A review by mossybean
The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense
  • 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

2.0

I really loved this book, and I mean adored it, up until the end. I loved that it was gay, fantastical, and shrouded in mystery. The end, however, was a real let down for me.
How could it ever be okay for her to lose her heart? That part really bothered me, and not because it was sad, because I like sad endings when they fit with the story. But it was just too drastic, too terrible. For me, the story that would unfold after this one was just too awful to imagine. I thought there would be some message, about how it’s hard to feel, but it’s the human condition, it’s part of what makes us who we are. It’s terrible but beautiful. But instead, Nirrim lost her heart?! What kind of message is that sending?? I’m sure we’ve all had moments when we thought it would be easier to not feel anything, but the conclusion to that thought should always be that yes, it’s better to feel.
This book entranced me till the very end, perhaps someone with a different view on what it means to be human would appreciate it more. 
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