THE NIGHT HUNT

“She is a monster and a miracle.”

Atia is the last of the blue-hued, silver-haired Nefas monsters that feed on fear and nightmares. She lives an exiled, nomadic life disguised among mortals as one of them, while nursing a grudge against the Gods who killed her parents. As a Herald, Silas is a messenger for the Gods and an escort for souls to the After. His role stems from a sentence for crimes committed in a prior life he cannot recall. When Atia violates the Gods’ laws while protecting a human scholar of magic and monsters, Silas must dutifully place the Gods’ curse upon her, quashing her powers and marking her kind for extinction. Yet the Nefas and the Herald choose to tentatively unite against the Gods, who have stolen from them both. With help from mortals and monsters alike, Atia and Silas travel across kingdoms to unmask the truths of the theocracy that governs Gods, monsters, and mortals. Atia’s fortitude and unwavering self-acceptance embolden her allies and perhaps will inspire readers as well. The narratorial duties shared between Atia and Silas are a natural exchange that showcases the mutual respect between the begrudging partners. While romance simmers throughout, it doesn’t come at the expense of Atia’s identity, making this narrative a standout in a spate of female-led mythological tales. Silas is cued white; some secondary characters have brown skin, and there is some queer representation.

An inspired take on monsters and myths.