The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko {Book Review}

This is another one of my favourites from 2021!

I’ve watched the movies, The Night Watch and The Day Watch, in the original form as well as the dubbed ones, and I still can’t get enough of them.

While browsing around in my local second-hand bookstore, I came across a copy of The Night Watch and had to buy it, because judging by the amount of pages, there was definitely going to be a lot more detail that didn’t make it into the movie.

The books were originally written in Russian, and I’m not a fan of translated books as meanings and context is sometimes lost, but this book brought it all as it should be.

The book and movie differs in many ways, which was a little disappointing but understanding when you’re working with limits and need to change a few things and still keep to the storyline. That being said, I can’t decide which I like more: the book or the movie version.

DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

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Plot:

Anton is a young Other, a possessor of supernatural powers.

Others are able to enter the Twilight, a gloomy parallel world existing next to ours, and each Other owes allegiance to either the Dark or the Light.

Anton’s allegiance lies with the Light, and as a Night Watch he patrols the streets and metro of the city, protecting the citizens from the magicians and the vampires of the Dark.

When he crosses paths with Svetlana, he discovers she is burdened with a powerful curse. He also ends up saving an unformed Other, Egor, from vampires and finds himself entangled in events that threaten the truce between the Light and the Dark.

Thoughts:

The book is divided into three parts to show the intensity of transitions in the plot.

There is a lot of detail hidden from the reader and written as a riddle which is part frustrating, part motivating to continue reading.

Anton’s inner battle is clear as he’s faced with complex decisions between choosing The Light or The Dark, and the consequences that he faces from either decision. Moral value is high with decision making, and Anton is both parts maker of his own destiny as well as trapped inside it.

Svetlana, on the other hand, is shallow and rigid, at times completely emotionless, and was a little disappointing for a character with such an important role in the book, especially to the plot. Still, her discovery of her abilities and what they mean was great.

I just have to leave a mention for Olya. Even though she didn’t appear as much as I wish she had, she’s a total badass! I loved her character, dry humor and wittiness and I believe she deserves a standalone book to explain where she came from and write her whole story.

Overview:

The Night Watch is an original story with interesting concepts and paranormal beings, as well as fascinating characters to love or hate.

On a deeper level, the book challenges the moral values we have, how far we can go to bend them and how our decisions have consequences; good and bad.