Face the Night

By: Lani Forbes

Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez

On a harsh frontier where good and evil contend for people’s minds, a young woman must fight for her true identity in this scintillating YA fantasy from the author of the award-winning Age of the Seventh Sun trilogy.

Once, Catriona Macgregor led a charmed life. Daughter of a wealthy rancher, pretty and educated, she looked forward to all the world had to offer—until fate took a turn. Now family, home, and even her name have been stripped away. As “Black Cat Whitfield,” adopted daughter of an outlaw, she’s wanted by the authorities. It certainly wasn’t the destiny she imagined—especially as one of the Blessed.

The Blessed, rare people like Cat, are supposed to use their gifts to carry out missions for the Patron Saints, but she can only imagine that Saint Prudentia made a terrible mistake in choosing her. Still, her gift has never deserted her. Whenever danger threatens, Cat receives a vision—just in time to save her life. And when she meets a renegade priest, Father Ignatius, he helps her understand how her ability may be part of a much bigger picture. A picture that involves facing up to the monstrous Baron Caldwell—the one who ordered her parents killed—and his son, Adrian, who betrayed them all.

Cat is torn between guilt over her parents’ deaths, a longing for vengeance against their killers, and a dismaying new interest in Adrian. It would be easiest to flee the whole situation and never look back. But as someone once told her, you can’t outrun the darkness on your heels. There’s only one way to break through to sunrise—by turning to face the night.

©2023 Kevin Forbes (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Great story

Took me several chapters as all the background came together, then suddenly the moment happened where you are gripped and keep wanting to listen more. Lani was an amazing writer who is missed.

Fast-Paced and Riveting: A Story of Fear and Hope

"Face the night. Run through it. Catch the sun on the other side." (Amos, The Wolf of the West.

This action-packed and suspenseful story has everything I crave in a book: complex characterization, a riveting plot and beautiful themes explored in compelling ways. Face the Night is just such a novel. I was unacquainted with this author's work but heard of her when I discovered a charity anthology of stories by authors that honored Forbes's work. I have yet to read the charity anthology because I wanted to become acquainted with the author's writings first. Face the Night is a standalone story, (a fact I always appreciate), and what a beautiful story it is!

Catriona McGregor is a wanted woman. Constantly on the run from a harrowing past and from the ruthless baron who murdered her parents, she has joined a band of outlaws called the Wolves. However, when her adopted father figure is threatened, and the Wolves must run for their lives, Cat finds refuge in a mission and meets Father Ignatious, a priest who reveals that there is much at stake and many lives that hang in the balance. Now, Cat must confront the Caldwell family and find a way to stop a treacherous plan from unfolding. Can she find the courage to claim what is rightfully hers and also face the young man who betrayed her so many years ago? What is Baron Caldwell truly planning, and is more sinister work afoot?

I absolutely loved the characters in Face the Night. Catriona has the right amount of snark and vulnerability to endear me to her heart. I also loved Adrien Caldwell, who is tormented by his past and longs to prove that he is not his father. I especially loved Edith Caldwell. The little girl is so precious, and she has just the right amount of mischief and vulnerability to make me root for her. One of my favorite scenes involved Cat introducing Edith to a horse named Almond. Forbes does a superb job of exploring childhood trauma and the need to face fears, and that scene was particularly moving. I wanted to reach into the book and give Edith a hug. The supporting characters, especially Father Ignatious and Amos, were delightful.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to determine the true plans of Baron Caldwell. I also loved cheering for Cat as she grew throughout the story. The climax was wonderful and had a delightful twist that I did not see coming.

Stacy Gonzalez's narration was lively and very engaging. Admittedly, it took a few chapters for her rather overdramatic style to grow on me, but her voice suited the story well. I particularly loved her portrayals of Edith and Father Ignatious. She did well at bringing the scenes to life.

I thoroughly recommend this page-turner. Western fantasy is not my usual fare, but this novel is well worth your time. I could not put it down. Read Face the NIght to discover a beautiful story of determination, self-discovery and redemption. If you enjoy books like True Grit or authors such as Terry Brooks, Frank Herbert or Jill Williamson, then Face the NIght might just be the story for which you have been searching.
Happy listening, and God bless you all.