I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book and provide a review.

This book really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! A more modern take on witches versus humans including cellphones, nice addition! This is a closed door fantasy romance for YA or younger that really focused on the strength of the ocean and forging your own path. Overall wonderful read!

Bring Me Your Midnight is delightfully witchy, atmospheric and cozy with lots of pining and beautiful romance.

This is a YA fantasy and definitely reads like it. It’s low-stakes and full of magic, tea, spells and forbidden love.

I loved the challenges the FMC faces and how she how she has to find the courage to face each one.

This is one I would easily recommend to friends who enjoy YA fantasy, low-stakes, romance but no spice.

Picture this -- you're back in the year 2010 with a book in your hands. What is the book about? Why, it's about a sexy fallen angel who falls in love with a too-nice-for-this-world human. <i>Duh.</i>

You're on the edge of your seat as the FL once again gets herself into a life-threatening situation, and the ML swoops in to save her at the very last minute. She probably discovers that she could have saved herself this whole time, but that's okay because you <i>wanted</i> the handsome ML to sweep her off her feet. Quite literally, probably, because he has super speed and super strength. When they finally kiss, you let out a little squeal. The story ends with all conflicts magically resolved, and you're satisfied.

That's basically this book in a nutshell. <b><i>Bring Me Your Midnight</i> was as early-2010s-YA-Paranormal-Romance as it can possibly get.</b> Let's bring out a checklist, yeah?

<b>The special snowflake heroine with absolutely no depth?</b> ✅ Tana had it all figured out before she made one mistake, and before she met the ML. She discovered things that were kept hidden from her and her people, and she suddenly got to decide how the future will look for everyone. It kind of pissed me off that Tana was marketed to be on the older side of the YA spectrum (I believe she's supposed to be 19 here), but didn't act like it. A lot of her actions didn't fit her character.

<b>The plot centered around the (instant) forbidden love between the brooding male lead and the sheltered female lead?</b> ✅✅✅ Obviously, it's the male lead Wolfe <s>(oh the name is giving me so much cringe)</s> that introduces Tana to a different way of living. From the night they met, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Truly, the plot only seemed to move forward whenever Wolfe was around. And yes, the instalove was pretty insane.

<b>The shallow plot with a clean ending?</b> ✅ It felt like the story was leading to a very clear, obvious point, even from the beginning. Any and all conflicts were just resolved too quickly and precisely, giving none of the characters any room to grow. There was a lack of tension and intensity, which is a shame considering how beautiful the story could have been, given the political and environmental nature of the main conflict.

All that being said, I didn't give this one a 1-star rating for two reasons: 1) I was genuinely interested in the magic culture and in the politics of the world, and 2) the setting was really atmospheric. This book <i>did</i> have potential, but it fell short and blended in with the rest of the YA PNR books we've all read in the past.

Premise:
-contemporary young adult witchy fantasy
-singular first-person POV
-set on a small island next to a coastal town
-19-year-old Mortana "Tana" Fairchild's future is laid out for her, including her future husband and what path she will take on her Covenant Ball night
-Tana has come to terms with this, because she feels immense gratitude, love and duty towards her parents, who lead their coven, and have decided that this will help the future of their coven
-Their coven has only used low/weak magic ever since dark magic was banished years ago
-Allegedly, dark magic will kill a witch from the inside out and a specific flower, moonflower
-Tana's best friend Ivy also supports her and reassures her that this is all for the good of the coven and is much bigger than her; history in the making!
-Tana is all about familial obligation and civic duty
-Tana is to marry a "mainlander" Landon (LOL I love the name choice here), as his father is the governor on the mainland, and can protect the witches from anti-witchy sentiments and attacks
-One night, Tana sees a moonflower, which is life-threatening to witches, and shortly after, meets Wolfe, a mysterious boy who claims Tana doesn't know all there is to know about the island's magic
-cw: animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, toxic relationships, classism, cursing, extremely light sexual content (Closed door), emotional abuse, blood

Thoughts:
I was pleasantly surprised by this witchy fantasy! Though Griffin used common tropes in fantasy, I didn't see them coming in this atmospheric, angsty star-crossed romance and coming-of-age. I appreciated Tana's arc, and could deeply relate to it. It's almost as if this transported me back to the first time I realized (As a young adult, not a child) that my parents and the institutions I was taught to respect/admire weren't entirely honorable or so black-and-white.

It's rough to get your world(view) rocked! It is painful to realize that something you believed in so fully, so deeply, so existentially to your core, is not true. Tana's arc was an agonizing but tender example of how people feel when they are presented with information that makes them question their belief systems. To stand so strong in a conviction, and then to watch it unravel as you learn or experience something new? Sheesh.

I also felt for Tana's struggle between the life she had come to terms with and the life she couldn't let go. It's cliche, sure, but it's real; once you have a taste of what "could be," how could you ever go back? For some reason, it was giving Jamie telling Landon (WAIT OMFG A NAME CROSSOVER IN MY REFERENCE, HOW FUN FOR MEEEE), "I was getting along with everything fine. I accepted it, and then *you* happened! I do not need a reason to be angry with God."

I think it lulled a bit in the middle because I was left wondering where the plot was taking us and I don't mind a chunk of the book being dedicated to character development. That's fine, but I just wish that time would've been spent more on the romance because once the romance started to hit, it was so lovely!

4.5⭐️

Thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an e-arc of this beautiful book.

Bring Me Your Midnight was the most whimsical and magical book I’ve read so far this year. The whole aesthetic was giving midnights crossed over with evermore. I couldn’t stop thinking about willow - moonlit witch version while reading this book.

On top of all the magical vibes, Rachel Griffen has found a new fan in me. I’ve never read a book by her before but I know this will not be my last. She has some of the most beautiful, poetic writing of ever read which truly adds to mystical story. On top of that she has come up with a thrilling story and has done an amazing job at telling it.

As for the characters I absolutely loved them. Wolfe is the perfect hot and mysterious mmc. Found myself a new book boyfriend fs. I truly loved watching Tana’s relationship develop with him. But even more I truly enjoyed learning Tana’s friendship with Ivy. Although at some points Ivy did annoy me, her heart was truly in the right place and made up for it at the end. I even loved Landon, he was so sweet and understanding of Tana’s situation.

The author has done a wonderful job creating an interesting magic system and world all in one book. I don’t often read standalone fantasy books but this was amazing. My favorite thing about this book was the type of magic the author chose to incorporate. I loved that the witches were connected to the Earth and meant to be the keepers of the beautiful world. I find that these days, witches are often portrayed with much different magic in books and loose that original connection to Earth that I love so deeply about them.

I loved Tana’s strong connection to the Earth and the sea. It was a very beautiful and delicate relationship, that I deeply admired about the character. Also after reading this book the cover is so perfect. It’s not only beautiful but meaningful as well.

This is one of my new favorite standalones and has definitely become a new recommendation from me. As well as a book I will continue to feature on my page often.

Read this book if you want all the witchy, earthy, magical, and romantic vibes.

I can always count on Rachel Griffin to create a beautifully written, lush and magical world. Loved this one!

So, I knew going into this book that I was going to love it. I was right, but it's so much more than that also. The prose, the world building, and the magic system was chef's kiss. I want to live in the Witchery so bad!!!

Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub Date: 8/1

Tana Fairchild has grown up knowing that one day she would marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an alliance between her coven of witches and the humans who live on the mainland. Tara’s coven has worked hard over the years to show the mainlanders that they are harmless and their magic is no threat. They openly denounce the type of magic they refer to as “dark magic” and swear that no one on the island practices it anymore. Until Tana meets Wolfe, and then everything changes.

There is a lot to love about this one! The atmospheric setting, the small town feel of the island and the witchy vibes were all done so well. The forbidden love aspect was extra exciting, and I loved the progression of Tana and Wolfe’s relationship. The story had high stakes that were dependent on the difficult decision Tana had to make and it kept me guessing about what her final decision would be.

While I mostly enjoyed this, there are a few things that fell short for me. The characters were very one dimensional and the interactions and dialogue felt surface level. I especially wanted more from Tana. I was so angry on her behalf, but she never got angry herself. She has no agency over her own life and how she chooses to spend it, and even when she decides to go a different way, she does it quietly.

I was also dissatisfied with the ending. Even though it was technically a HEA, I think a big part of that should have been Tana saying all the things she spent the rest of the book not saying. Especially to her parents and her best friend. They all kept secrets and colluded behind her back, and her mother was especially terrible. This is probably just a “me thing”, but I like my FMCs to have a little more fire. Even when Tana was rebelling, she was still doing it very politely.

There are many rave reviews out there, so don’t take my word for it! I still really enjoyed the moody atmosphere and some of the sweeter moments between Tana and Wolfe.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Edelweiss Plus, and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC and finished copy! Bring Me Your Midnight comes out on 8/1!

Read if you like:
*witchy vibes
*enemies-to-lovers
*beachy atmosphere
*forbidden love
*YA
*nature

I cannot say enough about this magical, beautiful book but those who love a good romantasy will immensely enjoy this!

From the coastal setting, to the relationship the author builds between reader and nature, to morally gray plots and characters abounding, I just couldn't put this one down! Lovers of magic and romance: run don't walk!!

Title: Bring Me Your Midnight
Author: Rachel Griffin
Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Fire
Publishing Date: Aug 1, 2023
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: ☆☆☆.5 (rounded up to 4)

This was such a cute story and such a great easy read. I really enjoyed it.
It’s a very romance central book, and the story is just so sweet. Imo, this was really about a girl finding herself and her place in the world. She wants more than what her life had set out for her, and she ends up opening a whole new world and creates a life that she loves.
The magic system is really cool and it was satisfying. It felt very believable. Personally, I would categorise this more on the magical realism side of fantasy- which I actually really loved and thought it was very true to the story.
The beginning isn’t so much slow, it just is kind of setting up the mood and the characters- which is really well done and doesn’t feel boring or mundane, it’s more informative and sets up intrigue for where the story will go.
About 50% through, the story really amps up and goes 0-60 real fast. The plot really picks up and it's full steam ahead for the rest of the book.
I really enjoyed it and would recommend it as an easy romance read with magical realism!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.

#BringMeYourMidnight by #RachelGriffin is a must read this August! Filled with magic, romance, and deceit this one was hard for me to put down.
Tana is the daughter of the New Covens leader and as such carries the responsibility of marrying the Mainlands Governors son. For all her life she has been aware and ok with this decision, proud to be joining the Witchery, the island all witches escaped too and the mainland creating an alliance.
Mainlanders how grown less fearful of witches since they stopped practicing dark magic and now only do menial magical tasks performing only low magic and turning the Witchery into something like a tourist destination.
Tana is alright with this until she starts seeing moonflowers which are said to be deadly to witches. One night she accidently runs into Wolfe a young man that happens to practice dark magic or as he calls it high magic. In order for Tana to survive after missing the rush she must release her excess magic and to do that she must practice high magic at least once.
Wolfe warns her she will want more once she has tried it. Will Tana be able to resist the natural pull of high magic while also resisting the irritating attraction to Wolfe when she is already betrothed? She must decide if duty is worth giving up the natural side of herself.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the opportunity to read #BringMeYourMidnight in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Unfortunately, there just wasn't an entrance point for me to get engaged in this story. The pacing and the writing style were the biggest sticking points for me, but I also didn't ever really connect with either of the main characters and that pretty much took me out of the story for good. There were also a bunch of plot holes but since I didn't care about the characters, that actually didn't have much effect on my reading experience.

**Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.***

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“I would set the world on fire just to see your face. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Bring Me Your Midnight is an enchanting and atmospheric tale that revolves around Tana, a witch deeply connected to her coven and her island's captivating seas. Tana finds herself torn between fulfilling her engagement to the mayor's son, a promise of security for her coven, and the allure of Wolfe, who unveils the existence of dark magic that challenges everything she has been taught. As Tana's world unravels, she must navigate her heart's desires while safeguarding her family and coven.

Rachel Griffin skillfully immerses us in Tana's perspective, making us feel the splash of the waves and the depth of the water. The rich atmosphere, meticulously crafted, became my favorite aspect of the book, enchanting me from beginning to end. For those who love nature and atmospheric storytelling, Bring Me Your Midnight is a must-read!

The romance woven throughout the story adds a captivating darkness to the tale. Wolfe Hawthorne captures our hearts with his mysterious aura and magic, making it impossible not to fall in love with him. He becomes Tana's guiding light, empowering her to recognize her own power and embrace her dreams. I appreciate how the book explores different forms of love – one driven by passion and another that settles. While there are moments when the pacing and trajectory of Tana's character development feel uneven, the author compensates by making her experience growth and undergo a personal transformation.

“That’s the problem with dreams: they are so easy to get lost in and so very difficult to give up.”

Tana never questioned the life her mom set for her, but as she begins discovering her true identity and desires, she begins to doubt her life. My heart ached when she showed remorse for challenging her mother. The author doesn't fully address the mother's behavior, leaving Tana to submit to her plans. Although understandable given her upbringing, Tana's growth is evident, and exploring this semi-abusive dynamic would have added impact.

In Bring Me Your Midnight you’ll find self-discovery, friendships, and the enchanting ties between witch, island, and sea. Tana's struggle to find her voice, coupled with irresistible romance and transformative experiences, adds depth and allure to this novel. Love, self-empowerment, and embracing true desires are explored profoundly in this captivating tale!

Good storyline and characters. I liked the writing style and the magic system but a lot was left out. There wasn’t enough detail on history or the Mainland. There was a distinct impression that Tana was some unique power yet there was nothing done with it. I never felt the so called passion between Tana and Wolfe either.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Personal rating:
2.5🌟, rounded up to 3🌟


I've heard quite a bit of good stuff about Rachel Griffin from other book influencers. So I was pretty excited to find her upcoming book available for me to request on here and hey! I even got approved!

So I started this book feeling excited and all. The usuals for us book lovers, you feel me? But I guess it's ultimately not for me. The writings feel bland and it kept me from being immersed in the story. I was reminded that this was a story, therefore not real, every time I read a line or a dialogue.

I loved the concept of this story, though. I just wished the writings gel with me better but alas.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I am so very thankful to Sourcebooks Fire for granting my wish for this title so thank you!

I absolutely love the premise, paranormal love interests always hook me. This is my first ever book by Rachel Griffin and the atmosphere was beautiful, the characters are fun, and the magic was so so interesting!

*Characters:
The characters in this book are honestly so well-thought out and real, I loved them all.

Mortana: Tana is very soft and sweet and gentle-hearted while also having quite a temper. As you read from her POV you can sense the wild, defiant spirit within her. She's such a beautiful character and I loved reading her connection and love for the sea and her magic.

Wolfe: He has a short fuse though his anger isn't without reason. He's also sarcastic and there are glimpses of a deep, emotional soul beneath his actions and the things he doesn't say. He has a very open heart and loves both his magic and coven deeply.

Ty: Ty has such a strong, fiery spirit. She is so selfless and open and kind with Tana. I loved watching their friendship and seeing how it was strong enough to survive in even the toughest of times. They loved each other so beautifully.

Landon: He is such a genuinely kind person and I loved how easily excitable he was when it came to Tana's life. He's kind and easy-going while also having a very strong and selfless sense of duty and honor.

*The Romance:
This love story was so SO beautiful and emotional.

In the beginning, I felt like Landon and Tana had better chemistry as friends and I do kind of wish we could have seen more of that.
However, Wolfe and her were absolutely adorable to read about. They had so much romantic tension from the first meet-cute. They are both shy but also so quick to voice their opinions. Both are brimming with passion and love for each other and their people. Their love was so tender and truly emotional. Some scenes had me smiling ridiculously hard while others had me wanting to cry. I love them.

*The Magic:

The magic in this story was so interesting! It wasn't necessarily deeply dove into but I really loved reading about it. Not only how it effected the environment but also Tana. How she described it was truly lovely.

*The Writing:

The writing in this book is very lush and descriptive and beautiful. It IS written in a young voice and I think everything about the book perfectly suits the YA genre. The only slightly questionable part is a scene at the end of chapter Forty One that is a big more specific then I personally feel it needs to be for the category. Otherwise, I loved the writing!

*Overall:
I will include some (maybe spoiler) quotes at the end but right now I'll wrap it up for those who haven't read this book!
When I first received this ARC I tried to read it without being in the correct mood and ended up DNF-ing. However, I was as drawn in by it as Tana is to the water so I HAD to pick it up again and thank goodness I did because I LOVED this book!

Thank you again to Sourcebooks and Rachel for my ARC!

***
*Quotes/Scenes I Loved:

"I gasp for air when I pop out of the water, drinking it down like my mother drinks her wine." Not going to lie I found this lie funny as I imagined Tana gulping air like crazy and thought maybe her mom my want ....a hug or something..

"But I don't dare let go, keeping my arms and legs wrapped firmly around him, knowing with absolute certainty that I feel safe here. That I am safe here." This scene, this quote, is absolute heart-wrenching and so SO beautiful.

"He exhales and looks at me. 'Mortana,' he says, his voice shaking, 'the answer to that question will always be yes." AH THE FEELS. They are so tender and adorable!!

I have SO many other moments and quotes highlighted but I'll save them all for when this book is published!

*Theory:

I don't think we will be getting a sequel but if we do, I hope it is of Ivy and Landon ending up together. The entire book I thought that's where this was going and that Ivy would take Tana's place in the marriage!

3.5/5 Solid book, with a good storyline and characters. I liked the writing style and the magic system. I could almost feel the breeze of the ocean through the pages. The thing I had is that I wanted to know a little more sometimes, but that's a personal preference.

"I've never put much stake in happiness. Happiness is erratic and fleeting, hardly a worthwhile thing to spend a life chasing, Living isn't about happiness, and it never has been."

Tana is a witch love the sea who practices using very little of her magic due to the agreements that her coven has made. This is the only way she has ever known. Since her coven uses so little magic, the coven "rushes" their magic towards the sea monthly so that they are not overpowered by their magic. Little does Tana know, her mom has a secret that she was never supposed to know, and that secret is that there are people who use all the magic available to them.

This book started slow for me. It took me about 40% to really get into it.

Tana: I really enjoyed her character. She was willing to learn, albeit a little judgmental to some things. She's a girl who knows who she is. She knows that she loves being in the water and using her magic. Inquisitive. Loyal. I thought she was great.

The mother was so incredibly unlikable to me. I feel like I am not supposed to feel this way at the end, but this woman has no redeeming qualities and chose other people over her daughter. Over and over again. Quite honestly feel bad for Tana's father for having to be in a relationship with her.

I enjoyed Wayne's character.

Overall, while it took me a while to really want to pick this up, by the end I was invested and read most of it in one sitting. It was worth my time, and I will read anything that Rachel Griffin writes.

Thank you to Netgalley & SOURCEBOOKS for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

This was a struggle for me to get through. I love YA, but it felt very juvenile and shallow. Tana felt kind of like a limp character. I felt like things happened to her and she didn't have any strong convictions about anything, which was odd for a book about challenging engrained beliefs. I didn't find the world or the magic-system to be all that interesting - it didn't pull me in. Ultimately, it was not for me. I think Griffin is a talented writer though.

I wanted to enjoy this one since I enjoyed The Nature of Witches so much but it wasn't meant to be. It wasn't BAD but it wasn't GREAT either, it was just OK.

The Good:
- I loved the atmosphere and the setting. Beaches and water have a special place in my heart, and I loved that this was where this story took place.
- The FMC's love for her land, nature and her coven was palpable in the writing.
- The topics touched upon: legacy, loyalty, forging your own path, doing what is in the best interest of others. These were well thought out throughout the book.
- The magic system. I loved that they embedded magic into everyday items like perfumes, teas, makeup, bath items, etc.

The Bad:
- It was very slow going, then it picks up, and then it just ends. Like there's no real build up, and then everything just wrapped up too neatly.
- The FMC was hard for me to like. I understand her struggle, but her constant "I'm doing this for my parents & my coven," started to grate on my nerves.
- The romance. I didn't feel any spark between the FMC or the love interests she was supposed to be with.
- Plot holes: there were lots of them. I couldn't understand why in the middle of the story some random thing would happen that had nothing to do with what was going on, it made it hard to get back into the rhythm of the story.

I received this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire, as as an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.