Reviews

Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz

eschimmel's review against another edition

4.0

3.5

mysticforestcrafts's review against another edition

4.25

Pros:

While I worried after hearing this book was similar in concept to Groundhog’s Day the movie I was pleasantly surprised.  The author did a good job balancing repeating things and trying new options.  I never felt like it was tedious and frustrating and that I had to get through this to get to something new.

I found this a beautiful way to explore the idea that history is written by victors and they can include, exclude and edit things as they wish.  So much is lost/forgotten over time because of choices people made in the past and it is essential people learn that in a way that shows it’s importance like in this story.

Cons:

Part of me wanted a happier ending but that is just the happily ever after romance I grew up on.

brattyaddie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

madbookworm15's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

emj_reads5's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense

3.5

mrsmoger's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

devey821's review against another edition

challenging inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

karen_the_baroness's review against another edition

5.0

Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz is about one girl trying to stop a travesty. 

Will Anais stop the attack? 

Anais is the only daughter of a Conde, what we would call a Count, and in her world, not even that will stop the people at court making fun of her. You see, the people in Ivarea don’t like certain people—especially ones from Proensa because of the kind of power that some of them can wield. Anais is a Proensan and can perform this power. The power is blood magic. Except for all Proensans, this power weakens in every generation. It comes up in some families. Most of them can’t even call upon their blood magic anymore. 

Anais, though, is the unlucky one. She can call upon this magic, but this magic can’t help her stop the horror that she has to live through every single night—until she can finally stop it. Yup, Anais is stuck in a time loop—a very unlucky one—where she has to relive the night that she and a whole bunch of other people die. 

Likes and Dislikes 

The primary thing I like about Anais is that she is a determined young lady who tries with all her might to stop what will happen. Even if it means that she has to keep reliving the same night over and over again while trying a bunch of different methods to stop it. Another thing I like about her is how hard she tries not to let Leo near her. This is hard since, in some versions, he finds her, and they still get killed. The times I like when they are together are when they talk, and we learn more about Leo and maybe even about Anais before they die again. I also like it when she calls upon her friends to help her. 

The one thing that I dislike about Anais is that she doesn’t think she is meant for happiness and tries not to have any. 

Five Stars 

My rating for Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz is five stars. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read Young Adult Fantasy Romance. Especially if it has royalty, a ball, and a never-ending time loop where the main character must find out why they keep dying and how she can fix it. I loved this book immensely. Ms. Shahnaz transported me to the Kingdom of Ivarea and within this ball to help Anais stop this attack. 

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz. 

Until the next time, 

Karen the Baroness 

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove. 

vvines05's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

danaisreading's review against another edition

4.0

Debut novel where Groundhog Day meets French Revolution. Not a pairing I had read before (or thought of to be honest), but it works here.

While it borrows heavily from Spanish (Ivarea) and French (Proensa) influences to make up the society here, it is also its own unique blend. The character development of Anaïs as she dies over and over again as the palace is attacked during the Anniversary Ball is fascinating to track. While she blames herself for a lot of what's happened (as a result of the time-loop), she becomes a strong young woman, trying to do what's not only right for her to get out of the loop, but also for her country's future. But as a result of the loop, the other characters are flatter compared to her. And sometimes very contradictory in behavior from one loop to the next.

Spoiler

How does Jacinthe start out as a frenemy and then end up wanting to help Anaïs save Ivarea, for example? Leo also has some character fluctuations - to the point where I was disappointed that the final day's Leo isn't the Leo I wanted to see become King or navigate a future with Anaïs. The ending makes sense for this Leo, and maybe that makes for a more satisfying conclusion than a HEA-type ending would be.

I'm not entirely sure what goes on in the Shahnaz's brain to come up with this story, but it was engaging enough to want to read anything else she publishes.