Book: Eternal Is the Night by Alayna Ravenwood
Reviewed by kizziisreads
Rating: 4/5
I received this book as an ARC for free in return for my honest review. I was not paid, these are my own thoughts & opinions. Thank you to Alayna Ravenwood, and publishing company Aurelia Press, for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Please check her website for a complete list of the content warnings. This book deals with some very heavy subjects.
Eternal is the Night (EisN) follows Anna, a girl who's mother was murdered 3 years ago, and has been attending court-ordered therapy. We begin by experiencing her last therapy session, where we learn that immediately after her mother's death, she disappears for a year and has no memory of that time period. The story follows her, and her need to find out exactly what happened to her mother 3 years ago.
The author begins with a foreword, wherein she tells you that she didn't write this story to just be about magic, and romance. She wrote it to tear your heart out & stitch it back together. This is a journey of heartbreak, trauma, healing, adventure, grief. And she does. I am still reeling from the ending of the book.
The characters have so much to them, and I want to know more. You get the slightest glimpse at what they are carrying, but they are clearly not telling you everything. Where I expected things to go one way, they went the complete opposite. I thought I knew who the villain was, only to turn around and be confused.
Alayna keeps you on your toes at all times with this book. I love the complexity of the characters, the brutal way they make sure you can take things, the sacrifice you have to be willing to make. Magic is different, and this school is different. I am so excited about the next book in the series.
This is a mixture of urban and epic fantasy. I would not classify it as romantasy, but closer to epic/urban fantasy with romance elements.