North Is the Night

The Tuonela Duet, Book 1

By: Emily Rath

Narrated by: Khaya Fraites, Emily Lawrence

YOU’RE MINE IN LIFE AND DEATH—BODY AND SOUL.

In the depths of the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark woods.

When a death goddess attacks their village, best friends Siiri and Aina prove helpless to stop her from dragging Aina into Tuonela, the mythical underworld.

Determined to save her beloved Aina, Siiri braves a dangerous journey north, seeking help from the greatest shaman of legend—the only person ever to venture into Tuonela and return alive. There’s only one problem … the stories say he’s dead.

In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But Aina soon learns that the God of Death himself has plans for her.

To escape, she strikes a costly bargain with him, not knowing that Siiri plots a daring rescue.

In this sweeping fantasy adventure—perfect for fans of Adrienne Young and Genevieve Gornichec—hope and love must conquer even death itself.

“Rich, vivid, and brimming with emotion, North is the Night pays touching homage to Finnish culture and mythology while forging a unique path all its own. … You will weep and cheer for Siiri and Aina as they find their strength and claim their power.”—Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

©2025 Emily Rath (P)2024 Recorded Books

Finnish Mythology Never Looked This Fierce

My Review:
4.5 ⭐️ .5 🌶️

North is the Night by Emily Rath is a dark fantasy masterpiece steeped in Finnish mythology. When Aina gets kidnapped by a death goddess, her bestie Siiri grabs her metaphorical sword and says, “Not on my watch,” kicking off a rescue mission through icy forests, legendary shamans, and scheming gods to save her.

The story alternates between Siiri’s badass quest and Aina’s clever survival in the underworld, with sapphic vibes simmering just beneath the surface. Rath’s lush prose brings snow-laden landscapes and eerie mythological realms vividly to life, while her characters leap off the page. Siiri’s fiery determination and Aina’s quiet strength are equally captivating, and their allies—like a goddess of disease and a mystical bear—add depth to the tale.

Packed with twists, mythical chaos, and a mystical bear you’ll want as a pet, this book grabs you by the parka and doesn’t let go. Richly atmospheric and packed with heart-pounding twists, this book is perfect for fans of folklore-driven fantasies. It’s gripping, immersive, and engaging. I can’t wait for the sequel—this duology is destined to be a classic.

It could have been so much more!

I wanted to like it. I liked parts of it. Maybe it’s best to break it down to pros and cons?
Pros:
I liked Aina’s character development. Meek fisherwoman to Goddess? Hell yeah I’m on board.
I liked Tuonela, the story of it, and all the characters in it.
I liked Tuoni and feel like he was done dirty. I also feel like Aina seriously screwed him over.

Cons:
I found pretty much everything in the land of the living, including Siiri’s journey to find the Shaman, to be extremely dull compared to the world building and vibrancy of Tuonela.
I really dislike how Aina signed up to tie her life to Tuoni in order to free him and bring order back to Tuonela, but within days of them getting married, she is begging to be let go and is plotting an escape. Not cool, lady.
I just couldn’t get into the relationship of Aina and Siiri. Maybe because they just didn’t have that much dialog? Aina and Tuoni had heat!
I also thought this book should have either been edited down a bit, or expanded to explain more of the Finnish lore. I honestly can’t tell which I would prefer? I just know where the book landed in final print didn’t hit right for me.

As for the performance? The narrator for Siiri started out rough, with odd timing and clunky cadence. She smoothed out, but it was distracting.

Fantastic narration!

I love this book so much, like so much. Emily rath knocks it out again.

Audible to the rescue

The audiobook helped me get through this book. I find if I can’t pronounce names, it’s difficult for me to immerse myself into the story. Very good listen!

Familiar

It was great to learn of the Finnish folklore, mythology, and earliest tales through Siiri and Aina. The plot was predictable but the journey toward its conclusion was as adventurous as it was satisfying. I look forward to the next book.