A review by bookswithsmee
The Night Eaters, Book 1: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“It is dangerous not to care for the small things that need you.”
Milly and Billy, Chinese-American twins living in New York City, are experiencing the financial blows of the pandemic at their restaurant. On top of that, their stern mother Ipo is making them spend time tending to the terrifying and abandoned house across the street. What first appears to be a lesson in discipline soon becomes a nightmare as Milly and Billy learn there is more to their parents than meets the eye.
Welcome to 2023, the year of the graphic novel. I love graphic novels, and haven’t been reading anywhere near enough of them, so this is my first attempt to remedy that this year.
The art in this is UNREAL, and did an excellent job of using the colouring to differentiate between the parts of the story being told in the present human realm, the present demon realm, Hong Kong in the 1950s and Hawaii in the 1970s-90s. The fact that all of those are possible settings in this graphic novel should be enough to convince you to read it.
Also, despite being a horror, She Eats the Night was also genuinely funny. The relationship between Milly and Billy and their parents is equally chucklesome and painfully relatable. Also for those of y’all that like a grumpy sunshine dynamic, Milly and Billy’s parents are THAT.
At its core, this is also a story about immigrant identity, told through a supernatural lens. If you have ever struggled with your cultural identity or cultural disconnect from your wider family, I am sure that the story of Milly and Billy will resonate with you.
I cannot wait for the next volume.
The Playlist Eaters:
- Family Line // Conan Gray
- Hunger // Florence + the Machine
- Sleepy Hollow // Su Lee
Ipo breaking my heart:
“I was afraid that what came from me would be more powerful than your father’s kindness.”
Milly and Billy, Chinese-American twins living in New York City, are experiencing the financial blows of the pandemic at their restaurant. On top of that, their stern mother Ipo is making them spend time tending to the terrifying and abandoned house across the street. What first appears to be a lesson in discipline soon becomes a nightmare as Milly and Billy learn there is more to their parents than meets the eye.
Welcome to 2023, the year of the graphic novel. I love graphic novels, and haven’t been reading anywhere near enough of them, so this is my first attempt to remedy that this year.
The art in this is UNREAL, and did an excellent job of using the colouring to differentiate between the parts of the story being told in the present human realm, the present demon realm, Hong Kong in the 1950s and Hawaii in the 1970s-90s. The fact that all of those are possible settings in this graphic novel should be enough to convince you to read it.
Also, despite being a horror, She Eats the Night was also genuinely funny. The relationship between Milly and Billy and their parents is equally chucklesome and painfully relatable. Also for those of y’all that like a grumpy sunshine dynamic, Milly and Billy’s parents are THAT.
At its core, this is also a story about immigrant identity, told through a supernatural lens. If you have ever struggled with your cultural identity or cultural disconnect from your wider family, I am sure that the story of Milly and Billy will resonate with you.
I cannot wait for the next volume.
The Playlist Eaters:
- Family Line // Conan Gray
- Hunger // Florence + the Machine
- Sleepy Hollow // Su Lee
Ipo breaking my heart:
“I was afraid that what came from me would be more powerful than your father’s kindness.”