A review by puddlejumper
North Is the Night by Emily Rath

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

 This was mis-marketed as a Sapphic fantasy rooted in Finnish mythology. It's why I went for it on Netgalley. This has apparently since been addressed by the author and has been changed. 

I was also excited by the Finnish mythology. I think the Sapphic element probably tipped the scale for me because without it I probably wouldn't have gone for it especially since it's a chonky book. 

I am aware that, as it was mis-marketed, I am not the target audience. However, this was incredibly boring to read. 

The choice to write in the first person present did not help. The writing did not evoke any feelings, it was very matter of fact and dull. 

The characters were bland. Their personalities were whatever the plot needed. The main villain had no nuance, they were a caricature of evil. 

There was no sense of time. I have no idea how long the main characters were separated for. How long one suffered in the underworld. That might have helped with character motivation if I knew she'd been there for months rather than days. 

It didn't need to be that long either. Portions of the book really dragged. I ended up skimming bits because it was becoming a chore to read. 

The whole thing felt like a chore in the end. I can see why people enjoyed this, for me it was a miss.

Thanks rto NetGalley for the ARC