A review by violetturtledove
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez

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

4.5

This book is a complex and often confusing journey, but worth sticking with. I don't completely understand everything that happened, but I'm actually tempted to jump back in and read from the start just to absorb more of it. 
The supernatural is mixed well with the political history of the story, and the characters are flawed, screwed up and completely believable. There's some very simple naming- the cult is called 'The Order' and the dark god they worship is 'The Darkness' but I think it works as a stylistic choice, it keeps the story grounded. Despite the fantastical elements it's a story about family, secrets and dealing with the past. And when it comes to horror, people outdo monsters every time. 
It jumps around a lot: it's not always clear at first whether a gap between paragraphs signifies a day or several months. The six parts of the book aren't in chronological order, mostly this does help build the sense of mystery but some sections drag a little.  It's a slow, atmospheric build up rather than a tense thriller. 
I imagine some people will be frustrated by the lack of clear answers on some points, there's a lot going on and I could have done with a little more clarification but again, it fits with the style of the book. Human relationships are complicated and you can't expect easy answers. 
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