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Nightfall
A New York Times and Indie Bestseller
The dark will bring your worst nightmares to light in this gripping and eerie survival story, perfect for fans of James Dashner and Neil Gaiman.
On Marin’s island, the sunrise only comes every twenty-eight years. But it’s not the dawn she has to worry about. When sunset triggers the tide to roll out hundreds of miles, the islanders of Bliss must quickly prepare to sail south, where they will wait out the long, fourteen years of unforgiving Night. Marin and her twin brother, Kana, ready their house for locks must be taken off doors, furniture arranged, tables set. The rituals are bizarre, but none of the adults in town will discuss why it has to be done this way.
Just as the ships are about to sail, a boy goes missing—the twins’ friend Line. Marin and Kana are the only ones who know the truth about where Line has gone, and the only way to rescue him is by doing it themselves. But Night is falling. Their island is changing.
And it may already be too late.
“Creepy.”— Us Weekly
“Cinematic.”— Entertainment Weekly
“Fall’s biggest thriller novel.”—Mashable.com
“Halpern and Kujawinski invent a fascinating world that comes to life, full of intriguing monsters . . . The teens' desperate journey to find their way off the island will keep readers turning pages.”— Kirkus Reviews
The dark will bring your worst nightmares to light in this gripping and eerie survival story, perfect for fans of James Dashner and Neil Gaiman.
On Marin’s island, the sunrise only comes every twenty-eight years. But it’s not the dawn she has to worry about. When sunset triggers the tide to roll out hundreds of miles, the islanders of Bliss must quickly prepare to sail south, where they will wait out the long, fourteen years of unforgiving Night. Marin and her twin brother, Kana, ready their house for locks must be taken off doors, furniture arranged, tables set. The rituals are bizarre, but none of the adults in town will discuss why it has to be done this way.
Just as the ships are about to sail, a boy goes missing—the twins’ friend Line. Marin and Kana are the only ones who know the truth about where Line has gone, and the only way to rescue him is by doing it themselves. But Night is falling. Their island is changing.
And it may already be too late.
“Creepy.”— Us Weekly
“Cinematic.”— Entertainment Weekly
“Fall’s biggest thriller novel.”—Mashable.com
“Halpern and Kujawinski invent a fascinating world that comes to life, full of intriguing monsters . . . The teens' desperate journey to find their way off the island will keep readers turning pages.”— Kirkus Reviews
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2015
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10582 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,017 reviews
December 5, 2015
Such a weird and freaky story! Some parts really scared me and I quite enjoyed the beginning of the book. However, as the story went on, I lost interest and got bored.
September 29, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
In the land of Bliss the time of light lasts for 14 years. After that . . .
It is during that time the population must follow tradition, leave their homes without scent, and make the long journey via ship to the Desert Lands in order to survive what awakens during the time of darkness . . .
When Marin and Kana discover their friend Line missing when the time to depart the island has arrived, they will risk everything to find him. They better hurry, though, because . . . .
Okay, so this book wasn’t really anything like GoT, but since it will probably be another 17 years before The Winds of Winter comes out I figure I might as well gif it up while I have the chance. It also wasn’t at all similar to books written by James Dashner or Neil Gaiman, but that sure didn’t stop anyone in the marketing department from throwing those taglines out there.
That’s not to say Nightfall was a bad book. It was actually pretty good, but I am seriously glad I didn’t see that “Neil Gaiman” line or I probably would have lost my mind a bit. If you are a YA reader who can’t get enough of world building, this is the book for you. The pace of this one was a bit slower in order to provide details of the land of Bliss and to countdown to what was coming once the sun disappeared . . . .
After that it was anyone’s guess what might be lurking around the corner . . .
While Nightfall didn’t completely knock my socks off, I appreciated a true fantasy world rather the continuing riding of the coattails of the “dystopian society.” I also was such a fan of making the characters a bit younger (14) so the puke factor which is instalove was removed completely and that Marin kicked ass and was never a Mary Sue . . .
“Thank you for rescuing me,” he whispered.
“I haven’t yet,” she whispered back.
ARC DENIED by NetGalley. Poop on you, NetGalley! (Nahhhh, just kidding I still love you even though you make no sense when it comes to what I do and don’t get approved for.)
In the land of Bliss the time of light lasts for 14 years. After that . . .
It is during that time the population must follow tradition, leave their homes without scent, and make the long journey via ship to the Desert Lands in order to survive what awakens during the time of darkness . . .
When Marin and Kana discover their friend Line missing when the time to depart the island has arrived, they will risk everything to find him. They better hurry, though, because . . . .
Okay, so this book wasn’t really anything like GoT, but since it will probably be another 17 years before The Winds of Winter comes out I figure I might as well gif it up while I have the chance. It also wasn’t at all similar to books written by James Dashner or Neil Gaiman, but that sure didn’t stop anyone in the marketing department from throwing those taglines out there.
That’s not to say Nightfall was a bad book. It was actually pretty good, but I am seriously glad I didn’t see that “Neil Gaiman” line or I probably would have lost my mind a bit. If you are a YA reader who can’t get enough of world building, this is the book for you. The pace of this one was a bit slower in order to provide details of the land of Bliss and to countdown to what was coming once the sun disappeared . . . .
After that it was anyone’s guess what might be lurking around the corner . . .
While Nightfall didn’t completely knock my socks off, I appreciated a true fantasy world rather the continuing riding of the coattails of the “dystopian society.” I also was such a fan of making the characters a bit younger (14) so the puke factor which is instalove was removed completely and that Marin kicked ass and was never a Mary Sue . . .
“Thank you for rescuing me,” he whispered.
“I haven’t yet,” she whispered back.
ARC DENIED by NetGalley. Poop on you, NetGalley! (Nahhhh, just kidding I still love you even though you make no sense when it comes to what I do and don’t get approved for.)
October 5, 2015
DNF. This book is obviously just not for me.
^ Me. Right now. A.K.A. DISAPPOINTED AS HELL.
Yes, I expected a horror. Then I realized it was more of a survival story. I was cool with that. I've read amazing survival thrillers before.
Then I read it, and started reading the very young writing. First, it was the telling than showing. Then, I noticed the chapters ended so anti-climatically, like it would just end in the middle of a scene, not even hooking the readers, making them drool for more. Then, I glared at the lack of transition between scenes, the lack of emotion and depth in the characters.
I get it. It's not for me. But I had hoped it was. I MEAN THIS PREMISE IS MY KIND OF BOOK DAMNIT.
You know my tastes, people. I want real thrill, real urgency and emotions, a writing that won't leave me bored out of my skull. Maybe this will work for you, but it simply wasn't for me.
So now I cry.
^ Me. Right now. A.K.A. DISAPPOINTED AS HELL.
Yes, I expected a horror. Then I realized it was more of a survival story. I was cool with that. I've read amazing survival thrillers before.
Then I read it, and started reading the very young writing. First, it was the telling than showing. Then, I noticed the chapters ended so anti-climatically, like it would just end in the middle of a scene, not even hooking the readers, making them drool for more. Then, I glared at the lack of transition between scenes, the lack of emotion and depth in the characters.
I get it. It's not for me. But I had hoped it was. I MEAN THIS PREMISE IS MY KIND OF BOOK DAMNIT.
You know my tastes, people. I want real thrill, real urgency and emotions, a writing that won't leave me bored out of my skull. Maybe this will work for you, but it simply wasn't for me.
So now I cry.
November 10, 2015
*i was sent a copy of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for my honest review*
Solid 3.5/5 stars
I enjoyed this book! The concept was really unique and interesting and the world building was pretty phenomenal to complement it.
The feel of the book was super great. It was creepy and suspenseful without being too scary.
The plot was interesting but I didn't feel like the climax or the resolution were very solid. It felt like a lot of things were building and then they kind of fizzled out.
The characters were interesting but still pretty flat overall. Their actions and things that happened to them were pretty predictable but i still liked reading about them.
Overall enjoyable pretty creepy read!
Solid 3.5/5 stars
I enjoyed this book! The concept was really unique and interesting and the world building was pretty phenomenal to complement it.
The feel of the book was super great. It was creepy and suspenseful without being too scary.
The plot was interesting but I didn't feel like the climax or the resolution were very solid. It felt like a lot of things were building and then they kind of fizzled out.
The characters were interesting but still pretty flat overall. Their actions and things that happened to them were pretty predictable but i still liked reading about them.
Overall enjoyable pretty creepy read!
May 12, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Bonnier Publishing and NetGalley.)
This was a YA dystopian story about a group of people who lived on an island.
Marin and Kana were okay characters, and they obviously felt deeply for their missing friend, but boy did it get them into a lot of trouble!
The storyline in this was about an island where night and day came every 14 years, and during the night-time years, everyone left and went to live somewhere else. Marin and Kana’s friend went missing, so they missed the boat whilst out looking for him, and ended up stranded on the island with night rapidly approaching, and the threat of whatever weird beings it was who lived on the island when the daytime people left. The storyline in this was quite slow though, and it seemed to take a long while for things to really get going. The second half of the book was a bit more interesting though once the characters began to feel threatened.
The ending to this wasn’t brilliant for me, as I wanted more resolution than we got.
6 out of 10
“This town is theirs – and they want it back.”
This was a YA dystopian story about a group of people who lived on an island.
Marin and Kana were okay characters, and they obviously felt deeply for their missing friend, but boy did it get them into a lot of trouble!
The storyline in this was about an island where night and day came every 14 years, and during the night-time years, everyone left and went to live somewhere else. Marin and Kana’s friend went missing, so they missed the boat whilst out looking for him, and ended up stranded on the island with night rapidly approaching, and the threat of whatever weird beings it was who lived on the island when the daytime people left. The storyline in this was quite slow though, and it seemed to take a long while for things to really get going. The second half of the book was a bit more interesting though once the characters began to feel threatened.
The ending to this wasn’t brilliant for me, as I wanted more resolution than we got.
6 out of 10
February 27, 2017
Let me start with the fact that the whole reason I picked up this book was because of the premise. I mean, how does a society function on an island that has 14 years of daylight and 14 years of night? Well, based on this book, you don't stay there for the 14 years of night. Sounds interesting , right? Well thats probably the only concrete thing you know about the world in this book. Nothing is more annoying to me then lazy world building. We got to hear about some of the roles in the community but that is basically it. I would have loved to learn more about the comings and goings of the society during their daylight years. I would have liked to know if there were other communities on this island that shared the same fate and what were the relationship and agreements they had with the people who ferried them off the island every 14 years. These facets of the society and its interactions with others is still very much a mystery and that shouldn't be the case.
The story was primarily focused on the three main characters Kana, Marin and Line. Now if you have read through my status updates for this book, you already understand my frustration with these characters. They felt so ridiculous that you just had to laugh at the mistakes they made and, quite frankly, it was because of their idiocy that I continued. I couldn't wrap my mind around all the awful choices they made and all the danger they put themselves through for something so insignificant. It was just mind blowing.
In the end, I believed the whole point of the book was about trust or the lack thereof. Marin and Kana didn't trust their parents when they told them they had to leave. Line didn't trust that Marin would remember him and acknowledge his feeling for her when she came out of the cloisters. Kana couldn't trust anyone when he started hearing voices. The only character who trusted anyone was Francis, Line's younger brother, and he still got screwed. His parents died leaving him with a brother that was more concerned about his love life then looking after him and then said brother goes and gets himself stuck on the island. Now he is completely alone in a new part of the world with no family. Just totally irresponsible. Then while they're on the island, information is revealed to each of the siblings and Line which would explain why they got stuck on the island and STILL they refused to communicate any of this information to each other until the very end.
The ending was predictable which was unfortunate as I was hoping for something different. It still left a lot of questions unanswered and even though the characters annoyed the hell out of me, I still made it through. I wouldn't read this again however and I don't know if it would be something I could recommend due to how incredibly frustrating the characters are and the barely put together world building. I think if you liked the show Lost then this may be for you as it definitely has a similar feel.
The story was primarily focused on the three main characters Kana, Marin and Line. Now if you have read through my status updates for this book, you already understand my frustration with these characters. They felt so ridiculous that you just had to laugh at the mistakes they made and, quite frankly, it was because of their idiocy that I continued. I couldn't wrap my mind around all the awful choices they made and all the danger they put themselves through for something so insignificant. It was just mind blowing.
In the end, I believed the whole point of the book was about trust or the lack thereof. Marin and Kana didn't trust their parents when they told them they had to leave. Line didn't trust that Marin would remember him and acknowledge his feeling for her when she came out of the cloisters. Kana couldn't trust anyone when he started hearing voices. The only character who trusted anyone was Francis, Line's younger brother, and he still got screwed. His parents died leaving him with a brother that was more concerned about his love life then looking after him and then said brother goes and gets himself stuck on the island. Now he is completely alone in a new part of the world with no family. Just totally irresponsible. Then while they're on the island, information is revealed to each of the siblings and Line which would explain why they got stuck on the island and STILL they refused to communicate any of this information to each other until the very end.
The ending was predictable which was unfortunate as I was hoping for something different. It still left a lot of questions unanswered and even though the characters annoyed the hell out of me, I still made it through. I wouldn't read this again however and I don't know if it would be something I could recommend due to how incredibly frustrating the characters are and the barely put together world building. I think if you liked the show Lost then this may be for you as it definitely has a similar feel.
November 24, 2015
Me: Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again,
Darkness: Do I know you?
Once upon a time, I was snooping at Vane's blog and I saw a post about two types (kinds?) of scare factor. (I totally forgot the correct terms and I think Vane will kill me if I butchered this one.).
As much as my faulty mind can remember, the first type is the "makes-you-jump" type of scare. Like in the horror movies when that sudden bang makes you spill your popcorn because you jumped a mile type of scare. The second one is the type of scare that leaves a scar on your soul and you carry it the whole time even after the movie ends.
(See? I messed it up. Gonna ask Vane the link to that post..)
Anyway, the point is, this book has a little bit of both "scare". Sometimes, I get so paranoid on what the hell is going on and there came a time when I have to leave all the lights on just so I can pee(TMI,sorry). I also get the jumpy-scare from time to time because this book has it's moment.
The concept of this is unique and I think if this will be made into a movie, it will have a 5 star reviews. It's just that there are some parts in this book that needs more explanation and the characters needs more "character". Some parts are so good that it makes you breathless but some just fell flat.
If you wanna read the book, go ahead.I just want to know if you'll leave your lights on or not.
October 31, 2017
Marin lives on a Northern island where there is 14 years of light and 14 years of night. Every 14 years the people who live on the Island during the day must get on ships that come to pick them up and travel away from the Island, leaving their homes in the dark. Before they leave, they must clean the houses from top to bottom, leaving it spotless and just the way it was when they first arrived on the island.
When the boats arrive to pick people up, Marin realizes that her best friend Line is missing and with the help of her twin brother Kana, Marin hopes to find Line before the boats leave them behind.
But what happens when the worst comes to life?
This was such an interesting read.
I liked the setting, it seemed very creative and unique. 14 years of light, 14 years of darkness? I found myself really hooked wondering what exactly was going on, on the island when the darkness set. That alone had me flipping through the pages to get to the bottom of it.
Kana, Line and Marin were enjoyable enough characters to follow. I had to remember at times that they were pretty young.
That being said, I should also mention that this book is mostly a survival book. Because these three kids basically get left behind, by accident, they have to find their way off the island and avoid this thing that is suddenly hunting them. On top of it, Line is injured and something is going on with Kana that the other two don’t realize for a while. Add it together and it was pretty fast paced, I get through it quickly enough and I found that I was really enjoying it.
Of course, this isn’t without gripes. I wanted more world building, I did not think we got the whole background of the island clear enough. I also failed to understand why there was like 14 years of light/dark and the place they were going be on has like 3 days light/dark, that seems geographically impossible? Or is it just me, thinking the way planets would spin?
Also, it was a little weird how quickly these kids came into doing something violent to survive without like freezing. I guess it’s because you have to do what you got to do in the moment of danger or fear, but I pictured myself in that moment and I honestly felt like I’d just freeze up. My survival instinct isn’t all that great heh.
There was also this background with Kana I did not understand how he came to be because of how the creatures of the island interact, but I can’t get into much of this due to spoilers.
Overall though I am not going to complain too much, I did really enjoy this. It’s a quick paced read and I am looking forward to picking up other books by these authors.
I rounded the rating from 3.75 to 4 because I was in a good mood today.
When the boats arrive to pick people up, Marin realizes that her best friend Line is missing and with the help of her twin brother Kana, Marin hopes to find Line before the boats leave them behind.
But what happens when the worst comes to life?
This was such an interesting read.
I liked the setting, it seemed very creative and unique. 14 years of light, 14 years of darkness? I found myself really hooked wondering what exactly was going on, on the island when the darkness set. That alone had me flipping through the pages to get to the bottom of it.
Kana, Line and Marin were enjoyable enough characters to follow. I had to remember at times that they were pretty young.
That being said, I should also mention that this book is mostly a survival book. Because these three kids basically get left behind, by accident, they have to find their way off the island and avoid this thing that is suddenly hunting them. On top of it, Line is injured and something is going on with Kana that the other two don’t realize for a while. Add it together and it was pretty fast paced, I get through it quickly enough and I found that I was really enjoying it.
Of course, this isn’t without gripes. I wanted more world building, I did not think we got the whole background of the island clear enough. I also failed to understand why there was like 14 years of light/dark and the place they were going be on has like 3 days light/dark, that seems geographically impossible? Or is it just me, thinking the way planets would spin?
Also, it was a little weird how quickly these kids came into doing something violent to survive without like freezing. I guess it’s because you have to do what you got to do in the moment of danger or fear, but I pictured myself in that moment and I honestly felt like I’d just freeze up. My survival instinct isn’t all that great heh.
There was also this background with Kana I did not understand how he came to be because of how the creatures of the island interact, but I can’t get into much of this due to spoilers.
Overall though I am not going to complain too much, I did really enjoy this. It’s a quick paced read and I am looking forward to picking up other books by these authors.
I rounded the rating from 3.75 to 4 because I was in a good mood today.
September 28, 2015
NIGHTFALL was not what I expected at all-in a good way! It tells an original story with a whole lot of imagination. With a a unique premise, situations that are full of suspense, immersive writing, and an unexpected conclusion, this is one that is worth checking out.
NIGHTFALL is more of a survival story than horror, but there are some moments that will raise the hair on the back of your neck, especially when paired with the mystery surrounding some events-what exactly happens at Night? Just like the characters in the novel, we are left in the dark (pun definitely intended).
A world that revolves around this concept of Night coming every fourteen years is an incredibly interesting one. Although I do wish some details were developed a little bit more and that we had some additional explanations overall I think the vagueness added to the air of mystery and fear.
The writing was fairly descriptive but not overly so, it fits well with this book because a majority of the novel relies on subtle tension and a lot of that has to be communicated through the text. However, I would say that the style of writing was more telling instead of showing, as it was very this happened, then this happened and so on.
The events leading up to the resolution were climactic but I did feel that the conclusion itself was a little lacking. It left me with a quite a few questions because some minor things just felt unresolved. Overall though, NIGHTFALL was a story I enjoyed.
I recommend reading this one at night for some extra eeriness.
NIGHTFALL is more of a survival story than horror, but there are some moments that will raise the hair on the back of your neck, especially when paired with the mystery surrounding some events-what exactly happens at Night? Just like the characters in the novel, we are left in the dark (pun definitely intended).
A world that revolves around this concept of Night coming every fourteen years is an incredibly interesting one. Although I do wish some details were developed a little bit more and that we had some additional explanations overall I think the vagueness added to the air of mystery and fear.
The writing was fairly descriptive but not overly so, it fits well with this book because a majority of the novel relies on subtle tension and a lot of that has to be communicated through the text. However, I would say that the style of writing was more telling instead of showing, as it was very this happened, then this happened and so on.
The events leading up to the resolution were climactic but I did feel that the conclusion itself was a little lacking. It left me with a quite a few questions because some minor things just felt unresolved. Overall though, NIGHTFALL was a story I enjoyed.
I recommend reading this one at night for some extra eeriness.
November 2, 2017
This was really fast paced which I loved but for some reason I’m just not content with the ending I wanted more.
February 21, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Nightfall is a dystopian novel set on an eerie island where the sun only rises every twenty-eight years. This book definitely has potential to be terrifying and seems like an impressive survival novel. However, the horror aspect in this book is pretty much non-existent and the plot is not as fast-paced as one would expect in a dystopian book, definitely affecting my overall reading experience.
I really loved the world in Nightfall. It is so interesting how sunrise only occurs every twenty-eight years. This idea is so unique and really sets the stage for an epic horror novel, since the story takes place at night on a dark island. The authors did such an amazing job bringing the eerie book to life.
As mentioned above, Nightfall takes place at night, so it must be horrifying, right? Unfortunately, wrong. When I read the summary of this book, I was expecting some major jump-scares and some really terrifying creatures. There were, in fact, creatures, but they were not frightening at all. I went through the whole book bracing myself for some true horror, only to be disappointed at the end of the book when there really was none. I am not a big reader of horror books in the first place because I personally find them to be too creepy, so I mean it when I say it’s not scary.
The plot of Nightfall was sort of lacking in many places. The beginning of the book is extremely captivating and suspenseful. However, once the reader reaches the middle of the book, things begin to become a lot less fast-paced. Not slow enough to make me put down the book, but definitely slow enough to lower my rating of the book. Then comes the ending, and not to spoil anything, but what did I just read?! I definitely think that middle grade readers will enjoy this book more than I did.
Nightfall has such an amazing setting that is perfect for the book. Unfortunately, the horror in this book is lacking and the plot is a bit disappointing. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers more than a YA reader, as most of the elements are better suited for that audience.
Nightfall is a dystopian novel set on an eerie island where the sun only rises every twenty-eight years. This book definitely has potential to be terrifying and seems like an impressive survival novel. However, the horror aspect in this book is pretty much non-existent and the plot is not as fast-paced as one would expect in a dystopian book, definitely affecting my overall reading experience.
I really loved the world in Nightfall. It is so interesting how sunrise only occurs every twenty-eight years. This idea is so unique and really sets the stage for an epic horror novel, since the story takes place at night on a dark island. The authors did such an amazing job bringing the eerie book to life.
As mentioned above, Nightfall takes place at night, so it must be horrifying, right? Unfortunately, wrong. When I read the summary of this book, I was expecting some major jump-scares and some really terrifying creatures. There were, in fact, creatures, but they were not frightening at all. I went through the whole book bracing myself for some true horror, only to be disappointed at the end of the book when there really was none. I am not a big reader of horror books in the first place because I personally find them to be too creepy, so I mean it when I say it’s not scary.
The plot of Nightfall was sort of lacking in many places. The beginning of the book is extremely captivating and suspenseful. However, once the reader reaches the middle of the book, things begin to become a lot less fast-paced. Not slow enough to make me put down the book, but definitely slow enough to lower my rating of the book. Then comes the ending, and not to spoil anything, but what did I just read?! I definitely think that middle grade readers will enjoy this book more than I did.
Nightfall has such an amazing setting that is perfect for the book. Unfortunately, the horror in this book is lacking and the plot is a bit disappointing. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers more than a YA reader, as most of the elements are better suited for that audience.
September 30, 2015
Ugh. This book. I admit it. I was rooting for Marin and Line to die.
There were plot holes that annoyed me. The characters were stupid. And they also annoyed me. The premise itself was interesting enough, but the execution utterly failed. I was never left in suspense. I didn't care what happened. I mean, I wanted the characters to die. Yeah, this book definitely didn't do it for me.
Review copy provided by Penguin's First to Read.
There were plot holes that annoyed me. The characters were stupid. And they also annoyed me. The premise itself was interesting enough, but the execution utterly failed. I was never left in suspense. I didn't care what happened. I mean, I wanted the characters to die. Yeah, this book definitely didn't do it for me.
Review copy provided by Penguin's First to Read.
May 11, 2018
This was surprisingly good! Video review going up on my YouTube channel soon!
February 17, 2021
my toxic trait is taking a week to read one chapter, and then 300 pages in two days
this book did what it came to do. i needed a middle grade thriller to get me out of my reading funk and it did exactly that. there is nothing memorable nor special about the book but it is an fun/original enough plot to keep you reading.
there is no characterization which i need to love a book, but the writing is VERY accessible and the story is plot-driven making it a perfect middle-grade start in the thriller genre.
this book did what it came to do. i needed a middle grade thriller to get me out of my reading funk and it did exactly that. there is nothing memorable nor special about the book but it is an fun/original enough plot to keep you reading.
there is no characterization which i need to love a book, but the writing is VERY accessible and the story is plot-driven making it a perfect middle-grade start in the thriller genre.
September 30, 2015
An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.
I was pretty excited to read Nightfall. I've long been a fan of horror and stories of things that go bump in the night, and Nightfall epitomizes the type of scary book that will keep me up all hours of the night reading. Even if it terrified me to do so at times.
Because it wasn't necessarily what was happening in the story that was always scary. Nightfall is just so atmospherically creepy. It was impossible not to put myself in the character's position, with Night falling fast, the chaos of preparing for the trip, and the cold, bleak winter that was upon them.
The creepy factor itself was upped a few degrees simply through fear of the unknown, not knowing what to expect from Night since none of the elders were talking. And then to get left behind? The fear of being left alone on the island -- with who knows what nightmarish creatures lurking in the forest -- was an almost palpable thing.
The characters were a little younger than I expected going into this book, but that makes their story no less interesting. I think the fact that they are only around fourteen and the fact that the focus is on their attempt to get to the boats -- and not necessarily on a romance -- made the horror of their predicament much easier to get invested in. The narrative is split between the three teens, and although it felt a little Marin-centric at times, I think I enjoyed Kana's perspective a bit more than the others.
If you're looking for a creepy read to add to your Fall/Halloween TBR, look no further. Nightfall is a very atmospheric read and is high on suspense. I'll likely need a re-read, since I sped through it the first time around, ready to see those kids make it. :)
GIF it to me straight:
I was pretty excited to read Nightfall. I've long been a fan of horror and stories of things that go bump in the night, and Nightfall epitomizes the type of scary book that will keep me up all hours of the night reading. Even if it terrified me to do so at times.
Because it wasn't necessarily what was happening in the story that was always scary. Nightfall is just so atmospherically creepy. It was impossible not to put myself in the character's position, with Night falling fast, the chaos of preparing for the trip, and the cold, bleak winter that was upon them.
The creepy factor itself was upped a few degrees simply through fear of the unknown, not knowing what to expect from Night since none of the elders were talking. And then to get left behind? The fear of being left alone on the island -- with who knows what nightmarish creatures lurking in the forest -- was an almost palpable thing.
The characters were a little younger than I expected going into this book, but that makes their story no less interesting. I think the fact that they are only around fourteen and the fact that the focus is on their attempt to get to the boats -- and not necessarily on a romance -- made the horror of their predicament much easier to get invested in. The narrative is split between the three teens, and although it felt a little Marin-centric at times, I think I enjoyed Kana's perspective a bit more than the others.
If you're looking for a creepy read to add to your Fall/Halloween TBR, look no further. Nightfall is a very atmospheric read and is high on suspense. I'll likely need a re-read, since I sped through it the first time around, ready to see those kids make it. :)
GIF it to me straight:
August 15, 2015
Another book where I was eyeing it from the book that I say this book. I wanted to check it out. I am still sad by this book. I read about half way and quit. Which is why I am sad. I was looking forward to reading this book. I struggled to get half way. There was hardly any details given around what the people where running from when they left the island in the beginning. This did not bother me as I knew it would all unfold as the story progressed. Yet, despite my wavering interest slowly increasing with every page, I still held out hope that the book would get better up until I put the book down. Even when the creatures attacked I hardly noticed. There was no suspense or horror. Even when I went back to some scenes and re-read them, I still did not feel or experience any fear. If anything I would kind of say this book was like the movie The Village. It was fine but nothing that you would want to watch or read again.
June 3, 2017
Un roman angoissant sur la nuit qui tombe et les créatures qui sortent du bois. On frissonne de ces peurs remontant à l'enfance et on tremble aux côtés de nos personnages.
Certaines situations sont parfois peut-être (trop) tirées par les cheveux, mais cela reste un très bon roman horrifique.
Mon avis : http://bit.ly/2qLqXJT
Certaines situations sont parfois peut-être (trop) tirées par les cheveux, mais cela reste un très bon roman horrifique.
Mon avis : http://bit.ly/2qLqXJT
February 17, 2021
Sonu açık uçlu bana göre...cik olmadı halbuki efsane olabilirdi...
October 5, 2015
Actual Rating 3.5
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
Here are a bunch of reasons to read this book.
1. Original. This premise of this book is unlike anything I have encountered before. Can you imagine the idea of a world where the sun rises every 28 years? Can you imagine all the details that would need to be put in to the book make that seem plausible? Well Jake and Peter pull it off because they made this world come to life. It was interesting and original and sucked me right in.
2. Survival aspects of the story. Do you love a good survival story? You've come to the right place. This book might not terrify you but it will (hopefully) have you rooting for the characters and hoping that they will beat the odds and make it to safety and back to their families.
3. Romance takes a back seat. I love my romances but there are some situations where I think romances are unnecessary. In this book the romance was barely hinted at. It's not that there aren't feelings. It's just that a lot of the romance stuff was established before the book started so this book is mostly about these characters trying to work out a way to survive instead of you know... make out?
4. The Characters. I was a little put off by the idea of 14 year olds for main characters and the fact that they didn't really seem like they were 14 but overall, I liked them. They may not have been perfect and sometimes make some not so smart decisions but I think the way they worked together was amazing. There were *some* secrets but they are understandable.
5. The Creepy. Isn't that what we are really here for? The Creepy. The Scary. I will say that Nightfall is not the scariest book I've read of late but there were some downright creepy bits. After all, when you find out your deserted island isn't as deserted as you thought it was and is inhabited by an entirely other species that kill your kind, there are bound to be some terrifying moments.
This book isn't perfect but I still think it makes for a fantastic Halloween read. If you want something original and creepy, I'd definitely recommend this. Nightfall will draw you into it's world and will leave you wanting more (in a good way) once you're done!
Note that I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
Here are a bunch of reasons to read this book.
1. Original. This premise of this book is unlike anything I have encountered before. Can you imagine the idea of a world where the sun rises every 28 years? Can you imagine all the details that would need to be put in to the book make that seem plausible? Well Jake and Peter pull it off because they made this world come to life. It was interesting and original and sucked me right in.
2. Survival aspects of the story. Do you love a good survival story? You've come to the right place. This book might not terrify you but it will (hopefully) have you rooting for the characters and hoping that they will beat the odds and make it to safety and back to their families.
3. Romance takes a back seat. I love my romances but there are some situations where I think romances are unnecessary. In this book the romance was barely hinted at. It's not that there aren't feelings. It's just that a lot of the romance stuff was established before the book started so this book is mostly about these characters trying to work out a way to survive instead of you know... make out?
4. The Characters. I was a little put off by the idea of 14 year olds for main characters and the fact that they didn't really seem like they were 14 but overall, I liked them. They may not have been perfect and sometimes make some not so smart decisions but I think the way they worked together was amazing. There were *some* secrets but they are understandable.
5. The Creepy. Isn't that what we are really here for? The Creepy. The Scary. I will say that Nightfall is not the scariest book I've read of late but there were some downright creepy bits. After all, when you find out your deserted island isn't as deserted as you thought it was and is inhabited by an entirely other species that kill your kind, there are bound to be some terrifying moments.
This book isn't perfect but I still think it makes for a fantastic Halloween read. If you want something original and creepy, I'd definitely recommend this. Nightfall will draw you into it's world and will leave you wanting more (in a good way) once you're done!
Note that I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
October 7, 2017
Die 14-jährigen Zwillinge Kana und Marin sowie der ebenfalls 14-jährige Line leben auf einer geheimnisvollen Insel. Dort ist es 14 Jahre lang Tag, danach folgt eine 14-jährige Nacht. Während der hellen Zeit lebt das Volk auf der Insel, doch wenn die 14 Jahre andauernde Nacht anbricht, müssen die Bewohner die Insel verlassen. Der Anbruch der Nacht steht kurz bevor, und die Inselbevölkerung macht sich bereit für den Aufbruch. Durch ein Ereignis bleiben Kana, Marin und Line alleine auf der Insel zurück, was nicht ungefährlich ist. Bald entdecken die drei Kinder, was das Geheimnis der Insel ist und geraten in Lebensgefahr. Sie müssen fliehen...
Mein Leseeindruck:
Angesprochen an diesem Buch hat mich zunächst das Cover. Es wirkte geheimnisvoll auf mich, und auch der Inhalt hörte sich recht vielversprechend an.
Schnell konnte ich dann in die Geschichte eintauchen. Die Protagonisten sind 14 Jahre alt, was nicht mehr meiner Altersklasse entspricht, aber ich lese sehr gerne Kinder- und Jugendbücher und hatte daher kein Problem damit, mich in die Figuren hineinzufühlen.
Die Geschichte hat recht schnell Spannung aufgebaut und steckte voller Geheimnisse und Überraschungen. Es gab einige Wendungen, mit denen ich nicht gerechnet habe. Langweilig war mir während der knapp 380 Seiten somit nie.
Auch der Schreibstil hat mich überzeugen können. Das Buch hat sich dank des angenehmen Erzählstils flüssig und leicht lesen lassen.
Ich glaube, dass sowohl Mädchen als auch Jungen Freude an dieser Geschichte finden können, allerdings ist es ein echtes Abenteuerbuch. Einige Szenen sind nicht ohne, daher schließe ich mich der Altersempfehlung (ab 14 Jahren) an. Jüngere Leser sollten mit diesem Buch noch warten.
Mein Leseeindruck:
Angesprochen an diesem Buch hat mich zunächst das Cover. Es wirkte geheimnisvoll auf mich, und auch der Inhalt hörte sich recht vielversprechend an.
Schnell konnte ich dann in die Geschichte eintauchen. Die Protagonisten sind 14 Jahre alt, was nicht mehr meiner Altersklasse entspricht, aber ich lese sehr gerne Kinder- und Jugendbücher und hatte daher kein Problem damit, mich in die Figuren hineinzufühlen.
Die Geschichte hat recht schnell Spannung aufgebaut und steckte voller Geheimnisse und Überraschungen. Es gab einige Wendungen, mit denen ich nicht gerechnet habe. Langweilig war mir während der knapp 380 Seiten somit nie.
Auch der Schreibstil hat mich überzeugen können. Das Buch hat sich dank des angenehmen Erzählstils flüssig und leicht lesen lassen.
Ich glaube, dass sowohl Mädchen als auch Jungen Freude an dieser Geschichte finden können, allerdings ist es ein echtes Abenteuerbuch. Einige Szenen sind nicht ohne, daher schließe ich mich der Altersempfehlung (ab 14 Jahren) an. Jüngere Leser sollten mit diesem Buch noch warten.
May 12, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I didn't love the main character in this, but she was alright.
This was an okay read, but it wasn't as good as I was expecting. The first part of it bored me in quite a few places, and although it got better in the second half, it still wasn't a book that I loved.
Overall, An okay read.
I didn't love the main character in this, but she was alright.
This was an okay read, but it wasn't as good as I was expecting. The first part of it bored me in quite a few places, and although it got better in the second half, it still wasn't a book that I loved.
Overall, An okay read.
August 25, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
When heading on my gorgeous getaway to New York City this past year, my main goal was to grab my most-needed BEA books, and Nightfall was at the highest ranking for me. Riveting, utterly weird and creepy, as well as gorgeous, it definitely stands on my most-beloved reads of this year, and I can't wait to hear everyone else's opinion on it. You all simply need a copy of this in your shelves, whether you're a fan of dystopia and horror, or not. Don't worry, there isn't much gore, either.
I'm literally stroking the cover of my copy, feeling it purr with excitement. From the looks of it, an uncorrected copy will probably be worth hundreds of dollars in the future, because it's that good of a book. Picture Harry Potter's worth, times ten. Gosh, I just can't stop thinking about its masterfulness and I just want to let this review go out into the wild right now but deep down in my guts, my good side, my day side, I know that I just can't... yet. By the way, it's the end of June as I'm writing this and you'll be seeing it in mid-August. Poor you. At least you already knew that I gave it a five star rating. That sure is a keeper if you're a good judger. It's my first five-star BEA book, I'm so proud!
The premise is so fucking unique and abstract that I recommend holding onto your socks, or else they'll just get knocked off. On the island that Marin and her family live on, Day lasts for fourteen years, and so does Night, but each separately. Now that the Night is coming for the first time that Marin has actually been forced to leave, things are hell-like. Everyone must evacuate before it's too late, before the creatures come out and before everyone isn't safe anymore. By this, they'll be sailing to the desert, where Marin knows that when she'll get back, she'll be 28, married and possibly with children. How is she able to get this out of her head? By wishing that she didn't have to leave. And boy, did her wish come true... She's stuck behind on the island during Nightfall with her brother, Kana and their friend, Line. Good luck, fourteen year-olds, you must think.
You know when you go out for a recital or performance and you're the star? Yeah, and then your parents wish you good luck or per se... break a leg? They really mean it, because there are endless amounts of possibilities for the situation to go wrong and horribly. These characters are... fourteen. I'm fourteen, and I know how stupid and idiotic we can be, we have no street smarts and we can't survive on our own! This is that situation. It's like William Golding's classic, Lord of the Flies, with tons more gore (I can't deny that there isn't any now that I think about it!), weird unexplainable miracles and running away from the enemy who may be right around the corner. It's such a fucking scary book that I'd die if I read it at night. I remember the authors' editor saying at the BEA Young Adult Editor's Buzz Panel that she couldn't sleep after reading this book for the first time. And she had to continuously read it over and over, fixing errors and catching all of the details. I'm going to pee my pants of fear.
The horror which the authors incorporate in their plot and premise is not your ordinary serial-killer, I'm-going-to-get-you kind of thing. It's more like: hearing voices that you can't explain, wondering if it's just you and where your buddies are, all stuck on this gigantic island that once was your home but isn't anymore. Readers (at least myself) try to put themselves in the characters' shoes, although it's nearly impossible because they're just so complex. Fourteen year-olds being complex, you ask? Hell yes. They have their own issues, probably more tough and horrible than any teenager that I know or any of the adults mentioned in the book. Line had his fault with losing his parents, Marin's feeling of stupidity with the sunstone and Kana, well we don't even have to explain that. I can't even try to specify a specific example or else I'll keep going with my theories, it's a scientific novel that has so much more explanation beyond the words and plot. I can't even try to imagine what the authors thought while writing. That number "fourteen" must have some meaning, too.
Without even having to speak about the plot, I can just think about the pace of reading. It took me about three hours to read from start to finish, but this was because I chose to read it in that pace. With my speedy-gonzales speed, it could've taken me two. Halpern and Kujawinski's writing is so fast-paced but there's so much depth in their writing that I'm unable to stop what I'm doing and think about the world beyond their story. If you don't enjoy slow stories, then you're going to love this, contrastingly. NO BORING POINTS WHATSOEVER. From start to finish, I felt myself flipping through the pages like it's familiar to me. They're just such good writers who I wish I could get in the minds of. (Again with the obsessed thing for me.)
If you don't feel like bothering to read this review, I'm begging you to just take a look at the descriptive writing. Gosh, geez, wow. The way Kana describes his personality, who he is, is extraordinary. The plot twist which the authors had introduced about Kana and him being Marin's twin shocked me until I just couldn't believe it. Something is eerie, is strange, but that strange? I'm completely shocked and still am, someone please hold me and make me feel better!
So the role of the characters in this situation was to give them different views by readers. Marin and Kana were obviously the main characters, and Line was actually supposed to have some distance from us. I expected him to be the weird one since something was fishy about him from the start as he headed to the woods to do who knows what. But in the end, I'll let you know that there were two humans and one non-human who certainly stirred up so much stuff to readers that I couldn't keep myself together. The ending made everything ten times better as well. Authors like these two fabulous guys would certainly never lead readers to what even the characters suspected!
Want a fresh new dystopia that exceeds all of the expectations? Want horror and awesomeness? Yeah, you'll certainly stay up past nightfall when reading still, and right to the dawn of the morning, because you won't be able to get this creepy story out of your head. From now on, whenever I'll see hashmarks, I'll think of this book, and that's a fabulous thing when you're trying to help yourself when surviving on a stranded island. Mr. Halpern and Mr. Kujawinski are authors that everyone needs to keep under their bookish radars, you'll be so impressed! What a stellar addition to my 2015 favourites list!
*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*
When heading on my gorgeous getaway to New York City this past year, my main goal was to grab my most-needed BEA books, and Nightfall was at the highest ranking for me. Riveting, utterly weird and creepy, as well as gorgeous, it definitely stands on my most-beloved reads of this year, and I can't wait to hear everyone else's opinion on it. You all simply need a copy of this in your shelves, whether you're a fan of dystopia and horror, or not. Don't worry, there isn't much gore, either.
I'm literally stroking the cover of my copy, feeling it purr with excitement. From the looks of it, an uncorrected copy will probably be worth hundreds of dollars in the future, because it's that good of a book. Picture Harry Potter's worth, times ten. Gosh, I just can't stop thinking about its masterfulness and I just want to let this review go out into the wild right now but deep down in my guts, my good side, my day side, I know that I just can't... yet. By the way, it's the end of June as I'm writing this and you'll be seeing it in mid-August. Poor you. At least you already knew that I gave it a five star rating. That sure is a keeper if you're a good judger. It's my first five-star BEA book, I'm so proud!
"Everything that we've been doing, we do for one simple reason. For generations, it has kept us safe. Every household in Bliss follows these directions, and upon return to their homes fourteen years later, everything is in perfect order. Nothing is damaged—nothing is broken." (ARC, page 74)
The premise is so fucking unique and abstract that I recommend holding onto your socks, or else they'll just get knocked off. On the island that Marin and her family live on, Day lasts for fourteen years, and so does Night, but each separately. Now that the Night is coming for the first time that Marin has actually been forced to leave, things are hell-like. Everyone must evacuate before it's too late, before the creatures come out and before everyone isn't safe anymore. By this, they'll be sailing to the desert, where Marin knows that when she'll get back, she'll be 28, married and possibly with children. How is she able to get this out of her head? By wishing that she didn't have to leave. And boy, did her wish come true... She's stuck behind on the island during Nightfall with her brother, Kana and their friend, Line. Good luck, fourteen year-olds, you must think.
You know when you go out for a recital or performance and you're the star? Yeah, and then your parents wish you good luck or per se... break a leg? They really mean it, because there are endless amounts of possibilities for the situation to go wrong and horribly. These characters are... fourteen. I'm fourteen, and I know how stupid and idiotic we can be, we have no street smarts and we can't survive on our own! This is that situation. It's like William Golding's classic, Lord of the Flies, with tons more gore (I can't deny that there isn't any now that I think about it!), weird unexplainable miracles and running away from the enemy who may be right around the corner. It's such a fucking scary book that I'd die if I read it at night. I remember the authors' editor saying at the BEA Young Adult Editor's Buzz Panel that she couldn't sleep after reading this book for the first time. And she had to continuously read it over and over, fixing errors and catching all of the details. I'm going to pee my pants of fear.
The horror which the authors incorporate in their plot and premise is not your ordinary serial-killer, I'm-going-to-get-you kind of thing. It's more like: hearing voices that you can't explain, wondering if it's just you and where your buddies are, all stuck on this gigantic island that once was your home but isn't anymore. Readers (at least myself) try to put themselves in the characters' shoes, although it's nearly impossible because they're just so complex. Fourteen year-olds being complex, you ask? Hell yes. They have their own issues, probably more tough and horrible than any teenager that I know or any of the adults mentioned in the book. Line had his fault with losing his parents, Marin's feeling of stupidity with the sunstone and Kana, well we don't even have to explain that. I can't even try to specify a specific example or else I'll keep going with my theories, it's a scientific novel that has so much more explanation beyond the words and plot. I can't even try to imagine what the authors thought while writing. That number "fourteen" must have some meaning, too.
Without even having to speak about the plot, I can just think about the pace of reading. It took me about three hours to read from start to finish, but this was because I chose to read it in that pace. With my speedy-gonzales speed, it could've taken me two. Halpern and Kujawinski's writing is so fast-paced but there's so much depth in their writing that I'm unable to stop what I'm doing and think about the world beyond their story. If you don't enjoy slow stories, then you're going to love this, contrastingly. NO BORING POINTS WHATSOEVER. From start to finish, I felt myself flipping through the pages like it's familiar to me. They're just such good writers who I wish I could get in the minds of. (Again with the obsessed thing for me.)
"It had been there, lurking in the shadows, in his room, even. It had been waiting for him. It had been in his dreams, which, of course, weren't dreams or warnings that he was going mad. In fact, it had probably known what Kana really was long before Kana, himself, had." (ARC, page 240)
If you don't feel like bothering to read this review, I'm begging you to just take a look at the descriptive writing. Gosh, geez, wow. The way Kana describes his personality, who he is, is extraordinary. The plot twist which the authors had introduced about Kana and him being Marin's twin shocked me until I just couldn't believe it. Something is eerie, is strange, but that strange? I'm completely shocked and still am, someone please hold me and make me feel better!
So the role of the characters in this situation was to give them different views by readers. Marin and Kana were obviously the main characters, and Line was actually supposed to have some distance from us. I expected him to be the weird one since something was fishy about him from the start as he headed to the woods to do who knows what. But in the end, I'll let you know that there were two humans and one non-human who certainly stirred up so much stuff to readers that I couldn't keep myself together. The ending made everything ten times better as well. Authors like these two fabulous guys would certainly never lead readers to what even the characters suspected!
Want a fresh new dystopia that exceeds all of the expectations? Want horror and awesomeness? Yeah, you'll certainly stay up past nightfall when reading still, and right to the dawn of the morning, because you won't be able to get this creepy story out of your head. From now on, whenever I'll see hashmarks, I'll think of this book, and that's a fabulous thing when you're trying to help yourself when surviving on a stranded island. Mr. Halpern and Mr. Kujawinski are authors that everyone needs to keep under their bookish radars, you'll be so impressed! What a stellar addition to my 2015 favourites list!
*A review copy was provided by the publisher via BookExpo America in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*
June 20, 2018
Nightfall is one of those books that grabbed my attention on numerous occasions, repeatedly leaving me curious about the story. Despite my interest, I never went ahead and purchased the book. That is, until it happened accidentally. When looking for some books to complete and offer Nightfall caught my attention and it seemed oddly familiar. Deciding it was the best of the available options, I grabbed the book. It wasn’t until much later that I made the connection between the book I had purchased and the book that had caught my attention on multiple occasions.
In truth, part of the reason why I’d initially been avoiding Nightfall was due to my prejudice towards young adult horror and thriller novels. I never did the young adult thing with these genres, jumping straight into the adult stuff, meaning I always find the young adult books in these genres to be far too predictable and never quite as dark as I would like them to be. That is not to say I do not enjoy them, simply that they never live up to my expectations.
Such was the case with Nightfall. It was an interesting read, I cannot deny that, and yet I had been hoping for so much more. In my mind this book was to be much darker than it was, it would have more scares than it did, and I would be sucked in even deeper than I was. I cannot deny it was an enjoyable enough story, one that had me curious as to how things would come together, but I had been hoping for more from this one.
In truth, this was closer to a three-point-five-star rating than the three-star rating I gave it. The concept was intriguing, and there were so many things to see throughout. Although not everything was given the depth it could have been, you could see what the story was building upon. My biggest issue, however, and the reason why I could not round my rating up, was the number of unanswered questions I had at the end of the story. I felt as though too many things were not given the resolution they should have been given, there were too many things I wanted to understand better, and I wanted a more solid conclusion to certain story treads.
If another story is to be released in this world, I will likely give it a go – namely in hopes of receiving those answers I’m desperate for. As it currently stands, as a standalone novel, Nightfall was not quite all I had hoped it would be.
In truth, part of the reason why I’d initially been avoiding Nightfall was due to my prejudice towards young adult horror and thriller novels. I never did the young adult thing with these genres, jumping straight into the adult stuff, meaning I always find the young adult books in these genres to be far too predictable and never quite as dark as I would like them to be. That is not to say I do not enjoy them, simply that they never live up to my expectations.
Such was the case with Nightfall. It was an interesting read, I cannot deny that, and yet I had been hoping for so much more. In my mind this book was to be much darker than it was, it would have more scares than it did, and I would be sucked in even deeper than I was. I cannot deny it was an enjoyable enough story, one that had me curious as to how things would come together, but I had been hoping for more from this one.
In truth, this was closer to a three-point-five-star rating than the three-star rating I gave it. The concept was intriguing, and there were so many things to see throughout. Although not everything was given the depth it could have been, you could see what the story was building upon. My biggest issue, however, and the reason why I could not round my rating up, was the number of unanswered questions I had at the end of the story. I felt as though too many things were not given the resolution they should have been given, there were too many things I wanted to understand better, and I wanted a more solid conclusion to certain story treads.
If another story is to be released in this world, I will likely give it a go – namely in hopes of receiving those answers I’m desperate for. As it currently stands, as a standalone novel, Nightfall was not quite all I had hoped it would be.
May 30, 2018
FLEE THE NIGHT OR WE WILL COME FOR YOU.
On the island of Bliss, the sun rises every twenty-eight years. After fourteen years of Day, the islanders prepare to leave with the tide. Right before Nightfall, the people of Bliss clean their houses, take the locks off the doors, set the tables and rearrange the furniture. Marin asks her father why they have to follow these rituals, why they're so important, but he's unwilling to tell her.
Just as they're ready to board the ships, a boy, Line, goes missing. Marin and her twin brother, Kana, are the only ones who know where he might be. They decide to rescue him themselves but it may already be too late. Night is falling and the island is changing, the woods are coming alive and the Night-dwellers are awake.
The dark would be with them forever - even in the brightest hours of Day.
Nightfall was atmospheric and creepy without being outright scary. The fear of the unknown made everything more intense. I thought the concept was really unique and it was executed well. I liked the relationships between the characters (especially Marin and Kana) almost more than I liked the characters themselves.
*Trigger Warnings* Suicidal thoughts.
On the island of Bliss, the sun rises every twenty-eight years. After fourteen years of Day, the islanders prepare to leave with the tide. Right before Nightfall, the people of Bliss clean their houses, take the locks off the doors, set the tables and rearrange the furniture. Marin asks her father why they have to follow these rituals, why they're so important, but he's unwilling to tell her.
Just as they're ready to board the ships, a boy, Line, goes missing. Marin and her twin brother, Kana, are the only ones who know where he might be. They decide to rescue him themselves but it may already be too late. Night is falling and the island is changing, the woods are coming alive and the Night-dwellers are awake.
The dark would be with them forever - even in the brightest hours of Day.
Nightfall was atmospheric and creepy without being outright scary. The fear of the unknown made everything more intense. I thought the concept was really unique and it was executed well. I liked the relationships between the characters (especially Marin and Kana) almost more than I liked the characters themselves.
*Trigger Warnings* Suicidal thoughts.
Read
October 4, 2015*SEPT WRAP-UP/OCT TBR + BOOKBUDDYATHON WRAP-UP video https://youtu.be/s11WG-fcg5E
Reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan's stories, especially The Village, due to its dark, lush atmosphere (wonderfully done) and hard-to-place time period (confusing because the world doesn't seem to be Earth, however the teenagers tend to use American sayings). Unfortunately I could see the twisty elements of the plot early on, which wouldn't have mattered so much had there been more character depth and exploration on which to focus instead.
Reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan's stories, especially The Village, due to its dark, lush atmosphere (wonderfully done) and hard-to-place time period (confusing because the world doesn't seem to be Earth, however the teenagers tend to use American sayings). Unfortunately I could see the twisty elements of the plot early on, which wouldn't have mattered so much had there been more character depth and exploration on which to focus instead.
December 4, 2023
So I picked this book up as part of my October horror reading... I thought that premise of a 14 year night and the "survival horror" aspect of this was really appealing, so I snagged it, knowing nothing else about it. And it was... OK.
I don't read much YA anymore... not because of any decision or edict I have made or anything, it's just not what I gravitate toward anymore. So when I realized that this was YA, I was a little surprised, but not dismayed or anything. I just adjusted my expectations.
I didn't really know what to expect from this one though. I assumed that there was some sort of creature that inhabited the island that made it dangerous for the people when night had fallen - that much is clearly obvious - and based on that, and the YA aspect, I assumed some things about the plot which I was 100% correct about. Some details were wrong, but the gist was on point, and it made the story feel predictable and disappointing in key ways. I think that this is one of the reasons I don't go for YA as much anymore. I want the stakes to be more real, the risk to actually feel risky. Deus ex machina was all over this story, and it wasn't subtle at all.
This just wasn't really what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be scary and dread-inducing, and instead it was... kind of like the diner scene from Spaceballs. Yeah, the guy had an alien burst out of his chest, & that's scary -- but then once the alien was in the room, the only scary thing about it was its penchant for musical theater.
And that's where this book fell apart for me. I don't find "other" to be scary. It's just different.
(Spoilery stuff ahead, FYI.)
This book could have gone in the original expected direction of creature that is just what it is, and is inherently dangerous to people because it's instinctually just trying to survive, and day people look like tasty roast turkeys to it just the same as any other prey might... but it didn't. It chose to go in a different direction, and that's where it lost me. If we're being completely honest, I think the actual villains here are the day people. They inhabit, RENT-FREE, completely furnished homes owned by others, and the only things asked of them are 1) to leave the houses how they were found so that the people who put in the work to actually build them aren't having to clean up and repair them after the squatters leave, and 2) leave on time.
Reasonable. So of course they don't do that. The night dwellers are different, have different lifestyles and needs, and those are incompatible with daylight living. Why this is a secret or a point of contention at all is beyond me. They aren't around during the daylight, and don't want you in their homes at night - where you can't survive anyway because you don't have enough food to last a decade and a half of darkness. So. Just... leave then? Without all the ooooh scary scary mystery threat (that is just differently-bodied people who VERY KINDLY AGREED to let you use their shit while they hibernate and your elders entered into an agreement regarding this...).
Like... what's even remotely scary about that? Just tell people the deal. Then they know why they gotta be out on time, and will just DO THAT.
The other aspect of this, the "half-breed" aspect (which is what I totally predicted once I realized that the threat was just other people trying to live on this island, despite their "monstrous" appearance), just annoyed me. First of all, it's impossible to not notice the parallels of day and night / white and black, and it is exactly what you would expect... if you expect negative connotations of the "dark" people and the "light" people are the normal/heroes of the story.
Secondly, as soon as I realized that this was YA, I knew that of course this (compatible reproduction biology be damned) biracial situation would have to occur, because the "dark" side of this character would be needed to help the "light" people survive, and of course there needs to be a "I don't belong in either world" scenario leading to a rejection of one side or the other. Though since the dark side rejects the "half-breed"... it's kinda a moot point.
Honestly, this entire storyline aspect was gross and disappointing to me. Can we just not be like this about people? Can we just be BETTER than that?
I don't read much YA anymore... not because of any decision or edict I have made or anything, it's just not what I gravitate toward anymore. So when I realized that this was YA, I was a little surprised, but not dismayed or anything. I just adjusted my expectations.
I didn't really know what to expect from this one though. I assumed that there was some sort of creature that inhabited the island that made it dangerous for the people when night had fallen - that much is clearly obvious - and based on that, and the YA aspect, I assumed some things about the plot which I was 100% correct about. Some details were wrong, but the gist was on point, and it made the story feel predictable and disappointing in key ways. I think that this is one of the reasons I don't go for YA as much anymore. I want the stakes to be more real, the risk to actually feel risky. Deus ex machina was all over this story, and it wasn't subtle at all.
This just wasn't really what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be scary and dread-inducing, and instead it was... kind of like the diner scene from Spaceballs. Yeah, the guy had an alien burst out of his chest, & that's scary -- but then once the alien was in the room, the only scary thing about it was its penchant for musical theater.
And that's where this book fell apart for me. I don't find "other" to be scary. It's just different.
(Spoilery stuff ahead, FYI.)
This book could have gone in the original expected direction of creature that is just what it is, and is inherently dangerous to people because it's instinctually just trying to survive, and day people look like tasty roast turkeys to it just the same as any other prey might... but it didn't. It chose to go in a different direction, and that's where it lost me. If we're being completely honest, I think the actual villains here are the day people. They inhabit, RENT-FREE, completely furnished homes owned by others, and the only things asked of them are 1) to leave the houses how they were found so that the people who put in the work to actually build them aren't having to clean up and repair them after the squatters leave, and 2) leave on time.
Reasonable. So of course they don't do that. The night dwellers are different, have different lifestyles and needs, and those are incompatible with daylight living. Why this is a secret or a point of contention at all is beyond me. They aren't around during the daylight, and don't want you in their homes at night - where you can't survive anyway because you don't have enough food to last a decade and a half of darkness. So. Just... leave then? Without all the ooooh scary scary mystery threat (that is just differently-bodied people who VERY KINDLY AGREED to let you use their shit while they hibernate and your elders entered into an agreement regarding this...).
Like... what's even remotely scary about that? Just tell people the deal. Then they know why they gotta be out on time, and will just DO THAT.
The other aspect of this, the "half-breed" aspect (which is what I totally predicted once I realized that the threat was just other people trying to live on this island, despite their "monstrous" appearance), just annoyed me. First of all, it's impossible to not notice the parallels of day and night / white and black, and it is exactly what you would expect... if you expect negative connotations of the "dark" people and the "light" people are the normal/heroes of the story.
Secondly, as soon as I realized that this was YA, I knew that of course this (compatible reproduction biology be damned) biracial situation would have to occur, because the "dark" side of this character would be needed to help the "light" people survive, and of course there needs to be a "I don't belong in either world" scenario leading to a rejection of one side or the other. Though since the dark side rejects the "half-breed"... it's kinda a moot point.
Honestly, this entire storyline aspect was gross and disappointing to me. Can we just not be like this about people? Can we just be BETTER than that?
January 25, 2020
3.5 stars.
This book was interesting enough to keep me reading just to see how their journey ended.
I found the concept interesting, with the 14 years of daylight and then the 14 years of darkness. It kept my interest because I was curious to find out what the rituals were about.
The storyline with Kana is what really caught my attention because I really wanted to know his story.
I wasn't really happy with the ending, nor did I like the way the situation with the adults were handled because I don't really know if they knew what was going on on the Island or not.
This book was interesting enough to keep me reading just to see how their journey ended.
I found the concept interesting, with the 14 years of daylight and then the 14 years of darkness. It kept my interest because I was curious to find out what the rituals were about.
The storyline with Kana is what really caught my attention because I really wanted to know his story.
I wasn't really happy with the ending, nor did I like the way the situation with the adults were handled because I don't really know if they knew what was going on on the Island or not.
October 11, 2016
There are two songs at the end of this audiobook that you probably didn't get to experience if you read the print edition. They're both by Nancy Celia Rose Kujawinski.
“Other Side of Me”
and
“Hand Over Hand”
They're obviously completely inspired by this book, like on-the-nose so.
Alright.
The premise: The town of Bliss has to evacuate every 14 years when Nightfall comes. Bliss lies in an area of the world where the sun shines for 14 years and then it's dark for the next 14 years. Like Alaska.
During the day, the people of Bliss have their normal village life (for 14 years)
and when the Sea Hag is visible in the ocean because the tide is going out, they know it's time to pack their crap, clean their houses and put everything back the way it was when they got there, and head down to the docks where a bunch of boats will show up to transport them to the desert.
This year, three kids are left behind for reasons and they find out why their kinfolk all leave when darkness falls.
When I began to listen to this, I was reminded of The Scorpio Races but when everyone had left the island, it had a Spirited Away vibe - all the things that come out at night, and all. It changed again and was sort of The Princess Bride-ish, complete with an ROUS and everything, but without the humor.
Then it just turned into one thing after another, always a fresh new tragedy and I had to start sighing impatiently. Why these people just didn't live in the desert year-round, instead of hopping back and forth every 14 years, is beyond me. I mean, I'm sure they said why but I'd probably tuned them out and I don't remember the reason.
All in all, I felt like I was listening to a mish-mash of other stories with which I'm fairly familiar but since there's nothing new under the sun, that's not such an unexpected occurrence. The reader was good, the story was entertaining, but don't think it will remain in my consciousness for long.
December 2, 2015
Well, what a predicament. Nightfall was nothing like I thought it would be, and while I'm generally ok with being pleasantly surprised, I truly wanted more from this book. I was expecting horror, creeping dread, and something truly frightening for our protagonists to face off against. What I got was...well...only snippets and glimpses of those things.
That's not to say that Nightfall is a bad book. It isn't. The premise is truly unique, and the first third of the book is genuinely engaging, albeit a little emotionless. We are introduced to all three main characters pretty quickly, and as night begins to fall, they become surrogates for the reader as their world dissolves into turmoil. We don't know what's going on, because they don't know what's going on. In fact, there's really no summary or exposition to set the tone...we just meet the characters and follow them through the events as they unfold. And even if all three of them read similarly, the initial mystery is distracting enough to carry the tale. The bizarre rituals, strange markings, and ominous warnings are all interesting (and potentially terrifying), and I found myself eagerly awaiting the reveals: the WHY'S to the mysterious WHAT'S. When our characters first encounter the danger on the island, the menace, and their fear of it, is palpable. It’s very addicting stuff, and I burned through the first third of the book in one sitting.
Unfortunately, the initial mysteries are the only things that try to hook the audience. And while I am ok with a little ambiguity, just about NONE of the mysteries get answered by the end of the tale. Or if they do, it’s basically with a “just because”. And that was honestly not good enough for me. The stage was set for some really interesting and dark revelations, and they just didn’t come. Everything else was just kind of…meh. As I stated earlier, the characters don’t read much differently, except for maybe Kana, and that’s to be expected. Things just kind of happen, and our characters just kind of react to them. The threats on the island are menacing at first, but then are far less so as they are revealed further. Who or what are they? Dunno. Why the EXACT rules that the inhabitants of Bliss must follow? Dunno…just cuz. (On a side note, if the people of Bliss aren’t on the island during the dark, and the…”Others” don’t come around during the day, what are the Others really going to do about it if the rules are broken?). Why try to kill our main characters at first, and then be content to torment and trap them later? Dunno.
There are a couple of reveals that may surprise some readers, but they were telegraphed so early on that I wasn’t caught off guard. They were worthy reveals, and added weight to the story, but they weren’t handled as well as they could have been. In fact, that’s probably my biggest gripe. There were so many cool concepts and mysteries in place, and they really weren’t as impactful as they could have been. Maybe that’s why I seem so down on this book…so much potential, and so little of it used.
Despite all my negatives, I still managed to enjoy the book. Maybe I went into it with too high of expectations based off the initial reviews. If so, that’s my bad, and no fault of the authors. The world was unique, the story started strong, and the writing was acceptable. I am hoping that the authors learn from this, and can up the ante for their next collaboration.
That's not to say that Nightfall is a bad book. It isn't. The premise is truly unique, and the first third of the book is genuinely engaging, albeit a little emotionless. We are introduced to all three main characters pretty quickly, and as night begins to fall, they become surrogates for the reader as their world dissolves into turmoil. We don't know what's going on, because they don't know what's going on. In fact, there's really no summary or exposition to set the tone...we just meet the characters and follow them through the events as they unfold. And even if all three of them read similarly, the initial mystery is distracting enough to carry the tale. The bizarre rituals, strange markings, and ominous warnings are all interesting (and potentially terrifying), and I found myself eagerly awaiting the reveals: the WHY'S to the mysterious WHAT'S. When our characters first encounter the danger on the island, the menace, and their fear of it, is palpable. It’s very addicting stuff, and I burned through the first third of the book in one sitting.
Unfortunately, the initial mysteries are the only things that try to hook the audience. And while I am ok with a little ambiguity, just about NONE of the mysteries get answered by the end of the tale. Or if they do, it’s basically with a “just because”. And that was honestly not good enough for me. The stage was set for some really interesting and dark revelations, and they just didn’t come. Everything else was just kind of…meh. As I stated earlier, the characters don’t read much differently, except for maybe Kana, and that’s to be expected. Things just kind of happen, and our characters just kind of react to them. The threats on the island are menacing at first, but then are far less so as they are revealed further. Who or what are they? Dunno. Why the EXACT rules that the inhabitants of Bliss must follow? Dunno…just cuz. (On a side note, if the people of Bliss aren’t on the island during the dark, and the…”Others” don’t come around during the day, what are the Others really going to do about it if the rules are broken?). Why try to kill our main characters at first, and then be content to torment and trap them later? Dunno.
There are a couple of reveals that may surprise some readers, but they were telegraphed so early on that I wasn’t caught off guard. They were worthy reveals, and added weight to the story, but they weren’t handled as well as they could have been. In fact, that’s probably my biggest gripe. There were so many cool concepts and mysteries in place, and they really weren’t as impactful as they could have been. Maybe that’s why I seem so down on this book…so much potential, and so little of it used.
Despite all my negatives, I still managed to enjoy the book. Maybe I went into it with too high of expectations based off the initial reviews. If so, that’s my bad, and no fault of the authors. The world was unique, the story started strong, and the writing was acceptable. I am hoping that the authors learn from this, and can up the ante for their next collaboration.
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