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lcstock05's review against another edition
4.0
I discovered this novel by chance here on goodreads.com. I was already reading Brennan's other novel, Warrior, and have enjoyed it so far so I thought, Hey - what the heck? I'll try this one too. Wow, I'm glad I did!
Midnight Never Come is a novel of Fae and Human entanglements but the story was different than anything else I had read before. It takes place during Queen Elizabeth I reign in England so there is a historical aspect but the novel is more about the story than the history. The novel begins with an imprisoned young Elizabeth being visited by an ambitious usurper named Invidiana. Elizabeth strikes a deal with the fairy who has promised her the throne.
Both women become Queens and political intrigue becomes a well known part of their rule. Lune, a Fae courtier who has fallen out of favor with the Queen tries everything in her power to be in Invidiana's good graces again - including becoming involved in Elizabeth's affairs. Michael Deven, a newly appointed Gentlemen Pensioner for Elizabeth, knows there is something unknown dictating Elizabeth's affairs but he can't figure it out. How these two become involved and the paths they take - one against and one for - is one of the best story lines I think I have read in a long time. The story twists and turns and what you think will happen doesn't and the ending you think you have figured out isn't true.
There are couple of things that did keep me from giving this 5 stars, however. First, the writing, although engaging, has a couple of weird and rather repetitive quirks. I was able to overlook them in favor of the story but they did annoy me at the time and annoy me still. And second, there are certain parts of the book that are presented without explanation and with too little description. Again, I was able to overlook them, but the story would have been superb if these had been given the time they deserved.
Overall, 4 stars. Recommended for teens and adults .
Midnight Never Come is a novel of Fae and Human entanglements but the story was different than anything else I had read before. It takes place during Queen Elizabeth I reign in England so there is a historical aspect but the novel is more about the story than the history. The novel begins with an imprisoned young Elizabeth being visited by an ambitious usurper named Invidiana. Elizabeth strikes a deal with the fairy who has promised her the throne.
Both women become Queens and political intrigue becomes a well known part of their rule. Lune, a Fae courtier who has fallen out of favor with the Queen tries everything in her power to be in Invidiana's good graces again - including becoming involved in Elizabeth's affairs. Michael Deven, a newly appointed Gentlemen Pensioner for Elizabeth, knows there is something unknown dictating Elizabeth's affairs but he can't figure it out. How these two become involved and the paths they take - one against and one for - is one of the best story lines I think I have read in a long time. The story twists and turns and what you think will happen doesn't and the ending you think you have figured out isn't true.
There are couple of things that did keep me from giving this 5 stars, however. First, the writing, although engaging, has a couple of weird and rather repetitive quirks. I was able to overlook them in favor of the story but they did annoy me at the time and annoy me still. And second, there are certain parts of the book that are presented without explanation and with too little description. Again, I was able to overlook them, but the story would have been superb if these had been given the time they deserved.
Overall, 4 stars. Recommended for teens and adults .
ciara288's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sweaters_raindrops's review against another edition
4.0
"Once we love, we cannot revoke it,' she said. 'We can only glory in what it brings -- pain as well as joy, grief as well as hope." - Lune; Midnight Never Come, M. Brennan
After reading this book, I found myself so surprised to have ever found it in the bargain bin. Excellent storyline, good characterization, and very little plot points that caused confusion. I was very much attracted to, and at first wary of, a mix between history and fantasy. This doesn't always end up working out well in a novel. But I really felt that Brennan did a remarkable job in balancing the two genres, and interlocking the lives of the human court and the fay court, all the while sprinkling a bit of religious mythology. The characters were easy to grasp, though they had their own interesting faults, the romance wasn't shoved down your throat; you slid into it relatively with ease, and the villain was captivating. A great read! I am so glad I found it!
You can find my review for this book, and others, on my blog: Sweaters and Raindrops
After reading this book, I found myself so surprised to have ever found it in the bargain bin. Excellent storyline, good characterization, and very little plot points that caused confusion. I was very much attracted to, and at first wary of, a mix between history and fantasy. This doesn't always end up working out well in a novel. But I really felt that Brennan did a remarkable job in balancing the two genres, and interlocking the lives of the human court and the fay court, all the while sprinkling a bit of religious mythology. The characters were easy to grasp, though they had their own interesting faults, the romance wasn't shoved down your throat; you slid into it relatively with ease, and the villain was captivating. A great read! I am so glad I found it!
You can find my review for this book, and others, on my blog: Sweaters and Raindrops
tashhatcher's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
mackle13's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
This is the sort of book which should be right up my alley - a historical fantasy, with Elizabeth Tudor, no less, and fae.
The book has a slow build and stuff didn't really seem to be really interesting until the last, like, 25% of the book.
It's an historical fiction with only glimpses of history, and sometimes give in info-dumps. And a fae story with a different sort of faerie vibe - though that's sort of the point of the story, as it goes to some pains to point out that the Onyx Court is not typical for Faerie. (I also wished they had stuck with the bit of the lore where) In general the story uses different bits of faerie lore, but in its own way.
It's also an intrigue book, but one where we, the reader, seemed to know everything that was going on, and it was just a matter of watching the characters figure things out. This would be ok if the characters themselves were interesting enough to make the story interesting, though I'm not sure they were really strong enough, for me, to carry the story.
But towards the end we find that things aren't quite as they seemed, and there are hidden depths going on. I also grew to appreciate the romance aspect of the story.
It was the ending, really, which decided me to give this 3 stars. It was pretty much a 2 star book before then - and, as always, I reserve the right to change my rating at a future date.
One thing I am glad of is that this story, despite being part of a series, does seem to stand well enough on its own. I would've been very annoyed had I come to the end only to find it be one of those stories where book 1 is really on setup for what's yet to come - especially since I'm not sure even my enjoyment of the ending was enough to make me want to continue the series.
ETA: There was one aspect of the writing style which was a bit odd. We would have 'memories' sections where we saw bits that had happened prior to the story, which set up the events we saw unfolding.
This would all be well and good, but the memory bits often came after Deven and Lune had themselves discovered those bits of the story. So it's like we get the story of what happened, and then we see it again from a different perspective.
For a book where I felt pacing was a problem, these bits didn't really seem to offer much. Or, rather, they would've been better had they happened as Deven and Lune were learning of them - like movies sort of handle flashbacks - and not as ancillary pieces.
This is the sort of book which should be right up my alley - a historical fantasy, with Elizabeth Tudor, no less, and fae.
The book has a slow build and stuff didn't really seem to be really interesting until the last, like, 25% of the book.
It's an historical fiction with only glimpses of history, and sometimes give in info-dumps. And a fae story with a different sort of faerie vibe - though that's sort of the point of the story, as it goes to some pains to point out that the Onyx Court is not typical for Faerie. (I also wished they had stuck with the bit of the lore where
Spoiler
faeries can't outright lie. Would've added an interesting dimension to this story, but instead we have them lying all over the place.It's also an intrigue book, but one where we, the reader, seemed to know everything that was going on, and it was just a matter of watching the characters figure things out. This would be ok if the characters themselves were interesting enough to make the story interesting, though I'm not sure they were really strong enough, for me, to carry the story.
But towards the end we find that things aren't quite as they seemed, and there are hidden depths going on. I also grew to appreciate the romance aspect of the story.
It was the ending, really, which decided me to give this 3 stars. It was pretty much a 2 star book before then - and, as always, I reserve the right to change my rating at a future date.
One thing I am glad of is that this story, despite being part of a series, does seem to stand well enough on its own. I would've been very annoyed had I come to the end only to find it be one of those stories where book 1 is really on setup for what's yet to come - especially since I'm not sure even my enjoyment of the ending was enough to make me want to continue the series.
ETA: There was one aspect of the writing style which was a bit odd. We would have 'memories' sections where we saw bits that had happened prior to the story, which set up the events we saw unfolding.
This would all be well and good, but the memory bits often came after Deven and Lune had themselves discovered those bits of the story. So it's like we get the story of what happened, and then we see it again from a different perspective.
For a book where I felt pacing was a problem, these bits didn't really seem to offer much. Or, rather, they would've been better had they happened as Deven and Lune were learning of them - like movies sort of handle flashbacks - and not as ancillary pieces.
jwood112's review against another edition
3.0
A clash of historical fiction and fantasy (fae, more specifically). A mixture I was hesitant to believe could work. But after The Memoirs of Lady Trent I was hungry for more Marie Brennan novels, so I hesitated only for a moment before diving into the first of the Onyx Court series. And, once there, I rather enjoyed myself.
The story took place during a time period in England with which I have always been fascinated, the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The historical fiction aspect of this novel is well-researched and detailed. That being said, the fantasy aspect of this novel is creative and clever. This book has the best from both genres.
-A Bookish Girl
The story took place during a time period in England with which I have always been fascinated, the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The historical fiction aspect of this novel is well-researched and detailed. That being said, the fantasy aspect of this novel is creative and clever. This book has the best from both genres.
-A Bookish Girl
katbond's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting book that intertwines two royal courts with fairies and magic.
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs. But a great light casts a great shadow. In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected only by a few. And two courtiers, struggling for the favour of very different royal patrons, are about to uncover the secrets that lie behind their thrones. What they find has the potential to fracture both worlds. This is a breathtaking novel of intrigue and betrayal set in Elizabethan England.
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs. But a great light casts a great shadow. In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected only by a few. And two courtiers, struggling for the favour of very different royal patrons, are about to uncover the secrets that lie behind their thrones. What they find has the potential to fracture both worlds. This is a breathtaking novel of intrigue and betrayal set in Elizabethan England.
cupiscent's review against another edition
4.0
From a slow and somewhat tottering start (for me), this finished strongly. The second half of the book really gets some momentum and complexity going, weaving together all the stuff that was laid on in the first half (I just really wish Ms Brennan had found a better, tighter, snappier way to deliver us that first half). I remain uncertain about aspects of the way it's laid out - the "memory" sections, in particular, are baffling in their placement, which is almost always after you've found out in prose recollection the scenes depicted - but it all came together in a very satisfying way.
I am not especially learned in the area of Elizabethan history, but I have read a good deal about alchemy and John Dee, and I was extremely pleased with the rendition of him and Edward Kelley in this book, and that prompts me to suspect that it's pretty well historically pieced together throughout. And the faerie court is everything beautiful and cruel and whimsical and menacing and it's pretty much damn perfect. I was even pleased with the path of the romantic storyline.
Not to mention that this basically shits all over Mark Chadbourn's The Sword of Albion, containing all the subtlety, intricacy, emotional depth and ambiguity I (loudly) lamented the lack of in that book. And if Ms Brennan's prose doesn't quite resonate with me, it's still eminently serviceable and very graceful.
I am not especially learned in the area of Elizabethan history, but I have read a good deal about alchemy and John Dee, and I was extremely pleased with the rendition of him and Edward Kelley in this book, and that prompts me to suspect that it's pretty well historically pieced together throughout. And the faerie court is everything beautiful and cruel and whimsical and menacing and it's pretty much damn perfect. I was even pleased with the path of the romantic storyline.
Not to mention that this basically shits all over Mark Chadbourn's The Sword of Albion, containing all the subtlety, intricacy, emotional depth and ambiguity I (loudly) lamented the lack of in that book. And if Ms Brennan's prose doesn't quite resonate with me, it's still eminently serviceable and very graceful.
kathyy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
fishface's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Actually quite good ?
A slow start in this one for sure but I liked the faerie lady Lune and Devon grew on me, though he remained a little bit characterless. I liked the research that clearly went into this. I went to a museum in Oxford this summer and actually saw a marble copy of John Dees chart for conversing with angels so that being a plot point was super cool. Also, it did faeries without being annoying about it- no growling at your love interest here folks lol- although could have done with a bit more detail.
The overall concept of court intrigue both fae and human happening simultaneously is good.
Added bonus- set in England but written by an American in a non annoying way (to me specifically) amazing.
A slow start in this one for sure but I liked the faerie lady Lune and Devon grew on me, though he remained a little bit characterless. I liked the research that clearly went into this. I went to a museum in Oxford this summer and actually saw a marble copy of John Dees chart for conversing with angels so that being a plot point was super cool. Also, it did faeries without being annoying about it- no growling at your love interest here folks lol- although could have done with a bit more detail.
The overall concept of court intrigue both fae and human happening simultaneously is good.
Added bonus- set in England but written by an American in a non annoying way (to me specifically) amazing.