Stories of darkness are lovely because they tend to capture so many aspects of what darkness truly means. In Night Spinner, on top of what in my opinion was a lovingly rendered retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I got to see how darkness can corrupt, entice, and scar…but also how it can heal. Sometimes it is within our own darkness that we can truly find ourselves. It’s raw and emotional. Enebish is going through a lot of things in this story. She’s trying to find her way despite being hated for actions she cannot remember committing. There’s also anxieties and fears that she must face if she’s to try and redeem herself, as well as helping save the empire.
In Night Spinner, Enebish used to be one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army. Her Night Spinner power allowed her to use the threads of darkness to her advantage, but that was before she lost control and massacred an innocent caravan. Now, Enebish is grateful for her continued existence in the sanctuary she was provided, even if she’s broken and scarred for it. One day, her adoptive sister offers her the chance of redemption: find out where Temujin, leader of the rebel’s hideaway is and her status as a warrior will be reinstated. As she begins her journey, she’ll soon face struggles between her conscience and duty. Temujin seems to be the only thing keeping those affected by war from starving, but Enebish longs for the approval of her sister. Hardship lies ahead no matter the choice, because there’s an ever greater enemy looking to bring the empire to its knees.
This story envelops you in the darkness that Enebish used to have control over from the start of the book. I felt connected to her character from the start, because despite her limitations, she rebelled in the smallest ways she could muster. I also felt an increasing amount of frustration for her because of how she’s being treated. With Enebish’s lost memories, the reader will feel like there’s a limb missing. If only we had that one piece of information, we would be able to see everything so clearly. Don’t worry my friends, we do get to find out what those memories are. However, before all of this, we get to see our beloved main character stripped bare. Without access to her power or confidence, there’s a shell of a person struggling to survive. The trauma that she’s experiencing is powerful to be certain, and I think other readers will also form a connection with her.
For me, one of the major draws to this story was the fact that it was a retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I loved seeing all of the parallels within Night Spinner, but I also really enjoyed seeing this story take on a life of its own. It grows quickly, but also stops to take in small details, illustrating this interesting world that Enebish lives in. From the monastery that is offering her sanctuary to the Sky King’s kingdom, I feel that Addie Thorley took great thought into what the reader sees. My favourite scenery in this book comes from the journey Enebish winds up on.
There’s definitely some romance in this book, but I’m going to be honest, I could have gone without it. I felt like Enebish might still be the same person within the story even without the love interest. However, I do love the relationship that was cultivated between them. There’s certainly some conflict in their ways of thinking, but they both have good hearts. I’d love to see what other readers think about this aspect of the book!
I was excited to see what road Enebish’s relationship with her adoptive sister Ghoa would take, because at the start, it’s this big sister/mentor style relationship that many would go “aww” at. But then…you start seeing tendrils of other things manifest. Just what darkness is Ghoa herself hiding behind that big sister exterior? Honestly, it was this relationship that kept me turning the page. I needed to know what would ultimately happen with them.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. I loved the atmosphere, and the characters. There were moments where I wish we got to know some of the side characters better, but only because I’d love to see what’s going on in their heads. I loved the journey that I got to take with Enebish, and I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next book. I definitely encourage people to pick up this dark and lovely book, but I will say that it does contain some triggers for people. If you don’t like reading about emotional and physical abuse/violence and torture, then this might not be the book for you. It’s evocative, and I’d love to see what others think of Enebish’s story.
Night Spinner is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A must-read for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, transforming The Hunchback of Notre Dame into a powerful tundra-inspired epic.
Before the massacre at Nariin, Enebish was one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army: a rare and dangerous Night Spinner, blessed with the ability to control the threads of darkness. Now, she is known as Enebish the Destroyer―a monster and murderer, banished to a monastery for losing control of her power and annihilating a merchant caravan.
Guilt stricken and scarred, Enebish tries to be grateful for her sanctuary, until her adoptive sister, Imperial Army commander Ghoa, returns from the war front with a tantalizing offer. If Enebish can capture the notorious criminal, Temujin, whose band of rebels has been seizing army supply wagons, not only will her crimes be pardoned, she will be reinstated as a warrior.
Enebish eagerly accepts. But as she hunts Temujin across the tundra, she discovers the tides of war have shifted, and the supplies he’s stealing are the only thing keeping thousands of shepherds from starving. Torn between duty and conscience, Enebish must decide whether to put her trust in the charismatic rebel or her beloved sister. No matter who she chooses, an even greater enemy is advancing, ready to bring the empire to its knees.
