Scan barcode
calbowen's review against another edition
4.0
This is fast-paced story that I read in one sitting - fast paced and full of action - my biggest complaint is the everything is explained and then when someone says, "why?" well, it is "the Nightside" - really? - everything is "The Nightside" - why does this happen - because we are in "The Nightside" - well, it is established that we traveled to the Nightside and everything but that cant be the reason for everything too - it is kind of weak to me personally - but again, the story is good and has enough action to keep this a page turner - I would say yes to this for a paranormal urban adventure novel.
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
First in the Nightside dark urban fantasy series for young adults and set in the bowels of London.
My Take
A mix of Sam Spade and Harry Dresden, this first novel in the young-adult, fantastical Nightside series is a fun and easy read that is just a bit scary.
Something From the Nightside serves to introduce us to the world of the Nightside. Supposedly, the under side of London, nothing actually indicates this except for using the word "London" and having the entrance to the Nightside via the Underground. Another off bit is that Green writes that John and Joanna are falling in love but there is no supporting evidence for this.
Even so, the Nightside tour is fascinating and imaginative; I look forward to reading the next in the series if only because ya just gotta love a guy who is into Doctor Who.
The Story
John Taylor escaped the Nightside five years ago and really does not want to go back when Joanna Barrett shows up in his office to hire him to find her runaway daughter. One rumor has her daughter in the Nightside but no one will take any amount of money to go there. Well, no one but our white knight, John Taylor. Seems John is both a major power and a major pain over there.
My Take
A mix of Sam Spade and Harry Dresden, this first novel in the young-adult, fantastical Nightside series is a fun and easy read that is just a bit scary.
Something From the Nightside serves to introduce us to the world of the Nightside. Supposedly, the under side of London, nothing actually indicates this except for using the word "London" and having the entrance to the Nightside via the Underground. Another off bit is that Green writes that John and Joanna are falling in love but there is no supporting evidence for this.
Even so, the Nightside tour is fascinating and imaginative; I look forward to reading the next in the series if only because ya just gotta love a guy who is into Doctor Who.
The Story
John Taylor escaped the Nightside five years ago and really does not want to go back when Joanna Barrett shows up in his office to hire him to find her runaway daughter. One rumor has her daughter in the Nightside but no one will take any amount of money to go there. Well, no one but our white knight, John Taylor. Seems John is both a major power and a major pain over there.
tacanderson's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's impossible not to compare this to The Dresden Files. Except instead of private eye meets urban fantasy, Nightside is private eye meets Lovecraft. Nightside also leans even heavier into the pulp detective genre than Dresden did. Really short, fun, popcorn read you can finish in a day.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Dark, mysterious and sometimes gory, thoroughly engrossing ! A PI from the Nightside a dark unknown area of London, now living on our side is hired to find a girl that disappeared there. He must risk he life and return to try to save her. What he encounters there is fascinating and horrifying at the same time. A WOW ride. Fans of the Dresdan files might enjoy this.
redeyesinferno's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
songwind's review against another edition
3.0
If you have read [author:Simon R. Green] before, you know he doesn't like to do things small. His characters are larger than life, with larger than life abilities. They have larger than life challenges and enemies. They accomplish larger than life things.
[book:Something From the Nightside] is no different. John Taylor is a Private Eye with a strange past. He's really from the Nightside, a mysterious and magical hidden London. When a wealthy business woman comes to him to find her daughter, it quickly turns out that the girl has gotten lost in the Nightside, and Taylor will have to go home again to find her.
We quickly learn that the client, the problem, and Taylor himself are more than they appear.
This is a fun book if you like the supernatural PI genre. It's not especially original, nor stunningly well written, but it's definitely worth spending an afternoon with.
[book:Something From the Nightside] is no different. John Taylor is a Private Eye with a strange past. He's really from the Nightside, a mysterious and magical hidden London. When a wealthy business woman comes to him to find her daughter, it quickly turns out that the girl has gotten lost in the Nightside, and Taylor will have to go home again to find her.
We quickly learn that the client, the problem, and Taylor himself are more than they appear.
This is a fun book if you like the supernatural PI genre. It's not especially original, nor stunningly well written, but it's definitely worth spending an afternoon with.
ariadne_exc's review against another edition
3.0
This book is quite average. Translation into Spanish is complete and utter bullshit, says a Spanish translator.
Book is entertaining, but filled with clichés and a failed attempt of witty, funny style of writing. Characters are also very much stereotypes.
Book is entertaining, but filled with clichés and a failed attempt of witty, funny style of writing. Characters are also very much stereotypes.
mrsbear's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first trip into the Nightside and I sure will be going back for more. John Taylor is a very lovable charactor with a great sense of humor. The audiobook was terrific thanks to a wonderful narrator. Cant wait to get the next one.
styxx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood