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A review by caitsbooks
The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
4.0
All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change
Quick Stats:
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: The Tiger At Midnight is a captivating novel, focusing mostly on the physical and mental journey of two fascinating characters.
“Never greet a tiger at midnight, for they are the manifestations of your past misdeeds.”
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Child Abuse, War Themes, Murder //
- Premise -
The Tiger at Midnight is told in two alternating points of view. Kunal is a soldier of Jansa and nephew of a cruel general. His main priority is staying in line and following his uncle’s orders. Esha is an assassin known only as The Viper, desperate to avenge her parents and kill the Pretender King of Jansa. When Kunal is thrown into a competition to hunt down the legendary Viper, secrets are revealed and he is torn between the life he knows, and the girl he knows he can’t trust.
- Writing & Setting-
This is a debut novel, and while for the most part the writing is fantastic, it does occasionally feel like a debut. The writing style is a mix of straight forward and beautifully descriptive. Speaking of descriptive- oh my god this setting. It’s gorgeous and amazing and so well developed. I loved the two warring kingdoms, Jansa and Dharka. They were vivid and clear, their politics complex yet comprehensible, and their cultures beautifully portrayed.
- Plot -
This book is very character driven. This is definitely not a bad thing-- in fact, it’s part of why I loved it so much-- but I wouldn’t go into it expecting tons of action and adventure. Because of that, the first few chapters can feel a little slow as we get to know the protagonists. That said, once you get past that, it is so easy to be sucked into this world and not even notice the pages flying by.
- Characters -
Onto my favorite part of this book, the characters. I really, really love them. Kunal is so precious and I just want to protect him. He is the epitome of the “looks like they could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll” type. Meanwhile Esha can and will kill you, and she wants you to know that. The two of them have such incredible character arcs. I wish I could go into detail but it’s best to just read it and see it for yourself. I can’t wait to see what they do in the rest of the series!
"A truce. No killing you in your sleep, soldier. You let me live and I did the same. Now catch me if you can."
- Conclusion -
Pros- Great characters, amazing setting, #ownvoices
Cons- Not action-heavy (but that can also be a positive!), slow at first
Overall- 4.5/5 stars.
The Tiger at Midnight is a beautiful debut novel rich in culture and characters, with a unique setting that sets it apart from most YA fantasy on the market.
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Quick Stats:
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: The Tiger At Midnight is a captivating novel, focusing mostly on the physical and mental journey of two fascinating characters.
“Never greet a tiger at midnight, for they are the manifestations of your past misdeeds.”
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Child Abuse, War Themes, Murder //
- Premise -
The Tiger at Midnight is told in two alternating points of view. Kunal is a soldier of Jansa and nephew of a cruel general. His main priority is staying in line and following his uncle’s orders. Esha is an assassin known only as The Viper, desperate to avenge her parents and kill the Pretender King of Jansa. When Kunal is thrown into a competition to hunt down the legendary Viper, secrets are revealed and he is torn between the life he knows, and the girl he knows he can’t trust.
- Writing & Setting-
This is a debut novel, and while for the most part the writing is fantastic, it does occasionally feel like a debut. The writing style is a mix of straight forward and beautifully descriptive. Speaking of descriptive- oh my god this setting. It’s gorgeous and amazing and so well developed. I loved the two warring kingdoms, Jansa and Dharka. They were vivid and clear, their politics complex yet comprehensible, and their cultures beautifully portrayed.
- Plot -
This book is very character driven. This is definitely not a bad thing-- in fact, it’s part of why I loved it so much-- but I wouldn’t go into it expecting tons of action and adventure. Because of that, the first few chapters can feel a little slow as we get to know the protagonists. That said, once you get past that, it is so easy to be sucked into this world and not even notice the pages flying by.
- Characters -
Onto my favorite part of this book, the characters. I really, really love them. Kunal is so precious and I just want to protect him. He is the epitome of the “looks like they could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll” type. Meanwhile Esha can and will kill you, and she wants you to know that. The two of them have such incredible character arcs. I wish I could go into detail but it’s best to just read it and see it for yourself. I can’t wait to see what they do in the rest of the series!
"A truce. No killing you in your sleep, soldier. You let me live and I did the same. Now catch me if you can."
- Conclusion -
Pros- Great characters, amazing setting, #ownvoices
Cons- Not action-heavy (but that can also be a positive!), slow at first
Overall- 4.5/5 stars.
The Tiger at Midnight is a beautiful debut novel rich in culture and characters, with a unique setting that sets it apart from most YA fantasy on the market.
Follow Me Here: Blog ||Tumblr || Bookstagram || Twitter|| Reviews