The Midnight Queen (Noctis Magicae, #1)

by Sylvia Izzo Hunter

In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Merlin College, the most talented—and highest born—sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as Gray Marshall is about to discover…
 
Gray’s deep talent for magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace—and without a trace of his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of Callender’s country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the professor’s daughter.
 
Even though she has no talent of her own, Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of impropriety. But against her father’s wishes, Sophie has studied his ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.
 
Sophie and Gray’s meeting touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the king’s closest advisor pays the professor a closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost…

• ISBN10: 0425272451
• ISBN13: 9780425272459
• Publish Date: 2 September 2014
• Publish Status: Inactive
• Out of Print: 9 June 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Ace Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 432
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425272459

Reviews

This was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the plot. Sophie was fierce. I liked her determination to learn and how supportive Gray was of that. Particularly his acceptance, encouragement and approval of her being stronger in her magic than him. I enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship and the fact that they seemed to really get to know each other. I liked that they had lots of discussions about magical theory and childhoods and dreams and aspirations. Gray was such a kind character - more concerned with the wellbeing of his loved ones than himself. I loved his relationship with Sophie but also his existing relationship with Jenny and his developing bond with Joanna. It was really sweet. Joanna was hilarious. She was so outspoken and brash and had the best lines. I enjoyed the plot. The whole adventure/quest of uncovering a royal conspiracy was cool. This isn't as fast paced as most of the more recent fantasy novels, but I enjoyed the return to the classic slow and steady build up of the quest and the unfolding of the adventure. I really liked the chapter names - they had me chuckling to myself. There was no cliffhanger and although part of a series, could easily be read as a standalone. The plot is nicely wrapped up and the characters are left happily ever after.

Overall this was a well written historical fantasy with strong and likable characters and an enchanting plot. Solid 4 stars.

[MurderByDeath]

Imagine a spin on a Cinderella type fairy tale, mashed up with the Magic of Merlin, the mythology of Greece, Norse and the Romans with a gratuitous nod to Christianity and Judaism, set in an alternate UK/France and you'd have a good idea of The Midnight Queen.   I'm pretty sure this is meant to be a YA targeted story, but the writing works well enough to be argued either way.  It's pure fantasy, and it was entertaining.  When I was reading it, it was easy to lose myself in the story.  I didn't rate it higher because when I wasn't reading it, I didn't feel compelled to go back to it, which means, for me, that the characters failed to make me feel invested in their outcomes.     Still, it was an enjoyable read and I'd recommend it to anyone with an affinity to fairy tales.

[celinenyx]

In an age of instant gratification, a scrambling rush for "fast-paced" and "nail-biting" reads, The Midnight Queen is a breath of fresh air, recalling books as they used to be - stories to be savoured.

Grey is asked by his fellow Merlin college students on a strange mission. It goes out of hand, leading to the death of one of his friends, and Grey tumbles head first into a conspiracy that is much bigger than he could ever imagine.

The Midnight Queen is a story that follows characters rather than a plot. It reminded me of a sort of mash-up between Jane Austen and Harry Potter - on one hand we have the sweet unfurling of a romance, and on the other we have a magic college set in some sort of alternate history. The writing has put off a lot of readers, but I thought it quite beautiful. The story isn't to be rushed, and neither are the sentences themselves.

Beautiful, Callender Hall's gardens might be, but after only half a day he had already conceived a passionate hatred of them, and of flowering shrubs in particular. What was he doing in this distant corner of the kingdom, so far from all he knew? Why condemned to this sweaty, thirsty, apparently pointless labout?

Also reminiscent of archaic books, The Midnight Queen uses the descriptive type of chapter titles, like Chapter II: In Which a Prediction of Sophie's Comes True, and Sophie and Gray Discuss Magick. The chapter titles were very well done, raising just the smallest amount of suspicion of what is about to come, without spoiling any of the fun. You can safely read through all of the chapter names before starting the novel.

The Midnight Queen is the sort of book I love, but don't nearly read enough. It provides a world that can enfold you like a warm blanket. For a debut novel I found this to be very impressive - even accomplished novelists don't always manage to build a world from scratch, inhabited by genuine characters, with specific mannerisms and constructed through and through, a world that feels like it lives on even when you close the book. Although there might be more books set in the same world, The Midnight Queen stands on its own exceptionally well.

If you enjoy the writing style in classics, The Midnight Queen might be for you. Its world is a mix of historical, feint magical, and mythological elements, and instead of writing historical through a 21st-century lens, the language fits the time period. The Midnight Queen is a long journey through mistaken identities, conspiracies, and finding the limitations of magic capabilities, and a journey that was highly satisfying in the end.