It has been quite some time since I read The Girl At Midnight, but it is a great fantasy. Any lover of libraries or other worlds where you can be someone else will like it. I will likely purchase it for my library.

I can see teens loving this and would recommend it, it just didn't work for me. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book's tempo was uneven, felt slow and fast, and not in a fun way. The story didn't really grab my interest I don't think I'll continue the series.

TGAM was an urban fantasy that just...didn't grab me? It took me months to read this thing because I kept putting the book down and failing to pick it up again. I'd seen too much of these concepts before, and half of them I didn't really like the first time. (Oh, 100+ y/o hero who's basically just a teen? Meh. And he was in love with the heroine's previous incarnation? ...yeck.)

There were a few things I did like, such as the descriptions of Echo's hidden home in the New York library and the variety of the Avicen. The writing was pretty smooth throughout, but nothing was a surprise. Every plot point that was introduced, I immediately went "oh, I know where this is going" and then I was correct. It really sucked the tension out of what was supposed to be an action-packed book.kept hitting certain tasks and problems Just Because.

Three stars: A nice YA fantasy with fun characters, good world building and an interesting story, but it lacks originality.

One night, Echo a lonely orphan hiding in the library, encounters a strange and magical being. This chance encounter changed everything for the hapless orphan. Flash forward a few years. Echo has been living amongst the Avicen, a magical people with feathers. Echo, a talented pickpocket, is able to slip in and out of the realms thanks to magical shadow dust. One day she steals a music box, not knowing that this act will set in motion a chain of events that could possibly stop the age old war between the Avicen and their enemies the Drakharin. The music box holds the key to the mystical fire bird, rumored to be the thing that can end the conflict. Can Echo find the fire bird?
What I Liked:
*The Girl at Midnight is a wonderful YA fantasy with entertaining characters, magic, romance and interesting world building.
*I enjoyed the characters in this one. It is quite the eclectic batch. You have Echo a pickpocket human adopted by the Avicen, a magical, birdlike race. She is fierce, fiery and very funny. Ivy, Echo’s best friend, an Avicen with a big heart, who is kind, compassionate and forgiving. Jasper, a renegade Avicen, a thief, who is egocentric but he is altruistic when it comes to friends. Then there is Caius, the Drakharin Prince, who wants to see the end of the war. Caius was my favorite. He is quiet, intelligent and very swoon worthy. Dorian, Caius best friend, is loyal and conflicted. Finally, there is Ala, Echo’s savior, a mysterious, intelligent and cunning Avicen who has plenty of secrets. I loved watching this rag tag group come together and form a hesitant alliance.
For all of you romance lovers, there is plenty of romance in this book, in fact there are several. I enjoyed watching the relationship unfold for Echo, I won’t go into details as I don’t want to spoil it, but it was lovely. It starts as a shaky relationship, built on the desire to see peace. Then it forms into a friendship, and finally unfurls into a romantic relationship. I thought it was well paced and wonderful. Then there is the hint of romantic relationships amongst some of the secondary characters. I am eagerly watching those.
*I liked the world building. The story takes place in the magical realm of the Avicen and the Drakharin, a world with magic and war. The characters can also come and go into our world with the use of magical dust and doorways. I liked the numerous locations, and the rich descriptions. The visit to the cafe in Paris with its decadent treats was divine.
*I enjoyed the action, danger and a couple of the twists. The story was never boring, and it kept me entertained throughout.
*The ending draws to a close in a good spot. No dramatic cliffhanger, but there are still plenty of unanswered questions to be followed up on in the next book.
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Julia Whelan. I enjoyed Ms. Whelan’s narration. I thought she did an excellent job with the characters. I especially liked her characterization for Ala.
And The Not So Much:
*Unfortunately, my biggest complaint for this one is that I felt it lacked originality. If you have read Daughter of Smoke and Bone you will find yourself drawing comparisons. I was disappointed that the story felt too much like a copy cat.
*Even though I enjoyed the romance, I struggled with the possibility of not one, but possibly two love triangles. No more love triangles.

The Girl at Midnight was a good YA fantasy, but I felt it lacked originality. If you are new to the genre or you haven’t read many YA fantasy books, this is a one to try, but if you have read books like Daughter of Smoke and Bone this one will fall short for you. I recommend this as a library read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

I enjoyed reading The Girl at Midnight, unfortunately I just didn't love it.

I received an ARC of this novel thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. My thanks for the opportunity.

Tried multiple times to read this book, but it just never clicked with me.