Night For Day by Roselle Lim – a Review
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Description:
Exes Ward Dunbar and Camille Buhay thought they would never see each other again. They had broken up to pursue their dream jobs on opposite sides of the country—her to New York City, and him to Los Angeles. But years later, they unexpectedly reconnect in London, where they are interviewing for similar jobs. The spark they feel when they meet again—the attraction comes back like muscle memory, and they are reminded of what they had lost. When Ward and Camille discover they both got the job working opposing shifts, they vow to give their relationship another try.
Ward starts the day shift and finds the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling. When he clocks out at the end of the day, he finds the door locked and himself trapped in the building. After a horrific first night shift contending with restless spirits and ghosts, Camille is also unable to escape. In their respective prisons, they discover that they’re able to talk to each other a few minutes before dawn. This fleeting encounter incites longing for each other, but their promise to be together feels impossible. Because they are caught in the middle of a war of the gods—and their choices will determine the outcome.
Review:
Night for Day by Roselle Lim is an unusual and different kind of standalone fantasy novel. The story begins with an epic war between the Gods (Western and Eastern) that has been around for many years, and the gods decide to try using mortals to find a way to stop the war, which will continue until a resolution. We meet Camille Buhay and Ward Dunbar, who after breaking up their relationship two years ago, they both meet again in London, applying for jobs at the same company. Both Camille and Ward realize that they still love each other, and decide to resume their relationship. Ward applies for the day shift, and Camille applies for the night shift.
They meet their new bosses, with Camille becoming close to the elderly Mr. Samson; and Ward must deal with the testy and angry, Ms. Selene. Ward starts the day shift, enjoying seeing the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling; but when he clocks out at the end of the day, the door is locked, with him trapped in the building. During the night shift, Camille deals with gods and ghosts, and when she plans to leave, she too us unable to escape; with both of them trapped in an alternate reality, unable to leave. On occasion, they are able to communicate with each other, trying to solve whatever riddles need to be revealed, as they each have to choose the outcome.
Besides Samson and Selene, the constant visitors (beside Camille meeting ghosts), are gods, such as Mr. King, Theo, Din and Eryna. Both Camille and Ward, are not sure who to trust; especially with both of them rarely unable to communicate with each other. Ward likes and trusts Theo, with Din; and Camille slowly begins to trust Mr. King. When things get closer to the end, will they be able to solve the riddles and choose correctly on stopping the Gods war? There was a surprising twist at the end with the Gods voting.
Night for Day is wild, dangerous and magical alternate reality, with no escape; unless the gods can free them. Their journey is also about their love for each other, and finding a way to freedom. Night for Day was very well written by Roselle Lim. I will say this was an interesting fantasy, entirely different from any other book I have read.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
NIGHT FOR DAY by Roselle Lim
Ace Trade Paperback Original | February 20, 2024
Excerpt
Mistakes were meant to be in the rearview mirror-not walking, breathing, and able to cup your cheek to stoke every single smoldering memory long buried for self-preservation.
He shouldn’t whisper my name as if he never stopped doing so for the past two years.
Even now, my fingers itched to reacquaint myself with the beauty of his face, then to trace the slight cleft in his chin down his smooth throat, and ever farther down, to where our once shared intimacy implied permission and invitation.
“Camille, I never thought I’d see you again, let alone in London.” The way my name rolled off his tongue and slid through his lips always elicited the same response-it felt like a hot kiss at the nape of my neck.
Ward Dunbar. The mistake I’d commit again and again even knowing that the result would always be heartbreak.
“Job interview. If I get it, I’ll be moving here.” I adjusted the neckline of my buttoned dress shirt, expanding the view of bronzed skin below my collarbones. My traitorous body always reacted to him when he was in physical proximity. Easier to shut down my hormones through the sterility of a black glass screen.
He brushed an errant dark blond strand off his forehead. “I’m here for the same. Though I’ve passed the interview part.”
The skies overhead darkened-clusters of gray clouds huddling together in conference. It had been sunny five minutes ago. Late spring weather in London changed on a whim with wicked fickleness, and we were sliding into the heat of summer. I packed an umbrella and a cardigan in my lavender vegan leather tote, but I didn’t account for him. My purse didn’t contain what I’d need to cope with the nuclear fallout of a failed relationship.
Avoidance therapy was the only method that worked. Putting thousands of miles between us and preventing myself from checking his social media accounts fueled a comfortable sense of forgetfulness-the kind that allowed me to function on a daily basis, but didn’t prevent an occasional damaging slipup. It didn’t hurt that he hadn’t had any long-term relationships since then. Moving to Manhattan helped, and London should have cured me completely.
I was wrong.
Two days ago, I slipped and checked his Instagram. The selfie at an outdoor bookstall on the South Bank caused me to stop breathing for a few seconds. He was here and in the same city. I wasn’t thinking when I sent him a direct message asking to meet at this bookshop. It was pure instinct-I turned off my brain and my heart took over, grabbing the wheel and changing the direction of my life.
“I never thought you’d leave LA.” I resisted the urge to straighten the bent corner of his collar. No tie. I’d been the one responsible for those. His long, elegant fingers had other talents.
“I needed a change. This opportunity was as good a time as any.” He tipped his head toward the bookshop. “It’s going to rain. Can we duck in and chat?”
I followed him into one of the most beautiful little shops in Westminster. These buildings reminded me of an eclectic bookshelf-the windows and architectural details were charming, decorated spines of antique leather. Weathered stone, traditional painted wooden signs mixed with flashy modern ones and clean-line aesthetics. The mix of old and new fitting together in seamless coexistence.
To me, the past and present were constantly at war when I thought about Ward.
As if on cue, the curtain of rain began as he stepped into the shop. I caught a bit of it at the ends of my long hair and the back of my shirt. Again, I was reminded of what I’d be getting into if I decided to have another round in his bed-because that was where it always began.
He headed for the science fiction and fantasy section. He plucked the newest N. K. Jemisin novel from the shelf, tucked it under his arm, and continued to browse the titles, tracing his finger downward on the ones that perked his interest.
“So how does this affect your job in LA?” I took a step forward but maintained a safe distance. The scent of his subtle cologne along with the aroma of Irish cream coffee would undo my crumbling defenses. “Are you on sabbatical?”
Ward’s cushy position at a very exclusive and trendy art gallery in LA was everything he ever wished for-flexible hours, the heavy array of movie stars and wealthy client meetings, and the perfect conduit to maximize his appeal. No one was impervious. He disarmed you with his good looks and gentle tone, then went in for the kill with the way he could make you feel. Empathy combined with charm was lethal.
“I quit.”
I almost fell against a nearby bookcase. “You did what?”
“It’s . . . I needed a change.” He reached for my elbow to help me regain my balance. The heat of his touch distracted me. “I accepted a job yesterday and I start tomorrow. Now knowing that you’re here, I’d say it’s a great move.”
Ward didn’t let go yet. The worst part was that I didn’t want him to.
Excerpted from Night for Day by Roselle Lim Copyright © 2024 by Roselle Lim. Excerpted by permission of Ace. All rights reserved
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