A review by vicwaltz
Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring tense 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

4.0

A very unique way to go with a Cinderella story! I don't usually love time-loops (and this one definitely took a bit for me to get into) but Shahnaz has found a really cool approach to this one. It's hopeful and critical all at once and while the ending doesn't wrap everything up in the bow I would've liked (I love a happily ever after), it feels right for the story. As with any time-travel there are definitely holes if you look hard enough, but nothing glaring that throws you out of the story.

The pacing bounces a bit but the back half of the novel is super strong and the characters are delightful. One of the normal faults of time-loop stories is that side characters don't really have a chance to grow since they don't retain any memories of their experiences. This novel feels that a little but as Anais's perspective on her friends changes you feel like they're growing (when really it's just Anais growing, and that's nifty). The romance does feel a little weird because of the time-loop, but both characters are aware of that and that mitigates it.

Overall a very fun YA fantasy and so impressive for a debut!
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