I could not read this book due to its format. I do not know if it was my device or not, but the formating was all over the place, mixing lines and not showing certain letters. I marked the book as one I would not review, but decided to add this short explanation, and then update it when, in the future, I read it.

I decided to give the rating that it currently has here. I hope to change it later on.

Thank you to Netgalley / publisher for providing me with this free ARC.
“Nirrim, I can’t be good to you.”
“Then be bad.”
The ending!! So cruel but beautifully written! I loved the banter throughout this book and cannot wait to read the next installment!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I am not a huge fan of this book. I just couldn’t connect to the characters. However, I loved the authors writing it was just beautiful.
Overall a disappointing read for me

This was wonderful!!! Loved it. Very well written and with great characters. The premise was unique and thrilling. I cannot recommend this enough.

I really enjoyed this one. Nirrim is a great protagonist. Her relationship with Raven was so well executed. Lots of layers and such subtle manipulation that was infuriating but made me root for Nirrim. The world building was interesting and there was a great element of intrigue.

The tension between Nirrim and Sid was great, their differences created an interesting relationship. The descriptions of the world were wonderful — I really felt like I was there. It’s not super fast paced but I still enjoyed it a lot. I’m looking forward to book 2 and seeing where Nirrim’s story goes.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting start to this series. I liked the world and the magic system/lore system. The romance was really great. I felt the plot was lacking in some places and I found myself getting bored towards the middle. However the ending definitely made up for it. Definitely going to read the next one!

“ It is what it is .” With such a simple yet foreboding line, Rutkoski paints a vivid portrait of an intriguing, deadly world in the first installment of The Midnight Lie series. A world that lays itself open for only one faction: the High Kith. The High Kith wear their wealth as comfortably as the expensive leather that is forbidden in the Ward. They drip with perfume and are corrupt from soft living, and the best our protagonist, Nirrim, can hope for is a life spent creeping in their generous shadows.

Nirrim worked to fit herself inside the narrow confines of this life, the words “it is what it is” like a mantra, like fingers reaching into her mouth, pinching her tongue, keeping her from crying out. But there are gaps between the bars: whispers of long-forgotten gods, scarlet where the white paint on the walls of the Ward had chipped, an Elysium bird sailing high over the Ward like an omen. And a girl. A sea-faring schemer named Sid whose eyes fastened on Nirrim across a low-lit prison cell as though she meant to strip a secret from her soul, and whispered of magic left like a door, ajar onto a new and undiscovered world. Sid gives Nirrim a single threshold on which to balance, a narrow precipice of hope, refulgent and desperate. But can Nirrim climb through the mirror and slide into the skin of the girl she imagines herself to be, brave and unafraid of falling?

While on the surface this seems like a story we’ve seen before, Rutkoski infuses exhilarating new life into it through starkly beautiful language, distinct characters, and remarkable world-building elements that mesh like clockwork with themes of deception, privilege, greed, and an acute exploration of the truths we conceal from ourselves until one day we surface and find them waiting.

The Midnight Lie unfolds unhurriedly with harrowing beauty, precision, and confidence, but there's a rhythm to it, relentless and breathtaking. Reading this book, you get the sense that the author is careful to unspool the secrets of her world with maximum suspense and mystique. It is clear that Rutkoski is playing the long game here, and she's playing it rather superbly. Forging on, you come across a plot that, predictably yet thrillingly, involves far more than a quick hit, and one of the most tantalizing hints of things to come is the frequent mention of the existence of magic, both in Nirrim’s past as well as her terrifying present. The ending, too, is a virtuoso move that shows just how much thought was poured into the novel, and my mind could not settle on a proper question to ask out of the hundred that immediately bubbled up. Rutkoski has cultivated fertile ground for the next books in her promising series to grow, and I will be counting the days until the sequel.

What made this story soar highest for me, however, is the amount of care and attention infused into the characters. Nirrim is the focus of the novel, and the words that fall from her were often so vulnerable they pulled in my chest.

Unlike Sid who seems to walk through life with a giant’s indifference to the world, hanging back, watching from under the rims of her eyelids, Nirrim’s desires and motivations creep into the prose like whispered secrets, held back by the careful thinking of a mind accustomed to good behavior. Because for Nirrim that’s what wants and desires are: secrets. She toys with them the way a child holds their palm to a candle flame, daring to get just close enough to feel the stabbing licks of pain. They are relics of a life she’s never lived, buried and forgotten, the possibilities tucked away for some future time when Nirrim would be strong enough to look directly at it. But once they are unearthed, there is simply no containing them.

Nirrim also begins to see a side of her surrogate mother that leaves her cold—a cruel and merciless side that, for discerning readers, was present long before Nirrim faces it. Years of emotional manipulation and abuse have distorted Nirrim’s perception, and because her (magical) inability to tell illusion from truth has already taught her not to trust herself, Nirrim looked at her “mother’s” possessive, conditional desire to own, as far from warmth as a distant planet, and mistook it for love. It’s not until Nirrim meets Sid that shards of her latent memories force themselves out like splinters, that Nirrim’s world becomes translucent as a window. The acclimation that comes with time, like a body adjusting to a too-hot bath, is chillingly observed throughout the novel, and it’s one of the many jagged, tragic details that make this book so hard-hitting. I really enjoyed seeing Nirrim’s fear, like a fever, break, and I can’t wait to discover where her journey takes her.

Ultimately this was a solid, enjoyable book, and a great start to a promising new series. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed it, wasn't my favourite read. Took a long time to get into and appreciate the story. First ready by Marie rutkoski will definitely be reading more.

When I learned that Marie Rutkoski had written a book based within the world of The Winner's Curse, that was me sold.

I was really wanting to enjoy this book but I found it to be very disjointed, I loved the characters and I loved their interactions together within the book. I just found that the plot was just hard to follow and very unrememberable.

I gave this a two stars as it was OK the two main characters helped push me through to finish the book but other then that I was disappointed

Marie Rutkoski never fails.
She has this thing with word, you can call it magic, you can call it craft or art but it's always astonishing.
The Midnight lie is a book about learning how to detect lies, why we lie and the consequences. The story developes around the story of Nirrim, a simple but caring and loved servant, and Sid, an adventures, often reckless but always curious with a passio for dangerous situations. They will learn so much from one another through this journey. And the finale....... jeeeeez that was amazing!

I no longer have an interest in reading this book however I did rate The Winner's Curse trilogy four stars so could change my mind and will buy a physical copy if so.

Nirrim lives in the Ward, a place bound by rules and regulations. She cannot wear bright colours, eat anything but plain food and she can never leave the walls of the Ward. That is, until the day an Elysium bird pays a visit to Nirrim and changes the course of her life forever.

There was a lot to really love here, the most obvious of which was the writing style. Marie Rutkoski writes the most beautiful prose, full of delicate details and descriptions that really being the slums of the Ward to life. I also found Nirrim to be a compelling protagonist. She's grown up with a lot of hardship, emotional and physical abuse and at the start of her story you can tell that she's almost numb to her emotions. She kisses a boy, not to feel love, but just to feel anything at all. To keep the peace. To make others happy. She doesn't know how to be happy for herself, and it takes Syd to being this side of her to life. Their relationship bucks the trend of a lot of YA in that Nirrim doesn't need Syd to love, but rather she opens her eyes to what the world has to offer her, if she chooses it. I really loved that.

I think my main issue with this was the distinct lack of any real plot resulting in a meandering sluggish pace throughout. Although I liked the characters, I found myself getting distracted while reading, wondering if anything was going to happen. Many times I had to put this down because I just couldn't find myself engaged enough to continue. I didn't really care.

Interesting characters and beautiful writing, but the pacing and lack of plot development really hindered my enjoyment of this one.

I didn't know what to expect going in because I LOVED The Winners Curse trilogy and I'm happy to say I enjoyed this one just as much!

After that ending I am in desperate need of the next one!

I received with thanks an ARC copy of The Midnight Lie from Hodder & Stroughton and Netgalley.

This is my review of The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski. This was published on 3rd March 2020.

This was great to be back in the first brought to us in the Winners Curse Trilogy. Once again the author has reopened an enchanting world fun of romance and danger. Like with the original trilogy I was left hanging onto the edge of my seat. I really hope we get a sequel to this excellent new adventure. Looking forward to owning the paperback version when it released.

Would recommend if you love fantasy.

I had no issues with the writing of this book it was pretty good. And I loved the character of Sid, she was the one who kept me reading but sadly the main character Nirrim was far too passive and lacklustre for me. She annoyed me so much throughout this book. And the whole plot sort of meandered as if it didn't know what it was doing and then the end was just sort of what? For me anyway it seemed to come out of nowhere and just left me feeling a bit meh about it.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book in just a few days when I picked it up. It is an amazing fantasy story with a beautiful f/f love story at it's root that I loved so much.

I've never read The Winner's Trilogy and was a little worried that I would find it difficult to understand the world without having read it, but the world building was brilliant and I had no problems following the story and being immersed in the world. I definitely think I need to read The Winner's Trilogy now and learn even more about it! 

Nirrim is a great protagonist, she's not had the best life but she is incredibly selfless and would do anything to help others, even to the point of sacrificing her own happiness and needs. I loved getting to see her grow throughout the story and allow herself to have the things that she wants.

The relationship was beautiful to see unfold throughout the story. I loved their flirting and jokes, their trust in one another and the way they helped each other out. They had a fantastic dynamic right from their first meeting and this was kept up throughout the whole book. 

The cliffhanger at the end of the book was incredibly frustrating because I need to read the next book NOW.

I was really excited to read The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski, especially after reading and loving her Winner trilogy. I've heard good things about this book but I feel like (at this time) after giving this book numerous attempts that it really isn't the book for me right now. I hope it finds the right audience though and I would continue to read the author's books in the futre.

I waited too much till I finally read this book. And I had no excuse! Because OMG!!! I fell in love from the first chapter. And after I finished it I hated myself for not picking earlier. Or maybe something inside my brain said don't read it because it's a series and you have to wait for second book. And I understand that because now I really want the second book!

The cover is stunning and it calls you to take the book and read it. That's why I chose it. And because of the title. The Midnight Lie sounds magical and illegal at the same time. So of course I had to get it. But the plot was the one who got me in its tentacles. For me it was something new. Even the world building was captivating.

The story was well written with well defined characters. I loved the differences between Nirrim and Sid. They both have strong personalities. What killed me was the ending. It was pure evil! And i can't wait for book 2!

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I love Nirrim! I love Sid! I love the story of the Gods! The ending was unexpected and fascinating and I want to read more. There's just so much in this book that I love and I'm struggling to put it into words. The history of Ethin is intriguing and I can't wait to see what Nirrim does next now that she knows the truth. I love the relationship between Nirrim and Sid, I wish there had been more. If there is going to be a sequel I will be buying it.