Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - Our Share of Night

This is a winding and immersive story of Gaspar, a child born out of darkness, with parents who did everything in their power to protect him from the darkness they were forced to be a part of.
I loved how each piece of the story started somewhere new and uncertain, building on this extensive horror of visions, darkness, and doors. If you love the occult, this is an excellent long read.

Content Warnings

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Review:

Our Share of Night is the first book by Mariana Enriquez that I have read. Although the plot and the story (mostly) kept my interest throughout its 500+ pages, I struggled to feel emotionally invested in the story. The horror element of the story, while certainly objectively horrifying, failed to scare me. At most, I felt slightly unnerved. The story is well-crafted and comes together nicely, but it did not need to be as long as it is.

The book explores themes of family/generational trauma, relationships, PTSD, war, queer love, and violence. Personally, I did not find the way the story handles these topics to be particularly insightful or original, and I think the book struggles under the weight of all the themes and issues it touches upon. However, I could definitely see someone else connecting to this story on a deeper level than I did, especially if they have a personal connection to the setting or topics.

Some of the representation of physical disability struck me as a bit insensitive, but as an able-bodied person I do not feel qualified to speak on that. One thing I do feel qualified to object to, however, is the unnecessary and problematic representation of two individuals who undergo sex changes. These characters are described as undergoing these procedures in order to better worship the god of Darkness, an evil demon, and the narrator notes that people would freak out if they knew how the Order (the demonic cult in the story) had infiltrated the NHS. Given how trans health care is under attack, any portrayal of these procedures as being related to demonic worship is inherently problematic—but what makes me especially angry is that these characters are literally of no importance to the story whatsoever. These characters are briefly mentioned, only to die shortly after their introduction.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like Our Share of Night if:

· You have a personal connection to the story’s setting or its themes

You might not like Our Share of Night if:

· You don’t want to read a really dark book (please read the content warnings! This book is not for the faint of heart)

· You dislike morally questionable main characters

A Film like Our Share of Night:

Hereditary, directed by Ari Aster (2018). Similarities between these two pieces of media include:

· Intense horror plotlines that explore grief, family inheritance, and generational trauma

· Demon cults and possession

Content Warnings