Blog Tour: Beware the Night by Jessika Fleck [Review + Giveaway]

Hello! Welcome to my stop for the Beware the Night blog tour!

This blog tour is hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. I received a free eARC from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley, and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Title: Beware the Night

Author: Jessika Fleck

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian

Release Date: March 12, 2019

Published by: Swoon Reads

ISBN: 1250154758 (ISBN13: 9781250154750)

On the island of Bellona, they worship the sun. Seventeen-year-old Veda understands that keeping the sun content ensures plentiful crops, peace and harmony, and a thriving economy. But as a member of the Basso class, she never reaps those benefits.

Life as a Basso is one fraught with back-breaking work and imposing rules. Her close friendship with Nico is Veda’s one saving grace in a cruel world where the division between her people and the ruling Dogio is as wide and winding as the canals that snake through their island.

But when Veda’s grandfather is chosen as the next sacrificial offering to keep the sun’s favor, Veda is forced to see the injustice of her world. Turning away from the sun means she must join the night—and an underground revolution she’s been taught to fear all her life.

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About the Author

Jessika Fleck

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Jessika Fleck is an 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. Her YA debut, THE CASTAWAYS (Entangled TEEN), is now available. Her next YA novel, BEWARE THE NIGHT (Swoon Reads/Macmillan) releases March 12, 2019. More at www.jessikafleck.com

My Review

I was hooked right from the beginning. The premise alone is beautiful and exciting and definitely drew out my curiosity. The cover is bait! The storyline is gripping and will lure you in.

I love the Roman-style setting and the island vibes. The world-building is lush and interesting. The social system in Beware the Night is a strong voice that speaks about discrimination in history lasts even until now. It not only tells poverty, it shows poverty. Beware the Night emphasizes the fine line between the rich and the poor, and shows the reality of the government: corrupt, selfish, and without justice.

The characters intrigued me right from the beginning, especially Dorian. This book tells of the past but at the same time rises to the future, which filled in some knowledge gaps that I had. Veda, however, is very impulsive despite the advice from the people around her. She is complex and her actions annoy me sometimes, but she is her own, unique and insecure person. And what I love is that as the story goes on, she gains inner strength.

One of the things I love about this book is the character development, especially Veda’s. There’s something inspiring about reading about a girl journey to gain courage despite the sea of chaos around her.

The downside is that it’s utterly predictable. The plot of this book similar to that of dozens of other books. It’s quite dramatic.

The vivid writing is great and has a lot of depth. The pacing is average, but the book was sort of a heavy read for me compared to other dystopian books.

If you like: prejudice, forbidden love, rebellions, mysterious group, and ‘The Chosen One’ protagonist trope, then this book is for you.

Beware the Night isn’t the best book so far, but I really enjoyed reading Veda’s story. Reading this was one cool roller coaster ride, no matter how predictable the events of the story are.

Beware the Night took me on a fun, compelling, heart-pounding adventure that I won’t soon forget.