Down Comes the Night
Allison Saft
Wednesday Books
Published March 2, 2021
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About Down Comes the Night
He saw the darkness in her magic. She saw the magic in his darkness.
Wren Southerland’s reckless use of magic has cost her everything: she’s been dismissed from the Queen’s Guard and separated from her best friend—the girl she loves. So when a letter arrives from a reclusive lord, asking Wren to come to his estate, Colwick Hall, to cure his servant from a mysterious illness, she seizes her chance to redeem herself.
The mansion is crumbling, icy winds haunt the caved-in halls, and her eccentric host forbids her from leaving her room after dark. Worse, Wren’s patient isn’t a servant at all but Hal Cavendish, the infamous Reaper of Vesria and her kingdom’s sworn enemy. Hal also came to Colwick Hall for redemption, but the secrets in the estate may lead to both of their deaths.
With sinister forces at work, Wren and Hal realize they’ll have to join together if they have any hope of saving their kingdoms. But as Wren circles closer to the nefarious truth behind Hal’s illness, they realize they have no escape from the monsters within the mansion. All they have is each other, and a startling desire that could be their downfall.
Allison Saft’s DOWN COMES THE NIGHT is a snow-drenched romantic fantasy that keeps you racing through the pages long into the night.
Love makes monsters of us all.
My Review
Every year there are a few books that are so good I end up buying at least one extra copy (for lending, of course!) and pestering everyone near me to READ IT READ IT READ IT!! (Special thanks to my friends who actually do read the things– you’re the best friends a girl could ask for. <3)
DOWN COMES THE NIGHT is absolutely one of those books. I am so in love with it. The wrestling over compassion– is it a weakness or a strength? The sparring (verbal and otherwise) between people who are on the brink of war. The investigation into mysterious deaths inside a wealthy icon’s country manor. I can’t even believe all of those things fit so well into one story, but they really did. It was like the perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, romance and exploration into humanity. Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS BOOK yet?
The characters totally captivated me. Wren with her impulsive big-heartedness and her complex relationship with her aunt and commanding officer. She and Una, her captain, had me at page one. And then, Henry, who was destined to be a favorite since I love the strong silent type. So many layers. And the back and forth between him and Wren was both hilarious and heartbreaking.
I guess the only thing I could say against this book is that aside from the emotional coming-of-age Wren experiences, there isn’t a lot here that’s truly YA. Wren is an experienced medic and seasoned soldier. I didn’t mind that because I love the story so much, but if you’re looking for something with a very young adult feel, this book might not scratch that itch.
I’ve been listening to the Shadow and Bone trilogy lately, and I definitely think fans of Leigh Bardugo will enjoy DOWN COMES THE NIGHT. I think it will also appeal to fans of Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 14 up.
Representation
Una, Wren’s best friend, is described as having ochre skin. Wren and Una shared a romantic relationship.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.
Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls. References to them spending nights together. Una is Wren’s superior officer, though the girls have been friends since before that, but it could make their relationship problematic. Wren clearly loves Una, but it’s also clear that she has little control of the relationship.
Kissing between boy and girl. One scene shows some intimate kissing that leads into undressing and hints at more before the scene ends.
Spiritual Content
Wren’s people serve a Goddess, but she herself doesn’t believe any longer. Henry’s people serve a God, but he has strong doubts as well. They discuss some of the religious values of each and the way they’ve been twisted by leaders to serve political purposes.
Violent Content
Some battle scenes and references to torture and self-mutilation.
Drug Content
Characters drink wine socially. Wren is an expert in poisons and antidotes through her medical studies. She also carries opiates as a pain reliever for her patients. She suspects one character may be using laudanum.
Note: I received a free copy of DOWN COMES THE NIGHT in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog.