Down Comes the Night

A Novel

By: Allison Saft

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

"Narrator Saskia Maarleveld displays impressive vocal versatility in this gentle fantasy...Maarleveld captures each character and immerses listeners in the gothic setting of the sinister manor. Her intensifying pace and warm tone perfectly express the slow-burn romance that blooms between Wren and Hal as they work together to save their kingdoms." (AudioFile magazine, Earphones Award winner)

He saw the darkness in her magic. She saw the magic in his darkness.

Wren Southerland’s reckless use of magic has cost her everything: She's been dismissed from the Queen’s Guard and separated from her best friend - the girl she loves. So when a letter arrives from a reclusive lord, asking Wren to come to his estate, Colwick Hall, to cure his servant from a mysterious illness, she seizes her chance to redeem herself.

The mansion is crumbling, icy winds haunt the caved-in halls, and her eccentric host forbids her from leaving her room after dark. Worse, Wren’s patient isn’t a servant at all but Hal Cavendish, the infamous Reaper of Vesria and her kingdom’s sworn enemy. Hal also came to Colwick Hall for redemption, but the secrets in the estate may lead to both of their deaths.

With sinister forces at work, Wren and Hal realize they’ll have to join together if they have any hope of saving their kingdoms. But as Wren circles closer to the nefarious truth behind Hal’s illness, they realize they have no escape from the monsters within the mansion. All they have is each other, and a startling desire that could be their downfall.

Allison Saft’s Down Comes the Night is a snow-drenched romantic fantasy that keeps you racing through the chapters long into the night.

Love makes monsters of us all

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books

"A YA fantasy classic in the making." (Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray)

"Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s 'Grisha Trilogy' and Marie Rutkoski’s 'Winner’s Trilogy' have been waiting for this Darkling-esque romance." (School Library Journal)

©2021 Allison Saft (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Complex, carefully rendered, and utterly addictive, Down Comes the Night is a YA fantasy classic in the making. Saft seamlessly blends an utterly original magic system, multifacted main characters, and forbidden romance into a gothic narrative that will stay with you long after the last page." (Christine Lynn Herman, author of The Devouring Gray)

"Down Comes the Night is a twisty dark ride through a gothic world that‘ll keep you up all night. Saft has crafted a deeply romantic tale with fresh magic and mystery on every page, and filled with an arresting cast. An engrossing, haunting, and beautiful addition to the YA shelf." (Isabel Ibañez, author of Woven in Moonlight)

Loved this book in every way

I can't say enough good things about this book. The pacing was smooth and constant, great focus on softer qualities as strength, details trickled out at well placed times, writing style is on point for me, narration performance was so so enjoyable, and loved the unfolding towards the end.
great work!

Down Comes the Night!!!

I took a chance and used a credit for this audible book. I do not regret it. Narrator did a wonderful job. I was fully engaged from beginning to end. I will definitely purchase future books from this Author. Bravo Allison Saft I'm a new fan.

Such a Great Time

This audio book was such an enjoyment to listen to o,the narrator fills the words with both gravitas and poignancy. Enjoyed it thoroughly through and through. Allison Saft's premier book makes for a adventurous, romantic intro to a hopefully wonderful career. I'll definitely come back to this book for another listen and read. Thank You.

Not exactly what I was expecting

I was under the impression that it was more on the horror side, but it managed to catch my attention nevertheless. Everything was quite good until the last 5-4 chapters, when things got a little cheesy for my taste.

Just after I finished I realised that I’ve read another (more recent book) by the author: A Far Wilder Magic. That’s explains a lot because I think that her story was much more polished there.

The narrator did an outstanding job by giving every voice an uniqueness, so it was quite easy to distinguish characters!

Loved!

I absolutely loved this book. The world building was kind of confusing at first, but once you get into the swing of things it's easy to understand. I liked the development of the relationships between all the characters and thought it was lovely that it didn't matter who fell in love with who in this universe! The main character starts out with feelings for another female character, there's a hotel owner guy with a husband. etc and it's all perfectly normal as it should be.

Excellent!!!!

I devoured this story in two days.
I’m a huge fan of fantasy books and this book is a lovely and unique read.
I truly enjoyed the characters, the storyline, I love this narrator, I’m very familiar with her work and always enjoy her narration.
I’m a little in love with the Main Male character, I was very taken with how he was portrayed.
I don’t usually enjoy things involving political issues, but it was really interesting and done in a way that felt different and had a narrative that I felt was inspirational.
It has a great underlying message that I really enjoyed and I’ve been finding in a few other fantasy novels that I really really appreciate in these times.
Beautiful well written and creative.
I got utterly swept away.
I would whole heartedly recommend this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Saskia Maarleveld Makes this Story Come Alive!

Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Allison Saft does it right. Her YA fantasy Down Comes the Night sucked me into an alternate world of conflict and magic so deeply, so completely, it took discipline to set the story down. Her characters are drawn with a deft hand, each with their own imperfections and endearing qualities. At the center is Wren, a healer with unusually strong magical powers. She’s also been gifted with a kind heart and has, as her greatest enemy says, the courage and the strength to do the hardest thing, to be merciful. The themes of mercy and forgiveness, friendship and love, acceptance and belonging, thread throughout the story seamlessly and resolve in a satisfying, if not bittersweet, way. Lovers of fantasy and magic both young and adult will enjoy Down Comes the Night. And the narrator is fantastic

Great Debut!

Excited to listen to Saft's next book as this one had me hooked! Really glad I got it.

Cheesy and Predictable

The story felt like it wasn’t trying too hard to stray from the common tropes teenagers go for. Broody, mysterious, burdened guy who needs help and a delicate, emotional, selfless chick fall for one another.
I also didn’t like how it was read. Hal is far younger & emotionless than how he is made to sound. Both main characters are given voices that take away from the author’s intentions. Ren sounds so whiny, like she is almost in tears all the time. I felt there was more playfulness and assertion between her conversations. I would often wait to hear the author’s description of the interaction and replay it in my head to feel like I got was what meant to happen. Idk, maybe it’s just me.
Overall, I stuck around but I was over it off jump. Story didn’t feel too creative.