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whattamess's review
3.0
I was drawn in by the unusual cover photo and a description that says, "Hannibal meets Mistborn". I didn't get it, so of course I just had to read it. I get it now, and it makes perfect sense.
The Helm of Midnight fits into several genres. Paranormal, detective, thriller, horror and even a splash of steampunk I suppose. The magic building was brilliant.
My only complaint is that the book felt exceedingly long. What should have taken me a few days to read instead took a few weeks. If you can push yourself through the sludgy bits of the story, you will be greatly rewarded.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
The Helm of Midnight fits into several genres. Paranormal, detective, thriller, horror and even a splash of steampunk I suppose. The magic building was brilliant.
My only complaint is that the book felt exceedingly long. What should have taken me a few days to read instead took a few weeks. If you can push yourself through the sludgy bits of the story, you will be greatly rewarded.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
bookish_satty's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. The unique magic systems as well as the world building were fabulous. The characters were well fleshed out and I loved the ending though it was bittersweet.
hilmi's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I tried hard to love this book. The pacing is terrible, the non-current views add little. The M-S romance is not well-worked, and neither is the other one. The sisters should have gotten more time together.
The mystery wasn't one because you can't really solve it. The world building wasn't bad and the powers were interesting. The characters were good but not excellent in that they remained 2d mostly. The villains was very meh. The resolution was also meh. Too many deus ex machina.
I love the genres this book says it is, but none were done too well. The book couldn't decide what it wanted to be. It took me way too long to finish it as I result. I won't follow up with the series, I was left uninterested.
The mystery wasn't one because you can't really solve it. The world building wasn't bad and the powers were interesting. The characters were good but not excellent in that they remained 2d mostly. The villains was very meh. The resolution was also meh. Too many deus ex machina.
I love the genres this book says it is, but none were done too well. The book couldn't decide what it wanted to be. It took me way too long to finish it as I result. I won't follow up with the series, I was left uninterested.
massivepizzacrust's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Great ideas, world-building, and characters. But I thought the plot was a little confusing, a lot of things happening kind of without explanation. I'm sure there's more explanation about the world in the other books but I felt like the actual plot events were a little unjustified (ex., why did they decide to take Melanie at the wedding instead of literally any other time)
jackieloyd's review
5.0
A serial killer thriller set in a well-built fantasy world where enchanted masks contain the echoes of the dead people they were made to commemorate. This book was gripping and fast-paced. I loved every page.
story_of_steph's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to love The Helm of Midnight because the concept was intriguing, a high fantasy/thriller, but the execution just didn’t do it for me. There was a lot happening—multiple timelines, different perspectives, and a complex world—but so much of it felt underdeveloped. Important elements weren’t explained clearly, and I often found myself confused about the magic system and the world-building.
The villain, who should’ve been terrifying and complex, ended up being pretty disappointing. He was just this unhinged person with no real depth or motive that made sense. I was hoping for a more layered antagonist, but instead, it felt like they were evil just for the sake of it.
By the time I reached the last third of the book, I was losing interest. The pacing dragged on, and the story felt like it was never going to end. I ended up skimming the last few chapters just to get through it. Overall, I’m disappointed and won’t be continuing with the series. It had potential, but it didn’t hit the mark for me.
The villain, who should’ve been terrifying and complex, ended up being pretty disappointing. He was just this unhinged person with no real depth or motive that made sense. I was hoping for a more layered antagonist, but instead, it felt like they were evil just for the sake of it.
By the time I reached the last third of the book, I was losing interest. The pacing dragged on, and the story felt like it was never going to end. I ended up skimming the last few chapters just to get through it. Overall, I’m disappointed and won’t be continuing with the series. It had potential, but it didn’t hit the mark for me.
fawvera's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5