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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So much exposition of feelings. It got so repetitive. "I'm a witch, he's not. Responsibility, duty, blah blah blah." The book would have been much more interesting without so much angst (also, shorter).
This book had it's good points, but wasn't really all that great. Somehow the author just didn't convey the magic all that well.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
THE MIDNIGHT WITCH by Paula Brackston transports readers into the enchanting realm of Edwardian London, weaving a tale of love, magic, and the struggle between good and evil. Lilith, a captivating young witch, faces the daunting task of protecting her coven's secrets amidst societal expectations and a looming threat from the powerful Sentinels. Brackston's narrative, spanning the opulence of Edwardian London to the shadows of World War I, is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and magical realism. While acknowledging some plot inconsistencies, the emotional depth from the story's onset and relatable characters shine through. The novel, part of Brackston's Witch series, adds a whimsical touch to the historical backdrop. Despite occasional lightheartedness, the narrative maintains a captivating balance, making it an enjoyable and engaging read. For fans of Brackston's earlier works, this novel promises a delightful concoction of mystery, love, and enchanting witchcraft.
✏ Favourite quote: "If to be in love is to lose one’s self then I am as in love as it is possible to be, for I am utterly lost!"
✏ Favourite quote: "If to be in love is to lose one’s self then I am as in love as it is possible to be, for I am utterly lost!"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
Reads like it was written for a middle school project by a fan of Twilight
I enjoyed The Midnight Witch by Paula Brackston as it was an engaging story and Brackston created some interesting characters. I will admit that although this was a good story, I enjoyed some of Brackston’s other books more.
Lilith is a witch and next in line to lead the Lazarus Coven. She is also the daughter of the Duke of Radnor so she leads a pretty visible life that is dictated by the rules of society. She has grown up trying to mix the two worlds and when her father passes away, feels she is absolutely prepared for the next step. Lucky for her, her fiancé is also a member of the coven and one of society’s most eligible bachelors so she is able to balance the two parts of her life with the assistance of a select group of people around her.
At the same time that Lilith is transitioning into her new role within the coven, the Sentinels – a group of sorcerers who are dedicated to getting back the elixir the coven took from them long ago, decide to make their move to not only get the elixir but also begin eliminating the threat of the coven. While Lilith is a strong necromancer, she definitely faces some challenges and has to figure out what she needs to do to protect the members of the coven and their secrets.
While all of this is happening, Lilith also comes to the conclusion that while she loves her fiancé, Louis, she does so more out of her friendship and the fact that she grew up with him, not because she is desperately in love with him. I personally liked Louis and it was clear he truly cared for Lilith. He was a bit removed from what really was going on with the coven and only entered into the story here and there, but what I read of him was great and made me want more. He definitely got the shafted when storylines were handed out but he took things well which only made him a better character in my mind.
Bram Cardale is an artist who comes to London to work with his mentor, Richard Mangan, a well-known sculptor. When Lilith’s best friend, Charlotte, decides to have Mangan create a piece for her parents, Lilith is introduced to Bram and they ultimately find themselves drawn to one another. As their feelings develop, so do the dangers that not only Lilith faces, but also, now Bram as Lilith discloses who she really is and what that means for them.
I really did enjoy this story but there were some things that threw me off a bit. It was odd that there were such large time jumps throughout the book and where they happened was a bit confusing. And not just a minimal amount of time…typically years would pass. Also, about half the book covered the time span immediately following the death of Lilith’s father and then the remainder jump years ahead which I’m not sure were necessary.
Overall I enjoyed the characters that Brackston developed. They were interesting and kept me engaged in the story. Lilith was strong and determined but still felt the constrictions of society. I also thought Charlotte was a great character as she provided the support Lilith needed in the non-witch world and could help her figure out what to do about the things she wasn’t so sure about….like the men in her life.
Another solid book by Brackston and if you have enjoyed her other books, you might also enjoy this one. While The Witch’s Daughter still holds top place in my list of favorites by Brackston, this story is solid and brings the reader into a dangerous world and interesting time in history. If you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of witchcraft woven into the story, definitely check this one out.
Lilith is a witch and next in line to lead the Lazarus Coven. She is also the daughter of the Duke of Radnor so she leads a pretty visible life that is dictated by the rules of society. She has grown up trying to mix the two worlds and when her father passes away, feels she is absolutely prepared for the next step. Lucky for her, her fiancé is also a member of the coven and one of society’s most eligible bachelors so she is able to balance the two parts of her life with the assistance of a select group of people around her.
At the same time that Lilith is transitioning into her new role within the coven, the Sentinels – a group of sorcerers who are dedicated to getting back the elixir the coven took from them long ago, decide to make their move to not only get the elixir but also begin eliminating the threat of the coven. While Lilith is a strong necromancer, she definitely faces some challenges and has to figure out what she needs to do to protect the members of the coven and their secrets.
While all of this is happening, Lilith also comes to the conclusion that while she loves her fiancé, Louis, she does so more out of her friendship and the fact that she grew up with him, not because she is desperately in love with him. I personally liked Louis and it was clear he truly cared for Lilith. He was a bit removed from what really was going on with the coven and only entered into the story here and there, but what I read of him was great and made me want more. He definitely got the shafted when storylines were handed out but he took things well which only made him a better character in my mind.
Bram Cardale is an artist who comes to London to work with his mentor, Richard Mangan, a well-known sculptor. When Lilith’s best friend, Charlotte, decides to have Mangan create a piece for her parents, Lilith is introduced to Bram and they ultimately find themselves drawn to one another. As their feelings develop, so do the dangers that not only Lilith faces, but also, now Bram as Lilith discloses who she really is and what that means for them.
I really did enjoy this story but there were some things that threw me off a bit. It was odd that there were such large time jumps throughout the book and where they happened was a bit confusing. And not just a minimal amount of time…typically years would pass. Also, about half the book covered the time span immediately following the death of Lilith’s father and then the remainder jump years ahead which I’m not sure were necessary.
Overall I enjoyed the characters that Brackston developed. They were interesting and kept me engaged in the story. Lilith was strong and determined but still felt the constrictions of society. I also thought Charlotte was a great character as she provided the support Lilith needed in the non-witch world and could help her figure out what to do about the things she wasn’t so sure about….like the men in her life.
Another solid book by Brackston and if you have enjoyed her other books, you might also enjoy this one. While The Witch’s Daughter still holds top place in my list of favorites by Brackston, this story is solid and brings the reader into a dangerous world and interesting time in history. If you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of witchcraft woven into the story, definitely check this one out.
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
N/A
Accurate Rating: 2.5 Stars
I've decided that Paula Brackston is great at creating characters and setting up a story, but from that point on kind of peters off a bit. I was engrossed in this book at the beginning and even had a few instances of "what a great sentence!" But after awhile, the dialogue especially started to drag it down and the ending just felt like she wrapped it up as quickly as she could. I really liked the concept of this story and the characters, but it just didn't stick for me.
I've decided that Paula Brackston is great at creating characters and setting up a story, but from that point on kind of peters off a bit. I was engrossed in this book at the beginning and even had a few instances of "what a great sentence!" But after awhile, the dialogue especially started to drag it down and the ending just felt like she wrapped it up as quickly as she could. I really liked the concept of this story and the characters, but it just didn't stick for me.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes