We need more heroines like Mia. I loved this savage book.

Let me start by saying this book is exquisite. My jaw was literally on the floor when I got to the last page. It’s been YEARS since I was this excited after finishing a Fantasy book (GRACELING). Thank you, Jay Kristoff. NEVERNIGHT is a serious breath of fresh air in a very crowded genre. NEVERNIGHT is a tale of of revenge. At the age of 10, Mia Corvere witnesses her father’s execution, sees her mother and baby brother dragged away to prison, and narrowly escapes murder at the hands of her father’s traitorous enemy’s lackeys. She is taken in by a retired assassin and begins her journey to become a member of the deadliest group of Assassins, the Red Church. By becoming one of the deadliest assassins, she hopes to murder those who took her family and her life from her. Jay Kristoff is a masterful wordsmith and storyteller. His language is beautiful both in style and delivery. I love the way Kristoff weaves back and forth between Mia’s childhood journey and her very adult journey into the Red Church. However, just when you think you’ve caught on to his formula of storytelling, he flips the narrative on its head and goes in an entirely different direction. This author marches to his own beat and I love it. The humor he finds in some of the most intense situations is perfection. The characters are complex and well fleshed out. Mia is a fascinating protagonist—she’s flawed and seemingly unlikeable, but you cannot help rooting for her. Deep down she’s loyal—someone who cares about others and cares about doing the right thing. Interesting, considering she’s a murderer, right? Tric’s narrative and place in Mia's story is the perfect complement and allows us to see her in a different light. NEVERNIGHT is and excellent beginning to an exciting new series. I am eagerly anticipating the next story in this adventure! --- Going to go on a tangent for a moment… I try not to read reviews of ARCs beforehand to make sure my opinions aren’t being swayed by others. I find it quite helpful to think on the book for at least 24 hours and if I’m still having trouble finding the right words I will read a variety of reviews to organize my own thoughts and see what discussions are going on. Let me just say: I am SO glad I didn’t delve into these reviews until after I’d finished. This book is seriously polarizing (seems people either love it or hate it). I get the feeling that many of the negative reviews are a result of inappropriate expectations. From what I gathered (correct me if I’m wrong), Jay Kristoff’s previous bestselling series (THE ILLUMINAE FILES) is YA. This book… Not YA. I repeat: This book is NOT YA. There is a significant amount of adult content (violence and sex). Woo! ;) Nothing my teenage self wouldn’t have totally read anyway. BUT the language and writing style is highly elevated and could be viewed as a bit dense. This is not an easy peasy, vacay read. You’re going to have to DIG in. But OH MY WOW, is it worth it!!! Note: I received a FREE ARC (advanced reader copy) from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.