The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

The Midnight Lie (The Midnight Lie, #1)

by Marie Rutkoski

'Utterly immersive' Roshani Chokshi, bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves

Set in the world of the Winner's Trilogy, The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ+ 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 is, 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.

Reviewed by alindstadtcorbeax on

4 of 5 stars

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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

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 11 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 11 March, 2020: Reviewed