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Children of the Night
Venice, 1865: Sixteen-year-old Ayanda Draculesti doesn't remember her early life—all she knows is that she was found as a small child, wandering the streets of Venice with an intricate medallion and a mangled left arm. She knows that she's an Unnatural, an alchemical being created with strange abilities. She knows that if anyone finds out, she'll die at the hands of an angry mob.
But Ayanda is unique even among Unnaturals--even though she's alive, she has the powers of a vampire. She has the strength and speed to battle them, and most importantly, the will. She won't let another child die.
Ayanda isn't the only young Unnatural in Venice. Ghostly Yurei is in hiding, fleeing the captors determined to turn him into an assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein are on the run from alchemists who want them dead and dissected. Their paths and Ayanda's collide when a brutal enemy surfaces that threatens them all: one of the Greater Dead, a vampire that slithers through Venice murdering everyone she encounters.
This vampire isn’t on the hunt. She has plans, more sinister and dangerous than anyone can imagine.
Ayanda is determined to stop this Dead creature before she kills again. Yurei, Jette and Belle aren't. Why should they risk their lives to save people who see them as monsters? All they’ve ever known is hate and fear. They owe the world nothing.
But Ayanda can't defeat a Dead creature alone.
But Ayanda is unique even among Unnaturals--even though she's alive, she has the powers of a vampire. She has the strength and speed to battle them, and most importantly, the will. She won't let another child die.
Ayanda isn't the only young Unnatural in Venice. Ghostly Yurei is in hiding, fleeing the captors determined to turn him into an assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein are on the run from alchemists who want them dead and dissected. Their paths and Ayanda's collide when a brutal enemy surfaces that threatens them all: one of the Greater Dead, a vampire that slithers through Venice murdering everyone she encounters.
This vampire isn’t on the hunt. She has plans, more sinister and dangerous than anyone can imagine.
Ayanda is determined to stop this Dead creature before she kills again. Yurei, Jette and Belle aren't. Why should they risk their lives to save people who see them as monsters? All they’ve ever known is hate and fear. They owe the world nothing.
But Ayanda can't defeat a Dead creature alone.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2021
About the author
Zan Safra
5 books29 followersDenizen of Innsmouth. Makes up outrageous lies in book form while awaiting her return to the Deep.
I can also perform Dwight Frye's "Rats!" monologue pretty effectively.
That didn't go over well when I was in kindergarten.
I can also perform Dwight Frye's "Rats!" monologue pretty effectively.
That didn't go over well when I was in kindergarten.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 29, 2021
What do you get when you cross historical Venice with science fiction? This was definitely a mash up that I never knew I needed. Each of the main cast of characters appears to have been inspired by classic horror characters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and even the Phantom of the Opera. Add a dash of Vampire Hunting and you've got Children of the Night! I loved the subtle homage to classic horror. Safra has a way with words that, at times, I stopped just to appreciate the imagery. If you enjoy supernatural, slightly historical, and a lot of sci-fi, definitely check this one out!
August 25, 2021
Set in 1865 four famous gothic monsters are re-imagined as super-powered teenagers in a steam-punk universe, and must battle a vampire revolutionary to save the city and the world.
This is not my usual genre of reading, but I decided to give it a go because the blurb sounded intriguing and pretty cool. From vampires to the un-dead this book has it all. It's written in first person from the POV of several characters who we learn about along the way, which eventually all meet and merge together to fight the forces of evil. I'll admit it didn't grab me from the start. It took me a fair few chapters until I was able to grasp what was going on and as the plot thickened I found myself getting lost from all the back and forth between the characters. Despite this I found the characters interesting and the story in depth and thorough. I'm not sure I totally grasped the ending, as it didn't leave me shocked or satisfied. It was an ending and that's that.
Children of the Night has a very thorough and complicated storyline. The world that was created within the pages is fascinating and had many intricate aspects that I really enjoyed. The imagination that has gone into this story is something to behold and I really like the cover as well, which is another reason I was drawn into reading it.
It did have a slow start to begin with and the story line didn't appear to flow that well and I got a bit confused (maybe that's just me!) I'm not used to reading this genre so I don't have many examples to compare it to. However, overall, I'd still recommend this book to those who enjoy vampire and high fantasy books. I'd say it's a good young adult book as well.
This is not my usual genre of reading, but I decided to give it a go because the blurb sounded intriguing and pretty cool. From vampires to the un-dead this book has it all. It's written in first person from the POV of several characters who we learn about along the way, which eventually all meet and merge together to fight the forces of evil. I'll admit it didn't grab me from the start. It took me a fair few chapters until I was able to grasp what was going on and as the plot thickened I found myself getting lost from all the back and forth between the characters. Despite this I found the characters interesting and the story in depth and thorough. I'm not sure I totally grasped the ending, as it didn't leave me shocked or satisfied. It was an ending and that's that.
Children of the Night has a very thorough and complicated storyline. The world that was created within the pages is fascinating and had many intricate aspects that I really enjoyed. The imagination that has gone into this story is something to behold and I really like the cover as well, which is another reason I was drawn into reading it.
It did have a slow start to begin with and the story line didn't appear to flow that well and I got a bit confused (maybe that's just me!) I'm not used to reading this genre so I don't have many examples to compare it to. However, overall, I'd still recommend this book to those who enjoy vampire and high fantasy books. I'd say it's a good young adult book as well.
August 15, 2021
The Umbrella Academy meets the Witcher! Monsters and "super heroes" with a twist. The characters are very likable, the writing is fluid and captivating and the ending does not disappoint! My only slight of negative criticism would be that it took me a minute to remember which character had which ability, but that is my own fault. Finished the second half of this book in one sitting, definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys the supernatural
October 17, 2021
(4,5 ☆)
Sixteen year old Ayanda Draculesti has no memory of where she's from. As a small child she was found on the streets of Venice with a mangled left arm. She knows she's an Unnatural, created by alchemy, and if anyone finds out her life is in danger. But she's not the only Unnatural in Venice. Yurei, the Phantom, is on the run from his captors who want to turn him into an assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein have escaped alchemists who want to do experiment on them. When a strong vampire comes to the city they have to work together, because she's not only out to kill. She wants to conquer and destroy...
A mix of steampunk and urban fantasy, where the scene is historical Venice in 1865, and the characters based on classic horror icons: Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Frankenstein. This setup could either be a mess, or the best thing ever. I'm happy to say that Zan Safra verge on the latter! I enjoy the environment, to spend time with and get to know the characters, and the whole atmosphere!
This book is really close to getting a full score from me, but there's a couple of things that make me hold back slightly. Usually I love books that are written in first person, but here we get too many POV's. When chapters are split between four different characters I often forget whose head I'm in at the moment. I also have some problem with understanding all their abilities, and that too makes it easy to mix up the characters. I also have to admit that I don't always understand everything that's happening, but I think that has more to do with me than with the author's writing. 😉
I look forward to get to know more about Ayanda and the others in the next book in the series, which is scheduled to release in May 2022. Before that there will be a follow-up novella, in December. Give it to me, please!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
Sixteen year old Ayanda Draculesti has no memory of where she's from. As a small child she was found on the streets of Venice with a mangled left arm. She knows she's an Unnatural, created by alchemy, and if anyone finds out her life is in danger. But she's not the only Unnatural in Venice. Yurei, the Phantom, is on the run from his captors who want to turn him into an assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein have escaped alchemists who want to do experiment on them. When a strong vampire comes to the city they have to work together, because she's not only out to kill. She wants to conquer and destroy...
A mix of steampunk and urban fantasy, where the scene is historical Venice in 1865, and the characters based on classic horror icons: Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Frankenstein. This setup could either be a mess, or the best thing ever. I'm happy to say that Zan Safra verge on the latter! I enjoy the environment, to spend time with and get to know the characters, and the whole atmosphere!
This book is really close to getting a full score from me, but there's a couple of things that make me hold back slightly. Usually I love books that are written in first person, but here we get too many POV's. When chapters are split between four different characters I often forget whose head I'm in at the moment. I also have some problem with understanding all their abilities, and that too makes it easy to mix up the characters. I also have to admit that I don't always understand everything that's happening, but I think that has more to do with me than with the author's writing. 😉
I look forward to get to know more about Ayanda and the others in the next book in the series, which is scheduled to release in May 2022. Before that there will be a follow-up novella, in December. Give it to me, please!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
May 23, 2021
Fusing hard SF with dark urban fantasy, Safra’s thoroughly engrossing tale is marked with intrigue, mystery, magic, and murder.
It’s been five hundred years since the dead last ravaged the Continent. But one of them is back, bringing chaos and murder in its wake. An Unnatural, sixteen-year-old Ayanda Draculesti is the only one who can battle the dead. But the enemy she’s facing is calculating and clever. Ayanda must unite with some of her own if she wants to defeat the savage monster.
Safra weaves in convincing descriptions of her protagonists’ struggles with their inner demons, and depicts a fascinatingly complex heroine in Ayanda, who, despite her self-doubts and vulnerabilities radiates strength and resilience.
She fleshes out this bleak but brilliant world where the Unnaturals face complex moral dilemmas, exploring what it means to be alive through the woes of Ayanda and her friends.
Dark intrigue, well-constructed fight scenes, and a lot of heart make for an addictive steampunk read.
It’s been five hundred years since the dead last ravaged the Continent. But one of them is back, bringing chaos and murder in its wake. An Unnatural, sixteen-year-old Ayanda Draculesti is the only one who can battle the dead. But the enemy she’s facing is calculating and clever. Ayanda must unite with some of her own if she wants to defeat the savage monster.
Safra weaves in convincing descriptions of her protagonists’ struggles with their inner demons, and depicts a fascinatingly complex heroine in Ayanda, who, despite her self-doubts and vulnerabilities radiates strength and resilience.
She fleshes out this bleak but brilliant world where the Unnaturals face complex moral dilemmas, exploring what it means to be alive through the woes of Ayanda and her friends.
Dark intrigue, well-constructed fight scenes, and a lot of heart make for an addictive steampunk read.
July 8, 2021
I received a free advanced copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow. This is a fun and unique blend of science fiction and fantasy, all with a dark twist. Usually, if these two are blended, one is more dominant but this one is beautifully balanced. It’s pure science-fantasy, always a pleasure to visit.
The beginning is a wonderful start and grabs hold if your attention and thrusts a lot of questions into your mind. I was intrigued and fascinated, wanting to explore more if the world and glad for the characters I had to explore it with.
The middle is probably where the story loses a wee bit of steam. It’s not enough to make you put it down but the balance does feel a bit off for a few chapters. Once you push past it though, the ending makes up for it!
All in all, a beautiful piece and a fun journey worth taking.
Wow. This is a fun and unique blend of science fiction and fantasy, all with a dark twist. Usually, if these two are blended, one is more dominant but this one is beautifully balanced. It’s pure science-fantasy, always a pleasure to visit.
The beginning is a wonderful start and grabs hold if your attention and thrusts a lot of questions into your mind. I was intrigued and fascinated, wanting to explore more if the world and glad for the characters I had to explore it with.
The middle is probably where the story loses a wee bit of steam. It’s not enough to make you put it down but the balance does feel a bit off for a few chapters. Once you push past it though, the ending makes up for it!
All in all, a beautiful piece and a fun journey worth taking.
February 12, 2022
This is a fun and unique blend of science fiction and fantasy, all with a dark twist.
Usually, if these two are blended, one is more dominant, but this one is balanced very well. It's pure science-fantasy, always a pleasure to visit.
The beginning is a wonderful start and grabs hold of your attention and thrusts a lot of questions into your mind. I was intrigued and fascinated, wanting to explore more of the world and glad for the characters I had to explore it with.
The middle is probably where the story loses a wee bit of steam. It’s not enough to make you put it down, but the balance feels a bit off for a few chapters. Once you push past it, though, the ending makes up for it!
A beautiful piece and a fun journey worth taking.
Thank you to StoryOrigin for the free audiobook for my honest review.
Usually, if these two are blended, one is more dominant, but this one is balanced very well. It's pure science-fantasy, always a pleasure to visit.
The beginning is a wonderful start and grabs hold of your attention and thrusts a lot of questions into your mind. I was intrigued and fascinated, wanting to explore more of the world and glad for the characters I had to explore it with.
The middle is probably where the story loses a wee bit of steam. It’s not enough to make you put it down, but the balance feels a bit off for a few chapters. Once you push past it, though, the ending makes up for it!
A beautiful piece and a fun journey worth taking.
Thank you to StoryOrigin for the free audiobook for my honest review.
October 18, 2021
In an alternative nineteenth-century Venice, monsters exist, living in the shadows hidden away from humans. The Unnaturals, alchemical experiments escaped from laboratories, are feared and hunted by the Naturals. When a vicious Dead vampire killer starts terrorising the citizens of Venice, a team of Unnatural teenagers might be the city's only hope.
Children of the Night is an original and captivating reimagining of famous gothic monsters as teenagers in a dark steampunk universe reminiscent of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The story is narrated in the first person through multiple POVs, giving the reader a chance to slowly get to know all the main characters and their painful, dark pasts.
I really enjoyed how the author employed familiar elements from classic gothic tales and weaved them into a new, original storyline and setting. This Venice is highly atmospheric and its complex social dynamics are explored without being too obvious in its underlying themes of diversity, discrimination and inclusion.
I struggled a bit to get into this book at first, as the first few chapters seem to move quite slowly, and the multiple POVs were initially quite disorientating for me. While the plot is intriguing and gripping enough, it didn't always flow smoothly and I was left feeling confused more than once.
The characters were fascinating but, despite the first-person narration, I felt like they could have benefited from being fleshed out a bit more. Several past elements affecting their behaviour at the time of the book are alluded to or briefly introduced but never fully explored, and I was left slightly unsatisfied by this. Their personal development also seems extremely limited, even though there were a few good examples of that.
The secondary characters get very little air time and are almost instantly forgettable, which is a shame as some of them (particularly Madrina and the rest of Ayanda's community) seemed very interesting, and I would have loved to get to know them more. The ending does seem to leave this open to further developments and future books though, so I hope we'll get to see much more of all these characters in the rest of the series.
Despite a few minor issues, the author delivers a great novel that beautifully showcases her rich imagination and her ability to create complex, three-dimensional worlds and characters, and I look forward to seeing how this will be developed in future books.
Overall, Children of the Night is a gripping and engaging read which will appeal to lovers of fantasy and gothic novels and is a perfect addition to spooky season reading lists.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery. I received an advanced review copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
Children of the Night is an original and captivating reimagining of famous gothic monsters as teenagers in a dark steampunk universe reminiscent of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The story is narrated in the first person through multiple POVs, giving the reader a chance to slowly get to know all the main characters and their painful, dark pasts.
I really enjoyed how the author employed familiar elements from classic gothic tales and weaved them into a new, original storyline and setting. This Venice is highly atmospheric and its complex social dynamics are explored without being too obvious in its underlying themes of diversity, discrimination and inclusion.
I struggled a bit to get into this book at first, as the first few chapters seem to move quite slowly, and the multiple POVs were initially quite disorientating for me. While the plot is intriguing and gripping enough, it didn't always flow smoothly and I was left feeling confused more than once.
The characters were fascinating but, despite the first-person narration, I felt like they could have benefited from being fleshed out a bit more. Several past elements affecting their behaviour at the time of the book are alluded to or briefly introduced but never fully explored, and I was left slightly unsatisfied by this. Their personal development also seems extremely limited, even though there were a few good examples of that.
The secondary characters get very little air time and are almost instantly forgettable, which is a shame as some of them (particularly Madrina and the rest of Ayanda's community) seemed very interesting, and I would have loved to get to know them more. The ending does seem to leave this open to further developments and future books though, so I hope we'll get to see much more of all these characters in the rest of the series.
Despite a few minor issues, the author delivers a great novel that beautifully showcases her rich imagination and her ability to create complex, three-dimensional worlds and characters, and I look forward to seeing how this will be developed in future books.
Overall, Children of the Night is a gripping and engaging read which will appeal to lovers of fantasy and gothic novels and is a perfect addition to spooky season reading lists.
For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.
This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery. I received an advanced review copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
October 5, 2021
Children of the Night takes you to Venice in the year 1865. The dead are rising, and even thought the unnaturals are unwanted, they seem to be the only one who can stop them. This book has different POV’s and therefore also different main characters, like Ayanda, Belle, Jette and Yurei. For me, it was hard to keep these characters apart since i found it difficult to understand them and their gifts. This made that the book was confusing for me sometimes. The main themes in this book are trust and that comes to the foreground really well. Overall Children of the Night was a decent read for me.
February 8, 2022
*3.75
~I'd like to thank the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!~
This was definitely a different take on the whole YA vampire trope, and I enjoyed it. Although I can’t say I’ve read this genre much, I’m glad the author took a more realistic approach with the vampires, making them gross rather than romantic, which makes a lot more sense to me.
One thing that really confused me throughout the book though was how the author used the multiple POVs. Even though it was a necessary part of the book and it's style, I just wish the author could have developed each of the characters in the beginning more thoroughly before introducing additional characters.
All in all, I liked this book. The book world (at least how I imagined it) was beautiful, and the characters all had gorgeous names and great personalities. So, whether or not you're into vampire fiction, give this one a try!
~Full Review To Come~
~I'd like to thank the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!~
This was definitely a different take on the whole YA vampire trope, and I enjoyed it. Although I can’t say I’ve read this genre much, I’m glad the author took a more realistic approach with the vampires, making them gross rather than romantic, which makes a lot more sense to me.
One thing that really confused me throughout the book though was how the author used the multiple POVs. Even though it was a necessary part of the book and it's style, I just wish the author could have developed each of the characters in the beginning more thoroughly before introducing additional characters.
All in all, I liked this book. The book world (at least how I imagined it) was beautiful, and the characters all had gorgeous names and great personalities. So, whether or not you're into vampire fiction, give this one a try!
~Full Review To Come~
May 22, 2022
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Children of the Night” takes place in Venice in 1865, within a world where monsters are real. These monsters are called Unnaturals, alchemical experiments with strange abilities who have escaped from the laboratories in which they were held. Unnaturals must hide in the day, only coming out at night to avoid Naturals, ordinary humans who will hunt the Unnaturals to death.
The book opens with the introduction of one such Unnatural, Ayanda Draculesti, who for the most part can pass as an ordinary human. Ayanda’s abilities are unusual: she can battle the Dead and innately knows everything about them. Five hundred years prior, the Dead rose, ravaging the Continent and destroying London and every person within the city. However, Ayanda is on the hunt for “the fiend,” one of the Dead who has returned to terrorize Venice, viciously killing Naturals who cross its path at night. This isn’t just another mindless lesser Dead creature. This creature is clever, calculating and has a plan to conquer Venice and beyond.
Ayanda knows she's the only one who can stop this Dead creature, but she can't do it alone. Told through varying perspectives that vary by chapter, the reader is introduced to other Unnaturals: Yurei, a boy more phantom than human; Jette, an alchemist with a ferocious alternate personality; and Belle, a girl whose past terrifies even other Unnaturals. These Unnaturals have every reason to despise Naturals given the torture they have suffered at their hands. However, seemingly drawn together by fate, Ayanda, Yurei, Jette, and Belle realize they might be the only ones willing, and possibly able, to destroy the fiend and save the city. Fighting to conquer the demons of their past, this rag-tag group of Unnaturals band together to take on evil. With all of them working together, they may have a chance. Just maybe.
This book sucked me in from the opening chapters and didn’t let go. Interweaving characters based upon some of literature’s greatest monsters, the author creates a story that is completely engrossing. I found myself immediately rooting for the Unnatural “monsters,” and sharing their pain as each of their histories was revealed. Rotating through the characters’ perspectives, the book seamlessly intertwines their stories, weaving together a congruous tale of the supernatural mixed with a bit of horror, science fiction and fantasy. The alternating shift of four perspectives could have easily been confusing or distracting, but the author does an amazing job interlacing the characters’ stories, both past and present. The characters are well-developed, painting a picture of their trials and tribulations, forming a strong foundation for the story to unfold upon.
The story itself was inventive and unlike anything I’ve read. The world in which it takes place is like a supernatural, gothic steampunk version of historical Venice. It takes shape beautifully, easily immersing you the fantasy realm of the Naturals, Unnaturals and the Dead. I loved the nod to literature’s great monsters whose stories, in part, shape the main characters. The author skillfully blends together these past literary tales with original histories, character traits and supernatural abilities. The result is a group of original Unnaturals who draw you in, investing you in them, all the while echoing those familiar legends of monsters past. The book’s narrative unravels at a perfect pace, easily flowing from introduction to its strong climax.
All in all, I loved this book so much I didn’t want it to end. Without feeling unfulfilled with its story, the book left me wanting to know even more about these characters, where they came from, and where they were going. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, and I will be watching out for anything else this author writes. I immediately signed up for the author’s mailing list so I don’t miss a thing, purchased her novella follow-up to this book, and placed the next book on pre-order. That’s a rare occurrence for me, and it really highlights just how good this book is. I would recommend this book for both adult and young adult readers, fans of supernatural, fantasy, sci fi, and horror (especially gothic horror) genres, and readers new to said genres. Pick up this book now! You won’t regret it!
“Children of the Night” takes place in Venice in 1865, within a world where monsters are real. These monsters are called Unnaturals, alchemical experiments with strange abilities who have escaped from the laboratories in which they were held. Unnaturals must hide in the day, only coming out at night to avoid Naturals, ordinary humans who will hunt the Unnaturals to death.
The book opens with the introduction of one such Unnatural, Ayanda Draculesti, who for the most part can pass as an ordinary human. Ayanda’s abilities are unusual: she can battle the Dead and innately knows everything about them. Five hundred years prior, the Dead rose, ravaging the Continent and destroying London and every person within the city. However, Ayanda is on the hunt for “the fiend,” one of the Dead who has returned to terrorize Venice, viciously killing Naturals who cross its path at night. This isn’t just another mindless lesser Dead creature. This creature is clever, calculating and has a plan to conquer Venice and beyond.
Ayanda knows she's the only one who can stop this Dead creature, but she can't do it alone. Told through varying perspectives that vary by chapter, the reader is introduced to other Unnaturals: Yurei, a boy more phantom than human; Jette, an alchemist with a ferocious alternate personality; and Belle, a girl whose past terrifies even other Unnaturals. These Unnaturals have every reason to despise Naturals given the torture they have suffered at their hands. However, seemingly drawn together by fate, Ayanda, Yurei, Jette, and Belle realize they might be the only ones willing, and possibly able, to destroy the fiend and save the city. Fighting to conquer the demons of their past, this rag-tag group of Unnaturals band together to take on evil. With all of them working together, they may have a chance. Just maybe.
This book sucked me in from the opening chapters and didn’t let go. Interweaving characters based upon some of literature’s greatest monsters, the author creates a story that is completely engrossing. I found myself immediately rooting for the Unnatural “monsters,” and sharing their pain as each of their histories was revealed. Rotating through the characters’ perspectives, the book seamlessly intertwines their stories, weaving together a congruous tale of the supernatural mixed with a bit of horror, science fiction and fantasy. The alternating shift of four perspectives could have easily been confusing or distracting, but the author does an amazing job interlacing the characters’ stories, both past and present. The characters are well-developed, painting a picture of their trials and tribulations, forming a strong foundation for the story to unfold upon.
The story itself was inventive and unlike anything I’ve read. The world in which it takes place is like a supernatural, gothic steampunk version of historical Venice. It takes shape beautifully, easily immersing you the fantasy realm of the Naturals, Unnaturals and the Dead. I loved the nod to literature’s great monsters whose stories, in part, shape the main characters. The author skillfully blends together these past literary tales with original histories, character traits and supernatural abilities. The result is a group of original Unnaturals who draw you in, investing you in them, all the while echoing those familiar legends of monsters past. The book’s narrative unravels at a perfect pace, easily flowing from introduction to its strong climax.
All in all, I loved this book so much I didn’t want it to end. Without feeling unfulfilled with its story, the book left me wanting to know even more about these characters, where they came from, and where they were going. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, and I will be watching out for anything else this author writes. I immediately signed up for the author’s mailing list so I don’t miss a thing, purchased her novella follow-up to this book, and placed the next book on pre-order. That’s a rare occurrence for me, and it really highlights just how good this book is. I would recommend this book for both adult and young adult readers, fans of supernatural, fantasy, sci fi, and horror (especially gothic horror) genres, and readers new to said genres. Pick up this book now! You won’t regret it!
June 9, 2022
4/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, steampunk, multiple POVs, vampires, reimaginings
Big thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is a clever take on reimaginings, and I liked how different aspects of each of the OG gothic monsters played into the characters. It was fun trying to guess how elements of each of the original stories would come into this book, and potentially future ones.
I liked how seamlessly the monsters, Unnaturals, and steampunk elements fit into 19th century Venice. However, I will say that it didn't really feel like 1800s Venice, it just kind of felt like that setting was there as a prop and not a lot was really done with it, so I'd've liked to see more of that Venetian aspect and more of that historical aspect. I did really like the concept of the Academia and the Scholomance, and think both added a layer of tension and creepiness to things.
Likewise, I enjoyed Ayanda's home and would definitely like to see more of it and her family. They do play a minor role in this book, but I am a kicker for mutants and schools and found families, so I would be satisfied if we could get an entire book dedicated to the Unnatural family living in Venice.
While there are four POVs, I think for this book Ayanda is the main MC. As a Draculesti Unnatural, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Dead (Undead?) and gains strength when near them, so naturally she turns to vampire hunting as a hobby. I would like to know a bit more about this hobby of hers and when it started, because Marina, her adoptive mother, seems fairly surprised at her behavior yet Ayanda seems to have a pretty good grasp on what she's doing so it also feels like it's not a new thing. There's a bit of mystery about Ayanda's background that this book begins to get into, like breadcrumbs, so it'll be interesting to see what else is uncovered about her in future books.
Jette is scientifically minded and is able to work through complex issues and invent helpful things. She has an interesting arc in this story, and while it is necessary for her, I almost wish that she had her own book within which to work these things through. By the end of the book it seems as though she's accepted some things about her dual nature, though of course this could always backslide.
Belle also has a backstory hidden with amnesia, though I think parts of it start coming out in this book. Her existence (or the type of Unnatural that she is) speaks to more layers of living-dead, Natural-Unnatural than is fully covered in this book, so I think it'd be interesting to see where that goes and what's revealed through that. Belle's a loyal one and will fight for her people if given the chance, and despite how unsure she is of her own power at the beginning.
I'll be honest, it really felt like Belle and Jette were going to be a thing in this book, and then one of them drops the word 'sister,' which kind of threw me off. Their relationship definitely felt more like romantic love than familial, so I'm wondering if the author realized that and backtracked or if it's something that will be dealt with in a future book.
Yurei is the character I feel like we know the least about, despite him getting a decent amount of POV time. He seems to have the threads of a couple of different stories in him (Phantom being the most obvious), and I'd like to get better insight into him.
The main chunk of the book is dedicated to hunting the Big Bad vampire, which is likely why Ayanda is the MC. I liked how Safra chose to include a bunch of different kinds of vampires and had them be different species rather than just choosing one or two, I think it made it more interesting and added a good depth to the story. I also thought the different levels of vampires (lesser vs. greater, not-dead servants vs. dead, etc.) were interesting.
This is a fun, action-packed book if you’re looking for a light read!
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, steampunk, multiple POVs, vampires, reimaginings
Big thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is a clever take on reimaginings, and I liked how different aspects of each of the OG gothic monsters played into the characters. It was fun trying to guess how elements of each of the original stories would come into this book, and potentially future ones.
I liked how seamlessly the monsters, Unnaturals, and steampunk elements fit into 19th century Venice. However, I will say that it didn't really feel like 1800s Venice, it just kind of felt like that setting was there as a prop and not a lot was really done with it, so I'd've liked to see more of that Venetian aspect and more of that historical aspect. I did really like the concept of the Academia and the Scholomance, and think both added a layer of tension and creepiness to things.
Likewise, I enjoyed Ayanda's home and would definitely like to see more of it and her family. They do play a minor role in this book, but I am a kicker for mutants and schools and found families, so I would be satisfied if we could get an entire book dedicated to the Unnatural family living in Venice.
While there are four POVs, I think for this book Ayanda is the main MC. As a Draculesti Unnatural, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Dead (Undead?) and gains strength when near them, so naturally she turns to vampire hunting as a hobby. I would like to know a bit more about this hobby of hers and when it started, because Marina, her adoptive mother, seems fairly surprised at her behavior yet Ayanda seems to have a pretty good grasp on what she's doing so it also feels like it's not a new thing. There's a bit of mystery about Ayanda's background that this book begins to get into, like breadcrumbs, so it'll be interesting to see what else is uncovered about her in future books.
Jette is scientifically minded and is able to work through complex issues and invent helpful things. She has an interesting arc in this story, and while it is necessary for her, I almost wish that she had her own book within which to work these things through. By the end of the book it seems as though she's accepted some things about her dual nature, though of course this could always backslide.
Belle also has a backstory hidden with amnesia, though I think parts of it start coming out in this book. Her existence (or the type of Unnatural that she is) speaks to more layers of living-dead, Natural-Unnatural than is fully covered in this book, so I think it'd be interesting to see where that goes and what's revealed through that. Belle's a loyal one and will fight for her people if given the chance, and despite how unsure she is of her own power at the beginning.
I'll be honest, it really felt like Belle and Jette were going to be a thing in this book, and then one of them drops the word 'sister,' which kind of threw me off. Their relationship definitely felt more like romantic love than familial, so I'm wondering if the author realized that and backtracked or if it's something that will be dealt with in a future book.
Yurei is the character I feel like we know the least about, despite him getting a decent amount of POV time. He seems to have the threads of a couple of different stories in him (Phantom being the most obvious), and I'd like to get better insight into him.
The main chunk of the book is dedicated to hunting the Big Bad vampire, which is likely why Ayanda is the MC. I liked how Safra chose to include a bunch of different kinds of vampires and had them be different species rather than just choosing one or two, I think it made it more interesting and added a good depth to the story. I also thought the different levels of vampires (lesser vs. greater, not-dead servants vs. dead, etc.) were interesting.
This is a fun, action-packed book if you’re looking for a light read!
September 16, 2023
Children of the Night leaves me with incredibly mixed feelings. I found the first-person PoV to be obnoxious as hell. The characters narrate their every action and I can’t help but constantly wonder who the fuck they’re narrating these actions to. It’s not told as if they’re relaying past events, in a story format, in a journal, or some other medium. It’s just “And then I did this! And then I did that! And then I thought this!” It gets old really damn fast.
What feels like 80% of the story is world-building and character setup. It got to the point where I was wondering if this story even had a plot, or if it was just a day in the life of these supernatural beings in Venice. It eventually went somewhere, but it felt more as if the author went “Oh yeah, this is supposed to be going somewhere…. AND THEN THIS HAPPENED!!”
On top of it all, the story is one of those “Hit the ground running.” stories where it just dumps you into the middle of a scene and expects you to follow along and understand what the hell is going on. Only to (several chapters later) explain what the fuck is going on and who (or what) anybody is. Initially, I made it several chapters in, but was totally lost and gave up. I returned several months later and began listening, and it still took me a while to get into it. I eventually had to slow the narration speed from 2.55x down to 1.50 and re-listen to the first few chapters to really follow along.
The story seems a bit confused, genre-wise, as it seems to blend fantasy and Sci-Fi, I never could quite figure out when it was supposed to be set. At one point in passing, I heard a character mention some date in the 1800s, but I was honestly having occasional trouble following along due to issues with the narration.
Despite the issues I mentioned above, I did enjoy this book. I like the world building and I’m happy to learn it’s part of a series. Aside from the excessive world-building, it never gave me any indication that it was part of a series, so I was a bit irked by that. It felt like all of this work was being set up for nothing.
As I mentioned above, it’s a very character-driven novel, but I occasionally had issues following along due to the narration. The narrator did an incredible job of scene-setting, accents (at least to my untrained ears), foreign words, and so on; I found some of her character voices to be lackluster. At times, I found it difficult to differentiate the characters from each other and I’d just give up on paying attention altogether. There were multiple instances of repeated dialogue, and unless a chapter or section was repeated from a different character’s PoV, there was an entire section that played twice.
I listened to this book over the course of weeks because I just couldn’t continually follow along and needed mental breaks from it. I have no problem DNF’ing a book, and I’m glad I stuck through it all, as I really did enjoy the world-building and unique lore. I think the series has a lot of potential and intrigue. I found the prose to be beautifully descriptive at times as well. It’s one of those books I suggest reading, but skip the audiobook, unfortunately.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
What feels like 80% of the story is world-building and character setup. It got to the point where I was wondering if this story even had a plot, or if it was just a day in the life of these supernatural beings in Venice. It eventually went somewhere, but it felt more as if the author went “Oh yeah, this is supposed to be going somewhere…. AND THEN THIS HAPPENED!!”
On top of it all, the story is one of those “Hit the ground running.” stories where it just dumps you into the middle of a scene and expects you to follow along and understand what the hell is going on. Only to (several chapters later) explain what the fuck is going on and who (or what) anybody is. Initially, I made it several chapters in, but was totally lost and gave up. I returned several months later and began listening, and it still took me a while to get into it. I eventually had to slow the narration speed from 2.55x down to 1.50 and re-listen to the first few chapters to really follow along.
The story seems a bit confused, genre-wise, as it seems to blend fantasy and Sci-Fi, I never could quite figure out when it was supposed to be set. At one point in passing, I heard a character mention some date in the 1800s, but I was honestly having occasional trouble following along due to issues with the narration.
Despite the issues I mentioned above, I did enjoy this book. I like the world building and I’m happy to learn it’s part of a series. Aside from the excessive world-building, it never gave me any indication that it was part of a series, so I was a bit irked by that. It felt like all of this work was being set up for nothing.
As I mentioned above, it’s a very character-driven novel, but I occasionally had issues following along due to the narration. The narrator did an incredible job of scene-setting, accents (at least to my untrained ears), foreign words, and so on; I found some of her character voices to be lackluster. At times, I found it difficult to differentiate the characters from each other and I’d just give up on paying attention altogether. There were multiple instances of repeated dialogue, and unless a chapter or section was repeated from a different character’s PoV, there was an entire section that played twice.
I listened to this book over the course of weeks because I just couldn’t continually follow along and needed mental breaks from it. I have no problem DNF’ing a book, and I’m glad I stuck through it all, as I really did enjoy the world-building and unique lore. I think the series has a lot of potential and intrigue. I found the prose to be beautifully descriptive at times as well. It’s one of those books I suggest reading, but skip the audiobook, unfortunately.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
October 13, 2021
What if Universal Horror monsters were teenagers in a steampunk version of Venice? This is the question that Zan Safra dares to ask in Children of the Night.
YA steampunk fantasy isn’t really my genre, so I wasn’t sure what to think when I went into this book. But Gothic novels like Dracula and Frankenstein, and reimaginings of said like Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen absolutely are my thing, so I ended up really digging Children of the Night by the end. The book is told from the alternating first-person perspectives of the four main characters-- Ayanda Draculesti, Belle Frankenstein, Jette Jekyll, and Yurei the Phantom—which gives the reader some important insight into who each of these people are while not sacrificing the wider view of the world they inhabit. As their names indicate, each character is a reimagined version of a classic horror villain, and the story drops enough clues about each one’s backstory to make you really sympathise with them and allow them all to feel like natural parts of a united world. That’s not something that every Gothic horror mashup does super well, so huge kudos to Safra for making everything fit.
The plot of Children of the Night is quite complex, but the pacing is tight and the writing style is very clear. The prose itself never left me confused about what was happening in a scene, and Safra’s very visual style of writing made all the scenes feel very real. Unfortunately, I occasionally lost the thread between chapters thanks to the constant shifts in perspective: one chapter will follow one character, and then the next chapter will switch to another character, but it might be another three chapters before you catch up with the first character again. This meant there was some flipping back and forth to remind myself what X character was doing the last time I saw them.
The central conflict of the book was really engaging, but I don’t feel like there was enough focus on the main villain. They were in the shadows a lot of the time, manipulating events from behind the scenes, so I didn’t really connect to them as a character to the extent that I did the heroes. That’s a shame, because like I say, their big evil plan was really interesting. It’s too bad that I didn’t see more of the mastermind themselves.
If you’re a fan of Gothic novels, YA fantasy, or works like Penny Dreadful and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, then this book is definitely worth your time.
YA steampunk fantasy isn’t really my genre, so I wasn’t sure what to think when I went into this book. But Gothic novels like Dracula and Frankenstein, and reimaginings of said like Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen absolutely are my thing, so I ended up really digging Children of the Night by the end. The book is told from the alternating first-person perspectives of the four main characters-- Ayanda Draculesti, Belle Frankenstein, Jette Jekyll, and Yurei the Phantom—which gives the reader some important insight into who each of these people are while not sacrificing the wider view of the world they inhabit. As their names indicate, each character is a reimagined version of a classic horror villain, and the story drops enough clues about each one’s backstory to make you really sympathise with them and allow them all to feel like natural parts of a united world. That’s not something that every Gothic horror mashup does super well, so huge kudos to Safra for making everything fit.
The plot of Children of the Night is quite complex, but the pacing is tight and the writing style is very clear. The prose itself never left me confused about what was happening in a scene, and Safra’s very visual style of writing made all the scenes feel very real. Unfortunately, I occasionally lost the thread between chapters thanks to the constant shifts in perspective: one chapter will follow one character, and then the next chapter will switch to another character, but it might be another three chapters before you catch up with the first character again. This meant there was some flipping back and forth to remind myself what X character was doing the last time I saw them.
The central conflict of the book was really engaging, but I don’t feel like there was enough focus on the main villain. They were in the shadows a lot of the time, manipulating events from behind the scenes, so I didn’t really connect to them as a character to the extent that I did the heroes. That’s a shame, because like I say, their big evil plan was really interesting. It’s too bad that I didn’t see more of the mastermind themselves.
If you’re a fan of Gothic novels, YA fantasy, or works like Penny Dreadful and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, then this book is definitely worth your time.
January 27, 2022
extremely imaginative dark fantasy action and adventure
Heirs to Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and the phantom of the opera all battling vampires in a nineteenth century steampunk Venice like a young adult version of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - yes! This book hooked me from the start.
The world building is incredible in this book. The detail that has gone into the alchemical steampunk world is so rich that I wish the fast paced action had let up a teeny bit so that I could breathe and enjoy this glorious vision.
The characters are well thought out and full of interesting back stories. There’s Ayanda, who grows strong near the undead and has an encyclopedic knowledge of vampires without every learning about them. Belle and Jette, who arrived in Venice by airship after escaping a prison where they were tortured and experimented on. And Yurie, who can fade through walls and make others see what he wants with his words (and likes hanging out in the Venice opera house).
Rounding out the cast are other Unnaturals who live in the Shadow Palace, a blend of Xavier’s academy for gifted students and Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children.
I loved how the author developed the traits of the classic characters to make her own original team, and the details of their abilities were fun to read about. Unfortunately, I found the first person voice of each character to be very similar, and I was sometimes confused by the character jumps between each chapter (despite the author kindly labeling each chapter with the point of view character’s name).
Each character has such a rich backstory that I would have liked to spend longer getting to know them, and I almost felt it was a shame that they shared the book equally as it did a disservice to the depth of character the author obviously worked on. I also found the vague origins of each character started to blur together in my mind after a while, even though each was so distinct, the similarity with how they were portrayed stole some of the variety from them.
The different types of vampire that haunt Venice was astounding, and I enjoyed reading about some that are not written about very often.
The villain was suitably unpleasant and I found the ending emotional and satisfying, while still leaving the way open for more adventures.
I also really liked the cover of this book.
Heirs to Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and the phantom of the opera all battling vampires in a nineteenth century steampunk Venice like a young adult version of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - yes! This book hooked me from the start.
The world building is incredible in this book. The detail that has gone into the alchemical steampunk world is so rich that I wish the fast paced action had let up a teeny bit so that I could breathe and enjoy this glorious vision.
The characters are well thought out and full of interesting back stories. There’s Ayanda, who grows strong near the undead and has an encyclopedic knowledge of vampires without every learning about them. Belle and Jette, who arrived in Venice by airship after escaping a prison where they were tortured and experimented on. And Yurie, who can fade through walls and make others see what he wants with his words (and likes hanging out in the Venice opera house).
Rounding out the cast are other Unnaturals who live in the Shadow Palace, a blend of Xavier’s academy for gifted students and Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children.
I loved how the author developed the traits of the classic characters to make her own original team, and the details of their abilities were fun to read about. Unfortunately, I found the first person voice of each character to be very similar, and I was sometimes confused by the character jumps between each chapter (despite the author kindly labeling each chapter with the point of view character’s name).
Each character has such a rich backstory that I would have liked to spend longer getting to know them, and I almost felt it was a shame that they shared the book equally as it did a disservice to the depth of character the author obviously worked on. I also found the vague origins of each character started to blur together in my mind after a while, even though each was so distinct, the similarity with how they were portrayed stole some of the variety from them.
The different types of vampire that haunt Venice was astounding, and I enjoyed reading about some that are not written about very often.
The villain was suitably unpleasant and I found the ending emotional and satisfying, while still leaving the way open for more adventures.
I also really liked the cover of this book.
February 1, 2022
Children of the Night is a fabulous gothic steampunk adventure with vampires. Set in Venice in 1865, an undercover group of Unnaturals with superpowers fight an evil vampire threat while the future of the city and its inhabitants hangs in the balance.
This story literally grabs you by the throat from page one and carries the reader at a cracking pace, almost to the point where you want to beg the author to stop and let the characters breathe for a moment. The action is quick and sharp with short descriptive sentences that throw you from one point to another at alarming speed. The characters are beautifully drawn and the descriptive writing lush with wonderfully inventive vernacular, from classifications of the dead to innovative uses of alchemy and automata.
Structurally, the book has a good story arc, but I would say that as a reader I needed a little more time to get to know the characters before all hell broke loose. There was a bit of downtime about two thirds of the way in, which worked really well as the calm before the finale. A bit of time earlier in the book to get to know the world as it was before it turned crazy would have worked for me as a reader. That said, the finale was well handled and certainly delivered on all the promise of the earlier half of the book.
I would recommend this to readers who love steampunk, as the handling of theme, setting and descriptive passages will really appeal to that audience. I’m indifferent about vampires, but the author created a new spin on the dead that is really worth a read. I loved the linking of names of the Unnaturals with classic nineteenth century literary characters – a nice steampunk touch that will resonate with readers of the genre.
This story literally grabs you by the throat from page one and carries the reader at a cracking pace, almost to the point where you want to beg the author to stop and let the characters breathe for a moment. The action is quick and sharp with short descriptive sentences that throw you from one point to another at alarming speed. The characters are beautifully drawn and the descriptive writing lush with wonderfully inventive vernacular, from classifications of the dead to innovative uses of alchemy and automata.
Structurally, the book has a good story arc, but I would say that as a reader I needed a little more time to get to know the characters before all hell broke loose. There was a bit of downtime about two thirds of the way in, which worked really well as the calm before the finale. A bit of time earlier in the book to get to know the world as it was before it turned crazy would have worked for me as a reader. That said, the finale was well handled and certainly delivered on all the promise of the earlier half of the book.
I would recommend this to readers who love steampunk, as the handling of theme, setting and descriptive passages will really appeal to that audience. I’m indifferent about vampires, but the author created a new spin on the dead that is really worth a read. I loved the linking of names of the Unnaturals with classic nineteenth century literary characters – a nice steampunk touch that will resonate with readers of the genre.
Read
May 24, 2022Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr
A dark, tense tale with a lot of action, interesting cast, and some fun literary references. Writing is sometimes hard to follow.
About
In an alternate Venice, the Dead stalk the streets at night. Mindless. Thirsty for blood. Only Ayanda has the strength to kill them, with a power that even she isn't fully sure how she got. But there are others like her, all with secret pasts of their own. And only together will they be able to overcome an evil even more calculating and sinister than the Dead.
What I Liked
I very much enjoy a literary reference that doesn't spend too much time congratulating itself. This book has several, including a handful of more subtle ones that fans of classic literature will find very satisfying. The lead characters all had unique powers and backstories, and the supporting cast are all very interesting. My runaway favorite character wound up being Andreas, who isn't even one of the POV characters. A lot of big fight scenes with a tense underlying mood that doesn't let up, and a genuinely threatening final villain. Anyone looking for something dark with a lot of action scenes will find them there.
What Wasn't For Me
The writing style didn't click with me. I had trouble differentiating between metaphor and literal in a lot of spaces. I think Yurei has synesthesia, but I'm not sure, because maybe the colors he sees are metaphors. Several points where someone's body turned "to stone" or their legs "turned to water" are probably metaphors, but given the context of powers in this world, I briefly assumed they might also be literal. The story is told from multiple first person POVs, and I sometimes struggled to identify which character's POV I was reading.
tl;dr
A dark, tense tale with a lot of action, interesting cast, and some fun literary references. Writing is sometimes hard to follow.
About
In an alternate Venice, the Dead stalk the streets at night. Mindless. Thirsty for blood. Only Ayanda has the strength to kill them, with a power that even she isn't fully sure how she got. But there are others like her, all with secret pasts of their own. And only together will they be able to overcome an evil even more calculating and sinister than the Dead.
What I Liked
I very much enjoy a literary reference that doesn't spend too much time congratulating itself. This book has several, including a handful of more subtle ones that fans of classic literature will find very satisfying. The lead characters all had unique powers and backstories, and the supporting cast are all very interesting. My runaway favorite character wound up being Andreas, who isn't even one of the POV characters. A lot of big fight scenes with a tense underlying mood that doesn't let up, and a genuinely threatening final villain. Anyone looking for something dark with a lot of action scenes will find them there.
What Wasn't For Me
The writing style didn't click with me. I had trouble differentiating between metaphor and literal in a lot of spaces. I think Yurei has synesthesia, but I'm not sure, because maybe the colors he sees are metaphors. Several points where someone's body turned "to stone" or their legs "turned to water" are probably metaphors, but given the context of powers in this world, I briefly assumed they might also be literal. The story is told from multiple first person POVs, and I sometimes struggled to identify which character's POV I was reading.
March 31, 2026
A lush, gothic debut where the monsters are the heroes Venice deserves
Zan Safra delivers a compelling alternate history that reimagines 1865 Venice as hunting ground for the Unnaturals, alchemical beings with strange abilities who live in constant fear of mob violence. Ayanda Draculesti, found wandering as a child with a mangled arm and intricate medallion, possesses vampire powers without undeath, making her uniquely equipped to battle the Greater Dead who slithers through the city murdering indiscriminately.
What distinguishes this from standard vampire fare is Safra's ensemble approach. Ghostly Yurei hides from captors determined to make him assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein flee alchemists who want them dissected. Their collision with Ayanda creates genuine moral complexity: why should they risk lives for a world that hates them? The prose balances steampunk atmosphere with YA emotional immediacy, allowing the Gothic setting to serve character rather than overwhelm. With 81 ratings and 59 reviews indicating solid reader engagement, this series launch demonstrates the power of trusting young adult readers with genuine questions about monstrosity, community, and whether survival demands isolation. The confrontation with a vampire who has plans more sinister than simple hunger suggests epic scope while maintaining intimate stakes. For fans of "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender" or "This Savage Song," this offers similar pleasures with distinctive alchemical worldbuilding.
Zan Safra delivers a compelling alternate history that reimagines 1865 Venice as hunting ground for the Unnaturals, alchemical beings with strange abilities who live in constant fear of mob violence. Ayanda Draculesti, found wandering as a child with a mangled arm and intricate medallion, possesses vampire powers without undeath, making her uniquely equipped to battle the Greater Dead who slithers through the city murdering indiscriminately.
What distinguishes this from standard vampire fare is Safra's ensemble approach. Ghostly Yurei hides from captors determined to make him assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein flee alchemists who want them dissected. Their collision with Ayanda creates genuine moral complexity: why should they risk lives for a world that hates them? The prose balances steampunk atmosphere with YA emotional immediacy, allowing the Gothic setting to serve character rather than overwhelm. With 81 ratings and 59 reviews indicating solid reader engagement, this series launch demonstrates the power of trusting young adult readers with genuine questions about monstrosity, community, and whether survival demands isolation. The confrontation with a vampire who has plans more sinister than simple hunger suggests epic scope while maintaining intimate stakes. For fans of "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender" or "This Savage Song," this offers similar pleasures with distinctive alchemical worldbuilding.
July 15, 2021
WHAT A JOURNEY!
Children of the Night follows Ayanda, Jette, Yurei, and Belle as they navigate the world of naturals as unnaturals. Ayanda Draculesti is the only one capable of fighting the dead. With the determination to do so, she sets out to put an end to their tyranny. When she meets Jette, Yurei, and Belle, her plans shift and mold to fit them. Each character is not without their demons. Fighting off their pasts and experiences, they must learn to work together to stop the dead, whom are set out on destruction.
Every aspect of this story melded together nicely. The characters complimented one another, the setting felt realistic, and the plotlines were plausible. Oozing with magic and depth, this story really lifts off the pages. The world is on the cusp of realistic that it feels like you travel there when reading. Each character seems like someone you could meet walking down the street. The realisticness of the story was fantastic and truly special.
I personally struggle to read novels with multiple first person POVs. The author did a great job at deciphering between the characters and keeping each one individualized enough to separate them from the others.
Overall, a fantastic Gothic YA novel rich with unique concepts that blow you away.
I received an ARC copy of this book, which did not influence or change my opinions or reviews of this book and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Children of the Night follows Ayanda, Jette, Yurei, and Belle as they navigate the world of naturals as unnaturals. Ayanda Draculesti is the only one capable of fighting the dead. With the determination to do so, she sets out to put an end to their tyranny. When she meets Jette, Yurei, and Belle, her plans shift and mold to fit them. Each character is not without their demons. Fighting off their pasts and experiences, they must learn to work together to stop the dead, whom are set out on destruction.
Every aspect of this story melded together nicely. The characters complimented one another, the setting felt realistic, and the plotlines were plausible. Oozing with magic and depth, this story really lifts off the pages. The world is on the cusp of realistic that it feels like you travel there when reading. Each character seems like someone you could meet walking down the street. The realisticness of the story was fantastic and truly special.
I personally struggle to read novels with multiple first person POVs. The author did a great job at deciphering between the characters and keeping each one individualized enough to separate them from the others.
Overall, a fantastic Gothic YA novel rich with unique concepts that blow you away.
I received an ARC copy of this book, which did not influence or change my opinions or reviews of this book and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
January 4, 2025
This was….everything I needed, wanted, and yearned for?? I can take or leave vampire stories, but Zan Safra wrote one banger of a vampire story. Same for the steampunk. At least in my experience, when I read an author who merges so many atmospheres together- in this case, a dash of historical fiction, a whole bunch o’ steampunk, and vampires/monsters galore- there are bound to be discrepancies. Welp, not here! I’m giddy with just how well everything came together and felt like it was meant to be written this way. Clearly Safra loves this world and it shines through splendidly. While it isn’t uncommon for a fantasy hero to be exposed to a whole bunch of trauma and life woes, Ayanda is on another level, but still stays true to her goodness which is wonderfully refreshing to read about. Belle and Jette are probably the most obviously “retold” characters, but it didn’t break immersion or make me feel like I wasn’t reading about these characters in their own right. Safra is able to do that: take well known stories and characters but let them easily stand on their own two feet in this unique, lively world. It makes the reading experience fun for people who want to be reminded of classics, or people like myself. I like retellings, but when the world feels so different, I tend to want the characters to feel different too. And… somehow… all of this is true?? Truly, really, very good novel.
January 10, 2022
I love vampire stories, the creepier the better. After Twilight took over the genre, I've found that most vampire stories these days follow the tired trope of "handsome vampire who the main character falls for immediately." I found the approach refreshing.
The characters are interesting and have unique skills and powers. The story is set in the beautiful city of Venice. The author does a lovely job of pulling us into the world. What is not to love about Venetian canals and architecture? At times, the world does seem very dark, and I wonder if there is ever any light in this city. The automation and aetherships give this a groovy steampunk vibe that I am here for.
There was a lot of Italian in this book, but I didn't find it overused. The author explains things, I thought that it added to the setting and gave legitimacy to the story.
I liked all the action in this book. The fight scenes are well-paced and exciting. That being said, sometimes I did feel like the story dragged in certain parts, but it did always pick back up again with that awesome action.
This is not my usual fare at all, but give it four out of five stars for creative originality and storytelling. If you are a huge fan of this genre, then I don't think you will be disappointed by this read.
The characters are interesting and have unique skills and powers. The story is set in the beautiful city of Venice. The author does a lovely job of pulling us into the world. What is not to love about Venetian canals and architecture? At times, the world does seem very dark, and I wonder if there is ever any light in this city. The automation and aetherships give this a groovy steampunk vibe that I am here for.
There was a lot of Italian in this book, but I didn't find it overused. The author explains things, I thought that it added to the setting and gave legitimacy to the story.
I liked all the action in this book. The fight scenes are well-paced and exciting. That being said, sometimes I did feel like the story dragged in certain parts, but it did always pick back up again with that awesome action.
This is not my usual fare at all, but give it four out of five stars for creative originality and storytelling. If you are a huge fan of this genre, then I don't think you will be disappointed by this read.
April 16, 2022
I took a while to get into this book, as there were a few words that I had to get used to. It took about 20% of the book for me to get into it fully. Once I did, the story flowed quite easily and the characters were easy to follow and root for. The novel is written in present tense, which adds a sense of urgency to the plot. It was my second soiree into steampunk fantasy, and I quite enjoyed it. Personally, I felt like this was a much better take on what Theodora Goss was trying to do with The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter, which I didn't enjoy. I have to admit to not knowing what was going on for part of the book, but for it to somewhat come together later. I didn't enjoy the romance, as it felt a little forced to me, or the ending, but that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of this book.
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an immersive, dark fantasy book with steampunk vibes.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an immersive, dark fantasy book with steampunk vibes.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Sinsonte Press for gifting me this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine the classic monsters of your youth. Dracula, Frankenstein, the creature from the Black Lagoon. Now imagine them as teenagers, super-powered and in a background of a steam-punk gothic. And there lies Children of the Night by Zan Safra.
Children of the Night by Zan Safra is a YA steam-punk gothic novel that follows the unnatural life of Ayanda Draculesti. As she ventures forth into the underbelly of Venice, dodging the grasps of alchemists wanting to use her and her vampire-esque powers for their own gain. But things aren't that simple, as a greater, stronger threat emerges from the shadows. And Ayanda won't let them get their way, even if it means protecting the very same people who fear her and call her monster.
To be honest, this book is a little hard to explain. As it tries to bend and mash a bunch of genres into one. One minute it's fantasy. Another it's sci-fy. And the last it's a gothic steam punk. I really wanted to love this book and it's many quirks. But it just wasn't for me.
Imagine the classic monsters of your youth. Dracula, Frankenstein, the creature from the Black Lagoon. Now imagine them as teenagers, super-powered and in a background of a steam-punk gothic. And there lies Children of the Night by Zan Safra.
Children of the Night by Zan Safra is a YA steam-punk gothic novel that follows the unnatural life of Ayanda Draculesti. As she ventures forth into the underbelly of Venice, dodging the grasps of alchemists wanting to use her and her vampire-esque powers for their own gain. But things aren't that simple, as a greater, stronger threat emerges from the shadows. And Ayanda won't let them get their way, even if it means protecting the very same people who fear her and call her monster.
To be honest, this book is a little hard to explain. As it tries to bend and mash a bunch of genres into one. One minute it's fantasy. Another it's sci-fy. And the last it's a gothic steam punk. I really wanted to love this book and it's many quirks. But it just wasn't for me.
June 9, 2022
2.5 stars
I received a copy of this book for a free and honest review so here goes.
It was not a bad read but it wasn't the best either, it was somewhere between decent and Okay.
A multiple pov book with a different take on vampires and ghouls. It was difficult to understand at some points as there wasn't enough information on the characters to be able to relate or fully grasp an understanding of why they are the way they are. We do get little flashbacks but it does not provide much, just enough to see how badly they were treated before they escaped from wherever they came from.
The book was a bit confusing but once you get used to the writing style and pov along with keeping proper track of the characters you won't have that many questions or be that confused. Trust was an important variable here and it was shown quite well through all 4 kids. It was not a bad dark fantasy read.
I received a copy of this book for a free and honest review so here goes.
It was not a bad read but it wasn't the best either, it was somewhere between decent and Okay.
A multiple pov book with a different take on vampires and ghouls. It was difficult to understand at some points as there wasn't enough information on the characters to be able to relate or fully grasp an understanding of why they are the way they are. We do get little flashbacks but it does not provide much, just enough to see how badly they were treated before they escaped from wherever they came from.
The book was a bit confusing but once you get used to the writing style and pov along with keeping proper track of the characters you won't have that many questions or be that confused. Trust was an important variable here and it was shown quite well through all 4 kids. It was not a bad dark fantasy read.
July 16, 2022
This is a superb story. A re-inventing of the classic monsters, Dracula, Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, Invisible Man and an Infernal set in a steam punk Victorian Venice is a fabulous idea and the writing does it justice. Atmospheric and descriptive Zan Safra brings this story to a magnificent life, painting a decaying city ruled by a vampire queen and her slaves and supporters. The five teenage heroes all have their secrets and mysteries a lot of which remain unresolved but this just makes you want to find out more. I was hooked from the first page to the action packed climax. I found Naomi Rose-Mock to be an excellent narrator who did very well with the characters giving them each a clear personality but I felt she overplayed some of the scenes just a little. I will definitely be reading more of these .and would recommend them to anyone.
November 28, 2022
I loved it! The plot was well-developed, the characters unique yet personable, and the writing was the perfect amount of descriptive. Everything was incredibly balanced, and the varying point-of-views really helped me understand each character and how they came to be. This was such a thrilling story; once I sunk my teeth into it, I couldn't stop myself—I had to devour it all!
In a world where alchemists are praised for their innovation while their creations are hunted, dissected, or destroyed, comes a story of four friends who go against the odds to protect the very ones that persecute them. Ayanda, Yurei, Belle, and Jette all have their own monsters, but that doesn't make them monsters...
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Children of Night from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
In a world where alchemists are praised for their innovation while their creations are hunted, dissected, or destroyed, comes a story of four friends who go against the odds to protect the very ones that persecute them. Ayanda, Yurei, Belle, and Jette all have their own monsters, but that doesn't make them monsters...
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Children of Night from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
January 26, 2023
I had a great time reading this book. I don’t read many books written in first person so it took a few chapters to get into the rhythm, but once I did I really enjoyed the story. The concept was so unique and I loved how the characters were drawn from “monsters” of the past. This tale breathed new life into Dracula, Dr. Jeckel, Frankenstein, even the phantom of the opera. Truly old world made new. The author has a wonderfully creative mind and I appreciated the adventure!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the classic “monster” tales, readers who love vampire stories and anyone looking for an exciting paranormal fantasy adventure.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the classic “monster” tales, readers who love vampire stories and anyone looking for an exciting paranormal fantasy adventure.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only
August 19, 2021
Dramatic and Dark
This is quite an intense read from the very start. In the first chapter Safra sets the tone for a broody, serious story, set within a world of monsters. The author is excellent in their descriptions of the creatures that inhabit this reimagined Venice, providing a great deal of detail. Each character is given layers and a great deal of backstory. Each character is distinct.
Whilst I enjoyed this book, I did find the perspective a little hard to follow, but aside from that, we have a well-crafted world a story delivered through the characters, as opposed to exposition.
This is quite an intense read from the very start. In the first chapter Safra sets the tone for a broody, serious story, set within a world of monsters. The author is excellent in their descriptions of the creatures that inhabit this reimagined Venice, providing a great deal of detail. Each character is given layers and a great deal of backstory. Each character is distinct.
Whilst I enjoyed this book, I did find the perspective a little hard to follow, but aside from that, we have a well-crafted world a story delivered through the characters, as opposed to exposition.
March 3, 2022
Action packed and full of familiar faces we know and love from literature. An interesting mix of Dracula lore, Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the Invisible Man set in a horrific version of old Venice where a "fiend" is set on taking over the human population. It was intricately plotted but having the perspective of each of the main characters was not the best. Often confused, thoughts and dialogue sometimes were inseparable I had to go back and read whose chapter I was on to make sure I was following. Still - it was full of excitement and got deep enough into each special monster that I kept reading well past my bed time.
May 17, 2022
Children of the Night
Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Zan Safra
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was an interesting mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. It features well known monsters but with twists and the people trying to stop them.
The start was slow and it took me a few chapters to become curious about the story. I found in some places that the descriptions, the world building and all the POVs were a bit complicated so I kept losing track and struggled with the storyline a little.
That being said, I can see how some readers would love this book.
*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Zan Safra
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was an interesting mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. It features well known monsters but with twists and the people trying to stop them.
The start was slow and it took me a few chapters to become curious about the story. I found in some places that the descriptions, the world building and all the POVs were a bit complicated so I kept losing track and struggled with the storyline a little.
That being said, I can see how some readers would love this book.
*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
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