Land of Midnight Days

Silver Flute #1

by Katrina Jack

Ya urban fantasy

245 pages, ebook

First published August 16, 2012

About the author

I began writing fantasy fiction at the age of fourteen and have been mildly obsessed with it ever since. I completed my MA in Creative Writing, at Liverpool John Moores University. In the summer of 2009, HORIZON was shortlisted at the annual novel writing competition, Pulp Idol, part of Liverpool’s Writing On The Wall Festival. I also attended a weekend writing course at Ty Neywdd, Centre for Writing in South Wales, where all the finalists had one to one sessions with published author Jenny Newman. My main influences in the fantasy genre are: Robin Hobb (aka Megan Lindholme), Jim Butcher and David Gemmell. Hobb’s work is more indicative of classic fantasy, as is Gemmell’s and Butcher’s is a mixture of both classic and contemporary urban settings. These authors’ skills at world building, in my opinion, are supreme.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Land of Midnight Days is a story without the usual fantasy tropes, and the familiar elements (elves, ogres) are altered in such a way as to appear completely original creations. The hero is a lonely, mute boy, whose sole possession and tenuous link with an unknown past is a silver flute. The setting is out of the ordinary too. There are no orderly Hobbit-type Shires, desolate howling deserts or leafy, elf-filled forests; this is a mucky, violent, industrial city.

These are perhaps the story’s greatest strengths. The city is a character in its own right, ever-present and menacing. The underbelly of our large cities with their gang violence and underground economies becomes in this story the reality for everyone. There seems to be no escape from the street gangs, the despair, and dirt for the apathetic population. Into this grim, monochrome setting is introduced Jeremiah Tully, an engaging, intelligent waif-like boy who, as a half-breed, is an object of revulsion even in this city where nobody seems to give a damn about anything. Katrina Jack doesn’t clutter the storyline with explanations about the history behind her world. She doesn’t need to; we can all understand prejudice, and know it doesn’t need a reason.

This was my favourite aspect of the book, the atmosphere of indifference and menace, in which Jeremiah’s blundering search to find out who he really is seems doomed to failure. Circumstances push Jeremiah out of his fragile nest and into the maw of the city, and as he searches for clues that might lead him to a link with his lost family, the reasons for his very existence start to appear. The clues lead to real people and the action takes off into surprising realms.

If I were to make a criticism of this magical story, it would be that the introduction of the other characters in the second half occasionally seems rushed. Zebediah takes form gradually (and very surprisingly!), but the others appear already made; credible and original, but for that very reason I would have liked a bit more background about them. The action moves into a higher gear, and the intimacy of Jeremiah’s perspective has to take a back seat. But this is YA, there is a limit to the amount of introspection a younger readership will tolerate, and the action is very well done, ending with a fabulous, demonic tableau.

Land of Midnight Days is the kind of story that stays with you, and I am looking forward to reading the next instalment. From what we know of Katrina Jack’s world, we can be certain it isn’t going to be all beer and skittles.

See Katrina’s blog for details of where you can buy this wonderful book

http://kateannejack.wordpress.com/

[Nerdish Mum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgoodness this book sucks you right in and doesn't let you out until its done! Land Of Midnight Days is fast paced and action packed. I genuinely couldn't put this book down when I picked it up as I needed to know what happened next.

Jeremiah the main character is a half Elwyn/half human and a genius with the flute. He is an amazing character, he is broken but he refuses to give up. I think he is also the first mute character that I have come across and it was really interesting watching the struggle of trying to make himself understood when the other person couldn't use sign language. I thought this was all handled extremely well and the author also highlighted the presumptions that people have about differently abled people. I think the description in the synopsis of Jeremiah is perfect, he knows how to survive, but not how to live.

The characters are all fleshed out really well and there isn't a single character that I didn't find interesting. The author has updated elves, ogres and demons in a really interesting way and in a way to make them work in an urban environment instead of rolling hills and valleys. Apart from Jeremiah, I really liked the characters of Joe, Big Fred and I thought Ezra's character wasn't nice but was interesting. As a parent I just couldn't find anything redeeming in either Sylvan or Zeb as both of them let Jeremiah down in the worst way time and time again.

The world described is one of violence and of people just trying to survive. It is a very bleak place and one that can be recognised as somewhere we could end up one day. You can feel the hopelessness of the population, though there are spots of light that are shining through the darkness and hopefully they will be the one to succeed by the end of the story.

I'm not sure why I have never heard of this series before or why more people aren't talking about it. I would 100% recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy or urban fantasy. I will definitely be picking up the rest of the books in the series to find out what happens next to Jeremiah and the other characters.

Thank you to the author who provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.

For this and other reviews, please check out my blog http://lifeofanerdishmum.blogspot.co.uk/

[John Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katrina Jack managed to accomplish what I thought would never happen--enjoy urban fantasy. It was never a genre that I cared for. However, from the outset of her storytelling, I was won over. She clarifies the immediate tension via a `message' of hate. By describing Jeremiah's more slender-than-usual frame, we imagine what the Wannabes look like. The girl with the scar in the window was haunting and kept me interested in the plot. And then we have Ezra. Well, who could not move on to chapter two?
I love the line about Jeremiah: He knew how to survive but not how to live. The world Ms. Jack paints here, one of violence and apathy, is one we can relate to; as we likewise understand Jeremiah's weariness over contempt and bigotry. How compelling it is when the author then weaves in something beautiful.
Throughout, this tale keeps the reader riveted. I am glad that I obtained a copy of this. Three cheers for Land of Midnight Days.

[S.J. Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally read Urban Fantasy. Until a few years ago, I wasn’t even aware such a genre existed. I’m very glad I was able to read this book. It is so unlike any other books out there, which for me is a great thing. Kudos to author Katrina Jack for such an interesting and tightly weaved story.
I love music. I love the tie in to the story with Jeremiah and his flute. This is first in a series of books and I’m looking forward to reading the others with great anticipation. Be happy with what you have is amply illustrated here. Imagine never having anything good happen to you in your life, but you are happy just the same. That is our hero Jeremiah. This is a fast paced read with well developed and memorable characters. If music cured all ills, Jeremiah is all set.
I really enjoyed reading Land of Midnight days and have no hesitation in recommending it to others looking for something new and different to read. I hated this book coming to an end.

[Sue Moorhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dystopian fantasy, set in a futuristic city and modernising demons and elves and ogres in a highly original way. Intended for a YA audience but complex enough to interest any age. I took the book on holiday and couldn't wait to get back from whatever I was doing to read the next bit. A real page turner by a talented new writer, clever and exciting.

[JenMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to be sent this book for an honest review.
This book is folklore (elves and ogres) meets Dystopian fantasy. I was very impressed with this book. It was a fast read (in one sitting) and it was really enjoyable.
I quite enjoyed it, I'm looking toward the rest.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of the Silver Flute Trilogy and its main character is seventeen Jeremiah Tully, a thinly framed boy with a timid demeanour. He rents a room in a building and makes his living playing a flute that was given to him by his landlord on his ninth birthday, a gift from a mother he has never met. He was deposited on the steps of this building soon after birth and into the hands of its violent owner, Ezra, supposedly to ensure he would grow up big and strong. He has a role to play in a prophecy and is yet to find out about this!

He cannot speak, but his music manages to speak for him. He can sign, but most people he comes into contact with just deride him and use him as a punching bag or easy target. He is half human, half Elwyn and an easy target for those who dislike his breed. The city he lives in is becoming overcome by hordes of demon invaders and the police do nothing to stop them. Jeremiah lives a solitary life, with no friends, but plenty of enemies. He was deserted by his mother, but apparently has a half-brother Zeb, who also has secrets of his own to keep hidden.

There are elves, ogres, demons and other supernatural beings in this tale, but it is certainly not set in any sort of nice location, and all of the characters have to fight for what they want. Jeremiah has learnt how to survive, by mainly out running any that come after him, but he doesn’t have an actual life. The city is too dangerous is you have no money and an unsecure place to stay. Where violence is the normal. Demonic and extremely strong characters called Gangers dole out violence in the streets, followed by smaller youths called Wannabes, who as the name suggests, want to join the Ganger gangs and become more like them. They are not the only danger, but it is enough for most. There is a war coming between the demonic beings and the others such as the Elwyn and norms, ie humans.

The flute that Jeremiah possesses is very important and only he can close the gates to the Land of Midnight. The role of his mother Sylvan and his grandfather, who both have very specific ideas of what his role should be in the prophecy. What isn’t clear is whose ideas are being followed, as each party have their own agendas and these have been well hidden for years! Jeremiah may well end up as a pawn to be used by others, with no real knowledge of what his flute playing will really produce. He has been given a warning with the flute to be wary of playing a special tune and the damage it may do to him.

This is a future world, full of despair and very little hope for the normal person in this city. Each are just scrabbling for survival in any manner that they can, and if they have no place to live or no way of making money, they won’t survive for long. The strong are in charge and the weak will soon fall at their feet. Violence is almost the normal currency on the streets, with the police doing little to stop matters getting worse. Whether a different future will result from the actions of Jeremiah, Zeb and all his other colleagues in the battle for a better life, is yet to be seen. Jeremiah has a lot of growing up to do and to finally become the strong individual he was destined to be. An interesting read and a great look at a very different world, with some of the characters from fairy tales, front and centre in the action all around. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is a treat. The genre of urban fantasy or paranormal fantasy is very samey, but this story is a standout thanks to its originality. A real breath of fresh air.

The setting is wonderfully realised, deep, textured and intensely plausible. Rather than the usual crowd-pleasing settings of London, New York or Los Angeles, we are introduced to and immersed in a grimy, gritty, dilapidated coastal city. It remains nameless but is unmistakably set in Northern England. This is an unique alternative world, where humans (“Norms”) knowingly live alongside Elwyns, elves effectively and the last of the “magical races”, in a climate of deep prejudice. Humans also unknowingly live alongside demons (“Gangers”) who take the form of Mad Max style punks, and who are imitated by human thugs (“Wannabes”), who maintain an atmosphere of street warfare, lawlessness and deep anguish. And hidden even deeper in their midst are ogres exiled long ago from the Land of Midnight Days. The ogres want to summon more of their kin to conquer the world, and only a small band of knowledgeable Norms and unreliable Elwyns stand in their way.

The protagonists and antagonists are all complex and fascinating people, mostly intertwined by blood as well as destiny, all deeply flawed but strong willed, for whom the reader cannot fail to root. They mostly have fascinating backstories, and a very difficult relationship with their magical abilities and natures. However, I felt this could be explored much deeper, but the “young adult” orientation of the story stood in the way of what are very deep, grown-up themes. This, if anything, means I can’t quite give this review five stars, which otherwise are entirely deserved. The story has been held back a little by its intended audience.

Because this is “urban” rather than “epic”, the battle to save the world is small scale and personal, and all the more plausible and nail biting as a result. The only two weapons used are a magic flute and incongruously a Glock pistol. Everything else is brutal, thrilling street brawls. The ogres drive cars. The heroes use mobile phones (with nail biting issues as a result). It works so much better than anything more far fetched. The action is relentless and really keeps the reader on the edge of their seat to the end.

This story deserves to be much wider known. It truly is a hidden gem.

[Divya Mahajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Land of Midnight Days by Katrina Jack is a futuristic, dystopian world which has humans, ogres elves shape shifters and what else living alongside each other and also there are half breeds , racial tensions or rather breed tensions. this is a coming of age story of half eleyn Jeremiah whose only link to his mysterious lineage is a silver flute given to him on his ninth birthday otherwise he has a miserable life who knew to survive but not to live as per the book hated by the other people or other races and even his adopted father who abused him. But has a legacy and a prophecy to fulfill,
as the story unfolds we follow him as he tries to find his place in the world around him
The story is spellbinding and menace of discrimination is like out to get you but still there is hope is what the story is about
The only shortcoming for me was there was no rule book or guide to this world and there were too many characters and my head spun trying to find the inte weaving of these characters and also lost track of events
And most of the characters that were interesting were lost as there was no backstory to them but still it was a interesting read and look forward to next in the series

[Eva Lazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad that this is the first book in a series, and that there is more to come. I feel like this book does not only lay the groundwork for a sequel; a prequel would be suitable as well. The world as described in this book is rich in detail, from its inhabitants to its dystopian nature. As the story progresses we learn more about the nature and magnitude of the events the realm faces.

This was a satisfying book to read. There are characters to get acquainted with, there is enough drama to keep things interesting without being over the top, and even the best characters have some flaws to keep them as human as a fantasy book allows them to be. There’s a clear red line throughout the story, and while the romance in the book feels a little affected I cannot say it bothered me all too much.

I am excited to see how this story and its writing progresses over time. There is a lot of potential here!

[Sarah Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun read for me. It was quick and an easy page turner. It has lovely characters with a ton of world buikding.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tricia Drammeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd had the pleasure of reading a great deal of this book on a writing site long, long ago, but was never able to finish the book until recently. Wow! This book definitely lived up to all the wonderful things I'd heard about it from other readers. The story clips along at breakneck speed, never letting up for a second, as Jeremiah is plunged into unimaginable danger.

The author has created a world where danger lurks around every corner and the general population are so cowed by fear, that they won't rise up to defend themselves. It's a world populated by Gangers, Wanna-Be's, Ogres, and Elwyn. Jeremiah Tully, a mute half-Elwyn, faces constant hatred and prejudice. His life is dictated by a cruel and abusive guardian (Ezra) who provides Jeremiah a place to live in exchange for playing his flute at Ezra's club. As if ordinary life isn't dangerous enough, there is an epic battle is brewing and Jeremiah somehow finds himself at the center of it.

Jeremiah is a sympathetic character, but many of the characters who are supposed to be "good guys" are not very likable at all. The people who should have Jeremiah's best interests at heart sometimes become so caught up in Jeremiah's destiny, they forget he's a person in his own right. As Jeremiah struggles to survive, he is also facing an internal struggle as he realizes his life is full of secrets and disappointment.

I'd recommend this book to older teens and adults who enjoy complex, well-written urban fantasy. It's definitely worth your time reading. You won't be disappointed!

[Dee Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremiah Tully, the central character of this YA Dystopian Urban fantasy, is a 17 year old mute with an amazing gift. He is of mixed race, half human, half-Elwyn, one of many different races in this world. The action takes place in a dying futuristic city under attack from an ancient enemy. Jeremiah has been left a silver flute by his mother and this becomes his voice as he plays for pittances in order to survive the Gangers (demons) and Wannabes (copycat humans) who roam the city, bringing chaos and lawlessness. The story relates how Jeremiah grows and survives in his world and of the people who stand beside him to take on the evil bringers. The story is character-driven, fast-paced and very exciting. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barb McKinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of action and adventure for the young adult genre. It has believable characters with problems of their own that make them relatable.

My only real problem with the story is a lack of development in the different factions as well as the characters. I didn't feel connected as, other than general good vs. bad, demons take over, I really didn't understand the plot. One of the things I look for in a book is, did the book bring out emotion? Due to a lack of clarity, I didn't connect.

Young adults will enjoy the warring factions, violence and general mayhem throughout the book. I think Ms. Jack will be a good young adult book writer and each book will be better than the last. Keep writing.

[KS Faccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first paragraph I was enchanted into the world of Midnight Days. I felt as if this young urban science fiction/fantasy books was telling me about my world now… I could totally relate to not fitting in, to varied prejudice, to a shared reality in which you have no power or control, seemingly. I was so excited and refreshed to read this book. I am a used book dealer. I generally searched for holiday gifts in book stores and libraries, finding the exact perfect one. This book will be that exact perfect one for a few readers this year. Many thanks for the writing of the book Katrina (who can be found on both Facebook and Twitter). She is a real person, with real connections, that was indeed my favorite part of this book.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really different read, Land of Midnight Days entranced me. I like reading fantasy stories so when asked to read and review this one I was pleased to do so. Although the setting for the story is a really rather dreadful inner city, our hero is a strong character who makes a good role model for YA readers. Jeremiah faces a difficult situation with courage and strength which is sure to endear him to a variety of readers. I would be happy to recommend this book to older teen readers and adults who are looking for something a bit different in the fantasy realm.

[Amanda Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Keep in mind some of the spellings might not match up to what we are use to. The author is Australian and that is the reason. I will be reading the next book soon. I want to know what is going to happen.