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These Violent Nights
Once upon a time, inhabitants of another world tore a hole through the universe and came to Earth. They called themselves Suriias, and rivalled humans in knowledge and skill with one great exception: they had magic.
War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.
Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.
And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.
But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.
War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.
Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.
And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.
But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.
620 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2020
5 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 16, 2021
A wonderful novel that is both hard to pin down and put down. More tomorrow
I have to say up front that Rebecca asked if I'd like a free copy of this novel to read and review. Having read some of her books previously I jumped at the chance.
I have to say this did not disappoint. The concept is a great one, aliens (vaguely humanoid) are transported from their own planet through a rip in the fabric of the galaxy to (a version of) Earth and some humans are transported to another version of Earth. This results in 3 planets where the action occurs. In each location life is completely different, and we meet a different cast of characters until all the stories come together, and we find ourselves on the aliens home world.
The action starts with two humans who are sleeping rough on a world where the aliens are firmly in charge, hunting down humans and committing all sorts of atrocities. The humans are ultimately rescued and protected by two aliens who are kind and feel that the races should live together and all persecution should stop. The humans not trusting the aliens are still hunting for the alien that murdered their parents.
Bizarrely on the second Earth, Humans won the battle with the aliens and it is the aliens that are therefore subjugated. In this world we focus on one of the aliens that has a few small businesses that the humans have allowed so he can at least earn some money and look after his family.
The writing is excellent as is the story, it fairly zips along and you get totally immersed in the trials and hopes of firstly the two humans and their alien friends, then the alien with his family (and pack including a couple of humans). When one group decide that life is so terrible that it is worth attempting to travel through the tear to an alternate planet, the groups find themselves in the same world and trying to help each other survive the authorities that are persecuting anyone not conforming to their rule.
And into the mix the fact that the aliens can do what a human would term magic, and that they are long lived and you have the makings of a truly marvellous story. In addition we get a couple of love affairs across the races, that you have to say are doomed to failure, but will events pan out to allow true love to conquer, and past grievances to be forgiven. The pain and terror felt by the humans who are persecuted, the guilt felt by the aliens who believe their race should live in harmony with the humans and the anger and fear of the aliens subjugated by the humans make this a tense story that is far ranging, gripping and one you will not want to put down
A big thanks Rebecca, dare I ask if we can expect to see more of these enjoyable characters ?
I have to say up front that Rebecca asked if I'd like a free copy of this novel to read and review. Having read some of her books previously I jumped at the chance.
I have to say this did not disappoint. The concept is a great one, aliens (vaguely humanoid) are transported from their own planet through a rip in the fabric of the galaxy to (a version of) Earth and some humans are transported to another version of Earth. This results in 3 planets where the action occurs. In each location life is completely different, and we meet a different cast of characters until all the stories come together, and we find ourselves on the aliens home world.
The action starts with two humans who are sleeping rough on a world where the aliens are firmly in charge, hunting down humans and committing all sorts of atrocities. The humans are ultimately rescued and protected by two aliens who are kind and feel that the races should live together and all persecution should stop. The humans not trusting the aliens are still hunting for the alien that murdered their parents.
Bizarrely on the second Earth, Humans won the battle with the aliens and it is the aliens that are therefore subjugated. In this world we focus on one of the aliens that has a few small businesses that the humans have allowed so he can at least earn some money and look after his family.
The writing is excellent as is the story, it fairly zips along and you get totally immersed in the trials and hopes of firstly the two humans and their alien friends, then the alien with his family (and pack including a couple of humans). When one group decide that life is so terrible that it is worth attempting to travel through the tear to an alternate planet, the groups find themselves in the same world and trying to help each other survive the authorities that are persecuting anyone not conforming to their rule.
And into the mix the fact that the aliens can do what a human would term magic, and that they are long lived and you have the makings of a truly marvellous story. In addition we get a couple of love affairs across the races, that you have to say are doomed to failure, but will events pan out to allow true love to conquer, and past grievances to be forgiven. The pain and terror felt by the humans who are persecuted, the guilt felt by the aliens who believe their race should live in harmony with the humans and the anger and fear of the aliens subjugated by the humans make this a tense story that is far ranging, gripping and one you will not want to put down
A big thanks Rebecca, dare I ask if we can expect to see more of these enjoyable characters ?
my-books
February 26, 2023// a note from the author //
Just dropping into the comment section to share some amazing character art for this book.
These first pictures were drawn by Libra Illustrations and are of the two main couples. I'm so in awe of how great these are that I had to share! (Go check out her website to see more of her artwork, too!)
Thorn and Kol:
Nik and Lucien:
[posting with permission from Libra!]
Rune Rivers has made some absolutely adorable (!!!) artwork of Thorn and Kol as well, check it out:
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
Just dropping into the comment section to share some amazing character art for this book.
These first pictures were drawn by Libra Illustrations and are of the two main couples. I'm so in awe of how great these are that I had to share! (Go check out her website to see more of her artwork, too!)
Thorn and Kol:
Nik and Lucien:
[posting with permission from Libra!]
Rune Rivers has made some absolutely adorable (!!!) artwork of Thorn and Kol as well, check it out:
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
April 12, 2021
Thank you to the author, Rebecca Crunden, along with the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions in any way.
3.5 stars
”Sometimes life is disgustingly unfair. It doesn’t change the fact that you have to keep trying to live life as you want it to be. If we let the pain cripple us, there’s no hope for anything.”
These Violent Nights is a story consisting of four parts, each of them told from a different perspective. The first one is where our main character Thorn lives with her best friend, Thistle. They both are humans who are desperately trying to survive their Suria-dominated earth and avenge their parents’ deaths. Surias have taken over their world and don’t take kindly to humans.
The other perspective we get is of Lucien, a Suria who lives in an earth parallel to Thorn’s where humans are the superior species, with Surias treated like dirt.
The dynamics of both these worlds were very engaging and had excellent world building. I think I did get attached to the characters the most, because they’re what held the story together in my opinion. The character arcs were something I greatly admired
about this book because honestly, Thorn really annoyed me at first.
Her discrimination towards the Suria was something that was brought up every second page and reading about it repeatedly ticked me off. I think I can safely say that I was beyond glad with her character development at the end.
The banter between Thorn and Kol was also something I really enjoyed (Kol reminded me of Nikolai from the Shadow and Bone series and I loved it so much). The fact that Kol was kind to Thorn despite all the nasty things she said about his species was something I deeply respected about him.
”Stop being so cynical, Rose. We’re not all bad.’
‘My name’s Thorn.’
‘I know.’ He took a sip of his coffee, a roguish smile on his face. ‘But you’re not so thorny all the time. In exchange, you can call me whatever you want.’
‘Fine, Charcoal.”
Another thing I felt was off was the transition from one part to the other. By the time I realised that part two had started and I’d entered Lucien’s POV, I was already so invested in Thorn’s that it took me quite a bit of time to get used to it.
The numerous friendships and relationships in this book were heartwarming to read about and I fell in love with them instantly.
”I don’t need a teacher. I need a reason not to fear the shadows.’
‘Shadows are just dark things we imagine to be nefarious. But things that are intangible aren’t worthy of fear. The real things, those are what to fear.’”
The enriching plot kept me hooked to my seat the whole time I was reading and I couldn’t look away. And those plot twists at the end, I can say that I had a small hunch about it but it was still shocking to experience.
It’s been a while since I read a book with a happy ending that didn’t break my heart, so I love that for me.
”But sometimes horrendous acts could never be forgotten. Sometimes no amount of kindness or pledge of protection or oath of loyalty could ever fully erase the scars left by cruelty. Wishing for a change of heart was like trying to change history. And she couldn’t do either.”
3.5 stars
”Sometimes life is disgustingly unfair. It doesn’t change the fact that you have to keep trying to live life as you want it to be. If we let the pain cripple us, there’s no hope for anything.”
These Violent Nights is a story consisting of four parts, each of them told from a different perspective. The first one is where our main character Thorn lives with her best friend, Thistle. They both are humans who are desperately trying to survive their Suria-dominated earth and avenge their parents’ deaths. Surias have taken over their world and don’t take kindly to humans.
The other perspective we get is of Lucien, a Suria who lives in an earth parallel to Thorn’s where humans are the superior species, with Surias treated like dirt.
The dynamics of both these worlds were very engaging and had excellent world building. I think I did get attached to the characters the most, because they’re what held the story together in my opinion. The character arcs were something I greatly admired
about this book because honestly, Thorn really annoyed me at first.
Her discrimination towards the Suria was something that was brought up every second page and reading about it repeatedly ticked me off. I think I can safely say that I was beyond glad with her character development at the end.
The banter between Thorn and Kol was also something I really enjoyed (Kol reminded me of Nikolai from the Shadow and Bone series and I loved it so much). The fact that Kol was kind to Thorn despite all the nasty things she said about his species was something I deeply respected about him.
”Stop being so cynical, Rose. We’re not all bad.’
‘My name’s Thorn.’
‘I know.’ He took a sip of his coffee, a roguish smile on his face. ‘But you’re not so thorny all the time. In exchange, you can call me whatever you want.’
‘Fine, Charcoal.”
Another thing I felt was off was the transition from one part to the other. By the time I realised that part two had started and I’d entered Lucien’s POV, I was already so invested in Thorn’s that it took me quite a bit of time to get used to it.
The numerous friendships and relationships in this book were heartwarming to read about and I fell in love with them instantly.
”I don’t need a teacher. I need a reason not to fear the shadows.’
‘Shadows are just dark things we imagine to be nefarious. But things that are intangible aren’t worthy of fear. The real things, those are what to fear.’”
The enriching plot kept me hooked to my seat the whole time I was reading and I couldn’t look away. And those plot twists at the end, I can say that I had a small hunch about it but it was still shocking to experience.
It’s been a while since I read a book with a happy ending that didn’t break my heart, so I love that for me.
”But sometimes horrendous acts could never be forgotten. Sometimes no amount of kindness or pledge of protection or oath of loyalty could ever fully erase the scars left by cruelty. Wishing for a change of heart was like trying to change history. And she couldn’t do either.”
May 12, 2021
Rebecca Crunden has found a way to breathe new turmoil, new conflict and heroics into a tale that hits full steam from page one and never lets up! THESE VIOLENT NIGHTS is an action-packed fantasy that comes to life in a brutal and completely believable way as readers live side by side with each character and good vs evil take on fabulous depths.
Love, betrayal, fear and humanity on the brink of extinction fuel this story with brilliant tension that never lets up! Will magic from another universe end mankind’s very existence or can the will to survive prove stronger?
A full-bodied read that never wastes a single word and comes highly recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Rebecca Crunden! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication date : March 31, 2021
Publisher: Rebecca Crunden
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Print length : 635 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Love, betrayal, fear and humanity on the brink of extinction fuel this story with brilliant tension that never lets up! Will magic from another universe end mankind’s very existence or can the will to survive prove stronger?
A full-bodied read that never wastes a single word and comes highly recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Rebecca Crunden! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication date : March 31, 2021
Publisher: Rebecca Crunden
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Print length : 635 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 26, 2021
This is a substantial book, with quite a number of characters and a pretty convoluted plot. The blurb on covers the tip of the iceberg referring to the first few chapters of part 1, with the book being divided into three distinct parts.
The classic tale of good v evil is totally spun on its head, with two parallel worlds that have very different power structures. Thorn, and her best friend Thistle, live on the Earth where humans are being hunted to extinction by the magic wielding Suriia. Lucien and his pack live on an Earth where the Suriia, and their magic, are supressed, where they are second class citizens with few rights and fewer luxuries. The fact that one Earth wasn't an exact inverse of the other really made the set up more interesting and the morality more complex.
The myriad of characters we meet, and get to know, was amazing, though my preference would have been to have had some of the "bad" guys as more prominent characters too. The main protagonists felt fleshed out, engaging my interest and readily drawing me into the story. The world building was good, with subtle exposition rather than obvious information dumps. It did mean that occasionally I was left a little perplexed, particularly around the different races of Suriians. I read an arc copy of the book, so it could be that the published version includes a glossary of the Suriian terms used.
We experience Thorn's Earth in part one, followed by Lucien's in part two. The rather abrupt transition between the two proved to be quite jarring considering how emotionally invested I was in Thorn's story. It did feel as though I was starting again from scratch, as part 2 introduced a new cast of characters. I can fully understand why the author chose to present things the way she did, though my preference would have been to have learnt of the two concurrently, so that my investment in the story built and then held steady throughout.
The final third of the book was chock-a-block full of unexpected twists, turns and surprises. It ticked all my boxes and drew the story together into a very satisfying ending. The time spent on Salfar did feel somewhat rushed though. Throughout the book there were periods of time that were skipped but the author always made clear that some time had passed. Something I would like to have seen was an examination of how time spent by Thorn in the Suriia section of Earth changed/affected her or how time in the castle on Salfar affected Lucian and his pack.
Overall I found this to be a well written, detailed and entertaining story with a good cast of characters.
The classic tale of good v evil is totally spun on its head, with two parallel worlds that have very different power structures. Thorn, and her best friend Thistle, live on the Earth where humans are being hunted to extinction by the magic wielding Suriia. Lucien and his pack live on an Earth where the Suriia, and their magic, are supressed, where they are second class citizens with few rights and fewer luxuries. The fact that one Earth wasn't an exact inverse of the other really made the set up more interesting and the morality more complex.
The myriad of characters we meet, and get to know, was amazing, though my preference would have been to have had some of the "bad" guys as more prominent characters too. The main protagonists felt fleshed out, engaging my interest and readily drawing me into the story. The world building was good, with subtle exposition rather than obvious information dumps. It did mean that occasionally I was left a little perplexed, particularly around the different races of Suriians. I read an arc copy of the book, so it could be that the published version includes a glossary of the Suriian terms used.
We experience Thorn's Earth in part one, followed by Lucien's in part two. The rather abrupt transition between the two proved to be quite jarring considering how emotionally invested I was in Thorn's story. It did feel as though I was starting again from scratch, as part 2 introduced a new cast of characters. I can fully understand why the author chose to present things the way she did, though my preference would have been to have learnt of the two concurrently, so that my investment in the story built and then held steady throughout.
The final third of the book was chock-a-block full of unexpected twists, turns and surprises. It ticked all my boxes and drew the story together into a very satisfying ending. The time spent on Salfar did feel somewhat rushed though. Throughout the book there were periods of time that were skipped but the author always made clear that some time had passed. Something I would like to have seen was an examination of how time spent by Thorn in the Suriia section of Earth changed/affected her or how time in the castle on Salfar affected Lucian and his pack.
Overall I found this to be a well written, detailed and entertaining story with a good cast of characters.
Read
December 22, 2022Congratulations for placing 11th in the 2022 BBNYA Competition!
April 2, 2021
Many thanks to Rebecca (@rebeccacrunden) for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Crunden created a fantastical world rife with magic and possibility sure to capture your heart. Within these pages, you will find hope and love, fear and betrayal. You will experience the story alongside each character, from Thorn's conflicting desires of her past and future, and Lucien's fear of hurting those around him, especially the one he loves.
Final grade: 4/5⭐️
Crunden created a fantastical world rife with magic and possibility sure to capture your heart. Within these pages, you will find hope and love, fear and betrayal. You will experience the story alongside each character, from Thorn's conflicting desires of her past and future, and Lucien's fear of hurting those around him, especially the one he loves.
Final grade: 4/5⭐️
March 2, 2022
(4.75 rounded up)
I'm so embarrassed at how long it took me to read this book lol. Rebecca Crunden was kind enough to email me back in 2021 and asked if I would like a copy of her book in exchange for a honest review. After reading the synopsis, I was 100% interested and happily agreed.
Once I got the book in my hands, I began reading almost immediately. I was having a great time, the pages were flying by...then I put the book down for no reason whatsoever and just did not pick it back up. I completely blame my short attention span for this lol.
Flashforward months later, I pick this book up again because I was in the mood for an engaging fantasy. Let me tell you, this book DELIVERED.
Once I picked this book up a second time I just could not put it down. I was wholly invested in this world and the huge cast of characters Rebecca Crunden created. There were high stakes, fleshed out characters, and a sinister plot. Although this was a chunky book with long chapters, it honestly flew by so quickly. I loved how accessible the writing was and how large the world felt. Rebecca Crunden was able to give us just enough of the world to feel immersed without beating us over the head with info dumping.
My only problem with the book was just the ending. I LOVED how it ended, but I felt it was a tad bit rushed and I kind of wished more dark things went down to be honest. Other than that, I really enjoyed my time with this book and would't mind a possible companion novel set in the same universe. Maybe with cameos of some of these characters even? 👀
I'm so embarrassed at how long it took me to read this book lol. Rebecca Crunden was kind enough to email me back in 2021 and asked if I would like a copy of her book in exchange for a honest review. After reading the synopsis, I was 100% interested and happily agreed.
Once I got the book in my hands, I began reading almost immediately. I was having a great time, the pages were flying by...then I put the book down for no reason whatsoever and just did not pick it back up. I completely blame my short attention span for this lol.
Flashforward months later, I pick this book up again because I was in the mood for an engaging fantasy. Let me tell you, this book DELIVERED.
Once I picked this book up a second time I just could not put it down. I was wholly invested in this world and the huge cast of characters Rebecca Crunden created. There were high stakes, fleshed out characters, and a sinister plot. Although this was a chunky book with long chapters, it honestly flew by so quickly. I loved how accessible the writing was and how large the world felt. Rebecca Crunden was able to give us just enough of the world to feel immersed without beating us over the head with info dumping.
My only problem with the book was just the ending. I LOVED how it ended, but I felt it was a tad bit rushed and I kind of wished more dark things went down to be honest. Other than that, I really enjoyed my time with this book and would't mind a possible companion novel set in the same universe. Maybe with cameos of some of these characters even? 👀
March 7, 2023
These Violent Nights is a highly imaginative and original dystopian dark fantasy which gripped me right from the beginning and kept my attention all the way to the amazing conclusion! The book is made up of two main character arcs which crash into each other in a fairly unexpected manner. First we meet Thorn and her best friend Thistle, humans hiding out on Earth, which is now a world overrun by aliens hunting humans and treating those they catch as slaves, toys, or even food. There are many gruesome scenes or retellings of horrific events between humans and the aliens known as Suriias. Against all odds Thorn and Thistle are surviving. Thorn is broken by the things she’s seen – unable to forgive or relax or trust, yet determined to protect her friend. Thistle is somewhat naive and trusting and when Thistle is proposed to by one of the conquering aliens, she believes that marrying him will keep the two of them alive and safe for the winter months – then they plan to move on. Living in leaky sheds has not been good for Thorn’s health. Thistle is convinced that her fiancée is a good guy as there are many different alien subspecies and some are more human-tolerant than others:
“Vrykos, those blood-and-soul suckers with their mouthfuls of jagged teeth, terrified her. But where they were the grotesque brutes in her nightmares, the frai were the puppeteers of the whole show. Frai formed the bulk of the Spotters; they were the ones in charge, for they were the most cunning, and by far the most sinister.”
Thorn and Thistle move in with Thistle’s fiancé and his friend Kol, a Frai, against Thorn’s better judgement, but her story arc is one of “enemies to lovers” as she becomes more trusting and appreciative of the protection this arrangement affords them. While hunting for her parents’ killer she encounters a human who changes her perspective of who exactly the enemies are and she learns to judge people on their individual merit rather than because of race. Thorn was my favourite character in this story and her development despite all of the trauma she has witnessed and experienced was wonderfully written. The author’s characterisation is excellent and for me was the best part of the book.
“A fresh wave of tears hit her, and she closed her eyes and leaned against him. She tried to believe him. She tried to set her doubts on fire. She tried to lock her memories away behind sealed doors inside her mind where not even the fiercest nightmares could spring them free. She tried so hard.”
Thorn is driven by the need to track down and kill her parents’ murderer, who she witnessed raping her mother and then killing them brutally. She is reckless and keeps putting herself into more and more dangerous situations. Luckily Kol is able to come swooping in to save her on more than one occasion. Kol, was a typical gentle romantic hero – with added magical superpowers and hidden wings. He was caring, patient, wise, trustworthy, with a chiseled appearance and there really wasn’t anything not to love about him. However once his species has sex with someone they will be bonded to them for life – a commitment Thorn will not let him make lightly – so this romantic fantasy is more sweet than spicy, while they both wrestle with their desires.
The worldbuilding was solid and immersive with easy to imagine descriptions:
“A vast city made of magic and technology, it cast its shadow upon all below. The few times Thorn and Thistle had been in the heart of it, they’d seen gambling arenas, street fights, human and animal markets, magic shows, coach parades and races in the sky. There were exotic dancers who could fly, and billboards with offers to hunt down the tastiest humans. It was a mad, spine-chilling, chaotic city and Thorn felt sicker by the second.”
Part 2 of the novel takes place on a parallel version of Earth, Earth II, where humans won the war and Suriias are being kept subservient by humans. I found this change of location and cast of characters somewhat jarring as I was really invested in Thorn’s story and it ended very abruptly at the end of Part 1. We are then taken to a whole new planet with a different history and cast of characters to get to know. It took me a little while to reorient myself.
Lucien Lightblood is the main character of this part of the novel, a prico type of Suriia who is the leader and father figure of his pack and an all round “good guy”. He made a brief appearance at the end of Thorn’s story arc and this part of the novel is his backstory leading up to that event.
“Like some kind of hero in a children’s story, Lucien stepped forwards, drawing magic from the world around him.”
We learn that the Suriias travelled to this planet via a Tear in the universe made by Lucien’s friend Geon’s magic while trying to save Lucien’s life centuries earlier. Many other Suriias followed them through and this led to war and the eventual oppression of the Suriias on this world. They are surviving but the addition of two humans to their pack makes them yearn for a different, safer life. Lucien also has a love story arc, this time with a younger human who he rescues from a slaver by marrying him and helping him get over his PTSD.
‘Shadows are just dark things we imagine to be nefarious. But things that are intangible aren’t worthy of fear. The real things, those are what to fear.’
The pack decides to leave Earth II and they end up on Earth, an even more dangerous place for their human companions. There is a clear political anti-war message within the novel and it is one that Lucien can find no solution for in the short term:
‘My argument is that it doesn’t matter if you’re human, Suriia, mortal, immortal, magical or not. The problem is that those with power want to keep it. And they’ll do anything to get rid of those who seek to stop them. The problem is unlearning the inclinations that society brought. The problem is the system, not the souls.’
Another clear message is that you cannot judge people by their race – there are good and bad people everywhere and maybe with a lot of patience, love can conquer all!
I really enjoyed this novel and became invested in its characters easily. The story and different species felt original and well developed. I would highly recommend it to fans of dystopian fantasy and romance winning out against all odds.
“Vrykos, those blood-and-soul suckers with their mouthfuls of jagged teeth, terrified her. But where they were the grotesque brutes in her nightmares, the frai were the puppeteers of the whole show. Frai formed the bulk of the Spotters; they were the ones in charge, for they were the most cunning, and by far the most sinister.”
Thorn and Thistle move in with Thistle’s fiancé and his friend Kol, a Frai, against Thorn’s better judgement, but her story arc is one of “enemies to lovers” as she becomes more trusting and appreciative of the protection this arrangement affords them. While hunting for her parents’ killer she encounters a human who changes her perspective of who exactly the enemies are and she learns to judge people on their individual merit rather than because of race. Thorn was my favourite character in this story and her development despite all of the trauma she has witnessed and experienced was wonderfully written. The author’s characterisation is excellent and for me was the best part of the book.
“A fresh wave of tears hit her, and she closed her eyes and leaned against him. She tried to believe him. She tried to set her doubts on fire. She tried to lock her memories away behind sealed doors inside her mind where not even the fiercest nightmares could spring them free. She tried so hard.”
Thorn is driven by the need to track down and kill her parents’ murderer, who she witnessed raping her mother and then killing them brutally. She is reckless and keeps putting herself into more and more dangerous situations. Luckily Kol is able to come swooping in to save her on more than one occasion. Kol, was a typical gentle romantic hero – with added magical superpowers and hidden wings. He was caring, patient, wise, trustworthy, with a chiseled appearance and there really wasn’t anything not to love about him. However once his species has sex with someone they will be bonded to them for life – a commitment Thorn will not let him make lightly – so this romantic fantasy is more sweet than spicy, while they both wrestle with their desires.
The worldbuilding was solid and immersive with easy to imagine descriptions:
“A vast city made of magic and technology, it cast its shadow upon all below. The few times Thorn and Thistle had been in the heart of it, they’d seen gambling arenas, street fights, human and animal markets, magic shows, coach parades and races in the sky. There were exotic dancers who could fly, and billboards with offers to hunt down the tastiest humans. It was a mad, spine-chilling, chaotic city and Thorn felt sicker by the second.”
Part 2 of the novel takes place on a parallel version of Earth, Earth II, where humans won the war and Suriias are being kept subservient by humans. I found this change of location and cast of characters somewhat jarring as I was really invested in Thorn’s story and it ended very abruptly at the end of Part 1. We are then taken to a whole new planet with a different history and cast of characters to get to know. It took me a little while to reorient myself.
Lucien Lightblood is the main character of this part of the novel, a prico type of Suriia who is the leader and father figure of his pack and an all round “good guy”. He made a brief appearance at the end of Thorn’s story arc and this part of the novel is his backstory leading up to that event.
“Like some kind of hero in a children’s story, Lucien stepped forwards, drawing magic from the world around him.”
We learn that the Suriias travelled to this planet via a Tear in the universe made by Lucien’s friend Geon’s magic while trying to save Lucien’s life centuries earlier. Many other Suriias followed them through and this led to war and the eventual oppression of the Suriias on this world. They are surviving but the addition of two humans to their pack makes them yearn for a different, safer life. Lucien also has a love story arc, this time with a younger human who he rescues from a slaver by marrying him and helping him get over his PTSD.
‘Shadows are just dark things we imagine to be nefarious. But things that are intangible aren’t worthy of fear. The real things, those are what to fear.’
The pack decides to leave Earth II and they end up on Earth, an even more dangerous place for their human companions. There is a clear political anti-war message within the novel and it is one that Lucien can find no solution for in the short term:
‘My argument is that it doesn’t matter if you’re human, Suriia, mortal, immortal, magical or not. The problem is that those with power want to keep it. And they’ll do anything to get rid of those who seek to stop them. The problem is unlearning the inclinations that society brought. The problem is the system, not the souls.’
Another clear message is that you cannot judge people by their race – there are good and bad people everywhere and maybe with a lot of patience, love can conquer all!
I really enjoyed this novel and became invested in its characters easily. The story and different species felt original and well developed. I would highly recommend it to fans of dystopian fantasy and romance winning out against all odds.
January 1, 2022
An excellent dystopian fantasy. I was immediately drawn into Thorn's story right at the beginning and the dynamics between her and Kol. You felt so much for them as they struggled in their difficulties. I admit I got a bit confused in part 2 but that may just be me. Part 3 and 4 were very gripping and full of surprises that I did not see coming. There were jaw dropping moments where I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. The ending was amazing. It not only drew it all together well but was a perfect ending for the characters. An excellent dystopian fantasy that has something for everyone.
December 5, 2021
Fantastical Action Adventure.
Thorn and Thistle live in a world of danger, 300 years after alien Suriias ripped through the universe and took over with magic.
Rebecca Crunden has created some great world-building with human elements. War and rebellion, satire (most humans can't read but they learnt on how-to manuals), and good old fashioned Romeo and Juliet romantic themes.
The language really shines in the choice of character names I was instantly drawn to Thorn and Thistle, but then I met 'Tiz' and 'Nithin' - fabulous is she in a tiz? Is he nothing? Gothic metaphors 'spiders made webs inside her lungs' and tropes like 'king's warnings' set the scene for the epic plot - it is epic and in three parts.
Turn off the news, and read something less boring instead, and let These Violent Nights play with your mind.
Thorn and Thistle live in a world of danger, 300 years after alien Suriias ripped through the universe and took over with magic.
Rebecca Crunden has created some great world-building with human elements. War and rebellion, satire (most humans can't read but they learnt on how-to manuals), and good old fashioned Romeo and Juliet romantic themes.
The language really shines in the choice of character names I was instantly drawn to Thorn and Thistle, but then I met 'Tiz' and 'Nithin' - fabulous is she in a tiz? Is he nothing? Gothic metaphors 'spiders made webs inside her lungs' and tropes like 'king's warnings' set the scene for the epic plot - it is epic and in three parts.
Turn off the news, and read something less boring instead, and let These Violent Nights play with your mind.
May 8, 2024
Ahhhhh!!!!
I loved this book!! So many emotions ran through me while reading this! You have to read it! It has several parts but they're all connected and it's just a great book, just trust me on it!
I loved this book!! So many emotions ran through me while reading this! You have to read it! It has several parts but they're all connected and it's just a great book, just trust me on it!
February 21, 2024
Book source ~ BBNYA Tour
When a hole is torn between worlds, Earth is invaded by the Suriia, beings who have magic. War ensues and after 300 years humans are near extinction. Thorn and Thistle are living the life of the pursued until Thistle meets a Suriia who is sympathetic to the plight of humans. Thorn is highly sceptical, but she has a hard time denying the more delicate Thistle a chance at a healthier lifestyle. So, they move to Courtenz and that’s when the fun begins. And I use that word a bit loosely. At least, for Thorn.
Be prepared to settle in because this is a chonker of a book. The beginning is a bit slow as the world is built and the backstory is filled in. Then it really takes off. I have to be honest, I was a bit bored at first. Thorn and Thistle’s life with the Suriia is a bit of a slog and Thorn isn’t a very sympathetic character. She’s definitely thorny. I didn’t hate her, but I didn’t much like her either. But that changes a bit as the story goes on and then things really heat up. Plotwise, that is. Whoa. Talk about a fascinating plot that races to the finish line. Sa-weet! This is a nice blend of sci-fi and fantasy with excellent characters and great writing. If you like a book that is like a leisurely stroll that picks up steam until it’s a gallop then definitely pick this up.
When a hole is torn between worlds, Earth is invaded by the Suriia, beings who have magic. War ensues and after 300 years humans are near extinction. Thorn and Thistle are living the life of the pursued until Thistle meets a Suriia who is sympathetic to the plight of humans. Thorn is highly sceptical, but she has a hard time denying the more delicate Thistle a chance at a healthier lifestyle. So, they move to Courtenz and that’s when the fun begins. And I use that word a bit loosely. At least, for Thorn.
Be prepared to settle in because this is a chonker of a book. The beginning is a bit slow as the world is built and the backstory is filled in. Then it really takes off. I have to be honest, I was a bit bored at first. Thorn and Thistle’s life with the Suriia is a bit of a slog and Thorn isn’t a very sympathetic character. She’s definitely thorny. I didn’t hate her, but I didn’t much like her either. But that changes a bit as the story goes on and then things really heat up. Plotwise, that is. Whoa. Talk about a fascinating plot that races to the finish line. Sa-weet! This is a nice blend of sci-fi and fantasy with excellent characters and great writing. If you like a book that is like a leisurely stroll that picks up steam until it’s a gallop then definitely pick this up.
March 30, 2021
Before we begin, I want to thank the author for sending me this book early for review!
Magic. War. Extinction. As always, Crunden has written another immersive, creative, and addicting book that I absolutely fell in love with. There were points in the book where I just couldn’t put it down. I got so addicted, and I would find myself reading past midnight! I highly recommend checking this book out! It is an amazing stand-alone that will leave you attached to every character you meet, and only wanting to stay in this world longer!
I highly recommend picking this book up! It’s got everything you could want in a book and more!
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️
Magic. War. Extinction. As always, Crunden has written another immersive, creative, and addicting book that I absolutely fell in love with. There were points in the book where I just couldn’t put it down. I got so addicted, and I would find myself reading past midnight! I highly recommend checking this book out! It is an amazing stand-alone that will leave you attached to every character you meet, and only wanting to stay in this world longer!
I highly recommend picking this book up! It’s got everything you could want in a book and more!
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️
April 16, 2024
Just wonderful. Intricately plotted, emotively developed with satisfying use of tropes. I couldn’t put it down. Such captivating love stories.
April 19, 2022
amazing fantasy adventure
I loved this book. The fantasy, the characters, the story were all really well written. I found it hard to put down
I loved this book. The fantasy, the characters, the story were all really well written. I found it hard to put down
April 25, 2021
*4.5 Stars - Full review to come!
April 3, 2021
this was really interesting.. fast paced and made me smile and laugh... it was action packed and sexy.. i enjoyed the characters and their storyline and who they became. it was well written and i liked it a lot.
June 8, 2021
Once upon a time, inhabitants of another world tore a hole through the universe and came to Earth. They called themselves Suriias, and rivalled humans in knowledge and skill with one great exception: they had magic.War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.
Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.
Firstly I want to say a massive thank you to Rebecca for sending me this copy for review.
These Violent Nights is a kind of post apocalyptic sci-fi with some fantasy elements within. I thoroughly enjoyed how it was all woven in together. After the war between the Humans and the Suriias, tensions are at an all time high and our main character Thorn has understandable bitter resentment towards the kind, whilst her best friend, more sister, is head over heels in love with one. I really enjoyed Thorns dynamic throughout this story, and her relationships with the characters she meets along the way, I felt her every pain and hesitation but also understood a great majority of her decisions, even if some absolutely broke my heart Thorn! She’s headstrong and brave and I liked that she wasn’t so easily swayed by others and firmly believed in having trust earnt.
The book is very easy to fly through, it perfectly explains all the information you need to know at a decent pace, rather than throwing it at you all at once. The magic system was intriguing and whilst there was a fair amount to explain it throughout the book, I definitely wouldn’t have been opposed to learning more about it. However, the world lore was fascinating and learning about the Humans and the Suriias was fascinating and definitely kept me hooked.
The relationships in this book were adorable, but so angsty at times. There was so many times my heart couldn’t take the pain! But, it was so lovely to see relationships painted with both love and struggle within. I really liked Nithin despite Thorns hesitation with him, and I enjoyed seeing both of them come to understand one another. Kol and Thorn were sweet together, if only they communicated! I really loved the twist at the end and it both broke my heart and fulfilled me.
A twist to this book was having a POV of another new character called Lucien. I really, really enjoyed his storyline and I was so glad it was included. I found his found family relationships so so cute and it was heartwarming to read, and knowing the pain he’s gone through to achieve it. His relationship with Nik was sweet and the twist had me shook, even if I could understand it, I was so broken for a moment, but again I was happy things got wrapped up.
Overall I really had a lot of fun reading this book, I enjoyed being in the world and I hope there is another instalment in the series, I was content with how things were wrapped up, but I would definitely be eager to learn more about what happens next. My only complaint, is that at some points I was slightly confused as a lot of things happened at once, particularly towards the end.
My rating of this book: 4 stars
Big thank you again to Rebecca for providing me with a copy for review.
Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.
Firstly I want to say a massive thank you to Rebecca for sending me this copy for review.
These Violent Nights is a kind of post apocalyptic sci-fi with some fantasy elements within. I thoroughly enjoyed how it was all woven in together. After the war between the Humans and the Suriias, tensions are at an all time high and our main character Thorn has understandable bitter resentment towards the kind, whilst her best friend, more sister, is head over heels in love with one. I really enjoyed Thorns dynamic throughout this story, and her relationships with the characters she meets along the way, I felt her every pain and hesitation but also understood a great majority of her decisions, even if some absolutely broke my heart Thorn! She’s headstrong and brave and I liked that she wasn’t so easily swayed by others and firmly believed in having trust earnt.
The book is very easy to fly through, it perfectly explains all the information you need to know at a decent pace, rather than throwing it at you all at once. The magic system was intriguing and whilst there was a fair amount to explain it throughout the book, I definitely wouldn’t have been opposed to learning more about it. However, the world lore was fascinating and learning about the Humans and the Suriias was fascinating and definitely kept me hooked.
The relationships in this book were adorable, but so angsty at times. There was so many times my heart couldn’t take the pain! But, it was so lovely to see relationships painted with both love and struggle within. I really liked Nithin despite Thorns hesitation with him, and I enjoyed seeing both of them come to understand one another. Kol and Thorn were sweet together, if only they communicated! I really loved the twist at the end and it both broke my heart and fulfilled me.
A twist to this book was having a POV of another new character called Lucien. I really, really enjoyed his storyline and I was so glad it was included. I found his found family relationships so so cute and it was heartwarming to read, and knowing the pain he’s gone through to achieve it. His relationship with Nik was sweet and the twist had me shook, even if I could understand it, I was so broken for a moment, but again I was happy things got wrapped up.
Overall I really had a lot of fun reading this book, I enjoyed being in the world and I hope there is another instalment in the series, I was content with how things were wrapped up, but I would definitely be eager to learn more about what happens next. My only complaint, is that at some points I was slightly confused as a lot of things happened at once, particularly towards the end.
My rating of this book: 4 stars
Big thank you again to Rebecca for providing me with a copy for review.
August 4, 2021
I sometimes find that I read so many Fantasy novels that fit into the YA age bracket that I can often end up putting myself into a bit of a rut and end up crying out for something just a little more on the dark side…
Well readers, These Violent Nights was it.
Earth has been torn apart by a War involving humans and supernatural beings who came to Earth from Salfar via a Tear in the dimensions of the universe. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the fascinating, magically-built world of Courtenz with its metropolitan vibes, modern skyscrapers and technologically advanced Coach travel. In this world there is no place for humans; they are outcasts, kept as slaves or treated as the dregs of society. We really begin to feel the segregation of humans through the eyes of Thorn and Thistle who struggle to keep themselves alive and hidden.
As Thorn and Thistle’s world collides with their Suriia enemies, the first part of the novel showcases Thorn’s animosity towards Kol and Nithin and her mistrust of their true intentions. It drives the plot forward as she sets out to try and track down those responsible for her parents’ death whilst also attempting to find a new group of humans to band together with and escape the magical hell she has found herself caught up in.
From the diverse range of Suriia backgrounds and abilities, to the harrowing levels of violence and segregation between the humans and magic-bearers, there was plenty of complex world-building and plot politics to get stuck into. I enjoyed that the differences of the Frai, Vrykos, Ghuls (amongst others) was explained alongside the backdrop of information about how the world came to be as it is now. There was lots to take in, but not too much that it overwhelmed the action within the story.
The structuring of the novel is quite different to other stories I’ve read before. At times, the narrative felt like it was three linked novellas forming as one complete story arc. As the end of Part One rolls into Part Two we get left on a cliffhanger then introduced to an entirely new cast of characters as the story veers away from Thorn’s viewpoint. The reader gets to experience a new group of Suriia and human characters who live in a different part of this strange, dystopian Earth Crunden has created. In Lucien’s part of the world, humans pose more of a resistance and threat to the magic-bearers and this new story dynamic keeps the whole novel fresh and action-packed – all the while wondering what and where we are going to be taken next.
By the time Part Three begins, characters from both preceding parts collide. We get to see the aftermath of that cliffhanger at the end of Part One whilst also benefitting from a greater understanding of the world and circumstances of the groups of characters that dwell within it from explanations within Part Two. The final part of the novel brings the world of Salfar to the fore and provides a more traditional fantasy element than the previous parts of the story. It seeks to tie up the loose ends which came before it and supplies a neatly wrapped up conclusion (with some pretty, sneaky twists along the way)!
This three part plot was a bold way to structure the novel and even though it initially felt a little strange to leave one set of characters behind completely, it really paid off in the final climax of the novel as plots and conspiracies merge back together with both Suriia and humans now fighting for a common cause.
Overall, These Violent Nights is a dark, gritty and edgy adult fantasy novel which, as its title suggests, is packed with a ferocious wildness and complex, multi-layered plot. It’s most compelling element for me is how poignant the divide between Suriias and humans could so very easily be transposed into today’s real world issues: race, gender, vaxxed and unvaxxed… As my mind probably read way too deeply into that element of the story (too much Twitter doomscrolling!), the unsettling feeling which the novel invoked in me was exactly the type of vibe I was looking for after reading many fluffily-wrapped up happy endings.
Ultimately, underlying all of that segregation, revolution and warfare, These Violent Nights brings about an immensely memorable and strong group of characters to champion. Characters who overcome their personal issues and fight to craft out a world they truly believe in. A cast who sacrifice and compromise, who break down their barriers, who overcome their differences, all with the aim of trying to bring about a more understanding, hopeful and harmonious future for all… and that’s got to be something worth fighting for, isn’t it?
Well readers, These Violent Nights was it.
Earth has been torn apart by a War involving humans and supernatural beings who came to Earth from Salfar via a Tear in the dimensions of the universe. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the fascinating, magically-built world of Courtenz with its metropolitan vibes, modern skyscrapers and technologically advanced Coach travel. In this world there is no place for humans; they are outcasts, kept as slaves or treated as the dregs of society. We really begin to feel the segregation of humans through the eyes of Thorn and Thistle who struggle to keep themselves alive and hidden.
As Thorn and Thistle’s world collides with their Suriia enemies, the first part of the novel showcases Thorn’s animosity towards Kol and Nithin and her mistrust of their true intentions. It drives the plot forward as she sets out to try and track down those responsible for her parents’ death whilst also attempting to find a new group of humans to band together with and escape the magical hell she has found herself caught up in.
From the diverse range of Suriia backgrounds and abilities, to the harrowing levels of violence and segregation between the humans and magic-bearers, there was plenty of complex world-building and plot politics to get stuck into. I enjoyed that the differences of the Frai, Vrykos, Ghuls (amongst others) was explained alongside the backdrop of information about how the world came to be as it is now. There was lots to take in, but not too much that it overwhelmed the action within the story.
The structuring of the novel is quite different to other stories I’ve read before. At times, the narrative felt like it was three linked novellas forming as one complete story arc. As the end of Part One rolls into Part Two we get left on a cliffhanger then introduced to an entirely new cast of characters as the story veers away from Thorn’s viewpoint. The reader gets to experience a new group of Suriia and human characters who live in a different part of this strange, dystopian Earth Crunden has created. In Lucien’s part of the world, humans pose more of a resistance and threat to the magic-bearers and this new story dynamic keeps the whole novel fresh and action-packed – all the while wondering what and where we are going to be taken next.
By the time Part Three begins, characters from both preceding parts collide. We get to see the aftermath of that cliffhanger at the end of Part One whilst also benefitting from a greater understanding of the world and circumstances of the groups of characters that dwell within it from explanations within Part Two. The final part of the novel brings the world of Salfar to the fore and provides a more traditional fantasy element than the previous parts of the story. It seeks to tie up the loose ends which came before it and supplies a neatly wrapped up conclusion (with some pretty, sneaky twists along the way)!
This three part plot was a bold way to structure the novel and even though it initially felt a little strange to leave one set of characters behind completely, it really paid off in the final climax of the novel as plots and conspiracies merge back together with both Suriia and humans now fighting for a common cause.
Overall, These Violent Nights is a dark, gritty and edgy adult fantasy novel which, as its title suggests, is packed with a ferocious wildness and complex, multi-layered plot. It’s most compelling element for me is how poignant the divide between Suriias and humans could so very easily be transposed into today’s real world issues: race, gender, vaxxed and unvaxxed… As my mind probably read way too deeply into that element of the story (too much Twitter doomscrolling!), the unsettling feeling which the novel invoked in me was exactly the type of vibe I was looking for after reading many fluffily-wrapped up happy endings.
Ultimately, underlying all of that segregation, revolution and warfare, These Violent Nights brings about an immensely memorable and strong group of characters to champion. Characters who overcome their personal issues and fight to craft out a world they truly believe in. A cast who sacrifice and compromise, who break down their barriers, who overcome their differences, all with the aim of trying to bring about a more understanding, hopeful and harmonious future for all… and that’s got to be something worth fighting for, isn’t it?
September 10, 2021
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Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
These Violent Nights is a dystopian book set in a post-apocalyptic setting following two orphans, Thorn and Thistle. Life didn’t treat them well because they lost everything they had and are now left alone and in hiding. Thorn is determined to avenge her parents and will do anything to achieve that.
I was introduced to Rebecca Crunden’s writing last year when I read her book Touch of Death. One thing I have to say about her writing is that’s she’s an amazing dystopian writer who writes very interesting and fast paced books.
Although dystopia is not my favorite genre, I liked this book because it touches upon other topics such as relationships (both friendship and romance) and trauma which was interesting to me.
I loved that there are multiple points of view, that part always brings more depth and perspective to the whole story.
I enjoyed the main characters, my favorite one being of course Thorn, and her friendship with Thistle.
The book is fairly long, 600+ pages, but it’s fast paced and very interesting so you go through it quite quickly. To summarize, I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to readers who like fast paced dystopia.
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
These Violent Nights is a dystopian book set in a post-apocalyptic setting following two orphans, Thorn and Thistle. Life didn’t treat them well because they lost everything they had and are now left alone and in hiding. Thorn is determined to avenge her parents and will do anything to achieve that.
I was introduced to Rebecca Crunden’s writing last year when I read her book Touch of Death. One thing I have to say about her writing is that’s she’s an amazing dystopian writer who writes very interesting and fast paced books.
Although dystopia is not my favorite genre, I liked this book because it touches upon other topics such as relationships (both friendship and romance) and trauma which was interesting to me.
I loved that there are multiple points of view, that part always brings more depth and perspective to the whole story.
I enjoyed the main characters, my favorite one being of course Thorn, and her friendship with Thistle.
The book is fairly long, 600+ pages, but it’s fast paced and very interesting so you go through it quite quickly. To summarize, I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to readers who like fast paced dystopia.
August 22, 2022
This is a great fast-paced gritty SFF packed with action, romance, friendship, and magic. I loved the development of Kol and Thorn’s relationship so much and the world-building is spectacular. There was so much depth to the magic system and setting that really made me imagine the scenes playing out like a movie. I just wanted to be there with the characters a tad longer; sometimes the scenes felt a little bit rushed without much elaboration for such a unique world and characters, and that made it difficult to connect in certain moments. That, and something didn’t sit well with me about Thorn’s story towards the end. There was a strong message of consent throughout that later seemed to blur — but maybe I misunderstood. Overall, there’s something in this book for everyone, including queer rep and the exploration of oppression. Crunden always weaves tales rich with all sorts of unexpected and wonderful aspects, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
August 2, 2021
Fascinating multi-world story
This is book about a dystopian future for humans, except with a twist. An interesting exploration of the evils of power, hatred and prosecution and how the world (or worlds!) we live in can bring out the best and worst in us all.
There's an excellent cast of characters. I particularly liked Thorn as a character - yes, she's angry and at times unreasonable, but for entirely understandable reasons!
Another aspect I liked was all the domestic scenes, they really helped to ground the readers in the day-to-day life of these characters and their worlds.
Overall, an enjoyable read I would definitely recommend.
This is book about a dystopian future for humans, except with a twist. An interesting exploration of the evils of power, hatred and prosecution and how the world (or worlds!) we live in can bring out the best and worst in us all.
There's an excellent cast of characters. I particularly liked Thorn as a character - yes, she's angry and at times unreasonable, but for entirely understandable reasons!
Another aspect I liked was all the domestic scenes, they really helped to ground the readers in the day-to-day life of these characters and their worlds.
Overall, an enjoyable read I would definitely recommend.
March 30, 2021
Once again Ms Crunden has outdone herself! As always I found myself immediately immersed in a world full of adventure and intrigue. A world where earth and other-worldly magic collide.
Ms. Crundens writing style is superb. You feel as though you are actually in the story, fully engaged in each and every characters life. You feel their emotions as though they are your own.
I highly recommend this book with the warning that you will not be able to put it down until it is ended. My only regret is that is did in fact end as I could see and wanted the story to continue.
I look forward to reading even more of this authors writings as I have yet to be disappointed.
Ms. Crundens writing style is superb. You feel as though you are actually in the story, fully engaged in each and every characters life. You feel their emotions as though they are your own.
I highly recommend this book with the warning that you will not be able to put it down until it is ended. My only regret is that is did in fact end as I could see and wanted the story to continue.
I look forward to reading even more of this authors writings as I have yet to be disappointed.
June 29, 2021
These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden falls in the dystopian, post-apocalyptic and fantasy category. This combination of genres made me love this book in the first place. The execution of these three categories in the story was great.
The world was filled with aliens called Suriias who made Humans live a living hell. Thorn, our rebel protagonist determined to kill their parent's murderer and desires the world to be a better place to live. In the beginning, the plot was Thorn's revenge for her parent's death then it changes to saving the Earth. I love how the author changes the plot itself and still made me hooked up in the story till the end.
When I don't like a protagonist then I don't like the book, because, if I don't feel connected to him/her then how could I love the story which was expressed from their pov? But surprisingly it was different from the book. I couldn't hate Thorn because she is a good person who would do anything for her best friend, Thistle, and the ones she loves.
At the same time, I don't completely like her either. The reason was that most of the time she did something that I disagree with. Eventhough I understand why she has trust issues I still don't like her hurting Kol, her lover, again and again. Kol is the sweetest person in the book and I don't know why Thorn couldn't see that. I loved the gradual development in their relationship. I would have loved it more if it weren't for Thorn constantly hurting Kol.
I loved gay representation in this book which was so beautifully executed. Lucien and Nik are my favourites. I liked all the characters (except Thorn). A lot of importance was given to the relationship of characters which is one of the things I love most in Rebecca's books. Her other books also have such strong relationship between characters.
There are magic and fights in this book. I wish they were more detailed. One thing I am dissatisfied with is that the immortals were so easily killed. Considering how strong, powerful and old they were, I wanted them to give a tough fight to their opponents but they were killed by a single stroke of a knife which disappointed me. I am not satisfied with the cover too.
I loved the two major twists that I couldn't see coming. I loved the names given to different alien creatures that show the research the author had gone through for this book. The climax was perfect for a standalone novel. I enjoyed reading this book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The world was filled with aliens called Suriias who made Humans live a living hell. Thorn, our rebel protagonist determined to kill their parent's murderer and desires the world to be a better place to live. In the beginning, the plot was Thorn's revenge for her parent's death then it changes to saving the Earth. I love how the author changes the plot itself and still made me hooked up in the story till the end.
When I don't like a protagonist then I don't like the book, because, if I don't feel connected to him/her then how could I love the story which was expressed from their pov? But surprisingly it was different from the book. I couldn't hate Thorn because she is a good person who would do anything for her best friend, Thistle, and the ones she loves.
At the same time, I don't completely like her either. The reason was that most of the time she did something that I disagree with. Eventhough I understand why she has trust issues I still don't like her hurting Kol, her lover, again and again. Kol is the sweetest person in the book and I don't know why Thorn couldn't see that. I loved the gradual development in their relationship. I would have loved it more if it weren't for Thorn constantly hurting Kol.
I loved gay representation in this book which was so beautifully executed. Lucien and Nik are my favourites. I liked all the characters (except Thorn). A lot of importance was given to the relationship of characters which is one of the things I love most in Rebecca's books. Her other books also have such strong relationship between characters.
There are magic and fights in this book. I wish they were more detailed. One thing I am dissatisfied with is that the immortals were so easily killed. Considering how strong, powerful and old they were, I wanted them to give a tough fight to their opponents but they were killed by a single stroke of a knife which disappointed me. I am not satisfied with the cover too.
I loved the two major twists that I couldn't see coming. I loved the names given to different alien creatures that show the research the author had gone through for this book. The climax was perfect for a standalone novel. I enjoyed reading this book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
March 16, 2023
These Violent Nights features a very inventive and creative world that mixes fantasy and sci-fi, and characters who are easy to root for. A long book that doesn't feel long because the story is engaging and interesting throughout. This is one of the books that got me into sci-fi, a genre I didn't think I would enjoy that much but ended up loving. (Read this a good while ago but found that I hadn't written a review yet).
July 14, 2021
I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of Rebecca’s latest book and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. The world building was so intriguing and served as great escapism. I found it very hard to put this book down because I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend checking this one out! You won’t be sorry.
February 12, 2022
You can see the passion that has writer has for writing with this story. It's a good book and I would definitely recommend it.
July 23, 2021
I’m not even surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. I had high expectations for These Violent Nights as the author’s previous work, The Outlands Pentalogy had been one of my best reads of 2020. I wasn’t dissapointed in the least by this book.
These Violent Nights shows a cruel world where humans are hunted and tortured by beings called Suriia who have taken over the human world. Some humans search for Suriias, or in other words, some Suriia take ownership of humans as companions to protect them. This is what happens with Thistle and Thorn, two young girls who are humans and who decide to stay with Nithin, Thistle’s boyfriend, and his best friend, Kol who are Suriia. Thorn is reluctant to have anything to do with Suriia, having been attacked and tortured by them many times in her life, but she agrees to do so in the hopes of finding and killing Veryn, a Suriia who killed her and Thistle’s parents. However, that is not all that the book encompasses. The plot is very rich. This 600+ book takes the readers through a long journey with many events and ups and downs in the characters’ lives.
I was sucked into this book very quickly. The anticipation of a budding romance between Kol and Thorn kept me hooked, as well as the danger and mystery that surrounded the characters’ fates.
The focus was as much on the characters’ growth, especially Thorn, and their relationships as much as the plot. Fantasy books can be tricky in balancing world-building with characterization and this was done well in this book. There was a great mix of danger and action with emotional, funny, and everyday human moments. Through Thorn, the book shows what it is like to live your life in the shadow of immense trauma that you have faced, trauma that you feel you can never let go of. The world-building in this book was amazing. It was refreshing and not too complex.
A portion of this book is from Lucien’s perspective. Lucien is a Suriia and the world he lives in is the opposite of that of Thorn’s—humans rule over Suriias there. I didn’t expect the book to show the humanity and cruelty of both beings—the humans and the Suriias. I think it was clever of the author to do so, making a larger comment on what power can do to people regardless of who they are.
For such a long book, there aren’t many boring moments. So much happens throughout the length of the book and multiple characters are introduced. By the end, you feel like you went on a terrifying, thrilling, and emotional journey with the characters. The ending wasn’t as action-packed and thrilling as I expected it to be, but it was still satisfactory.
These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden is a well-written dystopian and fantasy stand-alone novel. If you’re looking for a book that’ll keep you engrossed for a while, I’d definitely recommend it.
Check out more of my book reviews, recommendations, and other content on my blog Travelling Through Words and bookstagram!
These Violent Nights shows a cruel world where humans are hunted and tortured by beings called Suriia who have taken over the human world. Some humans search for Suriias, or in other words, some Suriia take ownership of humans as companions to protect them. This is what happens with Thistle and Thorn, two young girls who are humans and who decide to stay with Nithin, Thistle’s boyfriend, and his best friend, Kol who are Suriia. Thorn is reluctant to have anything to do with Suriia, having been attacked and tortured by them many times in her life, but she agrees to do so in the hopes of finding and killing Veryn, a Suriia who killed her and Thistle’s parents. However, that is not all that the book encompasses. The plot is very rich. This 600+ book takes the readers through a long journey with many events and ups and downs in the characters’ lives.
I was sucked into this book very quickly. The anticipation of a budding romance between Kol and Thorn kept me hooked, as well as the danger and mystery that surrounded the characters’ fates.
The focus was as much on the characters’ growth, especially Thorn, and their relationships as much as the plot. Fantasy books can be tricky in balancing world-building with characterization and this was done well in this book. There was a great mix of danger and action with emotional, funny, and everyday human moments. Through Thorn, the book shows what it is like to live your life in the shadow of immense trauma that you have faced, trauma that you feel you can never let go of. The world-building in this book was amazing. It was refreshing and not too complex.
A portion of this book is from Lucien’s perspective. Lucien is a Suriia and the world he lives in is the opposite of that of Thorn’s—humans rule over Suriias there. I didn’t expect the book to show the humanity and cruelty of both beings—the humans and the Suriias. I think it was clever of the author to do so, making a larger comment on what power can do to people regardless of who they are.
For such a long book, there aren’t many boring moments. So much happens throughout the length of the book and multiple characters are introduced. By the end, you feel like you went on a terrifying, thrilling, and emotional journey with the characters. The ending wasn’t as action-packed and thrilling as I expected it to be, but it was still satisfactory.
These Violent Nights by Rebecca Crunden is a well-written dystopian and fantasy stand-alone novel. If you’re looking for a book that’ll keep you engrossed for a while, I’d definitely recommend it.
Check out more of my book reviews, recommendations, and other content on my blog Travelling Through Words and bookstagram!
May 23, 2021
Easily my favourite book of the year I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
I finished this book over a week ago yet I’ve been struggling to write a review as I don’t think I will be able to do it justice.
I just want to point out that the cover of this book doesn’t show how fantastical it is.
I have never been more in love with a group of characters than I have in this book!
Thorn’s determination is admirable even though her decisions due to her stubborn nature did make me cry like a baby on several occasions. Kol, oh Kol I did fall for him which doesn’t normally happen to me, yes he isn’t perfect but who is? I absolutely loved the slow and cautious relationship that was created between him and thorn.
Thistle, Thorn’s best friend who she spent most of her life trying to protect was the weakest character for me, she didn’t seem to have much of a personality.
Lucien who we meet about halfway through the book showed so much compassion to his ever growing pack, I loved the family that he created.
You can read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
I finished this book over a week ago yet I’ve been struggling to write a review as I don’t think I will be able to do it justice.
I just want to point out that the cover of this book doesn’t show how fantastical it is.
I have never been more in love with a group of characters than I have in this book!
Thorn’s determination is admirable even though her decisions due to her stubborn nature did make me cry like a baby on several occasions. Kol, oh Kol I did fall for him which doesn’t normally happen to me, yes he isn’t perfect but who is? I absolutely loved the slow and cautious relationship that was created between him and thorn.
Thistle, Thorn’s best friend who she spent most of her life trying to protect was the weakest character for me, she didn’t seem to have much of a personality.
Lucien who we meet about halfway through the book showed so much compassion to his ever growing pack, I loved the family that he created.
You can read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
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