Beware the Night - Jessika Fleck

Date of Reading: 04/03/2020

Author: Jessika Fleck

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Publication Date: March 12, 2019

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3/5

About the book:

When her world divides, pitting light against dark, Veda must join a dangerous revolution to save her grandfather and fight against injustice...even if it costs her the boy she loves.

On the island of Bellona, life is peaceful--as long as the citizens dutifully worship the Sun, which protects them from all harm. Seventeen-year-old Veda knows that keeping the Sun happy will protect her and her grandfather from the Night, the dangerous people who snatch innocent citizens from their beds under the cover of darkness, never to be seen again. As long as Veda follows the rules, she will be safe.

But when Veda's grandfather is offered up as the next sacrificial offering to keep the Sun's favour, she starts to see that the safety she's been promised comes at a dangerous price. Maybe there is more to fear above than there is below.

With a mysterious young man, Dorian, at her side, Veda has to figure out if the scary bedtime stories she grew up hearing are real--or dangerous lies.

Review:

        I do love a good forbidden romance with all the class clash going around and so selecting this book was a no brainer. Set in Bellona, an island country where people worship the sun and is asked to be afraid of the night, the first book in this duology creates all the necessary angst and thrill for an adventure about to begin.

       Let me start with the good bits. The staunch rivalry between the followers of Sun and Night (Moon) is quite appealing, owing to the brilliant narrative style which is a combination of legend and real life. The division prevalent between the imperial Doggio and oppressed Basso is vividly portrayed through the lives of our star crossed lovers, each belonging to separate strata of the Bellonian society. Mysteries unfold in regular intervals and there is no dull moment in this story. . . well, except for the lengthy part where Veda takes her time to think everything through.

       Now to the parts didn't really work for me; actually, there is only one in the hate list -- the love triangle. And drove me mad is the fact that while the two boys after Veda is completely faithful to her, Veda, on the other hand, encourages both of them quite shamelessly (not just in words, but through kissing). Sure, she is confused with all the sudden changes in her life, but this is cutting it too far. In the end, I resorted to ignoring her to enjoy the story better. I just really hope the next book won't continue this romantic drama.

Meet the author:

Jessika Fleck is a YA & MG author, unapologetic coffee drinker, and knitter — she sincerely hopes to one day discover a way to do all three at once. Until then, she continues collecting vintage typewriters and hourglasses, dreaming of an Ireland getaway, and convincing her husband they NEED more kittens.