The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

The Girl at Midnight (Girl at Midnight, #1)

by Melissa Grey

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, but if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

Reviewed by e_rodz_leb on

5 of 5 stars

Share
Reading With ABC http://readingwithabc.com http://readingwithabc.com/review-the-girl-at-midnight-by-melissa-gray/I’m sorry to start with a comparison, but The Girl at Midnight was –to me- like a lighter version of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Fortunately I loved that series and I likewise feel in love with this book

I shan’t compare all the points, but let The Girl at Midnight stand on its own. The world building was impeccable from the beginning. The Avicien are an ancient race that are shaped like humans but have colorful feathers for hair. The Drakharin are descendants of dragons and both races have been at war for hundreds of years. Awesome, right?

Echo is our protagonist, she’s human, but ran from home when she was very little and was “adopted” by the Ala, a member of the Avicien council. Echo is brave, seems fearless, she’s a thief, she’s insightful, snarky, smart, cunning, and beautiful. She’s a book lover and lives in a library, how cool is that? She is fighting to make a life for herself in a world that doesn’t accepts her and sees her as an outsider. The Ala, her best friend, Ivy and new boyfriend Rowan are her family. When Ivy is taken by the Drakharin, Echo is desperate to find her.

“...I like to be around all these books. They’re very good at making you forget your troubles. It’s like having a million friends, wrapped in paper and scrawled in ink”

Caius is the prince of the Drakharin. His twin sister Tanith is b***, cruel and full of hunger for vengeance and deposes Caius. Caius escapes with his best friend, Dorian, and they take Ivy and Echo with them. They embark in a quest to find the firebird in order to save the world. Caius is selfless, patient, troubled, smart. He’s had such a hard life, I feel so sad for him :(

“So why? He didn’t ask what he really wanted to. Why are you being this kind? How can you be this kind?

“Because”, she said, reading for the tape on the bedside table, “there’s enough cruelty in this worked without me adding to it.”

All the characters are amazingly well developed. The writing is really good, I liked the dialogue and the banter between the characters. The story, the plot is compelling. I’m always a sucker for a love than endures lives and adversity. There is a budding romance, but I don’t want to spoil the story for you :)

“Letting out a small laugh, he said, “You know, we’re going to have to start trusting each other sooner or later.”

Echo smiled, just a little. “Baby steps.”

Overall, The Girl at Midnight is a fantasy story that takes place in the modern world. A story of two ancient races with a war that’s lasted ages with no end in sight. A story of redemption, of looking for one’s place, of following destiny and fighting for what’s right, of seeing beyond. Loved this one!This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 September, 2015: Finished reading
  • 3 September, 2015: Reviewed