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nutm3g's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Midnight Girls was an exciting and entertaining read, where the villains were given the chance of a romance story for once. The sapphic enemies to lovers felt fully hashed out and believable, exploring the thin line between love and hate (as well as how quickly it can shift between the two). I enjoyed that the author did not set out to write a story where they would be "redeemed" or turn good, but rather let their love and story unfold while they remained true to themselves. While set in a semi-real historical backdrop where Poland and its people grappled for freedom from their oppressors and their right to maintain their identity we see Zosia (Midnight), Marynka (Midday), and even Beata (Morning) grapple with the same ideas of freedom and identity. It was an enjoyable read, with wonderful magical world-building.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Grief, Cannibalism, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Death of parent
nicolemattingly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska 🎧
CW: blood, gore, violence, murder/death, parental abandonment, servitude, hint at sexual assault (doesn’t happen), brief mention of suicide, childhood trauma, abusive guardians, animal death, avalanche, torture, cannibalism
Recommended by Sammie @booksdogsandcoffee1991
I had been falling into a slump when Sammie recommended this book to me. I immediately found it on Scribd and started listening. I had liked The Dark Tide (also by Jasinska) so I was curious on this new world and wanted to be drawn in. And I was.
A sapphic, witchy YA read with an interesting comment that resembles the stepmother of Snow White. Three monster servants to three witch sisters are on a hunt for the prince’s heart but not for love.
I do feel like the friendship/flirting came up a little quick. They had traveled together for days but we only got a couple glimpses of interactions between them so we miss the bonding between them. That being said, majority is high level tension of wanting together but competing against each other and that I loved!
Tropes:
Enemies/Rivals-to-lovers
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicide and Sexual harassment
abbyschalupa's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, and Abandonment
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sapphic rivals-to-lovers make villainy look fun in this ya fantasy standalone. Inspired by late-18th century Poland, the world is brimming with dark forests hiding heart-eating witches and towns and cities hosting a religious milieu of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. External imperial forces may vie for control of the area, but there are internal magical threats to fear, as well. Our story centers on three monsters created by the Jaga sisters in the forest. These monsters are teenage girls honed into weapons that steal princes' hearts. All flavors of heart are fair game for our predators, but the story follows them as they seek out the ultimate prize: a pure heart. Marynka and Zosia have always been rivals, but this is a competition like no other, one with higher stakes and fewer secrets between them.
It's a furious, action-packed standoff as our monsters try to outperform one another and win the prize. They are unapologetically vicious and powerful as they pass through the upper echelons of society to get close to his royal highness. The tension between the two is palpable and fraught as they come to understand one another as something other than the competition. The third monster, Beata, creates an interesting counterpoint, not caught up in the mutual frenzy.
The world-building here is decadent and festive even with the dark patina of magic and the looming imperial threats. The sapphic romance is chaotic and heartfelt, with an equally resounding mlm love story at the periphery. While the hunt for the heart is resolved by book's end, it still leaves us with a bit of an open ending regarding how these girls will move forward and stake a claim on their own future. I enjoyed the read, especially appreciating the anti-imperialist sentiment, even if our monstrous girls don't exactly take up the cause.
It's a furious, action-packed standoff as our monsters try to outperform one another and win the prize. They are unapologetically vicious and powerful as they pass through the upper echelons of society to get close to his royal highness. The tension between the two is palpable and fraught as they come to understand one another as something other than the competition. The third monster, Beata, creates an interesting counterpoint, not caught up in the mutual frenzy.
The world-building here is decadent and festive even with the dark patina of magic and the looming imperial threats. The sapphic romance is chaotic and heartfelt, with an equally resounding mlm love story at the periphery. While the hunt for the heart is resolved by book's end, it still leaves us with a bit of an open ending regarding how these girls will move forward and stake a claim on their own future. I enjoyed the read, especially appreciating the anti-imperialist sentiment, even if our monstrous girls don't exactly take up the cause.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, and War
olivialandryxo's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
[Early copy from Netgalley. This doesn’t affect or influence my opinions or review.]
I’m immediately intrigued by any story as soon as the word “sapphic” is mentioned, and in this case, the more I learned about The Midnight Girls, the more my interest was piqued. Though the story Jasinska spins is a slower one, her strength lies in complex, morally grey characters and plot twists you’ll never see coming. It’s easy to get sucked into her intricate, Polish-inspired world, to get invested in Marynka and Zosia’s quick banter and devious scheming.
Though I do wish we’d gotten a bit more in terms of romance, the slow-burn rivals to lovers arc was nonetheless very satisfying; the tension between the girls at every turn, every showdown, was palpable, and I ate it up like a freaking holiday feast. And really, the mildly excruciating build-up worked out well, because I was about ready to cheer when they finally kissed.
If you like character-driven stories, magic, and monstrous girls, I highly recommend you check this out when it releases on December 28. Come for the banter, stay for the kissing. Personally, I can’t wait to buy my own finished copy, and read Jasinska’s debut while I wait for her next release. ✨
Representation
I’m immediately intrigued by any story as soon as the word “sapphic” is mentioned, and in this case, the more I learned about The Midnight Girls, the more my interest was piqued. Though the story Jasinska spins is a slower one, her strength lies in complex, morally grey characters and plot twists you’ll never see coming. It’s easy to get sucked into her intricate, Polish-inspired world, to get invested in Marynka and Zosia’s quick banter and devious scheming.
Though I do wish we’d gotten a bit more in terms of romance, the slow-burn rivals to lovers arc was nonetheless very satisfying; the tension between the girls at every turn, every showdown, was palpable, and I ate it up like a freaking holiday feast. And really, the mildly excruciating build-up worked out well, because I was about ready to cheer when they finally kissed.
If you like character-driven stories, magic, and monstrous girls, I highly recommend you check this out when it releases on December 28. Come for the banter, stay for the kissing. Personally, I can’t wait to buy my own finished copy, and read Jasinska’s debut while I wait for her next release. ✨
Representation
- sapphic protagonists + side character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
The book frequently discusses taking hearts out of bodies and eating them, sometimes in detail, though to my memory this is never shown on-page.foreverinastory's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Source Fire Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this one!!
The Midnight Girls is a dark Polish inspired fantasy about the apprentices of Red, White & Black Jaga. Marynka serves Red Jaga and is always put in competition with Midnight, Black Jaga's servant. She wants to prove she's worthy of being a witch and Red Jaga's approval. After losing to Midnight one too many times, Marynka is determined to take down Midnight once and for all. To do this she'll need to steal a Prince's pure heart.
I loved how monstrous this book was. The fact that the girls are magical, but also have monster forms, I loved it. I loved the rivalry between Midday (Marynka) and Midnight. I was addicted to their competition. I loved seeing the girls trying to figure out the best way to get to the prince. This is the perfect winter book and was so much fun! Cannot recommend enough.
Rep: Sapphic white Polish female MCs, sapphic female side character (lesbian coded), Jewish female side character, Muslim BIPOC male side character, Black male side character.
CWs: Animal death, blood, child abuse, domestic/emotional abuse, body horror, injury/injury detail, murder, toxic relationship (witch and Marynka), violence, death.
I absolutely loved this one!!
The Midnight Girls is a dark Polish inspired fantasy about the apprentices of Red, White & Black Jaga. Marynka serves Red Jaga and is always put in competition with Midnight, Black Jaga's servant. She wants to prove she's worthy of being a witch and Red Jaga's approval. After losing to Midnight one too many times, Marynka is determined to take down Midnight once and for all. To do this she'll need to steal a Prince's pure heart.
I loved how monstrous this book was. The fact that the girls are magical, but also have monster forms, I loved it. I loved the rivalry between Midday (Marynka) and Midnight. I was addicted to their competition. I loved seeing the girls trying to figure out the best way to get to the prince. This is the perfect winter book and was so much fun! Cannot recommend enough.
Rep: Sapphic white Polish female MCs, sapphic female side character (lesbian coded), Jewish female side character, Muslim BIPOC male side character, Black male side character.
CWs: Animal death, blood, child abuse, domestic/emotional abuse, body horror, injury/injury detail, murder, toxic relationship (witch and Marynka), violence, death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail