I want to start a new blog series focusing on pre-release hype and what I think of the book in question. This is because I sometimes get the opportunity to read ARCs months before publication date and I have to wait entirely too long to talk about them, and forget stuff along the way. I will always post full reviews closer to the date, just think of these posts as a taster.
The first in this series will look at Nevernight!
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff will be released August 9th (US) and August 11th (UK/Aus)
Goodreads // Book Depository // Amazon // Dymocks // Booktopia // Bookworld
Destined to destroy empires, Mia Covere is only ten years old when she is given her first lesson in death.
Six years later, the child raised in shadows takes her first steps towards keeping the promise she made on the day that she lost everything.
But the chance to strike against such powerful enemies will be fleeting, so if she is to have her revenge, Mia must become a weapon without equal. She must prove herself against the deadliest of friends and enemies, and survive the tutelage of murderers, liars and demons at the heart of a murder cult.
The Red Church is no Hogwarts, but Mia is no ordinary student.
The shadows love her. And they drink her fear.
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book from Harper Voyager Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way contributed the intensity of my fangirling.
Hype Met? EFF YES!
I finished this book earlier on in the month and enjoyed it so much, I thought I’d write a short post urging you all to i) read it immediately if you have access to the ARC and ii) go and preorder it, because you’re worth it. I buddy-read this book with the wonderful Aila, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. I’ll write a full review closer to the date of release.
1. The covers are AMAZING and would deserve to be on your shelf.
The cover designers for these books are geniuses who knows how to entice bookworms with eye-candy. Whether it’s the US version with the kick-ass typography and illustration, or the UK/Aus cover with the stunning artwork by Kerby Rosanes (of Animorphia fame!), these are books you could and should proudly display – face OUT – on your bookshelf.
2. It has footnotes!
Ever since I started reading Discworld as a wee girl, I have always been obsessed with irreverant and hilarious footnotes. Nevernight has these in abundance and I found them all highly amusing. Whether they’re adding another layer to the worldbuilding or just there to remind you how funny the narrator is – they added immensely to the reading experience.
3. The blurb is NOT a lie.
The book claims to be Harry Potter meets Locke Lamora. Usually I regard these claims with a high dose of cynicism and skepticism, but I was delighted to find that the book largely met and even exceeded these ridiculously high expectations.
The dark plot and humour reminded me of Locke Lamora, and the school setting of Harry Potter (if Harry Potter ‘was smuttier and stabbier’ – from the author’s own mouth). It’s a beast of its own, though, with unique worldbuilding and characters. There are three suns, and the world is almost always flooded in light! There’s assassins and blood magic and shadowshapers! There’s a cat that’s not a cat, and a hilariously bad-tempered horse nicknamed Bastard! There’s grit and myths and danger, and a whole heap of fun to top it all off!
4. It’s Jay Kristoff’s strongest book yet.
There are books that I enjoy and then forget about. And then there are books I read and henceforth eagerly await whatever else the author will publish, whether it’s from the same series or a completely different world. This book falls into the latter category (obviously, or I wouldn’t be writing this post). Jay Kristoff manages to play around with a variety of writing styles, and pulled them all off with poise. It’s engaging, it’s rich, it’s witty, and it’s utterly memorable.
5. You can brag that you were one of the first to read Nevernight when it becomes a bestseller.
Because make no mistake, it will be. It’s one of those fantasy that would appeal to both young adult and adult readers – not just because the book dares to involve blood and guts and sex – but because it’s a good book and all good books have universal appeal. Plus Jay Kristoff already has Illuminae and The Lotus Wars under his belt to trailblaze the way for Nevernight. Yay for hipster cred!
BONUS: If you preorder the US version, they will come signed!
Did I convince you? Have you already read the book? Chat to me below!
And here I thought I could not be more excited for this book. I WAS WRONG! I need this book more than I need air. I LOVE Jay Kristoff. I am broke, though, so I can’t pre-order. *sob* But I WILL read this as soon as I get my hands on a copy.
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I am fairly certain you will love it. Perfect balance between dark and funny!!
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I was already planning on buying this book when it becomes available but… NOW YOU’VE MADE ME REALLY EXCITED FOR THE RELEASE. AHHH. The book covers for both editions really are very pretty, and I just can’t seem to stop staring at both. *O* I didn’t know Nevernight had footnotes, so that’s good to know! It’s been a long time since I read another book with footnotes in it (I think the last one was John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines?) so I’m really looking forward to reading another book with it in it!
Awesome post, Aentee! You definitely got me hyped! *starts flailing around in my room*
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Ahhh I’m glad you’re excited! It will be so worth the wait and it is not too far away now! I hope you will enjoy it 🙂
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I’m so happy to hear that this is great because I am apparently getting a copy from the publisher! yay!
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Ooo I can’t wait to see your photos of it! Enjoy 💕
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I can’t wait to take photos of it.
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Well look at you messing with my plans! I wasn’t going to read this one until a few more books were out in the series, but you are making it terribly hard. -_-
I loooove the Australian cover so much! All the pretty!
I’m especially interested in this one because of the dark plot, in all honesty. I’ve been craving so much more from fantasy lately and I have a feeling this will be perfect for me. I’ll add this to my list of books to order then. You win!
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Ahaha sorry Nick! I hope you’ll enjoy it 💕💕 there’s a dash of romance and steaminess even!
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Okaaaaay i’m totally convinced to read it, the blurb + the cover looks 😮😮😮😮 I haven’t read any of Jay Kristoff’s books yet (yes, I probably belong to the 10% population who hasn’t read his books 😝)
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Oooo I think this is his best book anyway so it’s the perfect place to start.
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I would be so excited to read a smuttier and stabbier Harry Potter haha Now I’m really tempted to pre-order that US version because I love the cover and it comes with signage! Which now that I’ve moved to Kindle is 90% of the reason I buy physical books. Thanks for the run-down on this!
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I used to get a lot of ebooks on kindle as well but I just started an Instagram account for my books and yeah, real copies all the way now 😂
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yes, Instagram is what prompted me to buy any real copies. Except I buy the physical book and then because I don’t like reading it I buy the ebook too >__< I think I'll have to visit the library…
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Ahahah that is terrible but I suffer from a similar condition. I have several copies of the same book because I’m just like “surely this will read better in audiobook”.
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Okay, I definitely definitely need to read this soon! I’ve requested it 🙂
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I hope you get approved and enjoy the book!
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I was already convinced to read it, but your fangirling makes it even harder to wait now. *screams* It’s true that both covers are amazing, I just want to pet them. I think I like the US cover slightly more though. Your Instagram pictures also made me want to have it. Moreover, as Jay Kristoff is the co-writer of Illuminae, Nevernight has to be fabulous! Aaaaaah, I can’t wait for this book! 😀
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Yesss the hype is so real! I am excited for you!!
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This is such a great idea for a post, and I’m excited to see which book you pick next! You’ve definitely convinced me to pre-order a copy of Nevernight though. I was a little on the fence about this one, despite loving Illuminae which Kristoff wrote with Amie Kaufman, but when I’m next on my laptop I’m going straight to Amazon and ordering this 😀
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Thank you!! I hope to do more of these posts and I’m glad to hear I convinced you 💕💕
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That’s all right 😀 Like I said I’m really excited to see which book you feature next (though my bank account probably isn’t!)
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I can’t wait to read this book! 😀
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And I can’t wait for you to read it!
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Yes.
x The Captain
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YES! I’m so excited to see this. I just got approved for this on NetGalley this week, now I can’t wait to dive in 😀
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Oh I absolutely can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it since you’re so well read with high fantasy!!
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I don’t know about anyone else, but you’ve successfully convinced me to go preorder a copy. It was the footnotes point which convinced me. I liked the UK cover (I prefer it to the US one anyway), but then footnotes in any book makes me happy. I can’t help myself! I need a copy now because it sounds awesome.
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Yes footnotes just made it all the more perfect!! I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.
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I’ve heard about this book but I never got the chance to actually look at what it’s about. OMG IT SOUNDS SOOOO GOOD!!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL AUGUST?!?! I neeeeeeeed this.
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August is not too far away now, you can do it!! It’s also on NG for request?
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I think it might be. I’ll have to check (fingers crossed)
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I AM CONVINCED. This sounds like an utterly glorious book and I need this in my hands asap because YES. That cover and that synopsis and AH IT SOUNDS SO GOOD.
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Ahhh I am so excited for you to read it!! Hope you’ll love it as I did.
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I’m so excited for this to be released! I’ve had it on my Goodreads shelf since it was announced, the anticipation is killing me!
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Not long left to wait now! I am so excited for you to read it 🙂
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I can’t wait for me to read it either! 😂
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I already planned on pre-ordering Nevernight and this pre-release thoughts has only solidified my plan. “smuttier and stabbier” are two things I will always gravitate towards and I also love the idea of the world being flooded in light, despite the fact I’m a night owl haha. I read the excerpt that was released with the cover reveal and I was hooked from the get-go. Basically I need this book ASAP. The only problem is choosing which edition to go for because both book covers are so badass.
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Yes if you like the excerpt you’ll enjoy the tone of the whole book. I hope you’ll love it as much as I did 💕💕
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I mean, I was already convinced because it’s Jay Kristoff, but you have totally MORE-CONVINCED ME. (Sssh, that’s totally grammatically correct, okay.) The gorgeous cover art is just the cherry on top. It’s gonna be good, I trust you!
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I am so happy to hear this!! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the books.
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JUST LOOK AT THOSE COVERS. I cannot decide which one looks better THEY’RE JUST TOO GORGEOUS. You have completely convinved me to get this book, I need it right now! AUGUST COME HERE ALREADY.
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I think I slightly prefer the Australia one but I am biased hahahah. And yesss you need this in your life!!
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OH MY GOD I am so excited for this!!!!! And hello, the UK/AUS cover is so much better (for once we beat the US, woo!). Ahhhhh I can’t wait until it’s released 🙂
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I am in much agreement. We have totally been winning in the cover department.
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Okay you have 100% convinced me to read my ARC copy sooner than planned! A smuttier and stabbier HP is all I’ve ever wanted from a YA fantasy series, hahaha! Sounds perf.
Footnotes! I LOVE snarky footnotes! Have you ever read The Bartimaeous Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud? It’s about wizard apprentices in London, and a young boy whose unparalleled ambition and need for revenge leads him to enslave one of the world’s oldest djinn. It’s actually kind of a dark series but the footnotes are all from the djinn’s perspective and they are HILARIOUS.
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I haven’t read the Bartimeus books but my BF has been nagging me to read them for years and now that I know there are footnotes I must jump on them!! Thanks for the rec 💕💕
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I knew the cover was gonna be one of the reasons! The UK version is STUNNING!!! I will for sure have this in my list because the premise plus cover, yes, yes, yes! 🙂
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I’m so excited to read this book, I’ll probably read it closer to release date but ahhh I love Jay Kristoff and it sounds like he really pulled it off with Nevernight! I love the sound of the fantasy world and the banter and how dark and brutal it is! Thanks for the awesome post Aentee!
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Oh yes! You are really convincing indeed. And those covers are so amazing
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Nevernight sounds absolutely wonderful, Aentee! I hope I love it as much as you do! And the covers are just 💗💗💗
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YES I am excited to read this soon! And I definitely will be preordering a copy as well (as soon as I figure out my address). Also, you had me at “cat that’s not a cat”. I love cats that aren’t cats, but I also love just cats too. AND FOOTNOTES. THOSE ARE GREAT.
You have gotten me excited!
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Oh my God this sounds amazing and I NEED it. Thank you for your lovely post Aentee 😀 I hadn’t heard of this book before, now I’ll definitely be looking out for it!
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GAH you’re killing me T.T
Jay Kristoff is one of my favorite authors, and his Lotus Wars trilogy is my favorite series ever. I would sell my firstborn for this freaking book! I still have a little bit of a fear that it won’t live up to my expectations (because it’s Jay, and my expectations are pretty darn high), but this post gives me hope that it will be just as epic as I expect it to be!
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