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alena_bar 's review for:
The Midnight Lie
by Marie Rutkoski
Holy shit. I am *in love* with this book, with Nirrim and Sid. I was wary because I read the Winner's Trilogy first, just to have some background, and really did not like them. But wow, Rutkoski blew me out of the water with this one!
I don't know if I have ever identified with a character as deeply as I do with Nirrim: the untapped/unnoticed bi/homosexuality, the poor background, parental abandonment, the maternal attachment issues, feeling responsible for everyone else's emotions, the crooked path that is learning to stand up for yourself and adjust your perspective. (I'm over here journaling and talking to my therapist as we speak...)
A few key strengths I think are worth honing in on:
* The romance that develops between Narrim and Sid feels very authentic. The problem I had with the Winner's Trilogy was that the romance felt so contrived and not believable and melodramatic. That wasn't the case here. To me, it developed quite naturally. Hell, I fell for Sid too. I'll be daydreaming about Sid for some time ;)
* Speaking of authentic, one thing I appreciate the most is the foggy course forward as Nirrim realizes the truth of the relationships around her. Learning to stop being a door mat, to see that those we love/care for can hurt us too, takes time. You make progress, you question what's real, you defend those people. This confusing process is reflected so poignantly in Nirrim's journey, and I feel encouraged watching her grow in this regard.
* I REALLY LOVE how this is not just a romance. It's a dystopian, fantastical setting that is very intriguing and well-constructed in itself, covered with layers of social commentary (in my opinion). I love that kinda shit. The romance and the greater story interweave and support each other very well; it's not like it's mostly romance with an under-developed larger story sprinkled in (or vice versa), which happens in some books.
Overall, this story is definitely one of the most compelling I've read lately. It may very well be my favorite of 2020.
I don't know if I have ever identified with a character as deeply as I do with Nirrim: the untapped/unnoticed bi/homosexuality, the poor background, parental abandonment, the maternal attachment issues, feeling responsible for everyone else's emotions, the crooked path that is learning to stand up for yourself and adjust your perspective. (I'm over here journaling and talking to my therapist as we speak...)
A few key strengths I think are worth honing in on:
* The romance that develops between Narrim and Sid feels very authentic. The problem I had with the Winner's Trilogy was that the romance felt so contrived and not believable and melodramatic. That wasn't the case here. To me, it developed quite naturally. Hell, I fell for Sid too. I'll be daydreaming about Sid for some time ;)
* Speaking of authentic, one thing I appreciate the most is the foggy course forward as Nirrim realizes the truth of the relationships around her. Learning to stop being a door mat, to see that those we love/care for can hurt us too, takes time. You make progress, you question what's real, you defend those people. This confusing process is reflected so poignantly in Nirrim's journey, and I feel encouraged watching her grow in this regard.
* I REALLY LOVE how this is not just a romance. It's a dystopian, fantastical setting that is very intriguing and well-constructed in itself, covered with layers of social commentary (in my opinion). I love that kinda shit. The romance and the greater story interweave and support each other very well; it's not like it's mostly romance with an under-developed larger story sprinkled in (or vice versa), which happens in some books.
Overall, this story is definitely one of the most compelling I've read lately. It may very well be my favorite of 2020.