Review: The Heir of Night by Helen Lowe

Title: The Heir of Night
Author: Helen Lowe
Series: The Wall of Night #1
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: Eos
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

If Night falls, all fall . . .

In the far north of the world of Haarth lies the bitter mountain range known as the Wall of Night. Garrisoned by the Nine Houses of the Derai, the Wall is the final bastion between the peoples of Haarth and the Swarm of Dark—which the Derai have been fighting across worlds and time.

Malian, Heir to the House of Night, knows the history of her people: the unending war with the Darkswarm; the legendary heroes, blazing with long-lost power; the internal strife that has fractured the Derai's former strength. But now the Darkswarm is rising again, and Malian's destiny as Heir of Night is bound inextricably to both ancient legend and any future the Derai—or Haarth—may have.

At the beginning of the book we get to meet Malian, the Heir of Night and Kalan, a novice priest who ends up becoming Malian's friend and at times the only person she trusts. Together they start the journey that begins with the attack and battle at the House of Night castle and that then takes them to discover their destiny and how to fulfill it.

Along the way we meet other important characters to the story like Tasarion, the Earl of Night and Malian's father, Rowan Birchmoon, Lady of Winter and also consort of the Earl of Night and Jehane Mor & Tarathan, heralds from the Guild that have perfect control of their abilities and are not afraid to use them. They are perhaps the other 2 most interesting characters of the whole book (the other two being Malian and Kalan).

One of the most curious things of the book is that it's a mix between fantasy and sci-fi. The Derai and their enemies are all from another world, in other words, aliens.
While there are plenty of new names and terms along the book, the things that are explained are not very complicated and easily understood.

The worldbuilding is great, and I especially liked the descriptions and special abilities of the land. A lot of the book happens in the territory of the Earl of Night, his fortress in particular, and now I'm really looking forward to exploring the world of Haarth outside the Wall.

All in all, the author has created a very rich and complex story with a perfect balance between action and character development that got me hooked from the first page.

Memorable Lines:

"Awake!" Malian cried at the top of her voice. "'Ware foes! 'Ware blood! 'Ware ruin in the night! Awake, Earl of Night! To arms, Keep of Winds!"

Next Book:
2. The Gathering of the Lost (TBD)

Rating: