Review: Night Owls
Night Owls
by A.R. Vishny
HarperTeen (imprint of HarperCollins), 2024
Category: Young Adult
Reviewer: Kathryn Hall
Buy at Bookshop.org
I am not usually a fan of horror or vampire culture. I have not read or viewed any of the Twilight or Buffy series, as drinking blood seems unhygienic and inadequately nutritious as a sole food source as well as socially disadvantageous, but A.R. Vishny’s skillful writing won me over completely to Night Owls, if not vampirism. I was not aware of the legends of Jewish vampires dating back nearly a millennium. Vishny has done her homework researching estries, the shape-shifting female Jewish owl-demons that are the main characters of this very enjoyable book. The setting is New York City, the plot moves briskly with plenty of romance (both straight and Sapphic), cinematic references, humor, magic, suspense, and just a hint of horror. I highly recommend this for all middle grade and young adult and adult readers, not just vampire aficionados.
The Jewish content is pervasive in Night Owls, mainly Ashkenazi, but some of the characters are Sephardic. Jewish demons abound and Jewish culture and history are essential parts of the story. This will expand the reader’s understanding of the Jewish experience, and it remains completely accessible to the non-Jewish reader. I would consider it a very strong contender for the Sydney Taylor award.
I am not usually a fan of horror or vampire culture. I have not read or viewed any of the Twilight or Buffy series, as drinking blood seems unhygienic and inadequately nutritious as a sole food source as well as socially disadvantageous, but A.R. Vishny’s skillful writing won me over completely to Night Owls, if not vampirism. I was not aware of the legends of Jewish vampires dating back nearly a millennium. Vishny has done her homework researching estries, the shape-shifting female Jewish owl-demons that are the main characters of this very enjoyable book. The setting is New York City, the plot moves briskly with plenty of romance (both straight and Sapphic), cinematic references, humor, magic, suspense, and just a hint of horror. I highly recommend this for all middle grade and young adult and adult readers, not just vampire aficionados.
The Jewish content is pervasive in Night Owls, mainly Ashkenazi, but some of the characters are Sephardic. Jewish demons abound and Jewish culture and history are essential parts of the story. This will expand the reader’s understanding of the Jewish experience, and it remains completely accessible to the non-Jewish reader. I would consider it a very strong contender for the Sydney Taylor award.
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