book

Down Comes the Night

Name: Down Comes the Night
Author: Allison Saft

Allison Saft · 2021

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include LGBTQIA characters, Romance, Death of a character; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to teens because of gothic suspense, wartime and political violence, death, grief, illness, and emotionally intense romance; sexual content is non-explicit and the prose is YA-level. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

LGBTQIA characters4/5
Romance4/5
Death of a character3/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience4/5
Creativity & curiosity4/5
Diverse representation3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5

Why this rating?

Characters die as a result of illness, war, and conflict. The emotional weight of loss is a recurring theme.

Graphic injury2/5

Why this rating?

Describes medical injuries and the results of violence, but stops short of gratuitous detail.

Strong language2/5

Why this rating?

Occasional mild profanity appropriate for the genre and target audience.

LGBTQIA characters4/5

Why this rating?

Queer identities and a central same-gender romance are integral to the main characters and plot, making LGBTQIA representation prominent rather than incidental.

Religious themes1/5

Why this rating?

Includes world-building elements related to belief systems and magical superstition, but not organized religion.

Romance4/5

Why this rating?

The sapphic romance is central, developing through attraction, emotional intimacy, trust, and some kissing.

Frightening scenes3/5

Why this rating?

Gothic isolation, supernatural threats, illness and danger create sustained suspense and peril, but the tone is more atmospheric fantasy than graphic or terrifying horror.

Sexual content & nudity1/5

Why this rating?

Contains brief romantic instances and physical closeness, but no explicit sexual content.

Alcohol or drugs1/5

Why this rating?

Social consumption of alcohol in tavern or high-society settings; not a central focus.

Violence3/5

Why this rating?

Includes fantasy combat, sword fights, and magical attacks. Some scenes of battle and physical confrontation are described.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5

Why this rating?

High emphasis on characters facing significant personal and physical threats to protect others.

Creativity & curiosity4/5

Why this rating?

Features imaginative magical systems and complex world-building.

Diverse representation3/5

Why this rating?

Includes diverse character representation in terms of identity and background.

Educational value1/5

Why this rating?

Incidental lessons in empathy and critical thinking regarding political propaganda.

Kindness & empathy3/5

Why this rating?

The protagonist's core motivation is healing, emphasizing empathy even toward adversaries.

Positive messages3/5

Why this rating?

Explores themes of moral gray areas, the cost of loyalty, and the pursuit of individual agency.

Good role models3/5

Why this rating?

Protagonists show growth, though they occasionally make flawed or rash decisions throughout the conflict.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
How are identity and relationships presented, and how do they shape the characters’ experiences?
Which choice in Down Comes the Night would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in Down Comes the Night, and what caused that change?

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