When I found myself waiting for a train with nothing to read last week, I followed several recommendations and picked up a copy of Nevernight, by Jay Kristoff. Thanks to the book, the journey proved all too short, and I found myself unwilling to put Nevernight down as the train arrived at my station.
I was immediately captured by the pseudo-Roman/Italian setting, and the main city of Godsgrave, which channels both Venice and Rome, makes for a engaging initial setting. The bulk of the action takes place in a secret school for assassins, which is really where the book comes alive. Throw in a religion with a pantheon of ruling and exiled gods, linked with the world's three suns and non-existent nights, and the book had my attention. That is to say nothing of the main character, Mia, a bloody-minded sixteen year old, and the cast of supporting characters - assassins all - who fill the book with violence, guile and treachery.
I particularly enjoyed Kristoff's amusing and occasionally sarcastic footnotes, which are reminiscent of Discworld and the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and are used with great effect to flesh out the world without dumping information in the main text. I can't wait to see how the story continues in the sequel, Godsgrave, and due to my lateness in picking Nevernight up, won't have to wait too long. And for those of you who are interested (I am) we have a special limited edition of Godsgrave with blue sprayed page edges, available to pre-order now. Harry has already read it and says it's even better than Nevernight which makes me even more excited for it.
Brett
