conflict that feels inevitable. The Droods, the keeper of those ultra-secret histories, have felt duty-bound throughout the centuries to protect humanity at all costs – even from itself.

The Nightside feels like the Droods moral opposite. Where the Droods believe in law and order above all, as long as its their law and their order, the Nightside is a place of absolute freedom of choice. Even if those choices lead a person straight to heaven, or hell, or somewhere above or below either of them. Or out of this world, and possibly their minds, altogether.

The Droods have always wanted to bring the Nightside under their domain. The Nightside just wants to be left the hell alone. The Droods never leave anyone or anything alone – not once they have it or them in their sights.

The story begins as a cascade of events that start wrong and just go downhill from there. The dominos are falling, and the war that both sides say they don’t want moves from inevitably to being splashed bloodily and viscerally all over the Nightside.

But if dominos are falling, then who, or what, flicked that first tile?

And can John Taylor, the Walker of the Nightside, and Eddie Drood, the family’s rebel agent, figure out who set them against each other before the long night falls – and takes the Droods with it.

Escape Rating A: For readers familiar with at least some of this author’s worlds, Night Fall is an absolutely smashing, bang-up, explosive ending. Complete with smashing, banging and explosions, as well as at least a tip of the hat to possibly every major, interesting, colorful and/or profane character that has been created along the way.

It’s a blast. Sometimes with actual blasting powder – or substances even more explosive.

At the same time, Simon R. Green is an acquired taste, like oysters, or escargot, or chocolate-covered ants. Possibly complete with the “Ewww, I’m not really sure about this” reaction. And it’s the only one of the four that I’ve ever bothered to acquire.

The level of constant, utter, bloody-minded, so arch that it needs a keystone, snarkitude is bitter, wry and incredibly addictive – while at the same hard to swallow in a sustained gulp bigger than one book at a time. It’s marvelous and crazy and sometimes absolutely exhausting.

I love his work, but I can only read them one at a time. Part of that is because the uber-clever descriptions, introductions and backstories for each and every character tend to repeat if one attempts to binge-read. It’s been long enough for me that re-reading the character portraits of John Taylor, Eddie Drood, Suzie Shooter, Molly Metcalf and the rest gave me a sense of nostalgia. It was good to catch up with all my old friends, one last time.

Underneath the constant snark there are several interesting stories being told.

The biggest one is the one about just how thickly the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The Droods do want what’s best – admittedly for their definition of best, but their hearts at least begin in the right place. But the veneer of respectability proves to be much thinner than any of them expect. While there is an outside force that pushed the first domino, once it falls the Droods are more than happy to keep knocking more dominos, even extra dominos, all on the own.

The people of the Nightside are stuck playing defense. The Droods invade, and begin conquering their home block by block and street by street, leaving everything behind them paved with blood and guts. Some of it even their own. Surrendering doesn’t even feel like an option – because it isn’t.

While the Droods would frame this fight as a fight of good vs. evil, that’s only their interpretation. A closer interpretation, at least for their initial motivations, is a battle between order and chaos. But the Nightside isn’t truly chaotic, and the Droods have taken order to its tyrannical extreme. At which point they’ve lost the moral high ground they came in with.

It’s also interesting to see just how many older and darker powers both sides end up calling on, and how all of those occupying the thrones and dominations tell them to get stuffed and clean up their own messes.

Diving into Night Fall reminded me just how much I’ve enjoyed all of this author’s work, and why science fiction and fantasy, particularly urban fantasy, are always my go-to genres. Night Fall is the wildest of wild rides from its slam bang opening to its quiet close – and I savored every page of it.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

We come full circle John Taylor and Eddie Drood save the day as the very existence of the Nightside is once more threatened, by unknown enemies who set Drood Vs Nightsider. The story grips you from the very first page to the very last shaking the very foundations upon which Simon R. Green has long built his world you will laugh an cry as characters long loved die heroicly defending loved ones and the Nightside as a whole while behind the scene secret Enimies work to undermine an weaken both sides.

[Alexander Draganov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Като писател съм имал множество любими автори, от които да се уча – Толкин, Брукс, Едингс – но като че ли Саймън Грийн беше този, който с невероятното си въображение ми помогна да потърся границите на моето, с изключителните си обрати ме научи да намирам неочакваното, с начина, по който обръщаше клишетата с главата надолу ме накара да сваля собствените си капаци. Макар да не го познавам, имам дълг към него, който никога няма да бъде изплатен.
Но с това ревю, поне опитвам.
http://citadelata.com/night-fall-secr...

[Michael Hamby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful.

This was so disappointing! Repetitive prose. Wooden dialogue. Very little of the wit I have come to expect from these series. Terrible plot, nonsensical ending.

[Richardkyser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally think that Simon R. Green is one of the most underrated sci-fiction/fantasy writers writing today. His Nightside series was in my humble opinion, the twilight zone in written form. John Taylor, Shotgun suzie, Julian Advent, the Oblivion brothers, Dead boy, Razor Eddie, and the strangefellows bar, and nightside itself, a place that I consistently wanted to go back too. However, his secret histories novels left me with a nagging feeling that something was missing, Eddie Dowd, aka Shaman Bond and girl friend Molly Metcalf, where a strange pair, he a secret secret agent and she a wild witch of the forest. The secret histories about a family that were themselves a secret secret organization protecting the world from threats that other secret organizations couldn't touch. The dowd's had a secret weapon, a torc that when activated formed a golden armor that made the wearer nigh near undefeatable. Now of course there was one place that these secret agents couldn't enter: the Nightside. The reason why was because of ancient pacts and agreements, that forbade both sides from interfering with each other. However, this all came ahead in NightFall, the latest book combing characters from the nightside and the secret histories books. John Taylor would finally meet Eddie Dowd, Shotgun Suzie would meet Molly, except when reading the book, I just felt that the characters of eddie and john, where interchangeable, as where molly and suzie, and that where "one shouldn't meet one's legends" or you'll end up disappointed. At certain point in the book the characters compare enemies and allies and they find out how much in common they both have, and that's the rub. The characters were basically the flip side of the same coin. And that's how Nightfall felt, the resolution to both series felt like it was too neat. Characters that readers felt in love with met their end, some like Fabulous Harry met a justifiable ending, other characters like Tasmin Macready and her demon lover were killed off in way that didn't ring true that said characters strength. In the end, loose ends was tied up, Agatha, the pet vulture of Alex, owner of strangefellows, gave birth to a dragon.(spoiler). Old friends and even older enemies were seen, and life in the two series was bought to an end. overall, three stars out of five.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night Fall is the twelfth and final book in the Secret Histories series written by Simon R. Green. It stars Edwin Drood, code named Shaman Bond and he is a part of the Droods, an ancient family that purportedly watches over the world and protects it from various threats, including supernatural and magical ones.

Eddie Drood and his wild witch companion, Molly Metcalf, face off against the Nightside's protectors, John Taylor and Shotgun Suzie. Forces on both sides rack up an impressive body count of established characters and newcomers alike.

Night Fall is written amazingly well. In this epic conclusion to two long-running series, the Secret History and the Nightside, Green pits the Drood family, the secret guardians of humankind, against the denizens of the Nightside, London's dark heart where anything is possible. With nods to his other urban fantasy works, such as Ghost Finders and Shadows Fall, Green tosses in everything including the kitchen sink in one final apocalyptic farewell. This is a worthwhile if not always happy ending for a sprawling cast of colorful characters.

Overall, the Secret Histories series is written rather well. Written in the same universe as most of his book Green has focused on one family – the Drood, whose main mission is to protect humanity from forces, which threatens the species – in secret. The series playfully and successfully mixes a spy thriller – in particular James Bond with much humor and horror that Green could imagine in an urban fantasy setting.

All in all, Night Fall is written extremely well and is a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want it to end knowing this was the last. The last time ever I would spend with John, Suzie, Razor Eddie, Dead Boy, Eddie, and Molly, Alex and so many many more. So many wonderful characters stopped by, so many wonderful characters died. This was a hard book to read. Frustrating, yet satisfying. I think...………..There was closure, so life will go on, as it does. The world will keep spinning. And there is always hope that Mr. Green will find he misses these wonderful people and will write of them again. Time will tell.

There were two characters he has threaded through every series he has, I felt certain they would make a final bow but they didn't. Maybe it was for the best because who knows what would have happened to them. But still, I would have liked to see them one last time.

I love this world and I will miss it, but that is the beauty of books. I can go back, I can revisit everyone any time I want, and I know I will find new things I missed the first time around. That is the magic of books, they are everlasting. So Thank You Mr. Green for this world and all it's wonders and mysteries.

I have read the first book of the new series Mr. Green is focusing on. The jury is still out for me, but I am hopeful. He has never let me down, I love some characters more than others from this world but in the end I have found myself attached to them all. So I look forward to the adventures in the new world.

[Ed Nemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon R Green excels at world building and creating interesting side characters. Razor Eddie and Deadboy were my favorite part of the Nightside series. While Jack the Armorer was my favorite part of the Secret Histories series. His characters were full of life and brilliant. And it is important to note, they would not be improved by larger doses. You need that air of mystery. Nothing is quite so humdrum as a character that was mysterious and cool coming out with their whole story. Wolverine is a good example of that. I preferred the small pieces of his history to the eventual origin story we received.

However, where Simon R Green truly shows he is a master of his craft is the wrap-up. When Hawk and Fisher finished it wasn't just Hawk (Rupert) and Fisher (Julia) retiring from the world. It was the culmination of all of their feats and a final and decisive ending to their story.
Here we have an end to The Ghost Hunters, Nightside, and Secret Histories. Half of the Nightside and Droods are dead. Minor and major characters have been written away in death or a move to where they need to be. The book started strong, minor battles, moving into inevitable crashes and deaths...and then speeding up towards the end into a full sprint of tragedy and loose ends. A brilliant ending to so many great series that was as decisive a finale as I have ever read.
I loved the ending and the afterword and am looking forward to what worlds Green has planned to come next.

[Chris Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give Night Fall 6 stars if I were able.

I've been a faithful reader of Simon R. Green since I was a freshman in college...let's just say a LONG time ago. Since that time he has written dozens of novels about the Secret World universe and I'm 95% sure I've read all of them. The Droods, Nightside and Ghost Hunters - the whole gang has been playing next to each other in this setting.

Until Night Fall. When they go head to head with apocalyptic results.

This novel has everything one expects from Green:
- hilarious situations and dialogue
- snarky comments beyond the Pale
- gonzo, out of control action scenes
- gods, monsters, men and everything between; some, one in the same
- unreliable characters, secrets and mysteries galore
- over the top combat choreography

But this novel was different in exciting ways. The stakes have never ever been higher. The body count is HUGE - and not just spear carriers. It is an exploration of the dire effects of conflict and I'm afraid contains too many analogical constructs to today's geopolitical climate.

A great many mysteries introduced decades ago are resolved. Identities are revealed with profound impact. Loose ends are either tied off or cut entirely.

Night Fall is a beautiful swan song to the Secret World. A place I'll miss and think about often. But I'm excited to see what Simon R. Green comes up with next.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, so promising, but then the ending just whimpers out. Usually the Drood series and the Nightside series are fun without much depth, but in this one it feels like Green is exploring the insanity of war - the way each side sees the other as the instigator, how one side can see as action as being respectful while the other sees it as rubbing it in their face, etc.

But unfortunately the Matriarch's behavior never fully makes sense and about 5/6ths of the way through we're told to see the Dude at Arms as the true problem, even though it's the Matriarch's set up of an assassination attempt and then flat out lie of the intent of the person she sent that really causes everything to kick in to gear. It just doesn't hold well from where it starts to where it goes.

Also, because this appears to be the big wrap up of several series in the same universe, there are dozens of cameos that start move the book from being a solid story in itself to a extended goodbye. Granted, within that were some touching mini-stories, but then there were parts that just seemed there for nothing but hey-heres-one-last-scene-with-character-X.

The explanation of how people were manipulated and by who was heavy on the tell rather than show and the post script of what happens next with the core four felt as poor a closure as Rowlings' in the Harry Potter series.