Thief of Night

(this review contains spoilers for Book of Night, the first book in this duology)

Thief of Night is the rare sequel that not only improves its predecessor—it redeems it. 

I came to this duology as a fan of The Folk of the Air, expecting something equally dark and irresistible. Instead, the first book, Book of Night, was a slog. The magic system barely held together. The pacing dragged. The protagonist, Charlie, drifted through the plot like a placeholder. I did like Vince—her lover. I kept reading because of him, and when Book of Night ended, I knew I’d read book two because I had to know what happened to Vince.

I’m glad I did. Thief of Night is everything Book of Night failed to be: smart, funny, and firmly rooted in a world that finally feels real. The story starts strong and keeps its momentum. I enjoyed it immensely.

After the events of Book of Night, Charlie is in as much trouble as ever. She’s working for the Cabals, magicians who bend shadows and people to their will. Her sister Posey is hiding something big and probably lethal. At The Rapture, the bar where she works, the upstairs is tense and the downstairs is worse. And Red—who was once Vince—is back. He looks the same, but his memory is gone. He doesn’t remember Charlie or trust her, which is rough because Charlie remembers everything—and misses it. Even though Red doesn’t want to be near her, he can’t stay away. Staying alive is easier with Red at her side. The two must work together—not only to survive but to stop the people who’ve taken control of the shadow world. I loved them both in this novel, both as individuals and as a pair. 

Everything in this book works better. The magic finally has rules that make sense. The villains are smart and dangerous because they know what they want. Posey becomes a character in her own right, not just a source of mystery. The shadow world stops being atmosphere and becomes a place you can actually believe in. And, through it all, Charlie and Red carry the story with clarity, connection, and a lovely amount of snark.

One choice near the end pulled me out. Black reaches for fury where the story called for something quieter. I didn’t believe it, and, in general, I’m not a fan of anything treading too close to nihilism. But, really, this is a small complaint about a novel I loved.

Thief of Night is a smart, high-stakes novel that rewards the patience the first book demands. Book of Night is a heavy lift. But Thief of Night makes it worth it.