This book is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. It tackles grief so well.
This is a beautiful magical story that brings together love and family.
The characters are so relatable.
A great story

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.

Ross Montgomery kicked off a sparkling career as a children’s author with some wonderfully original books (my favourite is Max and the Millions). Since then he has written several exciting and entertaining adventures, of which this is a one (but not the latest). Keen young readers should certainly explore Ross Montogmery it they haven’t discovered him yet.. There are now plenty of titles to go for. (His latest, Spellstone, is also a smasher.)

The Midnight Guardians is a fantastic story about two great wars.

The first of these is World War II and the blitz. Col has been evacuated, he's lost his dad and he's missing his sister Rose. He's seen a vision of a massive and terrible air raid coming and is desperately trying to get to London in time to save Rose. The pain, loss and devastation caused by the air raids comes across really strongly, especially in the sequences set in London. As well as the direct impact of the bombing we also see other elements, from blackmarket goods to mental hospitals for the shell shocked, and with Ruth we get to see another element again, as we see the war from the perspective of a young German jew far from home with no information about her parents. It's all very moving and really brings across the plight of people caught up in that dreadful conflict.

Mirroring the blitz is a second war, this one started in the spirit world though its effects ripple through our own. The King of Midnight, a dark and vengeful god of death, is rising in power through all that death, darkness and destruction and is challenging his counterpart, the Green Man, for power. With the Green Man in hiding, it looks like the King is all but unstoppable, just needing that last big raid to swell his powers to the point where he can rule both worlds.

I'm not a big fan of world war stories, but I do love a good fae story and this part of the book absolutely thrilled me. The concept of that balance of nature, between light and dark, death and life being upset by WW2 is so clever and works so well, especially as we see the balance tip in different directions as the story progresses.

The core characters, Col and his imaginary friends, now guardian spirits escaped from the King to try and help Col, are just wonderful. There's a definite Labyrinth tone to them and many of the spirits they meet and I could absolutely picture the bickering knight, the King of Rogues, and characters like the animated trees and talking stones as Henson creations. There's so much humour to them, but also so much compassion and love, and it's nice to be reminded that we can all be vulnerable beneath our armour.

With its core themes of finding love and friendship and using them to fight back the darkness, The Midnight Guardians is a beautiful fantasy tale.

My children aged 9 and 11 loved this book. It would be a brilliant class reader for year 5 and 6. Perfect story for winter nights in the run up to Christmas. Historical setting with magical twist is brilliant

Both me and my ten year old read this. Here is his feedback:

The book is, for lack of a better explanation, an interesting mix of real life events and magic.

It combines the very real events of WW2 with fantastical magic from another world. The text is well written and gives a window into the past.

The emotion of the characters constantly changes and leaves no part of the quest untouched.

Overall, its a great book that gives a portal to the past, while also mixing it with magic to make a very interesting story.

I have been TOTALLY engrossed ALL day. TMG will stay with me for a long time! I can't remember the last time I read a book where I could vividly visualise the words. So many superlatives that I could use to describe my feelings.

The hype is REAL!

An exciting middle grade adventure set during the Blitz that I predict will be a future classic.

Col has been evacuated out of a war-torn London to live with his Aunt Claire, leaving behind his sister after losing their father only six months before. One night, Col discovers that his childhood imaginary friends are real and they have to save his sister before a raid on London kills her and gives the Midwinter King all the power he needs to take over the Spirit World. Accompanied by a tiger that can change sizes, a badger in a waistcoat and a very argumentative Knight, Col faces danger after danger on his road to London.

This story has the classic feel of C. S. Lewis with insanely likeable characters to boot. Col, as a protagonist, is easy to root for but the entire ensemble cast together is when this story truly shines. I adored all of the Guardians, from Pendlebury the Tiger, who cracks the most awful jokes at the worst of times, to Mr Noakes, the badger in the waistcoat who would rather die than go without his seasonings, and the King of Rogues (never call him just Rogues), the Knight who can't seem to go a few minutes without an argument or a complaint. We meet more characters along the way, and it was a thrill to discover who Col and the cast would meet next. The Midwinter King is rather formidable and determined, making him a scary foe.

With the characters constantly on the move, it meant that exciting things would happen in every chapter, making it rather fast-paced and I did finish this in a day. New settings would add to the atmosphere, and the possibility of a bomb dropping from the air at any moment was an added concern, adding to the atmosphere. The WW2 backdrop of this worked wonderfully well - a testament to Montgomery's writing.

The Midnight Guardians is a journey about a boy and his imaginary friends on a mission to save the world from darkness. This book works on many levels: the literal efforts in the real world will effect and change the present and the future during WW2. Fantastical: successfully completing this quest, will restore balance to both worlds, averting evil from overtaking and remaking the physical world for eternity .

What packed the punch for me was the emotional rollercoaster that Col went on.

Devastated by recent events, Col is forced to grow and develop, assume independence, step into maturity and take chances for the good of all. I enjoyed the characters, their depth and how their personalities were real, mirroring the here and now as well as The Spirit World. I'm a sucker for good over evil and resilience in the face of adversity.

This is a fine book intertwining the history and mythology of England and providing a message of hope despite overwhelming odds.

I was lucky to receive an arc of The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery from Walker Books via Netgalley. I was so excited as this was one of my anticipated reads for 2020 and I was looking forward to reading it. Then to my surprise I received a signed physical copy of the book in my Tales By Mail Book box and I knew that i was a sign telling me that I needed to read it. Omg what a book I fell in love with Ross's writing style and want to start reading more books by him. The Midnight Guardians is the story of Col and his imaginary friends travelling to London to try and save Col's sister Rose. I especially loved the comparisons of the battle of the Green Man and the Midwinter King with the battle between Britain and Germany. Ross managed to show the devastation of war by using Newspaper articles together with facts written into the story. In some parts of the story Ross managed to make me cry and for these reasons I have to give beautiful and well written book 4 stars.

It’s very late in the year to have a book sail into my favourite reads of the year, but this book has done it.

I didn’t expect to have tears in my eyes on a Sunday morning reading a childrens book about an imaginary animal friends, but this is 2020 and it just is what it is.

Col is an evacuee, living with his stern Aunt, waiting for his sister Rose to travel from blitz hit London for Christmas. When he finds out she’s not coming to their old family cottage, due to her war work, he decides to run away there anyway.

On arrival his old childhood imaginary friends are there - and now real! They are Pendlebury the protective gentle Tiger who can grow or shrink as needed, King of Rogues a tiny, but very pompous, angry knight and Mr Noakes an irascible old badger with a natty little waistcoat.

They need his help, a vision says London is about to be obliterated in a massive Nazi bombing raid and the evil Midwinter King is going to use the carnage to banish the spring and make it Winter forever.

This is a lovely introduction to episodic quest fantasy. I’ve seen comparisons to Narnia, but this shares much more DNA with The Hobbit. Col and the Guardians come into contact with magical foes such as trees who have to be tricked, devious fairies and hilarious lumbering giants. These set pieces are cinematic and the heroes escapes methods are clever and fun.

Montgomery also weaves in real problems, like the treatment of evacuee children, grief at the loss of a parent, the black market & some overzealous home guards.

The author is masterful in creating a vibrant fantastical yet grounded world. Kids are here for the magic, but being empathetic to the horrors of war, the injustice faced by the Jewish people, the realities of life during a blackout and human spirit overcoming darkness is what will stay with them.

Properly funny, unabashedly sentimental and more than a little magical, it has future classic stamped ALL OVER IT.

This is a wonderful book filled to the brim with adventure and friendship set in the historical period of World War Two with elements of folklore that compliment each so well. One of my favourite books to recommend this holiday season!

The story starts in December 1940, where Col is awaiting the arrival of his sister Rose from London so they can spend Christmas together, their first without their dad. But instead of Rose being there, it's a letter explaining that she can't come, she is needed in London to help others. In anger after reading the letter, Col runs away from his Aunt Claire to the old family home. But instead of finding it cold and empty, there in front of his eyes are his imaginary friends: Pendlebury the tiger, Mr. Noakes the badger and a knight called the King of Rogues. They have come from the spirit world to warn Col that Nazis aren't the only evil out there. The Midwinter King has taken over, using the vision of a terrible raid on London that leaves it burning to the ground to show that all this darkness and despair will make him the strongest he has ever been. So begins their journey to London to save Rose, fighting the forces of the Midwinter King and finding allies of their own along the way.

Col is such an amazing character to follow. He is on the cusp of the so called 'age of not believing', where his childhood has been taken by the war but in the end its his imaginary friends that help him find his way. Though he doubts himself, his love and kindness really shine through as he goes on this terrifying journey

This is an amazing book that captures the innocence of childhood imaginary friends with the horror of the raids on London in a perfect blend of love and high stakes.


Thank you to Walker's Books and Netgalley for the early eArc of the book!

Awwwwwwww. This is truly lovely. It's a perfect winter read - warming and fun. The characters are great and the book is so well-written.

This was a really good story that was very well written and exciting. The characters were vivid, entertaining and grew throughout the book and the lead wasn't in it to save the world just his family.

A very refreshing book about good Vs evil with lots of interesting mythical creatures thrown in to good effect. A great story for 8+ year Olds.

The Midnight Guardians is an exciting, fast-paced and humorous adventure which seamlessly blends history and fantasy into an unforgettable, magical story which celebrates the enduring power of love, hope and friendship to overcome hatred, uncertainty and darkness. Sheer perfection!

Col has been evacuated from London during the Blitz to live with his Aunt Claire, leaving his older sister Rose behind. Col soon finds himself reunited with his imaginary Guardians – except they have materialised in his world! The Guardians have come with a dire warning, a warning that sees Col determined to return to London to save his sister from a terrible danger …

So begins a truly astounding adventure that completely and utterly gripped me and swept me completely into its magic. My heart pounded alongside Col and the Guardians as they race against time to get to London to save Col’s sister … will they be able to win the battle between darkness and light that threatens to destroy the world? Will they be able to stand firm against the terrible foes they face whilst fulfilling their quest?

The entwining of dark myths and legends against the realistically portrayed backdrop of WWII creates a real sense of peril with a magical sense of wonder that gives an incredible depth and richness to the narrative.

The three Guardians are just brilliant with a wonderful camaraderie and plenty of humour which lightened some of the darker moments. They have fantastically individual characters that made them feel endearingly real. King of Rogues (make sure you address him with his full title or you may well feel his wrath) is a miniature knight with attitude; Mr Noakes is a kind-hearted badger in a waistcoat; and, Pendlebury is the brave and noble Bengal tiger who can alter his size. There is so much more to them, but everyone deserves the joy of getting to know these three for themselves! The Guardians have been waiting for Col as he is their only hope in defeating the merciless Midwinter King who is a truly terrible villain who sent shivers down my spine. He thrives on darkness, and the terrible events of our history feeds his thirst for power and dominion.

Col is an incredibly sympathetic character. He is lonely, friendless and grieving the loss of his father. He feels bitter disappointment and hurt at his sister not coming with him to their Aunt’s home. Despite his fear, Col great courage in overcoming a terrible enemy in a dangerous time, supported by a wonderfully loyal, protective and supportive circle of friends who give him strength when it is most needed.

This is an engrossing and epic quest that took me on the most incredibly action-packed, perilous and heart-warming adventure with a cast of amazing characters: an unforgettable tale of friendship, hope and overcoming darkness.

The realism of the Second World War together the addition of the spirit world, makes this unique book a compelling read. When the darkness of war has taken over our world, the darkness (in the form of the Midwinter King) of the spirit world threatens to bring an eternal darkness upon everything. Ross Montgomery manages to fill you with dread/terror and humour in equal measures, I particularly enjoyed their first spirit encounter with Keith in the enchanted forest - it was from this moment that I knew it would be difficult to put down. I loved the bravery of Col and the wonderful cast of magical creatures we meet throughout the book - especially Col’s (once imaginary friends) the midnight guardians. I am so looking forward to sharing this in school.

The Midnight Guardians is a WW2 tale with a magical twist. Join Col, the main protagonist, on a epic adventure to save his sister from a Blitz-bombed London supported by a wondrous cast of Guardians. There's Pendlebury, a tiger of epic proportions. Mr Noakes, a waistcoat wearing badger and an irrepressible knight who may be small in statue but who is a giant of a friend.
The story is filled with raging battles between the forces of light and dark. This is a story of hope and also that with the power of friendship all things are possible. Ross Montgomery has sensitively conveyed that although we may lose those we cherish and love deeply, they and the memories of them are held deep within us all.
An incredible and atmospheric story that is eloquently written.

A beautiful story about finding hope in the darkest of places.

WWII evacuee, Col is devastated when he learns his older sister will not be joining him for Christmas and runs away from his aunt Clare - straight into the welcoming arms of his childhood imaginary friends, who are a bit more solid and life-like than he remembered. His friends - The Guardians: King of Rouges (definitely not just Rouges), Mr Noakes (a badger in a waistcoat) and Pendlebury (a tiger who can change her size) - have left the spirit world to help Col save his sister from a terrible raid.

With hints of Narnia and The Dark is Rising, I think this story will be hugely popular (and very deservedly so). The characters are wonderful - everything you could possibly hope for in imaginary friends - and vividly brought to life. Any child who has had an imaginary friend (or three) will love Col's guardians.

The plot is tense and exciting, and I was never entirely sure how it was going to end. There's lots of humour too - everything from bogie monsters to fairies provide laughter in a story that could otherwise become quite dark, given the seriousness of its setting.

Wild winter storms, folklore and magic make this an excellent book for reading on a cold winter night. It will make you feel grateful of those you love, and perhaps a little bit more imaginative too.

Thank you Walker Books for providing me with an advanced copy of The Midnight Guardians for review.

Loved, loved, loved this story! It's highly enjoyable, well written and you cannot help loving the characters.
I loved the mix of historical facts and fantasy, the storytelling and the great world building.
I think it will be loved by both adults and children.
It is excellent and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I was intrigued by the cover and blurb for this book and couldn’t resist requesting it. I was not disappointed: it is a wonderful read that I will be happy to promote in my library to any child.

The story follows Col and his friend, Ruth, across the UK accompanied by a disparate group of Col’s imaginary friends who have magically materialised as his guardians. They have to battle against numerous challenges both magical and human. As a group, they all have to learn to trust each other and grow as characters as their flaws and weaknesses are revealed.

This really is a wonderful tale that can be used in many ways to support and enhance curriculum teaching. In terms of PSHE you can track each character’s growth and development. There are religious elements that would work for RS, Col is told ‘you can’t have light without darkness.’ Historically, it would be a fabulous novel to use to discuss WW2. The descriptions of magical characters would inspire interesting art and creative writing.

I loved this book. It was a little slow to get started but the balance of history and magical realism soon carried me along.