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The Mirror #2
Shattered Midnight
Zora Broussard has arrived in New Orleans with not much more than a bag of clothes, a beautiful voice, and a pair of enchanted red shoes. Running from a tragic accident caused by her magic, Zora wants nothing more than to blend in, as well as to avoid her overbearing aunt and mean-spirited cousins. Music becomes Zora’s only means of escape, yet she wonders if she should give it all up to remove the powers that make her a target, especially as a Black woman in the South.
But when Zora gets the chance to perform in a prominent jazz club, she meets a sweet white pianist named Phillip with magic of his own, including a strange mirror that foretells their future together. Falling into a forbidden love, Zora and Phillip must keep their relationship a secret. And soon the two discover the complicated connection between their respective families, a connection that could lead to catastrophe for them both. In the era of segregation and speakeasies, Zora must change her destiny and fight for the one she loves . . . or risk losing everything.
But when Zora gets the chance to perform in a prominent jazz club, she meets a sweet white pianist named Phillip with magic of his own, including a strange mirror that foretells their future together. Falling into a forbidden love, Zora and Phillip must keep their relationship a secret. And soon the two discover the complicated connection between their respective families, a connection that could lead to catastrophe for them both. In the era of segregation and speakeasies, Zora must change her destiny and fight for the one she loves . . . or risk losing everything.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2022
24 people are currently reading
3405 people want to read
About the author
Dhonielle Clayton
44 books2,667 followersDhonielle Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of The Marvellers series, The Belles series, Shattered Midnight, co-author of Blackout, Whiteout, The Rumor Game, and of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, a Netflix original series. She hails from the Washington, D.C. suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books. She is the President and founder of Cake Creative and Electric Postcard Entertainment, IP story companies creating diverse books for all ages. She’s an avid traveller, and always on the hunt for magic and mischief. Find her on Instagram: @brownbookworm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
July 28, 2021
So I seriously had to take about two weeks to let this one sit. Don’t get me wrong, it was good. I really enjoyed it… but I absolutely adored the first one in this series. Like fell in love, head over heels, with the first one,
And I didn’t get the same magical feeling this time.
Zora is such a sweet character and I adore her very much, and the beginning has such a strong start. You’re vaulted straight into the story and learn something bad happened and no one is talking about it. As the book continues, you meet such lovely supporting characters. I really love Jo, she’s just super fun and sweet. Zora is still my favorite, but Jo is a close second. Then Phillip, phew, love, love, love!!!
Anyway, the writing is really great. One scene moves quickly to the next without losing the reader. I was entertained the whole time and I just had to see who Zora is going to end up with and how her story ends!! But, yes, there is a but… This is definitely not Elva’s story of magic, love, and betrayal. There was so much drama and so many things that I love about Elva’s portion of this saga. The magic does play a large role here, but I wasn’t lifted away in a fairytale. Which I’ll admit happened in the first one.
That’s seriously my only complaint and I know it’s just me. This was so very good and I was completely into the book and what was happening to who, when and where… I was just really anticipating a Broken Wish type of tale, and this didn’t quite hit the mark for me. But I wholly recommend this to YA readers who enjoy drama, some crazy magic, falling in love, and some great Black representation. Zora and Jo are two amazing young women who are Black and trying to make it in the era of segregation. Watch out, there is some violence in this one.
My point is, I loved it, not quite as much as Broken Wish, but I’m still waiting eagerly for the next book in this amazing series!!
Thank you so very much to NetGalley, Disney Publishing, and Dhonielle Clayton for letting me read this for my honest and unbiased opinion. Very much appreciated!!!!
Check out my cover pic and more reviews on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=554
Thanks!!
And I didn’t get the same magical feeling this time.
Zora is such a sweet character and I adore her very much, and the beginning has such a strong start. You’re vaulted straight into the story and learn something bad happened and no one is talking about it. As the book continues, you meet such lovely supporting characters. I really love Jo, she’s just super fun and sweet. Zora is still my favorite, but Jo is a close second. Then Phillip, phew, love, love, love!!!
Anyway, the writing is really great. One scene moves quickly to the next without losing the reader. I was entertained the whole time and I just had to see who Zora is going to end up with and how her story ends!! But, yes, there is a but… This is definitely not Elva’s story of magic, love, and betrayal. There was so much drama and so many things that I love about Elva’s portion of this saga. The magic does play a large role here, but I wasn’t lifted away in a fairytale. Which I’ll admit happened in the first one.
That’s seriously my only complaint and I know it’s just me. This was so very good and I was completely into the book and what was happening to who, when and where… I was just really anticipating a Broken Wish type of tale, and this didn’t quite hit the mark for me. But I wholly recommend this to YA readers who enjoy drama, some crazy magic, falling in love, and some great Black representation. Zora and Jo are two amazing young women who are Black and trying to make it in the era of segregation. Watch out, there is some violence in this one.
My point is, I loved it, not quite as much as Broken Wish, but I’m still waiting eagerly for the next book in this amazing series!!
Thank you so very much to NetGalley, Disney Publishing, and Dhonielle Clayton for letting me read this for my honest and unbiased opinion. Very much appreciated!!!!
Check out my cover pic and more reviews on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=554
Thanks!!
May 12, 2021
This is a fast-paced, romantic thrillride, and Zora is a wonderful protagonist who's a great mixture of resourceful and deeply confused about her place in the world. I'm so glad I read Julie C. Dao's Broken Wish before I read Shattered Midnight, since this book plays around with the legacy that Dao sets up in a lot of fascinating ways. (If you missed it, Shattered Midnight is the second book in an unconventional four-book series, with each book written by a different author and following a different generation of the same family.) Where Dao's book was about one sort of prejudice — the townspeople of Hanau hate and fear Mathilda because she's a witch — Shattered Midnight deals with American segregation in the 1920s, with a Black heroine who's descended from one of the characters in Broken Wish. After Zora's magic goes disastrously wrong, she's sent to New Orleans to live with her strict aunt, who's portrayed as a good person who just wants to give Zora a good life — but she wants to be a singer and sneaks out to nightclubs. This is a different sort of fable than Broken Wish, but just as haunting.
February 15, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's always interesting to get rejected to read the first book in a series, but then get accepted to not only read but be able to listen to the sequel. So, yes, I was surprised to see my acceptance for both the ebook and audiobook of Shattered Midnight.
First, we were in Germany. Now we are in New Orleans. Luckily, we are still visiting the same world but with different characters. Just like the first book, I definitely fell in love with everything. Whether it was the world building, the characters, or just overall book - it was so easy to follow and picture it at the same time. Even though we don't get as much betrayal like we did in the first book, we still got plenty of it. As well as the drama. Oh man, so much drama.
Then there's the romance. I honestly love forbidden ones and it was definitely interesting to see how things played out here. Zora and Phillip had obvious chemistry, but things weren't exactly easy for them. Especially when it comes to the color of their skin. Luckily for them, love doesn't see color and I was all for their romance. Even if the time they were living in wasn't.
In the end, I was not prepared for how this was going to end. I went through so many emotions throughout this book and I'm still in recovery. I'm definitely excited for the third book to come out because I just need more from this series.
It's always interesting to get rejected to read the first book in a series, but then get accepted to not only read but be able to listen to the sequel. So, yes, I was surprised to see my acceptance for both the ebook and audiobook of Shattered Midnight.
First, we were in Germany. Now we are in New Orleans. Luckily, we are still visiting the same world but with different characters. Just like the first book, I definitely fell in love with everything. Whether it was the world building, the characters, or just overall book - it was so easy to follow and picture it at the same time. Even though we don't get as much betrayal like we did in the first book, we still got plenty of it. As well as the drama. Oh man, so much drama.
Then there's the romance. I honestly love forbidden ones and it was definitely interesting to see how things played out here. Zora and Phillip had obvious chemistry, but things weren't exactly easy for them. Especially when it comes to the color of their skin. Luckily for them, love doesn't see color and I was all for their romance. Even if the time they were living in wasn't.
In the end, I was not prepared for how this was going to end. I went through so many emotions throughout this book and I'm still in recovery. I'm definitely excited for the third book to come out because I just need more from this series.
December 12, 2021
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
If you like Dhonielle Clayton's brand of lushly descriptive writing and messy characters, you're going to love Shattered Midnight. Set in 1920's New Orleans, it follows Zora, a Black girl sent to live with her aunt after a disaster with her magic. She's supposed to become a debutante and make a good marriage, but Zora sneaks out at night to perform at Jazz clubs and finds dangerous love with a sweet white boy who plays piano.
The writing is so evocative of the food and music of New Orleans, it will make you want gumbo and beignets. And Clayton doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of what an interracial relationship during this time period would mean. The 1920's was heavily segregated and that relationship is truly dangerous. Zora is a confident, determined character who goes after what she wants and I loved her. Her aunt is kind of awful, but this does a good job of walking that line where the reader can understand that she wants what she thinks is best for Zora and has good intentions, even if her actions are pretty messed up. The pacing is fast and it keeps you turning the pages, so much so that I finished it in one day! I really liked this installment in the series and liked how it tied into book 1 by Julie C. Dao. Looking forward to seeing what we get in the next two books! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
If you like Dhonielle Clayton's brand of lushly descriptive writing and messy characters, you're going to love Shattered Midnight. Set in 1920's New Orleans, it follows Zora, a Black girl sent to live with her aunt after a disaster with her magic. She's supposed to become a debutante and make a good marriage, but Zora sneaks out at night to perform at Jazz clubs and finds dangerous love with a sweet white boy who plays piano.
The writing is so evocative of the food and music of New Orleans, it will make you want gumbo and beignets. And Clayton doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of what an interracial relationship during this time period would mean. The 1920's was heavily segregated and that relationship is truly dangerous. Zora is a confident, determined character who goes after what she wants and I loved her. Her aunt is kind of awful, but this does a good job of walking that line where the reader can understand that she wants what she thinks is best for Zora and has good intentions, even if her actions are pretty messed up. The pacing is fast and it keeps you turning the pages, so much so that I finished it in one day! I really liked this installment in the series and liked how it tied into book 1 by Julie C. Dao. Looking forward to seeing what we get in the next two books! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 16, 2023
TWs: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6...
having read the first book in this series, broken wish, about a year ago, i decided to pick this one up. although, both both were good, i think i liked this one just a bit better than the first one and rated it a half a star higher. i really liked the mix of magic and historical fiction in both of them and it is definitely something that makes this series so enjoyable and memorable to me. i also really liked the connections to broken wish and how it was mainly about zora but still talked about elva and mathlida.
one thing that kinda annoying me was that the romance kicked off a bit too soon. i would have liked to see a bit more banter and build up instead of just insta-love. however, the romance was very cute and i was rooting for zora and phillip the whole time. romance does play a major role in this book which i didn't really expect but didn't mind either. zora was just okay and kinda annoyed me at times but phillip was sweet. the author could have definitely explored his "i dont see color" and that entire conversation though.
also, i would have loved the book to bit a bit longer so we could see the story end when i did really like the setting and time period though and the struggles that the book covered though.
overall, this was a beautiful and enjoyable book! bonus points for the dedication at the beginning!!
having read the first book in this series, broken wish, about a year ago, i decided to pick this one up. although, both both were good, i think i liked this one just a bit better than the first one and rated it a half a star higher. i really liked the mix of magic and historical fiction in both of them and it is definitely something that makes this series so enjoyable and memorable to me. i also really liked the connections to broken wish and how it was mainly about zora but still talked about elva and mathlida.
one thing that kinda annoying me was that the romance kicked off a bit too soon. i would have liked to see a bit more banter and build up instead of just insta-love. however, the romance was very cute and i was rooting for zora and phillip the whole time. romance does play a major role in this book which i didn't really expect but didn't mind either. zora was just okay and kinda annoyed me at times but phillip was sweet. the author could have definitely explored his "i dont see color" and that entire conversation though.
also, i would have loved the book to bit a bit longer so we could see the story end when i did really like the setting and time period though and the struggles that the book covered though.
overall, this was a beautiful and enjoyable book! bonus points for the dedication at the beginning!!
June 20, 2021
Let me preface by saying I LOVED Broken Wish, the first book in this series by Julie Dao (which was a solid 5 stars from me and I don’t give that out lightly!). If you’re reading this review and haven’t read the first book, I highly recommend reading Broken Wish first, even though it isn’t required to understand this book, because you will have a far greater appreciation for Shattered Midnight if you do. It sets up this 4 book series perfectly and tells the origin story of how the magic mirror came to be in the first place.
Despite being written by a different author, this sequel had the same spark the first book had. Tensions, high stakes, and a bittersweet ending. It follows a similar formula to book one, and I’m interested to see where the next two books go. I personally preferred book one because I liked the setting/time period of it more, but it had the same spark that the first book had which I appreciated.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the scene when Phillip jumped to Zora’s rescue to bail her out of a tough situation. She gets irrationally enraged and states “I didn’t need your help” (when yes, she did) and “don’t save me. I’m not a trapped cat”. This is my pet peeve and I am seeing this more and more in YA. I hate hate HATE the notion that it is “feminist” and “empowering” for a woman to never accept help, ever, because accepting help makes them “weak”. It does not make a woman weaker or lesser than for accepting help, yes, even from a man. Accepting help does not make you weak. It makes you smart. It does not take anything away from your capabilities as a woman or make you lesser than. It is engrained in this culture that women cannot accept help from anyone or else it is “weak” and “anti feminist” and they have to handle things all on their own. I HATE the fact that so many people are portraying their “strong” female characters like this. It also feeds into the dangerous notion that women cannot accept help from anyone if they want to be a strong, independent, feminist woman. There is NOTHING wrong with accepting help, and blowing your top over someone for trying to be nice and help you just makes you look temperamental and bratty.
My point of this rant is, I did not like Zora as a character from this point on in the book and the above explanation is exactly why. This really soured the rest of the book for me and I really dislike women being portrayed this way despite the fact that it is becoming more and more common in YA female characters. That is not what feminism is, and characters/scenes like this just adds to the misinterpretation of what feminism really is. Being bratty when someone is just trying to be nice and help is not feminist. Trying to handle something 100% on your own just to prove a point instead of being smart and letting someone who has a clear advantage bail you out isn’t feminism. I’m so sick of this. YA needs to stop trying to imply that women cannot accept help from people and have to do everything on their own to prove a point, even if it means bending over backwards and getting themselves into trouble.
Despite the fact that I didn’t like the MC, I really enjoyed this book and I absolutely love this series. I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series and I’m a big fan! Only one book a year is not fast enough and I need the next one ASAP!
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Despite being written by a different author, this sequel had the same spark the first book had. Tensions, high stakes, and a bittersweet ending. It follows a similar formula to book one, and I’m interested to see where the next two books go. I personally preferred book one because I liked the setting/time period of it more, but it had the same spark that the first book had which I appreciated.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the scene when Phillip jumped to Zora’s rescue to bail her out of a tough situation. She gets irrationally enraged and states “I didn’t need your help” (when yes, she did) and “don’t save me. I’m not a trapped cat”. This is my pet peeve and I am seeing this more and more in YA. I hate hate HATE the notion that it is “feminist” and “empowering” for a woman to never accept help, ever, because accepting help makes them “weak”. It does not make a woman weaker or lesser than for accepting help, yes, even from a man. Accepting help does not make you weak. It makes you smart. It does not take anything away from your capabilities as a woman or make you lesser than. It is engrained in this culture that women cannot accept help from anyone or else it is “weak” and “anti feminist” and they have to handle things all on their own. I HATE the fact that so many people are portraying their “strong” female characters like this. It also feeds into the dangerous notion that women cannot accept help from anyone if they want to be a strong, independent, feminist woman. There is NOTHING wrong with accepting help, and blowing your top over someone for trying to be nice and help you just makes you look temperamental and bratty.
My point of this rant is, I did not like Zora as a character from this point on in the book and the above explanation is exactly why. This really soured the rest of the book for me and I really dislike women being portrayed this way despite the fact that it is becoming more and more common in YA female characters. That is not what feminism is, and characters/scenes like this just adds to the misinterpretation of what feminism really is. Being bratty when someone is just trying to be nice and help is not feminist. Trying to handle something 100% on your own just to prove a point instead of being smart and letting someone who has a clear advantage bail you out isn’t feminism. I’m so sick of this. YA needs to stop trying to imply that women cannot accept help from people and have to do everything on their own to prove a point, even if it means bending over backwards and getting themselves into trouble.
Despite the fact that I didn’t like the MC, I really enjoyed this book and I absolutely love this series. I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series and I’m a big fan! Only one book a year is not fast enough and I need the next one ASAP!
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
January 16, 2022
This was interesting. I'm not sure what retelling this is supposed to be. I'm really confused about that. It was an enjoyable story. I thought the narrator did a superb job. I think in general though the '20s is not a decade I like to really read about. It's just not one I find a like a whole lot. I didn't read the first book in this series and that could be part of the reason I didn't enjoy it as much.
I would say 14+
*Content Warnings*
Extreme Racism
I would like to thank Netgalley for this chance to listen and review this book. However, it does not in any way influence my opinion.
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I would say 14+
*Content Warnings*
Extreme Racism
I would like to thank Netgalley for this chance to listen and review this book. However, it does not in any way influence my opinion.
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/darklittomes/
June 14, 2022
Shattered Midnight picks up about two or three generations after Broken Wish, with descendants of both Agnes and Mathilda's lineages. I loved seeing the development of the curse at the end of Broken Wish and new expressions of magic and how it has shaped their families.
On one hand, we have Zora with a love of music. She has relocated to Louisiana with her aunt due to an accident in New York she wishes to forget. Yet as she is pushed towards acclimating, becoming a proper lady, and giving up her dream of creating music, her magic acts up again. While it's her aunt who wishes her to give up her magic, Zora comes around to the idea after being tired of being afraid of her magic ruining what she is building.
Even though it's on the shorter-end (less than 300 pgs), this book packs so much. The immersive 1920s Louisiana setting, generational curses and magic, forbidden love, music, theme of self-acceptance and sociopolitical issues such as segregation and elitism.
The only reason I didn't rank it higher is because
I loved this book as much, if not a little more, than the first in the series, Broken Wish. Even being a fantasy novel, there's a fairytale charm about this series (thus far) that I've enjoyed experiencing. I will definitely be coming back for book 3.
On one hand, we have Zora with a love of music. She has relocated to Louisiana with her aunt due to an accident in New York she wishes to forget. Yet as she is pushed towards acclimating, becoming a proper lady, and giving up her dream of creating music, her magic acts up again. While it's her aunt who wishes her to give up her magic, Zora comes around to the idea after being tired of being afraid of her magic ruining what she is building.
Even though it's on the shorter-end (less than 300 pgs), this book packs so much. The immersive 1920s Louisiana setting, generational curses and magic, forbidden love, music, theme of self-acceptance and sociopolitical issues such as segregation and elitism.
The only reason I didn't rank it higher is because
I loved this book as much, if not a little more, than the first in the series, Broken Wish. Even being a fantasy novel, there's a fairytale charm about this series (thus far) that I've enjoyed experiencing. I will definitely be coming back for book 3.
January 25, 2022
Shattered midnight is the second installment in the mirrors series with the first book being broken wish by Julie c dao! This series has 4 different authors which I find really unique compare to other book series.
So in this second installment we follow different characters but set in the same world but this time we r new oreleans! The writing in this book was beautiful! I was able to picture everything Clayton was talking about even though I haven’t been to New Orleans! There was a twist in the middle of the book that I didn’t see coming so that is a good sign and this cliffhanger! I need book 3 asap! Overall rating 4/5 stars! If u liked the diviners series I think u will like this series but especially shattered midnight because it’s set in 1920’s! Thank u to Disney books and Jamie for sending me a finished copy but all thoughts r my own! #shatteredmidnight #dhoneilleclayton #disneybooks #letstalkya #rockstarbooktour #yalit #themirrorseries #fairytale #diversereads #historicalfiction #bookworm #bookish #bookreview #igreads
So in this second installment we follow different characters but set in the same world but this time we r new oreleans! The writing in this book was beautiful! I was able to picture everything Clayton was talking about even though I haven’t been to New Orleans! There was a twist in the middle of the book that I didn’t see coming so that is a good sign and this cliffhanger! I need book 3 asap! Overall rating 4/5 stars! If u liked the diviners series I think u will like this series but especially shattered midnight because it’s set in 1920’s! Thank u to Disney books and Jamie for sending me a finished copy but all thoughts r my own! #shatteredmidnight #dhoneilleclayton #disneybooks #letstalkya #rockstarbooktour #yalit #themirrorseries #fairytale #diversereads #historicalfiction #bookworm #bookish #bookreview #igreads
August 17, 2024
After finishing the first book in this series I was really looking forward to this book, especially because it takes place in New Orleans. New Orleans is already an amazing setting in itself, but it's an even better setting when magic and curses are involved. However, the delivery of this book was delayed and delayed. I was already fearing that I had to order somewhere else. However, last Wednesday the book finally arrived and yesterday I could finally start reading!
This book was everything I had hoped it would be and a lot more. The latter is mostly because of the honest, raw and real picture of society at the time. For me it's really hard to imagine that people can really believe all those rules concerning skin color are right. However, sadly enough racism is still an everyday thing. Maybe not supported by the law anymore, and yet there are still too many people looking away from the issue too.
I also loved the magic in this book. The magic fits into the world of New Orleans perfectly, but it's also clear that with great magic comes great responsibility. It's totally understandable that our heroine has issues controlling her magic in situations where people she loves are getting hurt simply for being who they are, but her magic is also as brutal as it is beautiful and the author does a great job describing both sides of this coin.
The romance in this book is also beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. It's so easy to root for them, for their happily ever after, for their future. And yet, we know that in this society, with so many people against them and the law not on their side, it's gonna be incredibly hard. And since the first book in the series already taught us that happily ever afters are no guarantee in this series, I got more and more scared the closer I got to the last chapter.
This book was everything I had hoped it would be and a lot more. The latter is mostly because of the honest, raw and real picture of society at the time. For me it's really hard to imagine that people can really believe all those rules concerning skin color are right. However, sadly enough racism is still an everyday thing. Maybe not supported by the law anymore, and yet there are still too many people looking away from the issue too.
I also loved the magic in this book. The magic fits into the world of New Orleans perfectly, but it's also clear that with great magic comes great responsibility. It's totally understandable that our heroine has issues controlling her magic in situations where people she loves are getting hurt simply for being who they are, but her magic is also as brutal as it is beautiful and the author does a great job describing both sides of this coin.
The romance in this book is also beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. It's so easy to root for them, for their happily ever after, for their future. And yet, we know that in this society, with so many people against them and the law not on their side, it's gonna be incredibly hard. And since the first book in the series already taught us that happily ever afters are no guarantee in this series, I got more and more scared the closer I got to the last chapter.
January 23, 2022
Thank you Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an eARC courtesy of Netgalley for reviewing and sharing. This by no means has affected this review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
*4.5 stars*
CW:
- Fade to black romance scene
- Deadly fire
- Death
"'My papa thinks God gave colored people jazz and the blues to deal with all the mess in this world. Gave them something to ease the pain. That it was our divine melody buried deep in our marrow.'"
Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton was SO much better than its predecessor The Broken Wish. It read more easily, kept my attention, and was well-written. First, Clayton did an excellent job of mixing in the backstory so that it smoothed with Zora's (the MC) narrative and the worldbuilding. While I thought The Broken Wish read more like middle-grade, this was most definitely YA (young adult).
I believe this was supposed to be a Cinderella retelling, but in the 1920s South (which was not a friendly place at the times for African Americans). The historical aspect was entirely correct, which I'm glad Clayton held nothing back. It added to the story of how wrong the way African-Americans were treated pre-1950. The fact that Zora was in love with a white man named Phillip (which was illegal at the time) brought through a little bit of the Cinderella retelling since he brought her up the noble scale (in a way). The rest of the Cinderella retelling was brought through the magic shoes that allowed Zora to do her thing - escape her aunt's home on quiet feet so she could sing as Sweet Willow.
There were two things I disliked - the side characters and the tie-in of Phillip's family/Zora's reaction. First, the side characters. We saw them often, but I didn't really connect to them, not even the love interests (which there IS a mini-love triangle). They just seemed so flat, and I know they don't NEED to be dynamic to be good characters. I just wish they had more personality. Then the tie-in of Phillip's family . . . somewhere along the line, he is related to the main character from The Broken Wish and his family is from Germany. They are plagued by the same curse her family was - one out of every three good things turns into a bad thing. When Phillip told Zora of his family's magic mirror, I don't know why she didn't inquire what the curse meant or where their magic came from. Zora was observant and smart, so it seems strange to me that she didn't ask him further about his heritage.
The ending was SO cruel, just like the first one was. I won't say anything so I don't spoil anything, but how DARE they betray her. And noooooooooooooooooo *insert crying emoji* By the end of this series, all of these heartbreaking endings BETTER be fixed. I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves fairytales, 1920s jazz, defying the odds, New Orleans/Louisiana, history, and magic.
*4.5 stars*
CW:
- Fade to black romance scene
- Deadly fire
- Death
"'My papa thinks God gave colored people jazz and the blues to deal with all the mess in this world. Gave them something to ease the pain. That it was our divine melody buried deep in our marrow.'"
Shattered Midnight by Dhonielle Clayton was SO much better than its predecessor The Broken Wish. It read more easily, kept my attention, and was well-written. First, Clayton did an excellent job of mixing in the backstory so that it smoothed with Zora's (the MC) narrative and the worldbuilding. While I thought The Broken Wish read more like middle-grade, this was most definitely YA (young adult).
I believe this was supposed to be a Cinderella retelling, but in the 1920s South (which was not a friendly place at the times for African Americans). The historical aspect was entirely correct, which I'm glad Clayton held nothing back. It added to the story of how wrong the way African-Americans were treated pre-1950. The fact that Zora was in love with a white man named Phillip (which was illegal at the time) brought through a little bit of the Cinderella retelling since he brought her up the noble scale (in a way). The rest of the Cinderella retelling was brought through the magic shoes that allowed Zora to do her thing - escape her aunt's home on quiet feet so she could sing as Sweet Willow.
There were two things I disliked - the side characters and the tie-in of Phillip's family/Zora's reaction. First, the side characters. We saw them often, but I didn't really connect to them, not even the love interests (which there IS a mini-love triangle). They just seemed so flat, and I know they don't NEED to be dynamic to be good characters. I just wish they had more personality. Then the tie-in of Phillip's family . . . somewhere along the line, he is related to the main character from The Broken Wish and his family is from Germany. They are plagued by the same curse her family was - one out of every three good things turns into a bad thing. When Phillip told Zora of his family's magic mirror, I don't know why she didn't inquire what the curse meant or where their magic came from. Zora was observant and smart, so it seems strange to me that she didn't ask him further about his heritage.
The ending was SO cruel, just like the first one was. I won't say anything so I don't spoil anything, but how DARE they betray her. And noooooooooooooooooo *insert crying emoji* By the end of this series, all of these heartbreaking endings BETTER be fixed. I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves fairytales, 1920s jazz, defying the odds, New Orleans/Louisiana, history, and magic.
September 22, 2021
This was a super quick read. The story was fast past and definitely held my interest.
Zora is running away from something horrible that she did, and it's a while before we know exactly what. She's living with her aunt and cousins in New Orleans. Her aunt desperately wants to marry her off.
I liked Zora and her interactions with her suitor, with Jo and with Phillip.
It ended rather abruptly and I feel like the story was not quite complete. I do love this author's writing style and still enjoyed the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Zora is running away from something horrible that she did, and it's a while before we know exactly what. She's living with her aunt and cousins in New Orleans. Her aunt desperately wants to marry her off.
I liked Zora and her interactions with her suitor, with Jo and with Phillip.
It ended rather abruptly and I feel like the story was not quite complete. I do love this author's writing style and still enjoyed the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2021
Quick paced and easy to read about Zora and her magic escaping her past. She tries to let go of her magic but realizes it’s so much more. I thought it was a great paced book until the end, where it ended abruptly! I’m hoping her story line is continued in the next book in the series, as I want to find out what happens next to Zora (aka Sadie). Dhonielle Clayton is a wonderful writer and this one is no exception. #TheMirrorShatteredMidnight Thank you to #NetGalley for the eARC.
January 30, 2022
I loved this story, but especially the narration. The voice actor was EXCELLENT. This story was literally #BlackGirlMagic. Great character development and Zora was a joy to read about. Romance was nice. Dhionielle Clayton is a wonderful author and I will be reading more of her books and also the Mirror Series overall. Thanks so much Netgalley for the audiobook!
January 27, 2022
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
I must admit that I did not read book one in this series before I read this one, but I was able to follow along with no problems. I am interested in back tracking to book one now though as they are interconnected filling in some back story of the mirror in this one. We meet Zora who had to flee her home in NYC after a horrid accident she caused in order to not be found out. She gets sent to her Aunt in New Orleans who leads a hugely different lifestyle then she is used to. Add in the fact that this takes place back in the 1920s when segregation was the norm and she is colored. While trying to find a way to be somewhat happy she meets a handsome young man who just happens to be white making it almost impossible for them to be together. Add is some magic, danger, and family drama to get a story that will keep you hooked from page one all the way to the end which totally surprised me. I will have to give further books in this series a shot to see how this all plays out in the end. Quite the enjoyable read for fans of historical supernatural romances. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
I must admit that I did not read book one in this series before I read this one, but I was able to follow along with no problems. I am interested in back tracking to book one now though as they are interconnected filling in some back story of the mirror in this one. We meet Zora who had to flee her home in NYC after a horrid accident she caused in order to not be found out. She gets sent to her Aunt in New Orleans who leads a hugely different lifestyle then she is used to. Add in the fact that this takes place back in the 1920s when segregation was the norm and she is colored. While trying to find a way to be somewhat happy she meets a handsome young man who just happens to be white making it almost impossible for them to be together. Add is some magic, danger, and family drama to get a story that will keep you hooked from page one all the way to the end which totally surprised me. I will have to give further books in this series a shot to see how this all plays out in the end. Quite the enjoyable read for fans of historical supernatural romances. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
November 22, 2021
From 1848, Hanau, Germany to the Vibrant 1928, New Orleans, Louisiana. Zora Broussard is sent to New Orleans after a terrible accident involving her magic. Upon arriving at her aunt`s house, she sees her life taking a different turn when she meets Phillip with magic of his own, including a strange mirror that foretells their future together. As they struggle to be together, given that at that time Interracial marriage was forbidden, they are forced to keep their relationship a secret. From this conflict, Zora and Philip will learn about the complicated connection between their families. A connection that may lead to their downfall.
October 7, 2021
Original review can be found at: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-r...
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
This spring I went to the virtual US Book Tour. I stopped at the Disney table and they had a free book to take for review. I was really excited for it. It was YA and seemed like something I would like. Plus I honestly like anything that Disney Publishing puts out. I couldn’t wait to read it.
It is 1928 in New Orleans. Zora is trying to get used to living here. She has been sent here by her mother after she was involved in a situation that required her to get away. She is a gifted and talented musician. She can play any instrument that she touches. She starts to sneak out of the house at night and goes to a club and sings. She falls for a white boy named Phillip and her whole world changes. This book was so good. I binged it in large sections. My only real qualm about it that bumped it down a star was the fact that it ended so abruptly. Like it gave a epilogue but it was basically nothing. I know that this is book two of a 4 book series but I wanted to know more. I didn’t read the first book in the series. However, I didn’t find anything that left me wondering what was going on so I don’t think you really need to read it.
I loved the adventures that Zora went on. The sneaking out and singing at a club. It was exciting. The descriptions of the gorgeous dresses that she would wear made them come alive in my mind. The way the author also wove the magic that Zora had to learn to control was amazing. The fact that musical notes flowed from her when she let it loose was so cool. It touches on some things that were important in the 1920’s the prohibition and bootlegging alcohol were the big ones. It also shows how important debutante balls were. I do have the first book in this series and I think I am going to read it just to expand more on the story and see if it lends more to Zora’s story.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
This spring I went to the virtual US Book Tour. I stopped at the Disney table and they had a free book to take for review. I was really excited for it. It was YA and seemed like something I would like. Plus I honestly like anything that Disney Publishing puts out. I couldn’t wait to read it.
It is 1928 in New Orleans. Zora is trying to get used to living here. She has been sent here by her mother after she was involved in a situation that required her to get away. She is a gifted and talented musician. She can play any instrument that she touches. She starts to sneak out of the house at night and goes to a club and sings. She falls for a white boy named Phillip and her whole world changes. This book was so good. I binged it in large sections. My only real qualm about it that bumped it down a star was the fact that it ended so abruptly. Like it gave a epilogue but it was basically nothing. I know that this is book two of a 4 book series but I wanted to know more. I didn’t read the first book in the series. However, I didn’t find anything that left me wondering what was going on so I don’t think you really need to read it.
I loved the adventures that Zora went on. The sneaking out and singing at a club. It was exciting. The descriptions of the gorgeous dresses that she would wear made them come alive in my mind. The way the author also wove the magic that Zora had to learn to control was amazing. The fact that musical notes flowed from her when she let it loose was so cool. It touches on some things that were important in the 1920’s the prohibition and bootlegging alcohol were the big ones. It also shows how important debutante balls were. I do have the first book in this series and I think I am going to read it just to expand more on the story and see if it lends more to Zora’s story.
August 20, 2021
I'm not too surprised that I really enjoyed reading Shattered Midnight, first because I love fairy tales and loved the first book in this series, and also because I'm a huge fan of Dhonielle Clayton. This story takes place a few decades after the first book and is set in a completely different setting, but the stories are still very much connected through looking at the curse that following the same family. One of the things I love about this book is that the story definitely feels connected to the one before it, but it's also a really strong story on it's own. It's told from the point of view of Zora, a young Black woman living in New Orleans in the 1920s, and music is her life. Unfortunately, her music and magic are tied up in one another, and magic has caused more than a few problems for Zora. Zora's dealing with the internal struggle this causes, while also facing many external struggles that come along with being a Black woman in the American South in the early twentieth century.
While the first book in this series felt like an original fairytale that could have fit into Grimms' collection, this has more of a historical fantasy feel, which was really cool and felt very unique. The book presents a great look at Southern Black culture, interracial relationships, the culture of jazz music, and racism during this time period. I love how well the historical element blended with the magic, and as we learn more about Zora's magic, I love that there's even a cultural element to her magic and where it comes from. The story as a whole is great. The characters are wonderful to follow and Zora's a great protagonist. It's not an overly complicated plot, but the love story is easy to get invested in, and the ending did catch me by surprise. Be prepared for much romance, secrets, sweet family moments, betrayal, and a little bit of heartbreak.
While the first book in this series felt like an original fairytale that could have fit into Grimms' collection, this has more of a historical fantasy feel, which was really cool and felt very unique. The book presents a great look at Southern Black culture, interracial relationships, the culture of jazz music, and racism during this time period. I love how well the historical element blended with the magic, and as we learn more about Zora's magic, I love that there's even a cultural element to her magic and where it comes from. The story as a whole is great. The characters are wonderful to follow and Zora's a great protagonist. It's not an overly complicated plot, but the love story is easy to get invested in, and the ending did catch me by surprise. Be prepared for much romance, secrets, sweet family moments, betrayal, and a little bit of heartbreak.
July 13, 2021
A delightful follow up to Broken Wish!
All throughout this story, I was trying to place exactly which fairytale this was a retelling of, but there were bits and pieces of a few. It had the New Orleans setting and Black protagonist like Princess and the Frog, the locking in a tower/room like Cinderella & Rapunzel, the aunt + two cousins that were reminiscent of stepmother/Drusilla/Anastasia from Cinderella, and the separation of lovers and mention of twins like the original Rapunzel tale. There was also a nod in here to Snow White with the coffin, but it seems that's not Zora's story.
Similar to the first, there's not one solitary fairytale that this is a retelling of, but kind of a compilation of familiar anecdotes if you know what to look for.
I thought the story itself was compelling and I tore right through it. These stories are fast, fun reads and I really like how they're connected through a family's passing down of the mirror instead of just one tale being continued from book to book. It makes the fairytale world seem cohesive and neverending. I like it.
The only bad thing is that I couldn't help but compare Shattered Midnight to Broken Wish and I remember being so excited and having tinglies from Broken Wish, and that same level of excitement just didn't happen with this one. However, this still was a win for me so I'm sticking with 4 stars.
Ugh I want the next one now.
All throughout this story, I was trying to place exactly which fairytale this was a retelling of, but there were bits and pieces of a few. It had the New Orleans setting and Black protagonist like Princess and the Frog, the locking in a tower/room like Cinderella & Rapunzel, the aunt + two cousins that were reminiscent of stepmother/Drusilla/Anastasia from Cinderella, and the separation of lovers and mention of twins like the original Rapunzel tale. There was also a nod in here to Snow White with the coffin, but it seems that's not Zora's story.
Similar to the first, there's not one solitary fairytale that this is a retelling of, but kind of a compilation of familiar anecdotes if you know what to look for.
I thought the story itself was compelling and I tore right through it. These stories are fast, fun reads and I really like how they're connected through a family's passing down of the mirror instead of just one tale being continued from book to book. It makes the fairytale world seem cohesive and neverending. I like it.
The only bad thing is that I couldn't help but compare Shattered Midnight to Broken Wish and I remember being so excited and having tinglies from Broken Wish, and that same level of excitement just didn't happen with this one. However, this still was a win for me so I'm sticking with 4 stars.
Ugh I want the next one now.
June 24, 2021
This book was received as an ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved this book to the max and am a huge fan of this modern spin on the classic Disney fairy tale. I love the addition of the power of music and how it can change a person's life and take her away from the drama and struggle of her awful overbearing aunt and cousins. Then there is also a Romeo and Juliet essence when Zora meets Phillip and they end up falling for one another and then that's where the drama starts and the chaos erupts and for the reader, when the book gets exciting. I know our teen book club will be really anticipating the next book club and discuss what they read and I can't wait to hear their reviews.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I loved this book to the max and am a huge fan of this modern spin on the classic Disney fairy tale. I love the addition of the power of music and how it can change a person's life and take her away from the drama and struggle of her awful overbearing aunt and cousins. Then there is also a Romeo and Juliet essence when Zora meets Phillip and they end up falling for one another and then that's where the drama starts and the chaos erupts and for the reader, when the book gets exciting. I know our teen book club will be really anticipating the next book club and discuss what they read and I can't wait to hear their reviews.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
September 29, 2021
Thank you to my library and to Disney Publishing for providing me a free ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
The story of Shattered Midnight follows Zora Broussard after she is sent to New Orleans to be in hiding after a magical accident she caused in New York.
I have to say, I was pretty impressed with this story. It has very vivid imagery, and as someone from Louisiana I appreciated the little details that completed the scenery. Zora's story was quite intriguing and drew me in very quickly. I really enjoyed following her adventures. I kept finding myself picking up the book to read it instead of doing things I was supposed to do.
The ending made me want to read book three to find out what happens next. I can't wait.
The story of Shattered Midnight follows Zora Broussard after she is sent to New Orleans to be in hiding after a magical accident she caused in New York.
I have to say, I was pretty impressed with this story. It has very vivid imagery, and as someone from Louisiana I appreciated the little details that completed the scenery. Zora's story was quite intriguing and drew me in very quickly. I really enjoyed following her adventures. I kept finding myself picking up the book to read it instead of doing things I was supposed to do.
The ending made me want to read book three to find out what happens next. I can't wait.
April 30, 2021
So I am writing my review on this book. I loved the author’s writing. She uses really good imagery. There isn’t much to say. This is a four book series, and since I have never read the first book, so I was a little confused. I like the characters and would like to see more of them, but they kept bringing up things from the first book. (I think) I want to read the first book, and then come back to this book. It was like American Horror Story, each season is different, but there are easter eggs from the first book. (I think)
September 13, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
The book is set in 1920's New Orleans and deals with segregation from the viewpoint of Zora, a black woman & our heroine. Her magic caused a disaster for her back home and she was forced into hiding to try to find a way to control it. Along the way she meets friends at the nightclub she sings at as she tries to decide whether or not to give up her magic forever. Definitely would recommend for readers of YA who like a story with fantasy and magic.
The book is set in 1920's New Orleans and deals with segregation from the viewpoint of Zora, a black woman & our heroine. Her magic caused a disaster for her back home and she was forced into hiding to try to find a way to control it. Along the way she meets friends at the nightclub she sings at as she tries to decide whether or not to give up her magic forever. Definitely would recommend for readers of YA who like a story with fantasy and magic.
July 11, 2021
I am a big fan of retellings and The Mirror Shattered Midnight did not disappoint. I absolutely love Dahonielle Clayton's writing style and the story itself was so good. I found the plot interesting and I love the magical aspect throughout the book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Thanks again for the ARC!
Thanks again for the ARC!
April 15, 2022
Read my full blog review here
Another week, yet another disappointing 2022 release. I didn’t enter this book with grounded expectations owing to my lack of prior experience with Dhonielle Clayton, but I was vaguely aware of her critically acclaimed The Belles series which led me to believe she was skilled enough in the fantasy genre to concoct an engaging storyline in this Mirror installment. Indeed, I signed out this book with such a tabula rasa in preconception that I wasn’t even cognizant of its position as a sequel to a established series (something I wish was emphasized on the cover rather than in poorly contrasting colour on the spine)—I falsely assumed it would’ve been the commencement of some new fantasy series and my folly was thankfully nulled by reassurances online that this could be read as a standalone. Which to my knowledge, held to be more than true as there was no exposition or magic system so complex as to attract curiosity surrounding the background of Shattered Midnight‘s world, and I could not say any of its contents spurred me to decipher any existing subtext by exploring the novel’s successor (though written by a different author).
Whether it was a conscious decision relating to the overarching narrative purpose or an unfortunate parapraxis demonstrative of the author’s own ‘fantasies’, much of this novel felt like an outlet for forbidden racist romance ideations peppered with a dosage of actual ‘plot’ to veil its questionable underlying intent. It is never enjoyable (at least for myself) to be in the position of judging an author’s literary decisions especially when it relates to their personal desires, but what is to be done when their betrayed beliefs are catering a taboo interest? Despite being a story that centered a magically-gifted Black girl in a predominantly Black municipality within a wholly segregated era, Dhonielle Clayton took to fixating so much on the purportedly drab and myopic White people to the extent it was hard to decipher whether Zora, the heroine, appreciated anything outside of White banalities and romances. Seldom interspersed were positive observations of Zora’s Black counterparts, and for being the rare story in which Black girls are foregrounded in a fantastical Western setting there was a lot of focus on the influences and behaviours of their White counterparts, something which weakened the subversion of the story with how scant positive Black influences were. Admittedly, a lot of Zora’s interactions within Whiter communes dealt with racism and were mostly a consequence of her relationship with Phillip, but it still felt counterproductive for the book to so repeatedly emphasize the racism of the 1920’s whilst spending the majority of its time consumed in the frivolities and lenses of its most privileged class—White people. I was irked by all the idealisations of Phillip’s ‘baby blue eyes’ and the fact that he somehow swooned a teenage girl into childbirth and marriage simply for being a proficient piano player while essentially every other Black male character was demonised in the narrative.
To go further, anyone that existed outside of Zora’s romance and was not a staunch proponent of her amorous ambitions eventually lost significance or favour in the story. Quite the nuisance for a novel that employed third-person perspective—if the narration was to be so biased and lauding of Zora’s poor decisions there was no reason for it be carried from a point of view that should’ve at least granted some impartiality to the narrative. Otherwise, the book would essentially be justifying such shallow actions, and given the internalised Eurocentric mindset that seemed to meet surface-level criticism by the heroine through much of the book I’d say moral scrutiny was direly needed.
Since Shattered Midnight has been filed into the ‘Retellings’ genre by many on Goodreads and is proprietary to Disney, I would assume it is primarily derivative of The Little Mermaid with some imitations of Snow White (again, a lost opportunity to utilise actual Black mythos—African-Americans have a plethora of spiritual folklore—by Disney‘s writers), and in spite of all the criticism the former has come to receive in recent years for its purportedly misogynistic themes I’d say this novel was a lot more exemplary of the thematic issues Disney princess classics were denounced for. Unlike Ariel, who sacrificed her voice and family connection because she was fascinated with the human world and a man she loved (illustrated by her collection of human artifacts and compiled research of humans which was most prominently exhibited in her poignant solo Part of Your World), Zora was single-mindedly consumed with Phillip and the prospective traditional-bound future that would come about in the instance of their communion. She only debated keeping her magical powers when wagering the possibility her loss of enhanced musical prowess would sever her connection with Phillip as well, and despite her acknowledgement of all the virulent racism of in her society she was ecstatic to follow Phillip’s idealised plans to elope and build a sustainable career. Firstly, it was so incorrect of Zora to romanticise Europe as this liberal haven (Hardcover, page 151) where they would be exempt from discrimination and be free to traipse about—had the author even considered doing the littlest research on how minorities were treated in and by that region at the time of Zora’s existence, she’d know the ridiculous story of that one Black aunt Zora supposedly knew living a happy life in that region was no more than a isolated occurrence at best. What was even more ridiculous was when Zora lashed out at Phillip for not informing his mother of her skin colour, as if that would be a practical decision given the dangers that not only would be posed to their relationship but also to Zora as a Black girl—what is the likelihood a rich White woman wouldn’t spitefully defame Zora and Phillip’s betrothal as one which arose from some diabolical means? Already Zora had seen her Black friend harassed by a White man freely and even cited herself the numerous reports of Black people being killed for innocuous acts, yet when it came to her sunburnt, speckled amour she suddenly had the discernment of a post-racial utopian woman who would never find herself threatened by discrimination as long as Phillip’s ‘love’ persevered.
Speaking of the ‘love’ story, I could hardly fathom the obsessiveness of Phillip and Zora’s relationship. At no point was there any palpable tension between the two, their interlocutions were achingly flat and betrayed no sense of personality or intrigue. They were said to have bonded deeply over music but none of their interactions actually immersed me in the belief there was some unique connection they had with one another that couldn’t be replicated between Zora and some other young member at the club she always snuck out to. Phillip was only distinguishable in that he approached her, an ironic similarity to A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (in pertinence to Malik who suddenly fell for Karina) whose author coincidentally left a glowing recommendation for this book—and also suffered in establishing main characters that had a reason to be provided precedence over their other cast members. Even if we account for Zora’s lack of relationship experience and young age, a lot of her Phillip-fueled decisions felt to be less evocative of a juvenile impulse but more prominently the infiltrated projections of the author’s personal lusts. I could hardly fathom what mystique exactly lied in Phillip’s mannerisms that made Zora so heavily infatuated notwithstanding the dull life she was living otherwise, and though the author might’ve attempted subtlety in all the cringeworthy praise of his chivalry and typical blonde features it was relatively obvious to me that the chemistry was so lacking because the author deemed Phillip’s physical attributes enthralling enough to abate his banal qualities. This irksome truth became more potent when it was brought up frequently how ‘taboo’ their partnership was, but not for the sake of catalysing reflection and hesitation on the part of the character, simply implemented to entertain some angsty back-and-forths and evade critical introspection into the imbalanced dynamic of the couple.
Then again, this novel suffered in believability in many other aspects beside its main pairings. The magic system was poorly elucidated, and was hard to envision or make sense of—earnestly, it held minimal significance to the plot as it could’ve easily been interchanged for some other quirk that defined Zora as a persona non grata (which, for the 1920s, would definitely not be a difficult trait to muster). Her backstory felt so melodramatic in description for how light it felt in its outcome, the events were all so morally opaque which was not exactly a writing fault but made it annoying when Zora continuously mourned over how horrible it was to act in self-defence. For someone so informed of how White people could easily libel her a criminal for even the most innocuous acts, it made no sense to me how her self-deprecating sentiments persisted to such a great magnitude up until Phillip (a White man) acknowledged her as being in the right for what she did. I understand her mother didn’t do well in raising her to accept her magical identity, and her aunt was even worse in her treatment of Zora’s fantastical predispositions, but since Zora felt no shame in indulging musically in her magically-enhanced abilities during the evenings it made little sense to me how repeatedly she’d ruminate over how bad and malevolent people would find her to be if they were to discover she was composed of magic (and once used it to protect someone dear from someone who would undoubtedly go without consequence in racist society—I hardly fathom how any Black individual in 1920s America would not sympathise with Zora’s truth, religious anxieties notwithstanding). Zora was unnaturally fretful for someone reared in 1920’s America, her obligations in New Orleans were typical for a woman of her age in America at the time yet she was overly standoffish and disobedient, and in retrospect it is understandable why anyone would feel restricted by that lifestyle but contextually made her seem all the more like an incompetent character. Her issue wasn’t her magical powers, or the overbearing aunt, because she never attempted to do even the bare minimum; although her aunt should be persecuted for the reasons she concocted for Zora’s unruly behaviour and how she denied her nurture after the traumatic experience she’d undergone, Zora was also not so much suffering in her housing situation due to unwelcoming family members but because she had a very self-centred personality that hindered her from ever fully assimilating in the cultural expectations. This made it less hard to resonate with her feelings of insecurity regarding her magical identity because so much of her problems both relating to Phillip and her familial reprimands were consequential of her shortsightedness.
CHARACTERS
It is regretful that Zora, whose ambitions existed solely in her love to a milquetoast receptor, was the primary focus of the novel. I found myself intrigued by the allusion towards Evelyn’s covert sapphic romance (Hardcover, page 235) (I love how her name was Evelyn, though I doubt it was a homage to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo it was still funny to see) and her character cultivated more of an arc and mystique in the little time she was owed than Zora managed to garner in the whole book. Anna was similarly engaging if not slightly brackish in her entitled personality at times—at least she had a personality, and her revelations surrounding how she felt in pertinence to Evelyn and Zora elicited a poignant scene that I wish was expanded on further in the story. Zora’s adoptive aunt (Anna I believe?) was yet another character who was unfortunately sidelined despite an interesting backstory; no doubt she was surly and was essentially deprived of any sort of character development given how swiftly she’d revert to pretension, but the trifles of exposition we’d observed in her moments of vulnerability promised an interesting character if given the adequate spotlight. Alas, most of the book’s contents went towards Zora and her cliché romance.
However, what was even far worse than the riveting personalities that were neglected were the characterizations that were so poor owing to their lack of value by the author in the narrative. Jo was capable of maneuvering for special venue seating in a prohibited area and possessed enough social discernment to arrange Zora, Phillips and the rest of the quartet’s pairings—yet by the book’s end she was portrayed as a pitiful damsel who suffered in shame due to her separation from the guidance of her ‘best friend’. The best friend who was too consumed with licking out her boyfriend’s face to impartially analyze Rocco’s relationship and request Phillip offer a bit more than some empty reassurance he knew him well enough to trust he’s not a criminal. Jo had no autonomy as she wasn’t capable of supporting anyone meaningfully and was ultimately denied respect by everyone, including the heroine who expressed no shame whatsoever, throughout the entire story. There was legitimately no point to the dehumanising end she met at the denouement, completely unlike the outgoing and capable girl we were acquainted with before (a lot more grounded than Zora).
IS IT WORTH READING?
Initially, I thought the light fantasy elements of this novel would make it a good transition for those such as myself who are skeptical about the genre—regrettably, the little legendry we were exposed to was so poorly portrayed it served to blemish fantasy’s presence in the novel rather than mould it palatable. The romance was severely questionable in nature and was not sensible in its treatment of a lot of topical issues that would’ve fared better with stronger allegories and a more reasoned lens. The prose was not at all upper-level, but I wouldn’t place such expectations on a YA novel and I imagine that if I were to come across another of the author’s works I would be able to recognize her ownership simply from the prose. Not overly descriptive but almost too curt and abrupt to the extent the reader was made to feel like an isolated observer rather than someone involved in the story, a mostly dull style of writing. There was a speckle of imagination and creative characterisations, but these curiosities did not countervail the less impressive contents of the story, much less compensates for the lacking premise and predictable gradation. Given many of the problematic staples that are known to avid readers of romance, this likely wouldn’t be denoted insipid anymore than many of the other titles that have been embraced by a large faction of the community and it is possible a lot of readers will interpret the dynamics of the central romance in a more positive way than I managed to. However, my personal background and predictions considered, I found this book to be a disastrous concoction that I would not recommend.
Another week, yet another disappointing 2022 release. I didn’t enter this book with grounded expectations owing to my lack of prior experience with Dhonielle Clayton, but I was vaguely aware of her critically acclaimed The Belles series which led me to believe she was skilled enough in the fantasy genre to concoct an engaging storyline in this Mirror installment. Indeed, I signed out this book with such a tabula rasa in preconception that I wasn’t even cognizant of its position as a sequel to a established series (something I wish was emphasized on the cover rather than in poorly contrasting colour on the spine)—I falsely assumed it would’ve been the commencement of some new fantasy series and my folly was thankfully nulled by reassurances online that this could be read as a standalone. Which to my knowledge, held to be more than true as there was no exposition or magic system so complex as to attract curiosity surrounding the background of Shattered Midnight‘s world, and I could not say any of its contents spurred me to decipher any existing subtext by exploring the novel’s successor (though written by a different author).
Whether it was a conscious decision relating to the overarching narrative purpose or an unfortunate parapraxis demonstrative of the author’s own ‘fantasies’, much of this novel felt like an outlet for forbidden racist romance ideations peppered with a dosage of actual ‘plot’ to veil its questionable underlying intent. It is never enjoyable (at least for myself) to be in the position of judging an author’s literary decisions especially when it relates to their personal desires, but what is to be done when their betrayed beliefs are catering a taboo interest? Despite being a story that centered a magically-gifted Black girl in a predominantly Black municipality within a wholly segregated era, Dhonielle Clayton took to fixating so much on the purportedly drab and myopic White people to the extent it was hard to decipher whether Zora, the heroine, appreciated anything outside of White banalities and romances. Seldom interspersed were positive observations of Zora’s Black counterparts, and for being the rare story in which Black girls are foregrounded in a fantastical Western setting there was a lot of focus on the influences and behaviours of their White counterparts, something which weakened the subversion of the story with how scant positive Black influences were. Admittedly, a lot of Zora’s interactions within Whiter communes dealt with racism and were mostly a consequence of her relationship with Phillip, but it still felt counterproductive for the book to so repeatedly emphasize the racism of the 1920’s whilst spending the majority of its time consumed in the frivolities and lenses of its most privileged class—White people. I was irked by all the idealisations of Phillip’s ‘baby blue eyes’ and the fact that he somehow swooned a teenage girl into childbirth and marriage simply for being a proficient piano player while essentially every other Black male character was demonised in the narrative.
To go further, anyone that existed outside of Zora’s romance and was not a staunch proponent of her amorous ambitions eventually lost significance or favour in the story. Quite the nuisance for a novel that employed third-person perspective—if the narration was to be so biased and lauding of Zora’s poor decisions there was no reason for it be carried from a point of view that should’ve at least granted some impartiality to the narrative. Otherwise, the book would essentially be justifying such shallow actions, and given the internalised Eurocentric mindset that seemed to meet surface-level criticism by the heroine through much of the book I’d say moral scrutiny was direly needed.
Since Shattered Midnight has been filed into the ‘Retellings’ genre by many on Goodreads and is proprietary to Disney, I would assume it is primarily derivative of The Little Mermaid with some imitations of Snow White (again, a lost opportunity to utilise actual Black mythos—African-Americans have a plethora of spiritual folklore—by Disney‘s writers), and in spite of all the criticism the former has come to receive in recent years for its purportedly misogynistic themes I’d say this novel was a lot more exemplary of the thematic issues Disney princess classics were denounced for. Unlike Ariel, who sacrificed her voice and family connection because she was fascinated with the human world and a man she loved (illustrated by her collection of human artifacts and compiled research of humans which was most prominently exhibited in her poignant solo Part of Your World), Zora was single-mindedly consumed with Phillip and the prospective traditional-bound future that would come about in the instance of their communion. She only debated keeping her magical powers when wagering the possibility her loss of enhanced musical prowess would sever her connection with Phillip as well, and despite her acknowledgement of all the virulent racism of in her society she was ecstatic to follow Phillip’s idealised plans to elope and build a sustainable career. Firstly, it was so incorrect of Zora to romanticise Europe as this liberal haven (Hardcover, page 151) where they would be exempt from discrimination and be free to traipse about—had the author even considered doing the littlest research on how minorities were treated in and by that region at the time of Zora’s existence, she’d know the ridiculous story of that one Black aunt Zora supposedly knew living a happy life in that region was no more than a isolated occurrence at best. What was even more ridiculous was when Zora lashed out at Phillip for not informing his mother of her skin colour, as if that would be a practical decision given the dangers that not only would be posed to their relationship but also to Zora as a Black girl—what is the likelihood a rich White woman wouldn’t spitefully defame Zora and Phillip’s betrothal as one which arose from some diabolical means? Already Zora had seen her Black friend harassed by a White man freely and even cited herself the numerous reports of Black people being killed for innocuous acts, yet when it came to her sunburnt, speckled amour she suddenly had the discernment of a post-racial utopian woman who would never find herself threatened by discrimination as long as Phillip’s ‘love’ persevered.
Speaking of the ‘love’ story, I could hardly fathom the obsessiveness of Phillip and Zora’s relationship. At no point was there any palpable tension between the two, their interlocutions were achingly flat and betrayed no sense of personality or intrigue. They were said to have bonded deeply over music but none of their interactions actually immersed me in the belief there was some unique connection they had with one another that couldn’t be replicated between Zora and some other young member at the club she always snuck out to. Phillip was only distinguishable in that he approached her, an ironic similarity to A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (in pertinence to Malik who suddenly fell for Karina) whose author coincidentally left a glowing recommendation for this book—and also suffered in establishing main characters that had a reason to be provided precedence over their other cast members. Even if we account for Zora’s lack of relationship experience and young age, a lot of her Phillip-fueled decisions felt to be less evocative of a juvenile impulse but more prominently the infiltrated projections of the author’s personal lusts. I could hardly fathom what mystique exactly lied in Phillip’s mannerisms that made Zora so heavily infatuated notwithstanding the dull life she was living otherwise, and though the author might’ve attempted subtlety in all the cringeworthy praise of his chivalry and typical blonde features it was relatively obvious to me that the chemistry was so lacking because the author deemed Phillip’s physical attributes enthralling enough to abate his banal qualities. This irksome truth became more potent when it was brought up frequently how ‘taboo’ their partnership was, but not for the sake of catalysing reflection and hesitation on the part of the character, simply implemented to entertain some angsty back-and-forths and evade critical introspection into the imbalanced dynamic of the couple.
Then again, this novel suffered in believability in many other aspects beside its main pairings. The magic system was poorly elucidated, and was hard to envision or make sense of—earnestly, it held minimal significance to the plot as it could’ve easily been interchanged for some other quirk that defined Zora as a persona non grata (which, for the 1920s, would definitely not be a difficult trait to muster). Her backstory felt so melodramatic in description for how light it felt in its outcome, the events were all so morally opaque which was not exactly a writing fault but made it annoying when Zora continuously mourned over how horrible it was to act in self-defence. For someone so informed of how White people could easily libel her a criminal for even the most innocuous acts, it made no sense to me how her self-deprecating sentiments persisted to such a great magnitude up until Phillip (a White man) acknowledged her as being in the right for what she did. I understand her mother didn’t do well in raising her to accept her magical identity, and her aunt was even worse in her treatment of Zora’s fantastical predispositions, but since Zora felt no shame in indulging musically in her magically-enhanced abilities during the evenings it made little sense to me how repeatedly she’d ruminate over how bad and malevolent people would find her to be if they were to discover she was composed of magic (and once used it to protect someone dear from someone who would undoubtedly go without consequence in racist society—I hardly fathom how any Black individual in 1920s America would not sympathise with Zora’s truth, religious anxieties notwithstanding). Zora was unnaturally fretful for someone reared in 1920’s America, her obligations in New Orleans were typical for a woman of her age in America at the time yet she was overly standoffish and disobedient, and in retrospect it is understandable why anyone would feel restricted by that lifestyle but contextually made her seem all the more like an incompetent character. Her issue wasn’t her magical powers, or the overbearing aunt, because she never attempted to do even the bare minimum; although her aunt should be persecuted for the reasons she concocted for Zora’s unruly behaviour and how she denied her nurture after the traumatic experience she’d undergone, Zora was also not so much suffering in her housing situation due to unwelcoming family members but because she had a very self-centred personality that hindered her from ever fully assimilating in the cultural expectations. This made it less hard to resonate with her feelings of insecurity regarding her magical identity because so much of her problems both relating to Phillip and her familial reprimands were consequential of her shortsightedness.
CHARACTERS
It is regretful that Zora, whose ambitions existed solely in her love to a milquetoast receptor, was the primary focus of the novel. I found myself intrigued by the allusion towards Evelyn’s covert sapphic romance (Hardcover, page 235) (I love how her name was Evelyn, though I doubt it was a homage to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo it was still funny to see) and her character cultivated more of an arc and mystique in the little time she was owed than Zora managed to garner in the whole book. Anna was similarly engaging if not slightly brackish in her entitled personality at times—at least she had a personality, and her revelations surrounding how she felt in pertinence to Evelyn and Zora elicited a poignant scene that I wish was expanded on further in the story. Zora’s adoptive aunt (Anna I believe?) was yet another character who was unfortunately sidelined despite an interesting backstory; no doubt she was surly and was essentially deprived of any sort of character development given how swiftly she’d revert to pretension, but the trifles of exposition we’d observed in her moments of vulnerability promised an interesting character if given the adequate spotlight. Alas, most of the book’s contents went towards Zora and her cliché romance.
However, what was even far worse than the riveting personalities that were neglected were the characterizations that were so poor owing to their lack of value by the author in the narrative. Jo was capable of maneuvering for special venue seating in a prohibited area and possessed enough social discernment to arrange Zora, Phillips and the rest of the quartet’s pairings—yet by the book’s end she was portrayed as a pitiful damsel who suffered in shame due to her separation from the guidance of her ‘best friend’. The best friend who was too consumed with licking out her boyfriend’s face to impartially analyze Rocco’s relationship and request Phillip offer a bit more than some empty reassurance he knew him well enough to trust he’s not a criminal. Jo had no autonomy as she wasn’t capable of supporting anyone meaningfully and was ultimately denied respect by everyone, including the heroine who expressed no shame whatsoever, throughout the entire story. There was legitimately no point to the dehumanising end she met at the denouement, completely unlike the outgoing and capable girl we were acquainted with before (a lot more grounded than Zora).
IS IT WORTH READING?
Initially, I thought the light fantasy elements of this novel would make it a good transition for those such as myself who are skeptical about the genre—regrettably, the little legendry we were exposed to was so poorly portrayed it served to blemish fantasy’s presence in the novel rather than mould it palatable. The romance was severely questionable in nature and was not sensible in its treatment of a lot of topical issues that would’ve fared better with stronger allegories and a more reasoned lens. The prose was not at all upper-level, but I wouldn’t place such expectations on a YA novel and I imagine that if I were to come across another of the author’s works I would be able to recognize her ownership simply from the prose. Not overly descriptive but almost too curt and abrupt to the extent the reader was made to feel like an isolated observer rather than someone involved in the story, a mostly dull style of writing. There was a speckle of imagination and creative characterisations, but these curiosities did not countervail the less impressive contents of the story, much less compensates for the lacking premise and predictable gradation. Given many of the problematic staples that are known to avid readers of romance, this likely wouldn’t be denoted insipid anymore than many of the other titles that have been embraced by a large faction of the community and it is possible a lot of readers will interpret the dynamics of the central romance in a more positive way than I managed to. However, my personal background and predictions considered, I found this book to be a disastrous concoction that I would not recommend.
January 19, 2022
Shattered Midnight is the sequel to Broken Wish. Zora is living with her mean aunt and spoiled cousins in New Orleans. She sneaks out of the house to sing at jazz clubs. She falls in love with a new piano player named Phillip, but they cannot be together because they are of two different races. Could the two be together when society tries to pull them apart?
Zora is a very likable character. She had magic running through her veins. However, she doesn’t know how to control it. Because her magic was a mystery, she is afraid of it and wants to get rid of it. Throughout the novel, she struggles to accept who she is and comes to embrace her gift. I also find Zora to be a strong-willed character. She was always fighting for her love and happiness. I find the relationship between Zora and Phillip to be the most interesting. It is forbidden in the 1920s to have an interracial romance. They know the consequences of what would happen if they were caught. Yet, they are determined to fight society to be together. I could not help but wish for a happy ending for them!
Overall, this novel is about segregation, interracial romance and jazz music! The only things I did not like about this novel was that aside from Zora, the rest of the characters were not developed. Also, I would like more details about Zora’s magic! Still, this was a magical love story! The best part of the novel was the author’s lush descriptions of 1920s New Orleans. The setting quickly lulled me into the enchanting story! Shattered Midnight stayed with me long after I finished the last page! I can’t wait to read the sequel, which seems a long way from now! I recommend Shattered Midnight for fans of Evangeline of the Bayou, Labyrinth Lost, and These Violent Delights!
(Note: I read ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
Zora is a very likable character. She had magic running through her veins. However, she doesn’t know how to control it. Because her magic was a mystery, she is afraid of it and wants to get rid of it. Throughout the novel, she struggles to accept who she is and comes to embrace her gift. I also find Zora to be a strong-willed character. She was always fighting for her love and happiness. I find the relationship between Zora and Phillip to be the most interesting. It is forbidden in the 1920s to have an interracial romance. They know the consequences of what would happen if they were caught. Yet, they are determined to fight society to be together. I could not help but wish for a happy ending for them!
Overall, this novel is about segregation, interracial romance and jazz music! The only things I did not like about this novel was that aside from Zora, the rest of the characters were not developed. Also, I would like more details about Zora’s magic! Still, this was a magical love story! The best part of the novel was the author’s lush descriptions of 1920s New Orleans. The setting quickly lulled me into the enchanting story! Shattered Midnight stayed with me long after I finished the last page! I can’t wait to read the sequel, which seems a long way from now! I recommend Shattered Midnight for fans of Evangeline of the Bayou, Labyrinth Lost, and These Violent Delights!
(Note: I read ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
January 15, 2022
This book was awesome. As we continue on with the Mirror series we follow a girl named Zora. Her mother sent her away to New Orleans to start a new especially what happened in Harlem. Zora now lives with her aunt Selene and her cousins and her aunt is doing everything in her power to find a perfect suitor for Zora so that she will be taken care of and to be a successful black couple. Now mind you this story is taking place in the 1920's during the prohibition and Zora is now just any ordinary girl. She has powers that is beyond her control, but she is very talented when it comes to singing and musical instruments. So now and then she sneaks out and goes to night clubs to perform and her stage name is Sweet Willow. One night they needed a piano player at the last minute and soon she meets Phillip. But it was a risk for him to be her pianist because he was white and it was against the ;aw to have interracial performances. but they managed to get away with it and as time progressed Zora was falling for Phillip but knew that they could never be together because she was black and he was white and it was against the law for a white person to be with a black person. Though the law did not stop them, but they didn't have their happily ever after either. Zora thought getting rid of her powers would solve everything, but she was wrong and she couldn't get rid of her magic even if she wanted to. I really loved how later on in the book we find out the descendants of Elva and Mathilda from the first book of the series. This book was excellent and I can't wait to read the next one.
September 23, 2021
Full disclosure: I knew that this book was a part of a series, and that in theory, you could read it like a standalone.
I wouldn't recommend doing that. I felt lost a lot of the time in this one, and that fault is mine and mine alone. Regardless, that colored my enjoyment of this book. I also expected it to tie into the movie The Princess and the Frog (TPATF) more but I recognize that wasn't promised in the book's synopsis.
That being said, there was quite a bit about SHATTERED MIDNIGHT I enjoyed. Clayton does a fantastic job taking the reader back in time to Jazz Age New Orleans, with all the music, food and culture involved. I enjoyed that immensely as I love visiting NOLA and I am a fan of TPATF, and the author's writing style has a magical, transportive quality to it that let me get lost in Zora Broussard's world. Clayton also does a great job not letting her readers get lost in this world without pointing out the reality of Black Women not just in NOLA in the 1920s, but in America as a whole. Issues of segregation. anti-miscegenation and racism starkly affect Zora's life and story in this book, and that is something that we can't look away from. I really liked the romance between Zora and Phillip. It has a real star-crossed lovers quality, a them against the world feel that is exhilarating. I do wish that there had been more detail to how Zora's magic worked and to see her work to master it, but I may have missed context not reading the first book first. Serves me right. But overall, I liked this one.
I wouldn't recommend doing that. I felt lost a lot of the time in this one, and that fault is mine and mine alone. Regardless, that colored my enjoyment of this book. I also expected it to tie into the movie The Princess and the Frog (TPATF) more but I recognize that wasn't promised in the book's synopsis.
That being said, there was quite a bit about SHATTERED MIDNIGHT I enjoyed. Clayton does a fantastic job taking the reader back in time to Jazz Age New Orleans, with all the music, food and culture involved. I enjoyed that immensely as I love visiting NOLA and I am a fan of TPATF, and the author's writing style has a magical, transportive quality to it that let me get lost in Zora Broussard's world. Clayton also does a great job not letting her readers get lost in this world without pointing out the reality of Black Women not just in NOLA in the 1920s, but in America as a whole. Issues of segregation. anti-miscegenation and racism starkly affect Zora's life and story in this book, and that is something that we can't look away from. I really liked the romance between Zora and Phillip. It has a real star-crossed lovers quality, a them against the world feel that is exhilarating. I do wish that there had been more detail to how Zora's magic worked and to see her work to master it, but I may have missed context not reading the first book first. Serves me right. But overall, I liked this one.
February 5, 2022
LOVED this book. After reading the first in the series, I knew I had to read this one. Dhonielle Clayton brings 1928 New Orleans to life in these pages. Her rich descriptions of the sights, sounds, tastes and sweltering damp heat transport you to the Big Easy.
Though I believe Shattered Midnight could be read alone, I do suggest reading Julie C. Dao's Broken Wish first. I believe that knowing the history of the magical items and grandparents adds to the story.
Zora is Mathilda’s black granddaughter. Her magic is tied to her musical abilities. There was a devastating accident in NYC and her mama has sent her to live with her Aunt Celine in New Orleans. Aunt Celine expects her to be a debutante & marry well, but Zora is drawn to the music. Using her Oma's red slippers, she sneaks out at night & performs in a jazz club using the stage name Sweet Willow.
Phillip is Agnes great-grandson; Cay’s grandson. He is rich, white & the best piano player Zora has ever heard. Phillip has his great-grandmother's mirror, and is drawn to Zora through it.
Zora and Phillip fall in love and must face many challenges to stay together.
Though I believe Shattered Midnight could be read alone, I do suggest reading Julie C. Dao's Broken Wish first. I believe that knowing the history of the magical items and grandparents adds to the story.
Zora is Mathilda’s black granddaughter. Her magic is tied to her musical abilities. There was a devastating accident in NYC and her mama has sent her to live with her Aunt Celine in New Orleans. Aunt Celine expects her to be a debutante & marry well, but Zora is drawn to the music. Using her Oma's red slippers, she sneaks out at night & performs in a jazz club using the stage name Sweet Willow.
Phillip is Agnes great-grandson; Cay’s grandson. He is rich, white & the best piano player Zora has ever heard. Phillip has his great-grandmother's mirror, and is drawn to Zora through it.
Zora and Phillip fall in love and must face many challenges to stay together.
December 24, 2021
Disney Hyperion is putting our a great series with this one. I was fortunate to get to read the first book early, and now again with this second one in the "mirror" series. I loved it!!
The historical aspects of new Orleans and jazz music, magic & mayhem, love and family. Can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for allowing me this early copy to read for my thoughts on it!
The historical aspects of new Orleans and jazz music, magic & mayhem, love and family. Can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for allowing me this early copy to read for my thoughts on it!
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