3.5 Stars

Format | eBook/ARC

STORY

Characters | 3 stars
I enjoyed how Wren's character is not the standard badass heroine, able to fight and always wearing a mask. The author has does something specific with her character, never swaying from the fact that Wren's kindness and compassion do not make her weak. I liked how she stayed true to this the entire story.
Hal is an interesting, albeit typical love interest - character as well, and Lowry was a fun a puzzle to figure out.

Plot | 4 stars
My main gripe with the plot is how two countries have been at war for centuries and yet they are all up in arms because 6 people are missing. 6 people. Wars have thousands of casualties, yet 6 people is the breaking point. But I liked the mystery of the plot and appreciated the political and military details included with the medical analysis.

Setting | 4 stars
Loved the wintery, gothic setting of the creepy estate house cased in snowfall. However I am still confused as to what kind of world this is...is it steampunk? There's magic and science, mechanics and trains and advanced medicine, etc. and yet Wren has never heard of electricity. Also, there were some mentions of neurons and other highly specific scientific vernacular that was very out of place.

TECHNICAL

Writing | 4 stars
DOWN COMES THE NIGHT was well-written, however my biggest complaint with it is in the technical terms. I actually really appreciated the author's medical knowledge and how Wren sees through an anatomical lens, but even as that aids the writing in some places, it hurts others. For example, if you say "he trailed his fingers down her antebrachium" it loses literally all romanticism. Just say her effing forearm. (This is just an example and not an actual quote).

Editing | N/A
As an ARC, this is not a final version and editing will not be rated.

Execution | 3 stars
I liked how the story played out; some twists were predictable but overall it kept me guessing.

EMOTIONAL

Engagement | 5 stars
I was engaged with the characters and story from the first page. The mystery of who the patient was going to be when Wren arrived was easy to guess, but the rest held me captivated.

Emotional Connection | 3 stars


Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for this advanced copy!

This was a lovely book. Wren is a bi disaster with healing powers, who really doesn't want to cry, and Hal is actually adorable behind his killer facade.
What I liked: Normally I don't like horror in any way but the Gothic mansion was okay for me, not too scary but also not unscary. Also I not a medical professional of any kind but it seems like Allison Saft did her research which I always appreciate. Also, the worldbuilding was properly executed and it made it really easy to imagine the world. That said in some spots it was a bit too much and overtook the story.
By far the best thing I do have to say was the character development and how the relationship between Hal and Wren changed. You could actually understand why and how it changed and no Insta-Love at all!
What was a bit of a letdown was the villain and the finale, not to spoil anything but it was not that hard to guess the secret and the finale was a bit anti-climatic. I also would have liked to see more of Vesria.
But overall a really good debut and I will definitely pick up a book by Allison Saft again

A girl with the magic of healing deserts her country’s army to answer the call for help from a nobleman of a neighboring neutral country in exchange for their support in the ongoing conflict between Danu and Vesria. When Wren arrived at Colwick Hall she discovers the patient she has been asked to treat is none other than Hal Cavendish, Vesria’s strongest soldier and Danu’s greatest threat. Wren is torn between following her heart and healing Hal and kidnapping him to get back into her aunt, the queen’s good graces.

A little bit haunted house, a little bit of romantic tension and a whole lot of mystery. Lots of fun twists! My only complaint - author goes in to a bit too much detail on a couple of Wren’s medical procedures and it’s a bit cringey. As my partner often reminds me “I don’t want to even watch you put your contacts in. Eyes are magical.”

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was as a fantasy YA novel that was a bit slow at the start but picked up pace quickly. The plot and world building were very good but I didn't love Wren as a main character. Overall a good read and appreciated that this wasn't a duology or trilogy.

A beautiful story that will tug at the heartstrings of any romantic, Down Comes the Night is full of compassion, duty, mystery, and magic.

Wren is a young healer of Danu, an expert in her craft who relies not only on her well-honed magic, but on the more "advanced" skills of science to diagnose and treat even the most severe injuries and illnesses. As a member of the queen's guard, her utmost duty is to serve her country and protect her comrades-in-arms. But a mystery lurks in Danu as members of the Guard have been going missing quite abruptly, including one of her good friends, Jacob Byers. Just as Wren gets a lead on the case, her kindness seems to get the best of her and she finds herself suspended from the Guard, with little prospect of reinstatement. As if the loss of her career has not done enough to erode her sense of self, she finds she must leave behind the commanding officer she has fallen in love with to pursue the most unlikely of opportunities...in Cernos of all places.

Once outside the bounds of her queendom, everything seems a little off. She is hosted by a nobleman who has been the darling of the Danubian gossip columns for ages, yet there is something about him that seems just the slightest bit more sinister than his reputation has suggested. The patient that she has come to treat suffers from an illness the likes of which she has never encountered, and its rate of progression does not lend itself to a good prognosis. As Wren begins to slowly uncover the many mysteries that surround her, she finds herself torn between a traditional duty to country and a more hopeful dream of the peace that could be. But what must she give up to restore peace to Danu? And what leverage could she possibly have to make a difference?

The writing in Down Comes the Night is rich and enveloping. Danu is a sight to behold, painted majestically for the reader in all of its foggy and snow-capped glory. The characters--not just Wren, but Hal and Una and even some of the more supporting characters as well--develop noticeably and wonderfully throughout the novel. Any reader will leave this novel feeling well-acquainted with the character of each and every individual, and will fully feel the complexities of the challenges that they face.

My biggest gripe with this novel was in fact that I felt so immersed in Wren's character that I could not at any point root for her relationship with Una. It felt stilted, imbalanced, and often inappropriate from beginning to end. I wanted so much better for Wren, and longed for the point in the novel where she could just let Una go. It felt so thoroughly like a young woman's fascination with a first love who just is not right for her, who is limiting and constraining her and holding her back from her greatest potential--which I suppose is exactly what it is. I just didn't love it. Especially when juxtaposed with the romance of Hal Cavendish, who was always willing to step back and support Wren to be at her best.

Overall, I'm not big on romance, but I actually really loved this book and loved all of the trope-y scenes and Hal's over-the-top lines. It's well done, and even in its most predictable moments, quite enjoyable. Highly recommend.

Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for the review.

A solid standalone YA fantasy! Down Comes the Night is its own unique self, but it has a similar flavor to Sorcery of Thorns, which I loved. Wren and Hal remind us that enemies to lovers is a classic for a reason—especially when it involves good banter. Their hesitance to trust each other is counterbalanced by their desperate desire to trust *someone,* making for a tense but believable romantic arc. Speaking of romance, I really appreciated the great bi content here and the treatment of Wren's romantic relationships.

What the Lowry storyline lacked in mystery (it was clear fairly early on who was responsible) is made up for twofold in tension arising from that lack of mystery and the confines of the manor. That said, the primary settings and the world as a whole felt a bit thin, which in turn drove down the tension/suspense. Perhaps my greatest disappointment was the depth of the characters, because while their concepts were intriguing and their banter charming, their motivations and thoughts were often less complex than I'd like for characters involved in some exceedingly morally gray war efforts.

I received a digital advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was exactly what I was in the mood for! I need more standalone YA fantasies honestly. The romance was delightful (though I would have like a bit slower of a burn) and the Frankenstein/science aspects were interesting.

When I saw the author tweet that this book is her “love letter to YA fantasy, Gothic romance, and, of course, fanfiction”, I knew there was great potential for me to enjoy this book and that turned out to be the case. Saft has managed to take common fanfiction tropes like sickfic and forced proximity and wrap them up in an atmospheric gothic YA fantasy setting that felt reminiscent of Margaret Rogerson’s Sorcery of Thorns.

The story follows protagonist Wren Southerland as she departs to a mysterious manner whose inhabitants might prove to be the key to peace between Wren’s home country, Danu, and Vesria, the country Danu is at war with. As a healer, Wren’s services are requested by Alistair Lowry, who owns the manor, but when she meets the patient she has been asked to heal, it turns out to be a familiar enemy face in the form of Hal Cavendish. Secrets are slowly revealed, and of course it turns out there is more to Lowry and his mysterious manner than meets the eye…

From the start of the novel it becomes apparent that Wren struggles with feeling “too much” and more than once she has already let that get in the way of important missions with the Queen’s Guard. It was refreshing to see this being addressed in a YA fantasy novel for once, since YA heroines have a tendency to equate strength to not feeling or showing emotions. The novel questions this idea throughout the story and challenges common traits found in YA heroines, which I really enjoyed. Questions about kindness, emotion, and forgiveness also tie into the larger themes of the novel and I enjoyed seeing how lessons from personal conflicts were applied on a bigger scale to the conflict between countries as well, even though sometimes these ideas were a little too much on the nose.

Speaking of conflicts, the enemies-to-lovers romance between Wren and Hal was simply delightful. Their banter was amusing to read and perfectly spiced up with some fanfiction-esque situations that lovers of fanfiction will surely appreciate. These lighter moments are nicely balanced with serious conversations about the war they have both fought in that lead them to understand one another better, which made for a fun and believable romance.

Of course, there is also the more major plot of discovering who is behind soldiers’ disappearances along Vesria and Danu’s borders, which turned out to be quite predictable but was still enjoyable to read. Really, though, the characters are the stars of this book, and I would recommend it mostly for them. Apart from Hal and Wren, there is Una, Wren’s best friend, who goes through some development of her own even though she is not there for most of the novel. I found myself relating deeply to her trouble with showing emotion, so it was touching to see her reunion and reconnection with Wren after the two have hurt one another deeply earlier in the book.

Overall, a lovely YA fantasy that might not have too much to offer plot-wise but makes up for it by having lovely characters, a fun romance, and an atmospheric gothic setting that is inspired by the Victorian Age. Definitely recommended for fans of fanfiction-esque romance and YA fantasy with a twist.

Before we get into the review, I have to say a big thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. Down Comes the Night is what I would consider a Gothic Fantasy story about two people from opposing sides of a multi-centuries long war that have to come together to deal with a horrific enemy. This book is slated for a March 2, 2021 release and is available for preorder now.

There was so much to like about this book. I think the author does a good job with the magic system and explaining it to the reader without having to go rambling on for pages at the beginning of the book. Also, the main character is a healer and the author seemed to really do their research into all the tiny details a healer would need to know. I felt like our main character also went on a journey to become a much stronger person. Our main character is bi so it was great to see that diversity there. I also appreciated that her being bi wasn’t this huge deal. It was just who this character is, without comment or question. That was really nice to see.

The problems I had were what drove down the rating for me because these problems are fundamental for me as a reader. I felt like the author didn’t do enough world building. I’m hoping that will be different in the final print copies and that an addition of a map will help there as well. I was invested in the story for the gothic setting and the characters, but the world building and family history wasn’t there. I could have done with an extra 50 or more pages explaining this all to me. Without it, I felt like I was at arms length for a lot of the story.

This seems to be a debut novel so I’m excited to see where this author goes from here. It looks like this was a standalone Fantasy novel which we don’t get a lot of so it was nice to see everything end well. This is a good time for anyone looking to get a little creeped out and a little horrified by the things humans do to each other.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to read an early review of this book. This book started out well and I was immediately intrigued. Wren was a very likable character and early on we can see her compassion. I thought that the world building was done well and more of the world and setting are revealed throughout the book. I also really liked Hal and how the relationship between he and Wren developed as they got to know each other. I liked the gothic atmosphere at the house and was very interested to find out the culprit of the mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would be interested in reading more in this world or by this author.

Down Comes the Night by Alison Saft is a dark gothic novel that fans of the recent gothic boom are sure to love. The novel focuses on Wren, a healer, who is in a conflicted position in the Queen’s Guard between duty and doing what is right.

When Wren heals a potential enemy insurgent which leads to the boy’s escape she is finally punished by the Queen by being stripped of her title and being sent back to the Abbey, where she was rescued from and never wanted to return. While at the Abbey, she receives a mysterious letter from a Lord asking for her help to heal his staff who have fallen to a mysterious illness. The staff member happens to be no other than Hal Cavendish, a sworn enemy to Wren’s country of Danubia.

This book is riddled with tension and gorgeous setting description. Our main character is bisexual and I am so so glad to see more bi-rep in books; we even get two potential love stories with Wren. One between her unrequited love with her best friend Una and then later on with the mysterious Hal Cavendish.

The mystery that unfolds at the Lord’s manor, Colewick Hall, is intriguing, creepy, and at once tender.

This book is a perfect dark gothic romance to curl up to and devour in a sitting.

Thank you, Net Galley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity at an early read.

4 out of 5 Stars

***ARC received from Wednesday Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

A gothic romance set in a snowed in crumbling mansion?

Yes please, sign me all the way up.

Wren is an amazing healer and she is always out trying to do what is right, even when it goes against the orders of her superiors in the guard. It seems to get her into trouble time and time again but at her core she is a compassionate person. She sees her chance at the crumbling mansion as an opportunity to prove her worth to a Queen and a superior that do not fully support her. I liked Wren as a character, I liked her struggles to do what she found was right with what others told her was right. A lot of this comes from her relationship with Hal, someone she has nothing really to prove to which allows her to finally grow into who she really is. Its an interesting comparison with her relationship with Una, someone that she believes she truly loves but is constantly trying to make herself into something she is not to appease Una. Both realize that they aren’t really compatible it just takes Wren longer to realize this.

I liked Hal, he is this world weary individual that has only been used of value for his gifts, much like Wren. He hates his abilities and feels like it is the only thing that defines him. He finds along with Wren that he does have value and that he can be of use outside of his abilities. Their romance felt a little too rush, almost forced at times, they had a good connection without needing a romantic relationship but in the end I was fine with it.

The beginning and the ending of this book felt a little disjointed from the middle of the book. Because the book was telling a bigger story about two countries at war instead of just a tight story about two people forging a bond together it felt at times like it was telling two separate stories with the same characters. Almost like it remembered at the end of the book it had a bigger plot waiting to be resolved. I didn’t exactly hate it but the story in the mansion felt tighter and more concise while the end felt a little like it didn’t belong with the rest of the story.

I don’t know if this is going to be a stand along book but it sets itself up to continue on Hal and Wren’s story that I do hope that the author revisits this world. I would like to see how Hal and Wren’s relationship grows as they begin to explore more of the world.

A truly lovely fantasy romance that ticks ALL the boxes!! From gothic feels, magic, enemies to lovers, to a creepy frozen castle and a sinister recluse, this story has it all. Wren is a healer in the military in service to her country, Danu and her aunt, the Queen. Danu has had a protracted war with Vesria, but an uneasy armistice has been in place for the last year. After Wren disobeys an order from her commander Una, who also happens to be her best friend and the girl she is in love with, Wren is dismissed from the Queen's service in disgrace. A mysterious letter then shows up requesting her help as a healer and Wren feels she has no choice but to leave Danu for Cernos and try to redeem herself. To Wren's disbelief, the person she is to heal is her most feared enemy, Hal Cavendish, the Reaper of Vesria. Through the time spent together while Wren heals him, they both come to find they have been fed lies about each other and have more in common than not. If they want to solve the mystery of the missing soldiers then they have no choice but to help each other. However, their growing attraction to each other may end up being their downfall.
So much to love about this story, I loved the frozen, sinister castle and the secrets waiting to be discovered. All the sounds, noises and forbidden places give it a wonderful, chilly presence. The ambiance of the story is wonderful and the slow give and take between Wren and Hal is touching, realistic and intimately written. Each of them finds so much in the other that they can't seem to find in themselves and Wren's acceptance of herself and her true gifts is touching and real. The stakes keep getting raised as Hal and Wren discover more about their mysterious host and his layer upon layer of plans to shape the future of Danu, Cernos and Vesria. A wonderful magic system and the descriptions of Wren's medical knowledge are fantastic. Can't get enough of Hal and Wren's complex, intimate relationship full of self sacrifice and desire. Fans of fantasy romance should absolutely grab this book, you will thoroughly enjoy it!!

This is a good YA fantasy/mystery/romance, and as far as I can tell it is not going to be part of a series, but I can see how it could be developed into one. Danubia and Vesria are at war. Wren is part of the Queen's Guard in Danubia. She makes mistakes with her magic due to showing too much compassion (how is that bad?) and the Queen (who is Wren's aunt, but has no affection for Wren) removes her from her position and sends her to the abbey. Wren is a very talented healer and all she ever wanted to do was impress the Queen and gain her favor. Wren receives an invitation from Lord Alistair Lowry, from the small kingdom of Cernos, who wants her to come and heal one of his servants. Wren sees it as an opportunity to make an alliance with Cernos and gain the Queen's favor and respect. But she knows if she goes, she will be disobeying her orders and will be in big trouble. Once at Lord Lowry's crumbling mansion she finds out the servant she is to heal is her country's sworn enemy, Hal Cavendish, who is known as The Reaper.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. There was political intrigue, religious aspects, betrayal, an ongoing war, and some romance in the book. I liked the romance the best. Hall was definitely an interesting character, and I liked both Wren and Una, her best friend. The healing magic was interesting.

Thanks to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

When Allison promised yearning and the UST of healing / wound-tending scenes, she DELIVERED. I wouldn't have said that healing / wound-tending scenes were my favorites by any means but Allison writes them so well that I'd have to say they definitely are now?? Throw in the fact that Hal and Wren are enemies and it just brings the tension up to an entirely new level. Also the banter? So, so good. I loved how Hal and Wren went from being forced to be somewhat amicable to confiding in each other to developing feelings. It felt really natural and I just adore them. I could go on and on but this book isn't just the romance! I loved the creepy setting that was the castle, the way it felt like the book was holding it's breath so you feel like you have to, too. I simultaneously wanted to explore the castle on my own and never set foot in it haha.

I'll most likely write a longer review closer to release date but some other things I loved:
*the bisexual rep -- I can't say much but I loved the way Wren sorted and figured out her feelings in this book. The yearning was so palpable; I felt right along with her as she navigated the difficulties that comes with being in love or thinking that you're in love.

*the fact that this was a standalone! I had no idea before reading that this was not a series and that made me ridiculously happy. I know most books tend to be series and I don't mind at all but it also makes me a little relieved when a book turns out to be a standalone (because of the wait!). I truly think that this book ended at a good spot but if a sequel is suddenly announced, I wouldn't be opposed.

*the mystery. I went through this book suspecting everyone lol even when Hal and Wren thought they knew, I still expected another twist (whether or not there is one... I guess you'll have to read to find out). It kept me turning the pages so even when I told myself I'd only skim a little until I had more time to read, I found myself in the middle of the book in the blink of an eye.

Overall, what a fantastic read! I know Allison has another standalone coming out after this one and I can't wait to read it!

This enemies-to-lovers gothic fantasy standalone is sure to be enjoyed by fans of romantic fantasy.

Wren is a military healer on thin ice. When she uses her magic to heal an injured Vesrian captive suspected of assisting in the disappearance of Danubian soldiers and inadvertently sets him free, Wren is seen as only a problem by her aunt, the Queen of Danu. When a mysterious letter arrives from Lord Alistair Lowry, a Cernosian noble offering to help her get her position back in exchange for her healing services for his servant, Wren goes against her aunt’s wishes in the hopes that she will be able to prove herself. Upon arrival, everything is not as it seems. Servants have mysteriously died, and Lowry’s servant, “Henry” is none other than Danu and Wren’s greatest enemy, the Rezper of Vesria, Hal Cavendish.

The strongest part of this story for me was Saft’s writing. She writes with so much description that you can clearly see and feel everything that is going on, almost as if you are there. This book is extremely atmospheric, from the Queen’s castle filled with clocks to the solitary Colwick Castle in the middle of the snow covered mountains, and this book had some very unique descriptions.

Wren is a great main character to follow. She is easily relatable as someone who is constantly trying to prove herself as worthy of love and praise but always seems to be doing the wrong thing. Wren desperately wants to prove herself and is determined to make the Queen and her friend and crush, Una, see her as someone worth loving and having around. I really enjoyed Wren’s interactions with Hal and how they have to work together to solve the mystery. Certain elements of the ending seemed a little too ideal based on some of the earlier actions and behaviors of certain characters, but overall, this was a fun read that will surely be popular with fantasy lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

We love a dark gothic story!
I had so much fun and nerves while reading this debut, and I still cannot believe it’s a standalone. A good one at that!
Wren is one of my favorite types of characters these days. She’s compassionate. She heals. She values life- most importantly. It’s so uncommon to find these elements now because every protagonist needs to be a fighter, assassin, or ready to throat punch into the next century. There’s nothing against that, but I find so much joy in protagonists who invoke negotiation, empathy, and non-violence. It just makes me love the character even more because the market it just so over saturated with the other.
Also can I get an applause for having a character that doesn’t suppress their emotions?! Wren is soooo in touch with them, and while her comrades tease/ sometimes look down on her for those feelings, Wren doesn’t let it get to her. It doesn’t change her.
The stand out element to this book was for sure the descriptions and setting. Allison Saft immediately has a gift for writing dynamic and enthralling scenery. I had to reread some paragraphs a few times because her figurative language was just phenomenal!
Overall, I just wholeheartedly enjoyed this book a lot! It was a breath of fresh air to have a murder mystery/ thriller like storyline in a fantasy book. That’s a genre I’ve never encountered before, which is crazy to say. You may be able to guess “who did it” early on, but that enhances the fact that characters then have to outwit the others with their new found knowledge.

I chose to read this book after reading a brief blurb about it. I had never heard of the author or the book before, and it seemed like something up the gothic novel alley vibe I was looking to read. Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft is a fantasy novel set in a world torn apart by war, with individuals barely older than children fighting the war. Magic exists in this world, and healers are an integral part of the war effort.

The main character, Wren, is a healer and her healing abilities define her. The reader sees throughout the novel as Wren struggles with her identity as a healer and how that identity co-exists with her identity as a soldier. Wren appears to constantly be doing the opposite of whatever her culture/society demands of her, and it’s interesting to see how her identity shifts throughout the novel.

When I started the novel, I was a little thrown, because it almost seemed with the way the opening was narrated that this was a continuation of another novel or a series. I had to stop and look quickly to make sure that I wasn’t starting a book that was in the middle of a series, something I personally hate to do. This is the author’s debut novel, so no worry there, but it was a little clunky to start with as I constantly felt that the way things were described that I had missed something and should already know more.

There is mystery and war and shifting identities and loyalties in this novel. It’s a great beginning to a new world. I read through it pretty quickly, and overall enjoyed the novel. If the author writes more in this fantasy world, I’ll likely pick up later novels to see what happens next. Romance also makes an appearance in this novel, and the main character’s relationships and her introspection on those relationships are vital to her growth and development throughout the novel. I loved seeing representation in a novel as well (no spoilers, read for yourself and find out!).

Please be advised that I received this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**Full review to be added to Goodreads, NetGalley, Amazon, and my blog closer to publication!**

Down Comes the Night is a deliciously atmospheric with a dark, dazzling romance that kept me hooked throughout the story. Saft has created a truly wonderful world and setting that sucked me right in, and her characters were equally full of life. I look forward to reading more from Saft in the future!

A gothic romance starring slow-burn sworn enemies to lovers? Sign me up! The atmosphere of this book is eerie and gorgeous, and the mystery plot was quite interesting. With witty and lovable characters, this book is a solid debut.