Step into the enchanting world of Rena Rossner's "The Light of the Midnight Stars," where fantasy, history, and Jewish folklore intertwine like vines in a mystical forest. This 4-star read is a lyrical journey that casts a powerful spell, yet not without a few flickers of imperfection.

The synopsis beckons readers to a Hungarian woodland steeped in the sacred magic of King Solomon's descendants. Rabbi Isaac and his three gifted daughters, Hannah, Sarah, and Levana, weave small miracles beneath the midnight stars. Hannah's botanical prowess, Sarah's control over fire, and Levana's celestial insights make them a trio of enchanting characters.

The plot, like a finely woven tapestry, unfolds against the looming darkness threatening Jewish communities across Europe. Rossner masterfully explores the delicate balance between fantasy and history, creating a narrative that's both captivating and poignant. The impossible choices faced by each sister add a layer of complexity that tugs at the heartstrings.

Now, the highlights. The prose is pure poetry, creating a sensory experience that transports you to the heart of the Hungarian woods. Rossner's skillful world-building fuses magic seamlessly into the fabric of reality, offering readers a rich and immersive experience. The exploration of Jewish folklore is a unique and enriching aspect, infusing the story with cultural depth.

The characters are the true gems of this tale. Hannah's bookish calm, Sarah's fiery defiance, and Levana's ethereal feyness breathe life into the narrative. Their individual struggles and the familial bonds that tie them together resonate with authenticity. The emotional depth of the characters adds a soulful dimension to the story.

However, no masterpiece is without its quirks. Some readers may find the pacing a touch leisurely, particularly in the early chapters. The intricacies of the magical system, while enchanting, might require a bit of patience for those seeking a straightforward fantasy. Additionally, the shifts between perspectives could be a bit disorienting for some readers.

"The Light of the Midnight Stars" is a 4-star triumph that combines fantasy, history, and folklore into a tapestry of storytelling magic. While the pacing and complexity may challenge some readers, those who appreciate an immersive, character-driven narrative will find this book to be a spellbinding journey worth taking.

This was such a beautifully written book! The writing draws you in and the characters make you want to stay. The story centers around three Jewish sisters with unique powers that are direct descendants of the biblical King Solomon. The sisters each face danger and must use their powers to make it through.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner had an interesting premise. As some other reviewers noted, some of the plot points were difficult and maybe not fitting with what is commonly accepted today. I feel like I did not see a lot of hype about this one, and I think despite it being well written, that may be why.

This story is full of mysticism and folklore and magic, and it was a good read, but could have been better. My main problem wasn't with the characters, who I enjoyed - it's the because of the points of view of each character being written separately, and being different both in tone and, often, style, with injections of folklore and other information, it didn't seem like a cohesive book. It felt like three books that had been joined into one and it was distracting.

This was a very evocative and thought-provoking read about the lives of three Jewish sisters in Hungary. The writing is very lush and lyrical! It is filled with magical realism! The only thing I did not like about this book was that it was very slow moving! Nevertheless, this was an emotional and gripping read! I recommend this fans of Juliet Marillier, Naomi Novik, and Jane Yolen!

As heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, The Light of the Midnight Starts beautifully blends Jewish folklore with Hungarian, Slovakian, and Romanian folklore, as well as elements of fantasy. The result is a stunning and haunting epic work of magic, although a little stilted and draggy at some parts. This book is like a small candle help up against the dark cold night of winter.

Lyrically spellbinding and as addicting as Sisters of the Winter Wood. Each sister has their own special magic and their own connection to their faith. The weaving of the two together around the bonds of sisterhood and family was entrancing.

Thank you to NetGalley and RedHook books for the ARC. What a wonderful and breathtaking Jewish fairy tale. Loved following the 3 sisters stories. This book will give the reader all emotions and for me I did get lost in this story. Highly recommend

I wanted to really love this book. It has so many things I love - Jewish context, fantasy/folklore, magical realism, historical fiction, family interactions. But I only really liked it. Perhaps there was just too much thrown in, too many threads, to keep me captivated. Still, a very lovely and interesting read. And that cover! What a beautiful piece of work.

The story unfolds around the year 1360 and a few years afterward. The years are rendered in the Hebrew calendar as 5120-5123, so I had to look it up to make sure I knew when the novel was taking place. The action takes place in what are present-day Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. The main characters are a Jewish family whose father is a revered rabbi with magical powers. The mother gets short shrift for the most part. Each of the three daughters has a special magical gift. Rossner weaves in Jewish as well as non-Jewish folktales into this family’s story.

Warning: anti-semitism, violence, attempted infanticide, rape, religious conversion, to name a few topics

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

While I received the eARC from NetGalley and Redhook, I wound up bouncing between reading the ebook and listening to the published audiobook by Hachette Audio. The narrator, Ana Clements, did an excellent job with the many voices.

I felt super confused and couldn't get into this book, despite how pretty it promises to be. Not to mention some of the problematic aspects of the author herself that have arisen on social media lately, I've decided not to continue this one.

I went into this book with high hopes but it fell flat to me. It was hard to me to contact with the characters but I could feel the love the author put into them. I did love the Jewish folklore that was through out the book and the history. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends even though it wasn't for me, they would probably enjoy it a lot more
Thank you Netgalley and Redhook Books for letting me read and review this book.

Really intriguing and pulled me in from the very beginning! I love stories that are fleshed out folk tales and lore!

The Light of the Midnight Stars is a fairy tale based on historical events and set in real places, which gives the story an incredible magical-realistic quality.

It tells the story of three Jewish sisters who are direct descendants of King Solomon, each with a special power: Hannah, the eldest, controls plants and trees, Sarah, the second sister, can control fire and transform into various animals; lastly, Levana, the youngest, can read in the stars.

Her family shares the tragic fate of the Jewish people and must flee their village to avoid being killed. Throughout the book it is possible to appreciate the sense of imminent danger that stalks the sisters and that makes the reader feel immersed in the lives of these three sisters.

A beautiful and moving fabric, spun with the legends, history, fairy tales and myths of a region of Europe whose name alone evokes mysteries: Wallachia.

Three sisters. Each with their own separate paths. Each seeking their fathers approval. This is a pretty good read with Jewish persecution. A story of love and loss and finding ones self.

These girls father is teaching them the ways of their ancestors but will they meet his expectations? Three sister with jealousy and love for one another. The magical, God given powers they wish to possess may be their destruction or their salvation. Will this family overcome. Will these daughter head their mothers prophetic warmings? Will the loves they find be as their father desires?

Thought provoking story that makes you see the craziness of this world within it’s pages. If you have ever loved and lost, felt unsure of yourself, searched for someone that would help you find your way, been persecuted, had to leave someone behind, or felt you had to be someone else to get by then this story might just touch your soul.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Redhook Books for providing me with the free e-copy in exchange for my honest review

This book had alot of romance but it also had alot of religion which may not be for everyone. Overall I enjoyed it

This book was a slow read for me, I loved the idea of it, but it did not grab my attention of keep it.

Thank you to Net Gallery and Redhook publishing for the gifted ARC!

This book takes place in 14th century Hungary (which is what made me want to read the book to begin with.) It follows Rabbi Isaac and his three daughters, which all process magical powers. The author seems to have a different way of writing and storytelling for each of the three sisters.

There is a lot of information in this book, which makes it somewhat confusing and overwhelming. This in fact made it hard for me to connect to each of the characters and made it hard for me to get pulled in to the story as whole.
The concept and the plot sound amazing, but it ended up not being for me

This book is a mix of fantasy, religious storytelling, folklore, and history.
Please do not let my review sway you from reading and enjoying this book. Although it was not for me and had me feeling “conflicted”, I would still recommend it to others as I think the concept of it and writing could appeal to many.

There are many similarities between this book and Rossner’s first book, "The Sisters of the Winter Wood.." For that first book that alternates the narrative between two sisters, the author was inspired to investigate her family’s own experiences, and used both Jewish lore and native folktales to tell her story. Set in the early 1900a, it was a tale of Jewish resilience while educating readers about Jewish history, traditions, and language.

This book, also inspired by what was known about the author’s family from even earlier times, is set in 14th Century Eastern Europe (it begins in 1359). It involves three sisters as opposed to two, allowing the author to incorporate an additional fairy tale into her story. There is also a great deal of magic, or perhaps magical realism, that expands upon the metaphors used to tell the story. For example, the deadly Black Death (or bubonic plague) is described as a “Black Mist” - a blight that took over Europe, creating fear and magnifying superstitions and prejudices against the Jews among people in the Middle Ages.

Each of the three sisters - Hannah, Sarah, and Levana - narrates alternating chapters. Each finds love with an unexpected suitor, and these choices put them as well as their family in danger. The family ends up torn apart, and the sisters find themselves locked inside horrific fairy tales, with the prospects of happy endings ever father from their reaches.

Evaluation: One can’t help but be impressed by Rossner’s scholarship. I do feel she tried to cram in too many things into one story, however, and overall, it was just so very dark. Alas, in this respect the author stays true not only to Jewish history, but to the original versions of fairy tales by the Grimms and others, whose stories were characterized by graphic violence, sexual abuse, wicked parents, cruelty and hostility towards children, Anti-Semitism, and more. The idea of magic being a possibly good thing is relatively recent; Rossner adheres to traditional interpretations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC!

Queer Rep: bisexual woman POV character, lesbian love interest
Major Trigger Warnings: sexual violence, sexism/misogyny, violent antisemitism, sexual content involving minors/with adults, grief, death generally, and more specific very visceral acts of violence/execution that are spoilers

I really wanted to love this book, and there are parts I did love! The grounded, complex and messy portrayal of Jewish identity and belief and history and mythology in this book was excellent. I love that the author brought these lesser known (at least outside of specific communities) Jewish folktales to life. Each sister felt like a unique character with very different approaches to the world around them, and they all, especially Sarah, changed in interesting ways over the course of the book. I am so glad to see a f/f relationship in a Jewish fairytale book. I was engrossed the whole time – I stayed up until 5am reading this book at one point. I wanted to like it, and spent my whole experience reading it feeling very conflicted. I didn’t hate this book, but I don’t think I can say I liked it either. The word that feels most fitting is “conflicted.”

I struggled with how young the sisters were at many points (specifically around marriage and sex). I know this is likely what was happening at the time, but I would have had a much more positive experience with this book if they were all aged up even two years. The characters’ lives also seemed to revolve almost entirely around marriage and sex – desperately wanting to have sex, therefore desperately wanting to get married immediately, despite being, for example, thirteen years old. This seemed to be what their whole selves revolved around. Not a single character had a completely platonic friendship outside of their family. The characters didn’t seem to have wider lives outside of their tragic fairytale romances, which makes sense when trying to fit so many fairytales into the lives of a single family.

The romances themselves all started so quick and so strong and desperate that they felt almost unreal, especially as that kept happening over and over and over again. I felt the heavy hand of the author while reading this – that in order to weave all of these different tales together, she had to maneuver the characters into encounters that just felt absolutely unreal, even in a fairytale, to imagine happening to the same person. It’s as if Cinderella also experienced the story of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. At some point, the woods feel too full of princes and you have to wonder how the princess could still fall ever again, why she wouldn’t just sit down right there and refuse to budge. And if, like with this book, we’re using the gritty, original, haunting version of the fairytales, the amount of trauma and pain the character has to go through to live through all of these stories is too much.

I think it’s the author’s choice to weave all these stories into the life of one family of sisters that made this book not work for me. I think I could have loved this book as a short story collection happening to different people, or if the second half of the book happened to the Solomonars’ cousins, for example. Actually, the moment I most thought I would turn out to love the book was when I mistakenly thought that a transformation that happens midway through the book was a permanent and complete one, down to memories, and identities, and origin stories. I think going in that direction could have been so fascinating, and made a big difference for me. I saw the way that the first part of the book was almost a prequel to the rest of it, and I just wish that the sequel had differed more from its predecessor. I kept hoping for an ending to pull enough of the strings of the stories to feel satisfying, to bring meaning to it all, for something to click, and I just kept waiting. I feel like I'm still waiting.

This book seemed to be made for me, as an Ashkenazi queer Jewish person who has a niche interest in queer fairytales. Ultimately, although I was engrossed, I spent just as much time and energy being concerned about the book as a book as I did about the characters and story while reading. I absolutely want to see more from this author and want to see more Jewish fairytales especially with queer representation, but this was not my book.