'Something from the Nightside' by Simon R. Green is a dark fantasy novel that follows the protagonist, John Taylor, as he navigates the mysterious underworld of the Nightside, a hidden part of London where the supernatural and the bizarre coexist. John, a private investigator with a unique talent for finding things, gets drawn back into the Nightside after five years to solve a case involving a missing girl. As he delves deeper into the dark and dangerous world of the Nightside, he uncovers secrets, encounters strange creatures, and faces unexpected challenges. combines elements of fantasy, horror, and hardboiled detective fiction, creating a fast-paced and immersive story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The writing style of 'Something from the Nightside' is described as engaging, with a good balance of humor, horror, and mystery. The author, Simon R. Green, introduces readers to a vividly imagined world filled with unique characters and imaginative settings. The novel is fast-paced, with a mix of dark and light moments, and features a smartass main character, John Taylor, who adds a layer of wit and charm to the narrative. Green's storytelling weaves together elements of noir detective fiction with supernatural elements, creating a compelling and atmospheric read that transports readers to a world where the line between reality and fantasy blurs.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include violence, dark themes, and magical horror elements that may be unsettling to sensitive readers.
From The Publisher:
Taylor is the name, John Taylor. My card says I'm a detective, but what I really am is an expert on finding lost things. It's part of the gift I was born with as a child of the Nightside.
I left there a long time ago, with my skin and sanity barely intact. Now I make my living in the sunlit streets of London. But business has been slow lately, so when Joanna Barrett showed up at my door, reeking of wealth, asking me to find her runaway teenage daughter, I didn't say no.
Then I found out exactly where the girl had gone.
The Nightside. That square mile of Hell in the middle of the city, where it's always three A.M. Where you can walk beside myths and drink with monsters. Where nothing is what it seems and everything is possible.
I swore I'd never return. But there's a kid in danger and a woman depending on me. So I have no choice-I'm going home.
Ratings (41)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (11) | |
Liked It (12) | |
It Was OK (5) | |
Did Not Like (2) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (75):
Read It (43) | |
Want To Read (22) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (8) |
3 comment(s)
This is my first book by this author in the series, but not his first book I read at all. So I knew what to expect from this story and I wasn't disappointed. This book is definitely a typical example of this author's work.
It always surprises me how the author can build a quite coherent world in this rather short story and omitting some logical details. As a reader, it doesn't bother me at all that something completely new is happening in this world every now and then, and some new element is introduced into it that was not there before. I think that's where the real talent of this author lies. Although, of course, you as a reader shouldn't expect everything to make any logical sense in the end, but that’s part of the charm.
This author's stories are always a complete roller coaster. The world in which the main character moves is really crazy, and the plot rushes at breakneck speed. There are also some interesting twists towards the end. John Taylor has a lot of potential as the main character and I would love to return to another story with him.
Compared to other books by this author, it's hard to say that this one is very original, but if you like this type of story, you won't be disappointed. It's just good entertainment.
This book is from an elevated world where the characters are always ready to give a quippy and poetic speech of exposition. Meh, it was okay.
While this is a nice, enjoyable UF series with a detective-mystery twist it actually felt very "Dresden rip off" at times. Nightside is a little more pulp with a hint of horror and scifi at times, but Green seems to have quite a few early Harryesque characteristics in both his MMC and the stories. That's not to say this is bad or completely unoriginal. I did like it. It's fast paced, fun to read and the plots are relatively simple without becoming (too) predictable. It's also interesting and cool enough to keep reading. If you like Dresden and you need a pick me up in between novels, then the Nightside will tide you over until Butcher coughs up the next installment...
What can you read after
Something from the Nightside?
About the Author:
Simon R. Green is the New York Times bestselling author of the Secret Histories series, the novels of the Nightside, the Ghost Finders series, and the Deathstalker series. He lives in England.
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