Nightbooks

The ending of “Nightbooks” reveals that Natacha, the witch, is actually the girl known as Unicorn Girl, who originally was trapped by a much more sinister witch that fed on children. Natacha had managed to escape her captor by poisoning her, but she eventually returned to her land, only to find her parents had abandoned her. In her attempt to survive, she imprisoned the original evil witch, using her magic and stories of fear to keep her in a magical sleep. Natacha’s captivity of children, talented storytellers like Alex and Yazmin, was driven by her need for stories of suffering and darkness to maintain her own power and keep the evil witch beneath her personified in her magical apartment.

In the climax, Alex, who had not written new stories for the night, narrates his own life story instead, highlighting his unique, “extraordinary” nature rather than an unhappy ending. This change sparks Natacha’s awakening, as her magic relies on stories of gloom and despair. When she wakes, she initially seeks vengeance, but Yazmin uses a magical mist to temporarily absorb Natacha’s powers. With her strength diminished, the children find and reveal a hidden exit, escaping the apartment and returning to the real world.

Their escape is almost thwarted when Natacha chases after them, but Alex cleverly distracts her with a fabricated story and pushes her into her own magic boiler, where she is burned to ashes. Afterward, Alex and Yazmin reunite with their families and promise to support each other going forward. However, the ending hints at a darker possibility: the remnants of Natacha’s magic or her doll-like body parts are shown trembling at the end, suggesting she might still have the potential to revive and seek revenge, leaving open the idea of a possible sequel. This haunting ending underscores that while the children escape physical captivity, Natacha’s malice and power might not be entirely gone, leaving a suspenseful doubt about her final fate.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58