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melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
Premise:
-contemporary young adult witchy fantasy
-singular first-person POV
-set on a small island next to a coastal town
-19-year-old Mortana "Tana" Fairchild's future is laid out for her, including her future husband and what path she will take on her Covenant Ball night
-Tana has come to terms with this, because she feels immense gratitude, love and duty towards her parents, who lead their coven, and have decided that this will help the future of their coven
-Their coven has only used low/weak magic ever since dark magic was banished years ago
-Allegedly, dark magic will kill a witch from the inside out and so will a specific flower, moonflower
-Tana's best friend Ivy also supports her and reassures her that this is all for the good of the coven and is much bigger than her; history in the making!
-Tana is all about familial obligation and civic duty
-Tana is to marry a "mainlander" Landon (LOL I love the name choice here), as his father is the governor on the mainland, and can protect the witches from anti-witchy sentiments and attacks
-One night, Tana sees a moonflower, and shortly after, meets Wolfe, a mysterious boy who claims Tana doesn't know all there is to know about the island's magic
-cw: animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, toxic relationships, classism, cursing, extremely light sexual content (Closed door), emotional abuse, blood
Thoughts:
I was pleasantly surprised by this witchy fantasy! Though Griffin used common tropes in fantasy, I didn't see them coming in this atmospheric, angsty star-crossed romance and coming-of-age. I appreciated Tana's arc, and could deeply relate to it. It's almost as if this transported me back to the first time I realized (as a young adult, not a child) that my parents and the institutions I was taught to respect/admire weren't entirely honorable or so black-and-white.
It's rough to get your world(view) rocked! It is painful to realize that something you believed in so fully, so deeply, so existentially to your core, is not true. Tana's arc was an agonizing but tender example of how people feel when they are presented with information that makes them question their belief systems. To stand so strong in a conviction, and then to watch it unravel as you learn or experience something new? Sheesh.
I also felt for Tana's struggle between the life she had come to terms with and the life she couldn't let go. It's cliche, sure, but it's real; once you have a taste of what "could be," how could you ever go back? For some reason, it was giving A Walk to Remember's Jamie telling Landon (WAIT OMFG A NAME CROSSOVER IN MY REFERENCE, HOW FUN FOR MEEEE), "I was getting along with everything fine. I accepted it, and then *you* happened! I do not need a reason to be angry with God." Tana was fine with a bland, magicless life until she felt the alternative in her bones!
I think it lulled a bit in the middle because I was left wondering where the plot was taking us. I don't mind a chunk of the book being dedicated to character development; that's fine, but I just wish that more time would've been spent on the romance because once the romance started to hit, it was so lovely!
Premise:
-contemporary young adult witchy fantasy
-singular first-person POV
-set on a small island next to a coastal town
-19-year-old Mortana "Tana" Fairchild's future is laid out for her, including her future husband and what path she will take on her Covenant Ball night
-Tana has come to terms with this, because she feels immense gratitude, love and duty towards her parents, who lead their coven, and have decided that this will help the future of their coven
-Their coven has only used low/weak magic ever since dark magic was banished years ago
-Allegedly, dark magic will kill a witch from the inside out and so will a specific flower, moonflower
-Tana's best friend Ivy also supports her and reassures her that this is all for the good of the coven and is much bigger than her; history in the making!
-Tana is all about familial obligation and civic duty
-Tana is to marry a "mainlander" Landon (LOL I love the name choice here), as his father is the governor on the mainland, and can protect the witches from anti-witchy sentiments and attacks
-One night, Tana sees a moonflower, and shortly after, meets Wolfe, a mysterious boy who claims Tana doesn't know all there is to know about the island's magic
-cw: animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, toxic relationships, classism, cursing, extremely light sexual content (Closed door), emotional abuse, blood
Thoughts:
I was pleasantly surprised by this witchy fantasy! Though Griffin used common tropes in fantasy, I didn't see them coming in this atmospheric, angsty star-crossed romance and coming-of-age. I appreciated Tana's arc, and could deeply relate to it. It's almost as if this transported me back to the first time I realized (as a young adult, not a child) that my parents and the institutions I was taught to respect/admire weren't entirely honorable or so black-and-white.
It's rough to get your world(view) rocked! It is painful to realize that something you believed in so fully, so deeply, so existentially to your core, is not true. Tana's arc was an agonizing but tender example of how people feel when they are presented with information that makes them question their belief systems. To stand so strong in a conviction, and then to watch it unravel as you learn or experience something new? Sheesh.
I also felt for Tana's struggle between the life she had come to terms with and the life she couldn't let go. It's cliche, sure, but it's real; once you have a taste of what "could be," how could you ever go back? For some reason, it was giving A Walk to Remember's Jamie telling Landon (WAIT OMFG A NAME CROSSOVER IN MY REFERENCE, HOW FUN FOR MEEEE), "I was getting along with everything fine. I accepted it, and then *you* happened! I do not need a reason to be angry with God." Tana was fine with a bland, magicless life until she felt the alternative in her bones!
I think it lulled a bit in the middle because I was left wondering where the plot was taking us. I don't mind a chunk of the book being dedicated to character development; that's fine, but I just wish that more time would've been spent on the romance because once the romance started to hit, it was so lovely!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Classism and Toxic friendship
Minor: Blood, Sexual content, and Cursing
theespressoedition's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Bring Me Your Midnight is a story so immersive, atmospheric, and breathtaking that it will leave you thinking about it long after you've closed the book and walked away. While some books have captivating opening lines, this book has a closing quote so powerful that you'll want to tattoo it straight onto your heart.
Rachel Griffin brings a certain kind of magic to her book that I've yet to find elsewhere. While I was reading Bring Me Your Midnight, I found myself forgetting that it was a book. I wasn't just looking at words on a page, I was living Tana's story, feeling her heartache, and experiencing every salt and sea-soaked moment. This is the kind of book that envelops you and before you know it, you're wiping away tears and blinking at your surroundings, realizing hours have passed and you spent them all on Tana's beloved island.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an outdoors person - and not because I don't want to be, but because I have countless allergies and a paralyzing fear of most bugs. That being said, the way that Rachel writes about nature, the love that she so clearly has for our earth... it plants a seed of desire in me to leave the comfort of my home and swim in the sea, visit the oldest forests, and watch more sunrises. I found myself putting seaside ambience videos on in the background while I read, just so the sound of the lapping waves could surround me while I read. What I wouldn't give to actually read this book in a seaside cottage.
This story takes its time, which is normally something that grates on me. Instead, I found myself soaking in the writing, even when the plot was at a bit of a standstill. It didn't bother me to spend time in Tana's mind because it helped me connect to her so much more and understand why she chooses certain paths. It's a very emotional experience and I loved every moment of it. The moments that pricked me the most were the tender encounters with her father. I feel like in so many young adult books, especially in the fantasy genre (where parents are so often a side thought), there's a lack of fatherly love. It was precious to witness the love Tana and her dad had for one another. Also, I'd love to have one of his cinnamon buns. They sound so delicious!
The romance in Bring Me Your Midnight is a whirlwind of emotions, both high and low. There's a forbidden aspect to it that made it all the more enticing. I absolutely adored the way that Wolfe encouraged Tana's wildness and even when he was at his most frustrated with her and their situation, he loved every piece of her - even the parts she hadn't discovered or learned to accept yet.
There was so much more to this book than just romance and witches. There's a heavy emphasis on identity, honor and duty - and how that can look different to different people, and family (both blood and chosen). While Tana is the main character and the one you root for, you might find yourself falling a little bit in love with some of the other characters as well, even when they're doing things that you don't quite understand. There's no real "villain," and that was something I appreciated. You understand the motives without there being someone to truly despise. It was really comforting.
I spent a great deal of time highlighting quotes on my Kindle. I'm not someone who annotates, I could see myself purchasing an additional copy just for that purpose (which is precisely how I felt when reading The Nature of Witches as well). This book could easily land itself a spot in my favorites of all time. Bring Me Your Midnight is an absolute masterpiece and I can't recommend it enough!
Rachel Griffin brings a certain kind of magic to her book that I've yet to find elsewhere. While I was reading Bring Me Your Midnight, I found myself forgetting that it was a book. I wasn't just looking at words on a page, I was living Tana's story, feeling her heartache, and experiencing every salt and sea-soaked moment. This is the kind of book that envelops you and before you know it, you're wiping away tears and blinking at your surroundings, realizing hours have passed and you spent them all on Tana's beloved island.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an outdoors person - and not because I don't want to be, but because I have countless allergies and a paralyzing fear of most bugs. That being said, the way that Rachel writes about nature, the love that she so clearly has for our earth... it plants a seed of desire in me to leave the comfort of my home and swim in the sea, visit the oldest forests, and watch more sunrises. I found myself putting seaside ambience videos on in the background while I read, just so the sound of the lapping waves could surround me while I read. What I wouldn't give to actually read this book in a seaside cottage.
This story takes its time, which is normally something that grates on me. Instead, I found myself soaking in the writing, even when the plot was at a bit of a standstill. It didn't bother me to spend time in Tana's mind because it helped me connect to her so much more and understand why she chooses certain paths. It's a very emotional experience and I loved every moment of it. The moments that pricked me the most were the tender encounters with her father. I feel like in so many young adult books, especially in the fantasy genre (where parents are so often a side thought), there's a lack of fatherly love. It was precious to witness the love Tana and her dad had for one another. Also, I'd love to have one of his cinnamon buns. They sound so delicious!
The romance in Bring Me Your Midnight is a whirlwind of emotions, both high and low. There's a forbidden aspect to it that made it all the more enticing. I absolutely adored the way that Wolfe encouraged Tana's wildness and even when he was at his most frustrated with her and their situation, he loved every piece of her - even the parts she hadn't discovered or learned to accept yet.
There was so much more to this book than just romance and witches. There's a heavy emphasis on identity, honor and duty - and how that can look different to different people, and family (both blood and chosen). While Tana is the main character and the one you root for, you might find yourself falling a little bit in love with some of the other characters as well, even when they're doing things that you don't quite understand. There's no real "villain," and that was something I appreciated. You understand the motives without there being someone to truly despise. It was really comforting.
I spent a great deal of time highlighting quotes on my Kindle. I'm not someone who annotates, I could see myself purchasing an additional copy just for that purpose (which is precisely how I felt when reading The Nature of Witches as well). This book could easily land itself a spot in my favorites of all time. Bring Me Your Midnight is an absolute masterpiece and I can't recommend it enough!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Blood
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