Night Myst

Starting with the first chapter, I was hooked. This book had a great pace that never slowed, along with a solid plot, good character development, and a believable world. I try not to give too much away, but have marked this review for spoilers.

Characters: The main character, Cicely Waters, is smart, yet humble. She has spunk, and is very likable. Only one time, somewhere in the middle of the book, did she get a little wimpy and annoying. But she pulled back nicely and her character development shows great promise. I like that the author didn't reveal all of Cicely's story yet. In fact, Cicely doesn't quite know her entire story yet either, so the reader learns as Cicely learns. Cicely also has bonded with a wind elemental, Ulean, which show more adds a nice dimension to Cicely's character. Kind of a protector, teacher, mentor character, but there seems to be a deeper story with Ulean too. Overall, a great nice start with the main character.

Cicely's primary tribe are her cousin Rhiannon, Rhiannon's fiancé and fellow witch Leo, and Kaylin, a century old dream-walker. Each bring good qualities and add to the story. In my opinion, Rhia and Kaylin have the most interesting stories and greatest potential for story development as is alluded to in this book. Leo was a bit bland for me. He's a witch, but also employed as a day runner by the vampires. The reader really learns the least about him. Overall, he was a bit flat for me, but he really didn't have a large role, so maybe in the next book? I also look forward to learning more about Peyton, the half-werepuma. She was introduced and we learn a brief bit about her. I hope Ms. Galenorn intends to use her more in the next book, as I see her becoming part of Cicely's tribe.

Other characters who appear include: Peyton's mother Anadey, Cicely's aunt/Rhia's mother Heather, the Crimson Court Emissary Regina and her brother Lannon, the regional vampire regent Geoffrey, Indigo Court's Queen Myst, and the fae Queen of Rivers and Rushes Lainule.

The World: For me, world introduction seems to be the trickiest thing for urban fantasy/fantasy/paranorm writers. If the author gives too much info in the first book, then the author can be greatly constricted in the latter books. Conversely, if the author does not give enough information, the reader can be confused, and not understanding the dynamics of the world can create problems understanding character interaction and even the plot.

Here, Ms. Galenorn does a fabulous job. The world is primarily set in New Forest, Washington state, and magic clearly exists. We learn of witches, fae - seelie and unseelie, shifters/weres, vampires, elementals, and potentially more. Obviously, if you read the blurb, you've already learned of a new species to the paranorms - vampiric fae, created when vampires attempted to turn the dark fae. Of course, there's a prophecy, which we learn a little about because it involves Cicely. One thing the reader does not learn to what extent the humans know about the magic is not clear. In New Forest, there was a "town witch" and a kind of school for magic children (magic to mean all species), so seemingly the humans have some knowledge. However, this is really not important in this book because humans are in the periphery - they're there, but more like scenery.

What I really like is how Ms. Galenorn introduces the world. She doesn't dump it on the reader all at once, but in pieces, to the point the reader knows just enough to keep confusion at bay. The reader learns more as Cicely and her friends learn more or interact with each other and the other characters. I thought Ms. Galenorn did a great job creating the world and giving the reader enough knowledge to understand what's going on, as well as keep us wanting to learn more.

Plot: a war is brewing between two factions - vampires and their creation, the vampiric fae. Except instead of good v. evil, it's more evil v. eviler, and Cicely joins forces with what she believes is the lesser of the two evils. But then a kind of twist is added when a third faction is added, who at least appears to be siding with one of the evils. The war is based on the vampiric fae intending to take over the entire world from their vampire sires, and the vampires seeking to destroy their Frankensteinian creation. However, other reasons are alluded to, particularly at the end of the book. I liked that Ms. Galenorn chose not to go with a straight them = bad, us = good plot, but instead chose the more intriguing and more realistic, everyone has an agenda and there's no clear good side.

A solid 4 star book and I look forward to reading the second book in the Indigo Court series. show less

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com

NIGHT MYST was my first Yasmine Galenorn novel and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I’d been sort of leery of her books as I understood them to be more in the erotica genre, but I would have to categorize this book as closer to urban fantasy romantica. Why? Because although there is plenty of sex (and it is explicit), it serves to support a richly complex world populated with fully fleshed out characters and not the other way around.

Sex and vampires go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Sure you could have one without the other, but aren’t they so much better together? The vampires in NIGHT MYST are dripping with sex, specifically Lannan. He can manipulate show more desires and enjoys pain and pleasure equally. His interactions with Cicely are scorching, seductive, and dirty. I went back and forth dreading and anticipating his scenes, which ultimately I think is a good thing.

But enough about the sex. The world building was my favorite part of NIGHT MYST. The series title, The Indigo Court, is named for the vampiric fae. A failed experiment by the Crimson Court (the vampires) to enslave the fae. Instead the vampiric fae became a separate court consumed with hatred and revenge. As NIGHT MYST starts, The Indigo Court, led by the first vampiric fae Queen Myst, have been quietly adding to their numbers and preparing for war:

And she arose from her deathbed in a gossamer gown, with eyes the color of starlight and hair as black as the night. And those who were her captors trembled, for the scent of death and madness emanated from her soul, and yet-she was not dead. She moved like the spiders that creep in the treetops, and none could look away. Taking her first captor in hand, she fed deep and ravenous. And so it was that Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court, was born from the blood of the dead. –opening of NIGHT MYST

Cicely and her first love, the aptly named Grieve, are caught up in the war, each one unwillingly connected to opposing sides. There is a rich history and mystery surrounding these two characters that unfolds slowly throughout NIGHT MYST. There is nothing neat or easy about their relationship. It’s messy and impulsive, and utterly compelling.

Overall, the writing wasn’t amazing, full of a lot repetition as Cicely was constantly explaining the situation to new characters. And I did groan at the number of clichés Yasmine used in her writing. But the pace was perfect for me. The plot raced along like Cicely’s Pontiac GTO, shifting seamlessly between adrenaline fueled action, heart pounding terror, and steamy passion. I’m already looking forward to Night Veil, book two in The Indigo Court series, which will be released in June 2011

Sexual Content: References to sex. References to homosexuality. References to incest. Several scenes of graphic sensuality. Several graphic sex scenes. A scene at a vampire orgy where various sex acts are described. show less

I've been enjoying Yasmine's writing for well over ten years, starting with her non-fiction, and I have yet to be disappointed. Cicely Waters is a young witch who's come back to her home city, her mother dead, and her friends and family disappearing and dying. She is quickly pulled into the world of the vampires and a mysterious entity known as the Indigo Court, fae who had been changed by vampires long ago but morphed into their own chaotic race. The court, headed by Myst, is apparently kidnapping the magic-born (those who become witches) and also has the police under her sway so the missing are not being tracked. Cicely takes on the challenge of finding her aunt and the other missing magic workers of the town. Along the way, she show more crosses paths again with Grieve, a friend from her childhood whom she'd loved, who has now changed in frightening ways as part of the Indigo Court.
What bond is it bringing together Grieve and Cicely? Why do her tattoos respond as though they have a spirit of their own? What more is there to Cicely's life aside from what she's been told by her mother, who could not handle her own magic and let her own life become a ruin? What do the vampires, the fae, and the vampiric fae want in all of this?
This is a fast-paced story, already with some twists and turns to develop as the series progresses. It's not bogged down with constant sex scenes, which is always a plus in my book. I have again been charmed by Yaz's writing and why must I wait a year for the next installment? show less

I just finished reading Night Myst. It is a paranormal written by Yasmine Galenorn. Cicely Waters is a witch with an affinity for the wind element. She’s been on the run with her mother for all her life. When the wind tells her that her aunt and cousin are in danger, she rushes back home. What she goes home to shocks her in more than one way.

I really loved this book. I have to be honest. I have read this book once about three or four years ago. I re-read it because I have finally tracked down the rest of the series. I also re-read it because I wanted to give my review for it. I was hooked on this book the first time I read it and this time wasn’t any different. I loved how all the characters are relatable. I love how I felt what the show more characters were feeling.

There wasn’t really anything that I didn’t like about this book. There were some parts that I wish had been explained more, but it was understandable with the explanation that was laid down. That’s all I can really think of that was wrong with the book. I have a feeling that this will become one of my favorite series.

I fully recommend this book. I especially recommend it to those who like paranormals. Especially paranormals that focus on magic. I was hooked on this book. I’ve already started on the second book! I hope everybody who reads it enjoys it as much as I do. I’m so glad that I got a chance to read this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series! show less

I am very partial to books about Faeries, Vampires, Shifters, witches etc etc. This one had them all over the place. Cicely a magic born witch, had been a drifter since her childhood, due to her bloodwhore junkie mother. A call home brings Cicely back to New Forest, back to her home, her family, and her lover Grieve. But when she gets there she doesn't know that magic born folk are disappearing all over the place, but then soon learns that the Queen of the Indigo Court Myst, the first Vampiric Fae, has made her home in New Forest, and has transformed most of the Fae living in the forest into her legion of Vampiric Fae, including Grieve. Cicely and her cousin Rhianna, and Rhianna's boyfriend Lee, and a Dreamwalker called Kaylin. Gather show more together to form a small band of magic users on the side of good, to help stop Myst taking over New Forest. Along with the sly backhanded help of the Vampires, and the Fae Queen of the Rushes and Rivers, she gets into deeper waters than she ever intended. SO while, trying to rescue her friends and family, and her lover, helping out the vampires and the rest of the fae not transformed, Cicely also has to learn about her own background. Man, if you ever think you got it rough, imagine what its like for Cicely. This book was intriguing, and a new world to explore. It reminded me of a modern day version of the 80's movie "Legend" except without Darkness and just add more Faeries into the mix. This is a series I will continue to read, and from how this book ended I will continue to enjoy. I hope if you read this book you will enjoy it too. :) show less

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Cicely Waters, 26 year-old black-clad, green-eyed, tight-abbed, tattooed, street-fighting witch, has been summoned back to her Cascadian hometown so she can use her powers to help solve the mystery of a witch's murder and some strange disappearances. Soon Cicely finds that things are worse than she could have imagined when she learns that the Indigo Court, an old race of vampiric fae, are planning to take control of both their vampire and fae ancestors. Cicely and her pals will have to make an uncomfortable alliance with the Crimson Court vampires to beat this even nastier foe.

I don't normally read contemporary urban fantasy, but I wanted to try Night Myst because it's been released on audio by show more Tantor Audio and I love their books. As usual, their production was beautiful and perfectly cast. Cassandra Campbell narrated Night Myst and she is completely convincing with all of her roles and has a wonderful range of voices that suit both the female and male characters. Her voice for Cicely isn't whiny and her male voices are strong and masculine-sounding (two places where I've heard plenty of female readers go wrong). I definitely recommend Tantor's audio version for anyone who wants to read Night Myst.

So, how did I, who am admittedly not a fan of this subgenre, like Night Myst? The bottom line is this: Night Myst kept me entertained for 11 hours, but I probably will not read the rest of the series. I'm now realizing more and more that it's me: I just don't much like this type of novel. However, I think Night Myst will be appealing to those who do enjoy this subgenre.

The plot of this first book in the INDIGO COURT series is quick and interesting and, while it wraps up satisfactorily here (the characters accomplish much of what they set out to do), the real battle is just beginning and it promises to be intense. Cicely is a strong, likable heroine with a realistic voice and it's from her POV that we hear her story.

I hope her English teacher doesn't hear it, though, because s/he would almost certainly be dismayed at Cicely's overuse of words such as cerulean and sparkle (and all of its derivatives), tired expressions and clichés ("like a deer in the headlights") and some out-of-style slang and ugly vulgarity. I'm going to charitably forgive one ancient vampire for this bad simile and assume its construction was caused by extreme stress:

"Listen to me. If the Indigo Court rises up, then you'll sympathize with us so fast and so hard that you'll beg me to turn you! They would eat you alive, like piranha going after a deer that's stumbled in the forest."

...or perhaps he's been alive so long that he's witnessed some sort of transitional missing link that the rest of us aren't aware of...

Okay, so the language in Night Myst is uninspiring — it's a bit charmless and mundane. Even the parts that are supposed to be beautiful — descriptions of sparkly elementals, sparkly vampires, and sparkly snow — all feel gaudy, as if infused with purple neon and sequins like the pony toys my daughters play with. I also had some issues with all the heritage, powers, and magical gifts that Cicely suddenly and easily acquires.

Another big issue for me (and I recognize this as my problem) is that I just don't like vampires. Vampires "freak me out" (as Cicely would say) and sex scenes with them are more horrifying than arousing to me. I've tried to get over this little phobia, but I can't seem to.

Overall, Night Myst is likely to be a good read for those who like vampires, sparkles, and a strong kick-ass heroine. The audio version is a terrific production, so I recommend this format if you plan to read Night Myst. show less

I have begun to really enjoy Galenorn's fantasy worlds. I like the way she brings these characters to life. This book had a good plot, and the story line seems to be a interesting one. The only thing I disliked was the overuse of profanity. I'm no clean talker, but I think she goes overboard. The dialect reminds me of a junior high schooler, who just learns that nothing will happen if she uses profanity outside of her mother's hearing.