North Is The Night is a captivating book set against the backdrop of the harsh Finnish wilderness, where the bond between best friends Aina and Siiri is tested in extraordinary circumstances. Aina is gentle and cautious, while Siiri is brave and headstrong, making their friendship dynamic and deeply touching. Their lives take a dramatic turn when Aina is kidnapped by a death goddess and taken to the mythical underworld of Tuonela.

Determined to rescue her friend, Siiri embarks on a perilous journey north to seek the help of Väinämöinen, the only mystical shaman known to have returned alive from Tuonela. As the dark winter envelops the land, Siiri must summon all her strength to navigate the dangers that lie ahead, including trappers, a pack of wolves, and a cunning snow witch with her ambitions. However, finding Väinämöinen is just the first hurdle; Siiri must persuade him to share his magic to infiltrate the underworld and save Aina.

Meanwhile, Aina faces her trials in Tuonela, forced to participate in the cruel games of Tuonetar, the ruthless queen of the underworld, alongside other captive maidens. Despite the grim circumstances, Aina’s kindness allows her to forge alliances in the unforgiving realm. She soon learns that Tuoni, the god of death and ruler of Tuonela, is also trapped by Tuonetar's spells and can only be freed through marriage. Aina, demonstrating her bravery and selflessness, offers herself as his bride in a bid to save him and the other girls.

As Aina spends more time in the underworld, she develops feelings for Tuoni, leading to a pivotal decision that could change her fate forever—all while Siiri races against time to execute her daring rescue plan.

The book beautifully weaves together elements of Finnish mythology, focusing on themes of friendship and the different facets of love. While it leans more towards fantasy than horror, unsettling elements within the underworld enhance the narrative's depth. The portrayal of Aina and Siiri’s separate yet equally epic quests for self-discovery is both compelling and poignant.

What stands out in North Is The Night is the rich folklore, the exploration of meaningful relationships, and the resilience of friendship in the face of adversity. This is a tale that will resonate with readers, offering both adventure and emotional richness.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgallery for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me gripped from the start. Within the first few pages it already becomes fast paced and pulls you in to the story straight away. I can’t remember the last book I read that did this, so I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with that.

This is my first experience of Finnish Mythology and I really liked it. I think this is a great book for someone who has no concept of Finnish lore because I found it easy to follow and learn more.

I was a fan of the dual POV and I felt both characters had important stories to tell. I liked the complexity of Siiri, and how there was this importance for her and Aina trying to find one another.

Overall, it was enjoyable, and a good fantasy read. I’ll definitely be looking out for the second part in the future.

I found the first half of this book really intriguing but quite slow. New to the world of Finnish mythology, it did take some time to understand but it was so worth it. The second half really picked up and I enjoyed Ainas story and growth more interesting than Siiris. The ending of the book I found really enjoyable and I am looking forward to the conclusion of the story. I am still a little confused if Siiri loved Ania as more than a friend to be honest. That part of the story felt really subtle and if anything I felt like it detracted from the story. I wish it could just be their platonic friendship. I actually really enjoyed Ainas relationship with Tuoni and I hope there is more to come.

Emily Rath got us used to amazing stories and this one is no exception. I absolutely loved every second of this book. Exceptional

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

This is an absolutely beautiful novel rooted in Finnish folklore which I found absolutely fascinating. This was such an enjoyable read!

We have a tale weaving in Finnish mythology that largely focuses on the land of the dead. We have two girls, best friends for life who would do anything for each other. They are torn apart when they are attacked by a death goddess and one is dragged down to the land of the dead. The other goes on a journey to bring her back by seeking the help of a shaman who has been lost for a long time. The two girls end up on separate but equally epic quests and journeys of self discovery.

This is more fantasy than horror but it does have some horror elements, particularly in the land of the dead which is sort of expected. However we also see them among the living, and the horrific treatment one of our heroines suffers by people she encounters on her mission.

We explore so many things in this novel but what stands out for me was the folklore, the power of friendship and the way there are different kinds of love and meaningful relationships.

Really loved this one!

North is the Night is the first book in the
Tuonela Duet.

I’m normally not the biggest fan of fantasy, but wanted to give it a go as Emily Rath is one of my favourite authors.

The book is well written. I really enjoy Emily Rath’s writing style. She writes beautifully, making it easy to imagine the places described in the book.

There’s a lot of twist and turns, keeping the story alive through the (a bit) long book.

I like the book, and I think fans of the fantasy genre and Emily Rath are going to love it.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Oh this was stunning! I’ve had a bit of a mythology burn-out, but this was so different, so incredibly well written, that it didn’t even matter. I’m not very well versed in Finnish mythology, but it made for a very vibrant world and a fast paced and multifaceted story.

North is the Night is a dual POV story about two very close (more than) friends, as one of them is kidnapped into the underworld, and the other sets off on a journey to save her.

The writing style was beautiful, very evocative and atmospheric; I am so ready for the winter months now! I look forward to the conclusion to this duology; to find out the conclusion of Siiri and Aina’s stories!

One of those books that on paper sounds right up my street but just couldn’t get into.
Beautiful writing and setting, so I really wanted to love it.
Struggling to pin point why, I just didn’t connect with the plot and characters on an emotional level.
I’m sure it’ll be a bit for lots of other people though!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

North is the Night by Emily Rath was a captivating read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The writing style is eloquent and immersive, pulling me into a world that's richly detailed and vividly imagined. The pacing is generally well done, though there were a few moments where the story slowed down a bit more than I would have liked. However, the intricate world-building more than made up for it, painting a landscape that felt both expansive and intimate. The main characters were compelling and well-developed, with a chemistry that was undeniable and kept me rooting for them throughout the story. One quote that really resonated with me was, "In the quiet of the night, the stars whispered secrets only the brave dared to hear." This line perfectly encapsulates the novel's blend of mystery and romance. Overall, while not perfect, this book is a solid 4-star read that left me eager for more.

What I enjoyed most about North is the Night was the author's clever use of the characters and stories from the Kalevala, which she wove into an intriguing new fantasy tale. Both the dual POV and the pacing worked well throughout and the story held my interest from start to finish. The antagonists felt a little caricature-like at times, but for the most part I was happy to believe in the stakes and get behind the two heroines. The sapphic elements to this tale are more low-key, so don't expect too much on the LGBT romance front. However, I enjoyed the interplay between the girls' relationship and that of the key male figures they encounter throughout the tale. Overall, it was an entertaining read and I would certainly be happy to read the next volume to see how the story concludes. I am giving it 4.5 stars.

(This review will go live on my blog and on Goodreads at the links below on 6 January 2025, as per your preference to hold reviews until closer to release date.)

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It centres on the separate journey's of Aina and Siiri when one of them is stolen away to the world of the dead, and the other travels to save her.

They are each others' priorities, and it was great to have a narrative where the women are the main focus. The men feel like extras, and frustrating one's at that.

This theme continues through the book. Women are friends, enemies, and a complex knot of both. While men feature, but don't dominate. Which was refreshing.

However, the rhythm of the plot seems to lose itself in the middle, and doesn't really recover. Aina never seemed sure how she felt. She seemed to be buffeted around in the plot, rather than taking control. And yet talked a lot about doing so.

I also began to feel like I was being told how people felt about each other. But the emotion didn't actually come through in the writing like it did in the first part.

I might be slightly biased due to my hatred of a certain trope. I tried to look past it, but the way the plot hinges on it means I just had to sit with the discomfort and slight rage it brings me.

The end rounds things off nicely, and sets up for the next book. Yet I found it all a little hollow.

Overall, I enjoyed the setting and the mythology. The first part of the book was great, and drew me in. The last part wasn't for me, partly because it hit on something I'm not a fan of, and partly because I wasn't as invested in those characters. However, it's still a good read and worth giving a go.

Such a fantastic story to read. Emily Rath is such a good author. Loved every single second of it and I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

Thank you Netgallery for this ARC copy.

I have read all of Emily Raths's other books, this was completely different from all her previous work.

This Finnish Mythology-inspired fantasy story follows Siiri and Aina , two childhood best friends as they both embark on a journey.

Aina is stolen by a death witch Kalma and taken to the underworld Tuonela, which is being held captive by a cruel and wicked Death goddess.

Siiri embarks on her own quest to return Aina from Tuonela and travels north to find the lost Shaman and right what is going wrong in the land of the living.

I did struggle to get into the story but did find myself enjoying the new god and myths. I did go into this book thinking it would be a sapphic love story and didn't really get that. There was a MF love story and I found myself not sure who to root for. It was also very dark and had a lot of torture and cruelty, which is so different from Emily's previous work. This book is book 1 in a duology and there was a lot of world-building and backstory. I think Book 2 will have more action.

If you have read enjoy books such as Scarlett St Clairs A touch of Darkness series or Madeline Millers Circe I think you will enjoy this book.

The prose was well written but felt a little too middle-grade for me. I liked the story and the folklore but I think I was not the right audience for the book. It felt more targeted for young readers rather than adult. It was however a cute story overall. 3 stars.

North is the Night by E. Rath, published by Quercus Books, is the first book in the Tuonela Duet.
Telling the story of Siiri and Aina, best friends who're about to go on an epic adventure, including ancient gods, finnish folklore, the story of true friendship, amazing adventurw, suspense, unexpected twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat from start til the very last page.
The story starts out a bit slow, the intriduction to story and characters is in depth, a slow build up. Their story concludes in South is the Sea. I recommend the book, 5 stars.