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The Dark Gods #2
The Midnight Kingdom
A cataclysmic battle to save the city of Nexus has left the four noble heirs scattered across the four realms.
Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel of House Lastrider, and Nikolas, the solider son of House Cyr, have been cast into Noctus, the realm of night. But they are not alone. The dangerous and unpredictable god of light has traveled with them, and he will do anything in his power to destroy Noctus once and for all.
Risha, the peace-loving necromancer of House Vakara, has finally found her way to Mortri, the realm of death. But she still cannot help the wayward spirits trapped in Vaega, nor does she have any idea how to get herself and her friend Jas home. All she knows is that no mortal can survive for long in Mortri. And the creatures that walk the realm of death don't take kindly to the living.
Angelica, the stubborn elementalist of House Mardova, finds herself alone in Vaega. With the other three heirs vanished, it is up to her help keep the city of Nexus from unraveling. But Angelica secretly suffers from a sickness that her goddess left in her veins. And when she is sent on a delicate diplomatic mission, she knows that any sign of weakness will have disastrous repercussions for her family, her city, and her dreams of the throne.
All will encounter old friends and new enemies as they attempt to restore the balance of the world. But as the gods grow stronger, they'll need more than their powers and their wits to survive.
Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel of House Lastrider, and Nikolas, the solider son of House Cyr, have been cast into Noctus, the realm of night. But they are not alone. The dangerous and unpredictable god of light has traveled with them, and he will do anything in his power to destroy Noctus once and for all.
Risha, the peace-loving necromancer of House Vakara, has finally found her way to Mortri, the realm of death. But she still cannot help the wayward spirits trapped in Vaega, nor does she have any idea how to get herself and her friend Jas home. All she knows is that no mortal can survive for long in Mortri. And the creatures that walk the realm of death don't take kindly to the living.
Angelica, the stubborn elementalist of House Mardova, finds herself alone in Vaega. With the other three heirs vanished, it is up to her help keep the city of Nexus from unraveling. But Angelica secretly suffers from a sickness that her goddess left in her veins. And when she is sent on a delicate diplomatic mission, she knows that any sign of weakness will have disastrous repercussions for her family, her city, and her dreams of the throne.
All will encounter old friends and new enemies as they attempt to restore the balance of the world. But as the gods grow stronger, they'll need more than their powers and their wits to survive.
592 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2023
112 people are currently reading
4707 people want to read
About the author
Tara Sim
19 books1,438 followersTara Sim is a YA and adult fantasy author found in the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she's not writing about magic, murder, and mayhem, she drinks tea and wrangles cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
March 4, 2024
lets just jump right into it.
on one hand, i think its very ambitious of TS to cram as much content into this book as she did, but man. this felt sooooo much longer than it actually is. which i suppose could be a good thing if youre really vibing with the story and cant get enough of the adventure. but for me, i began to feel disconnected from the narrative and characters.
the main thing that prevented me from loving this was just how much the story was trying to accomplish. there are too many POVs and, with all of the characters being separated, it feels more like a collection of individual stories rather than one cohesive novel. it seems more convoluted and chaotic to me personally, rather than an exciting and action-packed story.
i can still understand and appreciate what TS is trying to accomplish with this kind of storytelling. i know a lot of readers enjoy this kind of narrative, so its definitely just personal reader preference. not a bad sequel by any means, just too long and drawn out for my own enjoyment.
thanks for the ARC, orbit books.
↠ 2.5 stars
on one hand, i think its very ambitious of TS to cram as much content into this book as she did, but man. this felt sooooo much longer than it actually is. which i suppose could be a good thing if youre really vibing with the story and cant get enough of the adventure. but for me, i began to feel disconnected from the narrative and characters.
the main thing that prevented me from loving this was just how much the story was trying to accomplish. there are too many POVs and, with all of the characters being separated, it feels more like a collection of individual stories rather than one cohesive novel. it seems more convoluted and chaotic to me personally, rather than an exciting and action-packed story.
i can still understand and appreciate what TS is trying to accomplish with this kind of storytelling. i know a lot of readers enjoy this kind of narrative, so its definitely just personal reader preference. not a bad sequel by any means, just too long and drawn out for my own enjoyment.
thanks for the ARC, orbit books.
↠ 2.5 stars
June 6, 2023
If you need a refresher on THE CITY OF DUSK before reading book two, here's a handy recap of book one: https://tarasim.com/2023/06/the-city-...
Also the book is pretty good I guess.
Also the book is pretty good I guess.
August 8, 2023
4.75/5
To describe the pandemonium of Beginning would be inadequate. No word exists for it; not even storm can conjure that heat and rage and lust, that cycle of pensive violence. A cycle of things born and killed and born again.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! I loved returning to this world and falling in love with it all over again. The expansive and atmospheric worldbuilding, the flawed, impassioned, powerful cast of characters. It honestly feels like this trilogy was written just for me, I adored every single moment! I am on my hands and knees begging for book three to come sooner!
There are seven perspectives in this book, each one as riveting as the last. They're all so fascinating and all of their separate plotlines are filled with intrigue.
Where The City of Dusk was mainly set within the city of Nexus, The Midnight Kingdom explores a vast array of other lands and other worlds. I enjoyed every moment exploring the new depths of these worlds and was enraptured with every plot. I loved witnessing the plotlines grow and expand and become increasingly complex, I loved seeing them come to fruition as they intertwined and the characters imploded into each other's orbits once more.
There's nothing noble about following a god's orders to die.
Taesia is probably my favourite character (although it truly is so hard to choose as all the characters are fantastic), she's fierce and defiant and never gives up. She does not want to submit to the duty that is shackled to her like chains, she wants to fight, she wants to live. She sees nothing noble in the role of the martyr and she is desperate to prove that she is strong enough as she is. She wants to be strong enough to save the realms and the people that she loves most.
Taesia is born of the god Nyx and therefore wields shadow magic. In this book she is confronted with the origins of those powers to a further extent, she's shown a new world that she at once does and does not belong to. She struggles with her sense of identity as the god in her head incessantly whispers.
Just as worshippers went to the basilicas to leave offerings, so, too, did he kneel on the altar of her body and give quiet thanks and quieter prayers, bestowing whatever he had on her. And just like a ravenous god she took it for her own, let it curl and breathe inside her. The reverence of life, the devotion of death. The two of them dancing between.
Risha, born of the god Thana, wields necromantic powers. She's thrust into the land of the dead, her human breaths coming shallower as the realm starts to claim her as its own. Hers is a struggle of grief as she reconciles with the things and the people that she has lost.
Risha is kind-hearted and gentle, all she wants is the peace of her realm and the peace of the dead. She only ever wanted to reopen the portal into Mortri for the dead to find their peace, but her god refused. Her journey is a desperate clawing of survival in a land that does not accept her presence in it. Grief weighs heavy on her as she discovers the secrets of her ancestors and the frailty of all their interconnected realms.
No one will save you. Not when they know they will burn for it.
Angelica, born of the god Deia, wields elemental magic. Angelica has always had an affinity for fire, she harbours an addiction for the flames that is inextinguishable. She's headstrong and determined, like her magic, she's made up of incendiary elements. As practiced as she is at putting on a mask in the face of dangerous court politics, she feels more strongly than anyone. It is only in her nature, after all.
Through her perspective we discover the land of Azuna and the fascinating characters that come into play. Angelica has been cut off from her powers by her god, but she is determined to reclaim them as her own as she discovers the secret of a lost part of their world.
Staying alive might be the most difficult thing you'll ever have to do.
Nik, born of the god Phos, wields powers of light—the light to Taesia's darkness. Nik is the forgotten son turned heir of a blazing set of destructive events. He is broken and empty and battles with accepting the numbness of subjugation. He does not want to exist in the pain of the real world. He battles with the past as much as he does with the present. He fights against his god at every step, for himself and for the others that he cares about.
We became beasts to savor in savagery, and we became humans only to find they were beasts of a different nature.
Julian was a mystery in the first book, a person we barely understood. In this book we see all his contradictions laid bare; we see him as man, we see him as monster; we see him as demon, we see him as protector. We, alongside him, grow to understand better who he is. He reconciles with all of the new knowledge he has gained about their vast universe, about a time before the portals were closed and there existed something that is now lost.
Isn't it strange that beginning is both warm and traumatic, a terrible scream of creation amid blood and pain, an event so harrowing we're forced to forget it? In comparison, ending is far gentler, like putting your head on a pillow at the close of a long day.
Dante, Taesia's older brother, also born of Nyx's blood, has himself an unlikely alliance in this book that we see him conjure up in the first. In the (literal) shadows of Vitae, he finds himself swept into the heart of a rescue mission. With new, disquieting powers under his control, he begins the search for the others that are missing, anxious to bring them back home.
Do you think I'm selfish for wanting to live? For wanting my mind to remain my own?
The seventh perspective's identity is one that is elusive in the first book. We find out at the end of The City of Dusk, but I'll leave it a secret in this review too. This character battles—as all the characters do, in various different ways—with the struggle for autonomy.
This is what I perceive to be the main theme of the book and it is astoundingly interesting to me. I adore how it's explored so extensively in a multitude of different ways. Even when these struggles have the same cause, the focuses that are explored are all so unique.
I loved the question continuously posed to us: is it selfish to want to live? When blood defines who you are and your birth alone is a deciding factor in your duty, when all that power and pressure is put upon you, when your life—and even your death—are decided for you... is it selfish to want to live for yourself instead? Is it selfish to want to be in control of your own body and your own mind? Is it selfish to want agency?
It's an unfalteringly compelling theme that I loved to see explored in such depth.
It isn't a sin to be born.
This book truly has it all! Dark and manipulative gods, phenomenal worldbuilding, shadow magic, necromancy, elemental magic, demonic forces, literal demons, a large cast of queer characters being chaotic, court politics, beautiful writing, and so much more. It's the type of series that is impossible to put down, I never want it to end. I hope the brilliant Tara Sim decides it should be a ten book series instead! I could never get enough of this world or these characters.
I'm so happy that I got to read this early, thank you Hodder & Stoughton (the publisher love of my life)! This was so incredible, I never wanted it to be over.
I implore you to go read this masterful series.
There are still worlds to devour.
To describe the pandemonium of Beginning would be inadequate. No word exists for it; not even storm can conjure that heat and rage and lust, that cycle of pensive violence. A cycle of things born and killed and born again.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! I loved returning to this world and falling in love with it all over again. The expansive and atmospheric worldbuilding, the flawed, impassioned, powerful cast of characters. It honestly feels like this trilogy was written just for me, I adored every single moment! I am on my hands and knees begging for book three to come sooner!
There are seven perspectives in this book, each one as riveting as the last. They're all so fascinating and all of their separate plotlines are filled with intrigue.
Where The City of Dusk was mainly set within the city of Nexus, The Midnight Kingdom explores a vast array of other lands and other worlds. I enjoyed every moment exploring the new depths of these worlds and was enraptured with every plot. I loved witnessing the plotlines grow and expand and become increasingly complex, I loved seeing them come to fruition as they intertwined and the characters imploded into each other's orbits once more.
There's nothing noble about following a god's orders to die.
Taesia is probably my favourite character (although it truly is so hard to choose as all the characters are fantastic), she's fierce and defiant and never gives up. She does not want to submit to the duty that is shackled to her like chains, she wants to fight, she wants to live. She sees nothing noble in the role of the martyr and she is desperate to prove that she is strong enough as she is. She wants to be strong enough to save the realms and the people that she loves most.
Taesia is born of the god Nyx and therefore wields shadow magic. In this book she is confronted with the origins of those powers to a further extent, she's shown a new world that she at once does and does not belong to. She struggles with her sense of identity as the god in her head incessantly whispers.
Just as worshippers went to the basilicas to leave offerings, so, too, did he kneel on the altar of her body and give quiet thanks and quieter prayers, bestowing whatever he had on her. And just like a ravenous god she took it for her own, let it curl and breathe inside her. The reverence of life, the devotion of death. The two of them dancing between.
Risha, born of the god Thana, wields necromantic powers. She's thrust into the land of the dead, her human breaths coming shallower as the realm starts to claim her as its own. Hers is a struggle of grief as she reconciles with the things and the people that she has lost.
Risha is kind-hearted and gentle, all she wants is the peace of her realm and the peace of the dead. She only ever wanted to reopen the portal into Mortri for the dead to find their peace, but her god refused. Her journey is a desperate clawing of survival in a land that does not accept her presence in it. Grief weighs heavy on her as she discovers the secrets of her ancestors and the frailty of all their interconnected realms.
No one will save you. Not when they know they will burn for it.
Angelica, born of the god Deia, wields elemental magic. Angelica has always had an affinity for fire, she harbours an addiction for the flames that is inextinguishable. She's headstrong and determined, like her magic, she's made up of incendiary elements. As practiced as she is at putting on a mask in the face of dangerous court politics, she feels more strongly than anyone. It is only in her nature, after all.
Through her perspective we discover the land of Azuna and the fascinating characters that come into play. Angelica has been cut off from her powers by her god, but she is determined to reclaim them as her own as she discovers the secret of a lost part of their world.
Staying alive might be the most difficult thing you'll ever have to do.
Nik, born of the god Phos, wields powers of light—the light to Taesia's darkness. Nik is the forgotten son turned heir of a blazing set of destructive events. He is broken and empty and battles with accepting the numbness of subjugation. He does not want to exist in the pain of the real world. He battles with the past as much as he does with the present. He fights against his god at every step, for himself and for the others that he cares about.
We became beasts to savor in savagery, and we became humans only to find they were beasts of a different nature.
Julian was a mystery in the first book, a person we barely understood. In this book we see all his contradictions laid bare; we see him as man, we see him as monster; we see him as demon, we see him as protector. We, alongside him, grow to understand better who he is. He reconciles with all of the new knowledge he has gained about their vast universe, about a time before the portals were closed and there existed something that is now lost.
Isn't it strange that beginning is both warm and traumatic, a terrible scream of creation amid blood and pain, an event so harrowing we're forced to forget it? In comparison, ending is far gentler, like putting your head on a pillow at the close of a long day.
Dante, Taesia's older brother, also born of Nyx's blood, has himself an unlikely alliance in this book that we see him conjure up in the first. In the (literal) shadows of Vitae, he finds himself swept into the heart of a rescue mission. With new, disquieting powers under his control, he begins the search for the others that are missing, anxious to bring them back home.
Do you think I'm selfish for wanting to live? For wanting my mind to remain my own?
The seventh perspective's identity is one that is elusive in the first book. We find out at the end of The City of Dusk, but I'll leave it a secret in this review too. This character battles—as all the characters do, in various different ways—with the struggle for autonomy.
This is what I perceive to be the main theme of the book and it is astoundingly interesting to me. I adore how it's explored so extensively in a multitude of different ways. Even when these struggles have the same cause, the focuses that are explored are all so unique.
I loved the question continuously posed to us: is it selfish to want to live? When blood defines who you are and your birth alone is a deciding factor in your duty, when all that power and pressure is put upon you, when your life—and even your death—are decided for you... is it selfish to want to live for yourself instead? Is it selfish to want to be in control of your own body and your own mind? Is it selfish to want agency?
It's an unfalteringly compelling theme that I loved to see explored in such depth.
It isn't a sin to be born.
This book truly has it all! Dark and manipulative gods, phenomenal worldbuilding, shadow magic, necromancy, elemental magic, demonic forces, literal demons, a large cast of queer characters being chaotic, court politics, beautiful writing, and so much more. It's the type of series that is impossible to put down, I never want it to end. I hope the brilliant Tara Sim decides it should be a ten book series instead! I could never get enough of this world or these characters.
I'm so happy that I got to read this early, thank you Hodder & Stoughton (the publisher love of my life)! This was so incredible, I never wanted it to be over.
I implore you to go read this masterful series.
There are still worlds to devour.
August 28, 2023
Though the execution may leave a little to be desired, the fun characters and epic fantasy action more than make for a great reading experience.
THE CITY OF DUSK left the four noble heirs, Taesia, Risha, Nik and Angelica, in precarious positions across the four realms. THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM sees the consequence of their choices on Godsnight as they wrestle against wrathful gods, sinister demons, even dying stars to reunite with each other and stop the realms from perishing.
Whilst Sim has nailed the accessible, easy-read feel, rare for epic fantasy of this size, THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM suffered a lot of the same problems as its lengthy predecessor. The writing is the weakest point, at times feeling like it gave superfluous detail whilst also not managing to describe enough. It's definitely improved – you'll find less of the meaningless flowery metaphors here – but not enough to make it unnoticeable. The climax was also once again too confusing, chopped up by multiple POV changes and fight scenes too ambitious for Sim's current skill.
BUT, like the first book, I enjoyed this immensely, thoroughly entertained by the MacGuffin quests and intriguing characters. Nik was probably my least favourite this time around, mostly because his chapters are spent almost entirely in his head as he wrangles against Phos' influence, but even then the characters are so unique, fun and don't take themselves too seriously. The romantic developments might disappoint people – i.e., there was hardly any romance – but I suspect Sim is saving the best parts for the last book.
An immensely enjoyable sequel.
WILL I READ ON? Obviously. I want to find out what happened to Taesia!
eARC received from Hodder & Stoughton via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This title released on the 22nd August 2023.
LAST REVIEW
1: THE CITY OF DUSK ★★★☆☆
1: TIMEKEEPER ★★★☆☆
2: CHAINBREAKER ★★★★☆
3: FIRESTARTER ★★☆☆☆
---
if taesia and julian don't get together we riot
THE CITY OF DUSK left the four noble heirs, Taesia, Risha, Nik and Angelica, in precarious positions across the four realms. THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM sees the consequence of their choices on Godsnight as they wrestle against wrathful gods, sinister demons, even dying stars to reunite with each other and stop the realms from perishing.
Whilst Sim has nailed the accessible, easy-read feel, rare for epic fantasy of this size, THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM suffered a lot of the same problems as its lengthy predecessor. The writing is the weakest point, at times feeling like it gave superfluous detail whilst also not managing to describe enough. It's definitely improved – you'll find less of the meaningless flowery metaphors here – but not enough to make it unnoticeable. The climax was also once again too confusing, chopped up by multiple POV changes and fight scenes too ambitious for Sim's current skill.
BUT, like the first book, I enjoyed this immensely, thoroughly entertained by the MacGuffin quests and intriguing characters. Nik was probably my least favourite this time around, mostly because his chapters are spent almost entirely in his head as he wrangles against Phos' influence, but even then the characters are so unique, fun and don't take themselves too seriously. The romantic developments might disappoint people – i.e., there was hardly any romance – but I suspect Sim is saving the best parts for the last book.
An immensely enjoyable sequel.
WILL I READ ON? Obviously. I want to find out what happened to Taesia!
eARC received from Hodder & Stoughton via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This title released on the 22nd August 2023.
LAST REVIEW
1: THE CITY OF DUSK ★★★☆☆
1: TIMEKEEPER ★★★☆☆
2: CHAINBREAKER ★★★★☆
3: FIRESTARTER ★★☆☆☆
---
if taesia and julian don't get together we riot
August 21, 2023
This book was so fun to read. It was my first Sci-Fi book. It builds off the first book. So please read the first one. There is soooo much that is going on in the book and I love it! I love the world building and the different descriptions of each setting. This is a multi POV and I love reading each one. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time because you didn’t know what was going to happen next. I am so excited when to read the next book! I want to thank NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Tara Sim for a chance to read it and give a honest review.
July 9, 2023
truly what is there not to love about a group of disaster queers descended from gods??
This series is shaping up to be one of my favorites in recent years, and what I said about the first book applies to this one too.
I will say, however, that Nik’s chapters in this were so boring and added so little to the plot that every time I’d finish another character’s chapter and see one of his was up next, it made me not want to continue reading. I remember liking all the characters in the first book, maybe Nik and Angelica the least but still liking them, but Angelica improved a lot this book for me and Nik just devolved into such a pathetic sad boy trope that he… literally didn’t do anything the entire book until maybe the climax. It was just hard to read and why I didn’t give this book 5 stars.
This series is shaping up to be one of my favorites in recent years, and what I said about the first book applies to this one too.
I will say, however, that Nik’s chapters in this were so boring and added so little to the plot that every time I’d finish another character’s chapter and see one of his was up next, it made me not want to continue reading. I remember liking all the characters in the first book, maybe Nik and Angelica the least but still liking them, but Angelica improved a lot this book for me and Nik just devolved into such a pathetic sad boy trope that he… literally didn’t do anything the entire book until maybe the climax. It was just hard to read and why I didn’t give this book 5 stars.
August 18, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for giving me a copy of this ebook.
I was hoping after having a hard time in City of Dusk that book 2 would really wow me and unfortunately it didn't. Both books have a ton of world building so much so that I found my self getting confused and having to go back to remind myself of things.
Another thing I had a hard time with was how many POVs are in this book. There were just too many in my opinion to keep up with the characters and their character development.
Again like the first book I found parts to be a little boring and took away from the story line.
If this book had less povs and not so much happening I think I would have enjoyed it more.
I was hoping after having a hard time in City of Dusk that book 2 would really wow me and unfortunately it didn't. Both books have a ton of world building so much so that I found my self getting confused and having to go back to remind myself of things.
Another thing I had a hard time with was how many POVs are in this book. There were just too many in my opinion to keep up with the characters and their character development.
Again like the first book I found parts to be a little boring and took away from the story line.
If this book had less povs and not so much happening I think I would have enjoyed it more.
October 17, 2023
I received an ARC, from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
review
Tara Sim’s writing continues to evolve with each installment, and in this book, I was particularly captivated by the expansive world-building. The depth of history explored in various places and with different characters added layers of richness to the story. Despite the large cast of characters, the multiple perspectives were well-managed, making it surprisingly easy to follow along.
In The Midnight Kingdom, the story delves into darker territories, various types of magic, necromancy, demons, and the sinister machinations of the gods. These challenges significantly raise the stakes for our characters.
1. Taesia, wielding shadow magic, is a character who embodies relentless determination. Her struggle to prove her strength while battling the persistent voice in her head adds complexity to her character arc.
2. Risha, skilled in necromancy, finds her place in the land of the dead, driven by a deep desire to assist the departed souls, a calling stemming from her connection to Thana.
3.Angelica, with her elemental magic, faces the intricacies of court politics and the dangers of their world. Her journey toward self-discovery, despite the challenges she faces, showcases her unwavering determination.
4. Nik, burdened by guilt and strained family dynamics, battles against his own god, depicting a powerful internal conflict that adds depth to his character.
5. Julian and Dante, with their intriguing backgrounds, provide compelling perspectives, enhancing the overall narrative.
While the romantic relationships are not fully developed yet, I appreciate that the story prioritizes the pressing issues at hand. The challenges faced by the characters in both their personal lives and the greater conflict create a sense of urgency that keeps the reader engaged.
Tara Sim has consistently delivered in this trilogy, and I am eagerly anticipating the epic conclusion in the final book. With its intricate plot, diverse characters, and evolving themes, I have no doubt that the finale will be a stunning conclusion to this captivating series.
review
Tara Sim’s writing continues to evolve with each installment, and in this book, I was particularly captivated by the expansive world-building. The depth of history explored in various places and with different characters added layers of richness to the story. Despite the large cast of characters, the multiple perspectives were well-managed, making it surprisingly easy to follow along.
In The Midnight Kingdom, the story delves into darker territories, various types of magic, necromancy, demons, and the sinister machinations of the gods. These challenges significantly raise the stakes for our characters.
Staying alive might be the most difficult thing you’ll ever have to do.
1. Taesia, wielding shadow magic, is a character who embodies relentless determination. Her struggle to prove her strength while battling the persistent voice in her head adds complexity to her character arc.
2. Risha, skilled in necromancy, finds her place in the land of the dead, driven by a deep desire to assist the departed souls, a calling stemming from her connection to Thana.
3.Angelica, with her elemental magic, faces the intricacies of court politics and the dangers of their world. Her journey toward self-discovery, despite the challenges she faces, showcases her unwavering determination.
4. Nik, burdened by guilt and strained family dynamics, battles against his own god, depicting a powerful internal conflict that adds depth to his character.
5. Julian and Dante, with their intriguing backgrounds, provide compelling perspectives, enhancing the overall narrative.
While the romantic relationships are not fully developed yet, I appreciate that the story prioritizes the pressing issues at hand. The challenges faced by the characters in both their personal lives and the greater conflict create a sense of urgency that keeps the reader engaged.
Tara Sim has consistently delivered in this trilogy, and I am eagerly anticipating the epic conclusion in the final book. With its intricate plot, diverse characters, and evolving themes, I have no doubt that the finale will be a stunning conclusion to this captivating series.
Read
September 18, 2023Tara Sim once again proves why she's a fantastical genius.
The Midnight Kingdom shows where her work shines through.
With her magical realms, mystical animals and powerful word-building, it does not disappoint.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book to the fullest.
Praise for Sim once again!!! ❤️️
#❤️TARASIM
#ORBITBOOKS
The Midnight Kingdom shows where her work shines through.
With her magical realms, mystical animals and powerful word-building, it does not disappoint.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book to the fullest.
Praise for Sim once again!!! ❤️️
#❤️TARASIM
#ORBITBOOKS
December 11, 2023
Fantastic!
I loved every page of this epic fantasy. 600 pages of Gods, Demons, and Magic. The Midnight Kingdom picks up the story from where it finished in The City of Dusk and the young heirs trying to restore the balance of their world after the catastrophic events of Godsnight.
It's a multiple-realm, multiple-POV that pulls together for the finale.
I loved every page of this epic fantasy. 600 pages of Gods, Demons, and Magic. The Midnight Kingdom picks up the story from where it finished in The City of Dusk and the young heirs trying to restore the balance of their world after the catastrophic events of Godsnight.
It's a multiple-realm, multiple-POV that pulls together for the finale.
Want to read
February 10, 202202/10/22
how i felt the moment i finished my eARC of The City of Dusk so needless to say i'm excited for this book
how i felt the moment i finished my eARC of The City of Dusk so needless to say i'm excited for this book
September 4, 2023
I love this series sooo damn much and yet here we are at another cliff hanger. Will come back and update my thoughts after I get some sleep cuz sheeshhh
September 1, 2023
Wow. I thought that The City of Dusk was promising, but I never would've predicted the sequel would be one of my favourite books of the year. This had a little bit of everything and I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you're the sort of person who love The Locked Tomb.
POVs:
So we've still got a lot of POVs going on-- 7, to be exact. The main six are in third person limited and a chapter may switch the POV character part way through, and the last POV is in first person (mysterious, ooOoo). In the first book this was difficult because all of the POVs need time to start their respective storylines and introduce all their characters and backstory. For Midnight Kingdom, I was invested in all the different POVs and suffered each time we changed because I just wanted to keep going with the story I was in!
I do really like how the writing gets rather playful in the way it handles Nik's perspective, but it's not a straightforward style so I can imagine other readers being slightly frustrated or confused by that.
The Pacing:
There's a slight disservice that each storyline mirrors the others. If one is going on a quest, it seems like they all are going on a quest. If one is getting betrayed, it seems like they're all getting betrayed. They are paced in tandem and all crescendo at the same time, so I think that telegraphed a few things and maybe made them overall a little less impactful.
The Plot:
There is soooooo much plot here. And lore! And world-building! I honestly don't even know what to say because it was >600 pages and I was engaged the whole damn time.
Sequel:
Generally when reading a sequel I am looking for: expansion of the world, expansion of the magic, furthering of the plot, and new discoveries. If I can fall in love with the characters and seem them grow/their relationships grow then that's perfection.
And this did all the things!
Selling Points:
I don't wanna spoil but I will just briefly mention some highlights--
- a sarcastic, talking decapitated head companion
- a demon called out on his nakedness who puts on a brief fashion show
- sorankun (essentially dragons)
- the author mentioned how much she learned about both volcanoes and blackholes while writing this book
Pop Culture:
I mentioned The Locked Tomb above because there's something in this writing style that felt very reminiscent of the inherent sarcasm and dry humor of Tamsyn Muir, as well as working in memes and pop culture to a very large, dark Fantasy world. There'd be modern slang like "Love that for us," and references that were so very clearly Brooklyn 99. And I had a blast with that!
Do you hate eye stuff?:
All eyes are endangered here. Proceed with caution and at your own peril.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Orbit, all opinions are my own.
POVs:
So we've still got a lot of POVs going on-- 7, to be exact. The main six are in third person limited and a chapter may switch the POV character part way through, and the last POV is in first person (mysterious, ooOoo). In the first book this was difficult because all of the POVs need time to start their respective storylines and introduce all their characters and backstory. For Midnight Kingdom, I was invested in all the different POVs and suffered each time we changed because I just wanted to keep going with the story I was in!
I do really like how the writing gets rather playful in the way it handles Nik's perspective, but it's not a straightforward style so I can imagine other readers being slightly frustrated or confused by that.
The Pacing:
There's a slight disservice that each storyline mirrors the others. If one is going on a quest, it seems like they all are going on a quest. If one is getting betrayed, it seems like they're all getting betrayed. They are paced in tandem and all crescendo at the same time, so I think that telegraphed a few things and maybe made them overall a little less impactful.
The Plot:
There is soooooo much plot here. And lore! And world-building! I honestly don't even know what to say because it was >600 pages and I was engaged the whole damn time.
Sequel:
Generally when reading a sequel I am looking for: expansion of the world, expansion of the magic, furthering of the plot, and new discoveries. If I can fall in love with the characters and seem them grow/their relationships grow then that's perfection.
And this did all the things!
Selling Points:
I don't wanna spoil but I will just briefly mention some highlights--
- a sarcastic, talking decapitated head companion
- a demon called out on his nakedness who puts on a brief fashion show
- sorankun (essentially dragons)
- the author mentioned how much she learned about both volcanoes and blackholes while writing this book
Pop Culture:
I mentioned The Locked Tomb above because there's something in this writing style that felt very reminiscent of the inherent sarcasm and dry humor of Tamsyn Muir, as well as working in memes and pop culture to a very large, dark Fantasy world. There'd be modern slang like "Love that for us," and references that were so very clearly Brooklyn 99. And I had a blast with that!
Do you hate eye stuff?:
All eyes are endangered here. Proceed with caution and at your own peril.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Orbit, all opinions are my own.
April 8, 2024
Rating: Loved It, 4.5 stars
The Midnight Kingdom picks up immediately following the ending of The City of Dusk. I had a fantastic time with this installment in the series! I really love the characters and think that it is a really engaging story with a very cool world.
I think that this installment is more of an undertaking than the previous installment. Not only is it a large multi-POV cast, but now it is a multi-realm setting, which leads to very little overlap in the POVs. I think that this could have very easily suffered from middle book syndrome, but in my opinion, it did not. I definitely think that the story got complicated, and I do feel that the macro-plot of the series didn't significantly progress until the end, but I enjoyed all the side quests of our characters, and I am very much looking forward to how things all pan out.
I think that Taesia and Julian remain my favorite of the POV characters, but I am very much engaged in the stories of all the heirs. I don't know that I care nearly as much about Dante as I do the other characters, but I didn't mind his POV. A risk with big multi-POV books is that some of the POVs are less engaging than others, but two books in, I don't feel that way so far.
I really enjoy Tara Sim's writing, I find it beautiful and I enjoy the way that she describes things. My only big complaint about this book that keeps it from a 5 star read is that once again, I feel like especially as the action ramps up, my understanding of what exactly is happening drops. I felt like that in the first one, but sort of rolled with it, and it didn't impact my enjoyment of the overall story. However, this time around, the same thing happened, and I had a lot of questions as to the why behind what was happening or even what exactly it was that was happening. Now that it's happened in the ending of both books in this series, I'm more inclined to believe that it is the way that it is written not jiving with my brain as opposed to my not paying close enough attention to what I was reading. I think that it is something that on reread I may not have an issue with. However, I read these within 6 months of each other, so I didn't think I would need to do a reread. Alas, though I probably should have. I'm not sure when the final book comes out, but I think that I will definitely plan to reread these first two before jumping in.
Overall, I'm having a lot of fun with this series, and I look forward to see how it all wraps up.
The Midnight Kingdom picks up immediately following the ending of The City of Dusk. I had a fantastic time with this installment in the series! I really love the characters and think that it is a really engaging story with a very cool world.
I think that this installment is more of an undertaking than the previous installment. Not only is it a large multi-POV cast, but now it is a multi-realm setting, which leads to very little overlap in the POVs. I think that this could have very easily suffered from middle book syndrome, but in my opinion, it did not. I definitely think that the story got complicated, and I do feel that the macro-plot of the series didn't significantly progress until the end, but I enjoyed all the side quests of our characters, and I am very much looking forward to how things all pan out.
I think that Taesia and Julian remain my favorite of the POV characters, but I am very much engaged in the stories of all the heirs. I don't know that I care nearly as much about Dante as I do the other characters, but I didn't mind his POV. A risk with big multi-POV books is that some of the POVs are less engaging than others, but two books in, I don't feel that way so far.
I really enjoy Tara Sim's writing, I find it beautiful and I enjoy the way that she describes things. My only big complaint about this book that keeps it from a 5 star read is that once again, I feel like especially as the action ramps up, my understanding of what exactly is happening drops. I felt like that in the first one, but sort of rolled with it, and it didn't impact my enjoyment of the overall story. However, this time around, the same thing happened, and I had a lot of questions as to the why behind what was happening or even what exactly it was that was happening. Now that it's happened in the ending of both books in this series, I'm more inclined to believe that it is the way that it is written not jiving with my brain as opposed to my not paying close enough attention to what I was reading. I think that it is something that on reread I may not have an issue with. However, I read these within 6 months of each other, so I didn't think I would need to do a reread. Alas, though I probably should have. I'm not sure when the final book comes out, but I think that I will definitely plan to reread these first two before jumping in.
Overall, I'm having a lot of fun with this series, and I look forward to see how it all wraps up.
January 9, 2024
• Given to the night,
Given shelter of the dark,
Here in our midnight kingdom. •
🩸👑✨️
Eine sehr solide Fortsetzung, die die Mehrzahl ihrer Stärken beibehält. Durch den mittlerweile noch weiter angewachsenen Character cast fiel es mir beim Lesen jedoch häufiger schwierig, alle Namen zuzuordnen. Eine Schwierigkeit, die bei mir daher rührt, dass Teil 1 so viele Monate her ist und ich Teil 2 als Hörbuch gehört habe statt es zu lesen.
Given shelter of the dark,
Here in our midnight kingdom. •
🩸👑✨️
Eine sehr solide Fortsetzung, die die Mehrzahl ihrer Stärken beibehält. Durch den mittlerweile noch weiter angewachsenen Character cast fiel es mir beim Lesen jedoch häufiger schwierig, alle Namen zuzuordnen. Eine Schwierigkeit, die bei mir daher rührt, dass Teil 1 so viele Monate her ist und ich Teil 2 als Hörbuch gehört habe statt es zu lesen.
September 19, 2023
I can’t believe this took me almost a month to finish but I’ve been balls deep in baldurs gate so that’s my excuse.
Really enjoyed this sequel! I think the only thing that kept this from being 5 star for me is because it. Literally felt like the Angelica show and she is my least favorite character. I would blink and she would have yet another POV chapter. I don’t hate her by any means I just think she’s the least interesting compared to everything else going on.
I can’t wait to see what the next one has in store for us 👀
Really enjoyed this sequel! I think the only thing that kept this from being 5 star for me is because it. Literally felt like the Angelica show and she is my least favorite character. I would blink and she would have yet another POV chapter. I don’t hate her by any means I just think she’s the least interesting compared to everything else going on.
I can’t wait to see what the next one has in store for us 👀
Read
July 20, 2023Overall rating: 3 stars
I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series but the author has a very good, very long summary of the first book. I love seeing queer people in a fantasy world so this immediately hooked. Some of the chapters were a bit boring but overall pretty enjoyable.
I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series but the author has a very good, very long summary of the first book. I love seeing queer people in a fantasy world so this immediately hooked. Some of the chapters were a bit boring but overall pretty enjoyable.
February 7, 2025
My opinion on this book is...all over the place to say the least. Something I can say for certain though, is that I will definitely get the third book once it gets published.
So where do I start? It took me an embarrassingly long time to finish this while the previous book only took me a week or two. I was already in love with the world building in the first book, but this took it up a notch, because now a new country and two whole realms got introduced.
A lot of work went into this and even the smallest side character has more personality than some mc's in certain other books. While all this is amazing and great, it still got too much at times. Sometimes it felt like I was being prepped for a history exam with how much information was being thrown at me.
At one point it didn't feel like one story if you know what I mean? It felt like I was reading several books at once and I had it so often that I put it down, because I really needed a break.
Also I know that everything points towards Taesia being the strongest and scariest one of all the heirs, but I have to strongly disagree. From what I read she doesn't hold a candle against Angelica. Angelica was fairly "weak" in the first book, but wow. That woman is a whole unit in this one.
She's my favorite character of all time and I can't wait to see where her story is going.
So where do I start? It took me an embarrassingly long time to finish this while the previous book only took me a week or two. I was already in love with the world building in the first book, but this took it up a notch, because now a new country and two whole realms got introduced.
A lot of work went into this and even the smallest side character has more personality than some mc's in certain other books. While all this is amazing and great, it still got too much at times. Sometimes it felt like I was being prepped for a history exam with how much information was being thrown at me.
At one point it didn't feel like one story if you know what I mean? It felt like I was reading several books at once and I had it so often that I put it down, because I really needed a break.
Also I know that everything points towards Taesia being the strongest and scariest one of all the heirs, but I have to strongly disagree. From what I read she doesn't hold a candle against Angelica. Angelica was fairly "weak" in the first book, but wow. That woman is a whole unit in this one.
She's my favorite character of all time and I can't wait to see where her story is going.
January 4, 2024
4 stars.
There were many excellent things about this book which I will circle back to, but let's get the negative out of the way first. I feel like this book simply tried to do too much. All of our characters were off in very different places doing very different things in a way that made the placing just feel off to me. We eventually circled back and tied everything together, but if we had narrowed in and had maybe one perspective less it would have tightened up this book significantly. That being said, the looming menace of Phos was just so good, and the exploration of trauma from the events in book 1 I thought was extremely compelling. I love this world and all the messy deities that inhabit it and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to the publisher for send me an copy in exchange for an honest review.
There were many excellent things about this book which I will circle back to, but let's get the negative out of the way first. I feel like this book simply tried to do too much. All of our characters were off in very different places doing very different things in a way that made the placing just feel off to me. We eventually circled back and tied everything together, but if we had narrowed in and had maybe one perspective less it would have tightened up this book significantly. That being said, the looming menace of Phos was just so good, and the exploration of trauma from the events in book 1 I thought was extremely compelling. I love this world and all the messy deities that inhabit it and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to the publisher for send me an copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2024
CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
✅ complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲 nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
✅ exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
🔲 nicely detailed
✅ meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
✅ immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
✅ picks up with time
🔲 page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
It had a bit of a middle book syndrome, but holy crap that ending.
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
✅ complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲 nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
✅ exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
🔲 nicely detailed
✅ meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
✅ immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
✅ picks up with time
🔲 page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
It had a bit of a middle book syndrome, but holy crap that ending.
December 28, 2023
The writing of this book is good, although I found it hard to care about Phos/Rian as the story progressed. However I would note that whilst this is being sold as the second book of a duology, there is a sequel in the works. This was an unwelcome surprise that I felt creeping up as the plot was not progressing at the pace I would have expected for the finale of a series, and indeed there was no finale since it's not the last book!
April 15, 2025
4.5
i have thoughts but not the time to write them up 3 will revisit eventually but i REALLY loved this book despite some very cruel moments in it
i have thoughts but not the time to write them up 3 will revisit eventually but i REALLY loved this book despite some very cruel moments in it
October 9, 2023
I loved this book so, so much! It took me a couple of chapters to get back into the story and reconnect to the characters but once I did, I couldn't put the book down. It's rich in details, well developed and developing characters and an interesting, dark and intense world building with an interesting magic concept. I liked some of the narrators more than others but I didn't want to skip any chapters at all, wanting all I could get of the story. I'm absolutely hyped for book 3 (and for the return of Taesia Lastrider). Read my full review of The Midnight Kingdom on my blog.
October 17, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was so excited to be back with my chaos group in The Midnight Kingdom. And this is a hefty sequel spanning distances and again with the multiple perspectives. The stakes are high in this second book. Coming straight from the finale of The City of Dusk Sim is increasing the danger and world possibilities. The Midnight Kingdom is full of twists and turns which expand the world into refracted light. One of my favorite things in this sequel were the exchanges between our babies and the Gods.
I was so excited to be back with my chaos group in The Midnight Kingdom. And this is a hefty sequel spanning distances and again with the multiple perspectives. The stakes are high in this second book. Coming straight from the finale of The City of Dusk Sim is increasing the danger and world possibilities. The Midnight Kingdom is full of twists and turns which expand the world into refracted light. One of my favorite things in this sequel were the exchanges between our babies and the Gods.
September 8, 2023
*possible spoilers*
There were parts of this book that I loved and parts that I hated.
What I loved:
- exploring new worlds like Noctus and Mortri; we only got Vitae in book one, so it was fun getting to further explore this universe.
- the addition of the side characters; they added so much depth and enjoyment to the different storylines. In particular, I enjoyed learning more about Cosima and Fin from book one. I loved the addition of Val (until I didn't lol), Kenji, Asami, Lilia, Marcellus, and Kallen.
- the magical creatures; Yvri the wyvern was a great addition to Angelica's story with his dry wit. I also absolutely loved the addition of the demons, especially Azideh.
- the ending; I really enjoyed having all the different storylines converge finally at the end. For me, that's where the book really shone.
What I didn't like:
- how long this book felt; I know it's almost 600 pages, however it was such a slow read that I felt like I was never making any progress.
- how many storylines were happening; for me, there was way too much going on. I found it hard to really get invested in any one plot because we would sometimes go 5 or 6 chapters before returning to it. I wish we cut out one plot and focused more on some of the other things happening. The one I disliked the most was Risha's. It felt so disconnected to everything else that was happening and it was pretty boring for me.
- the repetitiveness; it felt like I was reading the same thing over and over at times. Again, I feel like the book could have been condensed a bit to pick up the pace a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed being back in this world with these characters. I will definitely pick up the third book based on the ending of this one. It led into a potential plot that I think I'll enjoy more as a whole.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for a gifted advanced copy of this book in addition to my honest opinions.
There were parts of this book that I loved and parts that I hated.
What I loved:
- exploring new worlds like Noctus and Mortri; we only got Vitae in book one, so it was fun getting to further explore this universe.
- the addition of the side characters; they added so much depth and enjoyment to the different storylines. In particular, I enjoyed learning more about Cosima and Fin from book one. I loved the addition of Val (until I didn't lol), Kenji, Asami, Lilia, Marcellus, and Kallen.
- the magical creatures; Yvri the wyvern was a great addition to Angelica's story with his dry wit. I also absolutely loved the addition of the demons, especially Azideh.
- the ending; I really enjoyed having all the different storylines converge finally at the end. For me, that's where the book really shone.
What I didn't like:
- how long this book felt; I know it's almost 600 pages, however it was such a slow read that I felt like I was never making any progress.
- how many storylines were happening; for me, there was way too much going on. I found it hard to really get invested in any one plot because we would sometimes go 5 or 6 chapters before returning to it. I wish we cut out one plot and focused more on some of the other things happening. The one I disliked the most was Risha's. It felt so disconnected to everything else that was happening and it was pretty boring for me.
- the repetitiveness; it felt like I was reading the same thing over and over at times. Again, I feel like the book could have been condensed a bit to pick up the pace a bit.
Overall, I enjoyed being back in this world with these characters. I will definitely pick up the third book based on the ending of this one. It led into a potential plot that I think I'll enjoy more as a whole.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for a gifted advanced copy of this book in addition to my honest opinions.
September 26, 2023
I really enjoyed this second installment of this trilogy. Like the first book, I was easily sucked into the world and the plot. Sim continues to do great world building.
I was worried that this would fall victim to second book of a trilogy syndrome, where not a lot happens until the last quarter of the book. Luckily, a lot happened in this one without it being too much. The characters were again great to read about and it was nice to see some growth happening.
While the plot definitely felt like it was moving forward, I would say that it maybe would have been even better if it was edited down a little more page-wise.
I'm very curious to see where the the next book will go and how this will end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the e-ARC!
I was worried that this would fall victim to second book of a trilogy syndrome, where not a lot happens until the last quarter of the book. Luckily, a lot happened in this one without it being too much. The characters were again great to read about and it was nice to see some growth happening.
While the plot definitely felt like it was moving forward, I would say that it maybe would have been even better if it was edited down a little more page-wise.
I'm very curious to see where the the next book will go and how this will end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the e-ARC!
November 17, 2023
well, you've done it again.
…although i kinda wish risha had more to do in the climax lmao. girl really just walked in like what up i guess i'm a healer now even if that's not what i've been doing all book.
…although i kinda wish risha had more to do in the climax lmao. girl really just walked in like what up i guess i'm a healer now even if that's not what i've been doing all book.
July 25, 2023
The Midnight Kingdom by Tara Sim continues the story right from where the first book in The Dark Gods series, The City of Dusk, left off. After the devastating events on Godsnight, the heirs of the Houses find themselves scattered across different realms. Taesia, Julian and Nic are now in Noctus, Risha is in Motri, while Angelica is in Vitae. Betrayed by their gods, stripped of their privileges, and forced to abandon their once lofty ambitions of power and thrones, each heir must embark on their own separate journey to confront the seemingly impossible task of defeating their gods.
While there were moments where the world building may have faltered, overall Tara demonstrated her ability to skillfully describe diverse realms and countries that we encountered in this book. The introduction of new characters like Lilia, Marcellus, Kalen, Val, and Kazue added a fresh and enjoyable element to the story. Additionally, it was gratifying to see previously established supporting characters such as Cosima, Braillie, Eiko, Fin, and Saya being given substantial roles in this installment.
Although the plot may not have reached the same mind-blowing heights as The City of Dusk, with its multitude of intertwined storylines, it remained solid and managed to effectively combine various elements together. The cohesion and integration of these different plotlines were done well, providing a satisfying reading experience overall.
The romantic chemistry between the characters was exceptionally well-written. The gradual development of relationships such as Angelica and Cosima, Nikolas and Fin, and Taesia and Julian as love interests was portrayed beautifully on the pages. It was a delight to read about their evolving connections, as the author skillfully captured the nuances of their interactions and the blossoming emotions between them. The way these romantic storylines unfolded added an extra layer of depth and enjoyment to the overall narrative.
One aspect of Tara’s writing that I’ve always admired is her ability to depict intimate scenes between characters. While even renowned romance authors may resort to basic and crass descriptions in such moments, Tara truly shines with her choice of words. She skillfully maintains a sense of class, infusing these scenes with a poetic and emotional quality without sacrificing the essence of these intimate interactions. It’s a testament to her talent as a writer that she can capture the depth and beauty of these moments while still treating them with grace and sensitivity.
To be completely honest, at the beginning of the book, I found myself somewhat disconnected from the pace of the story. I believe this might be because I had certain expectations based on the first book, which was filled with fast-paced action from beginning to end. In The Midnight Kingdom, however, the entire first half of the book was dedicated to world-building and the introduction of new characters. This approach was understandable since the characters were now in different settings compared to the first book. However, I didn’t notice any significant progress or plot growth during this initial half, which left me feeling somewhat disappointed in comparison to my experience with the first book. On the bright side, the second half of the book was fantastic. That’s when everything started to pick up and the story became more engaging. We were treated to thrilling action sequences, unexpected twists, and turns, and all the different plot lines began to converge. It was a captivating experience to see how everything came together and unfolded in such an exciting manner.
Another aspect that I sorely missed from the first book was the dynamic among all the heirs when they were together as a group. Their banter, humor, and friendships, including the constant bickering between Taesia and Angelica, were truly refreshing. While the supporting cast of new characters in The Midnight Kingdom was remarkable, I don’t believe it quite matched the camaraderie and chemistry that the group had as a whole when they were united. It was that sense of togetherness that added an extra layer of enjoyment to the story, and I found myself longing for more of those interactions in this sequel.
I had another minor issue with this book, and that was in a few chapters during the latter half where I found myself unsure of whose perspective the story was being narrated from. It wasn’t a consistent problem throughout the book, but in those specific chapters, it did create some disorientation for me as a reader.
Although Taesia was my favorite character in The City of Dusk, Angelica managed to steal that title in this installment. The reason behind this shift was that Angelica’s story was more captivating and intriguing compared to the other character arcs in this book. However, I did find myself wishing for more chapters from Dante’s perspective. While I understand that he may not have had as much to contribute to the overall plot, I still felt that his perspective could have added depth and further enriched the story.
Overall, The Midnight Kingdom was a solid book, although it didn’t quite reach the same level as its predecessor, The City of Dusk. I feel it was a challenging task to begin with, given how amazing the first book was. While The Midnight Kingdom may have fallen short in comparison (in my opinion) it still served its purpose as a satisfying second installment in the series. I am eagerly anticipating The Dawn Throne and discovering which of these heirs will ultimately claim the coveted throne. I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Tara Sim for providing me with the opportunity to read this advance copy.
Rating:
3.5/5
While there were moments where the world building may have faltered, overall Tara demonstrated her ability to skillfully describe diverse realms and countries that we encountered in this book. The introduction of new characters like Lilia, Marcellus, Kalen, Val, and Kazue added a fresh and enjoyable element to the story. Additionally, it was gratifying to see previously established supporting characters such as Cosima, Braillie, Eiko, Fin, and Saya being given substantial roles in this installment.
Although the plot may not have reached the same mind-blowing heights as The City of Dusk, with its multitude of intertwined storylines, it remained solid and managed to effectively combine various elements together. The cohesion and integration of these different plotlines were done well, providing a satisfying reading experience overall.
The romantic chemistry between the characters was exceptionally well-written. The gradual development of relationships such as Angelica and Cosima, Nikolas and Fin, and Taesia and Julian as love interests was portrayed beautifully on the pages. It was a delight to read about their evolving connections, as the author skillfully captured the nuances of their interactions and the blossoming emotions between them. The way these romantic storylines unfolded added an extra layer of depth and enjoyment to the overall narrative.
One aspect of Tara’s writing that I’ve always admired is her ability to depict intimate scenes between characters. While even renowned romance authors may resort to basic and crass descriptions in such moments, Tara truly shines with her choice of words. She skillfully maintains a sense of class, infusing these scenes with a poetic and emotional quality without sacrificing the essence of these intimate interactions. It’s a testament to her talent as a writer that she can capture the depth and beauty of these moments while still treating them with grace and sensitivity.
To be completely honest, at the beginning of the book, I found myself somewhat disconnected from the pace of the story. I believe this might be because I had certain expectations based on the first book, which was filled with fast-paced action from beginning to end. In The Midnight Kingdom, however, the entire first half of the book was dedicated to world-building and the introduction of new characters. This approach was understandable since the characters were now in different settings compared to the first book. However, I didn’t notice any significant progress or plot growth during this initial half, which left me feeling somewhat disappointed in comparison to my experience with the first book. On the bright side, the second half of the book was fantastic. That’s when everything started to pick up and the story became more engaging. We were treated to thrilling action sequences, unexpected twists, and turns, and all the different plot lines began to converge. It was a captivating experience to see how everything came together and unfolded in such an exciting manner.
Another aspect that I sorely missed from the first book was the dynamic among all the heirs when they were together as a group. Their banter, humor, and friendships, including the constant bickering between Taesia and Angelica, were truly refreshing. While the supporting cast of new characters in The Midnight Kingdom was remarkable, I don’t believe it quite matched the camaraderie and chemistry that the group had as a whole when they were united. It was that sense of togetherness that added an extra layer of enjoyment to the story, and I found myself longing for more of those interactions in this sequel.
I had another minor issue with this book, and that was in a few chapters during the latter half where I found myself unsure of whose perspective the story was being narrated from. It wasn’t a consistent problem throughout the book, but in those specific chapters, it did create some disorientation for me as a reader.
Although Taesia was my favorite character in The City of Dusk, Angelica managed to steal that title in this installment. The reason behind this shift was that Angelica’s story was more captivating and intriguing compared to the other character arcs in this book. However, I did find myself wishing for more chapters from Dante’s perspective. While I understand that he may not have had as much to contribute to the overall plot, I still felt that his perspective could have added depth and further enriched the story.
Overall, The Midnight Kingdom was a solid book, although it didn’t quite reach the same level as its predecessor, The City of Dusk. I feel it was a challenging task to begin with, given how amazing the first book was. While The Midnight Kingdom may have fallen short in comparison (in my opinion) it still served its purpose as a satisfying second installment in the series. I am eagerly anticipating The Dawn Throne and discovering which of these heirs will ultimately claim the coveted throne. I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Tara Sim for providing me with the opportunity to read this advance copy.
Rating:
3.5/5
September 7, 2023
3,5 stars
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
TW/CwViolence | Murder | Torture | Eye Removal | Sacrifice
Last year I really enjoyed The City of Dusk and so I was looking forward to The Midnight Kingdom. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. I wasn't so much dissapointed in the story as I was with the way it was told.
At the end of City of Dusk our main characters were fairly divided over various realms. Taesia, Nicolai, Julian and Finn are with the god Pho in Ryans body in Noctus. Risha finds herself in Motri. Angelica and Dante remain in Vaega. One at the top and the other in hiding.
As much as I was invested in their stories, I still struggled with this book. To actually pick it back up. There is so much information, so many additional characters in each story, even more so when even the larger groups start splitting up and we get more along the lines of 5 story lines. Each very seperate yet intertwined in the bigger story. But sometimes that bigger story was hard to find. Why were some things important again? There was so much going on that it was hard to then get to the actual feelings. Sometimes we forwarded through that a bit too fast.
I also was not a fan of how almost every chapter was a switch to another storyline or how a lot of those chapters ended in a type of cliffhangers. A few times would have been fine but it was almost every time at about the middle point. It grew a bit tiresome.
Yet I am invested in these characters. I like them. Taesia is the big main character and I still like her. She tries not to show it too much but she struggles with herself so much and the expectations others have of her. And I get that. It feels like you are stuck. And then you lash out, make mistakes.
Angelica really grew more on me this book. She is so determined to shut everyone out. But when you are on the run, you don't always have that option. And yes sometimes you might get hurt, but sometimes it is worth it. To get that connection with your sibling or that new found friend.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
TW/CwViolence | Murder | Torture | Eye Removal | Sacrifice
Last year I really enjoyed The City of Dusk and so I was looking forward to The Midnight Kingdom. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book. I wasn't so much dissapointed in the story as I was with the way it was told.
At the end of City of Dusk our main characters were fairly divided over various realms. Taesia, Nicolai, Julian and Finn are with the god Pho in Ryans body in Noctus. Risha finds herself in Motri. Angelica and Dante remain in Vaega. One at the top and the other in hiding.
As much as I was invested in their stories, I still struggled with this book. To actually pick it back up. There is so much information, so many additional characters in each story, even more so when even the larger groups start splitting up and we get more along the lines of 5 story lines. Each very seperate yet intertwined in the bigger story. But sometimes that bigger story was hard to find. Why were some things important again? There was so much going on that it was hard to then get to the actual feelings. Sometimes we forwarded through that a bit too fast.
I also was not a fan of how almost every chapter was a switch to another storyline or how a lot of those chapters ended in a type of cliffhangers. A few times would have been fine but it was almost every time at about the middle point. It grew a bit tiresome.
Yet I am invested in these characters. I like them. Taesia is the big main character and I still like her. She tries not to show it too much but she struggles with herself so much and the expectations others have of her. And I get that. It feels like you are stuck. And then you lash out, make mistakes.
Angelica really grew more on me this book. She is so determined to shut everyone out. But when you are on the run, you don't always have that option. And yes sometimes you might get hurt, but sometimes it is worth it. To get that connection with your sibling or that new found friend.
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