The Night Diver

Ever since the beginning, I have always been drawn to scriptures and legends about the end times, and really any sort of religious lore that just sounds metal. I had a childhood where I learned about angels, demons, and wars of epic proportions that could only exist in imagination. Then there would be all the stories about Judgment Day, where there would be one final confrontation between Good and Evil. While terrifying to really think about, it also was such a surreal possibility, that I wanted to see more. ‘Between Two Fires’ by Christopher Buehlman brings that kind of reality to life once again, with terrifying creatures and a compelling cast of characters that I was eager to travel along in this journey.

The first thing I’d like to highlight is the absolutely inspired setting Buehlman chose for this story. It takes in France, during the Black Death. Things are already quite bleak, as illness has been spreading alongside roving bands of thieves and brigands ready to pounce at any person unlucky enough to cross them. The world here is absolutely ripe for Armageddon, and that is exactly what follows. The story is kicked into high gear when Lucifer and his demonic legions realize that God is not quite present in Heaven, leaving the Earth ready for an all out attack. The resulting attacks are downright terrifying, really capturing just how horrific these Biblical monstrosities can be at the height of their power. One part of the story that really stuck with me was the presence of a castle filled demons, running tournaments at night during the Armageddon, just so they can torture people before feasting on them at the end. There is that, and much more to experience in this Hell on Earth. Among all this, we have our three main characters, humans with their own interesting stories that are forced to survive.

This brings me to the next aspect of the story that also makes it shine even with its dark and brooding demeanor. The characters are an absolute delight to follow along in this chaotic hellscape, each with their own rich personalities that kept me reading. I absolutely enjoyed following along as Thomas, a French Knight turned Brigand who is on a quest for revenge. He is crass and violent, but also possesses a righteous heart under his jaded personality. There is also the Priest, Pere Mathieu, who is dogged by his own fatal flaws and sins, but still tries to do what good he can in an unraveling world. Finally, there is a young girl saved by Thomas who is guided by mysterious visions, and becomes the impetus for the main cast to go on their journey to Avignon. All of these characters shine on their own, and as a group, which speaks to the masterful writing Buehlman has done in this story. Once I was committed to these characters, I could not put this book down until the end. The story has it all: Characters, scares, and even humor. All of it is strung together in a chilling, yet also beautiful tapestry that has stayed in my mind for long after finishing the book. I encourage anyone who is interested in Horror and epic stories, to give this book a try. If heavy violence is not a deal-breaker for you, go out and grab this book, because you will not forget it.

My final rating for this book is a divine 5/5 stars