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A review by theespressoedition
Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin
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