In Night’s first YA novel, a classic wizard-school premise with a vampiric twist centers the protagonist’s self-discovery, while setting up a world of dangerous creatures from the OtherSide—and, of course, the secret protectors of humanity. Mikey Black, orphaned after his parents were killed by strange monsters, has been shuttled from home to home for years because being around him makes people deathly ill. But when the secret group of young Jaecar-in-training at his new high school identify the effect as his natural ability to drain the Source (life energy) from those around him, Mikey is pulled into a magical school. As he comes to terms with being only half human, he must learn to control his powers while training to protect himself from vampires and to prep for the monster-fighting challenge that will make him and his friends Jaecar.

The plotting holds close to established tropes but executes them well; voracious young readers hungry for chosen ones and mystic academies will feel instantly at home. The idea of magical energy as going through meridians in the body is an original take that works. The core group of friends are all built with distinctive and relatable personalities and roles, and the main peer antagonist is so unsubtle in his non-acceptance of Mikey that readers will relish disliking him.

The storytelling is brisk and assured, as Night takes full advantage of the school setting to introduce the complexities of this world, including inventive lore, terminology, and powersets. The dangers feel real, but Night also exhibits a sure hand for teen thinking and the natural comedy of growing up supernatural. “Being the seventeen-year-old daughter of an 8,000-year-old vampire in the modern world wasn't easy,” he writes, of teen genius Viki, a complex and engaging creation who serves both as romantic antagonist and spying bridge between Mikey and the adult vampires interested in him. The penultimate battle, in which the group dynamic and the teens’ sharp dialogue shines, is a highlight, whetting appetites for more.

Takeaway: Friendships and monster battling power this YA supernatural school adventure.

Comparable Titles: Caleb Roehrig’s The Fell of Dark, Patrick Ness’s The Rest of Us Just Live Here.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A