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author, book reviews, book, books, characters, fantasy, fiction, literature, Melissa grey, novel, plot, read, reader, review, stories, story, the girl at midnight, The Girl At Midnight By Melissa Grey, The Girl At Midnight Melissa Grey, write, writer, writing, young adult
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 368
Point of View: Third (Echo, Caius, Dorian, Ivy, with one chapter by Ala and Jasper)
Released: April 28th 2015
Series: The Girl At Midnight 1
Predictability: 5 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 7/10 Stars
My Summary:
Echo was adopted by the Avicen, a bird like race, when she was seven. She considers them her family and her people, but not all Avicen feel the same way about her. They’ve been at war with the Drakharin , a dragon people, for as long as anyone can remember.
Echo’s a thief so when she wants a present for her adoptive mother, the Ala she steels a music box. Hidden inside the box was a map to the legendary Firebird said to be capable of ending the war. The Ala sends Echo on a mission to retrieve it, which is complicated when she runs into a pair of Drakharin who are also after the firebird.
My Review:
It took me a while to get into this book, but I think that was mostly my own fault. (I was worrying about having so many arcs to read)
Part of this book feels like Daughter of Smoke and Bone and there’s a little Mortal Instruments going on with the romance and a hidden market that is quite Harry Potter ish, and while I can see the similarities it isn’t just a copy cat.
The Good:
The world was awesome! Two races, one birdlike and one dragonlike have been at war for ages. I would have liked to see a bit more of their culture, but I enjoyed what there was. The magic wasn’t used much besides for transport. The use of powder to travel through doorways was cool though. (Actually not like Daughter of Smoke and Bone)
The characters weren’t great on their own, but once they got together the story really picked up. Echo was a fine heroine, but she didn’t overly interest me. A spunky thief has just been done so many times before. (I liked how she collected foreign words though, cute touch.) Caius, the Dragon Prince came off stern and unsympathetic, but once he met Echo I enjoyed his character. Same with Dorian, aside from a crush on his prince he was rather an unlikable solider, but then he met Jasper. (Here is the main Mortal Instruments comparison. Jasper is a lot like Magnus Bane, albeit a feathery peacock version.) The last member of the group was Ivy, Echo’s best friend and a young dove like healer. She was sweet and I liked her from the start. What made the character relationships was the teasing! (Which is probably why I liked them better once they all got together.)
The Bad:
There is a love triangle! Echo has a boyfriend who is a young Avicen solider in training when the story starts. I wish they’d just been friends, then her making goo goo eyes at Caius would’ve made more sense. (A bit too much lovey dovey stuff for me.)
All of the guys are described as overly good looking. And even though everyone else was described multiple times, I can’t even remember what color hair Echo has.
Will I read the sequel? Yes.
Am I the only one who gets panicky when I get a little behind on arcs? One down, seven to go before June 2nd…
Tammy said:
I really loved this book, although yes, the romance did make me cringe at times. But I was pretty impressed with the book as a whole, and I’m looking forward to the next book. And yes, I am ALWAYS stressed out about ARCs! I have a bunch to finish this month too, not sure how I’ll get them all read:-(
Molly Mortensen said:
I’m glad you liked it too! Haha Yeah I groaned at the romance sometimes. The world certainly has promise. I wonder if there will be more battles.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who worries about arcs. They list them so far ahead of time, so I saved them and they kind of got away from me. Good luck getting your reading done!
kindlemom1 said:
You are definitely NOT the only one. I was just looking at my ARC pile and having heart palpitations! I have two I need to read by the 2nd and another I need to read by one by the 9th. I feel really behind because usually I have them all read out at least a month in advance. And the worst part is that I don’t have any desire to read right now. 😦
Anyways, so glad you liked this and that it held its own and wasn’t a copy of any of the series mentioned. Wonderful review like always Molly and good luck with all your reading!!
Molly Mortensen said:
I’m sorry that you’re behind on your arcs too! That was one of my problems, I just wasn’t in the mood to read. Wow, a month ahead! Im lucky to be a week ahead haha.I hope you feel like reading again soon .
Thank you! I think you’ll like this one. I was hesitant going in but it really gets good once the characters meet up.
blodeuedd said:
Seven,…you can do it 😀 Now worries
Molly Mortensen said:
Thanks! At the rate I’ve been reading it’s going to be close.
shannonmiz said:
Dude, you are NOT the only one who gets panicky, not by a long shot. Also, seven isn’t bad! You can do it! I had close to 30 between April and May and I did it- I have faith in you! I also have a LOT on June 2nd, why is that date so popular, ARC-wise?
Also, this book, I am just not sure about! I mean, it sounds okay, but not great… and then it also sounds like maybe I should just read Daughter of Smoke and Bone instead, if I have to pick? But then the pretty purple cover calls my name, and I just don’t know! Would I like it? GAH.
Molly Mortensen said:
Thirty!? I don’t know how you did it! June 2nd is big, four of mine release that day! Thanks, I’m beginning to think I might do it. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who gets arc stressed.
Did you like Mortal Instruments? I’d say if you did you’d like this. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is really good! Not perfect, there is a bit too much romance for me (and I didn’t like book two much) but the world and the characters are terrific! Haha I have a pretty cover weakness too!
Melliane said:
Ah sorry for the love triangle… It’s usually ok for me when it’s well done. It’s when the girls chooses that I’m not happy anymore lol. Even if it took you a while to get into the book it sounds good, I heard great things about the story and I confess that I’m curious about the world. thanks for the review!
Molly Mortensen said:
Haha me too! I always like the one she doesn’t choose! I hope that you like it. Once it gets going it is really good!
La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads... said:
Pretty cover!
I’ve stopped requesting books at NetGalley because it’s just too much pressure. I mean, it’s fun to read ARCs before the rest of the general public, but with great power comes great responsibility… 🙂
Molly Mortensen said:
I have a pretty covers weakness!
I try to be selective with my arcs but the ones I wanted were all so far ahead (release date wise) after I had a mini slump they really piled up on me. Arcs are great for me because otherwise I’d have to wait until my library got the book (if they got it)
alexraphael said:
What a wonderful cover. Glad you were able to get into it 🙂
Molly Mortensen said:
Thanks! I might have a pretty cover weakness.
alexraphael said:
🙂