Midnight in the House of Lang

by Bree M. Lewandowski

The year is 3034. All power has reverted to steam. Airships darken the sky. Europe crumbles under war.

In imperial Vienna, war has been a distant whisper--heard but not seen, until terror drops from the sky, bringing bloodshed across Austria.

Now, beloved granddaughter of the emperor, Thea Lang, and her elder brother must flee to the safety of Belarus. Suddenly a refugee, all she longs for is to return home to her city, her people, and the man who raised her.

That is, until "home" shifts in the reflection of a pair of black eyes and a voice like midnight.

Captain Irek Surov fights for Russia and the countries who need its aid. His entire life has marched in service and protection 'tll a young woman with the fervor and beauty of Russian folklore sirens brings his heart to a halt.

Between them, there can be no future. Their lives lie in opposite directions and war has no mercy for lovers.

Yet, between their two hearts an indelible cord has been woven. Perhaps even the flames of battle cannot burn it away.

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2020

About the author

Having lived all her life in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, author Bree M. Lewandowski incorporates all aspects of her life in her writing. A ballet dancer at a young age, continuing to teach ballet through her career as an author, she often turns to the tumultuous world of dance to find threads of a story. In love with classical literature, her writing not only pays homage to the style of writers like Dumas and Hugo, she also believes in creating main characters who are larger than life. Yet, struggles with body image, mental and emotional health, and the strained relationships so many have also play in and out of Lewandowski's writing. In the end, all these attributes combined, she loves to tell a love story.

Reviews

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star
Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski is a Dystopian/Romance. I’m going to be honest I was simply intrigued by the title and the cover is amazing. Dystopian is not normally genre would read. It took me a bit to get into the story but once I did I found myself lost in the pages and I had to know what was going to happen next. This is set in the future, the characters are very developed and the story is well written. Thea is a young woman who has had to run away from a life of luxury and glamour as war ravages the land. Captain Surov is a man whose life is about protection and service. There is definitely attraction between these two. Can these two have a future together with the raging battle going on? Find out what happens next in this must read book that at moments will have you on the edge of your seat to moment of pulling at your heart strings. I had my doubts at first but I’m glad I picked this book up .I really can’t wait to read more from this Author.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

“Darn him and how wonderful he was: how selfless, how beautiful, how masculine. Darn the body, so sculpted, she wanted to cling to it and feel its strength. Those black eyes. That stormy voice. Confound the way the cord between them that ached. Confound the way his presence, even amidst bombs falling, slaked the vibrancy of the cord and left her breathless and satiated all at once. Blast her heart.”

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski is a wonderfully original and intriguing dystopian romance with sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and steam-punk elements. To me, it really felt like a grown-up, dystopian “Anastasia”(-esque) story - which I loved, but with its own unique identity which gave it so much originality, depth and interest.
The story is incredibly well woven- and Ms. Lewandowski’s world building is brilliant. She paints a picture of a far flung future ravaged by war and catastrophe. Society has reverted back to steam power, airships, and horse drawn carriages. This steampunk dystopian world comes to life under her talented direction. Crafting a realistic and entirely plausible world in which to set her story.

“In 2024, on the western side of the United States, cataclysm occurred. A geyser’s eruption covered half the North American continent. In its wake, not only was America forced to Adjust but the rest of the world as well. Steam engineering began again. Some countries created alternate fuels. Life evolved. Europe reverted to older ways and customs.
We begin. In the year of our lord, 3034. Vienna, Austria. “

We meet Thea Lang who is the granddaughter of the emperor of Austria. As their beloved country is thrown into war- she along with her brother are forced to flee- setting her on quite an action packed adventure. Throw in plenty of danger, a wonderful romance, dramatic developments, fantastic world building- and this story really gets interesting.
I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Ms. Lewandowski has in store for us next.

Thank you, Ms. Lewandowski!

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thea and Yuri I love these to. This book is very strong with he authors descriptive writing style. This book display some parts of the steam punk genre. Thea is wanting less fancy and more wants free and less rules. This books is very clean in is descriptive historical style. Highly recommended.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Quite What I Was Expecting

From the book description, I thought this book was really going to focus on the romance aspect. But this book came across to me more like a refugee story in the time of war. Now, of course, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it would have been nicer if the author set up the tale that way. I also didn't quite buy the initial background of the story, where we are told that a cataclysmic event happened on the west coast of the United States in our time that set up the future world that's taking place approximately a thousand years after us. What watershed the event did, somehow, is make countries go back to carriages while still keeping some technology like radios. This was never really explained why the world decided to go this way. That is a minor quibble, but I'm interested in how that supposedly came about.

I wanted to like the heroine, and I did at times. But I found she frustrated me more often than not. She was a bad blend of naivete, bleeding heart, and low self-esteem with an unnatural concern for others over herself. This meant that she would often put herself in harm's way for silly reasons. She seems to care about everybody else more than herself, even her brother, who did not treat her well during their travel and their initial time as refugees. It annoyed me how she kept going after her wayward brother whenever there were bullets and bombs raining down on them. Why wouldn't she just stay in the hotel and stay safe? Enough was not explained about her character to make this logical. She just seemed stupid and intent on being killed while trying to take others. *** START SPOILER *** I also didn't buy that after she had been on bed rest for weeks after her shock at the news of her grandfather's death, collapsing from weakness and muscle disuse on her way to the basement of the hotel when an airstrike starts, that she was then able to run out into the plaza, looking for that stupid brother again. Seriously! *** END SPOILER ***

I also didn't buy the romance. The story really seemed to be about what was happening with the refugees. The hero is a local leader of sorts, a captain in the Russian army stationed in Poland. While I like a good slow-burn romance, this was so slow that it was barely noticeable before he was saying that she had his heart. It felt like it came out of the blue. All in all, while I did find it a compelling read at times, I was ultimately disappointed. I felt I just kept waiting for the heroine to do something stupid again, and that's not the kind of book that I like to read.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Dystopian Romance by Bree M. Lewandowski set in the future. Dystopian novels are not my usual genre but I’m so pleased I picked this book up, as once I started it I could not put it down. I liked that the author began the book with an explanation of what had happened on Earth and why the conditions were as they were. It is set in 3034 and power has reverted back to steam and Airships darken the sky as Europe crumbles under war. Thea Lang, as the granddaughter to the Emperor has been living in Imperial Vienna untouched by the war but when it finally arrives bringing bloodshed across Austria, Thea and her elder brother must flee to the safety of Belarus. Thea’s life as a refugee is tough and she longs to return home, until she meets handsome Captain Irek Surov who has black eyes and a voice like midnight.
Irek fights for Russia and the other countries who need its aid abut is stopped in his tracks when he meets a young beautiful woman who he believes has the beauty of the Russian folklore sirens, and she brings his heart to a halt. The two can not deny their attraction and chemistry, and this sizzles of the page. I loved the two main characters and how their relationship developed throughout the story. Even though their lives seem to lie in opposite directions the bond the pair has is strong but war has no mercy for lovers. The world building is so detailed I could see, hear and smell the future that Lewandowski wove around Thea and Irek. This book has drama and romance amongst a dystopian future and war, and I was gripped from page one with the fast paced storyline. I recommend you read this wonderful story to find out if the flames of battle do burn the indelible cord which has been woven between Irek and Thea’s hearts.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang is a dystopian romance by Bree M Lewandowski. It is my first read by this writer and as I fell in love with dystopian world after Hunger Games (novels NOT the movies, people!!!) then I decided to pick up Midnight in the House of Lang after reading the synopsis.
Midnight in the House of Lang was different from any of the other dystopian novels I have read so far, it had more romance then any of the other ones I had read, it had some steam-punk elements that was also something I had not encountered before in the stories I had read … I loved how the writer was spinning the tale of the far future ravaged by war and natural catastrophes and how the humanity had to revert back to horse drawn carriages and steam power. The world seems so real that sometimes I thought to myself ‘Thank Goodness I will not be alive to experience it myself’ and then realizing that hey, I am ‘just’ reading a book …
The couple in the midst of romance is the granddaughter of the Emperor, Thea Lang, and Captain Irek Surov who is fighting for Russia. They meet when Thea and her elder brother are refugees after having had to flee from Austria to the safety of Belarus, and so the writer starts to paint a beautiful picture in this crazy scary world … pick a picture by one of the great painters of 17th/18th century and overlay it with steam punk and maybe, just maybe you are able to imagine the world they inhabit! Come along and keep in mind that it is ‘just’ a book!

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dytopian stories can be hit or miss with me.
Sometimes I feel like the author gets too into world building that they forget to push the story along and everything ends up getting lost by being bogged down with so many details.
However, at first glance the cover caught my eye with this one and I chose to dive right in!
I've read previous stories from this author and I don't recall every having any issues with too many details to try and push a story or about the world building.
With Midnight in the House of Lang it's no different. Bree Lewandowski was able to keep my interest in the story while also building a futurist world that is going through many changes during wartime. Thea and her brother Arthur are fleeing from the war that has finally made it's way to Austria. For Arthur the weight of his new role, should his grandfather die weighs heavily on him as well as his responsibilities to his country and sister. Thea is torn between honoring her grandfather's wishes to flee from Austria and debating why her life is more important that anyone else's all because of her last name.
All through the story Thea is exposed to how war effect everyone, including herself. When she starts to fall for the captain of the Russian Army that is protecting the small city, a future that Thea had already made for herself starts to blur. But can Thea see a future for her and Irek after the war?

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang is a steampunk dystopian novel by Bree M. Lewandowski. Set in Europe, in the distant future, it follows a young woman who has had to run away from a life of glamour and luxury as war ravages the land.
The setting is quite interesting. The premise is that, around a millennium prior to the events of the book, a world-changing disaster occurred. With different parts of the world finding their own ways to cope, many have reverted back to older ways of doing things. So, as well as being science fiction this book has a bit of a historical fiction feel to it at times, with anachronisms and differences that disrupt this.
This is a really engaging and interesting book. With such a complex reimagining of the world – and over a millennium of new history – Lewandowski still manages to focus on the stories of individuals and their lives and relationships. Rather than having huge amounts of exposition, we’re offered little bits of information when they become relevant and shown to us in stories and memories.
For me, this is a five-star book. Original and enjoyable! I’d recommend it to fans of steampunk and alternative futures, particularly if you also like historical fiction!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was walking into with Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M Lewandowski. She is a new author to me and dystopian novels usually don’t get to the top of my reading list. I had to know what this book was all about once I saw the cover and the blurbs that came with it. I love the idea that steampunk plays a heavy role in the story as this normally fascinates me. I am so glad that I gave this one a chance and a read as this book was nothing like what you would expect. I normally struggle with an overt amount of details that we are bombarded with in most dystopian books but in this one it was as if a beautiful painting was being done in front of me of this magnificent both scary and gorgeous new world that Lewandowski has created. I imagine the colors are vibrant with the dusty hues of the old days when things felt safe. We find ourselves following Thea through and adventure in the year 3034. Thea is starved for a less fancy and ruled life and craves both freedom and normalcy. She may not get exactly what she asks for when she meets the handsome man who will be the center of her attention. I loved so much about this story and I am anxious to see what will come next from Bree M Lewandowski!

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang
By Bree M. Lewandowski
5 out of 5 stars

The story Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski is a dystopian/romance book. It is a story that pulled me in, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down until I had read the final page. I enjoyed reading about the characters of Thea Lang and Captain Irek Surov. Thea is a young woman who along with her brother are refuges in Belarus. Her wish is to return home to the land and the people that she loves. She also finds herself attracted to Captain Surov. Irek Surov is a man whose life is about protection and service. He has also found himself attracted to Thea. With a battle raging there seems to be no future between them. Read this book to find out the complete story. This is a book that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. There is suspense and danger. Some moments are heartbreaking and others that are romantic. The story is written in such a way that I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing what they did. I would recommend reading this book.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was bred for power and nurtured in love. War ravaged outside her country with hopes it would never come near. When war hits it's never pretty. The movies make it exciting and glamorous. With loss and war devouring everything that crosses it's path she finds something special. Holding on to it will take strength and determination. Okay to be honest there were times when I just wanted to slap her out of her hysteria and slap some sense into her. Once I got over it I actually enjoyed her character.

I do love this author's style as she gives us a clean historical trip to those impacted by the war in Austria. Take a tip through time and experience the fear and lack of control. The restrictions and death. It's a beautiful story of her recovery from loss and her brother growing into the person he needed to be.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this dystopian romance book. It is not a book I would normally pick up but I am glad that I did. It has everything you would hope for in a good book from romance to action and set in the future. It is a well developed story that has characters that not only brought the story to life but also stick in your heart. I had no problem connecting to these characters and they certainly kept me reading to the end. Thea has balls, family and her friends to keep her days busy. But what will happen when things go bad? Is there only one person who can save things? Will she see that there is so much more to human nature than what she is used to? This is a great story that pulled me in from the beginning. I highly recommend reading this book to find out how things turn out for Thea.

[Madilynn Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski

5-Stars

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski was an excellent dystopian romance. I loved the world building and how the author opens with an explanation of what changed the world. It set up the basic background for why everything reverted back to carriages and horseback for travel. I loved the main characters and their development. Thea matured greatly after the first attack on the palace. I felt that as the main character she was easy to relate to and visualize. Her brother Arthur irked me at times but he ultimately stepped up to take care of her and to fulfill his duties. This was an excellent read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski is an amazing dystopian novel which will make you feel like you are right there.
This book is utterly fantastic. I knew I would like it from the second I read the description but I am blown away by how amazing this book was. It was so well written that it clearly has the distinctive markings of a dystopian novel and yet felt as if it were reality. It honestly felt like I could have stepped out my front door any second and been in this world. And I loved that about it, it made it all feel so much more real.
I loved Thea, she is such a strong character. I got a real sense of fight about her. She made me want to read more about her character.
This is strong and exciting book and one that I would highly recommend.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebellion, revolution and romance. In the future where royalty is not always noble, wealth is not always respected, and honor is not always visible, Thea's charm lies in her innocence. Balls, friends and family are the highlights of her days. But when the horror starts and she is sent to safety, her journey to becoming aware is difficult. Questioning the reality of her world, Thea's life changes in an instant. Will the intervention of Captain Ivek Surov show her that human nature is more than just the familiar? Will her relationship with her brother evolve as he steps into a new role demanded of him? Will war in Austria destroy the ruling family?

[Misty Ziegler · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3 stars***
Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski

I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like this dystopian romance with a post-apocalyptic steampunk storyline. It was an unexpected story to say the least. The characters and storyline were unique and the world building and plot line played out like a movie. The authors take on the future was very well described. I enjoyed the drama and romance, mixed with the experiences of refuges of war and the royal family’s adventure. Thea and Irek’s relationship developed nicely too, and I felt like the story was occurring both in the future and in the past. This story was something I never expected.

[Jonell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang, by Bree M. Lewandowski is a sweet little romance. There is sadness in it, but isn't that like real life. I especially like the way the author describes grief, because that's exactly what it feels like. There is so much hope in this story and so much happiness that the grief doesn't bury you. The romance between Thea and Irek is a precious thing to behold, but the love between a man and a woman isn't the only kind of love and this book makes that clearly evident. There is humor, there is drama, there is adventure, and plenty of action. This story has it all. Ms.Lewandowski has a new fan.

[Kayla Interdonato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang is a thrilling dystopian romance novel by Bree M. Lewandowski. This book was so captivating and had me on the edge of my seat. The author was able to describe everything so vividly I felt like I was in the midst of all the action. Set in future Vienna, this novel tells the story of Thea Lang, the emperor’s granddaughter, and Captain Irek Surov. As war breaks out in Austria, Thea and her brother flee to safety in Belarus. This is where she meets Irek. There is no hope for their future because of where they come from, but will that stop the two from falling in love? You’ll have to read this story to find out.

[Kerry carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a beautiful and emotional story.

Thea and her brother Arthur are forced to leave their palace in Austria after the enemy attacks. They leave behind their grandad who is emporar.

Thea and her brother travel as refugees to escape the war and take shelter in a hotel.

While there they get some devastating news and Thea falls in love with a Captain. However things are all plain sailing when to save her Captain Irek is forced to send her and Arthur to live with his mother. With his ring on her finger she goes.
Will she get the love of her life back or will the war take another person she loves and leave her heartbroken again.

[Amanda Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M Lewandowski was a great read. I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but I am glad that I took the chance. I became hooked after the first 2 chapters as I was intrigued by the authors world building that was set up so unique. The story is set in the future specifically in 3034 in Imperial Vienna. Thea who is the beloved granddaughter of the emperor and her brother have fled their home for their safety and aren’t sure when or if they will return. The characters truly bring this story to life. I am so glad that I took a chance and cant wait to read more by this author.

[Erica Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set in the future, in 3034 to be exact. It takes place in Vienna Austria. I have never been there, but I could imagine it quite clearly with Bree Lewandowski’s descriptive text. The story is considered a dystopian romance book. I love the characters in this book. It makes it come alive. I felt like I was right there with Thea going through everything with her. Thea is one strong cookie. She can hold her own. I would not mess with her at all. I recommend this story. I think you will enjoy the journey with Thea as I did.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M. Lewandowski is an exciting futuristic read. It is set in 3034 in Imperial Vienna and Thea with her brother have fled their home for safety. Thea finds herself falling for Captain Irek Surov despite their different goals. This is a futuristic dystopian society where steam runs everything. I really enjoyed the development of the story and felt myself carried away. This is a relatively short read but doesn't fall short in story or character development. I will be looking for more in the future from this author.

[Candida Furbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang
by Bree M. Lewandowski

Once I started reading this book I was hooked. Dystopian stories aren't what I usually read but I'm glad I decided to read this one because I loved it.The author took me on an adventure of action, danger, romance, originality and great world building. So much changed for Thea and her brother after the war reached Austria and they became refugees. I enjoyed the character growth and the detail in this book made the story that much more real and vivid. This was a great read and I highly recommend this book.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M Lewandowski is a dystopian romance and is an interesting and intriguing read. It is a steampunk sci-fi and unique in Bree’s telling as she has cleverly woven the threads together with her wonderful world building. Her vivid words make the world seem real and the journey is set in a future where the world has been ravaged by war and society has been reduced back to horses and steam power to airships and much more. I am looking forward to seeing what Bree has in store for us next and where she will take us.

[Hannah Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so beautifully written. Taking place in an uncertain future, Thea is the beloved granddaughter of the emperor. But when war comes to the House of Lang on a starlit midnight, her whole world is torn apart. She and her brother must flea their homeland, seeking refuge through the war. This story explores love, loss and family in the time of war and uncertainty. It's a wonderfully crafted story with deep emotion that tears at the heartstrings.

[Heather Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love dystopian books and from the summary alone knew I had to get my hands on this book. And can we talk about how gorgeous the cover is??? Lewandowski is a new author to me and she does an amazing job establishing the universe of this story with two amazing characters. I simply couldn’t put this book down and loved every single page. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Amazing!

[Brandy Mulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not what I expected at all. The terror and toll of war takes front and center as Thea and he Rd brother are forced to run for their lives. Each deals with being stuck in a foreign country in different ways and small kindnesses from a Russian captain help Thea cope with little to no news of home. The war finds them again just as Thea and the captain start to become more than friends and stuff choices must be made. There is violence but no explicit adult content.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight in the House of Lang by Bree M Lewandowski
Stars:4

This was a great story with romance, danger, and suspense. I loved reading about Thea and Captain Surov, and how they faced conflict in the story. I think that Bree Lewandowski did a wonderful job creating a year 3034 dystopian world, her characters, and the challenges the characters must face. I was quickly pulled in the world she created.

[Naomi Valkyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t certain what to expect with this book. Dystopian novels are not my usual read. This book was pleasantly surprising. While it did take me a couple of chapters to get into it, when I did, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the world this author created. You feel as if you are right there in it as you follow Thea on her journey as a refugee. There are emotional moments in the book, as well as suspense, danger, and romance.
Overall, a great read. 😊

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the year 3040, the world has changed but yet somethings are still the same. Parts of the world are at war , yet there is also love. A wonderful book with love, hate , envy , terror and so many more emotions that draw you into the story. I felt as if I was there when the bombs went off, being on the run and finding love. Bree M. Lewandowski this is a wonderful book, I loved reading it so much I'm going to be reading it a second time.