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rebecca_bookish's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars!!
This book was so amazing! I loved the dark fantasy vibe of this! Having a fantasy world built around nightmares is so unique and I loved every second of it!
The characters and relationships between them were so good, I loved seeing the found family develop
This book was so amazing! I loved the dark fantasy vibe of this! Having a fantasy world built around nightmares is so unique and I loved every second of it!
The characters and relationships between them were so good, I loved seeing the found family develop
cloreadsbooks1364's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I added this book to my tbr after someone on bookstagram said it was their favourite book last year, though I forget who it was...
I did put off reading it because, unlike other books on my tbr, I had only heard it mentioned by one person. My expectations were nonexistent, and therefore should have been easy to meet.
Midnight's Twins
By Holly Race
2.75/5⭐️
In this book, there is a reality called Annwyn that we go to during dreams. If you are killed by a nightmare monster in Annwyn, you die in Ithr (our reality). Some people are recruited to work in Annwyn to protect dreamers. Twins Fern and Ollie join the Knights, where their mother worked before her death when they were babies. They soon discover a powerful villain to defeat.
The ambitions of Medraut, the villain, were frankly ridiculous. He wanted to make himself an immortal king of both realities, forcing everyone to work in factories day and night without feeling anything ever. Why did he feel that way? No clue but he's definitely evil, with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
I spent a lot of time questioning how the Knights and other recruits like Harkers managed to work their jobs in Ithr and somehow also work all night long in Annwyn. Do their brains ever get a rest? It sounds terribly stressful, having to worry about yourself in two separate realities with different people in each one.
The protagonist, Fern, was one of those protagonists who has special powers that make her different. At least in this one she had to share them with her twin, but I still dislike the trope.
Honestly, I had no attachment to any characters at all, they all seemed quite flat.
The only character I didn't feel indifferent towards was Phoebe, because she had a lion and that's cool. But all the side characters had NO DEVELOPMENT, which was frustrating. Can even one of them have their own side quest or lesson to learn, please?
The world building was barely included, no characters seemed capable of anything so they flung their biggest missions onto two 15 year old with barely any training (a few months and suddenly this group of kids are qualified to save lives every night?). The first half contained far too much information, I didn't remember much of it and I have a good memory.
If you read a lot of fantasy, I don't recommend this one because it's nowhere near the quality of other books such as The Gilded Ones or A Darker Shade of Magic. But if you are intrigued by the concept of this dream world, give it a try, maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did!
TWs: bullying, fire injury (past), murder
I did put off reading it because, unlike other books on my tbr, I had only heard it mentioned by one person. My expectations were nonexistent, and therefore should have been easy to meet.
Midnight's Twins
By Holly Race
2.75/5⭐️
In this book, there is a reality called Annwyn that we go to during dreams. If you are killed by a nightmare monster in Annwyn, you die in Ithr (our reality). Some people are recruited to work in Annwyn to protect dreamers. Twins Fern and Ollie join the Knights, where their mother worked before her death when they were babies. They soon discover a powerful villain to defeat.
The ambitions of Medraut, the villain, were frankly ridiculous. He wanted to make himself an immortal king of both realities, forcing everyone to work in factories day and night without feeling anything ever. Why did he feel that way? No clue but he's definitely evil, with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
I spent a lot of time questioning how the Knights and other recruits like Harkers managed to work their jobs in Ithr and somehow also work all night long in Annwyn. Do their brains ever get a rest? It sounds terribly stressful, having to worry about yourself in two separate realities with different people in each one.
The protagonist, Fern, was one of those protagonists who has special powers that make her different. At least in this one she had to share them with her twin, but I still dislike the trope.
Honestly, I had no attachment to any characters at all, they all seemed quite flat.
The only character I didn't feel indifferent towards was Phoebe, because she had a lion and that's cool. But all the side characters had NO DEVELOPMENT, which was frustrating. Can even one of them have their own side quest or lesson to learn, please?
The world building was barely included, no characters seemed capable of anything so they flung their biggest missions onto two 15 year old with barely any training (a few months and suddenly this group of kids are qualified to save lives every night?). The first half contained far too much information, I didn't remember much of it and I have a good memory.
If you read a lot of fantasy, I don't recommend this one because it's nowhere near the quality of other books such as The Gilded Ones or A Darker Shade of Magic. But if you are intrigued by the concept of this dream world, give it a try, maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did!
TWs: bullying, fire injury (past), murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books I put on my wishlist, but I don't think I'd ever gotten it if I hadn't put it on my wishlist for a bookswap. However, I had already seen that the price of this book had been lowered lately so I was kinda hoping I would get it. And since I'm staying with my parents for a week and all my books are at home I decided to just get started with the books I got in my swap right away. I had not expected to finish this one so soon though!
The first few chapters I needed some time to connect with the fantasy world and the characters, but the more I read the more invested I got and that's mostly because the heroine has such a nice journey throughout the book. She seems to judge harshly and doesn't forgive easily, but during her adventure she discovers that maybe not everything is someone else's fault. Maybe she herself also didn't help matters and maybe she is the key to start fixing stuff.
I also absolutely loved the politics in this book. Of course it's insanely scary what happens and how easy it seems to be to tell people that everyone who is different is a danger. I do think however that it's also realistic and a danger we're all way too familiar with. I especially loved though how there is this moment in the book where the characters realize that the villain is not just wanting power. He really DOES believe he's creating a better world this way.
The best part about the book is the dream version of London and the rest of the world. I always like the kind of stories where it feels like that other world is just one stap away. In this case we all enter this fantasy world in our dreams, but only a few can enter while being awake. I loved the mythology behind the world, how the world changed constantly and how the world could tell you so much about another person. I can't wait to play around in this world some more in the sequels.
The first few chapters I needed some time to connect with the fantasy world and the characters, but the more I read the more invested I got and that's mostly because the heroine has such a nice journey throughout the book. She seems to judge harshly and doesn't forgive easily, but during her adventure she discovers that maybe not everything is someone else's fault. Maybe she herself also didn't help matters and maybe she is the key to start fixing stuff.
I also absolutely loved the politics in this book. Of course it's insanely scary what happens and how easy it seems to be to tell people that everyone who is different is a danger. I do think however that it's also realistic and a danger we're all way too familiar with. I especially loved though how there is this moment in the book where the characters realize that the villain is not just wanting power. He really DOES believe he's creating a better world this way.
The best part about the book is the dream version of London and the rest of the world. I always like the kind of stories where it feels like that other world is just one stap away. In this case we all enter this fantasy world in our dreams, but only a few can enter while being awake. I loved the mythology behind the world, how the world changed constantly and how the world could tell you so much about another person. I can't wait to play around in this world some more in the sequels.
vira92's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cleverfoxwithcoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.25
alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
A very clever start to a new fantasy series.
Poor Fern. What an awful back story. I felt a little for Oliver as well, but not nearly as much. Maybe one of the upcoming books will be from his POV and I'll change my opinion.
The fantasy was brilliantly done and very smart. I found it easy to follow, with new concepts introduced at just the right speed. I especially love the idea of lockers hidden in plain view that only ppear when you do something specific - I may have to use that sometime!
The side characters were great. Two particular ones broke my heart; no spoilers, but if you've read it I'd love to know what you thought. I love that the regiments were named after Arthurian knights. It miakes sense with the backstory, of course, but it's such a clever touch.
I can't wait to find out what happens in the next titles. What a brilliant new series.
Poor Fern. What an awful back story. I felt a little for Oliver as well, but not nearly as much. Maybe one of the upcoming books will be from his POV and I'll change my opinion.
The fantasy was brilliantly done and very smart. I found it easy to follow, with new concepts introduced at just the right speed. I especially love the idea of lockers hidden in plain view that only ppear when you do something specific - I may have to use that sometime!
The side characters were great. Two particular ones broke my heart; no spoilers, but if you've read it I'd love to know what you thought. I love that the regiments were named after Arthurian knights. It miakes sense with the backstory, of course, but it's such a clever touch.
I can't wait to find out what happens in the next titles. What a brilliant new series.
hrysia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
alzena28's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0