What do you think?
Rate this book
Wilder than Midnight
A bold and evocative new adventure novel from Cerrie Burnell, celebrating difference and found family. Perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson, Katherine Rundell and Catherine Doyle.
Silverthorne is a place of secrets. A forest of twisting paths and tangled thorns. A castle with locked towers and whispers of tragedy. A village trapped between terrors known and unknown. But something is stirring in the leaves . . .
Saffy is a good girl, tired of being told to stick to the forest paths, and always follow the rules.
Aurelia is a hidden girl, locked in a castle tower, dreaming of escaping the fate she's told awaits her.
Wild Rose is a fierce girl, raised by wolves, full of spells and fearlessness and cunning.
Together, they will change life in Silverthorne forever.
Silverthorne is a place of secrets. A forest of twisting paths and tangled thorns. A castle with locked towers and whispers of tragedy. A village trapped between terrors known and unknown. But something is stirring in the leaves . . .
Saffy is a good girl, tired of being told to stick to the forest paths, and always follow the rules.
Aurelia is a hidden girl, locked in a castle tower, dreaming of escaping the fate she's told awaits her.
Wild Rose is a fierce girl, raised by wolves, full of spells and fearlessness and cunning.
Together, they will change life in Silverthorne forever.
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2022
15 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Cerrie Burnell
27 books42 followersCerrie Burnell is one of the UK's best-known children's TV presenters and has in recent years made a name for herself as one of the most exciting new children's authors on the scene. Her picture book Snowflakes was performed at the Oxford Playhouse to great acclaim in 2016 and Harper, her fiction series, has been set to music by the Liverpool Philarmonic Orchestra.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 15, 2022
3.5 stars I think.
I ordered this through Amazon Vine. Being a fan of fairy tale retellings, I guessed that this book would be my cup of tea. And, overall, I guess it was. But there is a part of me stopping myself from awarding 4 or 5 stars. And I think I know why.
First off, I loved how Burnell has created her characters. These heroines are pretty fierce, which is great to read. I also loved how Burnell has twined the various tales together, borrowing from familiar fairy tales to create her new world. To a degree, this is a fierce world; there are wolves, and curses as well as ignorance which taints how people see the world, and fear that which is not properly understood. So why did I not award higher stars? Well, although the writing initially swept me away, once I was over half way through the book, I started to feel as though I needed more action rather than just pretty sentences. There were times that I felt as though the story lacked something to really pull it forwards, and I think this is what then led me to feel that the story started to fall a little flat. I would imagine that a reader of its target audience may need that action, and that pacing, to keep them invested and make them want to see how everything works out in the end. Burnell can write, there is no question of that, but I got to the point where I needed less description and more doing.
I ordered this through Amazon Vine. Being a fan of fairy tale retellings, I guessed that this book would be my cup of tea. And, overall, I guess it was. But there is a part of me stopping myself from awarding 4 or 5 stars. And I think I know why.
First off, I loved how Burnell has created her characters. These heroines are pretty fierce, which is great to read. I also loved how Burnell has twined the various tales together, borrowing from familiar fairy tales to create her new world. To a degree, this is a fierce world; there are wolves, and curses as well as ignorance which taints how people see the world, and fear that which is not properly understood. So why did I not award higher stars? Well, although the writing initially swept me away, once I was over half way through the book, I started to feel as though I needed more action rather than just pretty sentences. There were times that I felt as though the story lacked something to really pull it forwards, and I think this is what then led me to feel that the story started to fall a little flat. I would imagine that a reader of its target audience may need that action, and that pacing, to keep them invested and make them want to see how everything works out in the end. Burnell can write, there is no question of that, but I got to the point where I needed less description and more doing.
October 22, 2024
I was immersed in this world of fairytales from beginning to end. Lovely!
May 23, 2022
Wilder Than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell is a middle grade fairy-tale inspired fantasy. It is the story of a princess and a girl raised in the woods, of greedy royals and determined girls. It is a fast read, and an entertaining one, but I found that neither the plot nor the characters were allowed much nuance. I know it is a middle grade book, and there is certainly allowance for simplification with that age group, but there are so many wonderful middle grade books out there that do have that nuanced approach and are much more satisfying reads. I found the black-and-white morality, the predictability of the tropes and the lack of depth in the main characters didn't let me get emotionally invested in their fates and thus did not make Wilder Than Midnight stand out for me.
May 24, 2022
Wilder than Midnight is Cerrie Burnell's latest book....
I LOVED IT !!!!
It's characters were both mysterious and inspiring. I really liked the fact that it was the same story, but split into several points of view. Wilder than Midnight transported me into an extraordinary, incredible fantasy land, and kept me there until the book was finished and long after. I often visited this book in my mind, picturing what the characters would of done in real life. I would recommend this to mystical / adventure fans if I had to choose, but really I would give this book to anyone who had good taste.
I LOVED IT !!!!
It's characters were both mysterious and inspiring. I really liked the fact that it was the same story, but split into several points of view. Wilder than Midnight transported me into an extraordinary, incredible fantasy land, and kept me there until the book was finished and long after. I often visited this book in my mind, picturing what the characters would of done in real life. I would recommend this to mystical / adventure fans if I had to choose, but really I would give this book to anyone who had good taste.
November 7, 2024
Once, long ago, on a night as cold as death, a babe was born within the walls, one who bore the Mark of the Witch.
She was wilder than snow on a first winter's morn. Wilder than moonlight on a midsummer's eve. Wilder than midnight in a forest of wolves.
Her name was Wild Rose.
In all honesty, sometimes I buy a load of new books, and after reading them, I cannot help but wonder: 'Why? Why do I even still bother?'
Maybe you understand what I mean. You read a whole ton of new books, and I'm not saying they're not good, but they're just not... they're just not that what you were looking for. In some way, they disappoint, or let you down; you'd expected more. There may have been good, but they weren't as good as you'd thought they'd be. Some may even turn out to be bad (and, of course, there's also a lot of outright crap out there, too). And after I've gone through a whole number of them in a brief period of time, that's the question that sometimes pops up in my brain: Why still bother?
This.
This is why I still bother.
Because between all the nice and good and fine and very fine books - there'll be that one, rare, glistening jewel shining its light upon the entire bunch. There is that one book that just breathes greatness, as soon as you start reading the very first page. It's not even just any jewel, it's the crown jewel of some long-forgotten maharaja who lived centuries ago, or a jewel last worn by Catherine the Great.
This is one of those jewels.
It already started from the very sentence, where I immediately felt I had something unique in my hands. The way of writing is so melodic, poetic, fairy-tale-ish, it wraps you up and carries you all the way through the story, until the very end, and you'll feel bad that it's already over. It feels so literary and old and still so fluently and normal, it's incredible.
The very first impression of the book I had, though, was of course the cover. Look at the general drawings and the colours, and then delve into the details. Only British artists can draw such children's books' covers, if you ask me. When you see this - in a shop or online - a cover like that just begs to be bought, it whispers to you, it calls to you. The rather vague synopsis makes it all the more magical and mystical.
Talking about pictures, I also loved the small drawings of the first letters of each chapter. There's so much detail in those too, and they always are related to something in the chapter. Lovely!
Basically, this is a story that mashes up at least five fairy tales, and maybe even six or seven - after a while, I honestly lost count of how many references I caught. There are some obvious ones, of course, such as Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and Sleeping Beauty, but other ones are definitely present at times too. You'd think that, with a story not even 300 pages long, it's all a bit too much - but it never is. It's exactly as it should be, it feels entirely natural to mix everything up and make something new out of it.
The basis of this story is, I think, the following idea: 'What if the main element on which one particular fairy tale is based, turns out to be a lie?' It will take very long to get there (we'll discuss that in more detail further down), but that's what it comes down to, in the end, according to me at least.
The way the main characters and their lives are interwoven with one another, and how they act together and apart, is masterfully done. The three main characters - Wild Rose, Saffy and Aurelia - are all very different, with different backgrounds, but as soon as you've met them, you'll know: They fit together. They're all fantastic, their behaviour is spot-on, they all have their little mysteries and quirks that make them so much more interesting. Separately, they're perfect - together, they're even more so.
The same goes for nearly all other characters. When she was introduced, I was expecting Verity to be one of those annoying, maybe even backstabbing brats, but she turned out alright, as did other people such as Jack, and everyone's parents. Apart from the queen and prince Jonas, every character present in the book (at least the ones who feature enough to get a better picture of them) is very positive and understanding of everyone else, even of people who are (very) different. Sometimes, it's a relief to just read a book in which there aren't any annoying people running amok.
If there is one point I have to point out that is a bit 'negative' for me, it's that I don't honestly see why the Forest Folk is included, because they're really not very important, they could've easily been replaced by the other characters. But honestly, that's just a very minor thing.
At first, there doesn't really seem to be an actual point to Wilder Than Midnight, I think? I didn't see a clear finish line, a clear goal for the characters. In most cases, that annoys me (often to no end), because it means the story is just vague. Here, though, that was exactly one of the many elements that supported the magical writing style and setting, and it just seemed to be a story about three girls whose paths slowly start crossing and then... whatever, really.
But after a while, you'll notice that some things just don't add up. Right from the very start, it's clear that something in the past happened, but it doesn't look as if that's actually what the story will be about - and truly, maybe it isn't, not entirely, because it only becomes important very late in the book. As the chapter and page numbers start going up, though, there are too many things rising up to the surface that seem off. There is an entire puzzle regarding all the characters' backgrounds and the role they're playing in the history of Silverthorne, and slowly, very slowly, the pieces are put into place. Meanwhile I, the reader, scrambled around, looking for other pieces lurking about, just to get an inkling of an idea what was going on, but Burnell is an expert in balancing juicy revelations, keeping full-on secrets and leaving false trails, so you just keep on scrambling. Until finally, all is made it clear, and it's time for the final - the only, really - confrontation. The last chapters are the only ones where real action is present, but don't let that put you off: Everything that happens before is just one hell of a ride full of mystery and magic.
And one final big element of the book is the setting, which is so vividly described and so diverse that you don't know where to look first. This is clearly a fairy-tale world, an old world, of ancient times, when the forests were still dark and dangerous - but the castles no less so, despite what one might think beforehand. The trees, the mentionings of the Fae, the wolves of course, the lake, the castle's tower... It's not just the hills that are alive with magic, it's the everything, from the smallest leaf to the biggest tree and even more.
Honestly, I just don't have the words for it. The writing style, the characters and their interactions...
This book is magic. It doesn't just drip off the pages - it burns off. A true masterpiece.
For there is nothing more exciting than living through a legend.
9.7/10
She was wilder than snow on a first winter's morn. Wilder than moonlight on a midsummer's eve. Wilder than midnight in a forest of wolves.
Her name was Wild Rose.
In all honesty, sometimes I buy a load of new books, and after reading them, I cannot help but wonder: 'Why? Why do I even still bother?'
Maybe you understand what I mean. You read a whole ton of new books, and I'm not saying they're not good, but they're just not... they're just not that what you were looking for. In some way, they disappoint, or let you down; you'd expected more. There may have been good, but they weren't as good as you'd thought they'd be. Some may even turn out to be bad (and, of course, there's also a lot of outright crap out there, too). And after I've gone through a whole number of them in a brief period of time, that's the question that sometimes pops up in my brain: Why still bother?
This.
This is why I still bother.
Because between all the nice and good and fine and very fine books - there'll be that one, rare, glistening jewel shining its light upon the entire bunch. There is that one book that just breathes greatness, as soon as you start reading the very first page. It's not even just any jewel, it's the crown jewel of some long-forgotten maharaja who lived centuries ago, or a jewel last worn by Catherine the Great.
This is one of those jewels.
It already started from the very sentence, where I immediately felt I had something unique in my hands. The way of writing is so melodic, poetic, fairy-tale-ish, it wraps you up and carries you all the way through the story, until the very end, and you'll feel bad that it's already over. It feels so literary and old and still so fluently and normal, it's incredible.
The very first impression of the book I had, though, was of course the cover. Look at the general drawings and the colours, and then delve into the details. Only British artists can draw such children's books' covers, if you ask me. When you see this - in a shop or online - a cover like that just begs to be bought, it whispers to you, it calls to you. The rather vague synopsis makes it all the more magical and mystical.
Talking about pictures, I also loved the small drawings of the first letters of each chapter. There's so much detail in those too, and they always are related to something in the chapter. Lovely!
Basically, this is a story that mashes up at least five fairy tales, and maybe even six or seven - after a while, I honestly lost count of how many references I caught. There are some obvious ones, of course, such as Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and Sleeping Beauty, but other ones are definitely present at times too. You'd think that, with a story not even 300 pages long, it's all a bit too much - but it never is. It's exactly as it should be, it feels entirely natural to mix everything up and make something new out of it.
The basis of this story is, I think, the following idea: 'What if the main element on which one particular fairy tale is based, turns out to be a lie?' It will take very long to get there (we'll discuss that in more detail further down), but that's what it comes down to, in the end, according to me at least.
The way the main characters and their lives are interwoven with one another, and how they act together and apart, is masterfully done. The three main characters - Wild Rose, Saffy and Aurelia - are all very different, with different backgrounds, but as soon as you've met them, you'll know: They fit together. They're all fantastic, their behaviour is spot-on, they all have their little mysteries and quirks that make them so much more interesting. Separately, they're perfect - together, they're even more so.
The same goes for nearly all other characters. When she was introduced, I was expecting Verity to be one of those annoying, maybe even backstabbing brats, but she turned out alright, as did other people such as Jack, and everyone's parents. Apart from the queen and prince Jonas, every character present in the book (at least the ones who feature enough to get a better picture of them) is very positive and understanding of everyone else, even of people who are (very) different. Sometimes, it's a relief to just read a book in which there aren't any annoying people running amok.
If there is one point I have to point out that is a bit 'negative' for me, it's that I don't honestly see why the Forest Folk is included, because they're really not very important, they could've easily been replaced by the other characters. But honestly, that's just a very minor thing.
At first, there doesn't really seem to be an actual point to Wilder Than Midnight, I think? I didn't see a clear finish line, a clear goal for the characters. In most cases, that annoys me (often to no end), because it means the story is just vague. Here, though, that was exactly one of the many elements that supported the magical writing style and setting, and it just seemed to be a story about three girls whose paths slowly start crossing and then... whatever, really.
But after a while, you'll notice that some things just don't add up. Right from the very start, it's clear that something in the past happened, but it doesn't look as if that's actually what the story will be about - and truly, maybe it isn't, not entirely, because it only becomes important very late in the book. As the chapter and page numbers start going up, though, there are too many things rising up to the surface that seem off. There is an entire puzzle regarding all the characters' backgrounds and the role they're playing in the history of Silverthorne, and slowly, very slowly, the pieces are put into place. Meanwhile I, the reader, scrambled around, looking for other pieces lurking about, just to get an inkling of an idea what was going on, but Burnell is an expert in balancing juicy revelations, keeping full-on secrets and leaving false trails, so you just keep on scrambling. Until finally, all is made it clear, and it's time for the final - the only, really - confrontation. The last chapters are the only ones where real action is present, but don't let that put you off: Everything that happens before is just one hell of a ride full of mystery and magic.
And one final big element of the book is the setting, which is so vividly described and so diverse that you don't know where to look first. This is clearly a fairy-tale world, an old world, of ancient times, when the forests were still dark and dangerous - but the castles no less so, despite what one might think beforehand. The trees, the mentionings of the Fae, the wolves of course, the lake, the castle's tower... It's not just the hills that are alive with magic, it's the everything, from the smallest leaf to the biggest tree and even more.
Honestly, I just don't have the words for it. The writing style, the characters and their interactions...
This book is magic. It doesn't just drip off the pages - it burns off. A true masterpiece.
For there is nothing more exciting than living through a legend.
9.7/10
July 9, 2022
I love love love this book and can't wait to share it with daughter (9) and son (6) for bedtime stories!
It follows a traditional fairytale theme, mixing all sorts of well-known stories - Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks, Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, the Swan Princess - into a brand new and utterly compelling story.
There are multiple main characters (Saffy, Wild Rose, Aurelia) and each has their own distinct personality, struggles, quirks and talents. I love how diverse all of the characters are, and how sometimes the tings that make them unique is a strength and enables them to think in different ways, whereas other times it can be completely irrelevant to the character and plot (like having freckles would be). And of course, sometimes other characters fear differences, but we can easily see that their fears are unfounded.
The book is beautifully written. The author conjures up strikingly vivid imagery and the scent of lavender drifts through the pages as you read (not literally, but imaginatively!).
I am quickly re-reading this one for myself, because I know it will be daughter's new favourite book and I will never see it again once she gets her hands on it - she loves a strong, female-centric fairytale adventure!
It follows a traditional fairytale theme, mixing all sorts of well-known stories - Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks, Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel, the Swan Princess - into a brand new and utterly compelling story.
There are multiple main characters (Saffy, Wild Rose, Aurelia) and each has their own distinct personality, struggles, quirks and talents. I love how diverse all of the characters are, and how sometimes the tings that make them unique is a strength and enables them to think in different ways, whereas other times it can be completely irrelevant to the character and plot (like having freckles would be). And of course, sometimes other characters fear differences, but we can easily see that their fears are unfounded.
The book is beautifully written. The author conjures up strikingly vivid imagery and the scent of lavender drifts through the pages as you read (not literally, but imaginatively!).
I am quickly re-reading this one for myself, because I know it will be daughter's new favourite book and I will never see it again once she gets her hands on it - she loves a strong, female-centric fairytale adventure!
January 15, 2023
I loved the interwoven stories of these three young ladies. The retellings of fairy tales made this just make my heart so happy! There’s so much to love about this - characters who make you want to root for them; storytelling that makes you want to read on; magic that you can fall in love with and a world of wolves, folk lore and cloaks which tell tales. The forest people were my favourites. I could talk about this forever!
February 22, 2023
Cerrie Burnell hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, körperlich beeinträchtigte Kinder sichtbarer zu machen und für ihre Rechte einzustehen. Deshalb hat sie u.a. dieses Buch geschrieben. Die Autorin spricht das Thema Diversität jedoch auf so geschickte Weise an, dass die junge Leserschaft sich weder erzogen, noch bevormundet fühlen wird, sondern einfach ein gelungenes Kinderbuch liest.
Auch wer sich für Neuinterpretationen von Märchen interessiert, wird hier fündig werden. Burnell verwebt viele bekannte Märchen zu einer eigenen Geschichte, die in ihrer eigenen Welt spielt. Leider wirkt das Ganze dadurch an einigen Stellen etwas zu überladen. Die Autorin möchte etwas zu viel auf zu wenig Platz. Als Reihe hätte dies besser funktioniert, da Burnell ihre Ideen dann besser hätte einbringen können.
Dennoch ist "Wilder than Midnight" eine verträumte Geschichte mit Figuren zum Liebhaben, die in einer bezaubernden Welt spielt. Für Fans dieses Genres definitiv ein interessantes und lesenswertes Werk, das durch eine wilde und unaufhaltbare Heldin besticht.
Auch wer sich für Neuinterpretationen von Märchen interessiert, wird hier fündig werden. Burnell verwebt viele bekannte Märchen zu einer eigenen Geschichte, die in ihrer eigenen Welt spielt. Leider wirkt das Ganze dadurch an einigen Stellen etwas zu überladen. Die Autorin möchte etwas zu viel auf zu wenig Platz. Als Reihe hätte dies besser funktioniert, da Burnell ihre Ideen dann besser hätte einbringen können.
Dennoch ist "Wilder than Midnight" eine verträumte Geschichte mit Figuren zum Liebhaben, die in einer bezaubernden Welt spielt. Für Fans dieses Genres definitiv ein interessantes und lesenswertes Werk, das durch eine wilde und unaufhaltbare Heldin besticht.
September 7, 2022
Silverthorn. A kingdom with the tiniest glimpses of traditional tales. It's not a retelling, it's not an alternative.
As the story weaves there are subtle links to other stories - it's so cleverly done that sometimes you don't even notice.
Wolves and glass shoes. Towers and curses. Magic and witches.
As the story weaves there are subtle links to other stories - it's so cleverly done that sometimes you don't even notice.
Wolves and glass shoes. Towers and curses. Magic and witches.
July 10, 2025
This was such a clever story. A tale of magic and lies intertwined with well-known fairy tales - what a great idea! There's a message about differences being good and not a dangerous thing. I loved it. as did my Year 6 class.
January 11, 2025
This was very cute and really clever in its use of fairytales
April 26, 2023
Everything about this book is just gorgeous!
The enchanting characters, the artwork, the beautiful story with it’s wonderful figurative language!
I highly recommend to adults, teens, tweens, and anyone who loves a large dose of woodland magic! ✨
The enchanting characters, the artwork, the beautiful story with it’s wonderful figurative language!
I highly recommend to adults, teens, tweens, and anyone who loves a large dose of woodland magic! ✨
October 8, 2023
I like this book because it’s wild and I liked every single character personality it is also really fun and magical
Read
May 12, 2022First off, let's just applaud this awesome cover, I just love kids books and thier ability to have amazing covers... yes, I know, it is to attract the child with bold and bright, but it attracts this adult too!
The writing straight off is very descriptive and it just hooks you in with it.
If you love fairy tale retelling type of books, then you will love this, as the author works really hard to include many nods to various ones, they do this seemlessly and I found myself just zipping through the pages.
"Silverthorne is a place of secrets. A forest of twisting paths and tangled thorns. A castle with locked towers and whispers of tragedy. A village trapped between terrors known and unknown. But something is stirring in the leaves . . .
Saffy is a good girl, tired of being told to stick to the forest paths, and always follow the rules.
Aurelia is a hidden girl, locked in a castle tower, dreaming of escaping the fate she's told awaits her.
Wild Rose is a fierce girl, raised by wolves, full of spells and fearlessness and cunning.
Together, they will change life in Silverthorne forever."
The charecters are well written and definatly not flat, I enjoyed all three of these girls and as you read, you learn to actually care what happens to them. One of the charecters has a disability and it's great for inclusion and a great message to the child reading.
This book is intended for children, but as an adult who loves to read this genre, i found it entertainingly magical, this would be a great book to read to your child and enjoy the story together.
As with most of my reviews, the storyline is not revealed, as this will spoil the book and that just will not do!
Read it for yourself, read for your children or grandchildren, just read it and enjoy the adventure!
The writing straight off is very descriptive and it just hooks you in with it.
If you love fairy tale retelling type of books, then you will love this, as the author works really hard to include many nods to various ones, they do this seemlessly and I found myself just zipping through the pages.
"Silverthorne is a place of secrets. A forest of twisting paths and tangled thorns. A castle with locked towers and whispers of tragedy. A village trapped between terrors known and unknown. But something is stirring in the leaves . . .
Saffy is a good girl, tired of being told to stick to the forest paths, and always follow the rules.
Aurelia is a hidden girl, locked in a castle tower, dreaming of escaping the fate she's told awaits her.
Wild Rose is a fierce girl, raised by wolves, full of spells and fearlessness and cunning.
Together, they will change life in Silverthorne forever."
The charecters are well written and definatly not flat, I enjoyed all three of these girls and as you read, you learn to actually care what happens to them. One of the charecters has a disability and it's great for inclusion and a great message to the child reading.
This book is intended for children, but as an adult who loves to read this genre, i found it entertainingly magical, this would be a great book to read to your child and enjoy the story together.
As with most of my reviews, the storyline is not revealed, as this will spoil the book and that just will not do!
Read it for yourself, read for your children or grandchildren, just read it and enjoy the adventure!
May 4, 2022
“But a forest can hold many secrets. Promises murmured beneath a new moon. Pathways so twisted they defy any map. Dark truths hidden in the heart of a wolf. There are many strange tales that weave through a wood, and Silverthorn Forest was no exception.”
The writing in the this book is such a thing of beauty that it pulls the reader right into the story, wraps it’s sentences around you and takes you on a magical adventure.
Weaving together the story of three girls - Saffy, Aurelia and Wild Rose - this is a story unlike any other. Except, well, it draws upon old fairy tales - Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, the Three Bears, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and twists them into a modern tale with mighty characters at the heart.
Cerrie’s writing is truly exceptional and she crafts phrase after phrase that feels like poetry, but still tells a story that will have you turning pages and rallying behind the characters. Characters that young readers can look up to, who aren’t afraid to fight for the right to choose their own fate and and to write their own stories.
This book also features a main character, Wild Rose, who, like the author, was born with an arm that ends at the elbow - a mark that defines her future because of the way her ‘mark’ is perceived. But it’s not a weakness and the discrimination she experiences as a child shapes her future into the fearless and fearsome wolf she has in her heart.
Impeccably written. Quite simply this book is magic.
The writing in the this book is such a thing of beauty that it pulls the reader right into the story, wraps it’s sentences around you and takes you on a magical adventure.
Weaving together the story of three girls - Saffy, Aurelia and Wild Rose - this is a story unlike any other. Except, well, it draws upon old fairy tales - Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, the Three Bears, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and twists them into a modern tale with mighty characters at the heart.
Cerrie’s writing is truly exceptional and she crafts phrase after phrase that feels like poetry, but still tells a story that will have you turning pages and rallying behind the characters. Characters that young readers can look up to, who aren’t afraid to fight for the right to choose their own fate and and to write their own stories.
This book also features a main character, Wild Rose, who, like the author, was born with an arm that ends at the elbow - a mark that defines her future because of the way her ‘mark’ is perceived. But it’s not a weakness and the discrimination she experiences as a child shapes her future into the fearless and fearsome wolf she has in her heart.
Impeccably written. Quite simply this book is magic.
May 5, 2022
Wilder Than Midnight is a heartwarming middle grade tale for young readers around 8 years old.
This magical tale features three strong heroines, disability representation and found family. These strong values are entwined perfectly with elements from multiple fairytales, bravery and enchantment.
This is a perfect bedtime read and, despite owning a free e-ARC copy in order to write this review, I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my boys.
This magical tale features three strong heroines, disability representation and found family. These strong values are entwined perfectly with elements from multiple fairytales, bravery and enchantment.
This is a perfect bedtime read and, despite owning a free e-ARC copy in order to write this review, I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my boys.
April 3, 2022
Review: Wilder than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell
Star Rating: Five Star
Wilder than Midnight is a truly enchanting and heart-warming tale that celebrates difference, found family and fairy tale.
We are transported to Silverthorne, a place steeped with secrets. Forests with twisting paths and tangled roots. A castle with locked rooms and whispers of tragedy and a Village trapped between terrors known and unknown. In the middle of this are three girls; Saffy – the good girl who is tired of being told to stick to the forest paths and follow the rules. Aurelia – the hidden girl, locked in a castle tower and dreaming of escaping the confines and her fate. Wild Rose – the fierce girl, raised by wolves and protector of the forest full of spells and fearlessness. It is only when fate brings them together that they are able to change life in Silverthorne forever.
Wilder than Midnight is a welcomed book that focuses on finding friendship and family in places you may not expect but most importantly acceptance. In the 21st Century you would hope that such values are embraced by everyone but we still have stigma surrounding groups of people for numerous ridiculous reasons. Cerri Burnell highlights how sometimes the way a certain thing is perceived is not to always be believed. That isn’t to say this is a ‘woke’ book or that people should be put off. There is no agenda found here. It is simply showing how sometimes, just because for the longest time certain things have been believed they are not always true.
The characters are wonderfully fleshed out and beautifully brought to life via Burnell’s prose. The whimsical and fairytale feel they create is so beautiful. I can most definitely see this becoming a firm favorite of readers young and old. I hope that we may hear more of saffy, Aurelia and Wild Rose in the future but I am grateful we have what we do.
As always thank you for providing me with an E-ARC of this title for an honest review.
Star Rating: Five Star
Wilder than Midnight is a truly enchanting and heart-warming tale that celebrates difference, found family and fairy tale.
We are transported to Silverthorne, a place steeped with secrets. Forests with twisting paths and tangled roots. A castle with locked rooms and whispers of tragedy and a Village trapped between terrors known and unknown. In the middle of this are three girls; Saffy – the good girl who is tired of being told to stick to the forest paths and follow the rules. Aurelia – the hidden girl, locked in a castle tower and dreaming of escaping the confines and her fate. Wild Rose – the fierce girl, raised by wolves and protector of the forest full of spells and fearlessness. It is only when fate brings them together that they are able to change life in Silverthorne forever.
Wilder than Midnight is a welcomed book that focuses on finding friendship and family in places you may not expect but most importantly acceptance. In the 21st Century you would hope that such values are embraced by everyone but we still have stigma surrounding groups of people for numerous ridiculous reasons. Cerri Burnell highlights how sometimes the way a certain thing is perceived is not to always be believed. That isn’t to say this is a ‘woke’ book or that people should be put off. There is no agenda found here. It is simply showing how sometimes, just because for the longest time certain things have been believed they are not always true.
The characters are wonderfully fleshed out and beautifully brought to life via Burnell’s prose. The whimsical and fairytale feel they create is so beautiful. I can most definitely see this becoming a firm favorite of readers young and old. I hope that we may hear more of saffy, Aurelia and Wild Rose in the future but I am grateful we have what we do.
As always thank you for providing me with an E-ARC of this title for an honest review.
January 14, 2024
3.5 stars ⭐
“She was not a witch (apart from in spirit). She was not a devil (apart from in cunning). She was not a Fae (apart from in grace).”
This was the ultimate fairytale. This had every single fairytale of all time in it. If you name a fairytale, I can tell you when and where it was in this book; it’s not even a question of if it was in this book, it definitely was. Every fairytale ever was in this book.
“For there is nothing more exciting than living through a legend.”
I didn’t understand why the part with the wax wings were apart of this book. That is the myth of Icarus and it isn’t really a fairytale so I don’t know where that part of the book came from. It wasn’t bad but I am just a bit confused.
“She was wilder than snow on a first winter’s morn. Wilder than midnight on a midsummer’s eve. Wilder than midnight in a forest of Wolves.”
Parts of this story was extremely predictable. Parts that were revealed at the end as huge plot twists were things that I had known since the first ten percent. Some things were shocking but a lot of things just weren’t to me.
“She was not a witch (apart from in spirit). She was not a devil (apart from in cunning). She was not a Fae (apart from in grace).”
This was the ultimate fairytale. This had every single fairytale of all time in it. If you name a fairytale, I can tell you when and where it was in this book; it’s not even a question of if it was in this book, it definitely was. Every fairytale ever was in this book.
“For there is nothing more exciting than living through a legend.”
I didn’t understand why the part with the wax wings were apart of this book. That is the myth of Icarus and it isn’t really a fairytale so I don’t know where that part of the book came from. It wasn’t bad but I am just a bit confused.
“She was wilder than snow on a first winter’s morn. Wilder than midnight on a midsummer’s eve. Wilder than midnight in a forest of Wolves.”
Parts of this story was extremely predictable. Parts that were revealed at the end as huge plot twists were things that I had known since the first ten percent. Some things were shocking but a lot of things just weren’t to me.
April 1, 2022
I truly loved this book, a whimsical, lyrical fantasy middle grade with disability rep told through the remaining of fairy tales. When this is released at the end of April, I will be purchasing a physical copy after being approved for an e-arc on netgalley. This is one to watch for this year!
July 24, 2022
Middle grade. Fairy tale retelling. Disability.
Story: Multiple fairy tale retellings are woven together in this story of family, found family, friendship, forest, community, bravery and hope.
Language: Fantasy, forest, town and castle. The names may confuse some readers - there are many including one character with two names. I had no problem as I read this in just a few sittings.
Characters: Rather than tell about characters, I will say the following fairy tales are mentioned: Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Goose Girl, Cinderella and more.
I normally don't enjoy fairy tale retellings. The only author I like is Naomi Novak, the rest I've read have been cheesy, poorly written or reimagined and unenjoyable. I grabbed this as a cover read - diverse characters straight away. The back cover is gorgeous with foresty images. Then, wolves. I was drawn in by the first chapter. Then I couldn't put the book down. The fairy tell aspects are yes, recognizable, but not the main plot of the book. The world building is wonderful, the character interaction is deft, especially children with children and adults with children. This book would be great for 5-6 graders who already have knowledge of fairy tales under their belt and can handle a more complex story, but I would recommend this to ya and adult readers too. I was drawn in and blown away. A well rounded story.
Story: Multiple fairy tale retellings are woven together in this story of family, found family, friendship, forest, community, bravery and hope.
Language: Fantasy, forest, town and castle. The names may confuse some readers - there are many including one character with two names. I had no problem as I read this in just a few sittings.
Characters: Rather than tell about characters, I will say the following fairy tales are mentioned: Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Goose Girl, Cinderella and more.
I normally don't enjoy fairy tale retellings. The only author I like is Naomi Novak, the rest I've read have been cheesy, poorly written or reimagined and unenjoyable. I grabbed this as a cover read - diverse characters straight away. The back cover is gorgeous with foresty images. Then, wolves. I was drawn in by the first chapter. Then I couldn't put the book down. The fairy tell aspects are yes, recognizable, but not the main plot of the book. The world building is wonderful, the character interaction is deft, especially children with children and adults with children. This book would be great for 5-6 graders who already have knowledge of fairy tales under their belt and can handle a more complex story, but I would recommend this to ya and adult readers too. I was drawn in and blown away. A well rounded story.
March 22, 2022
so this book is immediately going to the top of my favourite books of the year so far. I have a feeling it might stay up there. What a fantastic book! I could hardly put it down. The whole thing is just magical and wonderful. It weaves together so many fairytales, but in an unexpected way that i've never come across (i read a lot of fairy tale adaptations, so this was a fantastic surprise!). I loved every character, each coming across as individual and briilliant. Even some of the smaller, side characters were fully realised and interesting. The descriptions of the whole world, the forest, the people, the castle, the villages...it was all just gorgeous and gave me such a wonderfully clear picture of the world, without overdoing things (As i've seen books that leave zero room for imagination, this is not one of these).
truly an amazing book, and an absolute must read! I don't think age really matters, though i think kids from 8+ would enjoy it more than younger children. I recommend adults read it too, as it's just so great. Just read it.
truly an amazing book, and an absolute must read! I don't think age really matters, though i think kids from 8+ would enjoy it more than younger children. I recommend adults read it too, as it's just so great. Just read it.
March 31, 2022
Absolutely adored this book! It is unbelievably clever how Cerrie Burnell has weaved so many references to different fairy tales into this story but in ways that turn the familiar tales on their heads so that the traditional 'princesses' turn out to be strong, brave and brilliant girls who have it within their own power to change their lives.
I particularly loved how Cerrie drew upon her own experiences and gave Wild Rose a physical disability - this 'mark' initially gives other characters, notably the Queen, the power to make choices for her but as Wild Rose grows, her arm becomes her power and stories of magic are weaved with it. Wouldn't it be amazing to see a TV or film adaptation of inclusive books like this?
I cannot wait for my children to be old enough to read this with me but until then, I shall enjoy it for myself - a simply stunning, endlessly enchanting book!
**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **
I particularly loved how Cerrie drew upon her own experiences and gave Wild Rose a physical disability - this 'mark' initially gives other characters, notably the Queen, the power to make choices for her but as Wild Rose grows, her arm becomes her power and stories of magic are weaved with it. Wouldn't it be amazing to see a TV or film adaptation of inclusive books like this?
I cannot wait for my children to be old enough to read this with me but until then, I shall enjoy it for myself - a simply stunning, endlessly enchanting book!
**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **
July 7, 2022
This book was a fun take on a variety of Fairytales - reminding me somewhat of Rumaysa. There were takes on (at least) Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Goldilocks. The Goldilocks twist of a family disguised as bears to keep their daughter safe was really unique.
The main characters Wild Rose, Aurelia and Saffy were all nice. I liked the disability rep with Wild Rose's limb difference, it's not something I see much in fiction (also great that it's ownvoices).
I'll confess towards the end I felt a little overwhelmed by the many plot threads, reveals and characters but I have to weigh that up with my headspace as I read the final third. So it might just have been circumstances that made me find that confusing.
Plus, I also have to recognise this is a book I would have adored when I was younger. It was almost nostalgic to read despite being new because of that fact.
The main characters Wild Rose, Aurelia and Saffy were all nice. I liked the disability rep with Wild Rose's limb difference, it's not something I see much in fiction (also great that it's ownvoices).
I'll confess towards the end I felt a little overwhelmed by the many plot threads, reveals and characters but I have to weigh that up with my headspace as I read the final third. So it might just have been circumstances that made me find that confusing.
Plus, I also have to recognise this is a book I would have adored when I was younger. It was almost nostalgic to read despite being new because of that fact.
June 26, 2023
This book was amazing!
It has magic, spells, folklore, fairy tales, a forest, wonderful characters…! Everything is beautifully written, and all along the book I've felt like I belonged to the Wild Forest too.
-
I love how the three main characters' fates are linked, how they get to meet and befriend each other… and how, little by little, they discover the truth about their past.
-
It was such a beautiful story, and I was more than delighted to see that "Brighter than Starting" is coming soon! I really want to discover more stories from Cerrie Burnell, as her work really seems to be magic! 🧡
It has magic, spells, folklore, fairy tales, a forest, wonderful characters…! Everything is beautifully written, and all along the book I've felt like I belonged to the Wild Forest too.
-
I love how the three main characters' fates are linked, how they get to meet and befriend each other… and how, little by little, they discover the truth about their past.
-
It was such a beautiful story, and I was more than delighted to see that "Brighter than Starting" is coming soon! I really want to discover more stories from Cerrie Burnell, as her work really seems to be magic! 🧡
September 19, 2022
This book reads like a fairytale and is constantly engaging and well thought out. Each "fairytale" all connects into one long thread of story in unexpected ways.
The writing and description is vivid and creates a sense of a mystical and magical atmosphere.
I wish there was more character and world building because, although those aspects are fine, it would have been nice to delve deeper into the world and its people.
However, as this is a children's book, I feel it is alright. Especially since I believe the story may have been written to keep that mystery shrouded.
The writing and description is vivid and creates a sense of a mystical and magical atmosphere.
I wish there was more character and world building because, although those aspects are fine, it would have been nice to delve deeper into the world and its people.
However, as this is a children's book, I feel it is alright. Especially since I believe the story may have been written to keep that mystery shrouded.
March 10, 2022
I read this book in one sitting it is so good. It is well written with a cast of well developed characters that i think children will love and a really enaging and clever storyline that was taken some of the well known fairytalkes throughout history that children will know like the back of their hand and put a new spin on them. I love books that are retellings and this is right up there with some of the best I've read. I will definitely be recommending this to people. I loved it.
May 11, 2022
⭐️ 3.75
This was a beautiful story that felt modern at timeless all at once. I loved the reference to different fairytales and how all the legends intertwine at the end. This is a story about friendship, girl power and hope. I also loved the main messaged of acceptance. People fear things that are different or they don't understand but there is no reason to and you should take everyone as they are. This book has disability rep and LGTBQIA+ rep. Both topics are handled really well.
This was a beautiful story that felt modern at timeless all at once. I loved the reference to different fairytales and how all the legends intertwine at the end. This is a story about friendship, girl power and hope. I also loved the main messaged of acceptance. People fear things that are different or they don't understand but there is no reason to and you should take everyone as they are. This book has disability rep and LGTBQIA+ rep. Both topics are handled really well.
June 21, 2022
I thought the 3 protagonists in the book were really brave and I really liked that about them.
It was based of different fairytales and it was very clever how Cerrie used them.
My favourite was Aurelia’s story because she had lots of twists and turns going through it.
It was based of different fairytales and it was very clever how Cerrie used them.
My favourite was Aurelia’s story because she had lots of twists and turns going through it.
December 4, 2023
Didn't like that it borrowed from a few different well known fairy tales as it took me out of the book. Other than that it was a cute story. Also, show cases that disabilities don't need to hold you back.
December 5, 2022
5*
Everything you could want a fairy tale to be. Gorgeous.
Everything you could want a fairy tale to be. Gorgeous.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews