Stephan Bachmann’s A Drop of Night is a standalone novel.
Dear Candidate: A subterranean palace dating back to the time of the French Revolution has recently been unearthed. As a way of investing in our youth, we are assembling a team of gifted and talented teenagers to participate in uncovering the archeological site. After extensive background checks and recommendations, we have deemed that you are a worthy applicant. If you would like information, please complete the enclosed questionnaire and return it to our office. We implore you to apply and hope to welcome you to the team. The Sapani Corporation
This is a paraphrased version of the letter, rich girl Anouk Geneviève van Rojier-Peerenboom received unannounced. Like any teenager, she jumped at the chance to do something no one has done before, and was ecstatic when she received her acceptance letter. But things aren’t as they seem, and all the teens soon find themselves trapped in a sinister labyrinth of mystery and deceit.
Anouk is a great lead. This gloomy, I-hate-everything teenager comes into the book with a glower, glaring at all her new teammates and fitting almost every teenage stereotype. Thankfully, her gloom is coupled with an inquisitive mind and sarcastic sense of humor. She quickly points out some of the oddities of her situation and remains relatively self-aware throughout the majority of the book. But there is more to this stereotypical sarcastic teenager than dark quips and glowers, she also enters the story with her own emotional baggage. As she endures extreme mental and physical trials in this book, Anouk is forced to face her inner demons and rely on the people around her.
A Drop of Night is a surprisingly good read. I went into this book expecting a boring contemporary adventure with childish drama and an agonizing plot. Instead, I was greeted with a pleasant story combining science fiction, historical fantasy, mystery and horror into a heart-pounding thriller.
The book lures you in with a slow exposition before kicking the pacing to high gear and never slowing down. The plot raced through creepy corridors, only stopping for the occasional bonding and character development. Unfortunately, not all characters are dimensional enough to be worth exploring.
Many of the teenagers we meet are relatively flat with few unique traits, and the attempt to flesh out these characters took away time away from the more interesting side characters. While the teenagers may be flat, they remain lovable and easy to attach to.
The book tells two stories in parallel. One story follows Anouk as she explores the alluring yet dangerous Palais du Papillion with the other recruited teenagers. The other story follows French aristocrat Aurelie du Bessancourt as she reveals the secrets and horrors of the hidden palace. Both stories are integral to exploring the mysterious subterranean palace and provide nonstop action to keep the plot moving.