Synopsis:
A funeral. A heist. A mission born of desperation.
When someone in Dymitr’s family dies, he’s called back home for the Empty Night, a funeral rite intended to keep evil at bay.
The secret Dymitr is keeping from them makes returning home downright dangerous, but if he wants to get his hands on a book of curses that might appease Baba Jaga’s blood lust, he has no choice. And when that same funeral brings ferocious creature-of-legend Niko to town for his own bloody purposes, Dymitr’s charade becomes impossible to maintain.
Family gatherings can be brutal. Dymitr’s might just be fatal.
Review:
A messed up found family. A cruel blood family. A deadly deal and a heist in this Polish-inspired urban fantasy.
When you’re a Knight of a revered, secret monster-hunting order and you get turned into a fear-eating nightmare creature; you have a big problem.
Dymitr is broken, but bold. Anxious, but courageous. He has a kind-of roommate and sister-by-choice in the very monster he was sent to kill. Also, his romantic partner is a hunter of his Knight order (and family).
As you can tell, the character dynamics are tense and complicated as each person tries to realign their belief systems whilst attempting to stay true to themselves.
But they don’t love him, Niko thinks. Because if love doesn’t allow change, then what the fuck is that love worth?
The descriptions are simple, yet evoke such an atmosphere and emotion to each scene.
With multiple perspectives, the cast feels more fleshed out as you see each chapter from someone else.
The cast is tight and the plot contained, which is impressive, making this a satisfying, tantalising novella.
I would not recommend reading this by itself; it is a direct sequel with more to come.
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