A Night at Cana - Comic Game
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Investigative Comic Game · MS Edizioni · 4 awards won
Una Notte da Cana (A Dog's Night)
"Ares is gone. Snow falls on Piozzano. You are Lucy. And the night has just begun."
What it's about
A detective comic where every panel hides a choice
Una Notte da Cana is Stefano Tartarotti's second comic-game, a sequel to the award-winning Un Giorno da Cana. An investigative mystery where the reader takes on the role of Lucy, the little dog who must find out who kidnapped Ares — the neighbors' dog — during a winter night in Piozzano.
It reads like a comic, it plays like a gamebook. 186 comic paragraphs, choices hidden between panels, clues to collect on the Dog Notes (the game sheet integrated into the book), a mysterious castle full of suspects, a millennial elephant, a heron with extraordinary powers. And a culprit to unmask.
Stefano Tartarotti worked on this book for almost a year. It shows on every page: full-color illustrations, hardcover, sewn binding, ribbon bookmark. It's a beautiful object even before it's a game. And inside it hides easter eggs, mini-games, online surprises.
The secret of Una Notte da Cana
You don't just read it. You live it. Lucy isn't a character you observe — she's the perspective from which you sniff out the world, panel after panel.
The Reading Experience
Every re-read reveals something new. A detail in a panel, a dialogue that changes, an ending you hadn't seen. That's why you re-read it.
Why you keep coming back
Four readers, one Lucy
Who this comic-game is really for
Una Notte da Cana works differently depending on who opens it. Here are the four audiences looking for it — and what each truly finds inside.
If you're looking for a different gift
For a child, a grandchild, a teenager who loves to read but is tired of the usual books. It's a real comic, with an engaging investigative story, that turns into a game without requiring dice, apps, or tables. A pencil is more than enough.
If you love classic gamebooks
You grew up with Lone Wolf, Fighting Fantasy, the numbered choices of the '80s. Una Notte da Cana is the contemporary continuation of that tradition — but in comic form, with modern design, two reading modes, and replayability that honors the genre.
If you read graphic novels
You're not from the gamebook world but you love comics. Here you'll find first and foremost a beautiful comic — almost 180 full-color pages by Tartarotti — and then you'll discover that choices really do change the story. The game doesn't disturb the reading, it enhances it.
If you've already read Un Giorno da Cana
Lucy returns, but the design has changed. The adventure is less linear, there's a real culprit to discover, there are mandatory clues to collect to unlock the endings. It's more challenging than the first — and therefore more rewarding. It works perfectly even if you haven't read the predecessor.
Una Notte da Cana — Comic Game
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on full reading, book design, and game mechanicsTwo ways to read the same book
The two reading modes
Una Notte da Cana is designed to be read twice. The same story, two different experiences — designed for beginners and for those who want a real challenge.
Relaxed Mode
You explore at leisure, with no time limits. Ideal for a first read, for younger children, for those who have never read a comic-game and want to understand how it works. You reach a satisfactory ending even if you make a few wrong choices.
- No timer, no pressure
- Time to examine every panel
- Errors without penalty
Timed Mode
The hourglasses run, every choice consumes precious minutes. A true investigative challenge even for experienced readers — there's a risk of game over if you waste time. Designed for a second or third re-read, when you already know the narrative map.
- Time management as a mechanic
- Meaningful choices, real consequences
- Possible game overs
What you'll find inside the book
Four elements that make a difference
186 comic paragraphs
Each paragraph is a panel or a sequence illustrated in color. Choices are hidden in the panel numbers, in the details of the drawing, or in the textual options. You explore with your eyes, even before with your pencil.
The Dog Notes
The game sheet is integrated into the book itself. Checkmarks, paragraph numbers, collected clues — everything is noted there. It's the mechanical heart of the investigation: without the Dog Notes, the investigation won't progress.
Easter eggs & mini-games
Hidden characters across multiple panels, scattered mini-games, details that reward attention. Finding Kiwi the samurai mini-hare in all her paragraphs unlocks a surprise on the MS Edizioni website.
Premium hardcover edition
Hardcover, sewn binding, ribbon bookmark, full-color illustrations from the first to the last page. It's a book that stays on the bookshelf — not a throwaway volume.
Honesty first and foremost
What you WON'T find inside
We'll tell you upfront — not after the purchase. Una Notte da Cana is a solo comic-game for readers. Here's what it does not contain, so you know exactly what you're buying.
Separate components
No dice, cards, tokens, or markers. It's a book — and just a book. The game sheet is printed within the pages.
Multiplayer mode
It's a solo experience. It can be read with a child, but it's not a board game for groups. One pencil, one armchair, one person.
A linear story
Choices really do change the story. There are different endings, some paths are dead ends, some clues are mandatory to unmask the culprit. It's not a comic to be read in order.
Sheets to photocopy
The Dog Notes should be written directly in the book with a pencil. There isn't a separate sheet — it's an editorial choice that makes the book a living object, to be marked and erased between re-reads.
Reliance on the first volume
It can be read without having read Un Giorno da Cana. Knowing the first one enriches the relationship with the characters, but it's not a required read. It works as a standalone.
Experience points or stats
No strength, skills, or dice rolls. Lucy is Lucy. The system rewards attention, investigative logic, and visual memory — not chance or character build.
No surprises, no lists
To read it tonight, you only need this
✅ You need…
- This book — the Dog Notes sheet is already inside
- An HB pencil and an eraser to mark and erase between re-reads
- Half an hour free for the first session (then it's hard to put down)
- A comfortable armchair and decent lighting
❌ You do NOT need…
- Dice, cards, or extra accessories
- Apps or digital support
- A group or a Game Master
- Get to Know "Un Giorno da Cana"
Indicated age vs. actual age — our honest opinion
The official indication from MS Edizioni.
At 10-11 years old, it's good for playing alone, even in timed mode. For younger readers (8-9), timed mode can be frustrating.
Read together with a parent or older sibling, it works for 7-year-olds — and becomes a very nice shared experience.
Do you write in the book?
Yes. The "Canappunti" (notes) are integrated into the book and must be filled in with checkmarks, paragraph numbers, and collected items. To reread it multiple times, we recommend an HB pencil and a soft eraser — this way, between sessions, you can erase everything and start over. Some readers prefer to photocopy the "Canappunti" pages before starting: a legitimate choice, but the book is designed to be directly annotated.
FroGames Tip
Always start in relaxed mode, even if you are an experienced gamebook player. The first reading is for exploring Lucy's world, getting lost in Tartarotti's illustrations, and understanding where the hidden details are. Timed mode is a real challenge — truly appreciated only after becoming familiar with the narrative map. It's meant as a second pass, not a first.
"One night. One culprit. One hundred eighty-six comic panels. And you think you've finished it, until you discover the ending you missed."
📖Book featuresHardcover edition, color illustrations
🏆The 4 awards wonGamebook industry recognitions
"Una Notte da Cana" has received four awards in the Italian and international gamebook world. "Una Notte da Cana" follows in the footsteps of the first volume, "Un Giorno da Cana," which has been translated into French, South Korean, Polish, Chinese, and Taiwanese — making it one of the most translated Italian gamebooks abroad.
A five-part reading
What happens when you open it
Not the rules. What really happens when you sit down with the book.
The cover opens
An armchair, a pencil, half an hour free. The first pages explain the rules — they are few, simple, written not to slow you down. You flip to the first panel. Lucy looks out the window. It's snowing. Somewhere in the woods, Ares has disappeared.
The first hidden choice
A panel with three details. The castle gate, a track in the snow, a light in the distance. Numbers hidden among the illustrations indicate where to go. You realize the comic is watching you — and asking you what to sniff first.
The Dog Notes fill up
You've found a clue. The book refers you to the integrated game sheet. A cross here, a number there, an item to mark. The Dog Notes page becomes your investigative memory. It's like having a notebook inside the comic.
The plot twist
A character you thought harmless says something that doesn't add up. You flip back. You look at the previous panel again. There was something you had seen and not understood. The comic changes meaning, and you realize you're playing a mystery where every detail matters.
The last panel. For now.
You reach an ending. Maybe not the one you hoped for. Maybe you accused the wrong person. Maybe you found the culprit but missed two epilogues. You close the book. You think: "How many endings did I miss?". You grab the eraser and erase the Dog Notes. You'll start again tonight.
How to read it
Four phases, one session
A Dog's Night doesn't require weeks of reading. The first session lasts between two and three hours. The magic lies in rereading.
As you would with any comic. The first pages introduce Lucy, Guapo, the winter setting. The plot starts immediately, all the rules are already explained.
Paragraph numbers are hidden among the details of the drawing or indicated in the text. You examine, choose, and proceed. The options you ignore remain there for the next reread.
Clues, objects, key numbers: everything is annotated in pencil on the integrated sheet in the book. It's both mechanics and memory — without Dog Notes, the investigation gets stuck.
Erase the Dog Notes, choose the mode (relaxed or timed), reread. Dozens of endings, Easter eggs, alternative paths: the first time is just the beginning.
For those comparing
A Dog's Night vs other Lucy game-comics
Have you already read a Tartarotti game-comic? Or is this your first? Here are the concrete differences between the three volumes of the Dog series.
| A Dog's Day (2020 · MS Edizioni) |
A Dog's Night (2023 · MS Edizioni) |
15 Dog Worlds (2024 · MS Edizioni) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure type | 4 self-contained stories | Investigative mystery | 15 worlds to explore |
| Pages | 156 | ~180 | 184 |
| Challenge level | Simpler, linear | More complex, mandatory clues | Varies by world |
| Reading mode | Single | Relaxed + timed | Single, modular |
| Ideal for | First approach to the genre | Those looking for a real mystery | Exploration and variety |
| Can it be read without the others? | Yes (it's the first) | Yes (standalone) | Yes (standalone) |
Why it's worth 22 euros
Six things that set it apart from other gamebooks
The first investigative in the series
A Dog's Day featured four self-contained stories. A Dog's Night is a structured mystery, with a real culprit to unmask and mandatory clues to collect. It's a leap in game design ambition.
Two modes, two experiences
Relaxed for those who want to explore, timed for those who want a challenge. The same book read in different ways becomes two different games. Replayability is a designed strength, not a consequence.
Four awards won
A Dog's Night has received four awards in the gamebook world. The Dog series is one of the most awarded Italian gamebooks, translated abroad — France, Korea, Poland, China, Taiwan.
Easter eggs and online surprises
Finding Kiwi the samurai minihare in all her paragraphs unlocks extra content on the MS Edizioni website. Mini-games, hidden details, nerd references: the book rewards those who truly look.
High-quality hardcover edition
Hardcover, sewn binding, ribbon bookmark, 180 full-color pages. It's a book designed to last on the bookshelf — not a disposable volume to cut and photocopy.
Total autonomy: just a pencil
No dice, apps, accounts, accessories. A pencil, an eraser, a book. It's the purest form of solitaire gaming — suitable for bed, train, sofa, for the child who wants to read without screens.
How long will it last you
One evening, or dozens of readings
A Dog's Night is a book that can be finished in one evening. But it's designed to be reread — and each reread gives you something the first one hid from you.
First reading
- 3-5 hours of active reading (relaxed mode)
- One ending completed — probably not the "perfect" one
- About twenty panels examined with high attention
- At least one plot twist you didn't see coming
From the second reading onwards
- Dozens of readings to discover all alternative endings
- Timed mode as a real challenge even for experts
- Easter eggs, mini-games, online surprises to unlock
- Hidden characters to find in all paragraphs that contain them
A Dog's Night is one of those books you finish and put back on the shelf — knowing you'll return to it. Not just because you liked it. But because you know you missed something.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about A Dog's Night
Do I need to have read A Dog's Day to play A Dog's Night?
No. A Dog's Night works as a standalone: the story is self-contained, the characters are introduced anew, the mechanics are explained in the first pages. If you have read A Dog's Day you will have a stronger bond with Lucy and Guapo, but it is not mandatory reading.
How long does one reading take?
The first full reading in relaxed mode takes between 3 and 5 hours, which can be distributed as you prefer (even in multiple sessions). Timed mode is faster but more demanding — about 2 hours with good attention. To discover all alternative endings, Easter eggs, and mini-games, several rereads over weeks are needed.
Is it suitable for an 8-year-old child?
It depends. The publisher indicates 8+, but in timed mode, the investigation requires attention and management of clues which at 8 years old can be frustrating. It works very well from 10 years independently, or from 7 years read together with an adult. The relaxed mode is also accessible to younger children with a little guidance.
Do choices really change the story?
Yes, and it's one of the reasons why you reread it. There are several endings, some paths are dead-ends, others lead to mandatory clues to unmask the culprit. You can accuse the wrong characters and get "failed" endings, or gather enough evidence to arrive at the truth. Choices have a real impact on the experience.
Do you write on it? Can I photocopy the Dog Notes?
The Dog Notes should be annotated directly in the book with a pencil, and erased with an eraser between rereads. This is an editorial choice: the book is designed to be annotated and becomes a living object. If you prefer to preserve the pages intact, you can photocopy the Dog Notes before starting — many readers do this on their second or third reread.
What is the difference between a game-comic and a classic gamebook?
A classic gamebook (Lone Wolf, Fighting Fantasy) is predominantly textual, with numbered paragraphs of prose. A game-comic like A Dog's Night is predominantly illustrated — choices are hidden in the panels, numbers are part of the drawing, visual exploration is a game mechanic. It's a modern evolution of the genre, more accessible for young readers and comic lovers.
Una Notte da Cana — Fumetto Gioco (A Dog's Night - Comic Game) is an investigative comic gamebook published by MS Edizioni in 2023, written and illustrated by Stefano Tartarotti with the consultancy of Christian Giove. A sequel to the award-winning Un Giorno da Cana (A Dog's Day), it is a solo comic game of approximately 180 full-color pages, 186 numbered paragraphs, two reading modes (relaxed and timed), a rigid hardcover, thread-sewn binding, and a ribbon bookmark. Recommended age 8+. Game mechanics: visual choices, integrated character sheet (the "Canappunti" - Dog Notes), keywords, mini-games, time management, visual puzzles, examination of details. An investigation into the disappearance of Ares set in a mysterious winter castle in Piozzano, starring the little dog Lucy and the fox Guapo as her sidekick. Four awards won. Available on FroGames.it.
A Night at Cana - Comic Game
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