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Eternal Night #1
A Night of Wings and Starlight
Breaking the curse will risk her heart, her life, and the future she never thought possible.
Before Arya was Chosen, she knew nothing of what lay waiting in the eternal night—certainly not alluring yet arrogant winged Watchers, a cursed queen, nor the possibility that she could be more than a runner, carrying messages through the vampyre-infested wastelands of Valdihr.
But the biggest surprise waiting in the dark is the brazen Watcher who sparks her heart and calls her a Huntress.
A hundred years shrouded in darkness and Arya is the only one who can finally bring back the dawn. With a blessing that marks her for death and an infuriatingly tantalizing man at her side, Arya must embrace her calling and her courage in order to face the danger lurking in the shadows. Because the night holds more than just secrets, and the monsters are closer than she realizes.
Before Arya was Chosen, she knew nothing of what lay waiting in the eternal night—certainly not alluring yet arrogant winged Watchers, a cursed queen, nor the possibility that she could be more than a runner, carrying messages through the vampyre-infested wastelands of Valdihr.
But the biggest surprise waiting in the dark is the brazen Watcher who sparks her heart and calls her a Huntress.
A hundred years shrouded in darkness and Arya is the only one who can finally bring back the dawn. With a blessing that marks her for death and an infuriatingly tantalizing man at her side, Arya must embrace her calling and her courage in order to face the danger lurking in the shadows. Because the night holds more than just secrets, and the monsters are closer than she realizes.
258 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2022
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3979 people want to read
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February 26, 2022I'm probably biased, but I kinda liked it.
So this book has a lot of:
Mixed with some sword fights
and a hefty splash of
So if you enjoy living in darkness
heroines who kick ass
and the occasional sarcastic, self confident, brazen love interest
but who's also pretty sweet
Wait... did I mention there are wings?
No... Not those wings. THOSE WINGS
And I promise there will be lots of spice...
but also
and
So if you like those things, Then I think this book could make you Ross and Monica on NYE happy.
So go ahead. Add it. Tell me what you think. The Eternal Night is waiting for you
So this book has a lot of:
Mixed with some sword fights
and a hefty splash of
So if you enjoy living in darkness
heroines who kick ass
and the occasional sarcastic, self confident, brazen love interest
but who's also pretty sweet
Wait... did I mention there are wings?
No... Not those wings. THOSE WINGS
And I promise there will be lots of spice...
but also
and
So if you like those things, Then I think this book could make you Ross and Monica on NYE happy.
So go ahead. Add it. Tell me what you think. The Eternal Night is waiting for you
March 22, 2022
I am super thankful and grateful for reading this ARC omg like f*cking lie. I LOVE and DEVOURED this book. It's such an easy read. Especially for people who are diving into fantasy. The world-building flowed naturally and I've read a lot of fantasy books and they usually are info-dumpy on the first book and I am not saying that it's bad, but this book felt like a breeze, which is great if you want to recommend fantasy to people who are brand new to the genre. You can easily finish this book in a few hours. It felt like I had Viking vibes ish, but with ethereal creatures and some demons too.
The heroine was so snarky, strong, and sassy. She doesn't give AF as much, but she is very careful about who she trusts. I feel like I can relate with this character so much, especially with my younger self. I had fun reading Arya. She is so a DELIGHT! I didn't expect Alexis to put IRL situations in a fantasy book, which is really refreshing. Arya reminds me a bit of a teenage Lagertha, but funnier! HAHA!
The MMC... Azriel. OMG! I adore him! I love Alphaholes. I will admit that, but this guy is like a southern gentleman, but he will make your heart melt and make your legs like jelly. He has moves and lines that will make you fall in love and just trap you in those silvery eyes. Maam, I am sold! Silver hair?! I am a sucker for silver-haired and ethereal men! I will marry this man. He is EVERYTHING!
Overall I like this book. It did have its twists and turns. It was definitely a page-turner. I love the vibes and I just want more tbh. I don't know if there's more. It didn't end with a cliffhanger. I wish we could expand more about the gods in this world that would be interesting and the origins of the other creatures too. That be cool!
Yes, this book made me cry like a little bitch. I love how the author depicted grief. I JUST LOVE THE BANTER and the chemistry between both characters <3 Final Verdict:
Spice is 2/5 :D
The heroine was so snarky, strong, and sassy. She doesn't give AF as much, but she is very careful about who she trusts. I feel like I can relate with this character so much, especially with my younger self. I had fun reading Arya. She is so a DELIGHT! I didn't expect Alexis to put IRL situations in a fantasy book, which is really refreshing. Arya reminds me a bit of a teenage Lagertha, but funnier! HAHA!
The MMC... Azriel. OMG! I adore him! I love Alphaholes. I will admit that, but this guy is like a southern gentleman, but he will make your heart melt and make your legs like jelly. He has moves and lines that will make you fall in love and just trap you in those silvery eyes. Maam, I am sold! Silver hair?! I am a sucker for silver-haired and ethereal men! I will marry this man. He is EVERYTHING!
Overall I like this book. It did have its twists and turns. It was definitely a page-turner. I love the vibes and I just want more tbh. I don't know if there's more. It didn't end with a cliffhanger. I wish we could expand more about the gods in this world that would be interesting and the origins of the other creatures too. That be cool!
Yes, this book made me cry like a little bitch. I love how the author depicted grief. I JUST LOVE THE BANTER and the chemistry between both characters <3 Final Verdict:
Spice is 2/5 :D
July 11, 2022
Rating: 4.5/5.0
This breathtaking dystopian fantasy is rich with longing and the celebration of female power.
Read full review in the 2022 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
This breathtaking dystopian fantasy is rich with longing and the celebration of female power.
Read full review in the 2022 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 21, 2022
I am going to try my hardest to convey how I feel about this book and keep this review 100% spoiler-free.
I am absolutely in love with this book - the writing was descriptive and captivating, pulling you into a world of endless nights with vampyres and dangerous creatures that can create illusions. Our characters grow in this world, especially the FMC, Arya. She works so hard to prove herself as a runner for the Queen and with everything that happens throughout this book, I really feel that she grows into herself. The emotions of the FMC were real and raw, you very clearly felt these emotions in how they were written. Maybe I am just an emotional reader, but I was moved and cried quite a few times.
If the quote below doesn't sum up my feelings of the book, I don't know what else would.
One of my favorite spoiler-free quotes: "Love is the only thing worth risking it all for."
I have so many quotes and pieces of this book that I loved. I highlighted so much of the book and I don't just highlight any book.
I am absolutely in love with this book - the writing was descriptive and captivating, pulling you into a world of endless nights with vampyres and dangerous creatures that can create illusions. Our characters grow in this world, especially the FMC, Arya. She works so hard to prove herself as a runner for the Queen and with everything that happens throughout this book, I really feel that she grows into herself. The emotions of the FMC were real and raw, you very clearly felt these emotions in how they were written. Maybe I am just an emotional reader, but I was moved and cried quite a few times.
If the quote below doesn't sum up my feelings of the book, I don't know what else would.
One of my favorite spoiler-free quotes: "Love is the only thing worth risking it all for."
I have so many quotes and pieces of this book that I loved. I highlighted so much of the book and I don't just highlight any book.
March 20, 2022
4.5✨
Me gustó mucho!!! Lo leí rápido y lo disfruté! Justo lo que necesitaba🥰 el mundo, los personajes todo me gustó, si sentí algunas partes rápidas pero no quiere decir que no lo haya disfrutado, Azriel y Arya? Aaahhh los amé, y amé que Arya tenga carácter fuerte y no se dejaba de nadie😎 aparte no paraba de reír con algunas escenas 😂, es libro independiente pero me alegra saber que habrá más libros para saber la historia ✨
(Gracias a la autora por el arc✨)
Me gustó mucho!!! Lo leí rápido y lo disfruté! Justo lo que necesitaba🥰 el mundo, los personajes todo me gustó, si sentí algunas partes rápidas pero no quiere decir que no lo haya disfrutado, Azriel y Arya? Aaahhh los amé, y amé que Arya tenga carácter fuerte y no se dejaba de nadie😎 aparte no paraba de reír con algunas escenas 😂, es libro independiente pero me alegra saber que habrá más libros para saber la historia ✨
(Gracias a la autora por el arc✨)
April 30, 2022
Somewhat confusing, but very interesting - with a white haired, winged male that can save me any day.
I was immersed in the atmosphere of the story from the very first page. From there, it was an easy read with good characters and plenty of action. I loved the idea behind the story: a world in perpetual darkness and the people who struggle to survive in it.
The relationship moved too fast for my liking, but I loved the banter between Arya and Azriel and their sweet and spicy moments. Honestly, the relationship moved faster than the plot which is impressive considering how fast-paced the plot was.
“You’re still an ass.” I gasped, my feet floating above the sand. “But an incredibly beautiful one,” he muttered in my ear. “Aye, that too.”
Some elements reminded me of ACOTAR, e.g., the personality of the male MC was similar to Rhys, his name was Azriel, and "under the mountain" was mentioned. I think the similarities may be too much for some readers, but I found the story to be original in it's own right.
I was surprised, and disappointed, with how fast the story ended. I personally would have liked it to be longer, perhaps with some elements fleshed out more. However, I really enjoyed it and would not hesitate to recommend to other readers.
"There was no place else I'd rather die than running though the wastes of my world, nothing else I'd rather consume me than the eternal night."
I was immersed in the atmosphere of the story from the very first page. From there, it was an easy read with good characters and plenty of action. I loved the idea behind the story: a world in perpetual darkness and the people who struggle to survive in it.
The relationship moved too fast for my liking, but I loved the banter between Arya and Azriel and their sweet and spicy moments. Honestly, the relationship moved faster than the plot which is impressive considering how fast-paced the plot was.
“You’re still an ass.” I gasped, my feet floating above the sand. “But an incredibly beautiful one,” he muttered in my ear. “Aye, that too.”
Some elements reminded me of ACOTAR, e.g., the personality of the male MC was similar to Rhys, his name was Azriel, and "under the mountain" was mentioned. I think the similarities may be too much for some readers, but I found the story to be original in it's own right.
I was surprised, and disappointed, with how fast the story ended. I personally would have liked it to be longer, perhaps with some elements fleshed out more. However, I really enjoyed it and would not hesitate to recommend to other readers.
"There was no place else I'd rather die than running though the wastes of my world, nothing else I'd rather consume me than the eternal night."
August 6, 2022
The fml has been learning to run (cause she’s a runner who wants to be a chosen) for TWENTY years, on her first mission as a runner she trips…because she wasn’t paying attention to the ground… twenty years of training.
The ML even says when she trips on her second mission that they should’ve never let her leave the mountain since she’s so bad. Please, it’s just not making any sense. But I think the worse offender is the “romance” what in the insta-lust, zero-logic, first-day-and-we’re-promising-forever is going on here?? Just no. I didn’t even care about the magic/evil queen storyline cause I kept rolling my eyes 😭
The ML even says when she trips on her second mission that they should’ve never let her leave the mountain since she’s so bad. Please, it’s just not making any sense. But I think the worse offender is the “romance” what in the insta-lust, zero-logic, first-day-and-we’re-promising-forever is going on here?? Just no. I didn’t even care about the magic/evil queen storyline cause I kept rolling my eyes 😭
April 5, 2022
Thank you so much for an early copy of this, I was beyond excited to be able to read this!
4.25*
I went into this book completely blind, I read it based on that one piece of fanart and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved this and enjoyed it a lot. I love the mc, the love interest, the world building and different fantasy aspects in this book like the winged MMC 🤌 It was a really fast paced and highly enjoyable book, I could not put this down at all. It even includes the nightmare trope, what more could you possibly ask for? There were so many scenes in this book that I LOVED and see myself going back to at literally 3 am. But the multiple betrayals and plot twists throughout this book were just continuous stabs in the heart.
The MMC was a chefs kiss, I love his sarcasm and humor, and get this, he's a big ass simp for Arya👏If you havent seen the fanart, I would highly suggest you do.
I cant wait to be able to read more about Arya and her path to being the chosen one!
4.25*
I went into this book completely blind, I read it based on that one piece of fanart and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved this and enjoyed it a lot. I love the mc, the love interest, the world building and different fantasy aspects in this book like the winged MMC 🤌 It was a really fast paced and highly enjoyable book, I could not put this down at all. It even includes the nightmare trope, what more could you possibly ask for? There were so many scenes in this book that I LOVED and see myself going back to at literally 3 am. But the multiple betrayals and plot twists throughout this book were just continuous stabs in the heart.
The MMC was a chefs kiss, I love his sarcasm and humor, and get this, he's a big ass simp for Arya👏If you havent seen the fanart, I would highly suggest you do.
I cant wait to be able to read more about Arya and her path to being the chosen one!
March 17, 2022
“Watchers aren’t mortals. They’re ancient beings, as old as the gods. Bad things have happened to humans who end up…involved with them.”
3.5-4 stars
I enjoyed it! If you’re looking for something that’s fast-paced with a sweet romance this is definitely the book for you. You have Celestials, a kick-ass heroine, betrayals, and more! The world building was also amazing. And the sexy times?? *heart eyes emoji* Hooboy!! It was SO good!!
I do think the story could’ve been longer so the characters could be fleshed out a bit better. I would’ve liked to see a little more of Arya’s history under the mountain rather than be told about it. I think I would’ve connected with her a bit better. Everyone else felt a little too one dimensional. Especially the villain…The ingredients are there to make a very well-rounded out baddie.
The romance: Sadly insta-love (even when paired with a certain trope) is an instant!no for me. I crave the slow burn, makes the endgame all the more sweet and satisfying.
All in all, it’s a nice and light fantasy read. At least it was for me! I think the author has a lot of potential to create some amazing stories so I’ll stick around and see what else she has to share with us.
3.5-4 stars
I enjoyed it! If you’re looking for something that’s fast-paced with a sweet romance this is definitely the book for you. You have Celestials, a kick-ass heroine, betrayals, and more! The world building was also amazing. And the sexy times?? *heart eyes emoji* Hooboy!! It was SO good!!
I do think the story could’ve been longer so the characters could be fleshed out a bit better. I would’ve liked to see a little more of Arya’s history under the mountain rather than be told about it. I think I would’ve connected with her a bit better. Everyone else felt a little too one dimensional. Especially the villain…The ingredients are there to make a very well-rounded out baddie.
The romance: Sadly insta-love (even when paired with a certain trope) is an instant!no for me. I crave the slow burn, makes the endgame all the more sweet and satisfying.
All in all, it’s a nice and light fantasy read. At least it was for me! I think the author has a lot of potential to create some amazing stories so I’ll stick around and see what else she has to share with us.
March 12, 2022
Liiiiiiisten listen listen…
Was this book so good that I read it in 24hours?
Uhmmm yes.
Does this book have a badass, driven, knows her worth, “I’m not a damsel” MC?
Uhmmm yes.
Did this book make me give a sexy winged man heart
Uhmmm yes.
Were there moments during my read that I said “OH SHIT!!!”
Uhmmm yes.
If a book that displays incredible world building, with magic, romance, betrayal, and a love that was written in the stars is your kinda thing… should you read this book?
UHMMMM YES!!!!!
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
You’ll thank me later 😘
Was this book so good that I read it in 24hours?
Uhmmm yes.
Does this book have a badass, driven, knows her worth, “I’m not a damsel” MC?
Uhmmm yes.
Did this book make me give a sexy winged man heart
Uhmmm yes.
Were there moments during my read that I said “OH SHIT!!!”
Uhmmm yes.
If a book that displays incredible world building, with magic, romance, betrayal, and a love that was written in the stars is your kinda thing… should you read this book?
UHMMMM YES!!!!!
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
You’ll thank me later 😘
March 19, 2022
❝𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 — 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶.❞
✶ A Night of Wings and Starlight gives us a very strong, badass FMC. Arya has been training her whole life to be chosen and finally the time has come. She does not know what lies outside the mountain, all she wants is freedom, to run outside the mountain. Arya certainly did not expect to meet an alluring yet arrogant winged Watchers, a cursed queen and the possibility of being more than just a runner, carrying messaged through the vampyre infested wasteland of Valdihr.
✶ I instantly fell for Arya’s character. She is strong willed and she certainly does not wanna be the damsel in distress. Then we meet Azriel, the alluring winged watcher we mentioned earlier. Az is swoon worthy. I enjoyed Arya and Azriel’s banter, I find it kind of cute. The romance was there and certainly some spice. Did this book almost broke my heart and made me shed a little tear? Yes, it did. A Night of Wings and Starlight was an enjoyable book to read with an overall great plot and I cannot wait for book two.
☾ 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
✶ A Night of Wings and Starlight gives us a very strong, badass FMC. Arya has been training her whole life to be chosen and finally the time has come. She does not know what lies outside the mountain, all she wants is freedom, to run outside the mountain. Arya certainly did not expect to meet an alluring yet arrogant winged Watchers, a cursed queen and the possibility of being more than just a runner, carrying messaged through the vampyre infested wasteland of Valdihr.
✶ I instantly fell for Arya’s character. She is strong willed and she certainly does not wanna be the damsel in distress. Then we meet Azriel, the alluring winged watcher we mentioned earlier. Az is swoon worthy. I enjoyed Arya and Azriel’s banter, I find it kind of cute. The romance was there and certainly some spice. Did this book almost broke my heart and made me shed a little tear? Yes, it did. A Night of Wings and Starlight was an enjoyable book to read with an overall great plot and I cannot wait for book two.
☾ 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
April 12, 2022
I received an eARC of this courtesy of the author! Thank you so much for the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Arya is a woman desperate to be Chosen, for her life to open up to the wider world, for her to be a runner. Fate takes a surprising turn when she finally gets her chance and, just like that, her entire reality is upended after a strange encounter that shakes all she's known.
The story is equal parts romance and adventure, with plucky banter between the characters. Arya is a woman with steely resolve who thinks she knows what's in store for her and the writing of the tale depicts her as equal parts courageous and uncertain. She makes a shaky choice to fling herself into the unknown and I enjoyed the realism of that, the gravity of her humanity that was written in contrast with Azriel, the winged creature who crashes into her life and flips the proverbial chess board over.
I enjoyed the writing and the pacing of the story, and never felt it was lagging or sprinting too fast for me to follow, though the romance developed quickly to my surprise, and I would've preferred a slower burn (but that's just me). But the actual romance and connection between the leads was tender and heartfelt, and so while insta-love isn't my cup of tea, I still found it to be enjoyable.
This will be perfect for people who enjoyed SJM's ACOTAR or Audrey Grey's Kingdom of Runes universe...but there's plenty here that's unique and enjoyable without those comparisons.
Arya is a woman desperate to be Chosen, for her life to open up to the wider world, for her to be a runner. Fate takes a surprising turn when she finally gets her chance and, just like that, her entire reality is upended after a strange encounter that shakes all she's known.
The story is equal parts romance and adventure, with plucky banter between the characters. Arya is a woman with steely resolve who thinks she knows what's in store for her and the writing of the tale depicts her as equal parts courageous and uncertain. She makes a shaky choice to fling herself into the unknown and I enjoyed the realism of that, the gravity of her humanity that was written in contrast with Azriel, the winged creature who crashes into her life and flips the proverbial chess board over.
I enjoyed the writing and the pacing of the story, and never felt it was lagging or sprinting too fast for me to follow, though the romance developed quickly to my surprise, and I would've preferred a slower burn (but that's just me). But the actual romance and connection between the leads was tender and heartfelt, and so while insta-love isn't my cup of tea, I still found it to be enjoyable.
This will be perfect for people who enjoyed SJM's ACOTAR or Audrey Grey's Kingdom of Runes universe...but there's plenty here that's unique and enjoyable without those comparisons.
April 16, 2022
Firstly, thank you Alexis for the E-ARC of A Night of Wings and Starlight. The below is my honest opinion!
This is Alexis's debut novel, and what can I say other than you all need this in your life! 5🌟
It's amazing. I was hooked from the first page. I loved everything about it. The world building is fantastic; it's got enough background information that it doesn't overload and the action 😉
I don't want to give anything away, but 😭 I loved the main character, Arya. she's not a damsel in distress; she's strong and bold and fantastic for a main character.
And Azriel (swoon), he's so sweet, and he's definitely added to the book boyfriend list😍 There's so much I want to say about him, but I'd spoil the book.
I can't wait for book 2
This is Alexis's debut novel, and what can I say other than you all need this in your life! 5🌟
It's amazing. I was hooked from the first page. I loved everything about it. The world building is fantastic; it's got enough background information that it doesn't overload and the action 😉
I don't want to give anything away, but 😭 I loved the main character, Arya. she's not a damsel in distress; she's strong and bold and fantastic for a main character.
And Azriel (swoon), he's so sweet, and he's definitely added to the book boyfriend list😍 There's so much I want to say about him, but I'd spoil the book.
I can't wait for book 2
April 21, 2022
“This is the second time you’ve climbed on top of me, darling. You’re starting to give me a complex.”
Arya is definitely one of my all time favorite FMC of all time. She is definitely not a confused damsel in distress. She’s strong as hell, bold, and perfect for a female lead character. Azriel is a sweetie pie, I’m just obsessed with him. Everything his says is just absolute gold. New book bf? Definitely.
I was sucked in by the first page and I thought the flow of the book was perfect, and it made for an easy read. I also enjoyed the backstory of how the world came to be shrouded, and just overall a great plot!
Arya is definitely one of my all time favorite FMC of all time. She is definitely not a confused damsel in distress. She’s strong as hell, bold, and perfect for a female lead character. Azriel is a sweetie pie, I’m just obsessed with him. Everything his says is just absolute gold. New book bf? Definitely.
I was sucked in by the first page and I thought the flow of the book was perfect, and it made for an easy read. I also enjoyed the backstory of how the world came to be shrouded, and just overall a great plot!
May 11, 2022
First sentence of the book:
"There were only three rules in the world I lived in: be quick, be quiet, and be careful."
Excuse me? When I read that, I KNEW I was going to enjoy whatever journey the author was going to take me. Such a striking first line.
While some aspects of this book reminded me of ACOTAR (MMC's personality emulating Rhys, MMC is named Azriel, the phrase "under the mountain") the premise and plot felt wholly unique. The concept of a divine being going rogue, causing the gods to stop time and suspend the world in eternal darkness so the mortals have no choice but to adapt and survive? Amazing. A whole settlement existing under a mountain, where children train to run vast distances, and undergo trials of life or death while blindfolded, for the chance to become "chosen" and essentially run across the kingdom on missions for the queen? Spectacular.
I absolutely adore that the reader can tell how passionate the author is about running, I love how strong willed and impressive Arya (the FMC) is, I'm obsessed with Az's charm, and I could not get enough of their banter!
However, there are a couple things that kept me from rating this a 5:
-The speed that Arya and Az's relationship progresses in like a week was very jarring and unrealistic (realism is not expected in fantasy, but this is romantasy, so I do want/hope for a convincing romance), therefore I'm not entirely sold on that front.
-Without getting into spoilers, I felt that Arya completed some tasks with too much ease. Yes, she's the chosen one, special and more skilled than others, but these tasks were meant to be challenging to even immortals so the fact that she got through them relatively unscathed? Not a big fan.
-This book has such an incredible premise, but it does read like it's barely scratching the surface. I hope that this is because it's the first in the series (and the authors' debut) so we'll get more in the sequel, because I would love more background on Az/the watchers/the lore/everything!
Overall, I thought this was a delightful, fast-paced, romantasy read. It's the first of a series, but I do think this installment could serve as a standalone if need be. I am so intrigued, and excited to see where the author takes this story next!
Rating: 3.5 rounded to 4.
Thank you Netgalley and City Owl Press, Mystic Owl for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Excuse me? When I read that, I KNEW I was going to enjoy whatever journey the author was going to take me. Such a striking first line.
While some aspects of this book reminded me of ACOTAR (MMC's personality emulating Rhys, MMC is named Azriel, the phrase "under the mountain") the premise and plot felt wholly unique. The concept of a divine being going rogue, causing the gods to stop time and suspend the world in eternal darkness so the mortals have no choice but to adapt and survive? Amazing. A whole settlement existing under a mountain, where children train to run vast distances, and undergo trials of life or death while blindfolded, for the chance to become "chosen" and essentially run across the kingdom on missions for the queen? Spectacular.
I absolutely adore that the reader can tell how passionate the author is about running, I love how strong willed and impressive Arya (the FMC) is, I'm obsessed with Az's charm, and I could not get enough of their banter!
However, there are a couple things that kept me from rating this a 5:
-The speed that Arya and Az's relationship progresses in like a week was very jarring and unrealistic (realism is not expected in fantasy, but this is romantasy, so I do want/hope for a convincing romance), therefore I'm not entirely sold on that front.
-Without getting into spoilers, I felt that Arya completed some tasks with too much ease. Yes, she's the chosen one, special and more skilled than others, but these tasks were meant to be challenging to even immortals so the fact that she got through them relatively unscathed? Not a big fan.
-This book has such an incredible premise, but it does read like it's barely scratching the surface. I hope that this is because it's the first in the series (and the authors' debut) so we'll get more in the sequel, because I would love more background on Az/the watchers/the lore/everything!
Overall, I thought this was a delightful, fast-paced, romantasy read. It's the first of a series, but I do think this installment could serve as a standalone if need be. I am so intrigued, and excited to see where the author takes this story next!
Rating: 3.5 rounded to 4.
Thank you Netgalley and City Owl Press, Mystic Owl for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2022
With its powerful and expertly crafted prose A Night of Wings and Starlight unfurls its many layers of richly detailed and imaginative world building upon an unsuspecting readership.
I really enjoyed this superbly recounted tale of magic, Gods and a world subjugated by the eternal darkness that reigns over the land. Within that world train the runners, the chosen that must traverse the wastelands and remain on the path through the darkness delivering messages for their cursed Queen Eivor as they avoid the nightmares that await them within the shadows.
MC Arya has trained most of her life in the pits of West Mirth for the honor of becoming a chosen, an honor not given to a female within recent memory. Arya has become disheartened at ever achieving her goal as she is a year away from aging out of the program, until suddenly afforded the chance for a win or lose last trial, and with her brazenness and determination makes a choice that finally delivers her dream.
The secrets that this world holds are many and through Arya’s journey we discover them along with her, even secrets she never knew about herself. There is love, danger, action, adventure, along with a cast of mesmerizing characters that deftly keep the reader riveted to the page of this extraordinary feat of storytelling.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this superbly recounted tale of magic, Gods and a world subjugated by the eternal darkness that reigns over the land. Within that world train the runners, the chosen that must traverse the wastelands and remain on the path through the darkness delivering messages for their cursed Queen Eivor as they avoid the nightmares that await them within the shadows.
MC Arya has trained most of her life in the pits of West Mirth for the honor of becoming a chosen, an honor not given to a female within recent memory. Arya has become disheartened at ever achieving her goal as she is a year away from aging out of the program, until suddenly afforded the chance for a win or lose last trial, and with her brazenness and determination makes a choice that finally delivers her dream.
The secrets that this world holds are many and through Arya’s journey we discover them along with her, even secrets she never knew about herself. There is love, danger, action, adventure, along with a cast of mesmerizing characters that deftly keep the reader riveted to the page of this extraordinary feat of storytelling.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2022
A Night of Wings and Starlight is addicting and the perfect fast-paced fantasy read.
The world building is really well written and not info-dumpy at all which I enjoyed because sometimes starting a new fantasy book can be overwhelming. The world is filled with Vampires & Watchers, who are like angels, and gods who have abandoned the mortals to an eternal night and a cursed queen.
I loved the main character Arya and how badass she was. And Azriel, the male MC, I am obsessed. He is so charming and cares so much about Arya. There is so much witty banter between Arya and Az, I found myself laughing out loud when reading this book. I classify the romance as is insta-love but I honestly liked it and it made me read the book quicker. There is also spice which just made the book 10x better.
I really liked the quest aspect of the book and the order of the watchers, I thought it was very unique. There is a lot of action in A Night of Wings and Starlight and I loved it. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I would definitely recommend A Night of Wings and Starlight to anyone who wants a fun, fast-paced fantasy book with romance!
Favorite quote/banter moment:
"Don't tell me," I gasped, "you're a millenium-year-old virgin?"
His eyes flared up at me, but his smirk betrayed his amusement. "Heavens no, darling. I'm a watcher, not a saint."
This quote gave me major Outlander vibes from the wedding episode (iykyk) and I am here for it.
Thank you Owl City Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The world building is really well written and not info-dumpy at all which I enjoyed because sometimes starting a new fantasy book can be overwhelming. The world is filled with Vampires & Watchers, who are like angels, and gods who have abandoned the mortals to an eternal night and a cursed queen.
I loved the main character Arya and how badass she was. And Azriel, the male MC, I am obsessed. He is so charming and cares so much about Arya. There is so much witty banter between Arya and Az, I found myself laughing out loud when reading this book. I classify the romance as is insta-love but I honestly liked it and it made me read the book quicker. There is also spice which just made the book 10x better.
I really liked the quest aspect of the book and the order of the watchers, I thought it was very unique. There is a lot of action in A Night of Wings and Starlight and I loved it. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I would definitely recommend A Night of Wings and Starlight to anyone who wants a fun, fast-paced fantasy book with romance!
Favorite quote/banter moment:
"Don't tell me," I gasped, "you're a millenium-year-old virgin?"
His eyes flared up at me, but his smirk betrayed his amusement. "Heavens no, darling. I'm a watcher, not a saint."
This quote gave me major Outlander vibes from the wedding episode (iykyk) and I am here for it.
Thank you Owl City Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and City Owl Press to give me this ARC!
Full review on https://www.tikbookholic.com/2022/06/...
This book can be said is really to the point with the story of want they to convey. Without further ado, we are immediately introduced to the characters who will accompany us throughout this book and are also introduced to the conditions they are currently facing.
Arya, one of the runners who is now 20 years old and this is her last year to become "The Chosen" who will carry out her duties in the outside world but if she fails to become The Chosen then she must leave the mountain where she has lived for 20 years and living a different life from the one she knew so far. Until finally she had the opportunity to become The Chosen and carry out her mission. Without knowing that the world she knew so far was very different from the one she knew.
The built world is interesting because here they lose the sun and only have night every day. The world that is described is quite detailed, although the setting used is not too much in this book, but it is able to help build the reader's imagination.
The conflict raised is actually very obvious, but because of the good writing, while reading, I really enjoyed every moment that was described. Here also very much action is described complete with blood, monsters, weapons. And the depiction of the action presented is very good and suspenseful. The climax of the conflict is well described even though the tension is less pronounced.
For the character of Arya, I really like her. She is strong, smart, brutal, and honest. The female character who is very strong even beats the male character, Azriel. I love Azriel but I think his existence is greatly defeated by Arya. But, as a couple they are amazing. Starting with small fights until they finally can really care for each other. It's not difficult to like Azriel but at tough and crucial moments, Azriel doesn't come. It's a shame even though the combination of the two seems to be very deadly.
The story in this book is finished even though the author made this as a series. Looks like it will be more of an introduction to the world than the continuation of this book's story
Full review on https://www.tikbookholic.com/2022/06/...
This book can be said is really to the point with the story of want they to convey. Without further ado, we are immediately introduced to the characters who will accompany us throughout this book and are also introduced to the conditions they are currently facing.
Arya, one of the runners who is now 20 years old and this is her last year to become "The Chosen" who will carry out her duties in the outside world but if she fails to become The Chosen then she must leave the mountain where she has lived for 20 years and living a different life from the one she knew so far. Until finally she had the opportunity to become The Chosen and carry out her mission. Without knowing that the world she knew so far was very different from the one she knew.
The built world is interesting because here they lose the sun and only have night every day. The world that is described is quite detailed, although the setting used is not too much in this book, but it is able to help build the reader's imagination.
The conflict raised is actually very obvious, but because of the good writing, while reading, I really enjoyed every moment that was described. Here also very much action is described complete with blood, monsters, weapons. And the depiction of the action presented is very good and suspenseful. The climax of the conflict is well described even though the tension is less pronounced.
For the character of Arya, I really like her. She is strong, smart, brutal, and honest. The female character who is very strong even beats the male character, Azriel. I love Azriel but I think his existence is greatly defeated by Arya. But, as a couple they are amazing. Starting with small fights until they finally can really care for each other. It's not difficult to like Azriel but at tough and crucial moments, Azriel doesn't come. It's a shame even though the combination of the two seems to be very deadly.
The story in this book is finished even though the author made this as a series. Looks like it will be more of an introduction to the world than the continuation of this book's story
April 9, 2022
My least favorite trope is Insta love and I was so bummed when that happened in this book! I think that was my main frustration while reading was how rushed everything felt. From the love story, to the main journey, and even how quickly the main character switched sides. I found myself just trying to play catch up a number of times throughout the book.
However, the plot was really interesting and the characters were so funny and likable. I found myself laughing out loud a number of times and I really enjoyed the authors writing style. So overall I think this was more of a 3.5 star review.
Thank you to the author, Alexis, for giving me an ARC! I��m so excited to see what else you come out with!
However, the plot was really interesting and the characters were so funny and likable. I found myself laughing out loud a number of times and I really enjoyed the authors writing style. So overall I think this was more of a 3.5 star review.
Thank you to the author, Alexis, for giving me an ARC! I��m so excited to see what else you come out with!
April 26, 2022
Arya has wanted nothing more for the past 20 years than to become one of the Chosen, the Queen’s elite runners sent throughout the realm to complete tasks during the eternal night. When her dream finally comes true, she couldn’t be more excited to embark on her first run outside the mountain. But not everything is at it seems in the eternal night….
Alexis L Menard takes us on an adventure through a dystopian world, causing us to fall in love with her characters at break-neck speed. A Night of Wings and Starlight is a quick, easy read that fulfills the reader’s desire for fantasy, fighting, and fate. I’m eagerly awaiting book two!
Alexis L Menard takes us on an adventure through a dystopian world, causing us to fall in love with her characters at break-neck speed. A Night of Wings and Starlight is a quick, easy read that fulfills the reader’s desire for fantasy, fighting, and fate. I’m eagerly awaiting book two!
March 18, 2022
"You're as beautiful as you are deadly."
You need this book in your life!!!
I was completely captivated by this book the moment I started reading it. I literally did not put it down until the very end. The world Alexis created is so stunning and it draws you in at once.
Arya and Azriel are perfectly sculpted for one another, and their quick-witted banter will have you laughing out loud. There were also moments that had me reeling and made me want to ugly cry, but no spoilers here. Sorry guys...
You need this book in your life!!!
I was completely captivated by this book the moment I started reading it. I literally did not put it down until the very end. The world Alexis created is so stunning and it draws you in at once.
Arya and Azriel are perfectly sculpted for one another, and their quick-witted banter will have you laughing out loud. There were also moments that had me reeling and made me want to ugly cry, but no spoilers here. Sorry guys...
December 8, 2023
I recently read the author's most recent book and loved it, so I picked this up hoping to feel the same. Sadly, I did not.
I don't know whether this was the writer's debut novel, but it did not compare to the one I had just read.
The author is clearly a very good writer, and I thought the concept in this book was interesting, but the characterisation was massively lacking, the relationship development was shallow and I found the pacing off.
A book that has romance as the central plot lives or dies by the success of the couple. Azriel was not very compelling and was quite one dimensional and the insta-love between the two of them did not feel very believable. Arya had a bit more depth, but again, the cheesiness and the speed in which the romance developed, with little conflict, to then being prepared to die for each other just drew me out of the whole story.
So, in summary, I would recommend you lick uo that writers most recent series - it's one of my favourite recent reads - but I'm not sure I would recommend this one.
I don't know whether this was the writer's debut novel, but it did not compare to the one I had just read.
The author is clearly a very good writer, and I thought the concept in this book was interesting, but the characterisation was massively lacking, the relationship development was shallow and I found the pacing off.
A book that has romance as the central plot lives or dies by the success of the couple. Azriel was not very compelling and was quite one dimensional and the insta-love between the two of them did not feel very believable. Arya had a bit more depth, but again, the cheesiness and the speed in which the romance developed, with little conflict, to then being prepared to die for each other just drew me out of the whole story.
So, in summary, I would recommend you lick uo that writers most recent series - it's one of my favourite recent reads - but I'm not sure I would recommend this one.
March 16, 2022
I received an electronic version of the book in exchange for a review.
I read this in one evening. It started right in the middle of an action scene and it was fast paced. The story line was unique and kept me interested! This is a dystopian fantasy story and the fmc is honestly bad as*. The only negative thing I had to say was that the romance aspect felt a tiny bit rushed - I had trouble connecting with the mmc and the chemistry didn’t quite hit home for me.
I read this in one evening. It started right in the middle of an action scene and it was fast paced. The story line was unique and kept me interested! This is a dystopian fantasy story and the fmc is honestly bad as*. The only negative thing I had to say was that the romance aspect felt a tiny bit rushed - I had trouble connecting with the mmc and the chemistry didn’t quite hit home for me.
March 28, 2022
The incredible fantasy novel called, “A Night of Wings and Starlight”, written by Alexis L Menard was the first ARC I’ve ever received. I’m so honored to be able to review this captivating book in exchange for an honest review!
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶/5
I’m an absolute sucker for badass FMCs who take no shit from others, ESPECIALLY their love interests and I LOVE me a mysterious, yet compassionate love interest and Azriel was just perfect. What is it about book boyfriends named “Azriel” being such wholesome, yet absolutely irresistible beans (*cough* ACOTAR Azriel I’m looking at you *cough*)??? AND he has WINGS… wing sensitivity… iykyk ;)
The banter between Arya and Azriel that commences as soon as they meet each other was perfect. As I said, the confidence and feistiness that Arya exudes, especially in her banter with Azriel, is something I love to see in MCs very much. I also appreciated that despite her confidence, she also has moments of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. These qualities make characters in any novel a little bit more relatable rather than them constantly seeming indestructible. I don’t know about you, but even though it’s a fantasy novel, it’s still nice to be able to relate to the characters. It helps me really put myself into the action and the romance!
If you love fast-paced fantasy-romance books, especially ones with close/forced proximity, a mild case of strangers/enemies-to-lovers, age-gap romance (mortal 20y/o FMC and ancient immortal being MMC), and another book boyfriend with wings, then you’ll absolutely love this one!
The following are the reasons why I rated this book 4 stars rather than 5 (BE WARNED, possible minor spoilers ahead):
-There were some action scenes that I would’ve loved to see even more details for because they were so exciting, but I felt they ended pretty quickly.
-I would’ve loved to have gotten some more backstory for the characters as well as a bit more world-building to how this universe got to where it was. It was explained, but again, more detail for the world-building piece is always appreciated! I did like that it left off on an open-ended, yet cliffhanger-less ending, and I am super hopeful that more of this world-building will take place in book 2!
-I would love to see more trials and tribulations/relationship-building devices for Arya and Azriel in book 2. I love their story, but this also felt somewhat rushed at times. I loved the minor slow burn that took place in the first half or so of the book, though! I’d just love to see their relationship really be put to the test at times or even a possible fated mates situation! 👀
-This is super nit-picky, but because I’m honest and because some people really get bothered by this (I’m not really one of those people), I figured I should mention that there were some minor grammar/spelling mistakes here and there, but again, VERY minor. As I said, I’m only mentioning this because for some people, this can take them out of a scene, so this may help them to know what to expect while reading!
Again, this ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶/5
I’m an absolute sucker for badass FMCs who take no shit from others, ESPECIALLY their love interests and I LOVE me a mysterious, yet compassionate love interest and Azriel was just perfect. What is it about book boyfriends named “Azriel” being such wholesome, yet absolutely irresistible beans (*cough* ACOTAR Azriel I’m looking at you *cough*)??? AND he has WINGS… wing sensitivity… iykyk ;)
The banter between Arya and Azriel that commences as soon as they meet each other was perfect. As I said, the confidence and feistiness that Arya exudes, especially in her banter with Azriel, is something I love to see in MCs very much. I also appreciated that despite her confidence, she also has moments of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. These qualities make characters in any novel a little bit more relatable rather than them constantly seeming indestructible. I don’t know about you, but even though it’s a fantasy novel, it’s still nice to be able to relate to the characters. It helps me really put myself into the action and the romance!
If you love fast-paced fantasy-romance books, especially ones with close/forced proximity, a mild case of strangers/enemies-to-lovers, age-gap romance (mortal 20y/o FMC and ancient immortal being MMC), and another book boyfriend with wings, then you’ll absolutely love this one!
The following are the reasons why I rated this book 4 stars rather than 5 (BE WARNED, possible minor spoilers ahead):
-There were some action scenes that I would’ve loved to see even more details for because they were so exciting, but I felt they ended pretty quickly.
-I would’ve loved to have gotten some more backstory for the characters as well as a bit more world-building to how this universe got to where it was. It was explained, but again, more detail for the world-building piece is always appreciated! I did like that it left off on an open-ended, yet cliffhanger-less ending, and I am super hopeful that more of this world-building will take place in book 2!
-I would love to see more trials and tribulations/relationship-building devices for Arya and Azriel in book 2. I love their story, but this also felt somewhat rushed at times. I loved the minor slow burn that took place in the first half or so of the book, though! I’d just love to see their relationship really be put to the test at times or even a possible fated mates situation! 👀
-This is super nit-picky, but because I’m honest and because some people really get bothered by this (I’m not really one of those people), I figured I should mention that there were some minor grammar/spelling mistakes here and there, but again, VERY minor. As I said, I’m only mentioning this because for some people, this can take them out of a scene, so this may help them to know what to expect while reading!
Again, this ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2022
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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Solid 4.5 ⭐️ read! I was sucked into the story from the moment I started it. The FMC is a bad bish who knows she’s not a damsel in distress and had an attitude to match. The story was unique and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. There were a few predictable plot points but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment while reading. My only complaint is I wish we had a little more build up with the romance between Arya and the male love interest. Who, by the way, is swoon worthy. If you’ve not seen the fan art from the authors Instagram, please do yourself a favor and look. I can’t wait to see how the next book fits into this wonderfully built world! One of the best debut author books I’ve read in a while!
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Solid 4.5 ⭐️ read! I was sucked into the story from the moment I started it. The FMC is a bad bish who knows she’s not a damsel in distress and had an attitude to match. The story was unique and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. There were a few predictable plot points but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment while reading. My only complaint is I wish we had a little more build up with the romance between Arya and the male love interest. Who, by the way, is swoon worthy. If you’ve not seen the fan art from the authors Instagram, please do yourself a favor and look. I can’t wait to see how the next book fits into this wonderfully built world! One of the best debut author books I’ve read in a while!
April 23, 2022
Let me start out with a disclaimer: I clearly wasn't the target audience for this. And that's okay.
I'm a big fan of fantasy romance and have enjoyed all the Owl City Press books I've read. This one just didn't do it for me so much. The writing was good, the plot easy to follow, the characters interesting enough.
It just also ticked a lot of cliche boxes that rub me wrong. I'm pretty sure there are two women in the whole book: the queen and the heroine. All the men are gorgeous--which means, of course, that 99% of them are interested in the heroine sexually. The insta-love (which I don't mind as a trope) had no chemistry beyond some silly banter and "oooohhh pretty." And the twist at the end irritated me.
That said, judging by other reviews I've read of this book? This is all stuff that's personal to me. I think this is the sort of book a great many people would love. It's got action and danger, romance and sex, betrayal and revenge. If you like standard fantasy romance, check it out. It's a quick read and very likely worth your time.
I'm a big fan of fantasy romance and have enjoyed all the Owl City Press books I've read. This one just didn't do it for me so much. The writing was good, the plot easy to follow, the characters interesting enough.
It just also ticked a lot of cliche boxes that rub me wrong. I'm pretty sure there are two women in the whole book: the queen and the heroine. All the men are gorgeous--which means, of course, that 99% of them are interested in the heroine sexually. The insta-love (which I don't mind as a trope) had no chemistry beyond some silly banter and "oooohhh pretty." And the twist at the end irritated me.
That said, judging by other reviews I've read of this book? This is all stuff that's personal to me. I think this is the sort of book a great many people would love. It's got action and danger, romance and sex, betrayal and revenge. If you like standard fantasy romance, check it out. It's a quick read and very likely worth your time.
March 27, 2022
First off, I would like to thank Alexis for the ARC! I absolutely enjoyed A Night of Wings and Starlight! It had my interest from the first page, which had me hooked until the end. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book. If you love ACOTAR, you’ll love this. It has a perfect amount of spice with the plot. Loved the twists and turns that this beautiful story provided!
March 26, 2022
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫—𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞.
__________________________
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book was 4.5 brilliant stars in the eternal night sky of Valdihr. If you’re looking for a short, sweet, tender, spicy story in a beautiful, dark, unique fantasy world look no further than this book!!
Arya has lived her entire life under the mountain, devoting every bit of her mind, body, and life to the sole purpose of someday serving the Queen as a Runner. Giving blood, sweat, tears, and parts of herself repeatedly she trains with the sole focus of being called up to run, but not for the reasons so many other runners are called. Arya wants to be free so that she can finally escape the darkness of the underground world she knows as her home and run in the fresh air under the stars of the eternal night sky for the first time. After a number of runners are lost, including her best friend, Arya is given one last chance to prove herself and is finally given the opportunity to run as a messenger for the Queen. But the world is nothing like what she was prepared for and after a chance encounter with a being she didn’t even know existed Arya realizes that everything might not be as it seems…and she may be the only one able to right the wrongs needed in order to bring balance back to the world and allow daytime to dawn again. With pure determination, a fire burning inside her, and an infuriatingly flirty and handsomely winged Watcher to guard her, Arya sets out to change the course of the world, and maybe even her own future at the same time.
Let me get one thing straight here: Arya and Azriel are my babies and I will do anything for their happiness because they deserve the WORLD!!! Arya is a fantastic MC. Strong, loyal to a fault, dedicated, wholly selfless, and entirely badass she gives EVERYTHING to what she loves which makes her very complex, heartbreaking, and every bit the hero the world needs all at once. Azriel is kind, hilarious, and honest to a fault, but is also a strong, confident, warrior guardian who is entirely captivated by the woman who has suddenly given meaning to his hundreds of years of existence. Their chemistry is everything and watching their banter lead to more intense feelings despite both of their dedication to their “duties” was *chefs kiss*. The slow burn developing between them was a brief and terrible tease but the payoff was spicy PERFECTION!! The romance did feel a bit instalove-y for me, but honestly with the way Arya and Az fell so flawlessly into rhythm with each other it read as adorable and not cringey whatsoever. They were SO entertaining from the start and I seriously adored the way they relentlessly took jabs at one another. There were so many moments I just laughed out loud. It was just SO good!!
For as many moments as I was laughing there were just as many moments that had me shocked and fighting tears back at the same time. This book was surprisingly intense. Learning more about Arya’s life under the mountain as well as learning about the atrocities committed to those in the world around her was absolutely heartbreaking and STILL didn’t prepare me for the massive bomb that was dropped in order to set the back half of the book in motion. One moment you will be on cloud 9 seeing stars, the next you’ll be clutching a tissue box and barely breathing out of panic. Don’t say I didn’t warn you ;-)
This is book 1 in a series that will be set within the same world of Valdihr. Book 2 is slated to be released in the fall and will take place before the events of this book. My only complaint and the reason I couldn’t give it the full 5 stars was I found myself finishing the book with some unanswered, world-building related questions. Some of them are spoilery to the plot, so I won’t go into them here but I’m hoping that maybe we’ll see them answered in additional stories from different points in time in this world. I will take my world building from additional storyline vs an information dump any day!!
Overall I loved it. It gave me all of the vibes I adore and the tropes I look for in high fantasy novels without the heavy commitment of multiple books or 700+ pages of text. If you loved The Hunger Games, ACOTAR, and the Dark Elements/Harbinger series then definitely check this book out!! It delivers on ALL fronts and is one I promise you’ll fall in love with immediately. Don’t ask questions, just stick it on your TBR right now!!
__________________________
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book was 4.5 brilliant stars in the eternal night sky of Valdihr. If you’re looking for a short, sweet, tender, spicy story in a beautiful, dark, unique fantasy world look no further than this book!!
Arya has lived her entire life under the mountain, devoting every bit of her mind, body, and life to the sole purpose of someday serving the Queen as a Runner. Giving blood, sweat, tears, and parts of herself repeatedly she trains with the sole focus of being called up to run, but not for the reasons so many other runners are called. Arya wants to be free so that she can finally escape the darkness of the underground world she knows as her home and run in the fresh air under the stars of the eternal night sky for the first time. After a number of runners are lost, including her best friend, Arya is given one last chance to prove herself and is finally given the opportunity to run as a messenger for the Queen. But the world is nothing like what she was prepared for and after a chance encounter with a being she didn’t even know existed Arya realizes that everything might not be as it seems…and she may be the only one able to right the wrongs needed in order to bring balance back to the world and allow daytime to dawn again. With pure determination, a fire burning inside her, and an infuriatingly flirty and handsomely winged Watcher to guard her, Arya sets out to change the course of the world, and maybe even her own future at the same time.
Let me get one thing straight here: Arya and Azriel are my babies and I will do anything for their happiness because they deserve the WORLD!!! Arya is a fantastic MC. Strong, loyal to a fault, dedicated, wholly selfless, and entirely badass she gives EVERYTHING to what she loves which makes her very complex, heartbreaking, and every bit the hero the world needs all at once. Azriel is kind, hilarious, and honest to a fault, but is also a strong, confident, warrior guardian who is entirely captivated by the woman who has suddenly given meaning to his hundreds of years of existence. Their chemistry is everything and watching their banter lead to more intense feelings despite both of their dedication to their “duties” was *chefs kiss*. The slow burn developing between them was a brief and terrible tease but the payoff was spicy PERFECTION!! The romance did feel a bit instalove-y for me, but honestly with the way Arya and Az fell so flawlessly into rhythm with each other it read as adorable and not cringey whatsoever. They were SO entertaining from the start and I seriously adored the way they relentlessly took jabs at one another. There were so many moments I just laughed out loud. It was just SO good!!
For as many moments as I was laughing there were just as many moments that had me shocked and fighting tears back at the same time. This book was surprisingly intense. Learning more about Arya’s life under the mountain as well as learning about the atrocities committed to those in the world around her was absolutely heartbreaking and STILL didn’t prepare me for the massive bomb that was dropped in order to set the back half of the book in motion. One moment you will be on cloud 9 seeing stars, the next you’ll be clutching a tissue box and barely breathing out of panic. Don’t say I didn’t warn you ;-)
This is book 1 in a series that will be set within the same world of Valdihr. Book 2 is slated to be released in the fall and will take place before the events of this book. My only complaint and the reason I couldn’t give it the full 5 stars was I found myself finishing the book with some unanswered, world-building related questions. Some of them are spoilery to the plot, so I won’t go into them here but I’m hoping that maybe we’ll see them answered in additional stories from different points in time in this world. I will take my world building from additional storyline vs an information dump any day!!
Overall I loved it. It gave me all of the vibes I adore and the tropes I look for in high fantasy novels without the heavy commitment of multiple books or 700+ pages of text. If you loved The Hunger Games, ACOTAR, and the Dark Elements/Harbinger series then definitely check this book out!! It delivers on ALL fronts and is one I promise you’ll fall in love with immediately. Don’t ask questions, just stick it on your TBR right now!!
December 22, 2022
A Night of Wings and Starlight is set in a world of permanent night. Queen Eivor and her kingdom lives inside a mountain, safe from the world outside. Our main character, Arya, is training to be a Runner — one of the Queen’s few Chosen messengers who run across the wasteland carrying messages to the various cities throughout the realm of Valdihr. These missions are incredibly dangerous, with the world full of monsters and vampyres who will kill the messengers if they are caught. But women are never chosen. Finally, Arya is chosen for a mission (a few weeks after her best friend, Loren, is chosen and dies on his first mission), and will be able to run outside for the first time.
I really love the world that Alexis has created. It feels very original and fresh — it isn’t something I’ve come across in fantasy before! I thought that Alexis explained the world very well too, without any ‘info dumping’ and long explanations. I still had a few questions (such as how food production is affected) but overall I think it was really interesting and worked well.
I really liked Arya — I love strong female characters and she is really well-written. I especially loved the sections where she talks about running and why she loves it. I’m sure that Alexis must also be a fan herself! Arya is quite sarcastic, slow to trust and athletic. She is a little clueless though (it was immediately obvious to me that Loren views her as more than just a sister!).
I would have liked this book to be a little longer — at around 250 pages, there was definitely space for this to have more depth on the characters, and give them more time to breathe. The romance felt quite rushed, and some of Arya’s decisions were not really explained so didn’t always make sense. I understand impulsive characters (I am one myself!) but I wanted some detail about why she made the decisions she did.
The story was really fast-paced, and was a real page turner. It kept me on my toes throughout with enough twists to keep me interested, and I really enjoyed it. The ending is very open and left me wanting more. I’d definitely like to read more books in this world and find out more about the gods, and what happens next. I enjoyed the writing style and overall this was a fun read.
Alexis has just released a second book in the Eternal Night series, A Deal with Darkness, which is set 200 years in the future and I am excited to read that one next.
I really love the world that Alexis has created. It feels very original and fresh — it isn’t something I’ve come across in fantasy before! I thought that Alexis explained the world very well too, without any ‘info dumping’ and long explanations. I still had a few questions (such as how food production is affected) but overall I think it was really interesting and worked well.
I really liked Arya — I love strong female characters and she is really well-written. I especially loved the sections where she talks about running and why she loves it. I’m sure that Alexis must also be a fan herself! Arya is quite sarcastic, slow to trust and athletic. She is a little clueless though (it was immediately obvious to me that Loren views her as more than just a sister!).
I would have liked this book to be a little longer — at around 250 pages, there was definitely space for this to have more depth on the characters, and give them more time to breathe. The romance felt quite rushed, and some of Arya’s decisions were not really explained so didn’t always make sense. I understand impulsive characters (I am one myself!) but I wanted some detail about why she made the decisions she did.
The story was really fast-paced, and was a real page turner. It kept me on my toes throughout with enough twists to keep me interested, and I really enjoyed it. The ending is very open and left me wanting more. I’d definitely like to read more books in this world and find out more about the gods, and what happens next. I enjoyed the writing style and overall this was a fun read.
Alexis has just released a second book in the Eternal Night series, A Deal with Darkness, which is set 200 years in the future and I am excited to read that one next.
April 16, 2022
First off, I want to say a huge thank you to Alexis L. Menard for letting me be one of her ARC readers for this incredible book.
Secondly, I can’t believe that the release date is almost here, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!
Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fast paced with plenty of twists to keep you on your toes, with a dash of spice and badass character that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. This fantasy book is on the shorter side and makes for an easy read, one that I definitely can’t wait to continue in book 2!!
Arya is such a strong and badass FMC, but just like everyone she has her flaws and her weaknesses. The things that make her relatable. Human. That need to be great and to be the best, to be perfect, while still being told it’s not good enough while in the pit is what made her really resonate with me, although I do wish that I could have seen more of her time in the pit; something that showed the struggles of her growing up and training to be a runner as a woman, knowing she may never get picked but choosing to fight for what she wanted anyway instead of only being told that the struggle and the want was there. I think I especially would have liked to see more of how they implemented/taught the training processes down inside the mountain as well.
But once she gets out from under that mountain, the whole world opens up, and I was truly captivated by the authors world building and how she did it with the character, like we were discovering it as Arya did too. And talking about the world and characters Azriel is just😍. What can I say, something about arrogant winged males with sharp jawlines really get me in a book. And of course it always helps when said male and the FMC have banter with one another that makes you laugh out loud. I will say though that Azriel and Arya are an “instalove” couple which isn’t my favorite when it comes to books, as I do prefer slow burn or a good enemies to lovers; but I did like the relationship that they had with one another.
Overall I really enjoyed how Alexis wrote not only the story itself, but the characters as well. I can’t wait to see what she does with the rest of this series!!!
“There are worse things than dying.”
“Like what?”
“Never truly living.”
-def one of my favorite quotes from the book
Secondly, I can’t believe that the release date is almost here, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!!
Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fast paced with plenty of twists to keep you on your toes, with a dash of spice and badass character that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. This fantasy book is on the shorter side and makes for an easy read, one that I definitely can’t wait to continue in book 2!!
Arya is such a strong and badass FMC, but just like everyone she has her flaws and her weaknesses. The things that make her relatable. Human. That need to be great and to be the best, to be perfect, while still being told it’s not good enough while in the pit is what made her really resonate with me, although I do wish that I could have seen more of her time in the pit; something that showed the struggles of her growing up and training to be a runner as a woman, knowing she may never get picked but choosing to fight for what she wanted anyway instead of only being told that the struggle and the want was there. I think I especially would have liked to see more of how they implemented/taught the training processes down inside the mountain as well.
But once she gets out from under that mountain, the whole world opens up, and I was truly captivated by the authors world building and how she did it with the character, like we were discovering it as Arya did too. And talking about the world and characters Azriel is just😍. What can I say, something about arrogant winged males with sharp jawlines really get me in a book. And of course it always helps when said male and the FMC have banter with one another that makes you laugh out loud. I will say though that Azriel and Arya are an “instalove” couple which isn’t my favorite when it comes to books, as I do prefer slow burn or a good enemies to lovers; but I did like the relationship that they had with one another.
Overall I really enjoyed how Alexis wrote not only the story itself, but the characters as well. I can’t wait to see what she does with the rest of this series!!!
“There are worse things than dying.”
“Like what?”
“Never truly living.”
-def one of my favorite quotes from the book
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