This Wretched Dawn

by Melinda Gong

For fans of Chloe Gong comes a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy in which a young Shanghai woman must work with her ex, the London prince, to save their rival courts—if she doesn't kill him or fall back in love with him first.

It’s been nine years since the accords were established and centuries of war between the Midnight and Dawn Courts settled into a cold peace. But when poison created to eliminate the Dawn Court royal bloodline is stolen, all signs point to the Midnight Court and that tentative peace threatens to break. To prevent war, the Emperor tasks Anna Liang, daughter of the Midnight Court's deputy, with working with Paris, the youngest prince of the Dawn Court, to find out who was responsible and prove Shanghai’s innocence.

But underneath it, the real infiltrate the Dawn Court’s school for espionage, win Paris’s trust, gain intel, and then kill him—Paris, her first love and heartbreak.

Despite this complication, Anna is determined to complete her mission. But as her bond with Paris deepens and the true culprit is revealed, Anna must decide what she's willing to sacrifice to fulfill her duty, and if she even wants to. 

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Melinda Gong is a recent graduate from NYU with a degree in business. Born in New Orleans and raised in New Jersey, she grew up constantly surrounded by tales of Chinese mythology, forbidden love, and girls with swords taking over the world. She is now based in NYC and, when not busy with work, can be found with her head in the clouds, taking excessively long walks, or drinking far too much coffee.

Reviews

[Andi]

I like to thank Edelweiss for allowing me a chance at reading.

Oh boy. Where to begin on this. I like that the basis of this story was based on the East and West tensions (the world vs China). I like that we have a romance that happens between one from London and one from China... after that, the whole thing becomes a really confusing mess.

Why are there courts? What is the purpose? Why do they have names like "Midnight" and "Dawn".

The crux of the story hinges on a poison being stolen from the Dawn Court, and the Dawn Court believes the Midnight Court took it. But the Midnight Court did not take it. The Midnight Court decides to volunteer their heir royal to solve the mystery, the Dawn Court offers up their heir royal to work with them. Cue the two lovers returning after three years. But wait... the Dawn Court wants their heir royal to infiltrate the Midnight Court to see what they're planing. So the Midnight Court has a school (??) where they learn espionage? Cue unimportant scenes of playing pool and what not.

I made it 30% into this book before closing it. There is no world building, no clear character build, flimsy romance that is supposed to be reluctant ex's to lovers... I could go on. It was a really hard book to follow, and it leaned hard into the stereotypical debut book by one who needs to keep at it.

I think there could be something here, but I also question the age group. The writing gave off a Percy Jackson vibe. But looking at the cover, it's aimed at YA. All in all, you're promised a lot from this book and it still needs some work.

Out of respect for the author I am choosing not to rate due to not finishing it.

[gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm dropping this 30% in. The writing is painfully juvenile, not even YA, the characters are stupid and not in a sensible way that moves the plot along, there's far too many current day pop culture references and I just can't stand them here. It's even worse that the world building is vague and messy. Maybe I'm not the target audience but I can't continue.

[Ifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to Melinda for an advanced reader copy! After reading this book I don’t even know if I can trust myself! In This Wretched Dawn, we follow Anna, from the Midnight Court in Shanghai, who is being sent on a double secret mission to London, to uncover the truth about a threat against the Dawn Court family. The Dawn Court believes the Midnight Court is responsible and the peace treaty between them is on the verge of collapse. The catch - she has to work with Paris, the man she once knew and loved who betrayed her in the past with the Dawn Court. This story is a fantastic blend of secrets, twists and turns, friendships, and tension that had me kicking my feet.

The plot was easy to follow, and I was intrigued by the conflict between Shanghai and London. I’ll have to read up more on it outside of this book. There was never a time where I was bored, but I would have loved seeing Paris’s perspective in all of this—I think I’m realizing I’m very much a dual POV person! All in all it was an entertaining read and I had a fun time reading it!

[nana✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m feeling so conflicted about this! It’s not quite a four-star read for me but definitely more than a three-star.

Nine years after a fragile peace between the Midnight and Dawn Courts, a stolen poison threatens to reignite war. Anna Liang, daughter of a Midnight Court official, is sent to work with Paris, a Dawn Court prince and her former love, to find the culprit and clear her court’s name. Secretly tasked with infiltrating the Dawn Court’s espionage school and killing Paris, Anna struggles between duty and old feelings as secrets unravel.

This story gave me childhood friends to lovers to enemies, which I really enjoyed, especially since Anna and Paris come from rival courts! The tension between them was so good, and I liked Anna’s character, though she was a bit too stabby for my taste at times. I loved Anna and Paris together and definitely felt the chemistry, but I wished we’d gotten more depth from Paris earlier on. He opened up more toward the end, which I was eating up, but I wanted to know him better throughout.

One of the best things for me was the writing style. It’s clearly YA and easy to read, which I enjoyed immensely, especially after struggling through another book before this. I flew through half of this one in a single sitting because the writing flows well and the plot is fast-paced with twists and turns happening constantly. It felt like the perfect palate cleanser!

A few things bugged me, though. Like, why is Anna, who’s never been on a mission before, given the job of spying on and potentially killing a prince? Even she asks why it’s not her sister, who’s more qualified, and the answer felt flimsy for something so crucial. Some plot choices seemed unnecessarily complicated, especially for a mission that could decide war or peace.

I also wished we’d seen more of Anna and Paris’s relationship from before they parted ways three years ago. It’s mentioned often, but there were so few flashbacks or scenes showing what their bond used to be, and I wanted to feel everything Anna was feeling. Plus, the writing mostly focused on Anna’s emotions, and other characters’ feelings weren’t explored as deeply, which sometimes made it hard to connect with everyone. But I adored the friend group and the found family vibes!

I also wanted to learn more about the world itself and why the courts exist in the first place. A bit more backstory would have made the world feel richer. But that ending? It made me want to scream, in the best way. It was so wild and left me desperate for book two!

Overall, This Wretched Dawn was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me hooked. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

[Keshe Chow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and filled with romantic tension, This Wretched Dawn has a vicious edge to it that is as sharp as a well-honed blade. Two members of rival courts, Anna and Paris, must team up to uncover a plot that threatens both of their families. But first they must fight a war of a different kind: a war against their own hearts and history. A thrilling page-turner of a debut!

[Bri R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ᯓ★

→ DNF at 20%. This was a tough one to DNF because I had high hopes for it! I think this book has a lot of potential but was executed poorly.

what I didn’t like:
→ this book has a lotttt of pop culture references that didn’t make sense at all. Why is Matilda & Percy Jackson being referenced ?? It’s hard to put myself into a fantasy world when pop culture is being referenced. Also the language used in this book didn’t seem fitting for the setting either - terms like “girly” & “bro” just doesn’t seem right.

→ the world building could use some work because some things were confusing. The characters in this book were texting on a phone which idk maybe I’m being critical but that doesn’t make sense for a fantasy. Idk maybe I just like my fantasy books to feel otherworldly.

→ this book is marketed as “enemies to lovers” but the FMC is already liking the MMC within the first 50 pages ?? That doesn’t make sense and feels a little “insta-lovey”.

thank you to this author for sending me a free copy of the book I appreciate you!!!!

[Emelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 Stars)

Let me start by saying that This Wretched Dawn is definitely something different from my usual fantasy picks—in a good way.
It combines modern settings, espionage, and a dash of Chinese culture that gives it a really fresh twist. Think of an undercover academy vibe mixed with reluctant allies, all sprinkled with second-chance romance and the tension of potential enemies. That premise alone was enough to hook me!

The story follows two former allies who find themselves forced to work together again after a betrayal tore them apart years ago. Now, they’re stuck in the same elite academy—where espionage, shifting alliances, and hidden motives are the norm. The modern urban setting, steeped in Asian cultural elements, makes everything feel both familiar and totally new.

• Reluctant Allies/Lovers Turned Enemies: The dynamic between Anna and Paris is equal parts tension, longing, and are they still angry? I loved how their past hurt kept flaring up, but they had to work together anyway.

• Second-Chance Romance: There’s something so satisfying about characters who once cared for each other but are now on opposite sides. You feel the unresolved emotions and the angst!

• Academy + Espionage Setting: This was such a fun combo. I enjoyed the sneaking around, the covert missions, and all the secrecy that comes with a spying while attending school. It added a layer of mystery that kept me turning pages.

• Modern World with Asian Culture: The blend of present-day elements—like skyscrapers and smartphones—alongside cultural traditions and mythology was so refreshing. It felt authentic and vivid, almost like you could hop on a plane and visit the same locations.

• Cliffhanger Ending: I know some people hate cliffhangers, but I honestly kind of love them. The final chapters definitely ramp up the stakes and leave you wanting more.


While I was so into the opening chapters and found the ending exciting, the middle dragged a bit for me. I felt like the pacing was slow during the second act. It wasn’t bad, just not as gripping as the beginning and end.

I liked our main duo— Anna and Paris—a lot, but I did feel like some of the side characters could’ve used a bit more fleshing out. There are a few potential allies and rivals at the academy who felt a little one-note.


Overall:

I’d rate This Wretched Dawn a solid 3.5 stars. It’s a good, decent read—something fresh if you’re used to strictly high fantasy or historical settings. If you’re looking for a blend of modern urban life, spying on a person who was once close to you, second-chance romance, and a dash of cultural flavor, you’ll probably have a great time.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if you’re in the mood for a unique setting and you don’t mind a bit of a lull in the middle. The cliffhanger has me curious about what comes next, so I’ll definitely keep an eye out for a sequel. If you love the tension of lovers-turned-enemies, the thrill of espionage, and a fresh cultural backdrop, This Wretched Dawn is worth checking out!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: 3.75 stars

This one was an okay read. Anna Liang, the daughter of the second to the emperor of Midnight Courts is sent to London to work with Paris, her ex-boyfriend and the prince of Dawn Court to seek the thief that stole the Dawn’s court biological weapon which has a potential of destroying the Dawn Court. At the same time, she is also meant to spy on the goings on Dawn Court and send information back to her court.

This story is fast paced from the start of Paris and Anna re-meeting again after three years when they ended their relationship. Like true enemies, they seek to kill each other at the start. The tension between both characters is great. I struggled a little with the romance because it felt a little off - there was just something lacking despite the tension and the push-pull moments. This story also had some strong friendship bonds and found family trope given Paris’s bonds with 4 friends who helped out with the mission and Anna’s strong friendship with Josephine who helped her out with this mission.

The plot was somewhat predictable but the writing style makes it easy to read and a fast read. It makes you want to continue reading to find out what happens next. For a YA fiction, it had some good twists that added to the story! The Midnight Courts takes to Asian elements with an emperor in gold as the head and the celebration of the autumn festival. The Dawn Courts takes to Western Elements with the opulence of balls and sporting events like Polo.

The other reason I struggled with this book is the believability of certain elements. For example, Anna’s and Paris’s relationship - this could have been explored more in terms of flashbacks of their past. The book is told in Anna’s POV which mostly focuses on her and her thoughts like what she felt for Paris was very surface level. Given her parents strong involvement with the court, she has no experience doing espionage yet she was their first choice to send? There were also some disjointed and unnecessary moments that didn’t really add to the plot. Certain parts felt too rushed when they should be drawn out….The world building also lacks some substance given that there was so little history in the story about it e.g., what led to the rise of both courts and why are they enemies?

Overall, I did enjoy this read! And watching out for that crazy ending because this means there will be a Book 2!

Thank you to the publishers via Netgalley for the eARC.

[SD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realized pretty quickly I was Not the right audience for this book, despite being tricked by the summary into thinking I was.

The summary mentions Dawn and Midnight *Courts*, which makes one think it's going to be a fantasy book (given the emphasis on courts in (romantasy/)fantasy books lately); also, the mains sound older in the summary than they actually are (it's not mentioned in the summary but they're 18 and 19, and this is a solidly YA book). This book is a *contemporary* *YA* espionage romance, and that is not well hinted at in the summary. This book likely has an audience, but one likely won't attract that audience with the summary as is.

Overall, I thought the mains' back and forth was quite annoying (I'm also very Over contemporary teenagers right now), and the third act betrayal and cliffhanger really frustrating. Also, that the cliffhanger suggests there will be a sequel or two, when *nowhere* in the summary, goodreads, or book itself suggests it is the first title of a series. I like to set my mindset appropriately when starting a book and these unpleasant surprises did not allow me to do so.

However, I thought the plot was unique and the East vs West tensions an interesting problem to explore. I wish we'd seen more of the Midnight Court, but I suppose that'll come in the next book(s) (not that I suspect I'll read them...).

I liked the book, but had enough qualms that I probably won't read any sequel(s). This book has an audience, but I just am not it.

[Kamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Turner Publishing Company for this ARC. Ooooh my goodness! This book was so good! I cannot get over that ending. Melinda, you knew what you were doing for your fans!
In a modern time story, we follow Anna, a member of the Shanghai Midnight Court, as she is sent to work with the Paris, son of the king of the Dawn Court— who is also her ex boyfriend from three years earlier. They are tasked with working together in order to save the rival courts as a poison is stolen and meant to be used against the other. Unfortunately, Anna is also tasked with killing Paris. She is torn between following her duty and her feelings that she harbors for him.
The angst, the childhood friends to lovers to enemies, and the betrayal is just too good to miss. I am still reeling over that ending and now I need to hold a physical copy of this book in my hands so I can shove it in everyone’s faces and convince them to read this masterpiece.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

This Wretched Dawn by Melinda Gong is a first person-POV YA romantic contemporary fantasy set in Shanghai and London. The Dawn and Midnight Courts of the magical world have been at odds for centuries. When a disastrous attempt to bring them together resulted in a massacre, their poor relationship only grew worse. Annabella Liang of the Midnight Court is tasked to find a missing potion by the king of the Dawn Court to prove her people are not responsible, but she's paired with Paris, who is a child of both courts and her former flame.

The Midnight Court being set in Shanghai and the Dawn Court being set in London made me wonder if the concept is based on the saying ‘The sun never set on the British Empire.’ Shanghai was, at one point, a port for the Empire and many Brits did go through there as the Empire was expanded. It's never explicitly stated if all members of the Midnight Court are of Asian descent, but Paris does have blonde hair but several features of the Midnight Court as well, so it could go either way since sometimes biracial children are white-passing.

Anna and Paris’ relationship is very complicated. We get the one bed trope with them, but it creates further issues instead of bringing them closer. They are still attracted to each other, but because of the last time they saw each other and how poorly it ended on top of the knowledge that they are supposed to kill each other, it's hard for them to move past it all and give their relationship another chance. But it’s hard not to root for them because that admiration and yearning is still there.

The magic system is fairly soft as we don’t really see it that much beyond potions or antidotes. The courts have been at war for centuries, but we don’t know the full extent of that war or how it impacted the world around them. Swords, guns, and other weapons are used and both courts teach weapons classes, though in different ways, as the Dawn Court cares more about accuracy and the Midnight Court cares more about the art of fighting.

Content warning for mentions of child death

I would recommend this to fans of YA contemporary fantasy who like an enemies-to-lovers second chance romance scenario and readers of fantasy who want something set in Shanghai and London

[JPreads7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting introductory novel and as per usually I have good things and some critical things to say:

The good: I thought the overall plot was interesting and I liked the mystery elements or it all. I also liked that we had a bit of an academy setting as well as a two court system that was pretty straight forward and easy to understand. I also thought the dialogue flowed well and did not seem choppy or awkward.

The critical: So while the two court system was simple and way to understand, there was little to no world building when it came to the politics. There is no explanation as to why there are only these two courts and the reasoning behind it. Also this book is labeled as a “Romantasy” and I may be wrong but usually when I think of anything involving fantasy I expect some sort of magic system or other types of being that are not purely human and are fantastical. However, there only instance of anything mentioned outside the norm of basic human skills was the FMC getting healed by a healer possibly, but even that was not really explained at all. I was just very confused on where there fantasy part of the romantasy was in this one. I do also think there were quite a few plot holes left open that were never revisited.

As for the characters they were all right but fell a little flat for me. The FMC was slightly insufferable with her inner monologue and obsession with the MMC and back and forth in her mind. Where as the MMC was an asshole for most of the book and then just randomly flipped and they were in love again. I think we needed more character development on all of the characters parts Including the side characters as they seemed to randomly pop in and out.

At the end there were a few plot twists I was not expecting which helped my rating score a little bit. But overall I do think the next book needs more character and plot development.

[ny ⋆⁺₊❆ *｡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to Melinda for an advanced reader copy! ☄. *. ⋆ARC review ⭐⭐⭐

let me start by saying that i'm a sucker for lovers to enemies to lovers, which is exactly what This Wretched Dawn served. from the first page, it was so easy to immerse myself in the story, and there are simply so many elements of this book that i enjoyed!
- espionage and double agents
- spy school setting
- warring courts (midnight vs dawn court!)
- chinese lore
- betrayal
this novel's got it all :))

the concept of the plot is really cool--Anna, the fmc, is tasked with infiltrating an enemy court by attending their school for espionage in London. she's set to team up with a prince of the enemy court and her ex, Paris, in order to recover a stolen poison meant to destroy both courts. at the same time, Anna is also tasked with killing Paris🗡️🗡️

yeahhh, the tension between them had so much potential and was great at the start, but unfortunately... it fell a bit flat toward the end. i won’t spoil anything, but i do wish there had been more backstory to sustain that tension throughout the whole book.

also, at some point the plot began to plateau for me. things were still happening, but the progression started to feel kind of meh, like it lost the spark it had early on🥲🥲 everything that unfolded felt like it was there just to serve Anna and Paris’s romance. basically--like a fantasy romance where the fantasy was there only to support the romance, and that's it 🤷🏻‍♀️

so as a reader who LIVES FOR world-building and rich lore, that part felt a bit underdeveloped to me (hence the rating). but if you’re someone who prefers a character-driven story, this might actually be perfect!!

that being said, the characters were easily my favorite part. Anna is a stabby fmc🗡️💗 (reading about those character-types is always fun lol). Paris also brings his own charm--he's cold yet secretly not🫅🏼(if you know the type, then ykwim).

so would i recommend this? yes! ⋆˙⟡ it's honestly a great read <3 the unique blend of modern urban setting, fantasy, and minimal court politics makes it a great time. that cliff-hanger ending also hits good.. i'd definitely be interested in knowing what happens next ;)

[Alyssa Zearbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give this 3.5/5. This was a really cool premise of lovers to enemies to lovers twisted with espionage and double agents MIXED with some Chinese lore. I enjoyed this book overall and found it a fun read. I personally did not care too much for the romance, but loved the mystery unpacking and the dynamic of the two Courts. Fun side characters and fun moral takes! The twist at the end though!! Cwazy

Thank you NetGalley and Melinda Gong for this ARC opportunity!

I will say, something weird happened with the formatting for me… it made it a little difficult to read, trying to ignore the formatting issues.

[Andrea Searls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an ARC and will be available in late July. I really enjoyed the storyline, lovers-enemies-?lovers? The concept of the rivals courts made it really interesting. The only thing I couldn’t figure out was why the courts were rivals in the first place. The book ended with the definite possibility for a sequel, so I’m hoping it will answer more background questions! It’s a more YA vibe as well.

[Insi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

Urban fantasy with a fascinating concept. The Day Court of London, and The Midnight Court of Shanghai have a tentative peace alliance that’s about to shatter. Caught in the middle as two opposing sides of the same coin are Anna and Paris; one a spy for the Midnight Court and one a prince of the Day Court, who also happens to be half Midnight Courter. Their friendship blossomed into a romance as they grew up together in the Midnight Court, but soon after Paris is returned to the Day Court, a tragedy wrenches their relationship apart and makes him Anna’s sworn enemy. Unfortunately for her she now has to work together with him on a government assignment on behalf of both Courts, while simultaneously plotting against him and his family. The balance of the traditional and modern in the respective Court cultures was a nice touch. I liked the idea of an alternative timeline where both country’s monarchies still reigned, and the futuristic city structures like the espionage school, Eladine. I also liked that we had a protagonist that was admittedly bad at her job. You don’t see that often and it added something unique to the story. However, the plot and world building needed a lot more development. There’s heavy reliance on deus ex machina, and you have to suspend your disbelief a lot. I ended up having a lot of questions throughout the series. Why were these specific cities at war? The rest of the country doesn’t seem to be involved. We are told Paris was born from a union between the Day Court king and a Midnight Court noble, but he also has older and younger siblings. Was this an affair or has the king had three different wives? If the protagonists’ mission is sanctioned by the government, why do they have to sneak around Court property when the king already knows what they’re doing? If admission to Eladine is exclusive, why are there so many students? Wouldn’t training that many people in espionage be dangerous in the long run? The ending was also quite confusing to me. Perhaps the sequel will provide more information. This is a closed door book. Thank you to the Turner Publishing Company and NetGalley for the eARC.

[manni · Rating 3 out of 5]

oml i've been reading this all year oops-

short, easy read - great debut! I loved the mandarin snippets, especially as I'm attempted (emphasis on attempting) to learn Mandarin. thank you Melinda for a copy of this book (my first physical arc!), and I'm excited to see where this goes next!

[milli · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book!! although there were some parts that i found a bit confusing to the story like the pjo refrence and the use of phones and the purpose of the courts, i really enjoyed this book! i loved the childhood friends to lovers to enemies aspect of the book and loved the side characters as well. this book kept me on edge most of the time and i was wondering what other secrets people had hidden. i will definitely be picking up the sequel once it comes out!🫶

[clara_herondale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Commentare questo libro ammetto che è un po' difficile: avevo alte aspettative (sono stata conquistata dal "è perfetto per i fan di Chloe Gong") che però sono state deluse. Tuttavia non lo posso bocciare completamente.

Alla base c'è un'idea valida ma di cui credo che l'autrice non sia riuscita a esprimere tutto il potenziale, il libro infatti secondo me risulta un po' ingenuo e immaturo; in particolare avrei preferito più lavoro e attenzione sulla trama, sul worldbuilding e sui personaggi secondari. Tutta l'attenzione è rivolta ai due protagonisti e al loro rapporto, ma l'impressione finale è comunque di non conoscerli bene e in generale mi pare rimanga tutto molto in superficie senza un vero approfondimento nonostante ci siano spunti interessanti, soprattutto nella figura complessa e divisa di Anna con le sue ansie, paure e indecisioni.

Dal punto di vista dello stile non ho amato le davvero troppe metafore e l'accumulo di aggettivi e sinonimi delle descrizioni, invece che arricchire la descrizione, ho avuto l'impressione che l'autrice fosse indecisa su quale metafora o aggettivi usare e per non scegliere ha usato tutto quello che le veniva in mente.

Thank you Edelweiss for a Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Caseys_bookshelff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super excited to read this because I’m a huge fan of (lovers to) enemies to lovers and court intrigue. This book started out strong with Anna, our FMC, who is tasked with infiltrating an enemy court by attending the school for espionage. I thought that aspect of the story was so cool and enjoyed it in the beginning, but as I kept reading I lost interest. The way the world was set up, felt flat to me with the two courts and the school setting. I also think the dialogue between characters did not set things in motion the way I expected.

I really did like Anna’s character and stabby personality but when it came to her interactions with other characters, I did not find it to flow well with the story. Idk if that makes sense? Also her dynamic with her ex Paris, had a lot of fun tension in the beginning but that also died down as the story progressed. I guess things felt inconsistent in this book at times, and overall did not make sense to me.

*spoilers ahead*

Although I felt that way, there are aspects of the book that I really enjoyed! One being, her task of infiltrating the school with plans to kill Paris and his sister. I love when a book creates impossible situations for characters like this because it makes me feel for them and their situation. I knew Anna and Paris had feelings for each other so watching her struggle with those emotions was definitely interesting.

Also the ending was very exciting and makes you look forward to the next book! I won’t spoil it, but I love a good cliffhanger that leaves you with so many different emotions! Overall, I did enjoy this book just not as much as I anticipated! It was an easy and interesting read for anyone looking for court intrigue, enemies to lovers, and betrayal! 💖


Thank you MTMC Tours and Melinda Gong for the ARC copy!

[Katherine Lee, IG: hummingbirdbookproject · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely juvenile. Very little of this book makes any sense.

FMC is sent to Spy Academy in London to do some SpyworkTM for the Midnight Court (read: China). But she has no prior training as a spy herself other than martial arts with traditional weapons, and the task force she's working with essentially are six students plus a supervising professor. This is a TOP PRIORITY secret mission to prevent war between two countries currently in the midst of a Cold War. WHY is this a student project, made of mostly first and second years??? Who are still IN TRAINING (and thus lacking full knowledge) to be spies???

Basically, these kids are just supposed to teenage-figure-it-out. And that's exactly what happens. The plans they make are so shabby that it's a miracle they ever find any info at all. Like one plan is to just confront someone and ask for their fingerprints. But don't worry - they kill people sometimes, just to give this student project a bit of legitimacy and seriousness. And the Prince knows the guard rotations, so they can sneak into HIS FAMILY'S HOUSE. That he is permitted to enter freely.

Also, FMC and MMC were in a previous relationship, but apparently broke up because of some betrayal. The actual betrayal is so, incredibly stupid. Basically FMC tells MMC some secret information, and then somehow the MMC's country (London/Dawn Court) uses the information to attack FMC's country (Shanghai/Midnight Court). And she just assumes he betrayed her. The phone call where she confronts him and breaks up with him is so unbelievably dumb. Like, her family works in the government. Why would she assume that MMC 100% is the person who leaked the info? Wouldn't it have been equally likely that the Dawn Court had spies and someone else leaked the info? Especially since MMC had given absolutely no reason or indication to suggest he would betray her???

Many other things don't make sense. Firstly, I need to stress that this is urban fantasy. It is set in some version of our own world, with London and Shanghai and planes and cell phones.

Apparently, China (Midnight Court) doesn't use guns, they only train in the ART of swordplay and daggers and iron fans and what have you. And literally, FMC's bestie, while training with guns at Spy Academy, goes "God, I hate guns. I seriously don't understand the point of them." Uhm...the point is to not get killed, since your enemy is using them? So you might wanna apply yourself a little to shooting practice? Also, FMC apparently sucks at shooting, but the two times she actually uses a gun in real life, she doesn't miss.

"The Dawn Court, I'm beginning to realize, is a fan of flashiness. Of showing off wealth in material goods that the Midnight Court would be horrified to see." Uh...this is happening in a pseudo-modified version of our world, right? Ancient China was VERY decadent.

Also, "It is so ironic that in many places in the West, light is considered good. It is considered pure and innocent, while darkness - night - is considered evil. I think Emperor Xia would laugh at the idea of this black-and-white dualism." Uh...actually that's a very Chinese perspective, with Yin(bright/sun) energy versus Yang (dark/moon) energy, and Chinese people very much fear yin energy b/c it's associated with death.

Normally, I'd chalk it up to the fact that this is fiction/fantasy?/made up, but again, this world is basically an alternate reality of our own. And there's just no worldbuilding or context given to substantiate any of the supposed differences in culture between China(Midnight Court) and England (Dawn Court).

Also, at one point, suddenly everyone knows how to fly a plane. Even though the book directly says that the Spy School has planes b/c upperclassmen (neither of which our MCs are) sometimes train to fly planes.

At another point, FMC (who is ASIAN/CHINESE), gives this line: "God, is everyone in the Dawn Court blonde?" Uh...girlie, Asians are also mostly one hair color. Seriously???

There's also a moment when MMC (mixed-race royal Prince) is poisoned by a poison that specifically affects the royal family bloodline, and he says he's fine because he's only half Royal Family. It's supposed to tie into how he's half-Chinese but...isn't this literally how all marriages work? Like, would William and Kate's children be only half royalty? Because only William is from the family bloodline? Or is the British royal family in this book only marrying their own family incest-like???

So, incredibly dumb. The writing itself was fine. Not much cliche writing or incorrect grammar or anything. This author just needs to learn how to actually create a fictional world. And storyline. It reads like she read Ally Carter growing up and decided it'd be fun to write a teen-spy novel. With no research. Or training. Or practice.

[Gypsum Flower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to rate this title, as it has some great features but I felt it lacked just a bit of polish. I had very high expectations for it, and to be fair all the elements I had been looking forward to were indeed there.

The synopsis of the book sounded amazing: two enemy courts, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, a spy academy, poison, a FMC torn between duty and love… Give me all of this!

The pacing was good overall, though a tad jumpy. It’s easy to read, correctly categorised as YA. Twists and turns throughout were unexpected, with a dramatic climax.

Overall the characterisation felt both perfect and slightly flawed.

Perfect because the teenagers act and feel like… actual teenagers. A bit goofy, insecure, eager, prone to dramatics, occasionally callous… The FMC was bordering on obsessive with her crush (again, this felt so very realistic for her age). The description of her panic attacks, as well as her anxiety about her family’s expectations, again felt on point. This was just fabulous, as my pet peeve is 18-year-olds acting as 30-year-olds. Gong wrote this when she was 19, and she perfectly captured these characters.

The banter between them is especially well executed and I truly enjoyed it. I also felt the romance was spot-on: lots of longing, a fair bit of miscommunication and just a dash of passion. I liked Paris a lot, he reminded me of the leads in C-dramas: a bit mysterious, brooding, not great at communicating but ultimately devoted to the FMC.

What I liked less: here we have a girl who has been trained “to kill a man in 164 different ways” ; who in the second chapter essentially plans to kill her ex ; who will shoot a fairly random character, more or less in cold blood (we then learn he’s her first kill)… And yet she constantly panics about the various dangerous(ish) situations she finds herself in, despite the likelihood that reacting to these situations should have been part of her training. She also displays so much naivety about human nature, she comes across as very sheltered ; in short, her personality and backstory just do not fit well together.

Several aspects of the universe also felt a step too unrealistic for me - I am happy to suspend disbelief, but things have to be coherent within the general context. A spy school that everyone seems to know about? That kids from both factions attend together? (So they all know each other’s faces, what a fantastic idea for when they’ll later spy on each other’s court!) Not to mention everyone and anyone seems to be accepted there (Josephine??).

It could also have been made a bit clearer since the start that this is indeed an alternate reality to ours, where pretty much everything is the same (down to specific pop culture references), apart from the existence of the Courts.

And on a minor note: both the UK and China use the Celsius temperature scale. Given the 1st person POV, it’s the one that should have been used here. This really should have been picked up by the editor, it was pretty jarring.

On the other hand, I LOVED the Chinese elements. In fact I would have enjoyed more of them: I was hankering for more descriptions of Shanghai and even more cultural references. The ones that are present are skilfully introduced. Some of them subtly reference colonialism, in a way I found quite thought-provoking.

In fact, the best part of the book for me was the Shanghai Court / London Court enmity. I actually wish this was exploited further, in particular I kept hoping for more background and history to provide some context. I’d love to know how the courts were established, what led to the war, etc. The East/West duality and relationship was a great premise, I am really crossing fingers that this is ramped up in the second book.

And there we have it: at the end of the day, would I read the next tome? Yes I would, which does say something about this story.

To sum up, I’d say this book is kind of what you’d get if you dropped a Chinese Mia Thermopolis in an alternate reality’s spy school, and added a dash of Romeo and Juliet angst. If all that sounds good, and you can overlook a few clunky bits, you are likely to enjoy it.

I am certainly very interested to see what Melinda Gong does next!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

If this was kids fiction aimed at the Percy Jackson tween audience, I could maybe see this as viable. But as a YA, it was so juvenile as to be risible. There's no world building, the characters are dumb as a doorknob, the adults even stupider, and it reads like we have a bunch of 14 year olds giggling together at a Hot Dog On A Stick stand in the local mall.

Story: The Midnight Court in London and the Dawn Court in Shanghai have an uneasy alliance. One that could be shattered and bring war if a gene-encoded poison that was stolen from the Midnight Court is not returned. Daughter of a Dawn Court administrator, Anna is sent to London to work with the heir to the Midnight Court throne in order to discover who stole the poison. She is to infiltrate a famous spy school, learn all she can about the poison's theft, and get clos to the prince heir, Paris. But she is also secretly tasked with ultimately killing Paris and his sister.

So uh, Midnight Court? Dawn Court? Why? Why only London and Shanghai? Why is there a very public-knowledge school for spycraft at the Midnight Court? The worldbuilding here is silly. With some books, I can just let it go and ride with it. But this was far too random and undeveloped to be able to let go of doubts.

Anna, the main character, is an idiot. Already by the first 5% of the book, we get scenes such as:

- The first day of school, Josephine starts talking about how they are undercover with a secret job to do while walking to class - to which Anna says, "UNDERCOVER, Jo!". "Oops," she says, not looking apologetic in the slightest." Excellent spies, these two make.

- Anna finds Paris, the heir and prince of the Midnight Court, spying on a Dawn Court meeting. So naturally she follows him and randomly tries to kill him. He gets away and the next day she suddenly asking if she should kill him or not. It's stupid - killing him would mean war, for one. For another, why does she decisively try to kill him and then spend the next 5 pages thinking she wouldn't be able to actually try to kill him?

- As spies, Anna and Josephine make the Pink Panther look like a master spy and detective. As written, it was like taking a Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian and believing they would be excellent spies/assassins (in between shopping at the mall or goofing off at school).

I would not recommend this book unless for a very very young person who is blithefully unaware of good writing and characterization. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have eaten this up as a teen. Definitely has I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You vibes but edgier with the spy school and the boys in the friends group were basically The Raven Boys but I was okay with that.

Basically, in an alternate history the two major world powers are the Midnight Court (China) and the Dawn Court (Britain). Everything else is mostly the same (they even have Percy Jackson) but the two courts are at each others throats with a "Cold Peace" that is threatened when someone steals the vial of poison that can kill the Dawn Court Family. As this spoils the Midnight Court's plan to restart the war on their terms, Anna is sent to go to Dawn Court Spy school to "help" recover it but really she has orders to kill her ex-boyfriend, Paris, the Dawn Court Prince. Oh no!

The worldbuilding was a little thin and there was absolutely no magic so anyone who, like me, saw the word "court" and expected the Fey, well, there's not. But Anna was very much a teenager and acted like it, which honestly I appreciated. She has panic attacks after killing someone in self-defense! Yeah, she talks a big game and keeps holding a knife to Paris' throat but that's how you say "I love you" in an enemies to lovers romance, okay?

This was a fast paced read and book 1 of at least a duology. I sped through it in a few days. Overall it does feel a little melodramatic like those CW teen shows but I loved those as a teen so I expect teens will like this. It's also under 350 pages which is another plus for teens or even adults who don't want to commit to a 500+ page book that seems to be the norm in the YA space. I am looking forward to book 2!

Content wise: Some violence, a few f-bombs and other mild swearing, 2-3 scenes of intense kissing and 1 fade-to-black scene.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

[DarkS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Court completely hooked me with its setting and vibes. Having the Midnight Court based in Shanghai and the Dawn Court in London instantly made me think of that old saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Shanghai was once a major port for the Empire, so the parallel felt intentional—even if it’s never outright explained. What I found interesting is how the members of the Midnight Court aren’t necessarily described as one ethnicity—Paris, for example, is blonde but still carries features of the Midnight Court, which hints at a more layered, maybe biracial dynamic.

Then we have Anna and Paris 🥲… oh boy, where do I start? Their relationship is the very definition of complicated. We get the iconic one bed trope (bless 🙏), but instead of giving us soft fluff, it just makes everything messier. They’re obviously still drawn to each other, but between their brutal breakup years earlier and the fact that they’re literally supposed to kill each other, the tension is next level. And yet—you can’t help rooting for them. The longing is real, the admiration is still there, and the angst? Off. The. Charts.

The magic system is softer—more about potions, antidotes, and hints of power rather than flashy spells. What stood out more was the war between the courts, which has gone on for centuries. We don’t see the full global impact, but we do see how the courts operate: the Dawn Court obsessed with precision and accuracy, while the Midnight Court focuses on the artistry of combat. Swords, guns, knives—you name it, they’ve mastered it.

Plot-wise, we follow Anna in modern-day Shanghai as she’s sent to work with Paris, the son of the Dawn King (and her ex 👀). They’re tasked with retrieving a stolen poison meant to annihilate the opposing court. But Anna has another mission: she’s ordered to kill Paris. Which leaves her caught between loyalty to her court and the feelings she’s never quite buried.

The angst, the childhood-friends-to-lovers-to-enemies spiral, the betrayals—it’s so addicting. And don’t even get me started on the ending. I’m still screaming, crying, throwing up 💔 and now I need a physical copy so I can shove it into everyone’s hands and demand they read it too.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not like this world. The first issue is the severe lack of world building. There are no explanations for why it's set in modern times but has these weird courts ruling cities that are in their own version of the cold war. But honestly, even if there were explanations, I still don't think I would enjoy it. The courts and the spy academy just don't mesh well with the modern world. I can't get into it at all.

I also hate the way the author uses formatting for emphasis. Stop creating a new paragraph for a random words. Just use italics if it's that important. Using different line breaks only makes sense for more flowery, emotional, discriptive prose and when it's used regularly and consistently. In this book, it just feels like typos. It's also super annoying how often the dialogue is broken up. For example: "'Selfishly,' I say, 'I wish you had been there.'" It's overused and annoying and creates too many unnecessary pauses.

The characters also suck. First, their ages don't make sense. I don't need to read about pining 15 year olds. But even worse is how immature they are three years later. These idiots are still acting like children and should not be trusted for a serious mission involving espionage and assassination. The academy feels like middle school or high school, not an elite training ground. It's just stupid. And I'm sick of reading "like" and "so" every two seconds in this teenager dialogue. There was literally a "shut up," "no, you shut up" fight.

And also, the writing is just full of plot holes and feels lazy. How on earth is there not already a cure for the poisons? Why were they being saved anyway? How do they only effect a specific bloodline? How did Anna not know about Paris's panic attacks after growing up with him? (And why did the author choose to name him Paris when this is set in London?) How do they have miracle technology that can heal a gunshot wound pretty much immediately? They would never be able to get accurate fingerprints off a vial that's been passed around between a dozen people. How does this future not have wire taps? Why are people who are committing treason having conversations where anyone can hear them? I could go on and on and on.

[Elle D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. (Sorry it's a little delayed.)

First of all: I was disappointed there was subterfuge/false advertising in terms of the summary the book presented and what I got--1) it describes "Midnight Court" and "Dawn Court," which brings an expectation of fantasy, but there's no magic in this book at all; 2) the mains' ages are not detailed, but they are 18 and 19 and this is a solidly YA book, which is not something I was expecting either. I think this book has an audience for sure--but it should have been advertised as *YA* *contemporary* espionage romance, and not the contemporary romantasy vibes I got instead. Related to the solidly YA part--the mains definitely act their age, and I'm generally tired of reading about contemporary teenagers. Overall, I don't think I was the right audience for this book, and I'm disappointed the summary hoodwinked me into thinking I was. Yes, it mentioned Shanghai and London, but plenty of books have contemporary locations with magic on the side and I'm still annoyed by the "courts" fantasy hoodwinking.

Secondly: if you're going to do lovers to enemies to lovers, don't give us whiplash with both sides doing a third act betrayal and making it lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies. It's just exhausting for the reader and I'm tired of third act betrayals.

Thirdly: I went into this book thinking it was a standalone, and got extra whiplash with the cliffhanger at the end that suggested it will have a sequel (or multiple sequels). I like setting my expectations straight (series or standalone) at the start of the book, and that also jostled me.

On the flipside, I did enjoy the unique plot and the espionage (though the mains felt too young to be successful at it). I really liked the East vs West comparisons, but I wish we had seen more of the Midnight Court.

Overall, I liked the book, but I don't think I'm the right audience for it and not sure that I would read any sequel(s) in the future.

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books make you want to ignore your responsibilities to read and this book was exactly that for me. From the first chapter, I was hooked, trying to sneak in a quick chapter on my breaks at work. By the end, I had two thoughts. First was wow 5 stars. Second, I need more. A sequel, a companion series, a second gen spinoff, whatever Melinda Gong will graciously give me. I start my praying and begging today.

The enemies to lovers back to enemies dynamic and history was equal parts toxic and entertaining. The banter and humor - chef's kiss. I was actually laughing out loud. The cast of characters was so beautifully put together, I can't imagine the book without a single one of them. I loved how each person was valued and not just a side character specifically for Anna and Paris.

As much I loved and adored this book, I could tell it was a debut. The writing style felt a little simple at times and could use some more time describing the settings and time. The world building could also use some more development - which could possibly happen with more sequels. I was fine with what was given, but I know there are readers out there that want more explanations and details. The pacing was spot on, when the new plot threads emerged, it felt natural stemming from the initial infiltration premise rather than dragging it out for the entire story. The twists and reveals were well timed, keeping me invested and flipping the page.

That ENDING?!! I can't believe Goodreads has this listed as a standalone, because I am no where near emotionally prepared to leave this world behind. Melinda Gong started something that I feel can benefit from more sequels, hint hint.

For a debut, this was a good starting point and I am excited to see how Melinda Gong develops as a writer. As I always say, not only do I support women's rights, I support their wrongs. So for my girl Anna, she will have my support.

[chelsea reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5~

(I really love it when books mention the title in the text)

tbh, a lot of this book felt unnecessary. things were too complicated and confusing for no reason while other things weren’t fleshed out enough. some more world building on the courts would’ve been really handy and less frivolous filler.

I really liked the espionage school aspect of this book, and wish it played more of a role than just a setting. (think ally carter’s gallagher girls, that would’ve been amazing in this world). more classes and learning stuff. instead we’re given a FMC who’s a mary sue in the sense that she already knows everything.

the writing itself was engaging and I found myself drawn in. it was easy to read and didn’t have too much purple prose (something I dislike. a little is fine but too much slows a book down). this wretched dawn is relatively fast paced, which made reading easier.

the characters were all right- I liked the two main characters but found the side characters lacking. (I didn’t understand how josephine was admitted at the school in the same year as anna, unless the school didn’t care about age, but it was never specified). as mentioned earlier, anna is a bit of a mary sue, but it didn’t bother me too much. paris was a charmer, he was a lot of fun to read about.

I enjoyed how the romance was “getting back with your ex”, as there isn’t much of that in books these days. it found it a little rushed though, considering anna felt betrayed by paris. I thought she’d be more butthurt for longer.

I was a bit confused as so many people had called this historical fiction but everything in the setting is giving modern day (screens displaying class info while at school? planes and guns aren’t something strictly present day but the massive tv screens were kinda a give away that it wasn’t historical imo. maybe dystopian/futuristic, but certainly not historical).

[Madyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGally and publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book... wasn't for me. As much as the premise sounded interesting, the writing style, characters, and world building were lacking. Unfortunately, it was a slog to get through.

I did like the incorporation of the Mandarin language and the mention of fun weapons! I did get a Chloe Gong feel, especially at the beginning so that was exciting. The cover and the page art was nice.

The plot/conflict didn't feel substantial, the world building felt lazy and unnecessary (would've loved to understand more of the setting like the espionage school), and I was lost in all of Anna's thoughts. It felt like the author was waxing too much poetic through her mental thoughts and especially about the love interest, Paris. I didn't feel any chemistry between them and I wished there was more use of flashbacks to understand their previous relationship rather than reading Present!Anna's thoughts about the misunderstanding between them. Even though she spent a good portion of the book harping on their separation, I'm still kind of unsure the cause of it. I wish the author spent more time on the transitions between time and place and generally more description of what was physically happening. The care she took into Anna's present interior thoughts could've been spread to other aspects of the novel. The character voices and tone didn't feel consistent at all which kept taking me out of the book. Also the random paragraph breaks between words in a sentence slowed the pacing down immensely; it didn't add anything to the story. I especially hated that and the use of incomplete sentences like having a sentence start with a verb before moving into a dialogue tag. Very frustrating writing style to me especially because it didn't feel intentional in the story.