I loved this story so much! Something about the way Marie Rutkoski tells stories keeps me hooked until the very last page. Herrath is this horrifyingly fascinating place where there are secrets people don’t even know they’re hiding. I can’t wait until everyone gets their hands on this book. I will say that if you find emotionally abusive situations uncomfortable or triggering, this book might not be for you. However, if you are on the lookout for things to hold your attention while you’re at home practicing social distancing, this is a book you’ll want to find yourself lost in.
The Midnight Lie is the story of Nirrim, a young woman living in the Ward: a place where crime and poverty abound, and there are severe penalties for stepping out of line. Any pleasure that could be sought is reserved for the High Kith. Nirrim’s low status means she’s prohibited from wearing colours and even eating certain foods, and you either follow the rules or you pay a tithe price in prison. Nirrim does her best to keep her head down and her secrets close to her chest…but when a mysterious stranger named Sid shows up and whispers rumours that the High Kith possess magic, Sid tempts Nirrim into wanting some for herself. In order to do that though, she’ll have to place her trust in Sid, despite the fact that Sid has said they are not to be trusted.
There are so many things going on in this story, but I’ll start with the characters. Nirrim I found to be a little infuriating, because she’s got this very eager to please personality that is easily taken advantage of. Not necessarily a bad trait. Nirrim is kind, and as the story moved on, I realised that the reason that I disliked her so much at the beginning was because she reminded me of myself, particularly the easily taken advantage of part. Sid on the other hand, flows through this story like a current, even as you’re learning something about their character things change. Of course, I loved the air of mystery surrounding Sid, and I don’t want to say too much so I don’t spoil anything for readers. Suffice to say by the end of the story, I’m in love with this tragic pair.
Something about the way Marie structures her stories just works for me. The Midnight Lie is very character focused, while also feeding the reader tidbits and pieces of a bigger storyline at play. It’s like a bit of the scavenger hunt, with lots of clues, but not enough answers to fill in a whole picture. It ramps up the mystery and tension to 100%, and I am here for it. This story will be part of a duology, but it has such a powerful ending that I genuinely believed that this was a standalone until I looked it up. At least, it was satisfying for me. If you’ve read it and think differently, please feel free to let me know!
I do want to discuss some of the themes in this story. Nirrim journeys to find out how the other side lives and while doing so discovers the lies that she’s being fed by those with more power than her. There’s also some emotional abuse going on by a parental figure and a love interest, and readers will find Nirrim working her way to liberating herself from the emotional abuse that she’s suffering. It’s hard to read in some places, but also very satisfying in several places as well. Of course, there’s also some themes of non-conformity, particularly with sexual or gender identity that I wanted to be a little more explored in the story. I’m wondering if we’ll get to see that more in the next book, but I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where everything is going.
The romance was interesting for me because it’s a bit of a whirlwind, and I felt like it worked very well in this situation. Nirrim is experiencing a lot of things at once, but very few are her own emotions. That she gets to explore the feelings that she has, and chooses to do this of her own volition without the interference of someone else was something that I truly enjoyed. Therefore, in this situation, I liked the insta-romance that occurs.
There is nothing in this story that I didn’t like to be honest. I want more, and I think it could have definitely been longer. However, I eagerly wait for the next book, because I’m dying to find out what will happen next. This is a 10/10 for me.
The Midnight Lie is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.
Nirrim keeps her head down and a dangerous secret close to her chest.
But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the High Caste possesses magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.
Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, beloved author Marie Rutkoski returns with an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves.
