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Monday, May 8, 2017

Review: Nightstruck by Jenna Black

Nightstruck by Jenna Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Tor Teen


My reading pal, Jessica, and I took on this first-in-a-series teen urban horror novel and we are sure glad that we did!  See our thoughts below in anticipation for book 2, Night Magic, coming out at the end of the month - definitely going to be continuing!




On a walk with her german shepherd, Becket hears a cry in the night. Fearing for this baby's safety, she walks into the fog to see if she can help. A single prick of her finger, a single drop of blood opens a doorway to another world... a world that slowly comes out when the sun goes down. She questions her sanity as she sees weird changes to her city - only at night and she can never get any proof. As time passes, these changes become more and more prominent and soon everyone is seeing what she is and people are forced indoors after daylight in order to survive. Otherworldly forces are after Becket, seeming to single her out, but why?

I went into this book completely blind. I found the cover intriguing and knew this was a catered to teens so wasn't sure entirely what to expect. Towards the middle of the book, I couldn't stop reading. I love this world that the author created. Though typical in the "blood drop makes terror" story line, the things that happen at night (though gruesome at times) really kept my attention. Becket is the typical insecure teen with self esteem issues and so, at times, became quite annoying, but there is a strength to her underneath this that I found quite compelling.

I think you'd be quite surprised at the turn of this book. I can't QUITE put my finger on what it reminds me of, but I know that whatever it is, it's satisfying. I look forward to the continuation of this story, Nightwatch, coming out at the end of the month. If you like dark, urban horror but are unsure because of the "teen" genre associated with it, I encourage you to give this book a chance. It may surprise you in the best way like it did for me.

Continue below to see what my pal, Jessica, also thought of this surprising book!




Nightstruck by Jenna Black was something I wasn't expecting. The cover was amazing and I'm never sure what to expect when it's more of a YA type read, but I was not disappointed. First of all, that beginning? Oh my god. Instantly got the eerie, looking over my shoulder vibe. Was not leaving any pools of shadow in my house after this one!


It all begins with a cry in the night. Becket is walking her dog one night and hears an awful sound, one that she can't place, until it morphs into a baby crying. When she calls the police and tries to get a good look at the crying baby, she instead discovers that it's something evil, and it has tricked her into opening another realm. This lets darkness into our world and slowly begins to transform Philadelphia into a menacing version of itself - but only at night. 


Alley ways wait to snare people, street lights are turning into gallows, and this is causing people to hide in their homes at night. Some people fall victim to the darkness inside them and Becket is trying to save her loved ones before she does too.

Jenna Black did a great job developing the characters and making it easy to relate to Becket. With her father as the police chief, she has some very high standards that she needs to live up to. While trying to cope with her father and issues with her best friend, she questions her sanity as the book progresses. With the changes happening very gradually to the world outside, she begins to wonder if she's just imagining it. I loved how creepy this was. The dark elements and how it gave me that eerie, something-is-behind-me feeling. I'm excited to get the second book!


I give this a solid 4/5 stars!

View all my reviews

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