Holly Black Is Back With Dark, Thrilling Final Installment Of Charlatan Duology

Thief of Night by Holly Black

“There’d always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn’t willing to double down on.” — Holly Black, Book of Night

Holly Black returns to modern adult fantasy with the final installment of the Charlatan Duology, Thief of Night. The highly anticipated sequel to Book of Night, Black returns with a viciously clever tale packed with twists and turns and brimming with her special brand of shadow magic.

Dive Headfirst into Danger

Following the heart-pounding conclusion of Book of Night, skilled con artist Charlie Hall is back, this time with the mission to win back the heart of her former lover, who just so happens to be stitched on as her shadow. When the two were bound to each other, Vince — now Red — lost his memories from his time with Charlie, but a little bump in the road never stopped Charlie Hall.

As the new Hierophant — the begrudging servant of the powerful group of shadow magic-wielders (gloamists) known as the Cabal — she is tasked to hunt down rogue Blights, the violent shadows no longer tethered to human bodies, that pose a threat to society. With a new murderer on the loose and more shadows stepping into the light every day, Charlie faces danger around every corner, with perhaps the worst predator of all lurking in her own shadow.

Can she trust Red not to turn on her? Will they find the killer before it’s too late?

Charlie Hall will Haunt your Thoughts

Black delivers a dark, thrilling ride that draws you in from the very first page. She fuses drama, tension and mystery with gritty characters, a vivid world and an adrenaline-packed plot for an all-around fantastic conclusion to this riveting duology.

Charlie Hall is one of my favorite protagonists in recent memory. She’s sharp, she’s witty and she isn’t about to let anyone mess with her. You think you have something on her? She’ll spill her own guts before letting you blackmail her into anything, because she knows what worse looks like.

Charlie is incredibly human, and following her on her journey is both fascinating and surprisingly cathartic. She sees the faults in everyone, picking apart scenarios with the skill of a practiced thief and conwoman, and typically assumes the worst. It’s when those around her surprise her, particularly Red, with moments of connection and recognition that things click in a new way, both for her and for the reader.

Charlie is beginning to see the link of understanding with someone who truly sees her, and who sees the world like she does. It’s satisfying to experience from the outside, and it’s validating in the way that Black crafts Charlie’s arc.

Alongside Charlie, Red is an intriguing enigma of a character, both terrifying and tempting. A master of worldbuilding, Black has woven such a wonderful magic system with the shadows of the Charlatan Duology.

A Finale you can’t Put Down

As you learn more about Red and his history, as well as Charlie’s haunted past, you can feel the pieces dropping into place as shadows come crawling out with fangs and claws. Black leaves you guessing until the final moments but serves up a deliciously satisfying ending.

Fast-paced, action-packed and bursting with hair-raising suspense, Thief of Night is truly a novel that you won’t be able to put down. If you love a book with witty characters, layered magic systems, clever cons, high-stakes plots, complicated families and a dash of romance with just a touch of kink, then Thief of Night is for you!

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Recommended Reading:

Holly Black’s Adult Debut, “Book of Night,” Introduces a World of Irresistible Shadow Magic

Holly Black’s Folk of the Air Series, Now a Card Game of Strategy and Deception

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