This was an interesting take on vampires - the idea that they can sense loneliness, that it draws them to humans, that those make the best feast... it's a cool idea, and one that works well. The best type of victim is the one nobody will miss and in this book, the killer is feasting on just that.

The main characters were all interesting - although confusingly the blurb on Goodreads has one of the characters under a different name - a translating error? A change that hasn't gone through? The name in the actual book fits the story a lot better.

The best parts were the story in France, the themes of love and loss even when young.

I both wanted more and less of Korea in this - more because I wanted to know what they thought of vampires, what kind of creature haunted their nightmares, their folklore. And less because there were times when the translator left in words that to those who don't know Korean, made no sense. I didn't understand some of the titles and terms and felt as if I was missing part of the story as a result.

An engaging read that I finished in a day, that left me with more questions and the hope that the author returns to this world. More vampire hunting and police work please!

An interesting detective story that unwound the story well, though the climax was a bit confusing. I enjoyed the blending of two different timelines and the way the writer juggled multiple perspectives.

I'm a little conflicted about this book. I don't want to crown Cheon Seon-ran as my favorite Korean author, but her book A Thousand Blues is one of the best books I read last year. I loved the story, and it was definitely a fun time, but it was severely undercooked.

The Midnight Shift follows Suyeon, a detective investigating strange suicides taking place at a retirement home. The deceased are all found after jumping from the roof with a suicide note in their own handwriting... and no blood in their bodies or at the scene. Which is a little strange, considering they threw themselves off a building. Luckily for her, Suyeon gets an answer when Violette - a Korean adoptee - shows up and kindly lets her know vampires exist, and that maybe one of the hospital staff is working with a vampire.

Besides the main paranormal investigation storyline, there's also an additional timeline set in France in 1983, following Violette's interactions with a vampire. I found this to be the absolute highlight of the book. I don't know how to describe the vibe, but it was very Carmilla-esque, with an unlikely friendship (with heavy sapphic undertones) that turns very dark, mixed in with Violette's lonely coming-of-age story.

The book felt like a paranormal CSI episode. It was fast-paced without much chewing or world-building, which made it fun, but I had so many questions about so many things (i.e., Ulan? The vampire-hunting association? Vampire hunters get paid? How did Violette become involved in this? Why was Greta meeting people who wanted to commit suicide if not to break the 'rules' - or why was Violette okay with her breaking the 'rules'? BIG LONG ETCETERA). It also had some gaps/contradictions that just made me raise an eyebrow while reading (i.e., vampires are described as territorial and living alone/not interacting with others, but then it turns out all vampires have a clan or companions?).

My two other 'issues' with the book were the characters and the lack of a 'message' in the book. The characters felt a little apathetic to me, especially Suyeon, who just went through the motions and half the time would not even answer when people talked to her. But mostly, I think because we lacked so much context, I just didn't get why Nanju and Violette (and Greta and Ulan) acted one way or another. And... about the 'message'. I just kept mentally comparing it to A Thousand Blues because I sobbed a few times while reading it and I highlighted half the thing, but here? It was just very... meh. Don't trust a vampire. Life sucks, but you're alive so you can do things...? Idk. I wanted more.

I usually don't mention translations unless it's to say something good, but I do want to talk about this one. The translation was great, but at times I'd be reading and I'd stop because I would be confused about some word choices. Also, I thought it was interesting that the words halmoni and ajumma were added sometimes but not always (i.e., sometimes the book talks about 'Granny Eunshim' and then suddenly she was referred to as halmoni). I'm okay with it, but I do think people who aren't familiar with Korean will be a little confused there.

I sense this comes off as a bad review, and I do admit I was a little disappointed, but it was still a great read for me. 3.5 rounded up.

I thought the premise of this was interesting but the execution left me feeling disappointed. The writing felt very juvenile and rushed in places and incredibly slow and drawn out in others. I couldn’t bring myself to feel any sort of real connection with either main female character and found myself wishing the book would end sooner. It just didn’t work for me!

Cheon Seon-Ran’s *The Midnight Shift* is a fresh and thrilling take on the vampire genre, seamlessly blending supernatural horror with poignant social commentary. Set in contemporary Seoul, the novel follows three lonely individuals—Su-yeon, Wanda, and Nanju—each struggling with societal isolation, identity, and personal demons. Their paths cross with a mysterious vampire who preys not just on blood, but on loneliness itself, drawing them into a dark and unexpected entanglement. What begins as a murder mystery quickly evolves into something deeper—a meditation on queer love, marginalization, and the search for belonging in an unforgiving world.

What makes *The Midnight Shift* so compelling is its ability to balance its gripping plot with layered emotional depth. The novel borrows the best elements of classic vampire lore, but infuses them with a distinctly modern and socially conscious edge. Cheon Seon-Ran crafts a story that is at once thrilling and thought-provoking, offering a supernatural tale that resonates on a deeply human level. With its unique premise and immersive storytelling, *The Midnight Shift* is a standout addition to the ever-evolving vampire canon.

The Midnight Shift by Cheon Seon-Ran is so good and cool I couldn't put it down for a second. So so good!!! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

DNF at 57%

- I tried SO hard to push through with this one since the premise really called to me but I just couldn’t care about the characters. The story itself couldn’t get my attention even though I am a firm vampire lover