Hey, you all. Welcome back to Fully Booked! Today, I'll be sharing my review of Nightly Owl, Fatal Raven by Jessica McHugh. I haven't seen much discussion about this book, so I'm thrilled I get to cover it in this week's column. This was my first time reading McHugh's work and it certainly won't be my last. This book is eerie, engrossing, and extreme in all the right ways. Here's a summary from the back cover:
Since the rise of The Council, an oligarchy of despots and deviants, the legendary Capesman undertakes daily soul collections from Cartesia’s wasteland cities and battlefields. He also frequents Malay Prison, where a vigilante named Shal plots her escape. Armed with a thirst for vengeance and a sharp Shakespearean tongue, Shal must navigate a maze of trauma to save Cartesia and protect her sister from the brutal machinations of Chancellor Doa.
It will require all of Shal’s strength and cunning to resurrect her former army, battle the betrayals of the past, and avenge her father’s death. Will she survive long enough to see the Council fall, or is the Capesman coming for her next?
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In case you can't tell from the summary, this horror book leans heavily into the fantasy genre. I wasn't expecting that when I started reading, but since that is also a genre I enjoy, I certainly didn't mind. As I dove into the book, I had a hard time putting it down. McHugh combines gritty, evocative imagery with captivating characters and compelling prose for a visceral, unforgettable ride. Shal is easy to relate to, and throughout the book, I found myself eager for her to succeed. It felt like her wins were my wins, her failures my failures.
For me, the cast of characters can make or break a horror book. If I can't relate to them or fully understand their stakes, I can't root for them. If I don't care whether they succeed, there's no point in continuing the story. Thus, Nightly Owl, Fatal Raven captured my imagination and attention almost right away and held both throughout--which is even more impressive. If you're like me and want horror with characters you can relate to, this novel is a must-read.
Another thing worth commending here is McHugh's pacing. Although fantasy lends itself to info-dumping, McHugh never crossed into that territory. When conveying information about Shal's world, she kept it short and relevant to the action unfolding on the page. There were no parts of this book that felt too slow or too quick. I would say that the pacing, along with McHugh's top-notch characterization, is what encouraged me to keep turning the pages.
Author Jessica McHugh
A word of caution, however: This book can be confusing. Although the pacing is well done, there are time jumps that could be disorienting to some readers. Also, since the book is set in a different world, some worldbuilding aspects might be difficult to grasp. I don't mind putting in a little work to get the story, so I felt fine. However, I've seen similar points in other readers' reviews. I would be remiss not to list them here.
I can't believe I haven't touched on the dialogue yet! The humor, wit, and realism of the dialogue not only helped characterize the people in the book but also made the world of Cartesia more real. If you're a sucker for good dialogue, this book would be perfect for you. Overall, I give Nightly Owl, Fatal Raven by Jessica McHugh five stars. It's a stellar read that I'd wager flourishes with a reread, too. I'll keep you posted on that one.
If you're interested in Nightly Owl, Fatal Raven, you can snag your own copy on Amazon. You can also keep up with Jessica McHugh on Instagram, Twitter, and her website. McHugh is also a frequent contributor to The Wicked Library, and you can hear her work by clicking on the cover images on her author page.
Let me know what indie horror book you think I should review next!
Briana Morgan (she/her) is a horror author and playwright of books such as THE TRICKER-TREATER AND OTHER STORIES, UNBOXED, and BLOOD AND WATER. She is also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. Briana lives with her partner and two cats in Atlanta, GA.
