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finalgirlfall's review against another edition
3.0
i was star-struck by this novel when i first read it, but i remember next to nothing of it now.
ladytiara's review against another edition
4.0
The Midnight Lie is a really beautiful book. It's a fantasy, a romance, and a nuanced look at abusive relationships. It reminded me a bit of Strange the Dreamer, another fantasy about a seemingly ordinary person who embraces an extraordinary life.
Nirrim lives in the ward. She's a Half Kith and her kind are bound to live within the walls of the ward. The Half Kith live under draconian laws. They aren't allowed any bright colored or fancy clothes. Everything they wear must be gray or brown. Their food must be plain, and anything sweet is forbidden. If they caught breaking the laws, the penalty is a tithe: they may have their blood drained or a finger removed or something worse. Nirrim works in a bakery where anything sweet is sold to the Middlings, the next class up. Anything colorful or fine produced by the Half Kith goes to the Middlings or the High Kith, the highest class. (The huge dichotomy between the classes is reminiscent of District 12 compared with the Capitol in the Hunger Games.) Nirrim's life isn't bad, even with these restrictions. She grew up in an orphanage and was then taken in by Raven, a Middling who runs a bakery in the ward. Nirrim works in the bakery, and because she's an expert forger, she helps Raven make passports for people who want to sneak out of the ward.
Nirrim is thrown into prison one day on spurious charges. In the cell next to her is Sid, a young woman from somewhere else. She frees Nirrim from the prison and asks her many questions about the ward. Nirrim's answer to every question is "it's always been that way." But Sid's question start to make Nirrim think about why things are the way they are in the ward, and once she starts asking questions, things will never be the same. Not only does she begin to question everything she knows, she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Sid.
Rutkoski has a way with words. Take this passage:
"It occurred to me that all the rules that mandated that we live behind the wall had one purpose: to make the Half Kith forget how to wish for things. We had been taught not to want more than we had. I realized that wanting is a kind of power even if you don't get what you want. Wanting illuminates everything you need, and how the world has failed you."
The book has an interesting portrayal of abusive relationships. Raven, the woman who took Nirrim in, alternates between tenderness and abuse. It's obvious to the reader and to everyone around Nirrim that Raven is awful, but Nirrim is an orphan who's never known love or affection, so it makes sense that she feels an attachment and a sense of duty to Raven. It's hard to read, but the the dynamics of an abusive relationship ring true. Nirrim also has a relationship of a sort with a fellow Half Kith named Aden. He loves her and she feels an obligation to him even though she doesn't feel the same ("He kissed me and I let him. Sometimes it can feel so good to give someone what they want that it is the next best thing to getting what you want."). Aden is a classic "nice guy," turning on Nirrim as soon as he doesn't get his way. These relationships contrast with Sid, who although not without her own baggage, actually respects Nirrim as her own person and pushes her to see the world in new ways.
My only issue with the book is that the pacing is a bit slow. There's a lot of character development, and the romance is very well done, but the plot lags a bit in the middle, only to pick up a lot of steam near the end of the book. The plot twists at the end are fantastic, and I'm dying to see where things go in the next book, but there could have been a bit more action in the middle.
I received an ARC from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
Nirrim lives in the ward. She's a Half Kith and her kind are bound to live within the walls of the ward. The Half Kith live under draconian laws. They aren't allowed any bright colored or fancy clothes. Everything they wear must be gray or brown. Their food must be plain, and anything sweet is forbidden. If they caught breaking the laws, the penalty is a tithe: they may have their blood drained or a finger removed or something worse. Nirrim works in a bakery where anything sweet is sold to the Middlings, the next class up. Anything colorful or fine produced by the Half Kith goes to the Middlings or the High Kith, the highest class. (The huge dichotomy between the classes is reminiscent of District 12 compared with the Capitol in the Hunger Games.) Nirrim's life isn't bad, even with these restrictions. She grew up in an orphanage and was then taken in by Raven, a Middling who runs a bakery in the ward. Nirrim works in the bakery, and because she's an expert forger, she helps Raven make passports for people who want to sneak out of the ward.
Nirrim is thrown into prison one day on spurious charges. In the cell next to her is Sid, a young woman from somewhere else. She frees Nirrim from the prison and asks her many questions about the ward. Nirrim's answer to every question is "it's always been that way." But Sid's question start to make Nirrim think about why things are the way they are in the ward, and once she starts asking questions, things will never be the same. Not only does she begin to question everything she knows, she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Sid.
Rutkoski has a way with words. Take this passage:
"It occurred to me that all the rules that mandated that we live behind the wall had one purpose: to make the Half Kith forget how to wish for things. We had been taught not to want more than we had. I realized that wanting is a kind of power even if you don't get what you want. Wanting illuminates everything you need, and how the world has failed you."
The book has an interesting portrayal of abusive relationships. Raven, the woman who took Nirrim in, alternates between tenderness and abuse. It's obvious to the reader and to everyone around Nirrim that Raven is awful, but Nirrim is an orphan who's never known love or affection, so it makes sense that she feels an attachment and a sense of duty to Raven. It's hard to read, but the the dynamics of an abusive relationship ring true. Nirrim also has a relationship of a sort with a fellow Half Kith named Aden. He loves her and she feels an obligation to him even though she doesn't feel the same ("He kissed me and I let him. Sometimes it can feel so good to give someone what they want that it is the next best thing to getting what you want."). Aden is a classic "nice guy," turning on Nirrim as soon as he doesn't get his way. These relationships contrast with Sid, who although not without her own baggage, actually respects Nirrim as her own person and pushes her to see the world in new ways.
My only issue with the book is that the pacing is a bit slow. There's a lot of character development, and the romance is very well done, but the plot lags a bit in the middle, only to pick up a lot of steam near the end of the book. The plot twists at the end are fantastic, and I'm dying to see where things go in the next book, but there could have been a bit more action in the middle.
I received an ARC from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
kelsea_mori's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
dansmacabre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.25
gaellesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
meemzter's review against another edition
4.0
The Midnight Lie is a (medieval European ish?) fantasy novel about history, inequality, and of course, love. I believe this is technically YA, and it does have a few of the core components (first love, coming of age, self-discovery) but in terms of tone and plotting, it didn't always *feel* like YA to me. It was perhaps darker? More contemplative? Something? I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest books, but this one felt fresh and interesting to me, even though a few of the major plot twists were easy to guess before the narrator got around to discovering them.
The book started out pretty slow for me, but after the first few chapters picked up considerably. When I first started reading, I felt like there was a fog hanging over the story, and that I needed more detail and more background to get sucked in. Having finished the book, I now think that this was absolutely intentional, and it's to the author's credit that I, as a reader, underwent the same kind of awakening as the protagonist.
There's a lot of darkness and pain in this book - driven both by an unjust society and by the every day complexities of like... interacting with other humans. I found the exploration of Nirrim's struggle with loving someone who manipulated and abused her to be particularly well done. The romance in this story was also particularly memorable for me, in that it felt boldly, unapologetically real and complicated. This wasn't a fluffy ship to be shipped, this was the kind of love that is hard, that scares you.
The plot definitely had enough intrigue to keep me engaged, and wanting to know more. At times this book almost reads like a mystery novel, complete with a series of big reveals in the last few chapters. The ending of this book definitely surprised me. I honestly cannot imagine where the sequel is going to go, but I am excited to find out!
The book started out pretty slow for me, but after the first few chapters picked up considerably. When I first started reading, I felt like there was a fog hanging over the story, and that I needed more detail and more background to get sucked in. Having finished the book, I now think that this was absolutely intentional, and it's to the author's credit that I, as a reader, underwent the same kind of awakening as the protagonist.
There's a lot of darkness and pain in this book - driven both by an unjust society and by the every day complexities of like... interacting with other humans. I found the exploration of Nirrim's struggle with loving someone who manipulated and abused her to be particularly well done. The romance in this story was also particularly memorable for me, in that it felt boldly, unapologetically real and complicated. This wasn't a fluffy ship to be shipped, this was the kind of love that is hard, that scares you.
The plot definitely had enough intrigue to keep me engaged, and wanting to know more. At times this book almost reads like a mystery novel, complete with a series of big reveals in the last few chapters. The ending of this book definitely surprised me. I honestly cannot imagine where the sequel is going to go, but I am excited to find out!
shelw93's review against another edition
4.5
Amazing world building. Amazing characters. Amazing amazing amazing.
pixiepages's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get into this book but once I was in.. I WAS HOOKED. Nirrim is an orphan raised by “Raven” who she loves and adores. She thinks she is the best “mom” she can have but is she really? Nirrim one day runs into this traveler Sid and needs to make a decision if she should go with her and abandon her old life. For some reason Nirrim has such a strong connection to her it's like she almost can’t say no. I need the second book now! I need to know what happens. This was a great LGBTQ romantic fantasy.
mellomorissa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75