[Book Review] Something from the Nightside

[chroniclesofabookworm]

BY: Simon R. Green
SERIES: Nightside (#1)
RATING: 2 out 5
RELEASES: May 27, 2003 by Ace
GENRE: Urban fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary fantasy
AGE RANGE: Adult
SYNOPSIS: John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.




REVIEW: Although John Taylor is not a private detective, he has a knack for finding lost items. Because of that, He has been hired to venture into the Nightside in the center of London, an otherworldly realm in which fantasy and reality share space and the sun never shines.

I found Something from the Nightside to be a decent read. The story starts out promising: a detective with a knack for finding things must locate a wealthy lady's daughter who's gone missing. There is only one thing the woman knows about her daughter in the Nightside: that she is there. It is he who is best suited for the job.

The biggest problem I have with Nightside is that I dislike the descriptions. The author tried a little too hard to make it the worst place to be. How can a book about the Underworld be as monotonously uninteresting as this one? This story surprised me because I had never imagined such a feat was possible.

In this book, everything is one-dimensional, even John Taylor himself. He lacks depth, and his character development feels stagnant. The supporting characters are equally flat, making it difficult to connect with or care about their actions. This lack of complexity diminishes the overall impact of the story and leaves readers wanting more substance.
The Nightside, with its perpetual darkness and blend of fantasy and reality, should have provided a rich backdrop for an engaging narrative.

However, the setting's potential is underutilized, as it merely serves as a generic backdrop rather than a dynamic force driving the plot. As a result, the story loses the opportunity to explore the intriguing interplay between its characters and the unique environment they inhabit, ultimately leaving the narrative feeling hollow and uninspired.


Overall, the lack of depth in both the characters and the setting undermines the story's potential, leaving it unfulfilling and forgettable.