Official Review: The Long Night by M.G. Darwish

MarisaRose · Post by **MarisaRose** » 17 Dec 2019, 11:43

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Long Night" by M.G. Darwish.]

3 out of 4 stars

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The Long Night: Blood Will be Served (Fortier Book 2), by M.G. Darwish, is the second book in Darwish’s vampire series. The novel follows Alfred Zeidan, the Fortier. In lore, the Fortier is the strongest vampire. After putting an end to a violent war between two infamous vampire families, Alfred finds himself on a new mission to ensure an ancient curse is not broken. Alfred’s journey to save the lives of his people means he has to work with Fenrir, a werewolf and a very unlikely ally for Alfred. However, Alfred’s mission is complicated when his trust in a close comrade is put to the test. Will old alliances hold? Or will the final fate of the vampires and werewolves be decided once and for all?

Although this is the second installment in a series, I had no problem jumping into the story without having read the previous book. The author provides an adequate recap to give the reader an outline of Alfred's original journey as well as an understanding of how previous events impact the Fortier’s current situation. Moreover, the novel is told via Alfred’s first-person perspective, which Darwish expertly uses to subtly relay information about the history and lore of the novel's universe. As for the narration, Alfred proved to be an engaging narrator, and his internalized thoughts provided much-needed humor to offset the relatively gruesome nature of the story.

Darwish utilizes a lot of the standard tropes regarding vampire lore, but there were quite a few unique additions that made this book intriguing. However, there were some aspects of the plot that didn’t feel properly developed in relation to the lore explained in the story. Luckily, the novel’s fast pace has the reader quickly moving past questionable events in order to keep up with the story. Without giving too much away, there was only one event that gave me pause because of its lack of alignment with the rules of the universe laid out by the author. Overall, the story was so enjoyable that murky plot points could easily be ignored.

As mentioned, this novel is gruesome, and the narrative includes gory descriptions of brutal killings. The book comes with an appropriate warning for readers. Moreover, for the most part, the gruesome scenes added to the story by showcasing the nature of the creatures at the forefront of the plot, and I didn’t feel as though the gore included in the narrative went beyond what is typically found in books of this genre. Nevertheless, readers should be wary if they have a weak stomach.

There was only one negative aspect of Darwish’s work: The narrative is in need of further editing. There were many errors throughout the text, mostly related to comma splices, tense disagreement, and incorrect or awkward word choice. The errors noted were not overly bothersome; however, they were noticeable. Due to the need for additional editing, I’m forced to give The Long Night: Blood Will be Served 3 out of 4 stars. After the errors are rectified, this book will be a standout in the genre. Fans of horror novels, especially those in the vampire universe, will enjoy Darwish’s fast-paced and unique tale.

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The Long Night
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Post by **kandscreeley** » 17 Dec 2019, 20:14

I'm glad the errors weren't too bothersome. It seems interesting. Who doesn't love a good vampire story? Thanks!

Anon_Reviewer · Post by **Anon_Reviewer** » 18 Dec 2019, 01:05

Glad to know that the book makes sense even without reading the first installment in the series. I'm not a fan of vampire books, especially ones with gory scenes. Great review. Thank you!

Stephanie Elizabeth · Post by **Stephanie Elizabeth** » 18 Dec 2019, 06:25

Although the premise sounds intriguing, I think I will skip it due to the gore and graphic scenes of killing. Thanks for the thorough review!

Sandra K Pearson · Post by **Sandra K Pearson** » 18 Dec 2019, 14:34

Gore doesn't really bother me so I can't wait to read this one. I'll have to read the first one before this though. I can't start a series in the middle. Nice review.

TommyKat46 · Post by **TommyKat46** » 19 Dec 2019, 08:14

The vampire topic has been so overused in the last few years, but this sounds like a refreshing take on an old topic. Alfred sounds like an excellent POV character, especially his humor amidst the dark descriptions of the novel. I look forward to giving this one a read

LauraLeeWasHere · Post by **LauraLeeWasHere** » 30 Dec 2019, 20:51

It's not my "weak stomach" but my strong Christianity that is keeping me from getting this book. However, when I saw it was you doing the review I had to come and read it. Please be flattered! You do a great job as a reviewer and I always enjoy reading what you've written, whether I decide to get the book or not.

Thanks for another job well done and for writing and sharing your knowledge.

Sincerely, LL

Erin Painter Baker · Post by **Erin Painter Baker** » 22 Jan 2020, 16:06

Not a huge fan of gruesome, but this does sound interesting. I like that the first-person narrative was really helpful to understanding the world and that the book can be read and enjoyed without having read the first book.