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From a New York Times bestselling nature writer comes a celebration of what goes on outside in the dark, from blooming moon gardens to nocturnal salamanders, from glowing foxfire and synchronous fireflies that blink in unison like an orchestra of light.

In this glorious celebration of the night, New York Times bestselling nature writer Leigh Ann Henion invites us to leave our well-lit homes, step outside, and embrace the dark as a profoundly beautiful part of the world we inhabit. Because no matter where we live, we are surrounded by animals that rise with the moon, and blooms that reveal themselves as light fades. Henion explores her home region of Appalachia, where she attends a synchronous firefly event in Tennessee, a bat outing in Alabama, and a moth festival in Ohio. In North Carolina, she finds forests alight with bioluminescent mushrooms, neighborhood trees full of screech owls, and valleys teeming with migratory salamanders. Along the way, Henion encounters naturalists, biologists, primitive-skills experts, and others who’ve dedicated their lives to cultivating relationships with darkness.

Every page of this lyrical book feels like an opportunity to ask: How did I not know about this before? For example, we learn that it can take hours, not minutes, for human eyes to reach full night vision capacity. And that there are thousands of firefly species on earth, many with flash patterns as unique as fingerprints. In an age of increasing artificial light, Night Magic focuses on the amazing biodiversity that still surrounds us after sunset. We do not need to stargaze into the distant cosmos or dive into the depths of oceans to find awe in the dark. There are dazzling wonders in our own backyards. And readers of World of Wonders, Entangled Life, and The Hidden Life of Trees will discover joy in Night Magic.

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"A dazzling reminder of what it means to take stock of our planet's night wisdom, and a prescient reminder to let your vision ripen at night. And if you do—you'll understand why we need more evenings full of foxfire and ‘mothapaloozas.’ In this vivid book, Henion renders our night world with profound care and discovery. Prepare to be enchanted. Prepare to love the darkness.”

Aimee Nezhukumatathil, New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders
“Night Magic is an illuminating exploration of the dark. Beautifully written, often moving, and full of wonder.”

Richard Louv, international bestselling author of Last Child in the Woods and Our Wild Calling
"Leigh Ann Henion has illuminated the natural treasures that live by night. Moths, fireflies, owls, and much more are brought to attention in these pages with the hope that we can put aside our fear of the dark and experience what happens during a full half of our stay on earth. Night Magic is a beautiful journey."
Douglas W. Tallamy, New York Times bestselling author of Nature’s Best Hope and Bringing Nature Home
“A thrilling exploration of a world that waits for us behind the lights.”

Tristan Gooley, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs and How to Read a Tree
“Brilliant. Leigh Ann Henion is an inspiring and wise guide not only to the biological marvels of night, but also to the communities of people who celebrate and protect the rich life of the dark. Beyond fear of the dark is wonder, vividly evoked in these pages.”
David George Haskell, author of Sounds Wild and Broken, The Songs of Trees, and The Forest Unseen
“Henion’s book, which seeks to ‘break the spell’ of fear of the dark, is a revelation, a series of captivating field trips illuminating life in the wild at night.”
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"The science intrigues . . . but Henion’s greatest gift is her ability to evoke the sense of wonder that follows from tuning in to the natural world. This will fill readers with awe."
Publishers Weekly
“Henion’s sweet, wise book . . . is a revelation. You’re likely to come away from Night Magic . . . educated and inspired. Henion writes often of human responses to darkness that allow us to recognize and reconsider it, and to embrace its tranquility and beauty.”
Minnesota Star Tribune
“In Night Magic, darkness is revered, and its secrets are revealed . . . Henion’s vivid style of nature writing and complementary self-reflection are reminders that witnessing the extraordinary can be as easy as shifting your bedtime back an hour and going outside.”
Scientific American
“Henion takes readers on a series of adventures exploring the natural world at night in a voice that seamlessly vacillates between storyteller and poet . . . After reading Night Magic you might find yourself viewing light pollution a little more disparagingly. And you might just experience a little more wonder in your everyday life.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Leigh Ann Henion revels in the glow of Appalachian fireflies, moon gardens, and bioluminescent fungi to show how nocturnal life is not something to fear, but to revere.”
Garden & Gun
“A nature lover’s guide to the dark that unfolds like a novel.”
The Christian Science Monitor

On Sale: Aug 26, 2025
Page Count: 336 pages
Publisher: Algonquin Books
ISBN-13: 9781643756202

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Leigh Ann Henion

About the Author

Leigh Ann Henion is the New York Times bestselling author of Phenomenal: A Hesitant Adventurer’s Search for Wonder in the Natural World. Her work has appeared in Smithsonian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, and a variety of other publications. Henion’s articles have been cited as notable in The Best American Essays, The Best American Travel Writing, The Best American Sports Writing, and The Best American Science & Nature Writing. She has received four Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, and her work has been supported by the Alicia Patterson Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Henion lives in the mountains of North Carolina.

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Leigh Ann Henion

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