I loved all the representation in this book. The plot and the characters were all amazing. Also, I usually don’t read for romance but the tension was high quality. Awesome book!

DNF at ~40%

I really wanted to like this book. I have tried four time to read this book- after publication I even switched to the audiobook in a hope that I’d be able to get into it that way. Unfortunately I have never been able to get further than 40%. Maybe I should have realized this book wasn’t for me, I DNFed The Dark Tide too.

I found the character ms annoying and there was just never a moment where the plot hooked me in.

I loved the relationship between the three characters. The worldbuilding was lush and I loved the magic in this story.

This was out of comfort zone but it held my interest. About a band of witches on their big holiday and protecting each other and keeping up the traditions and dealing with intruders at the party. Parts of the book were way too descriptive and other parts way to short.

3.5/5 Stars

I have a few mixed feelings about this book. I will start with the fact that I loved the fact that this was sapphic. There is always a need for representation in books. I really enjoyed the characters and some of the plot. However, I was not the biggest fan of the writing style here. There was something about it that didn't really pull me in. The same thing happened with this author's previous novel. This is absolutely a personal issue but because of this, it did hinder my enjoyment. I would definitely recommend this book to others because I could absolutely see why someone would love this book.

Wow, I really enjoyed this, as you can tell by the amount of time it took me to finish. The beginning started with a grip on my attention. I really enjoyed Marynka and Zosia’s rivalry! Early on I caught on to the possibility that these two would end up caring for each other. But I really loved how it didn’t become a love feast. It stayed as a rivalry but with the tension and fire of their growing affection. There was a part towards the end that I really really enjoyed and was fairly surprised by! I also enjoyed the play on midday and midnight and how one had the power of the light and the other of the shadows.

Józef and Kajetan left an impression! I would really love to read a story about them, leading up to the midnight girls!

All in all this was a good read!

The Midnight Girls was not at all what I expected! Two witch-apprentices compete with each other for the heart of a prince - literal heart, so their witch bosses can gain power. This fantasy was so good. The mentions of German lore and Russian Tsarina got me very interested in the plot! This is one of the fantasy books that jump straight into the story without dragging much with the world building. I liked it about this book.

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the arc.

Zosia and Marynka are rivals destined for friendship. Monsters who serve their “grandmothers,” witches to whom they need to prove themselves, they are tasked with collecting hearts of princes for the witches to consume. Marynka is determined to collect the heart of a just and good prince to prove herself to her grandmother. Zosia, on the otherhand, needs the heart for herself, for if she consumes enough, she can free herself from the title of midnight and the servitude to the night witch. Though neither will sacrifice their goals for the other, they form a bond that might be more than friendship, which presents them with some pretty tough decisions.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the dark elements of the book, that the girls aren’t necessarily revered and beautiful witches, but monsters who are willing to do what it takes to get what they want. Even when they find themselves growing closer, neither wants to sacrifice what’s important to them for some potential budding romance. I really liked that. They didn’t give up everything for romance, but rather, had to find how to compromise for the best possible outcome for them both. Definitely recommend.

Intriguing premise of a villain vs villain, sapphic tale of magic and mayhem. All 3 girls were sent out to retrieve the heart of a pure prince so that their masters could gain more power. But on the journey there, Midday and Midnight struck up a fast friendship. Once they realized that they were each others mortal enemies, they quit attempting to kill the prince and just fought with each other. It was a quick, entertaining read.

DNF 50%

This premise is fantastic. These characters are complicated and messy. The interpersonal interactions are fascinating. The relationship development is engaging. Yet the idea of picking this back up to finish makes me want to cry. There is a very solid chance I’ll give this another try, but for now this book is not working for me. If you love morally grey, violent sapphic witches, this book should absolutely work for you, and I’m heartbroken that it doesn’t seem to jive with me.

This book was FANTASTIC. I loved literally everything about it and I cannot wait to read more. I felt like the characters were well developed and I was really intrigued by the way the relationships all worked around each other. I read this so fast because I couldn’t put it down!

I really enjoyed this book! Sapphic rivals to friends to enemies to lovers? Sign me up! I love the soulmate trope and this book did it justice! Also the fact that the main characters are actual monsters? Im in love.
The world is amazing and the characters are incredible!

Well I certainly enjoyed this one more than I did The Dark Tide, which I think was this author's debut.

Maybe it's that I enjoy Russian history inspired fantasy. But more likely it's to do with the three main characters: Marynka, Zosia and Beata. These three are all servants of the three witches of the land. They are the Red Jaga, the Black Jaga and the White Jaga. All three of them and their servants have dominion over one part of the day. This is midday, midnight and dawn respectively.

Marynka has been competing and failing against Zosia, who she knows only as Midnight, for years. Ever since the time they both became servants. When we first hear about Midnight, she comes across as someone who is larger than life. Certainly more powerful than either Marynka or Beata.

When the two girls finally do meet in person, they don't recognise each other for their alteregos and actually get along quite well. We also see Zosia's point of view for the first time and realise she's just as human as Marynka.

As the story goes on, we find illusions to the fact that the last Midday and Midnight ended up running away from the witches, and from Beata, to be together.

The chemistry between not just these two, but also between the prince they are hunting and his best friend is just sizzling but doesn't detract from this fast moving plot.

4.5 Stars
TW: child abuse, murder, magic and manipulation

This book unleashed such a yearning in me for the folklore, and the Slavic reimagine Baba Yaga and the unmistaken longing these girls had for each other (bonus the Prince and his friend).
The imaginary in the beginning and recap of the adventures of the heart-stealing had me obsessed, I love darker or morally grey girls, and these were monstrous girls!
The undercurrent of abuse and manipulation between Marynka and the red Baba Yaga and Zosia and Black Baba Yaga and the hint we see of the "sweeter" manipulation between the third girl and Baba Yaga was fascinating to see AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEM!

such a delightful tale of magic, monsters, and icy nights. It's reminiscent of Polish folklore, with the two main characters being raised by Jaga's ( witches) and competing for all their lives.
They end up vying for the same prince, the same pure heart, for different reasons, and a competition between them ensues. I found it exciting that both girls, while appearing pure , innocent, and lovely, had monstrous sides to them, with accompanying forms.
This book is so fluidly written, it is a joy to read, it flows easily throughout the story. The representation of different religions, identifications, preferences, lives, is wonderful to see. LGBTQIA2S, diversity, delightful !

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.***

Amazing! One of THE best books I've ever read. I'm not sure what Alicia Jasinska sprinkled on this book but it's gotta be something because I am addicted.

The writing, the characters, THE PLOT. My god this was an absolute masterpiece

For fans of Winternight and Throne of Glass!!!

The character on the right of the cover is basically Manon Blackbeak - equally brutal and loveable. I felt so swept into this world, the feeling of cold and winter is pervasive and the setting is very easy to understand. It was a quick read while still feeling immersive enough to be memorable.

I also love that it is inspired by Polish history! My partner's family is Polish so it was really cool to read.

THE MIDNIGHT GIRLS by Alicia Jasinska is a young adult standalone fantasy with (slightly) villainous sapphic rivals to lovers. It's told in two perspectives from the POV of Marynka and Zosia, who were both taken in by two different witches when they were little, raised to be the witches' servants and do all the dirty work for them. Their circumstances were super similar but they're quite polar opposites, and they were working against each other for years without ever meeting face-to-face. Then they get sent to get the heart of a pure-hearted prince, and along the way, they meet without knowing who the other one is, and they become friends.

While it's described as a villain story, I still feel like Marynka and Zosia are more morally gray and deeply flawed than actual villains. Their thinking, decision-making, and everything around it is so interesting throughout the whole story. It's so cool to see all the differences and similarities between them - I loved how they could connect over having super similar experiences but they also felt like they were too different.

I think it's a really unique, fast-paced, adventurous story with incredible, complex characters, and an amazing slow-burn sapphic romance. The storytelling also feels fairytale-like, and the story feels really cozy; it's definitely perfect for a cold winter day. The only thing I had an issue with is I wish we got more of the romance. I understand it's not the main focus, but the romance doesn't fully bloom to its full potential, and I cared for the characters and rooted for them together so much that I wish we got a little more.

Besides that, I think this is an amazing, well written, and fun YA fantasy that I highly recommend - especially if you like reading about complex characters who do many questionable things, but also have deep desires, fears, and hopes.

4.5 stars

This book was everything I love about fantasy! I could not have hoped for a better lesbian enemies-to-lovers story, I adored the characters and their relationship throughout the book. The way they bickered, the way they always needed to one up each other, the way they both wanted to kill and kiss each other while being completely oblivious to their feelings. The dual point of view was so great, I loved seeing both Marynka and Zosia's perspective.
And I loved the world building inspired by Polish history. I'm a sucker for wintery settings and Slavic inspired fantasy, and The Midnight Girls had everything I love! Wintery forests, snow storms, witches and monsters, masked balls, beautiful clothes, ice skating, underlying political intrigue.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves winter fantasy and enemies-to-lovers. If you're looking for ruthless and monstrous girls who try to kill each other while battling their feelings for each other, look no further, The Midnight Girls is the book for you.