I really wanted to like The Midnight Lie but I couldn't bring myself to love it as much as I wanted to. I was expecting more from this book and author, I was expecting a well-balanced mix of fantasy and romance but in this case the romance overpowered everything else.
The beginning was interesting enough (especially the whole God-sent bird) but then whatever bigger plot I had envisioned disappeared in favor of the love story.
I really couldn't feel invested in it, partially because I prefer books balanced books and I don't like "romance" as a genre that much and partially because I couldn't connect to any of the characters.
I didn't exactly dislike the MCs, sort of liked them but couldn't bring myself to actually be that invested in them and so---so the romantic element that takes most of the book really fell short for me.
I liked the ending but the middle part of the book was really hard for me to get through--it felt like wading through to a swamp at a really, really slow pace. Only Marie Rutkoski writing style made the torture a bit more bearable, enough for me to finish the book.
All in all this was quite disappointing, I was hoping for something better, much better.

Nirrim lives in a society where the High Kith enjoy all the pleasures of life which the Low Kith and the Middlings are punished for petty crimes and forced to pay thithe. The guidelines about which section is entitled to what kind of luxury (if you can call it that) is clear and precise. But Nirrim is our little explorer and that is how she meets Sid, a traveler from a land that no one has heard of. Sid holds an aura that smells of secrets and treachery. With secrets buried deep within her heart, Sid has a charm to draw out mysteries of this other world she is now a part of.

An unfortunate event brings them close and sends them along a journey to discover what the Kingdom has been hiding for years.
'The Midnight Lie' wins hearts through its simple yet layered world building, resonating clearly with the world we are living in, where the poor have to pay for everything while the rich reap the benefits.

The story has an LGBTQ rep, Nirrim and Sid being in an intimate relationship that develops slowly and is delicate and heartwarming. Being the first book in the series, ample amount of time is devoted in building the world and giving us an Indepth idea of the characters who are playing the major and the minor roles. The dialogues are witty and sometimes, hilarious. The overall atmosphere is bewitching and tangible.

The cherry on top is the ending. I was baffled because the winds changed directions and now I am looking forward to the next book with a fierce eagerness.

I did enjoy this book but I was expecting more from it. Not a lot really happened and I'm still not really sure what the plot is or what the next book will bring. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger but I have no clue what to expect from book 2.

What I liked most about this book was the setting and the mystery surrounding the setting. The setting had quite a dystopian feel with the different classes and the higher your class the more you are allowed to do or wear. There was a distinct line between the three and they were all kept in order by the Militia, Councilmen and The Lord Protector. But no one knows why it is like this. It was interesting to learn more about the palce and find out what was going on.

I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, I didn't feel we got much insight into how they truly felt. The main character was very naive. She was being manipulated and had no idea. The love interest was interesting in a way and helped with the adventure but I didn't really see why they liked each other.

Overall not a bad fantasy read with an interesting setting and some interesting plot but not really sure where it is going to go from here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for allowing me to read a copy of The Midnight Lie.

I requested to read this book based purely on the cover; can we please just take a moment to acknowledge ow beautiful it is!? It just really draws you in and captivates the eye. I don't try and judge a book by it's cover but when a cover is as beautiful as this I do have high hopes for what the book will be like.

I have to admit, when I first started reading this book I honestly wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. Nirrim is such a naive character that it verges on painful at times; she always believes the good in people and doesn't seem to second guess anyone's motivations. Whilst this reveals a lot about her character, it does border on painful to read at times because you just want to shake her and get her to open her eyes. She is a really well developed character though and I feel she comes into her own throughout the book. We see her learn from those around her but she never loses who she is in the process. She is still true to herself and believes the best in people (until we get to that ending of course, holy moly!!)

I loved Sid. Sid was one amazing character and I connected with her almost right away, there is just something easy about the way she is written that brings her to life and she was just really enjoyable. I think what Marie does well is to present her characters with one defining trait and play off of that to bring out other aspects of the, but whilst still holding true to that first trait. Sid is a tricky and complex character and she never stops being despite her feelings for Nirrim.

This is one of the first fantasy books i've read for a while where the world building just makes sense; it is always easy to follow and you can just slip into the pages and understand what is going on. A lot of the fantasy books i've read lately are so confusing and never explain what the world is like so you can't quite sink into it, but that isn't a problem for The Midnight Lie. I never found myself confused and I didn't have to read back and forth to try and make sense of what I was reading. I will say that some of the plot points are a bit obvious, but they never felt contrived and it was still intriguing and enjoyable. I felt that Marie always kept you guessing and wanting to know more.

Now. That ending?! I mean wow that was so good and really set up for the sequel. I'm intrigued to see where this will follow on and just hope it will be as good as this one! Quickly going to add this to my list....

An absolutely delightful beginning to a new series from bestselling Marie Rutkoski, The Midnight Lie is a sumptuously developed fantasy with a rigid hierarchical system, a naive and overly trusting leading lady, a truly delectable love interest, and an ending that made me almost salivate for the sequel.
Nirrim is half-Kith, a member of the lowest class in her society. Kept within a Wall, forbidden from wearing bright colours, eating delicious food, or stepping out of line in any way. To do so would result in paying a tithe, which can range from a vial of blood to a hand or an organ. So Nirrim follows the rules and keeps her head down, flying under the radar and rebelling against the system in what ways she can.
That is, until a series of events lead to her meeting a stranger with a silken voice, a traveller from other lands. Sid opens Nirrim's eyes to new things, and encourages her to look again at why society operates as it does. Not content with the mantra 'it is what it is', Nirrim and Sid together start to investigate the source of magic on Nirrim's island, and what they discover will change Nirrim's life forever.
I loved this book. It felt like delving back into a world like Panem, only with added layers of spooky acceptance of the way things are. Nirrim is an orphan, abandoned into a refuge as a baby, and taken in by Raven. Nirrim's relationship with Raven, the closest thing she's ever had to a mother, is complex and layered, and Nirrim is blinded to the nuances because this is all she has ever known. When Sid begins to open her eyes, new realisations are pouring down on Nirrim faster than she can process.
And Sid. Oh, Sid. You and Nirrim are so wonderful together, so complex, so layered, with your secrets and your promises that you're not to be trusted, that you're a liar and you'll definitely leave. I love you too, Sid, although I know you'll only break my heart.
This book is the first in a duology, and I am already desperate for the second. Rutkoski has created a world which is complex and detailed, a heroine who is memorable for all the right reasons, and with an explosive finale, she's set the stage for high stakes and high action in the second of the pair. Thoroughly enjoyable, with the occasional predictable 'twist' which didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I look forward to further explorations of Nirrim's life and relationships going forward.

Nirrim lives in the Ward, a walled off city within a city where oppression and inequality thrive . She is Half Kith – they are forbidden from wearing colour, tasting food with flavour, or doing anything above their class. If rules are broken, a tithe must be paid, whether it is hair, blood, or even body parts. It’s grim and it’s punishing, but they accept it. When Nirrim meets Sid, a traveller from across the sea, she tempts Nirrim to question everything she has ever known and to uncover the secrets of the Ward.

The Midnight Lie is a brilliantly written fantasy novel full of magic, secrets, and hidden histories. The Midnight Lie is a very character-driven story and is far from action-heavy, but there is a compelling mystery which is expertly weaved throughout the story that has a delightful and shocking reveal towards the end – I can’t wait for the next book!!

‘It is a midnight lie, she said. A kind of lie told for someone else’s sake, a lie that sits between goodness and wrong, just as midnight is the moment between night and morning. Or a lie that is not technically false, like a misleading truth.’

The Midnight Lie has one of the best slow-burn romances I’ve ever read. It is a f/f romance between Nirrim, our protagonist, and Sid, a traveller. The two have an intense relationship full of longing, stolen glances, witty conversations, playful banter, and lots of sexual tension.There is a class imbalance between the two. Nirrim is used to simplicity because it is all she has ever known, she doesn’t question the rules because no one else does. Yet when Sid comes along, her whole worldview changes. Sid, who is laid back, feigns indifference, takes certain luxuries for granted, and trades in secrets, encourages Nirrim to question everything around her.

The Midnight Lie also delves deep into class divisions and inequality, which is usually a hit with me. It shows the higher classes, mainly High Kith, indulging in extravagant luxuries that are made by or from the lowest class, the Half-Kith. A phrase that is used often is ‘it is as it is‘ – this is the reason no one questions the divisions. Towards the end it is revealed how this class sytem came into being and it was riveting, I really enjoyed the reveal.

The secrets that Nirrim and Sid are attempting to uncover is that of magic – is it actually magic, where does it come from, who controls it? I really adored this aspect and how it related to Nirrim and how it impacted upon her character arc. I enjoyed the mythology and the pantheon of gods. Excellent and innovative worldbuilding.

The Midnight Lie is a book I would highly recommend to those looking for a sapphic romance in a high fantasy setting but also for those who crave a good fantasy novel about secrets, deception, and magic.

The Midnight Lie is the new highly anticipated release of Marie Rutkoski four years after the publication of The Winner’s Kiss. This new YA fantasy book is set in the same world as the The Winner’s Trilogy but in a new setting: Ethin, a city in the mysterious Herrath, a small island very hard to find that it’s not even included in any map.

Rutkoski introduces us to a society that follows a caste system. The High Kith are the privileged and rich who live beyond the Ward. The Middling are the middle caste and they are allowed to come and go beyond the Ward. The Half Kith live inside the Ward, being forbidden for them to cross the wall and having to pay tiths (the most common is blood) if they do something that isn’t considered of their lower caste. Lastly, the Un-Kith are considered the worst criminals and they work the cane fields outside the city or clean the sewers.

We follow Nirrrim, a Half Kith who works and lives in a tavern inside the walls of the Ward. She spends her days baking printed breads but when she is not in the kitchen, she illegally forges Middling passports for Raven, the woman who took over her years ago. Nirrim has always struggled discerning what is true and what is not, seeing different versions of what is in front of her: someone holding a baby when that isn’t actually happening or different colours in a building for a few seconds. But Nirrim’s life is about to change when she catches an Elysium bird, kept only by High Kith.

I really liked the concept of the story, the mystery about the Ward and the strange visions that Nirrim has. Also, this novel stars a main character who has suffered emotional and physical abuse all her life and who is not aware of how awful she has been treated. It is hard reading through her POV because she spends a lot of time defending her abuser and justifying her attitudes on the pretext that she loves her. Nirrim is so innocent, naïve and trusting. As a reader, was frustrating to read how she is so blind about some situations when other characters are trying to help her see the true. But at the same time, that is what it makes it so realistic. This happens all the time to people—especially women—who are in an abusive environment where they can’t recognise the seriousness of what they are suffering.

I also loved how Nirrim begins to reconsider her sexual orientation once Sid, a lesbian traveller from outside Herrath, enters the page. Sid is a young woman that lives in the moment, a womanizer and a bold thief. She makes Nirrim question everything. There is an attraction between them both from the very beginning and their dynamic is quite insta-lovey. I’m generally not a fan of the latter and it usually tends to bother me a lot. But Rutkoski has built up their relationship in such a satisfying way, creating the enough amount of tension, dialogue and physical contact.

I personally think the weakest aspect of The Midnight Lie would be the lack of conflict in the plot. Everything is too easy, the characters get to the next stage without major unexpected events or impediments. It is true that the book ends with quite a cliffhanger, but you can easily guess the rest of this first instalment. That being said, Rutkoski’s beautiful writing made me forget the missing action and lack of plot twists that I am always looking forward to in fantasy stories. The way the author has to narrate the story feels like being listening to a magical and special tale.

Other things I really liked were the role the gods play through the entire story, the connection between this book and The Winner’s Trilogy—which I correctly guessed—, the descriptions of the eccentric parties beyond the Ward and the beautiful writing. I know I can always count on Rutkoski to deliver a story full of secrets, angst and a heartbreaking romance. Also, the fact that the love story of The Midnight Lie is about two lesbian girls made me beyond happy.

Summing up, I really liked this first book in the duology. It is a story perfect for fans of The Winner’s Trilogy since it follows some of the same patterns that Kestrel and Arin’s trilogy. It is not an action-packed story or a book full of shocking moments, but it is a beautiful tale of a girl discovering herself and wanting to get answers to the questions that nobody dares to ask. I really can’t wait for the sequel.

I absolutely loved devouring The Midnight Lie. Every page was a delight and I could read Marie Rutkoski’s writing for the rest of my life. Her expansion of the already existing universe introduced in The Winner’s Trilogy was interesting, if slightly confusing considering the similarity in the names of the island and Herran, and I loved the hints and introduction of precious beloved characters. More importantly, the introduction of new main characters, Nirrim and Sid, have absolutely stolen my heart. I will be waiting anxiously and impatiently for the sequel!

Content Warnings: Emotional abuse, physical abuse, murder, sacrifice, slavery, homophobia.

This book exceeded every one of my expectations and I have no idea how I’m supposed to wait for the sequel.

Nirrim lives with dangerous secrets, in a world that isn’t kind to people with her low status until she meets Sid, a mystery who promises her an adventure. Beyond the comforts of her home in the Ward, Nirrim begins to unravel the mystery of how society came to be so cruel to some while showering others with pleasure.

This was SO GOOD. I have read a ton of fantasy lately and, though I’ve loved most of it, everything kind of was starting to blend together. But not this. This was so incredibly fresh and unique. Marie Rutkoski entwined a love story with a mystery so perfectly. Though none of the twists were particularly shocking, there was so much foreshadowing and everything slowly began to tie together in such a detailed way that I didn’t mind that the plot twists weren’t all that twisty.

The world was fascinating and really drove the plot for me, as we began to learn about the ins and outs of how these two contrasting societies work.

I do not know how to accurately explain how much I love Nirrim and Sid. Both individually and together, they were incredible.

It was fascinating to see Nirrim’s character development as she begins to realize that everything she’s ever known has been a lie. Marie Rutkoski did an incredible job of portraying how frightening and confusing that would feel and I really think this book benefited from the 1st person POV in that regard.

Sid was such an enigma. I enjoyed that we only got to see what Nirrim got to see, making her even more of a mystery. Though I guessed pretty early on what her story was, I still enjoyed seeing it unravel. She was so fierce and unapologetic yet so incredibly thoughtful and caring.

Nirrim and Sid’s relationship was 10/10. They truly were so caring towards one another and their relationship felt like it was built on the foundations of a strong friendship. I’m very curious to see where that aspect goes in the next book.

The writing style was the only part of the book I didn’t personally love, and the only thing keeping it from 5 stars. Nirrim, for a large portion of the book, doesn’t know what is real and what isn’t; she doesn’t know what she’s imagined. This is something that is personally very familiar to me and, though I thought the author did a great job of portraying how jumbled and confusing your thoughts can get when this happens, it didn’t read very well and was kind of confusing. I’m not sure if that was the intent, because it <I>is</I> confusing when you don’t know what’s real, but it just didn’t translate very well on the page, in my opinion.

Aside from that, the writing was great. No info-dumping and the story flew by.

I knew I was going to like this book but I didn’t, in a million years, think I would love the characters so much. I can’t wait to see more of them and I might even have to pick up The Winner’s Curse trilogy.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Rating: 3 stars
Rep: F/F romance

"The Midnight Lie" was by far one of my most anticipated 2020 books. As soon as I found out it was wlw fantasy, I instantly added it to my TBR. While I loved some parts of this novel, other parts I wasn't a huge fan of.

Pros:
-If I could give 5 stars to the romance alone, I would. Sid and Nirrum were incredible and their romance was amazing! The chemistry, banter, friendship and relationship they form was beautifully written.
-Sid's character outshone all others at times. I loved her so much and I wish we got to read from her POV.


Cons:
-The writing style wasn't for me. It felt very jumpy and jarring at times. I was debating whether to DNF, but after Sid was introduced I started getting super invested in the characters themselves.
-The world-building and magic system was so confusing to me.
-I don't think the trauma and abuse Nirrum went through was addressed well, I'm hoping that will be explored more in book 2!
-The plot had the potential to be very intriguing, but I was a bit bored in places and the ending was way too fast-paced.


Overall, this was a solid 3 star read for me, I loved the romance to bits so I will definitely be picking up book 2 as I want to know what becomes of Sid and Nirrum!

The Midnight Lie introduces us to a fascinating world built on oppression and deception. We start by learning about the world from one of the oppressed's perspective, and learn the truth about the world she lives in as she did. It was full of intrigue and mystery, leaving me captivated. The queer romance was the icing on the cake.

Although this is set in the same world as the author's previous trilogy, I didn't even realise that until afterwards, so I wouldn't say having read that before is necessary at all.

Highly recommended for fans of character-drive fantasy.

Well I wasn't really ready for this book, picked it as I loved the art work, I was so glad I picked it!

The story is rich with heart breaking turns and twist. A strong theme and love that it is a LGBTQ romance storyline. Which is told in an health and mature way.

Thank you Net Galley for the eArc, it took me a while to get to because I wanted to read the original Winner's Curse trilogy to better understand the world, not get spoiled and also compare a bit.

The writing was lovely, it was exactly what I felt was lacking in the original trilogy. That bit of extra depth and hint of magic.

The pacing didn't work for me. I like character driven stories, but I felt this was too introspective. There was a richness and complexity in the main characters and I liked their interactions, but again felt like the wider cast was excluded from their little bubble. 80% of this is just the romance being built, explored and developed and that's a bit too much, it's sweet and funny, but I need other prominent plots going on, some political intrigue, maybe some horrendous backstabbings. I may have become a cynic from reading too much grimdark.

I do have to applaud Marie for her exquisite talent of ending a story on a cliff and waiting to see if we jump off haha!

Overall I think this is a case of "it's not you, it's me" meaning I prefer my fantasy to be grander, faster paced and with a largr cast of characters, but it was nice to return to this world.

3 stars.

I previously very much enjoyed Rutkoski’s books in her The Winner’s Trilogy but here, this time, I enjoyed it less.

Perhaps it was my reading mood or perhaps the plot wasn’t I generally go for, but I, unfortunately, I found the plot and storyline mediocre.

Hopefully, it was just my mood and I’ll look forward to reading it again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. I was so excited when I got an ARC of this book, I love this author and was pleased when I found out that she had done another book. I love her trilogy and I just love her writing style too. The world building in this book was great, told from first person, which really helped create the world and it was described so well and vividly, I really loved the LGBTQ+ aspect of this book, I felt like it brought the book together as a whole. This book is dark and beautiful just what I look for in a great book. Overall I loved this book and I would highly recommend it to everyone and the authors trilogy to. I give this book 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 

I haven't read The Winner's Trilogy so I went into this world and author completely blind. It started as a typical dystopian fantasy story which reminded me a lot of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. However, this story was, in my opinion, executed in a more exciting and interesting way with an incredible twist at the end that I didn't see coming at all!

This story examines the complicated feelings that are involved in an abusive relationship where the victim loves the abuser. This was done sensitively and did not romanticise or diminish any part of the process of escaping that environment. The story also included a problematic romantic relationship which included some emotional abuse and manipulation. There is a lot of gaslighting and manipulation throughout the book which was quite uncomfortable, but through her adventure, Nirrim starts to recognise all that she is told isn't quite true. Nirrim realises her own self-worth and breaks away from these relationships, which is empowering to see!

The LGBT+ relationship has the perfect balance of sweet, sexy and just plain fun. I loved the chemistry and banter, making it feel much more natural than some relationships in stories. I was a little disappointed with how it was left, but hopefully this leaves the next book open to a resolution!

The world building is great - it is told from a first person perspective, so each scene change is described vividly and beautifully, allowing us to feel everything Nirrim feels as she moves through the world. We get to witness her start to question what she has always known and loved, and the complex emotions that leads to. 

Overall, this book is dark, twisty, beautiful and rich with detail. The plot twist and subsequent cliffhanger at the end sets up the second book and I can't wait to see where it leads! I gave this book 4 stars as it was exciting, fun and brought a new life to similar stories.

The Midnight Lie is the start of a fantasy trilogy, building on the world that was established in The Winner’s Trilogy. Nirrim is half-Kith, the lowest member of the society she lives in, and trapped behind a wall, never to see the world outside. Her life is one of fear, tithes and crime, that is until she meets the mysterious traveller, Sid.

The writing of this novel is beautiful. From the start, Marie Rutkoski weaves a picture of the Ward and the hints of magic that lie out of reach. The first scene of the novel has stayed with me long after reading, simply for the imagery evoked of the bird on the rooftops, and what it means for the characters. The story is well-crafted, as are the characters’ growth and relationships throughout the book. Nirrim and Sid’s romance was balanced with the rest of the story, felt natural and had great banter, especially in their first few interactions. I also really enjoyed that the mystery of magic, as to whether it existed and what form it would take, was also a plot-point in and of itself. As more was revealed, I found myself being even more intrigued.

As well as the feel-good and magical aspects of the book, there are also some darker themes, including Nirrim’s abusive home-life. I thought Marie Rutkoski handled these themes incredibly well, exploring them through Nirrim’s eyes and hearing an outsider’s perspective from Sid. As we see Nirrim grow and learn more about the world around her, we see these situations change as well, with some scenes being somewhat tough to read.

While this is set in the same world as Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Trilogy, you don’t need to have read that to enjoy this, the ties are mostly small and feel more like Easter eggs for those who have read the trilogy rather than having a larger impact on the series. That being said, there is a chance the two series may become more entwined later on. I haven’t finished that first trilogy, but it is now high on my list to pick up again, particularly as The Midnight Lie has only just come out, so I’ve got a long time to wait until the sequel!

Set in the same world as Marie Rutkoski's Winner's Curse trilogy, although only very distantly, The Midnight Lie takes a close look at societal structure and challenges the foundation from which it has been built on.

Nirrim lives in the Ward in a position of servitude to her keeper, bound by the expectations of her label. Those with a low status are forbidden from experiencing the pleasures of food, colour and freedom of choice. But when Nirrim uncovers a secret, she becomes woven into the world of the High Kith, seeking a suspected source of magic that her companion Sid is sure the higher caste possess.

I think the following statement is a soft spoiler but - what this book does so well is that it presents a character in Sid who, had she been a man, would have been utterly abhorrent. But somehow as a woman, she wears her false pride and confidence admirably. I think Rutkoski has done something incredibly clever with her characters in this book and as she unveils the elements of each character you feel as though you've actually met a person and made a considered judgement about them.

With that said, so much time and careful construction of the characters warranted an equally intricate plot and it felt as though that balance hadn't really been struck. Initially, as Nirrim attempts to capture a rare, magical bird and is punished for it, I felt really compelled by the pacing and potential for magic. But, as the story progresses and completely drops the notion of a magical bird in favour of Sid and Nirrim's romance there really wasn't anything left of the story.

I found Nirrim and Sid's romance to be really believable and a good representation of sexuality, attraction and the choices we make about the people we choose to love, gender aside. I think Nirrim was created expertly; her naivety, consideration of her attraction to women and her quick acceptance of this was refreshing and realistic. But this novel was presented as YA fantasy, not YA romance, and that's not what it is.

Readers familiar with Rutkoski's Winner's Curse trilogy will recognise her lean towards romance in her fantasy world and might think, before reading this book, that this story would probably follow a similar format. But where the Winner's Curse managed to still be largely politically driven and reasonably complex in the world building with romance as a less central focus, The Midnight Lie reaches the half-way mark and forgets that it's a fantasy at all until the epilogue.

So, whilst I do like the characters and the pacing was good, I didn't sign up for a YA romance and I found myself a little disappointed whilst searching the last 150 pages for where the plot ran off to.

I loved this YA romance, it was beautifully written with engaging characters and a very nice story.
I'd definitely continue reading from this author.
Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

The Midnight Lie is a beautifully written YA fantasy romance. Readers of The Winner's Curse trilogy will be thrilled to learn that this novel is set in that same universe, although it is a standalone story that doesn't require reading any of Rutkoski's previous novels. It does, however, enhance the story.

Nirrim lives in the Ward where the lower class lives and life is grim. Follow the strict rules or suffer the harsh consequences. Until one day, Nirrim comes across a stranger, Sid, who has travelled from far away and speaks of magic possessed by the upper class. Nirrim is tempted and must trust Sid on their journey to find the magic even though Sid asks not to be trusted.

A slow burn romance ensues that's impossible for readers not to root for. Rutkoski's writing is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommended to readers looking for a strong YA fantasy romance. This is one that'll have readers swooning.