The Midnight Lie (The Midnight Lie, #1)

by Marie Rutkoski

'Rich characterization, exquisite worldbuilding and rock-solid storytelling make this a fantasy of unusual intelligence and depth . . . Breathtaking, tragic and true' Kirkus on The Winner's Curse

Set in the world of the NYT-bestselling Winner's Trilogy, The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us - and the lies we tell ourselves.

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 colours. 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 traveller from far away, who whispers rumours that the High Kith possess 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.

• ISBN10: 1529357470
• ISBN13: 9781529357479
• Publish Date: 3 March 2020
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 10 November 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[thepunktheory]

Full review on my blog!


The worldbuilding here. Wow.
I was immediately entranced by what Rutkoski has created here. It's something new yet drawing from ancient mythology in ways. We get some lovely references to poetry but always with a twist.
The book comes with many interesting aspects that provide some food for thought. Furthermore, the character development was on point and I was more than excited to follow along with Nirrim.
Rutkoski does a great job setting up the story, peppering in twists, turns, and surprises while enveloping the reader in a world of magic - and deceit.
It was almost impossible to put down this book as was drawn to this world she had created. I wanted to learn more, figure out how everything works, where the magic comes from, what it does. You always get just enough to understand what's going on but you're still left wanting more.
Speaking of wanting more! That ending! Oh, what a cliffhanger! I had not realized that would be more books when I started reading, so I was a bit surprised and stunned when I turned the final pages. I need to know what happens next RIGHT NOW!

[cornerfolds]

Review to come!

[ellieroth]

oof

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

“So you tell me what would make a good, quiet girl get herself in trouble, especially when she had so much to lose.
Tell me.”

“I see this story perfectly, its moments cut crystal in my mind. I remember how this story, like a great, sheer bowl, bore a sea of emotion — my guilt, my loneliness, my longing. I remember little rivulets of delight, the warmth of love.”


So- I didn’t just love this book; I fell absolutely head over heels IN love with this wonderfully elegant, yet delightfully cheeky (I know, oxymoron central there— but 100% accurate description in this case) tale.

This lost .5 stars because I truly had to force my way through the first 50 pages or so. Not because it was bad by any means; I just was expecting magic & romance, which I didn’t get right away, and I am
impatient AF. I wanted my damn magic and queer romance! That said, the rest of my review refers to everything AFTER the pages at the beginning of the book that I had trouble with.

The main character of this book is Nirrim, who begins as a shy, quiet, naïve, ‘play-by-the-rules’ kind of girl. As the book continues on, she becomes more & more curious & daring; she wants to find out the mysteries of the island and does so, with Sid. She is our main protagonist, and narrator.

Sid is the love interest in this tale and she is a self proclaimed liar, sly, unpredictable, and passionate. She is a traveler who does not live on the island that Nirrim is from. She’s pretty swoon worthy if I do say so myself