The Night Hunt: Dark, Ominous, Mesmerizing

The Night Hunt is a 2023 fantasy novel written by Alexandra Christo. It follows the gripping story of Atia, a monster that feasts on fear, and Silas, a messenger of the Gods who desperately seeks to regain his lost memories. 

Atia is a Nefas, the last of her kind. Nefas have the ability to see others’ fears, make them live through them as nightmares, and then consume that fear. Atia lives alone in the human realm ever since her parents were murdered for going against the High Gods’ rules. Years ago, the Nefas were banished from the realm of the Gods, Oksenya, leading to a war. Most were killed but some, such as Atia’s family, escaped and new rules were put in action. One of these rules was that any creature that kills a human will be cursed. Atia does her best to lay low until one day she accidentally scares a man to death. Immediately cursed by Silas, she strikes a deal with him. If he helps her regain her powers and immortality, she’ll kill the God of Forgetting so he can get back his memories.

Atia is an unforgettable character. Not because she’s one of the main characters in the book, but because there was something unique about her. Her whole life, Atia has been feared and has caused fear in others, but she isn’t a villain. Reading The Night Hunt through her perspective showed me more depth into her thoughts and feelings than I could have imagined. Atia is a monster but she’s not monstrous. She is kind and loyal, cunning and vicious, and simply longs for a chance at happiness. Living alone has made Atia distrustful, and yet she still craves company. Everyday memories of her parents’ deaths plague her, and she tries to live in a way that would make them proud.

What makes me love Atia is that she doesn’t try to change her personality throughout the book but instead, stays true to herself and her beliefs.

Alexandra Christo writes exceptionally well-developed characters. The narration in The Night Hunt alternates between Atia and Silas. Silas is a Herald, immortal beings whose purpose is to ferry across the dead into the After (Heaven) or the Never (Hell). They are also responsible for ensuring no monsters are killing humans. Heralds are humans who fell in-between the After and the Never, neither too good nor too bad, and are stripped of their memories upon becoming immortal. Silas originally doesn’t trust Atia because she’s a Nefas, but as they journey through the human kingdoms, he comes to identify with her. He realizes they both simply want a chance to live a happy life. Silas opens up to Atia more than he ever has, and a deep bond of trust and understanding builds between them. 

Other characters like Tristan and Cillian add depth to The Night Hunt. Tristan is an avid human scholar who sticks by Atia’s side despite knowing her true nature. His cheerful personality always manages to bring up his friends’ spirits, and he is one of Atia’s first biggest supporters. Even when she didn’t believe in her own goodness, he made sure to show that      he saw it. His friendship is steadfast just like Cillian, a half-banshee. Cillian has fought to find a place to belong after he was cast away by his family for being different. Although more wary than his companions, Cillian is a constant source of comfort within the group, bringing joy and warmth to everyone. He has a kind and caring soul, willing to do anything to help his friends.

From the moment I started reading The Night Hunt, I couldn’t put it down. It was captivating and magical to a point where every page was like a new discovery. My eyes were almost scanning the pages, wanting to get to the end of the novel. Christo’s writing made the story flow seamlessly. Every character, scene, and interaction was described so well it was like I was seeing everything on a screen and not on a page. One part I loved, even though it was sad, is when Atia asks Silas why he wants his memories back. He answers by describing two kinds of grief: The grief of losing something you had, and the grief of never having it at all. He states, “It’s a certain kind of loneliness to be void of anything, to have no memories or comforts to fall back on, no good times to cling to among the bad” (Christo, page 182). I find this quote very honest and it perfectly illustrates Silas’ deepest feelings.

The Night Hunt is a fantastic read because of its characters, plot, and action-packed scenes, but mostly because of its underlying message. It shows that even when it’s hard to fit in, you must always stay true to yourself. I absolutely loved The Night Hunt and recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, gripping, and memorable fantasy read. With its intriguing title and cover design, this book is a must-read for anyone who sometimes struggles to find their place in the world.