Midnight City

Conquered Earth #1

by J. Barton Mitchell

In a post-apocalyptic world controlled by alien invaders, two teens and a young girl with mysterious powers embark on a dangerous journey. What they find will change everything...

Earth has been conquered. An extraterrestrial race known as The Assembly has abducted the adult population, leaving the planet’s youth to fend for themselves. In this treacherous landscape, Holt, a bounty hunter, is transporting his prisoner Mira when they discover Zoey, a young girl with powerful abilities who could be the key to stopping The Assembly. As they make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, the trio must contend with freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and perhaps most perilous of all: Holt and Mira’s growing attraction to each other.

Midnight City is the breathtaking first novel in the Conquered Earth series, and a stunning work of imagination from debut author J. Barton Mitchell.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Aliens, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Adventure

392 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Brigid ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can also read this review on Flying Kick-a-pow! Reviews.

An alien race known as the Assembly has taken over the earth. All the adults are gone, having succumbed to a telepathic alien signal called the Tone, but everyone under the age of twenty is still able to resist––which means the fate of the world lies in the hands of teens and children.

Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter, pursuing a treasure seeker named Mira Toombs who has a massive price on her head. Holt soon is able to capture her, but the two of them have an instant connection that he didn't expect. On top of that, the two of them find a crashed Assembly ship in which they discover a little girl named Zoey. And for some reason, the Assembly seems to be after her.

The three of them start off on a journey to the underground Midnight City. Along the way they encounter mutants, artifacts with strange powers, pirates, and––of course––aliens. And at the same time, Zoey is starting to demonstrate otherworldly abilities––which Holt and Mira believe might help to stop the Assembly forever.

Midnight City was, in some ways, a surprising read for me. I wouldn't say it's extremely original, because there are a lot of typical tropes in it. What surprised me was that I actually became pretty invested in it. While the beginning was a little strange and confusing for me, about halfway through I became hooked. This is one story that really gets rolling and never slows down.

It didn't surprise me to learn that the author comes from a screenwriting background. The book definitely has an action-movie feel to it (which is a good thing in some ways, and not so good in others). It's very fast-paced, plot-driven, and focused mainly on action. What mostly kept me reading was that aspect of it––that the plot never came to a stand-still and there was always something happening.

In addition to that, I liked that there were so many different elements to the story. J. Barton Mitchell creates a very crazy world with a lot to explore in it. Sometimes it felt like it was almost too much, and the explanations of it all weren't extremely clear, but at least it kept things from getting boring or repetitive.

However, there were times where Mitchell falls into some pretty bad info-dumping. For example:

The Tone turned most people who heard it into the Succumbed, the mindless slaves of the Assembly. But for others it had unexpected effects. The Heedless were one: people like Holt who were immune.

Then there were the Forsaken. People who didn't Succumb to the Tone, but rather were driven completely insane by it, reduced to horribly violent, animal-like monstrosities. They were drawn to one another somehow, lived in commune-like groups in various parts of the world. At least that was what the stories said. Few who found them lived to tell about it.

So, I think you can see what I mean. There were some instances like this that were just long rants which dumped a lot of information and random new terms on the reader … and those were not fun to read.

The characters were pretty iffy for me. At the beginning of the book, I really disliked both Holt and Mira. They were just total assholes to each other all the time––since, you know, Mira was Holt's "prisoner" and he kept like, tying her to trees and shit (how kinky).

As the story progressed and they kind of fell out of that captor/prisoner thing, they became less annoying and I liked them a bit more. And I could see that the author was trying hard to give them convincing backstories and everything. But … I still just didn't feel much sympathy for either of them. They just didn't have very strong personalities and came off as being more like props to propel the story forward and not as people with a lot of depth. Not to mention, it was pretty clear from the first time they met each other that they were going to fall in love and all that jazz … so, their romance wasn't all that compelling for me.

And honestly, I couldn't stand Zoey. She really annoyed me. It's very difficult to pull off a child character, despite what most authors seem to think. And in this case, I didn't think it worked. Zoey is one of those cringeworthy little kid characters who just sounds completely robotic and creepy all the time and … I guess it's supposed to be endearing? Well, anyway …

That brings me to another major problem, which is that the book was full of too much random convenience. Basically every time the characters are in a disastrous situation, they get out of it via a) magical artifacts that Mira has, or b) Zoey's random superpowers. It got to the point where the story was losing the suspense factor, because every time something bad happened, I was just like, "Oh, Mira will whip out a magic rock or Zoey will do something magical, and the day will be saved." I remember being taught back in middle school English class that if you're going to write fantasy, magic can't solve every single problem in the story. And, well, that's kind of what happens in this book.

But even so, I did find myself enjoying this book most of the time. While the characters are a bit on the boring side, at least the story had a lot going on and it was exciting. And there are still a lot of important questions to be answered, like:

- What's the deal with Zoey? What's with the super-duper powers and stuff?
- What's with all that weird stuff the Oracle showed Zoey?
- How did Holt become a bounty hunter and all that stuff in the first place?
- Do any of these characters eat anything besides cupcakes?
- How does Max (Holt's dog) live off of only eating candy (which, not to mention, can be poisonous to dogs)?

Okay, the last two were jokes. But, you get what I'm saying.

So yeah, even though this first one was a little "meh" for me, I will probably read the sequel.

P.S. I kept getting this song stuck in my head the whole time I was reading this. Also aliens seem to be the "NEXT BIG THING" in YA. Hmm.

- Flying Kick-a-pow! Reviews

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Young Adult Fiction these days is split very neatly into multiple genres, multiple “types” and multiple shelves. Yet, every so often a book will come along that doesn’t have one genre, one “type”, or one shelf it belongs to. If anything, it belongs to all genres, all “types” and all shelves. In my opinion, Midnight City is one such novel. While it is primarily a dystopian, it contains its fair bit of supernatural elements, action, survival, and romance. Yet, it would also equally appeal to all ages and genders and is one of the most unique tales to have been written in the past few years. In other words, I didn’t think it could go wrong and I am thrilled to report that I was right – it didn’t disappoint.

It has been eight years since an alien race, The Assembly, has landed on Earth and wiped out the entire adult race. Now, children scourge the dead lands, struggling to survive until The Tone, a deadly disease that caused the entire adult generation to become brain-washed and walk into airships of The Assembly, takes them too. Holt is a young bounty hunter running away from the price on his own head and struggling to survive, but he contains rare genes that have enabled him to escape The Tone and live to old age, alone and surrounded by young children. When Holt manages to catch Mira, a freebooter with more than a few tricks up her sleeve, he also unwillingly rescues Zoey, a young girl, from a fallen Assembly airship. But, transporting Mira and Zoey, along with his faithful companion dog Max, is more than Holt bargained for and as he will soon find out, the Assembly is after him. Or rather, after Zoey, an eight-year-old girl who may just have the power to destroy the alien race once and for all.

I’ll admit it - Midnight City exceeded even my highest expectations of it. I was sucked into this rich, futuristic, and original world that Mitchell had created and I didn’t want to leave. In fact, one of the main aspects of this novel that truly struck me was how complex and cleverly written the world-building was. It wasn’t all dumped at you in one go, but it also wasn’t withheld for too long. Mitchell gives you just enough information at just the right time and employs the ‘show not tell’ method very effectively in my opinion. This can especially be seen in the portrayal of his characters – he doesn’t tell us that Holt is strong and self-reliant, he shows us through his actions. He doesn’t tell us that Mira is kick-ass and brave, he shows us.

While Midnight City was very much a plot driven novel with a heart-pounding pace and something worse happening at every turn when you thought it couldn’t get worse, I admired how it was, in equal parts, a character driven novel. Mitchell tells his story in third person and shifts perspectives, allowing us to see into Holt, Mira, and even Zoey’s mind from time-to-time. I thought this was a purposeful literary technique that worked very effectively in further developing these characters. I really enjoyed how the pasts of Holt, Mira, and Zoey, an important aspect that truly helped shaped them into the fighters they had become today, unfolded slowly and methodically throughout the novel. In fact, by the end of Midnight City I felt as if I truly understood these characters very well, but not too well that I wouldn’t still be wondering about them until the sequel came out. I thought the pacing of this was perfect – not only in terms of the plot, but in terms of the character development as well.

I think one of the areas I was most apprehensive about before delving into this novel was the romance, but, like everything else about this book, I needn’t have been worried. Mitchell develops the relationship between Mira and Holt in a very realistic manner – they both know that they are captor and captive and in the beginning, they are more than a little hostile towards one another. Yet, as The Assembly comes charging down on them and their mission to survive becomes more dire and pressing than their current relationship of captivity, they began to slowly work together to keep Zoey alive and form a mutual respect and admiration for one another that slowly grows into something deeper. Yet, what I love the most about their romance is that they are not in love – there is still so much about each other that they don’t know and even the future of their relationship is very precarious, but they make the best of what they have. Furthermore, Mitchell truly takes the personalities of Holt and Mira into account. Holt, for one, is used to being alone, so for him to suddenly begin to care about not only Mira, but Zoey as well, is a huge leap of faith. I thought Mitchell developed this inner dilemma very well and realistically portrayed Holt’s growth, as well as that of Mira.

Ironically, despite the fact that Zoey is the most important character in this novel due to her special abilities, she has gotten the least amount of discussion time in this review. Yet, there isn’t much I can say about her. Zoey has powers that she doesn’t know about – she can sense other people’s emotions and has strong, intense gut-reactions that never lead her astray. Still, there is so much more to her than just that and the journey to seeing her mature, become brave, and face on her scary abilities head-on is nothing short of miraculous. Zoey is very easy to like and while she may be just a tad bit clichéd and too-good-to-be-true for an eight-year-old girl, I think it remains true to the type of environment she grew up in and her strange powers. Of all the characters, the reader still knows the least about Zoey, but I think I like it that way. I’m curious about her and can’t wait to see how much more she develops in the sequel.

For all my praise of it, Midnight City is, by no means, a perfect novel. I thought the pace of it sped up a bit too much after the half-way mark and as events began to occur at greater and greater speeds, the conversation, witty banter, and heavy details that nicely balanced out the action previously seemed to disappear. Thus, I found a couple dozen pages of the novel to be a little hard to get through. In addition to that, I thought that the intensity of feelings that Holt had for Mira were a little too strong. I suppose that, for a first love/romance, they remain realistic, but I was a tad bit annoyed that we knew the intensity of Holt’s feelings for Mira, but we were kept in the dark about Mira’s true feelings towards Holt. I suppose, in a way, it’s a bit of a cliffhanger ending, and it’s definitely one I can’t wait to find out more about. Furthermore, I found that the quality of the characters seemed to drop once the trio made their way into Midnight City. I know this was because the characters mentioned at that point in the novel were trivial, but I wish that the pace could have been slowed down just a tad bit to give them a bit more depth.

Nevertheless, these qualms are really only a slight dent in the creative masterpiece that is Midnight City. I am an avid Doctor Who fan, so of course, any novel about aliens was sure to go down well with me, but Midnight City proved to be far better than I thought. With rich descriptions, vibrant characters, and a break-neck plot that will leave you flipping the pages frantically, Midnight City is a fantastic and original new addition to the realm of dystopian fiction. It is definitely a novel whose sequel I am already eagerly anticipating and one whose world I am dearly missing. I cannot wait to immerse myself into this rich realm once again and cannot recommend Midnight City enough. It is a novel that has something in it for everyone and simply one that cannot be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like it On My Blog!

3.5 out of 5

I have many, many feelings about this book. A lot of them are good, like: "Ooooh, this is unexpectedly creeeepy!" or "This is an author who can write strong female protagonists!" but, sadly, some are along the lines of: "What the hell is going on?" and "Why aren't any of my questions -- most pertaining to key elements of the plot -- being answered?" There's obviously a lot of imagination and inventiveness going on throughout the nearly 400-page ARC I read, and some elements just aren't satisfactorily touched on enough to merit more than a 3.5/5 star rating. That all aside, I inhaled this book in under five and a half hours. I was glued to the pages from the first actiontastic chapter up until riiiight about 30 or so pages from the end, when Midnight City tried to do too much in too short of a span of pages. Missteps and unanswered questions aside, I really liked what Mitchell had to offer in this strong debut novel, and I would read it again.

The blending of post-apocalyptic and science fiction genres is not one I encounter a lot in my reading areas. I like both, but rarely seek them out, and the stark picture Mitchell paints with his almost-dystopic future is wholly unique for me as a reader. The scenario and mix of genres allows Mitchell to create a very engrossing, new type of setting, with a creative plotline to go along with it. I admit that I went into this with low expectations because I don't read a lot of science fiction about aliens, especially hostile ones -- they've scared me deeply since I watched Aliens when I was, oh, five or so. (Blame my sister --I surely do.) -- but Midnight City has an undeniably great mix of futuristic tech, alien life forms, and creative mixes of all the above, which was more than enough to make me see past my alien-bias. While not everything about the story is explained as well or cohesively as I'd have liked or enough to inflate my rating (like the artifacts and the Strange Lands), the bare bones laid down here are surely to be explained in the forthcoming sequels. Or so I can fervently hope -- what I can forgive in an introductory novel is far more than in subsequent novels.

Third person limited can be tough to pull off, especially in YA and especially with more than one character used to narrate the story. Not so is the case here; though Mira and Holt are always at a bit of a distance from the reader, it's quite easy to invest in and care about these two characters struggling to survive and do the right thing in a world gone mad. And it's impossible not to love Max. I appreciated how deftly Mitchell portrayed his protagonists: both are sharp, cunning, and resourceful, though in vastly different ways. The author obviously takes time and care to illustrate their respective strengths and weaknesses, very rarely falling into the trap of "telling" instead of showing. Their relationship is complex and doesn't rush headlong into tropes or cliches; refreshing for a YA novel indeed. From a captor/captive situation to uneasy allies to friends with sparkly feelings, the evolution of Holt and Mira's connection felt both organic and natural for both. This is definitely more of aplot-driven novel, but all of the main characters from Holt to Mira to "the Max" to Zoey can more than hold their own.

Midnight City was easily coasting along at about a 3.75 or even a 4/5 rating for me, until the very end. What had been an adventure at an even pace for 350 pages turned into a madcap rush to the finish line. The ending thirty or so pages were a chaotic mess of unexplained happenings and no clear sense of what was going on. I was super confused, and then, pretty damn frustrated with a novel I had been thoroughly immersed in, just chapters before. Chaotic and much faster in pace than anything that had come before, I was let down by the final climax and that cliffhanger of a denouement. There are so many unanswered questions once the final page is turned and they felt like a glaring omission. For instance: why was Holt on the run from the Menagerie/have a bounty on his head? What was Ben's relationship with Mira? How/why can Zoey do the things she can do? [The 'few' memories felt like a cop-out and explained NOTHING!] Why are the different factions of the Assembly fighting one another for/over the eight-year-old? It's just too much left vague, hanging open to interpretation, and also feels like an easy way to ensure readers continue with book two.

Simply put, the first Conquered Earth novel wasn't a perfect novel, but I really liked it. J. Barton Mitchell is an even-handed storyteller: able to ramp up the tension with several hair-raising action scenes while still majorly bringing it with the cast of diverse, individual characters. I'll be more than interested to see what he dreams up for the group of hardy survivors, and hope that his talent as a writer continues to grow. Midnight City is entertaining, unique, and wholly readable. Engrossing even - fans of Ender's Game and other YA alien scifi favorites would do well to pick this one up.

[Cassi Haggard · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

Midnight City is a book that frustrated me. It advertises itself as a dystopian, alien-invasion science fiction novel. And while it's most certainly a dystopian and there seem to be aliens, it's by no means a science fiction novel. Instead it's a melding of dystopian alien with fantasy, yet it refuses to acknowledge that.

Science is one thing. Magic is another entirely. I love them both but you have to know which one you are writing. Key to this novel are these things called"artifacts" that are made from "Strange Land" objects.

"It takes three types of artifacts to make the most basic combination," Mira began. "First you need a power source which is always two Strange Lands coins of the same denomination. The higher the denomination the power powerful the artifacts. Coins also determine the 'polarity' of the artifact combination. Placing them with the same sides facing out is 'negative'.

I'm sorry that's not science. It's not even believable fake-science.

"The artifacts were the closest thing the world had ever had to magic."

That's because they are magic. It doesn't matter if Mira studied them or if they use words like polarity, there is no other explanation for the artifacts. Yet the book continues to say there is no magic, or they don't believe in magic, when everything key to the book has absolutely no scientific explanation. Even the climax of the novel depends upon this shoddy science/magic and that frustrated me.

This is not the only problem with the book. I had trouble believing the characters as well. Holt Hawkin's is supposed to be this gruff, tough bounty hunter. For someone who's personal mantra is "survival dictates" (this phrase gets annoying) he's a bit of a pushover. For him to survive to age 20 (a rarity) in this post-apocalyptic world, especially being an experienced bounty hunter, it seems like he would need to be a little harder. The fact that a girl with pretty eyes can effect him so much makes it difficult to believe his backstory as a bounty hunter.

The writing is also lackluster and clunky. Take this phrase for example: ""Did you see them? They were red!" Mira yelled down at him from the tree on the incline." Placed plop in the middle of an action scene, it bogs everything down. It would be better with less words, especially since the tree being on an incline isn't necessary to the plot. It feels like the author is trying to force you to see the same image that's in his head even when it's not important.

There was time when this book got the pacing right and it was readable, but overall it just didn't feel worth it. When I read a science fiction book I expect science. New dystopians need to be GREAT because they are following in the footsteps of The Uglies, Hunger Games, Chaos Walking and everything that comes before. You need characters that sweep you off your feet or mind-blowing revelations or something special to make your novel stand out. This one just doesn't.

An advanced reading copy of this was provided by the publisher through Netgalley

For reviews and more check out my blog Galavanting Girl Books

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read and just as good as the first time. Great YA dystopian!

Right up there with The 5th Wave. Fantastic.

[Leilaniiii]

I’m currently watching Sunny Kim’s new video and literally saw her talking about this and I was like why not😍!

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

13494718

Amazon / Goodreads

Lord of the Flies meets War of the Worlds in J. Barton Mitchell's alien-invaded post-apocalyptic world where two teens and a youngc girl with amazing powers must stop the aliens’ mysterious plan

Earth has been conquered by an alien race known as the Assembly. The human adult population is gone, having succumbed to the Tone---a powerful, telepathic super-signal broadcast across the planet that reduces them to a state of complete subservience. But the Tone has one critical flaw. It only affects the population once they reach their early twenties, which means that there is one group left to resist: Children.

Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter, and his current target is Mira Toombs, an infamous treasure seeker with a price on her head. It’s not long before Holt bags his prey, but their instant connection isn’t something he bargained for. Neither is the Assembly ship that crash-lands near them shortly after. Venturing inside, Holt finds a young girl who remembers nothing except her name: Zoey.

As the three make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, they encounter young freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and the amazing powers that Zoey is beginning to exhibit. Powers that suggest she, as impossible as it seems, may just be the key to stopping the Assembly once and for all.

Midnight City is the breathtaking first book of the Conquered Earth series.

I love the characters. They're all really interesting. Neither of them are the same. They have special personalities. Great ones. And special powers.
Colt is brave. He's strong too. He has a motto. Survive. And his past is dark. His sister especially. I like that. Colt is a great guy. A nice guy even. He pretends like he doesn't care. But he does. I like this tough guy not really character. It's pretty awesome. I've sucker for tough characters. They have secrets. Reasons for being tough. Colt's is his sister. And he becomes more and more fascinating. He is someone else. A caring person. A loving person even. And that's amazing.
Mira is smart. I love her cocky personality. She's such a cool person. And she is dangerous. And wicked smart. I like her personality. She's brave and daring. But she has secrets. Secrets in Midnight City. Demons in Midnight City. She has to accept them. And she's slowly turning towards the Tone. She's a fighter. Mira fights. Plus, she uses her knowledge like a sword. How to use different artifacts. How to take different artifacts. (Ehem. Chance Generator.)
Zoey is fascinating. There is just something about her. It's not her childish personality. Well...maybe. Her childish personality contradicts her words and the feelings. It's as if she doesn't care. I'm not sure who Zoey is. She's childish, but she has the feelings. (Which I think is the Tone talking to her.) Who is Zoey? Is she Heedless? Is she human? (Was she never human to begin with?) There are so many questions. (Don't worry. You'll find out something later.)

The plot is great. Fast-paced. Mysterious. Daring. It's fascinating.
The story kept me going. I want to read more. The action is good too. It was fast. The characters were fighters. That made their fights better. (If that makes sense.) The plot also reveals things about all three characters. Emily. Ben. And the Apex. All these things are revealed. They change the characters which change their actions which affects the plot.
I do think there is a problem, though. They don't really go outside of Midnight City. Why is that? They don't think about running until it's too late. I feel like Mira could have avoided this by leaving. (Or not returning.) Then again...you wouldn't find out part of Zoey's backstory. And the inhabitants of Midnight City are all focused on their Points. Is that resemblance to today's society? We're all in love with our money. Is that implying anything? I'm unsure of the truth. I want to say this is an economic thing. Not sure, though.

The romance isn't bad. It's kinda cute actually. I'm a huge fan of enemy-turned-lover. (I don't know why.) And this is a good example of it. I like how the characters don't rush. It's slow and gentle. And it's not you can't see the chemistry. It's definitely there. You can see it.
What I don't like is that Holt seems fixated on Mira's physical attributes. I think it's okay for the emerald we this. That's important to the story, the Tone and all. I get it. Nice lady figure means you likey. Okay okay. But really? Physical looks aren't all that important. Not to me, at least.

I actually liked the premise. The world has ended. There is the Tone. The only people exempt? Children and the Heedless. We have Mira and Holt. A Freebooter and a bounty hunter. And Zoey. They are all interesting characters. The story has many terms. Freebooter. Spiders. Osprey. Many things. And the world is different. There are stories with alien types. But this story is different.

The ending...wow. What a surprise. What a reveal. I loved the ending. In a way. This story was so open ended. Lots of things could happen. Or not happen. Seems interesting, right? Indeed. I think the ending really highlights Zoey's importance. And how she is more powerful than anyone else.

Weather:
Sunny with a few clouds
4/5

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s pretty unlikely to come across an alien book in YA fiction, which is part of the reason why I was so curious about Midnight City. I was also still catching up on Doctor Who when I picked this book up, so I guess you could say I was in a si-fi mood. Never the less, this book proved to be an interesting read with an easy-to-follow plot and an undeniably great mix of futuristic tech, alien life forms, unexpected mini villains, an interesting take on post-apocalyptic society and an unexpected romance.

For a first novel, J.Barton Mitchell did an excellent job writing Midnight City. Just by the way it was written you can tell that JBM is a really good storyteller. But although plot was easy to understand and the characters were really well written, I did have my problems.

Let’s talk about the characters. Holt is defiantly not your typical YA fiction hero. He’s not going to go out of his way to save people or do things because of “justice” or “it’s the right thing.” He does everything because of survival, and really- he’s a bit stubborn. He has nearly zero hope for the future and his past life was a mess. It’s as if he’s locked his feelings and emotions away. Although, that all changes once he meets Mira Toombs.

Mira is the complete opposite of Holt, and the two of them don’t get along at all at first. Unlike Holt, Mira is reckless and always thinks things can change. Although she can be a bit hot-headed at times, she’s also very clever and determined, and almost serves as a mother-figure for Zoey. She’s also the biggest bad-ass in the whole book. Like Holt, Mira doesn’t have the greatest past- let’s face it. The world got taken over by aliens and she’s a wanted criminal. But she knows she can fix things, or she’ll at least try to.

Zoey is the mysterious little girl who’s sort of an enigma. She doesn’t have any memories and she doesn’t know who she even is. Zoey feels intimidated by the world that she’s in, but she wants to help and find her identity. She’s a little shy and depends a lot on Holt and Mira, and sometimes leads them into trouble, but she’s got a power that can save the human race- and that’s important. (You’ll find out what that it)

The character development was pretty good. By the end of this book, Holt and Mira are changed for the better and more and more is revealed as the story goes on about Zoey’s past. And the pacing was excellent- except for the last 30 pages.

I feel like the ending was rushed. The pacing for the whole book was perfect, but everything happened so fast at the end, when I finished it, I was just liked “What just happened?” I had to go back and re-read the end.

The plot was really good. I know the description sounds a little crazy, but everything that happened in this book just fit together really nice. The action scenes were exciting and were easy to follow, and were balanced out by the perfect amount of romance, mystery and si-fi. The aliens were also interesting, and they proved to be a major obstacle for our characters, although they weren’t the only villains.

There were some questions that remained unanswered by the end of this book. Like, what exactly did Zoey to break the dam? Or, what did the aliens do with the people that succumbed to the tone? And are the adults still alive? And others that would be spoiler-worthy. I’m assuming that they will be answered in the next book of the series (which will be released October 2013) but I closed this book feeling like at least some of them deserved to be answered.

Overall, I would give this book a 3.5 out of five, because although it had a good plot and strong characters, there were a bit too many unanswered questions and the ending was extremelycc rushed.

[Kendell Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in his Conquered Earth series, and I have to say I can’t wait for the next book. The way the author combined so many different fantasy and science fiction attributes was amazing. I would have to say this is an excellent combination of War of the Worlds meets Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter, a lone and a rare human on a future Earth that has been taken over by an alien invasion. 10 years ago, the Assembly invaded earth. Their ships drove into the earth like giant spikes. After a short series of battles, Earth’s defenses were quickly conquered. Most of the adults of the world were subject to the Tone, a signal broadcast to the matured minds of the world that slowly caused their eyes to turn solid black and drove the infected to immediately drop whatever they were in the middle of, abandon their lives and walk to the closest Assembly ship never to be seen from again.

Holt is a Heedless; a human that is for some unknown reason, immune to the Tone. This also means he was forced to watch everyone he ever cared about abandon him and walk into the horizon. Since losing his sister, Holts only friend has been his constant companion, Max the dog.
Holt is sent out to capture Mira Toombs, a Freebooter from Midnight City. After catching up to Mira, they are caught in the middle of an Assembly civil battle between the common variety of Assembly and a new faction, never seen before.

During this battle, a new type of ship appears and is quickly destroyed. It crashes into Holt and Mira’s campsite and after a quick investigation Holt finds Zoey, a young girl, not more than eight or nine years old, inside the destroyed craft. Zoey seems to have a sixth sense and can tell where the Assembly units are and also what Mira and Holt are thinking, but she remembers nothing of who she is or where she came from.

After a long, grueling chase the three make their way back to Midnight City, each with a different reason for being there. Mira goes willingly to save an old friend. Holt goes to turn in Mira and claim his bounty to buy his own freedom. Zoey is drawn there but doesn’t know exactly why. Upon arrival at Midnight City nothing turns out as expected.

Within the city walls our three travelers find deceit, truths, lies and love. Will Mira save Ben, the man she has risked her life for? Will Holt get his reward and gain his freedom to live his life out in peace? What of Zoey; who is she; where did she come from; what is in her future?

This action packed book tells the tales of the beginning and if the author can keep the rest of the series as engrossing and nail biting as this first book is, then it will surely make literary history.

[Trunatrschild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate really good books, I go through them so fast...
The story takes place about 10 years after some Aliens called the Assembly have come, reduced the adult population to zombies and taken them off someplace and children are left to run the place, battling the aliens and the Tone, some kind of mind control wave that seems to get them when they turn adult.
Let's see, Holt, an immune (to the Tone) young 20 something is a bounty hunter, his target is Mira and he plans on getting her, turning her in for the bounty and then getting away from a group of nasty customers call the Menagerie. We know ahead of time that he falls for Mira, he tries not to, but he does, that's pretty much old hat, but still, the author almost made it new again. Holt is on his way to get his bounty when he runs into Zoey a very special little girl, they snap her up because it's obvious that she needs protection and that there IS something about her. The bulk of the story is their trip to Midnight City and a little bit about Midnight City itself.
The characters are fairly complex for a scifi dystopia, not all just the last perfect people in a group of human animals, they have their weaknesses too, even some of the bad human guys have some redeeming qualities, mostly greed and survival, but they seem to be able to function as humans.
You never learn anything about the aliens, they are a big mystery, not just to the reader, but to the characters too, they never reveal themselves and the only weakness they seem to have is to water and some kind of conflict within themselves that no one understands either.
I give it 5 stars not because it will be a classic, it's awfully close, just missing by maybe a little more character depth, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do well, it's a premium dystopic sci fi, lots of action, cliff hanging and interesting ideas, I could barely put it down and it's not a book to read before bed....unless you're in a slow spot. I could even see a decent movie out of it if made properly. I hope he writes a good follow up, it's definitely stand alone, another aspect that I like, I really hate the modern series making machines, but I'd like to see another even better written follow up, I'd definitely get it.

[Kerry Nietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read quite a few dystopian novels lately (...check my reviews...) and I have to say I think "Midnight City" is one of the best. It is wildly imaginative. Yes, there is a touch of John Christopher's "Tripod" series here, along with a bit of H.G. Wells's "War of the Worlds," some "A Boy and His Dog", and even a little "Night of the Living Dead," but from those pieces J. Barton Mitchell has stitched together a truly unique story world.

The main characters of Holt, Mira, Zooey, and dog Max are genuinely likable and interesting. The situations they encounter, from outracing alien machines, to raiding an ancient nuclear reactor, to exploring a seemingly abandoned city, to finally arriving at the title city--all are gripping and fast paced.

The dialog is good, the action is great, and even the occasional flashback/dream sequence seem to fit perfectly into the narrative, and are necessary for the reader. (Not always the case with flashbacks. Often they grind the story to a halt.)

Another plus in my book, is that the author accomplishes all of this while keeping the story appropriate for all ages--and really--for all readers. In content, it is a soft PG. And it loads of fun. I especially like the twist of "artifacts". Very ingenious.

The only criticism I might have of the book, as a whole, is that there were a number of instances where the alien attacking force seemed to show up at the most opportune time. They became almost a Deus ex Machina, though one that fits with the story.

Another thing that bugs me is having to wait to see where the series goes next! :) Though the book has enough closure for a first book, it IS a first book. So if you like it, you'll have to wait for more. Hopefully not long.

[Nobonita - The Bengali Nomad · Rating 1 out of 5]

** I received a hardcover of this book from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.**

Stopped reading at pg 103.

Okay people,just because so many of you guys liked this book,don't take it out on me.This book had been on my wishlist for a long time.I'm a HUGE fan of apocalypses.I breathe Terminator. So it was only natural that I'd be excited for this one.And more so when a publicist from St.Martin's contacted me and asked me whether I would like to review this book.I said yes without missing a beat.Don't get me wrong.I tried to like this book.I tried A LOT.But I just couldn't do it.At page 103 I was like 'To hell with it!I can't do this anymore!So why am I torturing myself?'...and gave up.And I started this book on January 28th,that's saying something.I take less than a week to finish a book whereas I couldn't finish this one in almost THREE months!! I'm sorry,I really am.But this book just wasn't my type.I think the author made the book a bit too descriptive.In books like this,you're supposed to put in more action,not go on and on describing everything and make the protagonist's journey so slow paced!-another thing that killed the mood,I should point out.

I don't have anything else to say since I didn't finish the book and don't know what else happened but I'm just saying that it would be better if you proceed with this book at your own risk.

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating 4.5
(it would have been a five if the author hadn't made Mira still have possible feelings for Ben... that would mean a potential love triangle. How can she think of anyone else when Holt here is so awesome?.. well hey if she does decide she likes someone else.. well SCREW HER! Holt can find tons of better people because he is so worth it ).

Okay so other than that this book is pretty amazing.
The only thing i didnt like was when they were "traveling" how did they eat? that would have been nice to know.. would have made it a bit more "realistic".
But other than that no complains.. i absolutely adored this book.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a bit more from this book, but it wasn't too bad overall. The main drawback was I felt as though I never really connected with the characters. I especially thought Holt's character was somewhat forced.

There were a couple of times when I got caught up in the action and couldn't wait to read more. I was a bit spooked by the scene where Holt sees the human claw marks on the walls in the pharmacy. Overall, I thought the story was quite original. I loved the Landships and the floating trading posts. I eventually intend on reading the next book in the series. I've heard things get even better :).

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. There was a very interesting storyline and plot, that developed a great story. Many parts in the book were good, and I only disliked the fact that the author switched the character views right when they got to a good part. Very good though, I recommend to anyone.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

HECK. YES.

[Elena-Loredana]

The story sounds interesting although it was not enough to keep me engaged. Starting this book while I was in school also played a role in my decision to not finish it. Plus, I do not see myself picking it up again.

[Rebeca · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. This. This.
That's all I can really say. I just absolutely ADORED Midnight City and it was a great first alien-invasion book! Because, honestly. Are alien invasions usually interesting? Not to me. They sound to cheesy and cliche. But when I heard about Midnight City? I hesitantly took a chance on it. And oh my goodness! It was just amazing and stunning and nothing like I expected! Just, in a good way of course!

The plot was so the best part of this novel. It was SO action-packed and I just had no idea what Mitchell would throw at me next. And honestly? I wouldn't even try to figure out what was happening next! There's absolutely no way you could get anything right! It was just that filled with twists, and it was just...let's just say it's been a while since I've come across a plot where literally everything was unpredictable (except the romance. Psh.)
It was definitely fast paced and just...wow. By page 1, when the Menagerie finds Holt and they're attacked? WOW. And when he meets Mira? Talk about an impression! Just for the plot, read it. Still not convinced? Read on, thou which is hard to convince.

Romance? Definitely the opposite of insta-love, I squeal to say! It wasn't until about what? Three hundred pages when they finally kissed. Or later. But throughout the entire book, it went from hate, to respect, to allies, to friends, to like, to llooovvveee. And yes, I did just roll the word! It was just so squeal-worthy to see how reluctant they were to admit their feelings. And I just loved their pace! It was more realistic than most Young Adult books (taking up almost the entire book is pretty non instant isn't it?) and it was just...refreshing, for lack of better word!
And Hunter? SWOON is all I can say.

The characters I just absolutely positively loved. Or, more accurately, I absolutely positively loved Zoey and just loved Hunter and Mira! Zoey was all smart and zen and no, I didn't find it weird at all...after all, she is the Apex. Although, you don't know what that means, so it's totally not a spoiler. And she just had this...way about her. She was the mix of an innocent 8-year old girl, and this powerful, all-knowing seer or something. And it was just awesome seeing her go from one to another so seamlessly.
Mira was, and is, one of my favorite female leads. She wasn't just smart, she was resourceful. She wasn't special in a certain way--she was only different because of her resourcefulness! And like I've said continuously, it's been a while since I've read about a non-special/outstanding character with rare powers. Although...well, you'll just have to read and find out! Mira was a strong character that wasn't afraid to admit she was scared, but did something about that threat...basically kill or emancipate that threat. But, you know.
Hee. Hunter. I loved Hunter, though not as much as I loved Mira! He was definitely strong and protective? YES. And he and Mira fit together like puzzle pieces; where one was weak, the other was strong, as cheesy as it sounds!

An AMAZING debut that I absolutely loved and had NO qualms about whatsoever. Usually aliens aren't my thing. After all, it's just a bit...well, it's too nerdy-sounding for this nerd! But Midnight City definitely made me want to read more alien-orientated books! This is definitely a book for all sci-fi/apocalyptic fans or anyone who's looking for their first intro to the genre! It will not disappoint, I can almost guarantee!

[Ahri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted @ Black Lilies Are Deadly

I first learned about “Midnight City” through one of the blogs I frequently visit and upon seeing the cover, and reading its description, I just knew I had to read it and I’m definitely glad I did. I loved this book from the first chapter and that didn't change at any point in the story.

The pace of the book is very fast and action packed. Even when it’s “slow”, there’s always something happening which, in my case, means I was never bored. The author was very detailed in his descriptions and that helped me “see” better what was happening in the story as I read. I also feel the need to mention that although I tend to intensely dislike the overuse of flashbacks, or an author relaying on them as the primary storytelling device, I liked how these were incorporated into this story. They didn't feel out of place or overused and it definitely worked to move it along instead of weighting it down.

Another thing which kept me very interested in this book was the mystery surrounding Zoey and how I didn't have to wait for the second book, or an in-between short story or novella, to start learning about who she is and how important she is to the story. This doesn't mean the author gave it all away; there are still some questions that need to be answered.

I almost never like more than one of the main characters in a book, if I even like one, but in "Midnight City", I loved them all. I loved Holt, Mira, Zoey, and “the Max”. It was great seeing them grow, strengthen their bonds, and become a team, even possibly a family.

Something I usually have issues with in books is how females are portrayed. But all the females in the story were strong in their own ways, even the despicable ones like Lenore and Amelia. This made me love the book even more. Also, when what little romance there was in the story popped up Mira didn’t become completely boy crazy, just boy crazy enough, if that makes any sense. There’s also no dreaded love triangle, which I feared for a few pages would happen when a couple of characters appeared or were mentioned. This earned the book extra points. I do have nagging feeling maybe it will happen in the second book, but I’m not going to worry about that now. Although, I really hope there won’t be one.

“Midnight City” turned out to be one of those very pleasant surprises I find now and then. It was intense, moving, and interesting. I’ll even say it was one of the best books I have read this year. To be honest, I didn’t want it to ever end.

*An e-copy of this book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through a First Reads giveaway, here on Goodreads. This review originally posted to my blog:
http://destinydawnlong.wordpress.com/...

Midnight City is a science-fantasy novel set in a dystopian future where aliens have conquered earth. When the aliens invaded, they were able to subdue the human population through the use of a strong telepathic signal called the Tone. However, the signal only works on people once they’ve reached adulthood. The result is that children have organized themselves into a new society, doing what they can to survive until they finally succumb to the Tone. The story follows Holt Hawkins, a loner bounty hunter, whose only companion is his dog Max. But when Holt and his target, wanted treasure hunter Mira Toombs, discover a young girl in a crashed Assembly ship, his life is turned upside down. As the three companions make their way to Midnight City, they must evade feuding alien armies, deal with pirates, and escape mutants. Meanwhile the mysterious young girl, Zoey, starts to display amazing powers that just might be the key to defeating the Assembly once and for all. Holt must decide: is he going to continue to go it alone–or will he work with his newfound companions for something greater than mere survival?

Mitchell’s debut novel starts in the middle of action and never relents. It is a fast-paced and gripping story that I didn’t want to put down. The plot and pacing were both masterfully executed. And, yet, for as much action as there is, there are some wonderfully executed characters. Not only do they feel dynamic and real, but they also grow over the course of the story. It’s nice to see that sort of development in a work that is so heavy on plot and action.

I was especially drawn in by Mitchell’s world building. I loved the empty landscapes, the crumbling remnants of civilization, and the strange new settlements built by the surviving children. I liked the descriptions of the Assembly, cloaked in spindly-legged walkers, true forms always obscured. Even the descriptions of the Strange Lands, which are never visited in the course of this novel, still pop with life and energy. This world is broad and complete–especially the descriptions of the expansive cave metropolis known as Midnight City.

This is a compelling young adult read with elements of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy. It explores themes of alien invasion, survival, friendship, social organization, and morality, among others. Although the descriptions of the aliens were reminiscent of War of the Worlds, the overall story is refreshingly original. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for being such a strong and engaging novel. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.

I was hesitant to pick this one up since dystopians aren't usually my thing, but I was interested in the dynamic between a bounty hunter and his prey, and how the summary seemed to promise something different, something that would have me falling head over heels for the dystopian genre. Having read it, I'm so glad my spidey senses tingled. With its engaging writing style, depth-defying world and lovable characters, Midnight City is a distinctive addition to the young adult dystopian genre, and a new favorite of mine.

Midnight City was immediately engaging. Mitchell has a masterful command of plot structure, evidenced by the way he starts with external threats that bind the characters together, and then building to a threat that affects them all. And they were threats that mattered to the characters, that affected them directly. Every chapter had a conflict that made sense; nothing felt haphazardly thrown together. This kind of cohesion, in addition to breathtaking action scenes, kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.

The book came alive like a movie in my head. I could envision, with near perfect clarity, how these characters moved, thought, and interacted. What's more, every bond they formed made sense. The progression of their relationships weren't botched by a rush to get them to where the author wanted them. I could fully understand their goals, how they were shaped by their personalities, and how they would come to align. I cheered for them 100%.

My enjoyment of the story was only heightened by Mitchell's edgy writing style. Though a little rusty in some areas, it complimented the story perfectly. I liked how it sporadically alternated between points of view from chapter to chapter, giving the story a depth that otherwise would've been missed.

That was one of the best parts: the depth of the world. I liked how Mitchell built in the history naturally, without having to resort to dedicating a chapter to explaining how the world got to the way it was. I loved the detail that went into the Assembly, and into how the world had changed, without bogging down the story or making it too incomprehensible. It was easy to understand, and to admire.

Midnight City was an incredible dystopian, one that I would love to return to again. I'm so excited for the sequel!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Reading:
As soon as I saw post-apocalyptic and aliens together in the same sentence, I wanted to know more. Midnight City is unlike like anything I have come across before. Part alien invasion. Part post-apocalyptic. Each element blending together to create a read that is completely fresh and original.

Much of Midnight City rested on Mitchell's world creating skills. Before I really got into the read, I began wondering about this world's possibilities. I knew if done right, Midnight City could be an amazing read. But one wrong turn, could also as easily transform Midnight City into a hot mess. After reading a few pages, Mitchell's world creating skills began to show, and I was left in awe.

The beauty of Midnight City is that I have never come across anything like Midnight City. Oh sure, I have read plenty of alien books or post-apocalyptic reads, but none that have blended the two together in the way that Midnight City does. The fractions. The Strange Lands. The Forsaken (oh, my goodness, those things almost gave me nightmares!). All these little aspects coming together give so much depth to this read.

Awe-inspiring world creation? Check. How about our characters: Holt, Mira, and Zoey? The answer: just as wonderful. The gang (aka: Holt, Mira, Zoey, and (the) Max) were delightful. Each adding a new level to understanding of Midnight City's world. No two characters were alike. Each bringing their back stories to the table (eventually) to add a better understanding of how these changes have effected them. Holt being immune, carrying the guilt of losing his family. Mira losing her control slowly against the Assembly. Zoey, a child who has lost her memories, but could possibly hold the key to Earth's salvation. I could not have asked for a better set of characters.

Final Verdict:
I am 100% smitten with Midnight City. Midnight City completely swept me off my feet. I never expected to feel such a strong bond with this read. But it happened, and now I want to know as much about this world, and our characters as possible. Mitchell is a skilled writer. Giving just enough away about the plot and the world to satisfy, but leaving so many other details partially answered for tackling in later installments. Oh, how I wish I could have the next installment now.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh…wow.
 
Midnight City is one of those books that yeah you can list under Dystopian with a bit of Alien Invasion but to me it really took the best of both of those genres.  The dystopian aspect had that ‘I remember what life was like before...the bad thing happen’.  You get that sense of desperation, how people change, and that destruction of what is taken for granted.  The Alien Invasion had that really creepy feeling, similar to the ‘War of the Worlds’ with the walkers with claws that reach and snatch people.  The Tone, mind control of sorts from the invaders, took the adults and will eventually take the younger generation gave me that ‘mindless zombie’ vibe that really added to the creepiness of the book.
 
I loved the characters and how they evolved thru the book.  Holt Hawkins, the boy who is immune to the Tone, is a bounty hunter with a price on his own head.  He has a trusted companion in a dog named Max.  They are survivors on their own who cross paths with Mira , the girl with a knack for using ‘artifacts’ to get out of her own predicaments.  These artifacts are magical and I had to question the idea of having magic in alien invasion dystopian.  Strange but still I felt it enhanced the story and not overpower it.  Anyways, these three companions eventually discover the mysterious Zoey.  The o-so-cute Zoey who has apparently all the aliens on the planet chasing after her. 
 
I totally loved Holt and Max.  I felt they had that ‘Han Solo and Chewbacca’-like feel to them.  Holt is full on survivor mood with his guns and wit, but he has that soft side with a sad back story.  Max had that understanding companionship and he really felt like a true character in the book.  I kept wishing for him to survive thru all the action-pack, ‘Ugh! the aliens and zombies are after us’ scenes.
 
Personally I loved this book.  It was not so harsh on the bleak end-of-the-world dystopian and it had that alien invasion bit that really made for an exciting read.  The characters were likable, interesting, had that witty banter, and had you rooting for them to survive.
 
Big thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this Advance copy.  I’m definitely picking up a copy for my shelf when this book comes out late October.  Be looking for this one!

[Roberto Mattos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written book, with an intense story on loyalty, friendship, love and survival. The plot is quite simple and will keep you hooked from the first page to the end. Our hero is called Holt. He is a bounty hunter that has as his companion his dog named Max, and the currently highest prize is Mira Toombs, a treasurer seeker and freebooter. Earth was conquered eight years before by aliens and their domination is based on the transmission of a signal that they broadcast all over called Tone, and make all humans on early twenties and over to be submissive to their call to unconditional servitude. But there are a few that are immune to the Tone, like Holt. Mira is almost succumbing to the signal, having just some more months before turning herself to the aliens. Holt captures Mira, and a strong connection between them develops almost instantly, but he fights hard not to fall for her. After capturing her, an alien ship crashes near them and when investigating it, Holt finds its only survivor, an eight years old young lady that can only remember her name, Zoye. But soon they learn that the whole alien force is seeking Zoey and they figure out that she must be very special to draw all that attention. The story develops in a very intense thriller and the end is very unpredictable and leaves that feeling that we want more and very soon! This might turn out to be a very interesting Hollywood movie. It has all ingredients for an instant success blockbuster!

I recommend this book to the permanent library of all science-fiction lovers that wants to be entertained with a thriller story that will hook you from the beginning and you will read it on the edge of your chair. It took me around 13 hours to read the whole book. This book was written by J.Barton Mitchell and it was published by St. Martin's Griffin on October of 2012. Amazon.com was kind enough to provide this product for me through their Vine Program for reviewing and I was not requested to provide a positive review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

[B. McMichael]

In this sci-fi dystopian world, all of the adults are gone and the children are left to run the world. Holt is a bounty hunter with a price on his head but with a way out- if he can actually catch and keep the wanted Mira. Unfortunately, along the way, Holt and Mira find a child that changes everything. Now can they actually accomplish their goals to be free and keep the child safe at the same time.

This book is a well thought out world. The author piles down layer after layer in this future world filled with aliens and children. There are complicated systems everywhere from outside in the drowning plains to the caverns of midnight city, let alone the otherworld Strange lands. While this book is classified as YA, I don't think it actually had the feel of YA. Holt is supposed to be eighteen or nineteen, which is your typical YA age group, but he acts much older due to the world. All the characters had to grow up a bunch since they are all taken by the Tone by their late teens. It felt more like an Indiana Jones adventure than a YA book.

Good book and good sci-fi. If you are looking for YA though, this might not fit the bill.

[Billy Dominguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this type of genre and I picked up this book thinking the plot would be great. I mean how could you go wrong by adding on the fact the story is set between pirates, battling aliens, competing factions, powerful artifacts, and humanoids? Well for me the book was a mess and I wanted to put it down multiple times but forced myself to finish it. It was so damn boring!

***Spoilers***

-There are only less than a handful of main characters so adds to not much dialogue
-The book is 367 pages and through all through all that only 4 major events happen
-The invasion happened 8 years before the start of the book but there was never a clue as to why the aliens invaded or what they were still doing
-Some of the alien machines malfunctioned in water and the aliens seem to avoid water, ok... Earth is mainly water so I have no idea why alien invasion stories have water as an aliens weakness
-It was never explained what the survivors nor aliens lived off of or ate besides the eating of a Hostess Cupcake that was over 8 years old
-Not until 3/4 ways through do you get a sense of the main characters personality which makes it hard to even like or relate to them in any way

[Stefanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won my copy of Midnight City through GoodReads FirstReads. The premise of the story is basically that eight years before the story starts Aliens invaded and destroyed practically everything and then sent a telepathic thing called the Tone that made all adults compliant zombie-like slaves that abandoned everything and all their free will, leaving children under 20 to fend for themselves. Sounds interesting right? Well, it could have been if the author started at the invasion and not 8 freaking years afterward! There's too much back story that's sparsely peppered throughout the story that would've made sense if you didn't have to juggle back to the present so often. I didn't care about the two main characters Holt and Mira, they were boring and too arrogant, I did however like the crash survivor Zoey, and Holt's dog Max which Mira spent too much time despising for my taste, he's a dog get over it! I just couldn't get into the story because the author spent so much time describing their trek I just stopped caring.

[Stefan Eveline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mira is a badass heroine clever and brave and very protective with Zoey.She believe in frienship.She felt safe with Holt because he is is kind with her and save her when she needs him.
Holt is clever smart and have a strong personality. Holt is very protective with his dog Max and Max is like a true friend for him and he save him.He lost his sister ans his mother because of the aliens.He has a gift .He is Huelles that means he is immune to the Tone.He fell in love with Mira and he will do anything to protect her from the aliens.She understand him.
Zoey is a sweet and naive girl.She has a special gift and she needs Holt and Mira to protect her from the aliens because she can save the world.I like her.
I love the relationship between Mira and Holt because both are stubborn and smart and they are funny but they help each other.They are very protective with Zoey and they loves her.
The plot was very interesting.
Thanks to Net Galley for this arc.

[Luke Blanchard · Rating 1 out of 5]

A great example of a book not following the "Show, don't tell" rule for writing. I found myself rolling my eyes at this book so many times because the author didn't even bother trying to telegraph or foreshadow what was going to happen. The only foreshadowing was right after the first two main characters meet that it's extremely obvious what's going to happen between them later on in the book.

It's too bad, though, because the world this story is set in seems like it could have been very original and practically a character in its own right, but the reader is never allowed to think for themselves. And because of this there's no sense of mystery to draw you in.

I didn't bother to finish.