Waiting for the Night Song

by Julie Carrick Dalton

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Waiting for the Night Song in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Julie Carrick Dalton's debut novel, Waiting for the Night Song, is a shockingly powerful and intense read, one that will pull you in right from the first page.

Cadie Kessler is obsessed with woods and nature – an irony, giving how one set of woods still haunts her to this day. No matter how much time has passed, the events of her childhood never feel all that far behind.

Especially not after getting a phone call from her old friend, Daniela. She's needed back at home, as the one thing they feared more than anything has finally come to the surface. Now, Cadie's career as a forestry researcher may be in jeopardy.

“Exactly my point. People are already dying in these fires. If we can prove they're linked to the beetles, we can get the resources to get ahead of them”

Wow. Can I just say that Waiting for the Night Song seriously blew me away? I ended up staying up way too late last night in order to finish it. And let me tell you – it was worth it! Add this to the list of amazing debut novels available!

Waiting for the Night Song is an intriguing blend of genres, being one part contemporary fiction, one part mystery, and one part drama. Together they make for a complete – and totally thrilling – read. One that I'm very glad to not have missed out on.

Cadie's story is revealed over the course of the novel, which bounces back and forth between two timelines. Her past – the events that haunt her so – and the present. This allowed for a building of tension, while also having plenty of time to get to know all of the important characters. It was wonderfully done. Then again, I tend to enjoy this format of storytelling, so I'm not at all surprised.

Dalton's writing is lush and descriptive, laying out a world that is easy to imagine and get lost in. The inclusion of real world concerns helped to set the tone, but it didn't take away anything from the fictional side of things. If anything, it further enhanced those plots.

On that note, I do love that Dalton didn't shy away from talking about the environment, global warming, the current political climate, and more. She was careful with how everything was portrayed, and yet there's little doubt about the moral core of Waiting for the Night Song.

If you're looking for a genre-defying novel that dives into the world of love, racism, friendships, and secrets, then Waiting for the Night Song is the perfect novel for you.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks