WOW. that’s all i have to say. after a while of bad books, i was getting desperate and this book was the best thing that could come out of that desperation.
you want time loop? got that
you want mystery? got that baby
you want morally grey romance? got that too
you want character arcs? dang it has that
you want a magic system so complex and relatable to real life? YES MAAM SHE HAS THAT
this book completely took over my mind the last two weeks, and during midterms i was so annoyed i couldn’t read it!
i read over 200 pages today because i just needed to know what happened this book got me THAT down bad.
i am so excited for everyone to read this magnificent debut novel, the writing was amazing and i loved Anaïs and Leo. the side characters of Gaspard and Jacinthe were a delight to read through, and i just want MORE.
that’s how you know a story has got you in its clutches.

Midnight Strikes is a YA fantasy among glittering ballrooms and an impending revolution, with a time-loop twist!

I was a bit worried at first, since I found the first 2-3 chapters really repetitive, not because of the time-loop but because nothing really seems to happen in them. But then every new “day” something new happens, that adds a new puzzle piece to the mystery puzzle of who’s done this and why. With another aspect of the palace being explored, with another potential lead investigated, and new clues everytime. The time-loop concept reminded me of a book version of the old school point and click adventure games where you have to go back and forth, collecting new clues and items to finally reach the goal. This book had me constantly guessing who was truly behind it all. Had some suspects, but no-one ever really fitted the identity. Even when the culprit is revealed, there’s still so much suspension left since now Anaïs needs to find a way to stop them.

Speaking of Anaïs, the mc, I love how she grows over the course of the story. She’s constantly exposed to such traumatic events, again and again, and it’s harrowing and tragic to see how the other character’s treating her when she’s trying to save their ungrateful lives. But the story also shows how this makes her go from scared and helpless to brave and determined, without losing her humanity and kindness. As well as learning the lesson to accept that everything never can be perfect, because life is flawed. The biggest thing that didn’t quite resonate was her relationship with Leo. Since the day constantly resets and only Anaïs remembers, everything that happens between them is only remembered by her. So it feels a bit weird that he gets more and more smitten with her, which isn’t logical in this setting and just makes it seem like insta-love on his part. Don’t get me wrong, I like them together - but it just doesn’t feel believable within the limits of the story.

This was a very unique and entertaining read, with a great execution of the concept and main character at its heart. I would love to see more from this world, and these characters in the future. So fingers crossed for a novella.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC of this!

I adore a time loop and this was no exception, giving the main character time to learn and grow during the course of one repeated evening. There was just the right amount of magic and romance, without taking away from the excitement and tension of the explosion they are trying to prevent. I was a little confused by the ending, to be honest, it definitely wasn’t what I was expecting once the loop was ended. Overall I enjoyed it - perfect for fans of Neverworld Wake or Before I Fall

This was a pretty fun debut from this author. I haven’t read many stories with a time loop so that made it both interesting and frustrating at times. I felt like the time loops carried on for a bit too long but perhaps that was to echo the frustration Anais feels as well. Anais is a great main character - I loved how determined she was and that she struggled with the morality of her decisions. I wanted her relationship with Leo to be more developed and felt where it ended was a little abrupt. I’m hoping that there will be some sort of novella to show what has happened between the two of them. There’s a lot to be enjoyed with the story and I’m looking forward to what the author writes next. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the arc.

𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒘, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒚.

I really enjoyed the ride. I’m a sucker for time-looping and Midnight Strikes offers an original take on this trope, spiced up with deadly court intrigue and magic.
I loved how Anaïs was in a race against time, having just a few hours to literally save the day. The fact that she was the only one retaining her memory made the challenge to unravel the murderous conspiracy even more daring and compelling.

𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎.
𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓.

Living that cursed night over and over again, Anaïs got to know one of the main male characters better and started to get attached to him. Even though there was a touch of romance (and I appreciated how it was dealt with), don’t expect an epic love story — as the love interest’s memory was wiped out every time, it wouldn’t have been very credible for him to fall head over heels for Anaïs and reciprocate her feelings. Nonetheless, as an incurable romantic, I would have loved it if he could remember what happened through the time loops and forge a deeper connection with our heroine.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

The magic system was pretty interesting and unique, even though I felt it could have used more depth.

All in all, Midnight Strikes was a fast and enjoyable read. Definitely recommended if you like time loop stories.

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Many thanks to @tbrbeyondtours for having me on the tour!⁣ Check #TBRBeyondTours website (https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/) to follow the tour schedule.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinions

This book is a Cinderella fairytale retelling. So many of these have been done that I shoved it into my TBR list and put off reading it for quite a while.

This one, however is told with a time travel twist which made it unique.

The magic system is beatifully done and the time loop made it super exciting. Everyone dies and is immediately transported back to a time before their deaths!

My only big complaint and nothing to do with the book itself is the book was very hard to read in the NetGalley app. The font is super tiny and was not able to be downloaded to Kindle. Super annoying for this 61 year old reader with poor eye sight. It took me forever to read!

Recommend.

Actual Rating: 3.5⭐

This book has a great combination of fantasy and sci-fi elements with magic and the time looping. It also gives off the fairytale vibes.
Even though, it can get a bit dark with some of the violence shown where the FMC – Anais has to die in different ways every day to restart the day.

I really like the world building, it has the fairytale vibes with the fancy ballroom, the beautiful dresses, the dancing and courting. It’s well described and easy to envision, the magic system is also easy to understand.

As for the characters, I admire Anais’s bravery and I like seeing her grow from being scared and helpless to this determined and brave woman.

While I like most part of the story, there are some things that I wish for more in this book. For example, the romance between the two MCs – Anais and Leo.
I kinda wish Leo is also inside the time loop with Anais to figure out how to break the looping and uncover secrets. That way, we could see the progress of their relationship instead of restarting to square one every day.

The second part, for a time looping story things would start to feel slightly repetitive if the story went on for too long. I felt the same way during the middle part of the story nevertheless, I still enjoy seeing how Anais finds each puzzle pieces until she can unite them all and see the big picture. I was pretty surprised with the big reveal.

Overall, for a debut novel this is pretty good. Some things still needed development but it's still an enjoyable read - magical with a slight darker touch.
I’m looking forward to read books from this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, Violence and a bit of gore

I really liked this one! I’m not usually one that likes a timeloop story, but this was super compelling and I liked the mystery that was leading it all. Highly recommended!

Think Cinderella meets Groundhog Day–or maybe more aptly Live, Die, Repeat. This book has an angle that is both interesting and a challenge for the author. Basically, how do you keep the same thing interesting to the reader? Written in first person and usually in quite short scenes and chapters (almost all the chapters are numbered “Chapter One”), it is a little disorienting and confusing to fill in the gaps of magic systems, politics, and people with only snippets. The staccato, repetitive nature is both a problem for the pacing and a way to embroil the reader into the protagonist’s entrapment. As frustrating as it feels to be stuck with Anais, if the reader hangs in there, they will find it worth it. As Anais begins to develop some grit and identity, then the plot begins to progress. Anais’ love interest is unexpected and although not the main driver of the story, a positive element. A somewhat unconventional, but somehow appropriate ending wraps up this young adult fantasy, which ultimately charmed me.

This book is definitely geared for teens. Normally I like such books, but the time loop trope has been overused, and I really didn't find this to have much originality. It's not bad, but it's not great. Things seemed to drag on longer than they should. Too many failed attempts. She seems to have realized that her attempts to save people would not be successful, so why did she keep trying for so long? The magic in the book was interesting - blood magic If you really like time loop/groundhog day types of stories, you would probably like this. I got bored with it.

This is the first young adult fantasy novel I have enjoyed this much in quite some time. I loved the typical fantasy royal ball with the twist of a time loop (one of my fave sci-fi tropes) mixed in. There are also several Mysteries for Anais to uncover: who is behind the bombing of the castle at midnight that kills everyone, Why is she the only one who realizes they keep re-living the same day and of course how to stop all of it?

The story is not perfect but it was so entertaining and genuinely captured my attention throughout. Personally I was not fully satisfied with the ending and would have performed another chapter or two to explore the consequences of the final events.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for an advanced reader copy for review.

Plot: 1
Writing: 1
World Building: .5
Characters: .5
Themes: 0
3/5

Midnight Strikes is a time loop story about a girl trying to stop a bomb going off during a ball and killing people.

Let me start off by saying that Time Loop stories are not my favorite. I don't think I have the patience to re-live the same moments over and over (had to quit Tokyo Revengers) but I wanted to give this one a try because it sounded interesting.

Well, I didn't hate it. But it also isn't the one that changes time loop stories for me. I think the premise is interesting but we're so limited on what information we can get on the world and characters due to the limited nature that I just felt like we missed out on so much.

I also was not emotionally invested in any of the characters or relationships. How in the world did she fall in love? There were a couple of relationships that stood out, Anais and her mother's moment was important and a good moment for them.

There's a lot of death in here. A LOT. In all manners. It's not overly graphic but it was a little tiring reading about death every chapter.

Speaking of chapters, the way the chapters are laid out is kind of confusing. I think I would have preferred "The Beginning" or something like that rather than "Chapter One" when the day starts over again. The roman numerals depict the chapter you're actually on and the title tells you where you are in the story. This threw me off so many times.

If you like time loop stories, you might enjoy this one. If you don't, you're not going to like it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eArc for an honest review. You can't win 'em all.

Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz, 448 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2023. $19. lgbtqia
Language: R (89 swears, 30 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
This ball is the best chance for Anaïs to solidify a marriage that her parents want for her, but Anaïs is tired of being looked down on for her culture and magic. The night only gets worse when bombs go off at midnight and Anaïs dies after having watched everyone else die. Anaïs wakes up from her nap before the ball and lives the horrific night over again. Every night, Anaïs dies; and, every night, Anaïs grows less confident that she can stop the cycle.
While this story is fun and enjoyable, those words don’t encompass the depth of Anaïs’s story. She struggles with the never ending cycle of death, with reasons for attempting to save the people who conquered and look down on her people, and with building relationships that no one else remembers. The secrets and plots that she uncovers go deep, and she can’t do it alone – but what if Anaïs can’t find a perfect solution? When do you choose to accept mistakes you can live with and let time move forward?
Anaïs is implied White, but skin tones throughout the book are not explicit. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, innuendo, intense makeout scenes, partial nudity, and implied sex. The violence rating is for gun use, fantasy violence, blood and gore, suicide, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz is an explosive debut in the fantasy genre. This well-written novel will transport readers to a world of magic and romance. The author's unique storytelling style and attention to detail make this book a must-read.

OMG, did I love this book!!! I have never read a book with my name in it(Anais) and so I was super happy to get the opportunity to read an early copy of this book and not only enjoy the book, but also love the female main character with my name!

This follows Anais Aubanel who goes to the Anniversary Ball with her parents where her mother is hoping she may find a marriage match within the Ivarean elite society. However, that evening, there is an attack at the palace where everyone dies....including Anais. Then, she suddenly wakes up the next day in bed on the same day for the Anniversary Ball. She passes it off as a bad nightmare until everything happens exactly as that so called "dream" and she wakes up again for the Anniversary Ball. Anais realizes she must be in some sort of time loop and wants to end it and also save all those people from dying, and so somehow has to recruit help from people who forget each time midnight strikes and start over each day to stop the coup and save everyone, and hopefully break the curse Anais is under.

I first will say I was very nervous going into this book wondering if I would like it. Mainly because, like I said earlier, I have never read a book with my name in it, and to read a book with my name in it and the main character on top of that, I wanted to like this book! Well, I did! And I loved the main character! It was weird reading my name throughout the book and reading the dialogue with these people saying my name, it was a bit of a trippy experience for me!

Anais is such an amazing character! I don't how one can get passed the trauma of reliving that night over and over again, and dying over and over again, and just seeing death like that over and over again, and still keep going with determination to stop it, or prevent it from happening. Granted, there were times Anais wanted to give up, but she didn't, and all I can say is what a trooper! I think her true personality really came out too as the story progressed because it seemed like she gained more and more confidence in herself and her true sassy self came out a lot more and more as the story progressed, and even her best friend Gaspard made a comment about that he was seeing his real friend Anais, and I would agree! She really changed as the story went on, or just showed her true colors.

I really liked the way this story is told as well. I love stories involving time, it's one of the most fascinating concepts in my opinion, and so if there is a book or movie or show that involves time in some way, I will love it. Because it is the same night over and over again, I could see this getting dull or just wondering when is this going to end, but you are never bored! Each evening something slightly different occur, or we learn something different about the world, the history of the world, the magic system, or about a person. We really get to learn a lot about Anais, and some of the other characters, like Gaspard, and Leo, and even a few from the elite and royal society. It was also told in first person, but the way it was written almost made me feel like Anais was telling her story while watching her story unfold, if that makes sense....it was like watching a movie with narration I guess is the best way for me to explain it.

The romance is lovely and sweet too. The way it advances within this time loop fascinated me. Anais falls in love, but who she is in love doesn't remember, and yet, each time they interact, you feel as if the other character falls in love with her back each time she relives that night. I'll just say, the romance was believable for me despite the circumstances, and I loved it!

The ending blew me away the most. Mainly because to me, the ending was very realistic, and had an open ending making you wonder "what happens next?". And open endings I always enjoy because I love deciding what I think happens in the end for our wonderful characters, especially for Anais!

I truly loved this story, and maybe I am a bit biased with my name being in this book, but truly enjoyed it and is so far my favorite read for this year! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read this advanced copy! I really look forward to receiving the physical book! I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Midnight Strikes is a book that balances action - hello time loops - and character development. On the one hand, I immediately loved the time loop aspect. Waking up every day and wondering what you can do differently? Trying to figure out the 'key' the 'mystery' to why you're stuck? And for each story, it's a bit different. In Midnight Strikes, the mystery and action go hand in hand. As we see Anaïs struggling to make sense of the loop, she discovers more about not only the people around her, but also her own family.

On the action front, I loved how much information was portrayed. The ways Shahnaz explores and goes down the paths of these side characters, nooks and crannies, and secretive glances. But on the other hand, I deeply appreciated the ways in which Midnight Strikes observes Anaïs and her relationship to the court. All the slights, the ridicule, and the condescending glances against her. How a large question of Midnight Strikes is why Anaïs is even bothering to save this kingdom which is so determined not only to look down on her, but on others like her.

I don't even know where to start. I really wanted to love this book. The premise was very interesting but this book just didn't live up to it. The story was very repetitive (which is to be somewhat expected in a time loop situation) but it seemed to drag on. The story was slow to develop. The main character was very dramatic and it was hard to "feel for her". I wish the attack aspect was more fleshed out so we could really get an understanding of what she was feeling and how dramatic it was. I think this played a part in her behavior but it isn't "shown" well. The other thing I struggled with was the curse words thrown in. They weren't needed and early on I felt they took away from the story.

Midnight Strikes is a perfectly executed time loop fantasy that rivals all the classic fairytales. Set in a fantastical Spanish inspired world, Anais is a young noblewoman attending a ball with strict instructions to find a suitable husband that will secure her family’s future. Instead, Anais finds herself caught in the midst of a violent rebellion hellbent on destroying the monarchy. It is an evening that she is cursed to repeat over and over again.

Beautifully written with enjoyable characters , exquisite world-building, and plenty of thrilling action and romance to satisfy plenty of readers, this novel deserves all the buzz it can get. I simply could not put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zeba Shanaz, and Delacorte Press for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book! I had so much fun with it and really enjoyed reading it! I was so intrigued by the synopsis of this book and knew that I really wanted to read it. I always love a good time travel book, and this one did not disappoint! I think that the process of our main character, Anaïs finding out what is exactly going on was really interesting. I do think that it felt kind of repetitive, but it almost added to the story because it gave a better understanding of what she was experiencing. Overall, I had a really good time in this world with these characters. I will most definitely be recommending this book!

Oh I loved this book so much, but the ending breaks my heart just a little. I wish we could see more of the two mc's getting to fall in love and being together rather then them still being separated at the end.
The storyline moves great especially since it's the same day over and over. It's amazing how many different ways a single night can play put based on the many ways a character can act. This is such a 5 star read that I will recommend to everyone!!