Book of Night

Written by Holly Black

Narrated by Sara Amini

"Award-winning YA author Holly Black has created an imaginary masterpiece yet again with her first foray into adult fantasy, narrated with perfection by Sara Amini." -AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)

In the vein of Neil Gaiman and Erin Morgenstern, #1 NYT bestselling author Holly Black’s stunning new audiobook is a dark fantasy of betrayals and cabals with a dissolute thief of shadows at the center of it all.

Charlie Hall has never found a lock she couldn’t pick, a book she couldn’t steal, or a bad decision she wouldn’t make.

She's spent half her life working for gloamists, magicians who manipulate shadows to peer into locked rooms, strangle people in their beds, or worse. Gloamists guard their secrets greedily, creating an underground economy of grimoires. And to rob their fellow magicians, they need Charlie Hall.

Now, she’s trying to distance herself from past mistakes, but getting out isn’t easy. Bartending at a dive, she’s still entirely too close to the corrupt underbelly of the Berkshires. Not to mention that her sister Posey is desperate for magic, and that Charlie's shadowless, and possibly soulless, boyfriend has been hiding things from her. When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends into a maelstrom of murder and lies.

Determined to survive, she’s up against a cast of doppelgangers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world—all trying to steal a secret that will give them vast and terrible power

"Dark, strange, thick with mystery and twists—a story so believable in its magic, you'll be keeping one eye on your shadow as you turn the pages." —Leigh Bardugo, New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House

"If Neil Gaiman channeled Stephen King, the result might be this book...scintillating prose, whiplash twists, and a voice of character that demands to be heard from again.”— ames Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Starless Crown

“Heart, soul, and a bit of kink—The Book of Night is smart, decadent fun.”—Kelly Link, Pulitzer Prize Finalist

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: May 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781250850133

Holly Black

Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of speculative and fantasy novels, short stories, and comics. She has been a finalist for an Eisner and a Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic and Nebula Awards and a Newbery Honor. She has sold over twenty-six million books worldwide, and her work has been translated into over thirty languages and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library. Visit her at BlackHolly.com.

Reviews for Book of Night

[Elizabeth Kitchen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t want it to end. I loved it from the beginning until the finish. I can’t wait to buy a hard copy so I have it forever

[Deanna Barnes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I hope there’s a sequel.

[Billie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book of Night
by Holly Black
Fantasy Paranormal
Scribd audio


In this world, there are a few whose shadows can move on their own, and for a price, others can have their shadows altered as one would do to their faces or other body parts. And sometimes shadows can become separate, those are called blights and they are vicious killers, only seeking what nourishes them: blood.

Charlie Hall's shadow is just a shadow, but after taking one of those jobs she swore she would never do again, she finds out how powerful some shadows can become.

The story flows really quickly, and the characters are vivid and life-like, but the world itself felt a little generic; too much like our own world. The history of the world and shadows mostly felt as if it was brushed over. A more in-depth look at the world would've brought it to life, but instead, it felt more like background and not all-important, but it is because that was where they were.

I also didn't care much for Charlie's sister, Posy. There were really no details or explanations about their relationship so it left me wondering why it was the way it was, or if it was because Posy was Posy. And the back and forth between present and past was a little irritating. It happened too many times. The flow of the story would move faster if some of them were condensed.

But it was still a good story, an easy one to fall into. The who, what, how, and why was intriguing, and the who done it was a good one, though I did have the feeling about a certain character towards the middle. The misdirection was well done.

It almost reached that next star.

3 Stars

[Noor AlShamrani · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

what a disappointment tbh!! not worth the read imo so dull and not that much captivating plot/world building/ characters

[Chrissy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was struggling with this book. Having a hard time getting into it myself as I read the hard copy. So decided to try out the audio as DNFing wasn’t in the cards because I love the author ! I am so glad that I did because it was so much better the narrator picked up the slack where the writing kind of lost its luster. Now i’m joked and desperately need book 2!

[Anna Kathleen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read such mixed reviews on this book, and it's definitely a change from other H. B offerings. I LOVED this book. The story only became more compelling as the narrative progressed.

The humor in this book was fantastic and the main character was scrappy and relatable. I was left wanting more at the end of the story and I genuinely can't wait for the next book.

Very very worth your time, especially if you enjoyed House of Hollow. The books had a similar tone (or perhaps the narrator's style was just similar). BoN is in a league of its own, though. There is a ton of creative world building in this story.

As an 30's-ish reader, I thought the book was perfect. Stories that can hold my attention while also sewing in elements of fantasy and gritty reality score so many points on my scoreboard. I am not usually moved to leave reviews but if you're an adult fantasy fan, pleaaaaase give this book a chance.

[Alexandria Thompson · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

…okay.
Interesting magic system? ✔️
Fast paced? ✔️
Would I pick up the 2nd book? Ah…maybe???

Too much telling and no showing. I felt like I was being told a story from a friend across the table. A lot of tell, tell, tell and nothing else.

It felt very—flat and mechanical. The idea of the story was a good, but ultimately fell on its face. I understand that this was her first foray into the adult genre or if you want to say Urban Fantasy, but it was missing the dirt and grit of what makes an urban fantasy just that.

Ultimately I have never read a Holly Black book and maybe it was just that this particular outing sucked, but I actually set this book down and raced through an 8 hour audiobook instead, showing how bored with this book I really was.

I was at a point that I started to wonder if I was merely trying to finish this simply to get it done and over with. Though I can admit that there were pieces here and there that really grabbed me and I found myself more interested in what was happening in the story. But then it would drop right back down into boring.

In the end I didn’t care what happened to Charlie or any of the other characters. I might only pick up the next book on the series simply to see what happens to Vince.

[Jessica · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book is very flat and the narration of some of the voices is impossible to listen to.

[Ka'iulani Kauahi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Contemporary/ urban fantasy… If you’re picking up this book because you like The Folk of the Air, it’s nothing alike. It’s a universe with magic where the main character uses her smarts and resources and some luck to achieve her goals. That’s where the similarities stop.

It’s a little grittier like coldest girl in cold town, with similar sacrifices and consequences. However, it is much more like a film noir/detective book.

The world building is toned down from this author’s other novels and the tone is a bit bleak, intentionally. If this is the first in a series I may not finish it, but mostly bc my preferences run towards swords and sorcerer type things.

[Julia Fowler · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Large parts of this recording were missing and I was really confused.

[Rachel Hannah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this! the twists was well foreshadowed enough that you could piece things together well enough to follow and theorize while not feeling babied by the author, I loved the concept and aesthetic, and the cliffhanger left me desperately wanting a second book. I will say I dont particularly understand what makes this an "adult" novel compared to the folks of the air? like theres some mild mature content but maybe Im just depraved but it felt very par for course YA? not a down side, just an observation 7.5/10

[Emilia Márquez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow. Just wow. Holly Black, you’re my hero!! Can’t wait for the next book. Charlie and Vince are everything!!

[Trysh Law · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Owlcrate got me excited for the release of this book and I am not disappointed! The characters are richly written and the world is dark and beautiful.