The Night Hunt

Gr 8 Up–This stand-alone fantasy is sure to appeal to fans of Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us or anyone seeking a fresh take on the standard heroic quest story. Atia, 17, is a monster, the very last of her kind, who feeds on fear. She has lived in exile since the Gods murdered her parents, disguised among humans unless she’s feeding; that’s when her blue skin, white eyes, wings, and silver hair appear. When Atia accidentally draws the attention of the Gods, she has to team up with Silas, a Herald of Death, who must ferry souls for all eternity as punishment for mortal sins he does not remember. They make a deal to help break each other’s curses and set off across kingdoms to kill creatures of myth, legend, and even a God. While the worldbuilding is thin at times, the nuanced characters propel the plot through rising stakes and excellent action sequences with distinct, alternating points of view. Atia’s confidence and competence make her easy to root for despite her monstrous choices, and she never loses her sense of self as the romance evolves. Christo has written an interesting fantasy that occasionally edges into horror, with inspiration drawn from mythology. Silas is cued white; other characters are diverse in race and orientation.