The Midnight Throne

by Audriana Christian

Soren Kissinger has always been perfectly fine being human in a very non-human-centric world. By default, she has had a picture-perfect life in the Human Realm of Midengart. Soren has two parents who love her dearly, and she had a fantastic college experience where she met her best friend, Vana, and her toxic situationship, Willem. But on her 23rd birthday, Soren's life as she knows it begins to unravel, thread by thread. In a twist of fate and the touch of a magical charm, Soren's truth comes forth, and she realizes her entire life has been a lie. Soren was no human but a halfling. A prophecy outlines her fate and a dark one at that. The prophecy revealed three children who would change the world forever: A child born anew, A daughter of two worlds, and a child created. A dark queen and her even darker army have been hiding between the worlds, waiting for Soren to rise from her binding charm like a phoenix. The dark queen had turned the nine worlds upside down, burying the old gods as she went–and that was just the first part of her plan. Soren is the dark queen's last key to taking control of the nine worlds, and the queen will not go down without a fight. Soren must face her fears, hone her newfound powers, and, unfortunately, be trained and guarded by the notorious and insufferable storm-wielding Rhone Hitori.

Rhone is loyal to no court, a warrior for whomever he sees fit, whenever he sees fit—a Royal High Fae castaway who likes to hide in the shadows, not accepted by his creature race for his violent past. So, it surprised the realms when he agreed to this implausible task. Soren and Rhone reluctantly work together, piecing together the hundreds of years old prophecy, discovering Soren's abilities, try their best to ignore the chemistry between them and collect allies along the way: A Highland rebel spare prince, a forest nymph, and a long-lost cursed son of Odin whose secrets are more embedded into the prophecy than anyone could have imagined.

Every player is needed to fight the inescapable war dawning upon them, especially since Soren isn't the only new creature bestowed upon the worlds.

Rising from Ashes & Stardust. Tied by the Fates. Tempted by Desire.

It's a race to the end of the worlds. Who will get there first?

Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Did Not Finish, Fiction, Paranormal, Romantasy

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2024

About the author

Audriana is a lover of all things romantic and whimsical. When she was 9, she wrote her first book—that her grandmother promptly laminated and still keeps proudly on her bookshelf. Audriana has followed that love for writing her entire life, following in her grandpa's footsteps and finally becoming an author of a published work in March of 2024. Audriana is a teacher by day and a novelist by night. She is happiest curled up in her favorite chair with a cup of coffee and typing away into the wee hours of the morning. Born and raised in Northern Oklahoma, Audriana now resides in Oklahoma City with her husband and three fluff babies: a dog and two cats. In her off time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, cooking, and reading.

Reviews

[Mairi Swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why, oh why did it have to end in a cliffhanger? Why don't they tell that it is part of series? It's really frustrating! I was suspicious in the beginning with all the world building but continued to read it. And yes it ends in a HUGE cliffhanger. Also it reminded me a little bit of Acotar.

[Josclyn Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5
(but seriously, give me a 6-star option)

OKAYY, The Midnight Throne completely wrecked me in the best way possible. This book is a masterclass in multi-realm fantasy- packed with magic, a deliciously dark twist on modern Norse mythology, high stakes prophecy, and topped with some of the spiciest, most emotionally intense moments l've read in a while. You don't even know the definition of "torn" until you read this book! 😅

Now.. the love triangle. I'll admit I am usually a one man only, fated mates, touch her and I'll burn the world to the ground type of reader. I don't do triangles. But Audriana Christian??? She slayed it. It was written so well I found myself genuinely torn, emotionally wrecked, and SPEED reading by 50%. I was literally gripping the book like my life depended on it. I was torn in ways I didn't know possible.

AND THEN -dual POV? Laid gently into the second half of the book like a steaming hot bath after emotional war. I didn't know I needed it, but once I had it? Absolutely Life changing. & iykyk ❤️‍🔥(;

I'm truly in awe of how stunning this story was. There are still so many questions hanging in the air. So many secrets Soren is dying to uncover... and so am I. I'm so upset I waited this long to pick it up. @sammylou.reads you were right. throw the next book at my face please!

Audriana I need book two like... yesterday.

[sam | sammylou.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, WOW. What a stunning debut novel!!
I was instantly pulled in with the beautiful imagery. You have a lot of information thrown at you in the first chapters, but helloooo that's world building!! And it's done in such a way that makes you want to keep reading. I didn't feel like I had to force myself to keep reading to "get to the good part." It was all stunning ✨

Be prepared to fall in love with these characters!! UGHHH. Soren is my girl!! I can't wait to see her growth. There's a love triangle, so you get 2 dreamy MMCs. One isn't introduced until much later in the book and I wish we got to see more of him 😩 but I'm sure that's being set up for book 2.

THE PLOT TWISTS??
THAT CLIFFHANGER?? - HOW DARE YOU. I need more 😭

And "little terror"?? PLEASE ✋🏻 I'm a sucker for a pet name.

I ran to Amazon to buy a physical copy immediately after reading. I'm OBSESSED.

"𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪,"

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✨ love triangle
✨ fated mates
✨ morally grey mmc
✨ norse mythology
✨ magic
✨ dual pov (halfway through)

[Jessy Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh If I could rate this book more than 5 stars I would. It is hands down one of the best books I have EVER read. My number one favorite?

Maybe.
(^see what I did there, iykyk)
It definitely has the potential depending on how the rest of the series goes!

Anyways, between the magic system, the epic world (multiple worlds at that ) building, the different magical elements, the imagery, and THE SPICE 🥵, this book was PERFECT. The FMC was feisty & brilliant, and the 2 MMC’s were both a DREAM and I have never been so torn in my life.

If you’re into
🖤Norse Mythology
🖤Morally Gray MMC
🖤Fated Mates
🖤Prophesies
🖤Slow Burn
🖤SPICE
🖤Winged Males
🖤Shadow Daddy
🖤Love Triangle
Then definitely read this!

Oh & it ends with a major cliffhanger so 🫠 I’ll just be minding my own business waiting for book 2😩

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm shook yall! My intuition kicked in pretty early but my goodness, that ending!
Full review to come after I've had time to freak out and then collect myself. (vvv)

Okay let's get this review started! We've got a human realm, an in-between realm, fae forests, three fates sisters(one is evil), we've got wild magic and lots of trickery. Plus some insufferable fae males. 🤣

Soren has been living in the human realm as happy as can be till a painting appears in the closet of her new home. She knows of magic and all the other fae creatures but doesn't realize the significance of the art she holds. A woman, a fae man and a baby. Very regal looking and 500 years old. This all just the beginning of a journey she must embark on to figure it who she truly is.

I feel like of I say anymore I'll give away too much. This was such a fun story. I was fully engaged all throughout and on the edge of my seat from 70% on to the end. It ends on a cliffy with lots of big reveals that left me screaming NO! I need book 2 now! 😭😭😭

Cool magic systems
Not 1 but 2 hot fae mmcs 🔻
Realms in the balance
War on the horizon
Possessed dark creatures
Missing friend
Magic training
Fun side characters

I'm really hoping for some "who's afraid of little old me" action in book 2. I'm ready for our girl to come into her full potential.

[kiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this book!!!

I was hooked from the first page! The world building was very thorough, the magic system was intriguing & unique. the main characters--OMG!!! I love Soren!!! I also love a good slow burn fantasy romance book AND the hint of a love triangle!! I need book 2 ASAP especially with that ending! Such a beautiful debut novel, 100% recommend.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
• fated mates
• love triangle (!!!!!! screaming !!!!!)
• unique & intriguing magic system
• slow burn romance
• morally grey mmc 🤭
• modern norse mythology

[Lyndsey Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had the pleasure to read this book before it’s released and I just want to say You’ll fall in love with each and every character, they are all so vibrant and lively! You will be on the edge of your seat cheering for Soren! A Crazy cliff hanger that will destroy you and want you to get the next book immediately! This fantasy novel is fast paced and all things that other readers look for in a quality fantasy/romance!!

[JayRaeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙, 𝙎𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙣. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩.
‌
So… I have a bad long term memory. 🫠
I have a good short term memory though. And I can remember feelings long term.🤣
‌
That being said, I read this book for the first time nearly three years before it was published. An unfinished ARC. And it was amazing. I was literally begging for more chapters.
‌
Fast forward to three years later, it’s finished and published, and I read it again. I forgot it all, so it’s like I’m reading it for the first time and… I love it even more. 🫶🏼
‌
The Midnight Throne has wonderfully descriptive writing that masterfully immerses the reader in the setting and makes you fall in love with the characters.
‌
Soren is fantastic. A normal girl living a normal life. Until she finds out she’s the one that needs to save the worlds. The love interests dynamics are crazy! And when the romance hits about halfway through the book it’s spicy! 🌶️
‌
If you like:
•Wingspan
•Norse mythology
•prophesies
•fast paced fantasy
You’ll love this book.
‌
The world building is fantastic. And not just one world, WORLDS, the author built and described multiple worlds and hinted at others that she better provide more books set in. 9 worlds! I better get at least 8 more books or we’re going to fight. ⚔️🤣
‌
Also, a small subtle thing that I enjoyed is that later on in the book, it becomes dual POV. And when it is Soren’s perspective, the chapter starts out with this gorgeous seer looking art. ✨ When a chapter is Niklas’s POV it starts out with a dragon looking art. 🐉
‌
The twists, yes you heard that right, numerous twists, at the end had me feeling all the emotions. And that cliffhanger destroyed me 🫠 can I have the next book now please?

[Kyra Taracena · Rating 3 out of 5]

what did I miss?

I want to apologize in advance for this review because I really really wanted to love this book, but I finished it and immediately thought “wow that something”. I wish that we had gotten some dual POV from the beginning versus just the last 70% and I found the storyline just really messy to follow. I still don’t entirely understand the three sisters but there’s also a dark king and there’s a fusion of Norse gods in there… it just felt very messy.

I think Soren was a good character and I like that she could hold her own, but why was she constantly putting out for a guy only when she was angry or upset? That seemed just icky to me.

I’m honestly on the fence on if I would read the following books for this series because I just really think that this book could have been put together in a more clean manner.

To the author, I am so sorry that this just wasn’t a good fit for me as a reader, but I hope you can take this criticism and it will help you to create more stories in the future!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read with slow burn spice, forced proximity, prophecies, a love triangle, mixed with some Norse mythology. There is a lot of world building and description, which at times is a bit too much.  I felt like Soren, the FMC, was a bit petulant at times and it was a bit difficult for me to really enjoy her character. Overall, I enjoyed the plot of this book and the cliffy at the end is something else!

[Reese 🌌💙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I feel as though this book was a little bit clunky, it felt as though there was a lot going on and then there was twist upon twist upon twist. I enjoyed the plot line and I liked that there was a bit of Norse mythology hooked in to it.

I feel as though I wasn’t the biggest fan of Soren. I felt as though I couldn’t massively connect to her. I did enjoy the other characters and I feel as though this has a lot of potential to grow as a series.

[Marica Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had everything I could ask for in a book! Romance, mystery, thrill, and a PLOT TWIST? Not one, but TWO? It had me locked in in the first chapter. A must read for your 2024 TBR.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟
🌶🌶

Tropes:
2 POVs
Love triangle
Slow burn romance
Fae, wizards, and othe creatures
Contemporary Fantasy
Fated mates
Norse mythology
FMC

If you loved Throne of Glass, A Court of Thornes and Roses, and Lightlark.... this is a book for you!

It follows the story of Soren, a half-ling raised in the human realm. On her 23rd birthday, she comes into her powers and a prophecy of the Daughter of Two-Worlds, in which she must fight to save the 9 worlds.

The world building in this first book is beautiful. I could picture everything! I loved that it takes place in modern time with a traditional feel. The love triangle between Soren/Rhone/Niklas gives me Lightlark vibes. How do I pick between them? Both give me morally grey vibes and I love them both!

Also... cliffhanger and I NEED BOOK 2 NOW

[Ruth Bookish Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midnight Throne. Book #1. By Audriana Christian.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

A Dark Romantasy debut novel.

Tropes:
• Fated Mates
• Love Triangle
• Norse Mythology
• Morally Grey MMC
• Touch her & ☠️
• Shadow Daddy
• Unique Magic
• Prophecies
And much, much more.

Brief Synapsis…
• Soren Kissinger has always been perfectly fine being human in a very non-human-centric world. By default, she has had a picture-perfect life in the Human Realm of Midengart. Until a sudden discovery unveils her truths. A prophecy outlines her fate and a dark one at that.
• Rhone is loyal to no court, a warrior for whomever he sees fit, whenever he sees fit—a Royal High Fae castaway who likes to hide in the shadows, not accepted by his creature race for his violent past.
• Rising from Ashes & Stardust. Tied by the Fates.
Tempted by Desire.
It's a race to the end of the worlds. Who will get there first?

I am absolutely blown away!!
This storyline had me hooked from the very first page. It is packed full of intrigue, prophecies and a wonderful and unique magic system.

An extraordinary and well imagined concept with brilliant and elaborately constructed world building that is totally out of this world. An incredible plot line that is constantly evolving and completely immersive.

A fast paced plot line with numerous twists and turns throughout the book. A spectacular narrative which intertwines our main characters together along their journey.

We have…
Soren, our FMC. She is strong willed and a total badass. I loved her personality and the development of her character. Her origin story is epic.
Rhone, our MMC. He is a beautifully complex character and I fell fast. Beautiful, brooding shadow daddy! It is easy to become fascinated and infatuated.
Then we have… Niklas our second act MMC. I absolutely adore his character. Also somewhat broody. But his backstory is superb.

So given the chemistry between Soren and Rhone. Niklas makes a well balanced love triangle.

Audriana, has created a unique debut story that is super magical and centers around Norse mythology. With an exceptional storyline and wonderful in-depth characters. She has given us an edge of your seat, spine tingling adventure that ends on an unexpected cliffhanger. A heartbreaking, tearjerker.

I may have screamed, cried and thrown my tablet at this stage. And to be honest, it has taken me some time to gather my thoughts. I am itching for the next book… I NEED IT!!

I cannot praise this enough. I loved every single moment of this book. It is quite simply… pure brilliance.

Quotes:

"If I was capable of love, it would have been you. It will always be you,"

"You are no caged bird, Soren. It would never suit you," he said, his voice soft.

"You don't get to choose who trains you, Princess of hissy fits."

[ᴀsᴛᴇʀɪᴀ]

my feelings are so torn after reading this thing 🥹

I like the concept of the world this is built on but I wasn't a total fan of how it was told. The last few chapters felt rushed and the twist at the end was a bit predictable BUT I still feel like this was a nice enough read. My feelings towards the characters are a bit muddy too. I like them at times but also wanna pinch them to wake up from all the deluluness lol

I gotta say writing this 'review' made me think maybe I love the concept of how magic and technology was mixed here.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this one and it did not disappoint at all! Hooked from the start, thrown for a loop with the twist, and left screaming over the cliffy ending. (Find me patiently waiting for the next book) This is a fast-paced fantasy novel with spice, twist, fun/unique magic, and so much more.

-Read if you like-
-Love Triangle
-Shadow Daddy
-Duel POV
-Crew of Misfits
-Norse Mythology
-Magic

[Micca B aka gigglybookgeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy

This dark romantasy is the first book of a series (so prepare yourself). Audriana did a fantastic job in bringing so many different magical realms to life in my mind. Not only the landscape of each realm, but also those that live there. Some, I would love to visit. Others, I would be terrified to find myself there.

We find our FMC, Soren, in the human realm where she has grown up. As an adult, she finds that human isn’t exactly what she is, and that is going to cause quite a stir. She has no lack of sass, and Rhone is going to call her on it as the “Princess of hissy fits”. He is our MMC that serves no realm, and is incredibly powerful (hello shadow daddy). The tension and sparks will fly, but a second MMC named Niklas will enter the scene to cause a little love triangle. There are many more characters that each are developed so well.

The book will take you on a ride. It has action, fear, spice, heartbreak, laughter, and it all weaves in and out through the book. The end…just hold on and don’t throw that book or kindle and break anything. You’ll want to save the money for book 2, okay? 😉

[Karlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was truly an amazing experience from start to finish. I had no expectations going in other than the initial excerpt being instantly gripping and so seamlessly easy to fall into. The writing is superb, detailed, alluring, and beautifully executed. The author is already a master of one of the most important parts in a great book, which is the enticement to begin reading it. And then she follows through with the continuous flow of the book. The pleasure of reading it, the ease of immersing into the story, the plot, the lore, the characters, the twists and turns, all of it is on par with what I typically want from a novel. It had all the elements of a great fantasy novel and a romance novel. An epic world building and start to a series. It was thoroughly enjoyable all the way through. I immediately want to know what happens next and that’s when I know that it’s going to be a story I will continue to read. And something I will most definitely recommend to others.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don’t typically review books or read arcs, as this is my first one! That being said I will gladly purchase it and add it to my collection! It deserves to be recognized and appreciated.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall story was pretty good

The idea of this story was pretty good but a little confusing at times. There was however almost no tension or build up, things just happened very conveniently, we didn't have to work for the reveals and it all happened so fast. Something was missing for me, it was messy and all over the place at times. I'm not going to be continuing on but as always read for yourself as you may love this. The mythology was pretty cool

[Crystal Sunday Spicy Sunday Morning · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
I'm absolutely floored by the journey Audriana Christian took me on in The Midnight Throne. This book is sizzling hot. It is captivating, and when the spice hits!!! The world building is rich and consuming, the characters incredibly well written, and the plot twists will have you reeling. OMG and the cliffhanger!?! I need book 2 like yesterday!!!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a wild ride! This book kept a fast pace and also kept me guessing (though I was a little sus from the beginning of some people). But I absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next book!

**Potential spoiler***




...is it bad I still totally ship Rhone? XD

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending left me screaming! I am so confused and heartbroken. When will the second book come out?

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok when is this next book coming out???? I absolutely loved the tie in to mythology and the FMC is a pretty complex character with a lot of growth just in the first book which I thought was amazing! The characters all flowed so well together and I just couldn’t get enough once I got into the story. Also! The ending! SHOCKED! I can’t wait to keep reading!
I received my copy of this ebook for free and these are my thoughts on it.

[Nicala Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really did not know what to expect going into this book but I’m so impressed. I enjoyed the world building and the characters so much. The love triangle has be totally hooked and is apparently a new favorite trope of mine! AND HE HAS WINGS. Gosh, what more is there to love 😍

I’m very excited for book two to be coming out at the end of March so I can see how this story unfolds!!

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[sunbeams.and.rainbows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists on twists!

This book is so freaking good! The world building from the very beginning was so interesting & filled with delicious little breadcrumbs. The magic system felt fresh & unique & I enjoyed how Soren’s knowledge of it evolved with our own. I quickly identified with Soren’s character & felt like I really understood her emotions & motivations. The way Audriana Christian describes each character’s physical experience is incredible. I truly felt transported into the character’s body & even picked up on some trauma response body reactions that Soren didn’t identify because she wasn’t in a headspace to recognize the red flags for what they were. But boy oh boy were they red flags & Easter eggs! The enemies to lovers spice is top notch, & just when I thought the character list couldn’t get any hotter than Soren, Rhone, & Vana, in came Niklas & Callum! If you haven’t checked Audriana’s instagram for her character art you are missing out. It is the actual definition of bi panic! There were a few twists throughout the book, but the one at the very end was so spectacularly written that my jaw literally dropped! I am completely obsessed with this book & I am very anxiously awaiting book 2!

[Halie Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is different than anything I have ever read before and I AM HERE FOR IT!! It has a modern fantasy twist with realms and tons of different magic. A dragon. HOT MMCS! 🥵
Soren is a fabulous FMC. There is bonded mates, a little love triangle, mystery, drama, and a plot twist. 🤯
The ending has you screaming for more.

Honestly I really enjoyed it and I loved going to the authors instagram and looking at the characters inspo she has on there to really capture and see them in my head as I was reading.

Rating: ★★★★★

[Laura Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already seeing errors that a good editor should have easily caught, for example manner instead of manor, shutter for shudder??

***edit*** despite those annoying errors, OMG!! Wow! In a good way! Needless to say, I was more than pleasantly surprised!

[Mary LaFree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I read this in less than 24 hours.. Soren is a vibrant fmc. Highly recommend going to the authors Instagram to picture all of the characters while you’re reading! She has great artwork of them!

All of the characters will tug at your heart. Callum is the bestie everyone wants. Not just one but two captivating male leads. The plot twists will have you screaming at your kindle. The cliff hanger ending has me reeling.. I need more!

[Dean White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A steamy fantasy book with a slow burn and elements of Norse mythology/fae lore. The reimagining and weaving of classic mythology with a modern-day approach was beautifully executed. I loved the campy aspect in the banter between characters and the breathtaking visuals formed by the discriptives given in the book. I haven't been this into a book for a while, and it really brought some excitement back to reading. Will be following the author to find out when the next one's released. 🖤

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Midnight Throne by Audriana Christian is a captivating blend of contemporary and fantastical elements sprinkled with Norse lore and mythology. Audriana’s debut novel skillfully weaves together Norse lore and mythology, creating a rich and expansive world that drew me in from the very beginning. One of the most appealing aspects of the book was its intriguing premise. From the start, I was hooked by the promise of a fantastical adventure set against a backdrop of modern day life. Audriana’s ability to seamlessly integrate these two worlds kept me engaged throughout. I was particularly impressed by Audriana’s prose. Her writing style is both descriptive and fluid, painting vivid images of the world she has created. It’s clear that she has a talent for storytelling, and I look forward to seeing how her writing evolves in the future.

The Midnight Throne certainly had its strengths as a debut novel, but it also had its shortcomings. From the outset, it was clear that Audriana Christian is an extremely organized person, much like the main character Soren. However, this sense of organization sometimes made the story feel rigid, lacking the spontaneity and charm that a little chaos can bring. While the book excelled in world building and providing detailed explanations of settings, the characters fell short for me. While they effectively moved the plot forward, they lacked depth and individuality. They felt somewhat wooden and lacked the substance needed for me to truly root for them. I appreciated the effort put into creating a rich and expansive fantasy world, but I found myself yearning for more development and complexity in the characters. A deeper exploration of their personalities and motivations would have added depth to the story and made it more engaging.

One significant shortcoming of The Midnight Throne was its lack of action. While there were occasional bursts of excitement scattered throughout the book, the majority of the narrative was focused on characters engaging in mundane tasks that didn’t contribute much to the overall story. As a result, my reading experience often felt dull and lacking in excitement. The sporadic action scenes were thrilling, but they were too few and far between to sustain my interest throughout the entire book. I found myself longing for more moments of intensity and suspense to drive the plot forward and keep me engaged.

The rigidity and lack of depth in the characters of The Midnight Throne left me feeling disconnected from the story as a whole. One glaring example of this was Soren’s non committal reaction upon discovering her true identity. Without giving away spoilers, I found her response lacking credibility. As a normal, average human girl suddenly confronted with a life altering revelation, there should have been more inner turmoil and questioning from Soren. Instead, her reaction felt subdued and lacking in the emotional depth that such a discovery would typically evoke. It was difficult for me to empathize with her journey when her responses seemed so detached from the gravity of the situation.

Also her instant attraction toward Rhone felt out of place. I understand the dude was hot AF but for crying out loud, we all encounter gorgeous men in real life and still manage to get through our days without hyperventilating in their presence, don’t we? And I honestly didn’t see a base for her to fall in love with him at all as Audriana’s didn’t provide enough relationship building or emotional development between them.

The lack of depth in character development also extended to Niklas as well. His introduction and the sudden flood of Norse mythology into the narrative felt disjointed and out of place. In the beginning, I had no idea Norse mythology would be a significant aspect of the story. For the first two-thirds of the book, the focus was on generic fantastical elements like fae, witches, and seers, along with various fantastical realms. Then, suddenly, with Niklas’s arrival, we were inundated with Norse mythology. This abrupt transition was disorienting and felt like it came out of nowhere. It disrupted the flow of the story and left me feeling confused rather than intrigued. If the inclusion of Norse mythology had been hinted at or woven more seamlessly into the earlier parts of the narrative, it might have felt more natural and integrated.

In conclusion, The Midnight Throne was a good book with some unexpected twists that kept me engaged. While it had its flaws, it still managed to deliver moments of excitement and surprise. I want to emphasize that my criticisms are meant to be constructive. If Audriana Christian ever sees this review, I hope she takes my comments as constructive criticism to continue honing her craft and in no way meant to discourage her or throwing shade at her. Despite the shortcomings, it’s clear she has the potential to be a great fantasy writer. With further development and refinement, her future works have the opportunity to shine even brighter.

Ultimately, The Midnight Throne serves as a promising debut for Audriana Christian, and I look forward to seeing how her writing evolves in the future.