At the Mercy of Midnight: The must-read rivals to lovers dark academia romantasy

Midnight Realm Duology #1

by Chloe Cullen

The hottest new dark academia romantasy for fans of Tori Bovalino and VE Schwab

Amelia Winslow and Silas Finley are rival scholars who have spent years trying to outsmart one another, until a fateful discovery ties them together in a way neither is able to escape.

When they are cut by a pair of ancient daggers, they are transported to each other at midnight by a magic that seems to be unraveling before their eyes. Desperate to break their bond, they discover darker truths and wonder at whether the Midnight Blades are far more dangerous than either suspected.

Hunted by a secret order and racing against the bounds of time, Amelia and Silas must work together or risk losing more than their freedom.

Because if they fail, midnight may never come again.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fan Fiction, Dark Academia, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers

416 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 3, 2026

About the author

Mum and Occupational Therapist by day, writer by night.

Author of:

At the Mercy of Midnight (2025), out now on Amazon in paperback and ebook editions.

Rise of the Legion (2021), out now on Amazon in paperback and ebook editions.

Reviews

[Chloe Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I love it, it's mine =D x

[Violette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a heads up for everyone diving into this: it’s not a standalone, so be ready for the cliffhanger at the end. 🙃
I didn’t know when I read it so it caught me off guard.

[Kenny Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: the author is my best friend, so yes... I am biased, but I can say with the complete honesty and transparency, that this book stands on its own merits. Even if I didn’t know the person behind the pages, I’d still be raving about it.

I was lucky enough to be the first person to read the first draft, and from the opening chapter, I was completely hooked. I scribbled wild theories in the margins, underlined lines that made me laugh (or blush), and asked questions I desperately needed answered right now. There were a few changes as the book developed, but it was exciting predicting how it would end... and I did not see that coming... if you know, you know.

The characters are fully fleshed out in a way that made them feel real to me. I loved how Amelia operates from a place of logic and structure, while Silas leads more with emotional intelligence. It was such a refreshing flip of what we usually see. Their chemistry was believable, not forced, and watching them navigate tension, misunderstanding, and eventual vulnerability was such a satisfying arc.

The world-building was another strong point. It was vivid and immersive without dumping too much information on the reader. The different locations each felt distinct, and I especially loved the eerie beauty of the Rift, those scenes in the ruins stayed with me long after I closed the book.

The writing style is genuinely beautiful. There’s an emotional richness to the language that made even quiet moments feel full. At the same time, the dialogue was natural and often sharp. There were moments I laughed out loud or paused just to reread a particularly striking sentence. It’s the kind of writing that makes you feel with the characters, not just observe them.

Also, this was my first real dive into the "rivals to lovers" trope and I get the hype now. The slow burn, the tension, the subtle shifts in their dynamic... it was all handled so well. It felt earned.

So yes, I’m biased. But I’m also a picky reader, and I wouldn’t be writing all this if I didn’t genuinely believe in the story. This book has heart, depth, and something to say. I’m so proud of my friend for writing it. But more than that, I’m just excited for other people to get swept up in this world like I did... and did you know the story is only half complete... this book is a duo! So she better get writing because I want more answers.

[kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I read MMIDL and enjoyed it, but this wasn’t it for me. Fun concept, but something was missing in the character building and the pacing. I also don’t think it should’ve been broken into 2 books. Unfortunately, would not recommend.

[ReneeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Love Amelia & Silas. I’m hoping there will be a second book! 🥰

[Dilyn-Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best thing ever BUT WHY ISNT THE NEXT ONE OUT YET

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

She scowled. “You’re insufferable.”
Silas smirked. “You’re distracted.”
✨✨✨

I absolutely adored the banter in this book! Seriously, I think 98% of my tabs/highlights are their banter with one another! I will always be a sucker for academic rivals that secretly yearn for one another. The ending had me on the edge of my seat & I need book two asap.

The only qualm I had with this book was the world building and magic system. I was confused and lost at some points throughout the story & think that the readers needed more in depth explanations about how the world, monoliths and magic work and come together. However, the dialogue, character development and plot were really well done! I loved the aspect of runes in this & the part they played!

I’ve read Chloe’s other works on ao3 & for this being my first read of her traditionally published works, I would say it’s a success & I’m looking forward to seeing how her writing grows & to continue Amelia & Silas’s story in book two! 💗

🗡️ Rival Scholars
✨ Forced Proximity
🗡️ Witty Banter
✨ Magic x Monoliths x Mages x Midnight
🗡️ “Who did this to you?”
✨ Ancient, Binding Daggers
🗡️ Posh Aristocrat x Swot Scholar 🥵

[Dessa Finley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this one probably should have stayed on A03. This rewrite is really cheesy and clunky. I’m stopped at 80% because I’ve rolled my eyes way too many times to keep going. Every plot point is riddled with ridiculous complications that, *gasp shock*, don’t actually matter! I think this was supposed to be a sweet story full of yearning, but sadly, I just don’t buy it.

[Sandrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I’m a big fan of academic rivals especially when they are forced to collaborate together and this was the main trope of this book. The banter and yearning was so good ! Amelia and Silas are well thought-out characters and I enjoyed learning their background. The pacing was nice as it kept me engaged all throughout. I also liked the dual POVs. I read this in one evening, it was that good! I’m now impatiently waiting for the next book. The cliffhanger is crazy, so be prepared for that.
I definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy forced proximity, rivals, a protective MMC, magical mysteries and a lot of plot twists!

Thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐- Decided to read this after reading the author's original work in AO3 and I'm so glad I did. This is really well done and took her original inspiration and made it even better but also its own, unique story.

🌶️ - Not quite fade to black but we don't get sh*t this is almost an ultra slow but

[Brit Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words. One of the best books I’ve read all year. The world building, the dialogue, the SLOW BURN. 10/10, no notes, chef’s kiss. I need book #2 already like I need air.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and the plot!

There were definitely plot points that I felt needed more time to settle and be fleshed out and also the pacing/development of character relationships could use a little more detail but overall it was so enjoyable and the plot twist at the end omg what a cliffhanger

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5stars. Please tell me there will be a book 2

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to DK, NetGalley, and the author for this advanced copy. This book sounded so interesting and it was so different from anything I’ve read before. Right off the bat, we get witty banter between Silas and Amelia. I loved their dynamic as academic rivals and the banter that follows.

This book was third person dual POV and getting to see how long Silas has yearned for Amelia for years had me in a chokehold. Throughout the story, Silas and Amelia try to figure out how to break the bond, then how to alter the ritual, and their relationship grows. The ending was heartbreaking and the cliffhanger was brutal.

This book is a hidden gem and I’ll definitely be looking forward to picking up the next installment.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE CLIFFHANGER?!?! I thought this was a standalone, so I was pretty disappointed by the end. This book was very well written, but the magic system was very confusing to me. I had a hard time picturing what the Monoliths were and didn’t really understand the effect they had on that world. I loved the banter between the two main characters.

[madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

so sad my fave ff and most anticipated read of the year did this to me

[Shelby Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words just emotions and feral noises. I need the next one yesterday.

[Tokeshia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not realize this was a duology so the ending was a little surprising to me. I did not read the original fanfic (FF) but I could tell this was Dramione coded from the beginning. That being said, the magical elements don’t make a lot of sense. Obviously the author has to rework this so it isn’t in the HP universe but there were gaps that I couldn’t fill with HP background and if you’re not a HP fan you would probably be very confused. The lack of explanation might have been ok if this was a standalone and action packed or shorter but in 2 books with a cliffhanger…more time should have been spent world building. I don’t even think explaining the magic needs to be complicated but I kept feeling lost. At some point, I started to skim sections because it felt repetitive without moving the story along. The ending felt rushed which is odd when it ends on a cliffhanger.

I enjoyed the first half of the book and banter between the MCs but that could be because I know it’s Draco and Hermione. I think this has potential to be a great story but some rework is needed to get it there and an easier read for a wider audience. I hope the author gets beta readers that aren’t into Dramione fanfic to help find and fill the gaps for the second book. Kudos on the actual editing though. No glaring grammatical errors or typos that are prevalent in self-published works.

[ReadingWithLindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really trying to like this book. I didn't read the fanfic but I love the characters it was based on so I gave it a go. The concept was intriguing but the delivery was lacking. The plot had a lot of holes and the characters had no chemistry. It really felt forced and off. Also, I thought this was going to be a standalone but I was wrong. It left you on a unhappy cliffhanger! They end up both in a unpleasant place and I wasn't intrigued or invested enough to want to find out how they get out of their predicaments. I don't think I will read the second book if it comes out. I almost DNF it at 75% but I figured I was so close to just seeing the end but I was let down anyway. I see a lot of potential but there needs to have better pacing. This was just not for me.

[PlantSuperpowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars.

I come with another four-part review.

Having read ‘Meet me at midnight’ in my fanfic era, I wanted to checkout the novel it inspired.

Since I’ve read the fanfic first and it may influence me, I will do my best to review this story as a stand-alone (and putting a pin in the fact that this book is part of a duology). I will try my best to be spoiler-free and tag as required.

Part 1 – As a stand-alone Romantasy novel.

This subsection is about how this book fares as an individual independent romantasy book. Honestly, knocked it out of the park.

First thoughts? This book packs its contents in thoroughly and thoughtfully. I almost want to give kudos to the editor too, because nary a sentence or scene seemed out of place, or irrelevant to the story. From the very first page, I did not feel a single second of wasted screen-time until I put the book down. And this extends to the supporting characters as well. Although I did feel like I was dropped right in the middle of action (momentarily), that speaks more to the other books that I have read which grab your attention with the first sentence, then slow down for a chapter or two to introduce any sort of conflict, and allow the reader to steep in the world. So, I personally am fine with this introduction, but would suggest you to be on the lookout and do not trip. Another thing that hit me in the begninning itself was that the FMC expresses her dislike towards the MMC in the very first paragraph was both refreshing and risky move. I, personally, like it.

There on, this book was not a roller coaster ride. And that’s a good thing here. Because the external plot device is a strong player that ensures the twists remain accessible and do not blindside the reader every 3 chapters or whatever. You see a character in action, and you wonder if this is relevant for later, and it is. I would not say this is predictability. These are not “clues hidden in plain sight” or “the author did not put an effort”. This is human behavior. This is the authors ability to connect the character’s actions to their backstory, and to the external plot with care. This is exactly why nothing feels redundant in this story. But this does not mean that the author did not put twists in that you never see coming. They do, only, they are more subtle. And for that reason, I think this is a book I will think about for a long time.

Pacing – Nothing is redundant. I’ve said it already. But another thing that is worth highlighting is that nothing drags on either. Every new day that the characters experience brought on something to add to the plot in terms of character growth, a resolution, or another problem. Even in the scenes where ‘time passes by’, story wasn’t repetitive, and the ticking of the clock was kept brief.

Characters – Amelia and Silas are not underwritten by any means. However, there is something that strikes me as different from other books of the genre - that is these characters are well rounded and human (sounds so wrong but don't mean it to be). Let me explain - in routine romance novels, there is one glaring trait of each main character (which is why having ‘a brooding hero’, or ‘a stubborn heroine’ is a matter of cliché). But our characters do not come with one. They come with multiple traits, although it’s not as pronounced in the beginning of the novel (it does feel like all they do is one up each other, or have futile arguments). Moreover, each trait has a range upon which the character walks on. Sometimes the trait is displayed at one end of the spectrum, while in other scenes, the depiction is milder. Which is very human, and I have not seen that in a lot of books in this genre. We are all defined by multiple traits, and even if we are sometimes ‘stubborn’, we are not equally stubborn about everything all the time. So, as of now, I am unsure if this leans towards positive or negative for me, and I'll make an opinion on my re-reads.

The author does justice with both POV’s of Amelia and Silas. I did not realize this was a dual POV book when I started reading, until I suddenly hit Silas’s POV a few chapters in. But even from Amelia’s POV the reader can clock in on cues about what Silas is feeling that Amelia doesn’t understand (and I say “doesn’t understand” because she leaves it at that, and doesn’t ‘misunderstand’ him either, which is another popular trope). Not to say there are no ‘misunderstandings’ – only that they arise in times of fear, or in case she does not know another part of him, so she is left to make judgements based on what she has seen him do. So the more she knows about him, the less she misjudges him over the course of the novel (again, very human. It’s almost disconcerting how realistic the characters felt, and they don’t follow the ‘usual plotline’ of two fantasy MC’s who push and pull all the time, rather, our character steadily grow towards each other). So once we get to Silas’s POV, everything we have figured out about him checks out.

In terms of resolution of external plot – Surprisingly, the one complaint I have with this book is that there is no proper ending. Yes, it is a part of a duology, but that shouldn’t mean there is no resolution. There is the major plot of the trouble at the rift and how it has affected not only Amelia and Silas, but the realm as well. Yet each book must have the main characters resolve a problem (lest they seem like NPC's affected by something bigger in their own book). This book did not have that fleshed out. The ending where they perform the ritual as the book spelled out, and it has the expected negative effect of losing Silas to the midnight realm feels more like an intermission point/the lowest point, rather than a resolution. Even the reveal that Lyana was manipulating them both is underwhelming because our characters lose more. Plus they didn’t so much as discover it, rather, are informed by Lyana herself. Amelia being controlled by her parents once again was another loss. In my opinion, it would have been much better and satisfactory to the reader if there was any win they could count on. Maybe our MC's could have figured out something about the rift, or something like entering it on purpose or anything that was their discovery.

Magical system – It’s not fleshed out at all. They say they have magic but apart from the way stones or way chips, there is nothing magical about anything. There are some runes that do some things if you say the word associated with it, but they work more like clicking a button and some action happening on a computer, it's not something every character can do – draw a rune and say a word - as far as I understood. But I might be wrong about it seeing how there is so little explanation about that. Mages are a thing, but our characters are not mages, so there’s that. And the fact that the synopsis says Amelia is studying arcane physics but it doesn’t get one mention or explanation in the book - wild. I mean, the author could have said Amelia and Silas were archaeologists in a world where magic exists, and the story would not have changed. The magic our main characters get access to later on, that’s a decent soft magic system based on intention. So I guess we can take a small win there.

Part 2 – Comparison with “Meet me at midnight”, The fanfiction that inspired "At the mercy of midnight”.

“At the mercy of midnight” is standing on its own, independent from the fanfiction. The only similarities amongst the two are ‘a plot device that transports one main character to another’. The similarities end there. Atleast as far as the first book reveals. The motivations of our characters are different, even of the villains, and the side characters are not replicated. Any similarities are limited and cannot be traced back to the fanfiction either (so far). So although the premise is similar, it is safe to say that the novel opens a door for the reader to enter a different world and be unpredictable for someone coming from the fanfiction world.

So, I’m excited to see where this story goes in the next book.

Part 3 – The Good –

Characters, character development, and the pacing. The slow-burn chemistry. The well thought-out plot. The yearning, and the stupid but sensible reason why there is yearning.

Part 4 – The Bad -

Dare I say lack of stronger motivations of our MC's? I like that they wanted to save each other, but really wish them wanting to save the world was not a fleeting thought. I think the novel could have used a scene showcasing some destruction caused by expansion of the rift and the people getting hurt by it, but then our characters' magic saves them temporarily somehow, so that could have shown that our characters are doing something for the world (but it was refereshing that the characters wanted to save themselves/their loved one - a refereshing take). The arcane magic system.

Short n' sweet summary

Read it, it’s something like I’ve never read before !!


-PlantSuperpowers.

[real book dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐3.5/5

Amelia i Silas to dwójka naukowców, którzy rywalizują ze sobą od prawie dekady. Kiedy przychodzi moment na zebranie grupy naukowców do pionierskiej wyprawy wgłąb Szczeliny(tłum. własne), gdzie wiele osób straciło życie, a magia rządzi się własnymi prawami, oczywiście zarówno Silas jak i Amelia są gotowi stawić czoła niebezpieczeństwu. Rzekomo w imię nauki, a nie niezdrowej rywalizacji. 😁 W trakcie eksploracji starych ruin, bohaterowie natykają się na dwa niezwykłe ostrza, które są przepełnione nieznaną magią. Kiedy tylko Silas i Amelia ich dotykają, na ich dłoniach pojawiają się dziwne nacięcia, a para zostaje na zawsze połączona nierozerwalną więzią, która nie tylko uprzykrzy im życie ale narazi ich na poważne niebezpieczństwo.

At mercy of midnight to kolejna historia, która w pewnym stopniu wywodzi się z fanfiction o Draco i Hermionie. Chociaż nie czytałam Meet me at midnight na ao3, to nie trudno było mi dostrzec elementy wspólne, które pojawiają się w historiach Dramione, a które wplecione zostały w tę książkę.

Zdecydowanie najlepszym elementem jest tu wątek romantyczny. On zakochuje się pierwszy i kocha ją skrycie od lat. Żeby nie odsłonić się ze swoimi uczuciami, zakłada maskę cynicznego kolegi po fachu i próbuje żyć dalej. Oboje są uparci, posiadają wielkie ego i są świetni w szermierce słownej, której świadkiem jest każdy, kto tylko znajdzie się w kręgu rażenia tej dwójki. Napięcie między tą dwójką jest niesamowicie intensywne.
Bardzo przyjemnie czytało mi się o tym, jak nastawienie Amelii do Silasa zmienia się po wspólnie spędzonych dniach, na które skazało ich przeznaczenie. Autorka dobrze poprowadziła tę relację i w dobrym tempie dała nabrać jej rumieńców, a przy tym pozwoliła bohaterom na zrzucenie masek i wzajemne odkrywanie sekretów.

Moim zarzutem jest słabo wytłumaczony świat, w którym dzieje się ta historia. Dodatkowo zachowanie bohaterów było czasami mocno nieprzemyślane. Jakim cudem naukowczyni, która przez 10 lat zajmuje się badaniem źródła magii nigdy nie wyruszyła na drugi koniec krainy i dziwi się widokiem śniegu, szczególnie, że transport na dłuższe dystansem tym świecie jest super szybki i prosty? Aronoł. Momentami akcja była też prowadzona w sposób schematyczny: uciekamy oprawcom, żeby po chwili znowu magicznie nas znaleźli. I tak w kółko.

Książka kończy się mocnym, bolesnym dla serca cliffhangerem i mimo wszystkich moich uwag, zdecydowanie sięgnę po drugi tom! Bardzo spodobała mi się relacja między Amelią i Silasem i jestem ciekawa, jak dalej potoczy się ta historia. Widzę tu duży potencjał i mam nadzieję, że drugi tom będzie lepszy.

[Kristin Gleeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for a review copy of this novel. A romantasy with a trope of enemies to lovers is played out in this novel in a kind of unusual manner with the magic as the acting force, a premise that was intriguing. The actual execution was at times a little uneven and occasionally melodramatic, though making for a read that was at times engaging and other times a little wince inducing. I would give it 3.5 stars if it were possible, but have rounded it up.

Amelia and Silas are both archaelogists and professional rivals. When they both decide to try and find the source of the increasingly unstable and disappearing magic that the world depends on in the midst of a dark and deep Rift they arrive at the site of two monoliths nearly at the same time and are forced to work together as they proceed forward surrounded by the dangerous crawlers and other unknowns threaten them. When it seems prudent to only have two explore the cave area Silas and Amelia make their way into the deep regions and after a floor collapses under Amelia the two discover a hidden temple and two daggers. They decide to divide the daggers between them, but through a mishap Amelia’s dagger and her hand cross a beam of magic that appears. It seems no harm was caused at first, except for how much Amelia and her blade are drawn to Silas’s. But later, at midnight, the most dangerous time for those that inhabit the Rift to threaten, Amelia finds that both of them are physically drawn to each other, meeting at some half way point. It repeats the next night. But worse than that the Rift seems to be spreading now at a fast pace. Silas poses the theory of mated bonds, something Amelia is determined to break. Their attempts to research and break the bond prevent the Rift from its rapidly increasing spread forms the novel’s narrative thread.

The novel creates some good chemistry between the two on occasion but sometimes the dialogue seems too cliché or maybe a bit weak and other times engaging. The world building around the magic was at times a little unclear, or left me with questions, but that might be due to being unfamiliar with the novel’s origins as some kind of fanfiction, I’m not sure. I think it maybe reflects a good first novel and I look with interest to her succeeding novels.

[Lissa G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Chloe Cullen for this ARC copy!

*At the Mercy of Midnight* is a strong start to what I think is going to be an addictive series. It blends dark academia, magical archaeology, and a slow-burn romance into a story that kept me invested from beginning to end.

The highlight of the book was easily the worldbuilding. The mystery and magic were given a focal point to the story alongside the romance, making the plot feel well balanced. The combination of ancient relics, forgotten magic, and scholarly research created an atmosphere that felt both mysterious and immersive. I loved uncovering the secrets of the world alongside the characters, and the magical archaeology gave the story a unique identity within the romantasy genre. Which leads to the secondary stand out to me -Amelia and Silas. Their rivalry never felt forced, and the banter. They challenged each other intellectually just as much as emotionally, which made their chemistry feel earned. I also appreciated that the romance complemented the story rather than overtaking it.

That said, I did find myself a little overwhelmed by the magic system early on. There are a lot of concepts introduced without much explanation, so it took me a while to fully understand how everything fit together. Once the pieces started falling into place, I was completely hooked, but the learning curve was steeper than I expected. The pacing was also inconsistent, and drug a bit in through the middle of the book. While I enjoyed spending time with the characters and exploring the world, there were moments where I wanted the central mystery to move forward a little faster.

Thankfully, the final third more than made up for it, and I couldn't put the book down once the bigger reveals started happening. And then there's that ending... I knew this was the beginning of a series, but I still wasn't prepared for how much it left me wanting the next book immediately. Chloe -- you're a criminal.

Overall, this is a great pick for readers who enjoy dark academia, academic rivals, magical mysteries, and romances built on mutual respect and sharp wit. It isn't a perfect read, but its unique premise, compelling characters, and immersive atmosphere easily outweighed the few pacing and world-building hiccups for me.

3.75⭐️

[emily-jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Chloe Cullen for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having not read any of Chloe Cullen's previous work, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but the premise immediately intrigued me.

On paper, enemies-to-lovers fantasy set against a dark academia backdrop is exactly the kind of story I love, so I was excited to dive in.

The opening chapters gave me strong Indiana Jones meets the mummy vibes, which I actually really enjoyed. The adventure and mystery drew me in, and I found myself invested in Amelia and Silas from the beginning. Watching their relationship develop as the bond between them grew was one of my favourite aspects of the book, although I do wish we'd had a little more of the "enemies" before they transitioned into lovers.

Where the book fell a little short for me was the magic system. I struggled to fully visualise both the world and how the magic actually worked. It didn't feel overly complicated, but I don't think it was explained in enough depth, leaving me with more questions than answers. I found myself wanting richer world-building and a more fully realised magic system to help immerse me in the story.

Unfortunately, the second half of the novel began to lose me. The pacing slowed considerably, and some of the spicier scenes felt unnecessary, as they didn't add much to the overall story for me. By around the 70% mark, I found myself eager to reach the conclusion, so I was surprised to discover this is the first in a duology. Personally, I think I would have preferred a slightly longer standalone novel.

Overall, I think this book had a great deal of potential, but it didn't quite deliver on all of the elements I was hoping for. That said, it's still an impressive debut, and I look forward to seeing how Chloe Cullen grows as an author. I wish her every success with the book's publication in November!

[Susu · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆(3/5)

At the Mercy of Midnight was such a fun surprise. If you love academic rivals, forced proximity, magical mysteries, and slow-burn romance, this one delivers. Amelia and Silas have fantastic chemistry from the beginning—their banter is sharp, their rivalry feels believable, and watching them gradually lower their defenses was easily my favorite part of the book.

The worldbuilding also stood out to me, especially the Rift and the Rift Crawlers. They reminded me heavily of the Fold and the Volcra from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse: a dangerous, monster-filled region that is extremely difficult to travel through and plays a major role in the larger conflict. However, I didn’t necessarily love how strong the resemblance was. The Fold is such a central and recognizable part of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, and it eventually begins to unravel before being destroyed. Because of that, the Rift sometimes felt a little too familiar rather than entirely distinct, especially when the story seemed to hint at a similar trajectory.

I still enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding the Rift Crawlers and the constant sense of danger they created. The magic also wasn’t included only for aesthetics—it drove both the mystery and the romance. The Midnight Blades and the curse binding Amelia and Silas together created an interesting form of forced proximity, with each midnight encounter revealing more about their relationship and the mystery surrounding the Rift.

Overall, this was a compelling romantasy with excellent character dynamics, an intriguing magical mystery, and an atmospheric monster-filled setting. Although the Rift reminded me a little too much of the Fold for my personal taste, I still had a great time reading it and would recommend it to readers who enjoy rivals-to-lovers, dark academia vibes, cursed magical artifacts, and slow-burn romance.

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the Mercy of the Midnight was my first time reading Chloe Cullen, and I can honestly say it won’t be my last. I always love discovering a new author, and this was such a captivating introduction to Cullen’s writing.
From the very beginning, I was pulled into the world of Aethrial and found myself wanting to keep turning the pages to uncover more. The world building was one of my favourite parts of the story because it felt imaginative, atmospheric, and full of lots of little details that made it easy to become immersed in the magic and mystery of this realm.
I really loved the dynamic between Amelia and Silas. Their rivalry and their banter, and the way their relationship developed throughout the story kept me turning pages . Watching two characters who are so different slowly learn more about each other was one of the highlights for me and their interactions brought a lot of personality and charm to the book.
The magic system was fascinating and added something unique to the story. There were moments where I wanted a little more clarity, but I still loved the creativity behind it and the way it shaped the world Cullen has created.
There were a few parts that felt slightly slower or repetitive to me but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The characters, the atmosphere, and the intriguing storyline kept me hooked, and I was genuinely sad when I reached the end.
Overall, At the Mercy of the Midnight was a fantastic first experience with Chloe Cullen. It’s an enchanting fantasy filled with magic, tension, secrets, and characters who I wanted to know more about. I’m already looking forward to seeing what comes next and will definitely be picking up more of Cullen’s books.📚✨

[Bookish_Zebra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It has an interesting magical world, a good story and some great banter between Amelia and Silas that kept me invested throughout.

Amelia and Silas are rival scholars who have spent years trying to outsmart each other while researching the unstable magic that holds their world together. When an archaeological dig awakens an ancient magical force, they find themselves mysteriously transported to each other at midnight every night. As they try to break their bond, they uncover dangerous secrets about the magic and find themselves being hunted by a secret order.

The banter between Amelia and Silas was probably my favourite part. I really enjoyed their dynamic and the rivals-to-lovers tension between them. The world-building was also really well done, and I liked discovering more about the magic and the secrets surrounding it as the story progressed. The writing was good, the story was interesting and there were some twists that definitely kept me turning the pages.

I also liked that there was plenty left to discover, particularly with this being the first book in a series. There are some big questions left unanswered, and the ending is a definite cliffhanger, so I'm curious to see where the story goes next.

A good start to the series with an intriguing magical world, an enjoyable central relationship and plenty of mystery to keep things moving.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy fantasy, rivals-to-lovers, magical bonds, academic characters, mystery and series with plenty of secrets still to uncover.

Content warnings: Violence, death, threats, magical peril, captivity.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Joanne McGlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC Review – *At the Mercy of the Midnight Realm* by Chloe Cullen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐**

*At the Mercy of the Midnight Realm* was my first experience reading Chloe Cullen, and I can honestly say I was not disappointed. From the very first chapters, I found myself completely drawn into the story and constantly wanting to read just one more chapter. It was the kind of book that kept me turning the pages late into the night because I needed to know what would happen next.

One of the standout aspects of this novel was the world-building. Cullen creates a rich and immersive setting that felt vivid without being overwhelming. It was easy to get lost in the world she created, and I loved discovering more about it as the story unfolded. The writing style was engaging and easy to read, making this a book that flowed effortlessly from start to finish.

I also really enjoyed the character interactions. The relationships felt natural, and the dialogue helped bring the characters to life. Their dynamics added a lot of charm to the story and kept me invested throughout.

While there were a few moments that felt slightly repetitive, it never became a major issue or took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. The strengths of the story, characters, and setting far outweighed those minor points.

Overall, this has become one of my favourite reads of the year. It's a light-hearted, enjoyable fantasy that captured my attention from beginning to end, and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

A captivating debut that hooked me from the start and left me eager for more.

[Hallowchaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

the banter. the banter was soooo good. that is the kind of banter i want to read about. it's the kind that is snappy but doesn't hurt the other person. honestly? chef's kiss for that.

i really enjoyed the story, the ideas, the characters.i knew going into this that it wouldn't be a standalone, which made that cliffhanger a lot easier to bear.

the story was nicely told, easy to follow, and was just overall enjoyable. i felt like this was a very nice take on known tropes and had some clever ideas that i really enjoyed. i do wish some things, like the rune writing, had been explained a bit better at the start, but it was still easy to follow and didn't make me miss out on anything. the pacing wasn't perfect, but i did enjoy the fact that it was fast-paced. while some moments could have lingered a bit longer, i would rather read something that moves quickly than the opposite.

the characters! so i know, thanks to other reviews, that this was originally a dramione ff. since i've never read an actual ff about them, but know the characters from the books and movies, i didn't feel like i was reading about them. personally, i enjoyed silas's pov a bit more. the yearning and the fact that he has always loved her were very well written. not to say i didn't like amelia as well. there was a lot to explore with her character, and i really liked that.

i will 100% be reading the next book, and i hope i won't have to wait too long.

thanks to netgalley for the arc.

[Sierra L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC!

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to like this. Forced proximity, rivals, scholarly vibes, and a beginning that reminded of the Mummy. As the book went on though, I really was dragging my feet to finish.

First off, I know this is an adaption of a Dramione fanfiction and that doesn’t bother me. I’ve read a lot of them this year and I’ve enjoyed them all. The problem with this one was that it dragged on, I don’t think it needed to be a duology, and the world building left a lot to be desired.

At the beginning, I thought the magic system was interesting but it grew to be tedious to follow and maybe I’m not the right audience for this. Along with this, I felt that there was a lot I wanted to know but instead got other details of items I didn’t need to know. I think the writing could’ve been stronger but that didn’t take me out of the story too much.

I liked the banter between our two leads and I liked seeing their relationship evolve. I’m always down for knowing who fell first, especially in flashbacks, and I enjoyed those small moments. I liked Silas and Amelia, and I liked them together. I just wanted more.

I’m glad I did have the chance to read this and I’m excited to see more from the author. I think she has the imagination to pump out some awesome work, I just want to see more!