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A review by abby_ace_of_books
The Midnight Kingdom by Tara Sim
4.25
I've learned my lesson with Tara Sim books: never say the first one isn't angsty enough.
The Midnight Kingdom is the second book in the Dark Gods trilogy, and I'm kind of glad I waited so long to pick it up because now I don't have to wait as long for book three...although 11 months still feels far too long. Overall, I think I enjoyed this book more than the first, and while I have a few issues with it, I genuinely didn't want to put this book down. If I'd had a chance, I probably would've read all 550+ pages in one sitting.
There are quite a few POVs to keep track of in this story, and most of the characters have been separated, which tends to work against the book because of its sheer complexity. In Vitae, Angelica searches for Deia's fulcrum by venturing to her stepmother's home country with Cosima at her side. Similarly, Dante and Brailee chase after their Aunt Camilla to find a way to open a portal into Noctus. Meanwhile in Noctus, Taesia, Julian, Nik, and Fin are trapped under Phos's thumb. These two groups split up relatively early on (leaving Taesia paired with Julian and Nik paired with Fin). Finally, stuck in Mortri, Risha must find her way home while also keeping Jas from dissipating completely. I found the first 100 pages or so to be probably my favorite from the book because the tension is so high. The middle was a bit slow, and I did find the ending admittedly so overwhelming that I honestly didn't love it too much...I also am not a huge fan of the ending of the book. There were a few plot twists, but none of them were too crazy. I was mostly here for the vibes and the tension/angst.
I'll do my best to include my opinions about all of the main characters here, so bear with me because there's a lot. Firstly, Angelica...she grew on me but I think she's still probably my least favorite of the main characters because I find her a bit bland. The end of the story leaves me excited for her arc in the last book, but I dreaded her chapters. I found Cosima to be the only real tolerable part of Angelica's chapters, but even she felt a bit boring compared to the other characters. I didn't mind Dante and Brailee's chapters, but they felt a bit out of place at times. Dante is still one of my favorite characters, though. I'm still not a huge fan of Taesia, which definitely influenced my opinion on certain events in the book. Like I said in my review of the first book, I've read enough "morally gray" characters now that I don't find her super interesting. I also didn't like Julian as much in this one. I think his appeal in the first book was the mystery surrounding him, but now he just feels a bit basic. I didn't like Lilia, Marcellus, or Kalen at first, but now I'm more invested in their lives than half the main characters. A bunch of other reviews I saw said Nik's POVs were their least favorite, and while I can see why, I personally found myself waiting for them. His internal struggles in this book were so tense and angsty...I do wish we got to hear from Fin, though, which probably would've made Nik's story a bit more bearable for other readers. And Risha? Best character. I love her so much and I don't care what they say about Angelica and Taesia, Risha is 100% the strongest character. Her relationship with Jas is probably one of my favorite fictional relationships ever. Risha and Jas live rent-free in my mind now. In terms of the villains (mostly the gods), I do like hearing from them in the minds of the main characters and I'm interested to see how their goals play out in book three.
Packed with intrigue, magic, and devastating relationships, The Midnight Kingdom doesn't suffer from second-book syndrome as it sets up for an epic finale to the Dark Gods trilogy.
4.25/5
Mild Spoilers
I also just want to leave this quote here because it's been haunting me since I finished the book...
"Just as worshippers went to the basilicas to leave offerings, so, too, did he kneel on the altar of her body and give quiet thanks and quieter prayers, bestowing whatever he had on her. And just like a ravenous god she took it for her own, let it curl and breathe inside her. The reverence of life, the devotion of death. The two of them dancing between."
The Midnight Kingdom is the second book in the Dark Gods trilogy, and I'm kind of glad I waited so long to pick it up because now I don't have to wait as long for book three...although 11 months still feels far too long. Overall, I think I enjoyed this book more than the first, and while I have a few issues with it, I genuinely didn't want to put this book down. If I'd had a chance, I probably would've read all 550+ pages in one sitting.
There are quite a few POVs to keep track of in this story, and most of the characters have been separated, which tends to work against the book because of its sheer complexity. In Vitae, Angelica searches for Deia's fulcrum by venturing to her stepmother's home country with Cosima at her side. Similarly, Dante and Brailee chase after their Aunt Camilla to find a way to open a portal into Noctus. Meanwhile in Noctus, Taesia, Julian, Nik, and Fin are trapped under Phos's thumb. These two groups split up relatively early on (leaving Taesia paired with Julian and Nik paired with Fin). Finally, stuck in Mortri, Risha must find her way home while also keeping Jas from dissipating completely. I found the first 100 pages or so to be probably my favorite from the book because the tension is so high. The middle was a bit slow, and I did find the ending admittedly so overwhelming that I honestly didn't love it too much...I also am not a huge fan of the ending of the book. There were a few plot twists, but none of them were too crazy. I was mostly here for the vibes and the tension/angst.
I'll do my best to include my opinions about all of the main characters here, so bear with me because there's a lot. Firstly, Angelica...she grew on me but I think she's still probably my least favorite of the main characters because I find her a bit bland. The end of the story leaves me excited for her arc in the last book, but I dreaded her chapters. I found Cosima to be the only real tolerable part of Angelica's chapters, but even she felt a bit boring compared to the other characters. I didn't mind Dante and Brailee's chapters, but they felt a bit out of place at times. Dante is still one of my favorite characters, though. I'm still not a huge fan of Taesia, which definitely influenced my opinion on certain events in the book. Like I said in my review of the first book, I've read enough "morally gray" characters now that I don't find her super interesting. I also didn't like Julian as much in this one. I think his appeal in the first book was the mystery surrounding him, but now he just feels a bit basic. I didn't like Lilia, Marcellus, or Kalen at first, but now I'm more invested in their lives than half the main characters. A bunch of other reviews I saw said Nik's POVs were their least favorite, and while I can see why, I personally found myself waiting for them. His internal struggles in this book were so tense and angsty...I do wish we got to hear from Fin, though, which probably would've made Nik's story a bit more bearable for other readers. And Risha? Best character. I love her so much and I don't care what they say about Angelica and Taesia, Risha is 100% the strongest character. Her relationship with Jas is probably one of my favorite fictional relationships ever. Risha and Jas live rent-free in my mind now. In terms of the villains (mostly the gods), I do like hearing from them in the minds of the main characters and I'm interested to see how their goals play out in book three.
Packed with intrigue, magic, and devastating relationships, The Midnight Kingdom doesn't suffer from second-book syndrome as it sets up for an epic finale to the Dark Gods trilogy.
4.25/5
Mild Spoilers
I also just want to leave this quote here because it's been haunting me since I finished the book...
"Just as worshippers went to the basilicas to leave offerings, so, too, did he kneel on the altar of her body and give quiet thanks and quieter prayers, bestowing whatever he had on her. And just like a ravenous god she took it for her own, let it curl and breathe inside her. The reverence of life, the devotion of death. The two of them dancing between."