This book is a perfect blend of cozy fantasy vibes, young adult light romance, and magic. Rachel’s writing is like a warm hug and I loved every second of this book.

Read. This. Book. 🙌🏼

Rating: 3.5

I was caught between just liking this book and loving it. Overall, it was a good, solid read that I did enjoy. The author did beautiful work of writing magic in a way that makes you feel as if you are on the island in the story. In fact, aside from my beliefs aligning more with the old coven than the new, I would love to live on the Witchery. It reminded me a bit of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls and I loved how each family had their own focus and strengths within their magic.

MC Tana grew up believing her life had one destiny, one purpose, but she soon begins to discover that there are secrets surrounding her that threaten to uproot all she’s ever known. With forbidden love, arranged marriage, and dark secrets, this story has a lot to offer. I did, however, feel as if a few places lulled in progression and felt like they could have been skipped over or breezed through without as much focus on them.

"There's something beautiful about it. Even though so much of your life has been mapped out for you, you still had this night that was entirely unscripted. Entirely your own."

This book is beautiful, to put it simply. Absolutely beautiful. Rachel Griffin's writing is stunning. I loved watching Mortana and Wolfe's relationship unfold, and watching young witch Mortana discover herself as well as question her own morals and beliefs, thus determining her future.

Rachel Griffin has a beautiful way with words and descriptive imagery, and this is a perfect book to read this fall! This has magic, spells, witches, politics, romance, memory-potions, and all the cozy vibes.

Thank you Rachel Griffin and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of Bring Me Your Midnight in exchange for an honest review! :)

On the island of Witchery, the new coven lives freely and practice low magic at day. Witches use their powers to create calming teas, wonderful dresses or delightful perfumes they sell to mainlanders. Thanks to tourism, the island thrives. I could totally picture myself walking those cobblestones paths and going in the teashop around the corner!

The atmosphere of the island is eerie, whimsical, soft and calming. Just as Tana's parents perfume shop. She works there, infusing her magic in perfumes.
After her twentieth birthday, she will marry the governor's son go secure her coven's safety with the Mainland. She has been prepared for it her whole life and knows it's for the sake of her people.

Thankfully, her bff Ivy is always there to reassure her and lights up her days. Working in the nearby tea shop with her parents, Ivy grounds her even when the weight of responsibilities becomes too much.

But when she meets Wolfe, Tana's world is turned upside down. Not only does he belong to the supposedly dead old coven but when she founds out about high magic, nothing feels the same. She starts to question everything and more dangerously, wants to know more about this high magic she's been taught to fear.

Wolfe is everything you'd imagine a mysterious boy to be. Tall, dark haired, angry and flirty, a little bit arrogant but damn soft inside. He opens up a new world to Tana, shows him his magic and his way of life, helps her see more than she thought there is in the world. Most importantly, he actually sees her for who she truly is.

Big up to these secondary characters that were not only grey, but also very soft and supportive in their own way to Tana.
Ingrid, Tana's mother and head of the coven is a strong willed, determined and organized woman.
Tana's father is a marshmallow. Must protect.
Ivy, Tana's bff and literally her soulmate, is so perfect and supporting. She's caring and sees her for who she really is and not just the role she has to play

3.5/5
Tana doesn’t have to think about her future. It’s all been decided. In order for her coven to survive persecution, she must marry the mayor’s son. She must be a perfect example of the docility of low magic. And sure, there’s not much room for what she wants, but things could be a lot worse. She loves her home and her family and she’ll be able to take a historic step to protect them. Landon may not be able to give her love, but what is that beside the security of her people? All she has to do is follow the plan and be the person her mother needs her to be.

But a chance encounter with a beautiful stranger causes the edges of Tana’s careful constructed reality to crack. Her mother is keeping secrets, the currents around the island are building, and maybe- just maybe- she wants more from life than what she’s planned.

I was not a huge fan of Wild is the Witch, so I came into this book with mixed expectations despite the intriguing plot and beautiful cover. Luckily, I enjoyed this one thoroughly! Really good romantic magical realism. Does all of the magic and politics quite make sense? Not quite, but there were more than enough interesting ideas and romantic tension to keep that from bothering me too much.

I think my connection to Mortana is what pulled me through this book. There were several moments when clearer communication could have solved her problems, but I fully understood why she was unable to speak; Griffin does a great job illustrating Mortana’s internal struggle. I think a lot of readers will relate to her honest love for her parents despite their sometimes unreasonable expectations and how difficult that love made doing some things that she knew were right. Her relationship with Wolfe was such a sweet avenue for her to explore her more subversive side. I loved how her relationship with Wolfe never eclipsed her personal development; he was a part of her story but each still had their own desires and character.

And the angst! I love a well designed forbidden love and the push and pull between Wolfe and Mortana was well done.

The cons: Ivy and Tana’s mom were a little bit…off. Ivy flip flopped a bit too quickly but was almost a great example of ingrained belief and the ability to grow. Tana’s mom was just- I get she’s her mom, but she forgives her too much!! Without any spoilers, let’s just say I hate dishonesty and deception and think truth should come to light more universally within the coven. A few twists felt too fast or inserted obviously to continue the narrative rather than feeling organic (a certain bee swarm) but again, it was still fun.

So- a solid, angsty, romantic, magical realism story about a young woman figuring out who she is and how to stand up against those she loves to preserve her own identity and needs, with the help of a relationship with a mysterious outsider. Really fun and emotional. Definite recommend if that sounds like fun to you, too.

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

I really enjoyed the world building and feel of this book. This was my first Rachel Griffin book so perhaps I wasn't used to her writing and that's why it took me a while to get into it.

But overall, I really liked Tana coming into her own and making her own decisions. From my personal standpoint, removing your power because it makes other people uncomfortable is ridiculous so I never liked that part to begin with. It reminds me of in the movie <i>Practical Magic</i>, where Sandra's character chose to give her power for herself NOT because of the town people which is the way it should be.

The story was very good and I may read another book by Rachel Griffin now!

I LOVE THIS BOOK! Why? Because it's like life itself... with a little bit of magic. The main characters and the side characters start the book with the premise of following their duty and make their parents and families proud. Which is something all of us have gone through. Add to that, magic, fake dating and enemies to lovers... and you have a very interesting book.
Rachel Griffin... keep writing books like this, please.

Another decadently beautiful tale from Rachel Griffin. Rachel writes fantasy worlds so beautifully I am just in awe wherever I read her books. Her magical book always connect beautifully to nature in a way that’s unlike other books. Her magic system is always so beautifully balanced with the natural world. I absolutely fell in love with the characters. Ivy was definitely my favorite, It was amazing to see.how Tana it’s out with the struggle between her duty and her self wants. This is definitely my favorite book that Rachel has written so far. Thank you so much for this early copy I really really enjoyed it!

I loved this book so much!! I love the world-building and the magical world that is created here! I enjoyed all the twists and turns. Learning that things aren’t the way they seem. I was hooked right away and couldn’t get enough. Will read more books by the author

Read if you like: forbidden romance, books about witches
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Tana is meant to marry the Governor's son, Landon, in order to forge an alliance with the mainlanders and protect her coven. Which she is willing to do, that is, until she meets Wolf, a witch who practices dark magic and he introduces Tana to a world she didn't know existed.
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Once the romance started to develop more, I became more invested in the story but it did take me a little bit to get into it. I'm a sucker for the forbidden romance trope and I enjoyed how this one play out! If you like YA fantasy with some romance, then you will enjoy this!

Enchanting, spellbound, thrilling, I cannot say enough good things!! I love a good witchy read and this delivered. It completely captivated me and threw me into the Witchery with Tana herself and made me feel apart of their Coven.

I could not put this one down and was constantly thinking about it while I was at work and couldn't read it. I even woke up an hour early this morning just to finish it because I needed to know what happened! Wolfe and Tana were both well developed characters and I loved reading about Tana and her dad's relationship.

The plot itself was for lack of a better word, MAGICAL. It was intriguing and thrilling and everything flowed so well. I loved the atmospheric nature of the writing and felt entranced throughout.

As for the ending, I thought it couldn't have been more perfect. I was nervous as I went on because I thought it would be a happily ever after and the mainland and witches now coexist, but think Griffin made a much more realistic and satisfying ending!

Bring Me Your Midnight is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The background and the atmosphere felt captivating and perfect, it set the mood for the rest of the book and I was truly excited to get through it.

The book follows Mortana Fairchild as she begins to discover the truth about the world around her, and the lies she was led to believe. Deception is in the very fabric of her life, the myths woven helped form who she - and her coven - are. So, what happens when the truth begins to seep through, in unexpected ways?

What really didn't quite click for me in this novel, is the romance. It felt rushed as there was no real build-up to it. Wolfe (a bit on the nose, isn't it?) has moments of intrigue but for the most part he is just there. His defining characteristics are being “sharp” and beautiful. He's the brooding type of love interest and it makes an attempt to go from enemies-to-lovers. However, the enemies goes on for like two pages before they're starting to feel attraction for each other.

The prose is beautiful, and like I said previously, the atmosphere was spot on throughout the entirety of the book. Rachel Griffin has a wonderful ability to write magic and nature together and that was one of my favorite aspects of this book. She does a wonderful job at creating this atmospheric island setting where the magic and the water and plants and earth feel like characters in their own right.

It feels weird to say that I liked the second part to the book more than the beginning. Since I've mentioned that the romance didn't really do it for me, it didn't quite feel authentic, the second part of the book is more character driven. It's more focused on the choices that Mortana has to do, and what leads her to make them.

Overall, it's the romance that is driving her reasons for changing, instead of her own agency and desire to accept her magic for what it is and what it could be. I wish there had been more decisiveness on her part before the romance hit, or even instead of some of those insta-love feelings. The biggest chemistry for me in this book was Tana's friendship with her best friend Ivy, I was more excited to read about them than the actual romance of the book. Her relationship with her father was also very wholesome, a very stark contrast to the relationship to her mother.

I also have to point out that Mortana is 20 years old, but she's treated as if she's a teenager. If I hadn't been told that I would've assumed she was younger.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the arc!

Absolutely beautiful.

But also, so so slow.

Normally this works for me, Rachel’s books usually are just my cup of tea, but I’m also in the middle of the worst reading slump I’ve had in years and I felt like I had to claw my way through this one.

It still gets 4⭐️ though because I loved where the story ended up taking me and I can almost guarantee that if I was in a different reading mood this one would have been a solid 5!

Stunning, beautiful, ethereal, full of characters you can relate to and root for. I recommend this author all day every day to anyone that will listen to me!

Bring Me Your Midnight was everything I've come to expect from Rachel Griffin since reading her first novel back in 2021. Simply put, I am addicted to her magic - the magic featured both within her stories, and the stories themselves!

Oh, what wonderful main characters Griffin creates! These women are headstrong, stubborn, independent, powerful, and are incredibly relatable... and I love every single one she's conjured together. Tana is by far the strongest heroine Griffin has written; I am amazed by her tenacity, her strength, her strong will - very much encapsulating The Paper Bag Princess vibes I love!

Griffin's books are beyond atmospheric! The settings are solid, graspable places in my mind, and I could happily spend hours at each locale. Being on the ocean shores featured in Bring Me Your Midnight has been my favourite, however.

Okay, so now is where I add an extra bit of honesty to my review, and share that it took me a bit to become fully engrossed in this story, in the island and in its magic. But let me tell you, once I was there, I was well within the grasp of its spell. I think I was standoffish because this setting is something I hold so dear to my heart; part of my soul is happiest near the ocean, and I just didn't want any injustice done to such a sacred place of mine. But point blank: I should have trusted Griffin, because it's clear that the ocean, the tides, and the animals held in their depths means the same to her as it does to me!

I think the biggest compliment I can say, is that I will be passing this and Griffin's other stories onto our daughter when the time comes!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the complimentary copy to read and review.

What a fun, magical read for the summer. If you enjoy a bit of romance, magic, and a little witchy business, you will enjoy this enchanting tale Rachel Griffin weaves for her audience. There’s always something so satisfying with a forbidden romance, especially when the main character is more or less betrothed to one person and then the person you just KNOW they are destined to be with comes along. I think my only real critique is that it really is a YA romance, it’s not a true grown mature love. But I am not even sure if that is a critique or not. Sometimes you just want to be able to escape into a love that sweeps you off your feet and lets you believe that anything can happen and that no one’s fate is sealed.

Whimsical. Romantic. Fantastic world building. Rachel Griffins never disappoints. I adore witchy things, and books are my favorite. I can’t wait to read more of Rachel Griffins.

This wasn’t my favourite Rachel Griffin novel, but I still really liked the world building, the characters, and Griffin’s signature style. The way the characters interacted with the elements and the magic system was really cool, and the presence of the natural world as an independent character, like in Griffin’s other books, carried this book. For some reason I never really got fully invested or fully immersed in what was happening; this might have been because I was expecting a complete modern fantasy, when this felt like it was on the edge between high fantasy and modern fantasy. Bring Me Your Midnight was definitely enjoyable and I will recommend it alongside Griffin’s others, because it was still a very compelling read even if it is my least favourite of her books (so far).

This book was romantic and whimsical and full of beautifully crafted world building. I love witchy books, and this felt like a breath of fresh (sea salty) air. I loved this book as an end of summer, early fall read. I don’t think I will stop thinking about these characters for a very long time.

Mortana?
MORTANA?
Okay. Wait a second. Was I the only one that thought this was a terrible name? It made me evoke images of a mortar and a pestle most of the time, and if not, it made my mind travel back to Mordor LOL.
Now, on a serious note, I've been following Rachel Griffin since she published The Nature of Witches, a book that I deeply loved in every aspect. However, her second book, Wild is the Witch, felt more directed towards very young audiences, the story felt rushed, and overall I was left with this sense of failure in the development of the novel overall, and now, with Bring Me Your Midnight, a novel I've been super excited for since its announcement and with so much buzz coming from readers and Rachel herself on instagram, I can only say that I AM UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED.

It took me less than four days to finish it, and since the beginning I felt no connection whatsoever with the main character nor the rest of the side characters. I didn't really like Tana, to be honest. She is the main character, a 19-year-old girl, and therefore, you're supposed to connect with her, understand her motives, feel her emotions... None of that happened. In fact, I felt she contradicted herself at times or that she didn't make any sense at all. I really disliked her mother for obvious reasons, and Tara herself admits that her mother keeps breaking her heart, however, she still perceives her as some kind of celestial being that she wants to keep pleasing. That was, honestly, very annoying.
When Tana needs to question her mother and her coven, she delays, delays, delays, and the moment Wolfe is told to tell her the truth, she rages against him.
I read a review from someone saying that they also found it very hard to place the story in a timeline, and I agree with that. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be happening in the present or in the past. *confused*
There was not really any tension in the book. If anything raised it, whatever the problem, it would be solved by the end of the chapter, so it was hard to keep my interest in the story.
The relationship between her and Ivy, her best friend and "love of my life" didn't feel like that at all. It was just a relationship and I don't see how any of it would help them grow or affect their decisions they made throughout the story.
The dialogues were also very childish. They didn’t feel natural to me.
Overall, a very frustrating novel. Very sad because I really loved The Nature of Witches and ever since I’ve been eagerly waiting for Rachel’s new books, but they have both been disappointing. I feel like Rachel tells but not shows...
I’m not sure if I’ll be reading anything else from her.

Note: thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!