The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt science fiction and fantasy book and audiobook reviewsThe Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt science fiction and fantasy book and audiobook reviewsThe Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt

Deborah Hewitt’s The Nightjar (2019) is one of those debut novels that in many ways feels like a first novel, with all the issues that may conjure up, but that despite those issues leaves you eager to see where the author goes with her next novel.

Hewitt starts off with a gripping, chilling prologue, then shifts to present-time London where Alice Wyndham receives an odd gift that precipitates her being flung into a long-running conflict between a species of people with special abilities, most of whom live in an alternate near-copy 1930’s-style London (called The Rookery), and a secret society (unfortunately known as the Beaks) who seeks to destroy them. There’s also a death-cult trying to instigate a world-ending apocalypse thrown into the mix for good measure. Alice herself, she learns, is one of those who can perform “magic.” More precisely, she is an extremely rare “aviarist,” one who can see people’s nightjars — birds that guard as well as reflect each person’s soul and then depart upon that person’s death. Alice’s introduction to all this comes via the mysterious Crowley, who takes her off to the Rookery ostensibly for her protection, but his full motives are unclear.

Deborah Hewitt

Deborah Hewitt

There’s a lot to like in The Nightjar. Hewitt’s prose is fluid, engaging, and often lush, particularly in her description of the Rookery. The world-building isn’t so much detailed (though it is that in places) as much as efficiently rich and easy to revel in, whether it’s the background of the Rookery, the magical powers, or the description of the land of the dead. The nightjars are a bit reminiscent of Philip Pullman’s daemons, but not so much that one would call them derivative. Hewitt mostly shows a deft hand with pacing, as the story moves along quickly and smoothly, though I wouldn’t have minded a few more quiet moments and the ending does feel a bit rushed.

The positives are somewhat (not totally) balanced out by several negatives. The potential romance between Crowley and Alice feels pretty perfunctory, and had it been completely dropped I don’t think it would have had any negative impact on the story. Side characters have potential, but we only get a tease from them and then no further development, even though several (especially one with a traumatic event in her past) are rich for mining. The villains are particularly weak and two-dimensional. Some plot lines basically disappear. And while Alice is a likable enough main character, she does fall too much into a pattern of choosing the worst, most impulsive action, seemingly more to drive the plot than anything else. Seeing her learn a bit from past errors would have strengthened her development.

The issues aren’t minor ones, but on balance they’re outweighed by the many strengths, particularly the imaginative content and the writing style. The Nightjar is a solid enough book, but as noted at the top, I’m definitely interested in seeing what Hewitt does with a bit more experience behind her.

Published in September 2019. The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt is a stunning contemporary fantasy debut about another London, a magical world hidden behind the bustling modern city we know. Alice Wyndham has been plagued by visions of birds her whole life…until the mysterious Crowley reveals that Alice is an ‘aviarist’: capable of seeing nightjars, magical birds that guard human souls. When her best friend is hit by a car, only Alice can find and save her nightjar. With Crowley’s help, Alice travels to the Rookery, a hidden, magical alternate London to hone her newfound talents. But a faction intent on annihilating magic users will stop at nothing to destroy the new aviarist. And is Crowley really working with her, or against her? Alice must risk everything to save her best friend―and uncover the strange truth about herself.

Author

  • Bill Capossere

    BILL CAPOSSERE, who's been with us since June 2007, lives in Rochester NY, where he is an English adjunct by day and a writer by night. His essays and stories have appeared in Colorado Review, Rosebud, Alaska Quarterly, and other literary journals, along with a few anthologies, and been recognized in the "Notable Essays" section of Best American Essays. His children's work has appeared in several magazines, while his plays have been given stage readings at GEVA Theatre and Bristol Valley Playhouse. When he's not writing, reading, reviewing, or teaching, he can usually be found with his wife and son on the frisbee golf course or the ultimate frisbee field.