As a general rule, if books get a whole lot of attention, get turned into a movie or TV series (this one was a pretty good TV series), and so on, it kind of turns me off. But I have to admit: this book was just plain brilliant. The author does a superb job of slowly lowering us into a mind-bending experience, and expertly find the point where it’s almost too much strangeness and then “Oh my God, DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?” And then it gets wild from there. Really, everyone should try this. Different people like different genres, but I honestly feel like the only person who might not like this one is that lonely person who exclusively reads werewolf-themed bodice-rippers.

It’s hard to find a novel populated with young folks that deals realistically with the gritty, awful truths of a world-ending disaster. This one does. It’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s not one of those stories where out plucky heroine somehow rises above and conquers the world. But it’s a good story, absorbing, sometimes disturbing, sometimes sad, but always worth the journey.

Brilliant, different, snarky fun. The book, like the characters in the book, doesn’t take anything too seriously, but it sure is fun. I’ve read all the Nightside books that have been released so far (11 of them), and though things might start getting rather worn by book 9 or so, the first ones are truly memorable fun. The author has created a uniquely twisted mirror-world that is hugely fun to play around in, and a good cast of reluctant, misfit heroes to follow through that world. Give it a try.