4.5 Stars

The Midnight Lie is one of the best YA books I've read in a long time. It started off a little slow, and then I was pulled in and desperate to read more about Nirrim and Sid, and the world around them. Oh Nirrim and Sid have stolen my heart, I was eagerly devouring pages for a glimpse of their teasing, their glances, the brief touches shared between them. I've never read a Marie Rutkoski book and The Midnight Lie was entirely unexpected in all ways.

The world crafted was enchanting as we are whisked off to a world of class segregation, secret magic and an unknown ruler and unknown history. There are the High-Kith, Middlings, Half-Kith and Un-Kith. Nirrim is a half-kith who helps to forge passports for those around her with her 'mother-figure' Raven, to get people out of the world of Half-Kith. Half-Kith are subject to harsher laws, harsher rules and a much drabber lifestyle than those above them. They can't wear deep blues, or rich colours, they're not allowed books or luxury foods. If they are found to break these rules they will be forced to pay a penance or a tithe in the forms of blood, hair, skin, or anything the prison guards can think up and take from them; alongside a prison sentence. When Nirrim is thrown into prisoner she meets a strange traveller Sid

who turns out to be a girl

and from there their relationship develops. Nirrim at first is suspicious and unbelieving of Sid and everything Sid says. However, upon her release from prison she begins to question everything around her. It is this curiosity and questioning nature of Nirrim that I began to love as she blossomed and bloomed as a character.

Throughout the whole book, the identity of Sid is a mystery, although I guessed immediately who they were and this didn't feel very subtle. Although I think this was perhaps a point to the plot that Sid's identity was not subtle. Sid was probably my favourite character, as a strong and adventurous spirit. Sid came across as fanciful and fickle character that liked to seduce women, but beneath the surface was a caring, insightful and smart character. I loved watching the relationship develop between Sid and Nirrim and this was the real strength of the book.

The plot-line follows Nirrim and Sid trying to uncover the secrets behind magic in the Ward. They attended parties, took magic potions and occasionally sneaked around. I do think the sneaking and adventure was a little bit lacking in places, and I wanted a little more from the world-building and action in places. This book was very character driven, which was fine. However, I think future books could definitely benefit from more adventure and more focus on the plot as the themes continue to develop. The ending was a bit of a bit cliff-hanger (of shorts), so I am keen that we see more in terms of big world-building plot developments.

This book was a refreshing breathe of air that intertwined fantasy themes, class critiques, LGTBQ themes and more. I loved pretty much all of it, and I am saddened that I'm going to have to wait so long until the next book comes out as this one isn't even published yet. I will 100% be getting myself a paperback version when this book comes out (as I'm not a big hardback fan). I got a copy free from Netgalley.