Children of the Night

By: Zan Safra

Narrated by: Naomi Rose-Mock

"A page-turning read that leaves readers dazed and breathless...a thoroughly engrossing tale marked with intrigue, mystery, magic and murder." (The Prairies Book Review)

For fans of the most famous gothic monsters comes a fantastical YA retelling.

Venice, 1865: Sixteen-year-old Ayanda Draculesti doesn't remember her early life - all she knows is that she was found as a small child, wandering the streets of Venice with an intricate medallion and a mangled left arm. But Ayanda is unique - even though she's alive, she has the powers of a vampire. She has the strength and speed to battle them, and most importantly, the will. She won't let another child die.

Ayanda isn't the only young Unnatural in Venice. Ghostly Yurei is in hiding, fleeing the captors determined to turn him into an assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein are on the run from alchemists who want them dead and dissected. Their paths and Ayanda's collide when a brutal enemy surfaces that threatens them all: one of the Greater Dead, a vampire that slithers through Venice murdering everyone she encounters.

Ayanda is determined to stop this Dead creature before she kills again. Yurei, Jette, and Belle aren't. Why should they risk their lives to save people who see them as monsters? All they’ve ever known is hate and fear. They owe the world nothing.

But Ayanda can't defeat a Dead creature alone.

©2021 Alexandra Justine Weise (P)2021 Alexandra Justine Weise

Not really for me

I finished this audio but it didn’t work for me.
I enjoyed the narration but the development of the 4 main characters just wasn’t where I needed it to be to entice me into the stories universe.

World building started out ok but kind of just flat lined.

Gifted audio in exchange for an honest review

Fun story, okay narrator.

This is an interesting twist on some well-known ‘monsters’ or in this case, perhaps ‘super heroes’ is a better label. There’s coming-of-age, mystery, friendship bonds formed, being transported back in time and pretty much, non-stop action.

A fun, fast-paced read.

I may seek more from this author, based on this experience.

3.5 stars, overall.


Audio:
This narrator was … okay. I’d call this a 3-star performance, at best. Voice is pleasant enough but she sounds a bit robotic.