Publishers Weekly
★ 08/21/2023
A monster who’s the last of her kind and a Herald of death team up to kill a God in this electrifying fantasy romance from Christo (To Kill a Kingdom). Seventeen-year-old Atia is the last Nefas—a creature who subsists on fear—and she has lived in hiding ever since the Gods, who seek to wipe Nefas from existence, murdered her parents. After feeding off a human’s terror, Atia crosses paths with Gods-cursed Silas, a shepherd of lost souls whose century-long punishment for his unremembered mortal sins is to guide departed spirits to the afterlife. When Silas dooms Atia for committing an unforgivable act, he offers her a trade: he will help her break her curse if she aids him in escaping his own so that he may once again be human. But to break each other’s enchantments, they must kill a vampire, a banshee—and a God. Complexly layered worldbuilding gives way to a fast-paced quest rife with ascending stakes and richly nuanced characters at the center. Via Atia and Silas’s alternating POVs, Christo expertly volleys between snarky banter and gory horror while spinning a memorable enemies-to-lovers romance set amid a page-turning adventure. Characters are racially diverse. Ages 13–up. Agent: Emmanuelle Morgen, Stonesong Literary. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"A delightfully heartfelt tale filled with romance and adventure, The Night Hunt is a love letter to messy, monstrous girls." —Lyndall Clipstone, author of The World at the Lake's Edge duology and Unholy Terrors
"Fast fun and filled with Marvel-esque banter this highly enjoyable romp through the realm of monsters will appeal to fans of Not Even Bones and This Savage Song."— Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls
"I love stories about things that go bump in the night and The Night Hunt delivers! A dark romantic adventure depicting gods monsters and the lines that blur between them—this was such a fun fantasy read!" — Rachel Gillig, author of One Dark Window.
"Christo expertly volleys between snarky banter and gory horror while spinning a memorable enemies-to-lovers romance set amid a page-turning adventure." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A heady slow-burn romance...that asks intriguing questions about morality and the monster in all of us."—Booklist, starred review
"An inspired take on monsters and myths." — Kirkus Reviews
"An electrifying fantasy romance that explores themes of gods, monsters, and the blurred lines between them. Christo skilfully blends snarky banter with gore elements, creating a sort of enemies-to-lovers romance set in a page-turning adventure." — The Nerd Daily
"This stand-alone fantasy is sure to appeal to fans of Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us or anyone seeking a fresh take on the standard heroic quest story.... this novel is a fun adventure from beginning to end and an easy sell to fantasy readers suffering from series fatigue." —School Library Journal
For To Kill a Kingdom:
“With well-crafted fight scenes and vivid descriptions, Christo has created a world of beauty and monstrosity that will draw readers in.” —Publishers Weekly
“Stellar world building and nonstop action will keep readers hooked on this twisted reimagining of “The Little Mermaid.” —Booklist Online
“Fantasy fans will like the idea of sirens and piratelike princes as the characters who are imaginative and well developed.” —School Library Journal
“Readers who enjoy dark fairy tales of The Little Mermaid persuasion will sink into this bloody tale with pleasure.” —RT Book Reviews
“The world building is deft, and the spectacular ending is a happy one for Lira and Elian, but it will leave readers blissfully wanting more.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
For Into the Crooked Place:
"With its gangland details, creative magical caste system and surprisingly brutal characters, Into the Crooked Place is very much its own thing. And that thing will likely be a story you can’t put down." —Culturess
"Christo offers the reader creative and thoughtful backstories for each protagonist, along with fully realized worlds rife with magic . . . Everywhere are people of color and acknowledgment of LGBTQ characters—nice touches not always seen in fantasy." —Booklist
"Christo has done an amazing amount of worldbuilding with this book . . . The way her characters use magic, the mythology of each of her characters within their backstories, and the timing with which these backstories are revealed—pure magic, pun intended!" —MuggleNet
"It’s a gangster heist story dealing with a lot of heavy themes, but I think everyone will find something to love in this story . . . . It's a wonderful read with awesome characters." —The Nerd Daily
For Princess of Souls
"High stakes and dangerous escapades. Princess of Souls takes you on a thrilling journey alongside a witch trying to walk her own path and the clever soldier laying the way. This is Rapunzel glistening with dark magic galore." — Chloe Gong, the New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"Christo has cast a spell with this decadently dark tale of witches, fate, and defying death; her hallmark humor is as sharp as a blade; equally, her expert handling of a romance sure to be devoured by readers sparks true magic" —Ciannon Smart, author of Witches Steeped in Gold
"Princess of Souls sucked me in from the very first sentence. Its premise is as delightful as it is creepy, with characters to match. Nox and Selestra are here for vengeance, and everybody else had better stay out of their way." — Tricia Levenseller, author of The Shadows Between Us
School Library Journal
01/01/2024
Gr 8 Up—This stand-alone fantasy is sure to appeal to fans of Tricia Levenseller's The Shadows Between Us or anyone seeking a fresh take on the standard heroic quest story. Atia, 17, is a monster, the very last of her kind, who feeds on fear. She has lived in exile since the Gods murdered her parents, disguised among humans unless she's feeding; that's when her blue skin, white eyes, wings, and silver hair appear. When Atia accidentally draws the attention of the Gods, she has to team up with Silas, a Herald of Death, who must ferry souls for all eternity as punishment for mortal sins he does not remember. They make a deal to help break each other's curses and set off across kingdoms to kill creatures of myth, legend, and even a God. While the worldbuilding is thin at times, the nuanced characters propel the plot through rising stakes and excellent action sequences with distinct, alternating points of view. Atia's confidence and competence make her easy to root for despite her monstrous choices, and she never loses her sense of self as the romance evolves. Christo has written an interesting fantasy that occasionally edges into horror, with inspiration drawn from mythology. Silas is cued white; other characters are diverse in race and orientation. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase, this novel is a fun adventure from beginning to end and an easy sell to fantasy readers suffering from series fatigue.—Emmy Neal
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-26
“She is a monster and a miracle.”
Atia is the last of the blue-hued, silver-haired Nefas monsters that feed on fear and nightmares. She lives an exiled, nomadic life disguised among mortals as one of them, while nursing a grudge against the Gods who killed her parents. As a Herald, Silas is a messenger for the Gods and an escort for souls to the After. His role stems from a sentence for crimes committed in a prior life he cannot recall. When Atia violates the Gods’ laws while protecting a human scholar of magic and monsters, Silas must dutifully place the Gods’ curse upon her, quashing her powers and marking her kind for extinction. Yet the Nefas and the Herald choose to tentatively unite against the Gods, who have stolen from them both. With help from mortals and monsters alike, Atia and Silas travel across kingdoms to unmask the truths of the theocracy that governs Gods, monsters, and mortals. Atia’s fortitude and unwavering self-acceptance embolden her allies and perhaps will inspire readers as well. The narratorial duties shared between Atia and Silas are a natural exchange that showcases the mutual respect between the begrudging partners. While romance simmers throughout, it doesn’t come at the expense of Atia’s identity, making this narrative a standout in a spate of female-led mythological tales. Silas is cued white; some secondary characters have brown skin, and there is some queer representation.
An inspired take on monsters and myths. (Fantasy romance. 13-18)
