As someone who has read fantasy and sci-fi for more years than I remember, I can be quite hard to please. Nightlight was recommended to me as a great debut novel and I totally agree with that description. The characters have depth and complexity and I like the way that Nicola Thomas, evolves them as the book progresses, providing fresh insights which augment and enhance the story. This isn’t a straightforward novel; Nicola Thomas introduces us to a world within our world which is believable and tangible, provides challenges to our philosophies around the graduations of right and wrong, along with insights into the insecurities and conflicts abounding within her characters whether the good, not so good or the downright evil. There is humour in this book from ‘ironic’ and ‘sardonic’ to ‘laugh out loud’, this is neatly juxtaposed with a palpable, pervading sense of ‘malevolence’ and ‘macabre’. The heroine is surrounded by unearthly forces for good and evil and the book takes us through her journey, her insecurities, her growth as a woman and her innate strength for what is right. You cannot help but be drawn to her and to root for her as the story develops. I particularly like the way the author developed our understanding of her world, the factions, the conflicts, the forces at work as the story progresses rather than presenting it all at once. Without realising it, I found myself absorbed in the book and when it reached its crescendo, at the end, I was left with, “Wow!” followed quickly by “what’s next”, and “when is the next book out?”…. Well done Nicola Thomas, a great debut novel.