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Magic at Midnight
BETRAYAL.
CONSPIRACIES.
MAGIC.
Amy has only known one life. Now she needs to put it all on the line to save what is precious to her. Can this simple farm girl survive court-life? Can she stop a war from burning down her world? And what of the mysterious princess of Hazel Wood and her covert glances…? Not to mention the prince of Acacia Wood who might or might not be involved with the prophecies ruling their kingdoms. With mysteries and secrets threatening the life she longs to return to, can she separate her feelings from the mission?
TO WHAT LENGTHS WILL SHE GO TO SAVE HER LOVED-ONES?
*Book club questions included.
CONSPIRACIES.
MAGIC.
Amy has only known one life. Now she needs to put it all on the line to save what is precious to her. Can this simple farm girl survive court-life? Can she stop a war from burning down her world? And what of the mysterious princess of Hazel Wood and her covert glances…? Not to mention the prince of Acacia Wood who might or might not be involved with the prophecies ruling their kingdoms. With mysteries and secrets threatening the life she longs to return to, can she separate her feelings from the mission?
TO WHAT LENGTHS WILL SHE GO TO SAVE HER LOVED-ONES?
*Book club questions included.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2019
About the author
Ronel Janse van Vuuren
70 books55 followersAward-winning Dark Fantasy author Ronel Janse van Vuuren writes about kick-ass heroines, the duality of being human and loves to use folklore to underscore her point.
She’s a Rottweiler pack leader, chicken wrangler and horse servant.
All of her books are available for purchase from major online retailers.
Sign up to be notified of new releases, giveaways and pre-release specials – plus get a free eBook – when you join Ronel’s newsletter.
https://ronel-the-mythmaker.kit.com/6...
Learn more about the author here: https://linktr.ee/miladyronel
*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*
She’s a Rottweiler pack leader, chicken wrangler and horse servant.
All of her books are available for purchase from major online retailers.
Sign up to be notified of new releases, giveaways and pre-release specials – plus get a free eBook – when you join Ronel’s newsletter.
https://ronel-the-mythmaker.kit.com/6...
Learn more about the author here: https://linktr.ee/miladyronel
*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 11, 2019
In Ronel Janse van Vuuren's Magic at Midnight (2019), Amy has an unusual job. She takes care of a herd of Pegasi--cleans their stables, feeds them, befriends them, and keeps them safe. It’s hard work and takes all day every day but she likes the peace and quiet as well as the uninterrupted time with the Pegasi, some of which have become closer friends than any human she knows. Though she possesses magical powers, she never uses them to make her job faster or easier because part of what she gets from working with these amazing spirited almost-horses is the reality of a job well done for an important purpose.
That changes one day when she is called on to assist her country by donning the garb and the attitudes of a royal princess and competing for the hand of the prince. Though it is as far from her reality as anything she's ever done and holds no interest, she agrees because if she doesn't her Pegasi herd will be in danger. She is whisked off to a castle where she is scrubbed and shined, trained and teased, until she is prepared to join the rest of the princesses who are part of this competition.
That's where it gets complicated. She thought wearing fancy dresses and emitting vapid interest in anything but herself would be the hardest part of what she has been asked to do. Not even close.
This is a delightful, fun mix of Pretty Woman and Cinderella with its own clever twists and turns. It's a quick read--ninety-eight pages, easily completed in a few days. I highly recommend it for those times you just want to escape reality and find a happily ever after ending.
That changes one day when she is called on to assist her country by donning the garb and the attitudes of a royal princess and competing for the hand of the prince. Though it is as far from her reality as anything she's ever done and holds no interest, she agrees because if she doesn't her Pegasi herd will be in danger. She is whisked off to a castle where she is scrubbed and shined, trained and teased, until she is prepared to join the rest of the princesses who are part of this competition.
That's where it gets complicated. She thought wearing fancy dresses and emitting vapid interest in anything but herself would be the hardest part of what she has been asked to do. Not even close.
This is a delightful, fun mix of Pretty Woman and Cinderella with its own clever twists and turns. It's a quick read--ninety-eight pages, easily completed in a few days. I highly recommend it for those times you just want to escape reality and find a happily ever after ending.
September 26, 2019
I LOVE this book. Remember Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch? The bisexual gal who runs a stable of pegasi and has to do a covert mission as a princess to prevent war -- yeah, that's freaking awesome and worthy of jumping on a couch. Oh, and the magic castle that actually is a character because (spoiler reasons), give me more of that! This is exactly my kind of book. I'm not saying there aren't similar books in the fantasy genre, I'm saying that this a worthy addition. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, flying horses with personality, the idea that a princess is more than just a title, and anyone looking for an LGBTQ+ twist on fairy tale type fantasy.
The book was free in July on Amazon, which is how I got my copy. There's some romance, a happily-ever-after, controversy, action, plot twists, and it's entertaining. I read the whole book because I really wanted to know how it would turn out for Amy. I mean, one minute she doesn't even know what an indoor bathroom is, and the next she has to convince people she's a princess. Man, I love this girl so much. I want to hang out with her and her pegasi for a month. Just toss me into the pages.
"Every couple of months, a group of human monsters would descend on her herd..." I love the phrasing of this line.
And then there's this passage, where the LGBTQ+ part really makes the fantasy line blur to reality. It really holds a mirror up to real society. :
"Our society forces arranged marriages on people who might never be compatible. And not because they aren't attracted to each other; but because they might never be attracted to someone from the opposite sex."
I never encountered the expression "shout rent the silence" before, but I loved how it was used. I did not find errors in the book. (*As a reminder, Ronel is from South Africa. Therefore, words like "skilfully" aren't spelled wrong.) I even love the formatting, the drop caps inside the chapters that are used as scene separators.
The cover is great and it matches the book climax perfectly. I've read books and stories by this author before and fully intend to read more soon. She's becoming one of my favorites. (Yes, we do follow each other's blogs and social media, and do some of the same online challenges. But we've never met.) This book isn't listed as part of a series, but it certainly left me wanting a second! I can't say I'm "team Rachel," because she has a HEA already. Does that make me "team Francois"? I don't know. Maybe there should be a second book with poly relationships. Perhaps another character as an option?
It passes the Bechdel test in that it has women who talk to each other about something besides a man. They talk about magic, war, conspiracies, how to handle a winged horse, etc.
The book was free in July on Amazon, which is how I got my copy. There's some romance, a happily-ever-after, controversy, action, plot twists, and it's entertaining. I read the whole book because I really wanted to know how it would turn out for Amy. I mean, one minute she doesn't even know what an indoor bathroom is, and the next she has to convince people she's a princess. Man, I love this girl so much. I want to hang out with her and her pegasi for a month. Just toss me into the pages.
"Every couple of months, a group of human monsters would descend on her herd..." I love the phrasing of this line.
And then there's this passage, where the LGBTQ+ part really makes the fantasy line blur to reality. It really holds a mirror up to real society. :
"Our society forces arranged marriages on people who might never be compatible. And not because they aren't attracted to each other; but because they might never be attracted to someone from the opposite sex."
I never encountered the expression "shout rent the silence" before, but I loved how it was used. I did not find errors in the book. (*As a reminder, Ronel is from South Africa. Therefore, words like "skilfully" aren't spelled wrong.) I even love the formatting, the drop caps inside the chapters that are used as scene separators.
The cover is great and it matches the book climax perfectly. I've read books and stories by this author before and fully intend to read more soon. She's becoming one of my favorites. (Yes, we do follow each other's blogs and social media, and do some of the same online challenges. But we've never met.) This book isn't listed as part of a series, but it certainly left me wanting a second! I can't say I'm "team Rachel," because she has a HEA already. Does that make me "team Francois"? I don't know. Maybe there should be a second book with poly relationships. Perhaps another character as an option?
It passes the Bechdel test in that it has women who talk to each other about something besides a man. They talk about magic, war, conspiracies, how to handle a winged horse, etc.
October 13, 2019
I love magic and mythical creatures: Magic at Midnight has that and more. In the style of Miss Congeniality, Ronel builds a vivid magical fantasy kingdom, with a competition for the princes’ hand in marriage instead of a beauty pageant!
The characters are memorable. Amy reminds me of Cinderella, but only that she has a stepmother and step sisters. Unlike Cinderella, she’s headstrong and feisty: She also has magic, which she uses only to defend her herd and never to make her long list of chores easier! Rachel and the Prince were equally awesome, and even the minor characters, like the maid and Princess Rose, were well developed and easy to visualise.
The pegasi (winged horses) have their own personalities. Idil was easily my favourite. She’s Amy’s friend and companion, and such a sassy sweetie! The magical touches Ronel adds are perfect, and I could feel the wonder as Amy explored the castle's twisting corridors and secret passages.
An enjoyable read, full of fantasy, magic, and conspiracy: I’d love to see more of Amy and Idil :)
The characters are memorable. Amy reminds me of Cinderella, but only that she has a stepmother and step sisters. Unlike Cinderella, she’s headstrong and feisty: She also has magic, which she uses only to defend her herd and never to make her long list of chores easier! Rachel and the Prince were equally awesome, and even the minor characters, like the maid and Princess Rose, were well developed and easy to visualise.
The pegasi (winged horses) have their own personalities. Idil was easily my favourite. She’s Amy’s friend and companion, and such a sassy sweetie! The magical touches Ronel adds are perfect, and I could feel the wonder as Amy explored the castle's twisting corridors and secret passages.
An enjoyable read, full of fantasy, magic, and conspiracy: I’d love to see more of Amy and Idil :)
July 28, 2022
Amy is a country girl at heart and nothing makes her happier then tending her herd--Her herd of Pegasus. I was so thrilled to find a story involving Pegasus. One of my favorite mythologies.
This is not a typical fairytale retelling, but I could see threads of inspiration that I associated with such childhood reads as the Prince and the Pauper, Heidi, and shades of Cinderella. Amy has to deal with poachers, conspiracies, talks of war, and traitors. She is no damsel in distress she has a few gifts of her own. And yes, there is magic. Can she save the kingdom and her beloved Pegasus?
An enjoyable read and fun tale. I would like to read more stories in this world with Pegasus.
This is not a typical fairytale retelling, but I could see threads of inspiration that I associated with such childhood reads as the Prince and the Pauper, Heidi, and shades of Cinderella. Amy has to deal with poachers, conspiracies, talks of war, and traitors. She is no damsel in distress she has a few gifts of her own. And yes, there is magic. Can she save the kingdom and her beloved Pegasus?
An enjoyable read and fun tale. I would like to read more stories in this world with Pegasus.
January 18, 2021
Amy loved her life on the Pegasi Farm. She was one with the creatures, able to infer their exact desires without much trouble. But one day, she is whisked away by a mysterious lord and thrust into a game to win the prince’s hand in marriage…all because she is the spitting image of Princess Amelia! But soon Amy learns that there is more to these games, as well as her past, than she imagined. Can she figure them out, all while exploring her newfound emotions for the Princess of Hazel Wood? Or will her cluelessness lead to death?
There are a lot of great elements in this book: a sentient castle, herds of pegasi, and an deep understanding of love. Amy is a smart-witted young woman, one whose rationality overshadows most of the other princesses, and allows her to uncover a dark plan brewing in the castle to instigate war. Her kindness moves her to act, determined to stop a war that could harm both her pegasi and newfound friends.
It was nice as well to see Amy be shown as an individual who is attracted to both men and women; often times this isn’t explored in fiction, especially in fantasy, and we are given a chance to see how this internal struggle helps bring peace.
While the story itself had a lot of great elements, and even the basic plot was interesting, the execution didn’t work for me. In part, this was due to the pacing. I’m not a fan of fast pacing, where the story jumps from one event the next. In the course of the first chapter, Amy goes from farm girl to a participant in a princess competition, without giving us a chance to really understand her feelings or see how she is transformed. Being a novella, I understand how word-space can be limited. Personally, I feel like there was enough working in the background of this story that it could have been a full length novel! We could have explored the politics more, as well as Amy’s feelings, her magic, and her relationship with the pegasi. Instead, we were told about Amy’s feelings…rather than given them the chance to see them in action.
While the pacing of this story wasn’t for me, it still has a great plot that I think a lot of people will enjoy! So if you like pegasi, magic, princesses, and LGBTQ+ representation, it is definitely worth the read!
Note: I received a copy of this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.
There are a lot of great elements in this book: a sentient castle, herds of pegasi, and an deep understanding of love. Amy is a smart-witted young woman, one whose rationality overshadows most of the other princesses, and allows her to uncover a dark plan brewing in the castle to instigate war. Her kindness moves her to act, determined to stop a war that could harm both her pegasi and newfound friends.
It was nice as well to see Amy be shown as an individual who is attracted to both men and women; often times this isn’t explored in fiction, especially in fantasy, and we are given a chance to see how this internal struggle helps bring peace.
While the story itself had a lot of great elements, and even the basic plot was interesting, the execution didn’t work for me. In part, this was due to the pacing. I’m not a fan of fast pacing, where the story jumps from one event the next. In the course of the first chapter, Amy goes from farm girl to a participant in a princess competition, without giving us a chance to really understand her feelings or see how she is transformed. Being a novella, I understand how word-space can be limited. Personally, I feel like there was enough working in the background of this story that it could have been a full length novel! We could have explored the politics more, as well as Amy’s feelings, her magic, and her relationship with the pegasi. Instead, we were told about Amy’s feelings…rather than given them the chance to see them in action.
While the pacing of this story wasn’t for me, it still has a great plot that I think a lot of people will enjoy! So if you like pegasi, magic, princesses, and LGBTQ+ representation, it is definitely worth the read!
Note: I received a copy of this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2022
Actual rating, 4.25.
This was a short read for me, once I actually sat down to really read it. I think I simply wanted more from it. It was well developed, but as a fan of fantasy, I wanted to dive into this world more. I wanted more of the history- the who, where, and why. I wanted to know why the magical system was so limited to royalty. Ultimately, I wanted to have a better understanding of what happened at the end with the Pegasus and the glowing light. I didn't quite get that. Bottomline, I really enjoyed this story, I just wanted more of it.
There are many underlying themes fueling the narrative of the story and some of them come clearly to the surface throughout the plot while others are there between the lines. I do think it was clever of the author to pack so much into such a short story. I read this for the IWSG Book club and one of the questions we ask was about whether this book was preachy. Whether one likes and or agrees with the messages in this book, I don't think it was preachy at all. This author understands the power of narrative and uses it to her advantage. Kudos to her. Anyone who thinks this is preachy probably just picked up the wrong book for them.
Recommended to fans of fairy tale reimaginings, diverse characters and cultures, empowerment tales, and magic. Must love magic!
This was a short read for me, once I actually sat down to really read it. I think I simply wanted more from it. It was well developed, but as a fan of fantasy, I wanted to dive into this world more. I wanted more of the history- the who, where, and why. I wanted to know why the magical system was so limited to royalty. Ultimately, I wanted to have a better understanding of what happened at the end with the Pegasus and the glowing light. I didn't quite get that. Bottomline, I really enjoyed this story, I just wanted more of it.
There are many underlying themes fueling the narrative of the story and some of them come clearly to the surface throughout the plot while others are there between the lines. I do think it was clever of the author to pack so much into such a short story. I read this for the IWSG Book club and one of the questions we ask was about whether this book was preachy. Whether one likes and or agrees with the messages in this book, I don't think it was preachy at all. This author understands the power of narrative and uses it to her advantage. Kudos to her. Anyone who thinks this is preachy probably just picked up the wrong book for them.
Recommended to fans of fairy tale reimaginings, diverse characters and cultures, empowerment tales, and magic. Must love magic!
December 8, 2019
This coming of age, young adult fantasy is a very quick read. It may be less than a hundred pages, but it certainly doesn't lack depth. The story is full of the things we expect in a fantasy, but the author also tackles some gender inequality, sexual orientation intolerance, facing the unknown in spite of fear, and growing into the person you are with pride. Now, don't get me wrong, those issues are all present, but the author handles it all terrifically and they flow right in with the world she's created. They're also addressed in a way that doesn't distract from the magic of the Pegasi or the wonderful personalities of the characters. The story is fast-paced and fantastical with magic, royalty, a pending war, a conspiracy, a bit of romance, and secrets, big secrets. Ronel Janse van Vuuren took me by surprise with Magic at Midnight. She gave me some pretty deep topics to ponder while mixing them seamlessly into a thoroughly engaging tale. Admittedly, I don't read as much fantasy as I used to, so there may very well be other stories like this one out there, but I will say that this one definitely deserves notice.
July 21, 2022
I loved the world-building in this story! The Pegasi are such intriguing creatures.
Amy is a likable main character who has to learn and do many new things in order to save her world, her pegasi, and prevent war. The magic in the story was well developed and I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery right along with Amy!
Amy is a likable main character who has to learn and do many new things in order to save her world, her pegasi, and prevent war. The magic in the story was well developed and I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery right along with Amy!
July 19, 2019
Really good read. Enjoyed the plot and the underlying discussion about free love. The characters were great and refreashing and the plot was easy to follow but also engaging and exciting. Loved the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2020
I wish we had more time to spend with the pegasuses. But it is a cute book about courtly intrigue, prophecy, and forbidden love. A very quick read.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
August 12, 2019
Read the Afrikaans version and loved it!
The love for the pegasi is tangible, the world-building is excellent and the LGBTQ aspect isn't "in your face".
A must-read.
The love for the pegasi is tangible, the world-building is excellent and the LGBTQ aspect isn't "in your face".
A must-read.
April 21, 2023
Review to follow
August 12, 2019
Hierdie verhaal is ‘n “page turner”. Die storie vloei maklik. Die liefde vir die pegasi is aanvoelbaar en die beskrywing van die omgewing, beide waar die karakter met haar pegasi besig is en die in die kasteel neem vorm aan in jou gedagtes en stuur jou verbeeling op sy eie tog.
Die weklike lewe in die storielyn maak dat hierdie storie geniet word.
Die LGBTQ kwessies word op so ‘n delikate manier hanteer, dat dit geensins “in your face” word nie.
Dis 'n moet-lees verhaal.
Die weklike lewe in die storielyn maak dat hierdie storie geniet word.
Die LGBTQ kwessies word op so ‘n delikate manier hanteer, dat dit geensins “in your face” word nie.
Dis 'n moet-lees verhaal.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews