This book was an unexpected gem.
The overall atmosphere reminded me of The Bear and The Nightingale, but with Finnish gods and folklore. Even though I knew very little about it, the book was so well crafted I didn't feel lost at any moment, and the prose was beautiful, while still feeling like an ancient legend or tale itself. In fact, I often felt as if I had been sitting by a fire and hearing some old woman or shaman telling this story as I was reading.
I especially liked the idea of the opposition between the old gods and the folk beliefs and customs and Christianity, and the story had such strong and relatable characters, who evolved in a way that even surprised me (end that doesn't happen often!). The ending got me somewhat emotional, and I cannot wait for the final volume of this duology!
(bonus points for shamans, and soul travel).

North Is the Night is a standalone first part of a duology following two Finnish village girls, Siiri and Aina. When the two are ambushed by the death goddess Kalma, Aina volunteers to go with her to save Siiri's life. The narrative splits and we follow each girl - Aina, who tries to survive the trials set by the Witch Queen, Tuonetar, and Siiri who travels North to find a way to save her.

I really enjoyed parts of this story and can see the comparisons between the book and the Winternight trilogy. Siiri's chapters were engaging and well-paced. There was a real sense of the hero's journey with her and I enjoyed reading about how she overcame the many challenges put before her. The relationship between herself and Väinämöinen was beautifully written and you could feel the familial love there. Aina's chapters, however, reflected the chaos of Tuonela. The more the story went on, the more noticeable that Aina's personality depended on what the plot needed her to be at the time. She is both quick thinking and slow off the mark; a shy, insecure damsel in distress and a powerful, confident queen. She yo-yos in between conflicting traits constantly and it gets tiring quite quickly.

Despite this, this is a good, solid read for those interested in Finnish mythology and fantasy adventures.

Thank you Quercus Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review!

Wow - I devoured this book in one day. When I saw this book described as 'The Bear and the Nightingale meets Spinning Silver' - I was hooked. I love folk tales, and especially love when authors dive deeply into lesser known ones and put their own spin on it. Strong heroines are always a favourite of mine - and this novel had no shortage of them.

Siiri and Aina are our two leads. While they spend much of the novel apart - we're constantly reminded of how their love for each other has shaped who they are, and the actions that they take. I liked there were also strong secondary characters: Tuoni, and Vainamoinen. As they spent more book time with the leads, I found character arcs and relationships to be fascinating.

I appreciate that Emily Rath didn't shy away from the more gruesome parts of folklore - they definitely add an element of interest and "did that really happen?" to the fantastical. There were a few curves thrown in near the end of the novel, one of which I wasn't a fan of and the other which I was pleasantly surprised by.

I enjoyed the mythology that was explored in this book, and look forward to learning more about our characters and their growth in the next book. I hope that we can learn more about the relationship between our two leads - how it developed prior to this novel, and continue to see the ongoing conflict with new gods vs. old unfold.

Overall rating this 4 stars.

This book deserves all the stars. I was absolutely captivated as the author takes us into a Finnish world of folklore and mythology. Entwined with a sapphic romance feel, this was everything I needed and more.

To the point that I've jumped straight on Amazon and preordered the hardback copy.

I've seen some mixed reviews about the sapphic romance bit and okay it's not shoved in your face and in every chapter, but in my opinion reading between the lines and feeling the characters the connection Siiri and Aina had for each other was obvious from the beginning and I was here for it.

Having never read a book by this author before I was impressed at how she gave me the ability to absolutely adore her characters, I loved Siiri her strength and bravery was amazing and I really rooted for both her and Aina from the get go. Aina was described in the book as a little mouse and initially I agreed however her transformation was next level and it was great seeing her sheer determination and the need to protect those she loves had for those around her.

Is it really over already. I'm gutted. I can't wait for Book 2! To read more about Siiri and Ainas' journey. An absolute masterpiece.

A massive thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy. Also, a huge thank you to Emily Rath for creating this wonderful story.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Firstly, I’d like to thank Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC of North is the Night by Emily Rath. This book was an immersive and intriguing read, with vivid imagery, compelling mythology, and a strong voice that kept me turning the pages. I appreciated Rath’s respectful approach in her disclaimers, where she acknowledges the mythology she draws from without claiming any authority over it, which set a thoughtful tone for the story.

The setup had just the right pace, and I loved Rath’s attention to detail, distinct characterizations, and writing style. Though there are familiar YA tropes, they feel fresh and purposeful rather than overdone. The mythological and fantastical elements are beautifully woven into the narrative, and the portrayal of Tuoni’s eerie allure added an unsettling layer that enhanced the story. Rath also skillfully highlights the darker aspects of Christianity's influence, which impact the protagonists in complex ways, adding an intriguing depth. Her portrayal of Tuonela was especially incredible—she brought this otherworldly place to life with such vivid and graphic detail. The settings throughout the book elevated every part of the story, making the dark, haunting realm of Tuonela feel disturbingly real.

That said, some aspects of the book gave me pause. While the story has strong female leads, it sometimes leans too heavily on their relationships with men to drive their arcs, making the feminist themes feel shallow. Certain storylines, like marriage, childbearing, and even asking men for permission to help, felt out of place in a book with feminist aspirations. The chosen-one angle also seemed overplayed, with some situations resolving too easily given their scale. Additionally, the inclusion of a sexual assault scene seemed unnecessary and added only shock value.

One of the most persistent disappointments was the hint of sapphic undertones that ultimately felt like bait. While the story teases readers with potential for a meaningful sapphic relationship, these themes remain largely unexplored, and what little inclusion there is feels lackluster.

Despite these critiques, I found North is the Night an engaging fantasy read, complete with captivating quests, mythology, and excellent writing. The immersive storytelling makes it a compelling choice for fantasy lovers, and even with its flaws, it’s a book I’d happily revisit. I look forward to seeing where the next installment will take us!

Oh my goodness, what a book! An epic tale, an enchanting mix of folk!ore and fantasy. The ols Gods of Finland are quiet and some fear they have deserted people. The Swedes push forward, violently promoting their new 'one god'. The very future of the people of Finland hangs in the balance and mortal Siiri and her friend Aina find themselves at the core of the battle between Gods. A wonderful rich story that will keep the reader mesmerised and leave all the chores at.home undone.

3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rooted in Finnish mythology and folklore, North is the Night begins with the separation of two best friends, Siiri and Aina, when the latter is dragged to the underworld by a vengeful goddess. Siiri embarks on a quest to rescue her friend from torment in a test of love, loyalty and faith.

My thoughts on North is the Night were slightly mixed. Firstly the positives, I really enjoyed the start of the book, the scene-setting and the Finnish landscape! I admittedly never felt wholeheartedly invested in Aina or Siiri’s journeys however, and the pace felt slow in parts.

I did however really like the premise and the roots in Finnish lore and would definitely look at reading other books by Emily Rath as I enjoyed her writing style.

I love how this book weaves in Finnish gods, goddesses and folklore. I have some knowledge of the Kalevala from music and books and I love finding new aspects of it. I really enjoyed how the dual threads of the two POVs wove around each other, each character having their own strengths and using them, without falling into the stereotypical 'strong female lead'. Strength comes in many forms and this book demonstrates that well. Also, any mention of the Kalevala gets Turisas's Cursed Be Iron in my head, which is never a bad thing, so thumbs up for that.

Fantasy is not my favourite genre or even one I pick up often, but I have enjoyed this author's work before and was very curious (read immediately sold) on the description of a sapphic romantasy based on Finnish mythology. I am a sucker for anything sapphic or nordic so sign me up.

I loved the incredible attention to detail the author gave to the mythology side of the story and I was surprised how quickly and happily I got pulled in to Siiri and Aina's characters and struggles. There was near constant action, lots of high stakes and a consistently easy to read writing style.

Like other reviewers, I do think this book shouldn't be advertised as a sapphic romantasy because while there are sapphic elements, it's not only that and some sapphic readers will be disappointed. I am assuming it gets a lot more err, sapphic in the second book. I certainly hope so!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Emily rath proves she can write anything with this fantasy novel. Full of Finnish folklore and mythology with sapphic romance mixed in this is perfect for romantasy lovers. The two FMCs are amazing and their development throughout is great to read. Can not wait for the next in the series

Firstly i want to thank Netgalley and Quercus for providing me with an E arc of this book. This is my honest opinion.
A slower read to begin with for me but overall i enjoyed the world building and the stories.
This book is dual POV, and inspired by Finnish folklore (which is new for me) and i enjoyed it very much. We follow 2 girls as they each brave the unknown after girls start disappearing. One sets off to try and find a shaman and a way to Tuonela, the Finnish underworld while the other is kidnapped and taken to Tuonela.
Personall i like Siiri more but i really like how Aina grew throughout the book.
I feel perhaps that a good part of this book is setup for book 2 but i still very much enjoyed it and i look forward to seeing what happens in book 2.

I really wanted to love this book and while I loved the premise of it I found it so hard to connect with the characters or the writing there certainly seems to be something lacking in this story.

I will say this is not a sapphic romance and has been marketed incorrectly.

I did love the world building and learning about all the different worlds and stories as I always find anything mythology so fascinating but unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me.

I liked the Finnish folklore we get in this book, it is a concept I was not really familiar with and I found it to be quite interesting.

The rest of the story however felt a bit slow, with confusing interactions between characters, and I think the issue is how it's been marketed ( as a sapphic romance) - as you don't really get the sapphic romance at all - but maybe in book 2?

This is a book 1 of a duology so I hope some of the stories will develop more in the second book which I will be reading.

I did find this book quite easy to read and follow, but there was just something missing from it.

Beautifully crafted, utterly captivating, drenched in folklore, drowning in danger and dripping with emotion ‘North Is The Night’ is sure to be a hit with many a reader. If you’re a fan of wondrously enchanting tales that weave folklore, mythology and history together then this is absolutely the book for you. If ‘North Is The Night’ doesn’t end up appearing on many a 2025 favourite lists I’ll be surprised (and yes, that’s taking into account the fact that I was lucky enough to read a copy of it in 2024); simply put this is a must read.

Before anything else I feel that I should address the blurb’s comparison with the ‘Winternight’ trilogy as I truly do feel that this is the perfect book for fans of that series. Like the ‘Winternight’ books ‘North Is The Night’ features a fierce heroine who refuses to fit into the box that women of her time are meant to conform themselves to. It blends a wondrous wealth of mythology and folklore with a vividly depicted historic setting. And it shows the turmoil that arises when religious beliefs clash. This combination of features, along with its lyrical writing, is sure to delight fans of that trilogy. Yet it undeniably manages to stand on its own too, feeling utterly unique and casting a captivating spell from page one.

There are two major factors that help this book to differ so vividly from the ‘Winternight’ trilogy whilst capturing a similarly enchanting feel over all. Firstly the mythology and history that this book stems from. ‘North Is The Night’ is utterly drenched in Finnish mythology, folklore and culture. It introduced me to Gods and Goddesses that I hadn’t heard of before and left me longing to know more about the various tales it mentioned. Its an area of folklore I hadn’t truly thought about before but now I’m desperately longing for more; and doesn’t that say it all, really?

Secondly its split into two perspectives, the aforementioned fiery heroine Siiri’s journey to try and save her dearest friend Aina. As well as Aina’s own struggles within Tuonela, the Finnish underworld, which truly leaps off of the page with its devastation and despair. It’s a complex place, where all isn’t as it should be; and under the rule of Tuonetar its sure to send shivers down your spine. It’s the home of numerous death witches and, at the time of the tale, a place of horridly twisted ‘games’. Both storylines were utterly immersive and filled with a captivating mixture of danger, mythology and a variety of emotions. Both were truly impossible to put down.

Honestly there’s no end to what I could gush about with this novel. Everything felt perfectly portrayed upon the page from its world, plot, characters and more. There were characters to cherish and villains to despise; there was an abundance of intriguing magic and interesting animal companions; there was a student/mentor bond that warmed my heart and a romance that utterly captivated me. There was something for everyone, truly, and I can’t wait to see this book in other readers hands.

Ultimately it goes without saying that I recommend ‘North Is The Night’, particularly to anyone who loves books that blend folklore and mythology together into gorgeously enchanting tales. Its the sort of narrative that you can’t help but treasure with writing that’s sure to dazzle many a reader. In all truth it could well be my favourite read of 2024 and I can see many readers falling for it in the future. Needless to say I cannot wait for the chance to visit this world again.

Aina and Siiri are best friends, and they have to fight against various forces, when one of them is kidnapped.
With Finnish folklore and settings at the backdrop and on the forefront, we read a well-written story.
Do not let the scope scare you; if you prefer longer reads with ideal pacing, you will not be disappointed.
Prose 3.5
Characterisation 3 (the women rely a lot of male characters)
Plot 3
Mood 4
The use of Finnish folklore and setting 4.5

This book is packed full of Finnish mythology and treats us to an asventurous journey of two friends, with Finnish paganism throughout the pages, and we even see some religious turmoil where Christian invaders try to squash out the native religion. So, there is plenty of intrigue and some realism to the story with this plot line being in play. I definitely found this interesting.

This book was highly mismarketed though, this is not a sapphic book at all.

Fantasy is my favourite genre to read, and this sounded like it had so much promise. I enjoyed the world building, I love learning about new worlds and stories. But, while I did enjoy the book for the most part, and the concepts were good, something was quite obviously lacking.

4.5/5 Stars

I found Emily’s books through her Jacksonville Ray’s series. I devoured those books and this first book in the Tuonela Duet was no different.
The story follows two best friends, Siiri and Aina, as one of them is kidnapped and taken to Tuonela and the other is doing everything in her power to rescue her friend. It was an action-packed beautiful story about friendship and love that I just couldn’t put down. I adore the way Emily writes characters - you always get so much insight and understanding into them.
The world building was also amazing, I had never read a story inspired by Finnish folklore and I was not disappointed. I really appreciated the glossary/introduction to all the Finnish gods at the beginning of the story - this could have been even better with a pronunciation guide as I’m pretty sure I butchered some of those Finnish names in my head.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an original new fantasy story with strong female characters. Can’t wait to read book two!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC.

Beautifully written and very engaging.
I loved the style of writing and felt immersed in the storytelling.

This was an absorbing fantasy story with a complicated Finnish mythology that was fascinating to read about. I enjoyed the plot, or plots as it felt like two stories intertwined. I loved how the magic was described and how the characters used it, but I found it hard to keep up with who's side everyone was on. The main characters felt very young for their age and actions but it was interesting to see how their trust in each other was rewarded. I found the story original and would recommend it to fans of ACOTAR or similar fantasies.

North is the Night is packed full to the brim with Finnish folklore and mythology. The writing is atmospheric and, at times, eerie. The world building is complex and includes vivid descriptions of Finland and Tuonela. It was easy to immerse myself in this world and imagine all the fascinating characters and animals of the Kalevala but that does mean that it takes a little while for the story to really get going. Although I would have preferred a faster pace, I can absolutely understand why a book like this needs a slower pace to help you get to grips with the intricate web of gods, goddesses, witches and shamans.

I would say, as a fan of Emily Rath’s, this book is very different to the other books in the Emilyverse and Emily herself has been clear that this is a fantasy story, not a romantasy. So if you picked this up expecting the same level of spice included in the Jax Rays series, you’ll likely be disappointed. There is very little spice to speak of in this book and whilst it is sapphic, you don’t see much of that element in this book, so please bear that in mind.

However, if you picked this up because you’re a fan of Emily’s writing style or the way she is able to write the most amazing characters, then I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Aina and Siiri, are very different but as the story progresses both show a strength of character and a determination to protect the people they love. I have to admit I liked Siiri more than Aina. She was bold and headstrong, whereas Aina was calmer and more amenable. Having said that they both experience a great deal as they fight to be reunited but it’s arguably Aina that grows the most.

Overall, I was invested in seeing how this story played out and as always the characters and storytelling engaged me from the first page. Another fantastic read by Emily Rath!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers, Quercus Books and Arcadia Books, for my early copy.