An exquisite tale of young love, family, friendship, secrets and magic! I absolutely loved this book and did not want to put it down. The character development was excellent, the pace was fast, and the storyline was intriguing. I particularly enjoyed the push and pull between duty and desire, and the contrast between "high" and "low" magic. Fantastic!

Griffin’s writing is lush and pulls in the reader at once. The plot was fast-paced, and the romance was great. My only wish was that Griffin had made this a duology or trilogy, because the ending felt rushed. I’ll definitely recommend the book to friends.

Not sure it is an official troupe, but witches is my favorite troupe. This new book by Griffin set to release next month will be a hit like her other two books.

Tana is a witch that lives on an island and is forced to suppress her magic. She is also set to he married to the son of the Mainland’s leader-bringing an alliance her coven has desperately needed. Then Tana meet Wolfe and her life is quickly sectioned into two chapters: Before Wolfe and After Wolfe.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The worldbuilding in this book was very well done and easy to understand as the story went on. The tension between love and duty was so well done that you kept feeling for Tana. Each decision that Tana faced was not decided easily and you felt exactly what she felt during each other her decisions. The characters were so well developed that you wanted to hate them, but you understand why they did what they did. The love triangle was also well done. You had Landon who was sweet and wasn't a bad person which made you pull for him, but then you had Wolfe who was Tana's actual love interest and represented what she wanted in life. The love story is so well done that I just kept wanting more of both Landon and Wolfe. The story did continue to go back to magic and witches which was the central point of the story. I am amazed at how well this story was written and how everything got answered at the end.

4/5 stars. Thank you Rachel Griffin, Sourcebooks and Netgalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book definitely gave me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I dived into this easily at times and I did enjoy the idea of this book. On the other hand, the romance wasn’t there for me and I also wanted more from the book.

ARC Review

Story: 3.5/5 ⭐

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Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat. One night she meets Wolfe, a practitioner of dark magic - everything her coven has rejected. He teaches her how to use this magic. It shouldn't feel right, it's against everything Tana believes in, yet it feels perfect. Now she must choose between her coven and her newfound power.

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This is such a beautifully written book by Rachel Griffin. Overall I enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow but ended up captivating me throughout to the end. Her writing style is smooth and clear, however I wished she would be more descriptive. I honestly couldn't picture Wolfe until the later part of the books. Her intro to the characters could use a little work and the romantic buildup could have been a little smoother - it felt like a slow burn but not at the same time. Other than that I enjoyed the story. You can really feel the emotions rollercoaster that Tana feels. I found myself tearing up a few times. I couldn't help but root a little bit for Landon even though I knew she wouldn't end up with him.

***I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the author/publishing company and netgalley for this opportunity!

Bring me your midnight was the perfect palette cleanser. A entrancing, heartbreaking, book about star-crossed lovers. It's been a long time since a book has made me cry, but this story brought on the water works.
Tana is the daughter of the high witch of her coven. Her life has been laid out for her from the day she was born. She is to marry the son of the governor of the mainland in order to form a treaty with them to protect her coven. Tanas coven resides on a tiny island just of the shore of the main land, and they all practice just a sliver of what they are capable of in order to be accepted by the mainland. This leaves them full of power that they must release into the ocean at the end of every month. But this release is killing animals and destroying their island. During one of these releases, Tana spots a poisonous flower that kills witches off in the distance, floating, and when she chases after it she slams into her future.
The island is hiding secrets from Tana. Her mother has lied to her for her entire life.

Tana needs to decide if she will make the choice for the good of her coven, or make the choice to forge her own path.

This book really hit home as I've been feeling a little bit stuck on a path that's not my own. Tana has helped me work through this.

A wonderful story!

I am firmly convinced that everything Rachel Griffin writes is pure magic. Bring Me Your Midnight did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed Tana's journey of self discovery and her spirit. I love how much she loved her magic and how much she loved her family in the same token. One of the many things I loved was how much nature was tied into the magic. Rachel has a gift for incorporating scenery and atmosphere into her writing to where you feel like you could reach out and step into her world and be completely at home. Wolfe's love of Tana and his own family, magic included, was so beautiful and sweet. I loved this book so much and cried my eyes out per usual.

While I can’t argue that I enjoyed the lush writing and atmospheric descriptions involved in this story, I have to admit that at times the details and reminders of Tana’s mental anguish and plot lines became a little tedious.
Especially when towards the end of the book, when the story is being repeated to the reader and Tana after she’s given away her memories of Wolfe and high magic.
In any case, the parental expectations and weight of Tana’s responsibilities were believable and heavy to read and I couldn’t help but be thrilled for Tana as she made her decision to be free.

Rachel Griffin's "Bring Me Your Midnight" takes readers on a thrilling journey into a captivating world of witches and forbidden magic. The novel presents an interesting setting, and the protagonist, Tana Fairchild, leads us through a tale filled with intrigue, love, and difficult choices. While some areas could have been further explored, the overall experience is enjoyable.

The characters are intricately woven, adding depth to the story. Releasing magic into the ocean during the full moon is unique, and the negative consequences of it feel authentic. Tana, the central character, is likable and relatable, as are most of the characters in the book. Griffin succeeds in creating a cast of individuals with distinct personalities and motivations. While the characters lack significant flaws, their interactions and relationships are engaging, allowing readers to invest in their stories. Tana's journey of self-discovery, torn between duty and following her heart, adds depth to her character and keeps readers invested in her choices.

The book's pacing sometimes felt rushed, given the timeline. There could have been more exploration and development in certain scenes, allowing readers to appreciate the consequences of Tana's decisions. This flaw prevents the story from reaching its full potential.

Despite this, "Bring Me Your Midnight" leaves readers longing for more. It feels like the foundation of a larger world and story. It begs to be expanded upon, and the potential for a series is evident. Griffin's writing style, the compelling characters, and intricate world-building make it easy to envision this book as the start of an exciting series that would leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

"Bring Me Your Midnight" is an enchanting novel that introduces readers to a fascinating world of witches and forbidden magic. Rachel Griffin's skillful storytelling and engaging characters create an enjoyable reading experience. While the book may have benefited from a slower pace at times, the overall impact is undeniably captivating. Fans of fantasy and those who appreciate a strong female protagonist will find much to enjoy in this enticing tale.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity to review Bring Me Your Midnight! Please find my honest review below!

As a lover of witches and magic, I was very excited to start this ARC. A book about a young witch whose life is planned out for her. She’s meant to marry the governor’s son to solidify an alliance between her island of witches and the mainland. All is derailed when Tana meets a witch named Wolfe with dark secrets and revelations that turn her life upside down. The story called out to me and the cover was absolutely gorgeous. I ended the book with some mixed feelings and realizing that maybe this wasn’t the read for me unfortunately.

Starting with the good, Griffin does such a beautiful job transporting you into the setting of the Witchery. The town is small, quaint and kissed with magic. The perfect place for Tana, a young witch, and the rest of her coven to hide in plain sight from the Mainland. The idea behind the witches vs the regular humans is a rather tried and true concept and it works every time. I did thoroughly enjoy the idea of lessening and releasing their magic and what effects that had on them.

By far, my favourite characters would be Ivy and Wolfe. Just like Tana, I felt that Ivy was meant to be the daughter of the council leader instead of Tana. Ivy has a good head on her shoulders and I could tell what sort of person she was just from their first few interactions. I also adored Tana and Ivy’s friendship and it was probably the highlight of the book for me. On the other hand, Wolfe is a classic, edgy bad boy and I’m always a little partial to those. I loved seeing his anger and the frustration that came with his anger turning to deeper feelings. He was a layered character past all the scowling and banter.

Now onto the not so great. I felt almost no connection to Tana. In my opinion, I didn’t feel like I got to see her thoughts enough to truly understand her as a person. I felt like I was TOLD about Tana rather than SHOWN about Tana. In general, I feel like the book did a lot more telling than showing, and that put me off. For example, I didn’t feel Tana's connection to the sea the way I should have, instead I was just shown that she dives in whenever she pleases. Tana also came off sounding a lot younger than she’s meant to be. That I can excuse with her sheltered lifestyle, but it gave the tone of the book more of a teen read rather than a YA read.

My biggest gripe with the book is that nothing felt imminent and urgent. The pacing of the book felt a little off to me as well. The first 70% had been slow while everything happened back to back in the last 30%. And so many things happened in the book, so many life shattering things!, and yet it seemed to leave no impact. In one chapter, something gigantic happens to Tana and by the next chapter not only is it resolved but brushed off for the next plot point. No consequences, no real change to her life despite the many drastic decisions she makes in the book. It left me feeling like I was on a very low rollercoaster where I never got to reach the peak of the drop but just coasted across a few bumps.

Overall, the book was a three star for me. I enjoyed it for the most part but couldn’t overlook some of the things mentioned above.

I was very into the book in the beginning. The premise was intriguing and I loved the island setting so much. But then it kinda lost me along the way. It was a bit slow at times but then suddenly the main conflict was resolved and it ended. I just wish it had more of a mystery and higher stakes.

Also, the romance was a bit too insta-lovey and it just didn't work for me. I didn't like how it seemed to take center stage in the main character's decisions. I felt like the only reason she questioned her reality and decided to leave was because of Wolfe and not because she felt real indignation about her coven's ways.

However, I still liked the book! But it's definitely more of a cozy story than a high stakes one.

🔮Bring Me Your Midnight Review🔮

Rachel Griffin has been an autobuy author since I absolutely loved the Nature of Witches so when I was approved for an eARC of her latest, Bring Me Your Midnight, I squealed with excitement. The way Rachel incorporates nature and magic is so seamless and beautiful. Tana Fairchild’s life has always been planned out. She is to marry the governor’s son which will help secure an alliance between her people, the witches of the island she calls home, and the non-magical mainlanders. The mainlanders fear magic, and her people have kept them appeased by using their magic minimally and releasing their excess into the ocean. When Tana misses the ritual, a mistake which can be fatal, she has no one to turn to. That is, until she meets Wolfe, who is from a coven that practices dark magic which can help her release her excess before it is too late. Learning this forbidden magic would change her life in more ways than one.

I loved how rooted in nature the magic system was in this story. In each of Rachel’s novels to date, the magic system is rooted in nature, but each time she does it differently. Between this and her beautiful writing, I always feel at home in her stories.

I really enjoyed Tana as a female lead. Her struggles with her predetermined fate are understandable and made her a character I could really root for. Parental expectations is a big theme in this story which I think will resonate with a lot of readers. Not only does Tana have the weight of her parent’s expectations on her, but also those of her entire coven. I also really enjoyed Wolfe, who was mysterious and intriguing.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and found myself binging it rather quickly. The story reminded me a little bit of A River Enchanted (a book I ADORED) and Spells for Forgetting (a book I was very lukewarm about) in that the setting is a magical witch inhabited island with a nearby non-magical mainland. I look forward to reading what Rachel Griffin writes next!

Thank you to @netgalley & @sourcebooksfire for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Bring Me Your Midnight is out August 1, 2023!

⭐4/5 stars⭐

This book made me long for autumn. It is precisely the kind of book you want to curl up with on a chilly autumn evening with a warm, comforting cup of coffee or tea. Rachel Griffin creates the perfect cozy fantasy YA romance novel.

For most of her life, Tana knew she would marry the governor’s son. This arranged marriage would bring much longed for security to her coven on their island, the Witchery. To make those who fear magic happy, Tana’s coven releases most of their magic into the sea every month. She misses that important ritual one night and instead meets Wolfe. Wolfe is the antithesis of everything she knows and loves. Tana must decide where her loyalties belong. To her coven, family, and duty? Or to her wild heart?

The book begins slowly, but it just gets better. This is the perfect read for those who enjoy a cozy fantasy or an atmospheric read.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Rachel Griffin’s affinity to write beautiful, witchy, atmospheric books.

This book was just that- beautiful writing, the beachy atmosphere, all the witchy elements. I loved the plot- an arranged marriage, a girl trying to make herself happy to save her coven- only to realize her entire life is a lie and her attempt to grapple with that fact.

Unfortunately, the characters didn’t have enough depth to truly enjoy it. I feel like so much time was spent building the plot and the setting that Tana and Wolfe (or really any of the other characters) didn’t get enough depth to truly like them and feel invested in their story.

Overall, I really did enjoy this story, and the cover is stunning.

Bring me your midnight is a wonderful fantasy tale that will be thoroughly enjoyed by my high school readers. There is magic and romance and a difficult choice for Tana, the beautiful young witch who is daughter of the coven leader. Her life is planned out- she is to marry the son of the governor of the mainland world to secure an alliance between them and her coven of witches who live on an adjacent island and who, although they practice a charming form of low magic, still cannot secure the people of the mainland's trust. Things change when she meets Wolfe, a member of a group who practice "high or dark magic", a practice her coven has supposedly eradicated. He saves Tana from a deadly situation, and she is drawn to him, realizing that his ways are not as sinister as she has been lead to believe all her life. Will she hold to her duty to the coven she loves or strike out in a new direction to follow her heart?

This is another 5 stars for Rachel Griffin!

If you have read Nature of Witches or Wild is the Witch, you will love this as well.

I love that while Rachel's themes for her books are similar, each story still feels fresh and new.

Griffin's words on nature really help to draw readers in to the story and really help to move the story along.

Tana is an amazing character, and I enjoyed seeing her learn to be selfish and pursue the life that she wants. Often, the FMC’s in books are selfless and give up everything for the sake of others; it is nice to see a change.

Ugh and the yearning??? The romance in this book is for sure going to be in my Top 5 for the year.

Bring Me Your Midnight was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, and I am thankful that it was my first ever ARC.

book review: bring me your midnight by Rachel griffin
rating: 3.75 stars

this book was ✨enchanting✨

it’s the story of Tana, a young witch whose life has been chosen for her. she will marry the governor’s son to secure a pact between the mainland and her (magical) island, which will ensure the safety of the new coven to practice low magic. but when she misses the ceremony to rid her of her excess magic, she’s forced to seek the help of Wolfe — a member of the old coven that still practices high magic. Tana is shocked to find that all the stories her mother has told her are false, and as she grows closer to Wolfe she realizes that everything she thought to be true about herself may be false, too.

this was such a lovely YA fantasy read. it reminded me of “A Sorcery of Thorns”. The world of magic is not overly complicated so you can jump right in with no confusion. A lot of the magical elements of this book revolve around the sea (and nature in general), which gave the story this shimmering summer quality. I imagine reading this at the beach and getting totally swept away with dreams of magic rushing through the waves. Tana’s character – and the unraveling of her tightly wound world at the hands of Wolfe – was so well-written. I felt connected to her throughout and understood the pull between the world she thought she wanted and the world she’s meant for. It also made for amazing romantic tension between her and Wolfe (love their forbidden love and its layers!). I did find myself wanting to know a bit more about Wolfe and have him and Tana spend more time together, because the chemistry was just soooo good.

definitely recommend this one! perfect for easy weekend reading, vacation, or when you want a story that feels like magic 🪄

I posted this review on my Goodreads account at the link below.
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4.5

The setting immediately drew me in - it's set on a seaside town and I think it really brought out the magic of the story.

I enjoyed following Tana as she learned about consequences of her decisions. She has a strong friendship with her best friend, and they always have each other's backs. The romance was a little rushed, but I thought they had a great connection, and Tana's character growth was so strong because of the impact Wolfe had on her.

This is light & magical and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks for NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an arc in exchange for my review!

This book was a fabulous, easy read. So much so that I devoured it in an afternoon. I enjoyed the magic system and the main character Tana. The book reads a little YA so I was surprised when I read the character was turning twenty, I had thought she was quite a bit younger due to the content within it. It was a sweet love story with undertones of wanting to please a parent while remaining true to oneself. Some of the character development fell a little flat to me and there was one section that I was annoyed with the direction the author took, but it also made sense for the story, so I kept reading and it came together beautifully

I rated this four stars because it didn't quite hit that five-star rating of I absolutely loved this book, but this is a book that I would read again and recommend to others. It is the first novel I've read written by Rachel Griffin, but it definitely won't be my last and I will happily read other books by her with how much I enjoyed this book.