Reviews

The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylor

hellororyg's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

There were a few times I almost dipped out of this book, not because I didn’t like it but because at times I felt like this book was smarter than me and it was taking up a lot of my brain power. This is not in any way a bad thing, and I’m glad I persisted. 

This is gorgeous, Taylor is a stunning writer and has a way of delving into pain in a way that sometimes means you get so caught up in the beauty that it sometimes takes you a moment before the tragedy hits you. 

Definitely take note of content warnings on this one. 

Originally an ARC - review written after release. 

rosiejohunter's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

letrecgirl's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

pernille's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

4.0

melc's review

Overwritten - too much angst in the prose. Way to intense to feel like I'll be able to settle into.

chigwellreader's review

Dystopia novel

olirob44's review

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Multi narrative that I personally got lost in sometimes

kirstym25's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy and Homophobia

sjw_creates's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is an absolute tour de force of a debut novel by poet Joelle Taylor. 

The content is gruelling. Heartbreaking. Mystical. Thought Provoking and oh so important. 

Definitely on track to be my read of the year! 

lydiahephzibah's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

Setting: UK
Rep: queer

My first thought upon finishing this book was oh man what a slog. It felt like it dragged on forever - this book was at least 100 pages too long. Considering the stories of the protagonist falling into other lives don't actually have much bearing on the book, there were far too many and they were far too long, some up to 40 pages. I'm clearly in the major minority here - this book has found its audience, and I am not it. I'm all for a weird book, but this was just full and prolonged and far too verbose. The writing and plot felt too pleased with itself and I found it quite grating. Wish I could've loved this but I really didn't.