I don't know how this is my third Rachel Griffin book, and yet I'm still surprised with the impact it has on me. Her work is somehow both light and heavy, both simple and complex, both short yet leaving a long impact. But here I am, surprised that Bring Me Your Midnight has done the impossible, yet again.

Rachel Griffin makes magic feel not only possible, but that it currently exists, hidden from society but undeniably present.

I could have devoured this book in a day, but I forced myself to make it last. The Nature of Witches is likely still my favorite, but that's so hard to say when Wild is the Witch and now Bring Me Your Midnight just lingers in my mind, constantly creeping into my thoughts. Perhaps it's because The Nature of Witches was the first, so it'll always hold a special place in my heart. But Bring Me Your Midnight is undeniably it's own thing, and just as incredible.

I was brought back to childhood memories of visiting the beach, of nearly drowning but not letting it stop my love of the sea, of days and days spent on the beach with loved ones, enjoying nature and the ocean. Even though I'm, to be honest, not a beach person, Bring Me Your Midnight has me wanting to visit again, just to be reminded of the beauty and majesty of the ocean and shoreline.

I don't know what I was expecting with Bring Me Your Midnight, but I found it and then some. Between life stresses and what I think are book hangovers, I haven't read a book in a week [as of me writing this], which is unheard of for me. The closest I come to taking a break from reading is waiting until the next day to start a new book, or forcing myself to take several days to read a book. With Bring Me Your Midnight, my book-hangover was cured, and it was a struggle to force myself to take longer than a single day to read it. I wanted to devour it, and it's evidence that Rachel Griffin's work is magic in and of itself.

That's a really long intro, but, as usual, I went into this book knowing next to nothing about it, but you can know everything you want to by visiting the Goodreads page, which you can find here!

Recommendation: Read it. Have you read and enjoyed [to whatever degree] her previous work? Read it. Even if you're not a fan of the beach or the ocean, it doesn't matter. This story is light and deep, heavy and simple, short and lingering-in-your-brain long. It's such a lovely refresh to anything you're currently reading, it sweeps you off your feet to an island of witches and magic, and it constantly finds a may to creep back into my brain. Just like The Nature of Witches, I will likely be recommending it to anyone who reads books even remotely similar. If you liked The Poison Season, you're in luck! It's similar while still being its own thing. Read it!

Alright, now that I'm done semi-repeating myself on the simple yet complex entity that is Bring Me Your Midnight, let's talk about it a little more. But where do I even start? I guess we'll start with the magic system [non-spoiler-y like]. While there are similarities to the magic in Bring Me Your Midnight and Wild is the Witch, there's a [spoiler-y] element to it that makes it different.

Tana is predictable in a lot of ways, but also unique. She has this strong love for her coven that has lead her to not push back against her lack of freedom [too much, anyway], and an even stronger, deeper love of her magic. So, when her magic, something she loves basically above all else, is essentially threatening to kill her, she left with few options - and by few, it's really just one. Wolfe.

Wolfe is a great, complex character [who I might like more than Tana, to be honest]. He's presented as her foil, in essence, but becomes something else not too long after he's introduced in the story. He's like and unlike so many other MLIs [Male Love Interests], enough of both to make him easy to read but also intrigue you enough to not get bored or leave you feeling like he's a repeat of a MLI from another book.

While the story is a romance, it's also so much more. [That's not really a spoiler, right?] Yes, the romance between Tana and Landon - and Tana and Wolfe - are a big part of the story, but you could, honestly, kind of take them out of the picture and still have a strong story [in my opinion, anyway]. This book is as much a coming-of-age/coming-into-yourself story as it is a romance. And, in my opinion, it makes it a stronger book. It is almost two stories at once, and that's kind of amazing. While I do think The Nature of Witches also sort of has this going for it [and I don't think Wild is the Witch does], Bring Me Your Midnight executes this the best.

I found myself not wanting to put this book down, and I think you will too! Onto spoiler-y thoughts below!

**SPOILER-Y THOUGHTS INCOMING! IF YOU WISH TO AVOID THEM, STOP READING NOW! YOU ARE, OF COURSE, ALWAYS MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME BACK AND READ THE REST WHEN YOU'VE READ FOR YOURSELF, IF YOU'D LIKE!**

Will I be reading this book again? Maybe. Will I stare lovingly at it when I receive it and add it to my shelves with a happy heart? Definitely.

While I do feel like the magic system in this book is the least strict of the three magic systems Rachel Griffin has created, it doesn't detract from the story. It just sort of makes the magic seem that much more fictional [which isn't necessarily a bad thing - we read fantasy because it's one of the most fictional genres there is, right?], but it is different from how Wild is the Witch and The Nature of Witches feel. Both of those books feel like those witches could actually exist, but the way the magic works in Bring Me Your Midnight feel a little less like that - mainly because it seems like the magic is more limitless in capability than the others. There's never really a hard line drawn between what the magic is capable of and what it isn't [other than it's ability to kill the user if enough of it isn't used, which is the central part of the story].

That's really my biggest critical thought of the book, and it's not even a real deal-breaker. It's just another reason why Bring Me Your Midnight is unique from her other books.

Tana's parents' shop [and Ivy's parents'] make me want to get into plants and botany [which is something that I've gotten more seriously tempted by when reading Outlander for the first time]. Tana's love of the ocean has me, a not-beach person, wanting to go back to, well, the beach. Wolfe's magic, and Tana's introduction to it, has me wanting to find something that gives me a similar feeling [because that has to be possible outside of magic, right?].

[Also, Ivy might be my favorite character. And I'm curious if she takes Tana's place and marries Landon to protect the coven and island. I feel like it was fairly heavily implied.]

All of that said, it was a beautiful, atmospheric read that had me on the that island of witches, the ocean nearly vivid enough to smell, and I find myself feeling like the first print case design just doesn't measure up to how pretty the story inside it is [as in, the story is prettier than the first print case]! That said, I can't wait to see some beautiful fan art that I'm sure this book is going to inspire in some talented artists!

Also, the ceremony Tana has to do when she comes of age gave me Divergent vibes, and now I want to reread that book. Why am I like this? Especially this year? It keeps trying to be the year of the rereads, but I have to be strong. [Right? . . .]

Anyway, if anyone loves botany and has any tips on where I should begin [especially botany related to tea and medicine], I'm all ears!

As always, I hope you enjoyed the review, and be kind, stay safe, and read on!

One of the most magical books I've read this year. This was my first book I've read by Rachel Griffin and I will be purchasing the rest of her books immediately. I loved her writing so so much. Poetic and absolutely magical.

Well-written characters and a plot that kept me intriguied throughout the book. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a magical YA fantasy read!

3⭐️

This for me was just ok. I have read other books by Rachel Griffin and I really love her other books.

In this book we follow Tana our main protagonist. She is a young witch on an island of other people with magic. Their magic is fairly simple and less than what it was. As there was another coven that was banished for using dark magic. People without magic live on the main land and there is still fear regarding the witches. In hopes to unite the people Tana is betrothed to Landon the son of the mayor.

From there we follow Tana as she discovers who she is and what she really wants from life. A mysterious boy name Wolfe turns her life on its head.

The premise of this book was great. It's whimsical and Rachel Griffin is a beautiful writer, specifically around stories regarding magic. I wanted to know so much more about this world and the history surrounding it.

For this one I feel like it would have been better as a longer book, duology, or trilogy. The world building and relationships felt really rushed and there wasn't enough time spent in the story fully establishing either. I just never could truly connect.

The pacing was my second issue in this book. It was a bit quick in the beginning and then dragged in the middle. Since this is stand alone it then felt rushed at the end.

I'd love to see a series from Griffin in the future. She's incredibly talented and the writing in this book is truly beautiful. It just unfortunately overall fell flat.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories regarding magic, witches, and politics around it, Also to readers that do just want stand alone fantasy book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire. My review is voluntarily my own.

Finished this in one sitting. HOLY MOLY!! YA Roman tasty with witches with the most atmospheric setting was right up my alley. Just overal beautifully written and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you for the eArc.

Overall this book was okay for me. The premise and the magic system as a whole was really interesting, making me wish it was explored a bit more. I also like the idea of the romance in here but I think the execution just fell a bit flat for me with some enjoyable moments but lots of moments that just felt too insta-lovey and missing a spark.

Here Rachel Griffin goes again, with another delightfully witchy coming-of-age story! Bring Me Your Midnight is a wonderful blend of magic and YA romance.

This story takes place on an island where witches practice low-magic at a controlled level. The coven voluntarily drains most of their power into the sea in order to maintain a fragile relationship of trust with the non-magic people of the mainland. On this island, we meet Tana, who has always known her duty and role in her family and her coven - to marry into an alliance with the mainland governor’s son. As the commitment ceremonies approach, Tana begins to question her role and the history of her coven. Throw in a forbidden romance, and you’ve got yourself a fun YA novel.

I had a great time being swept up in the feeling of the town, the magic system, the atmosphere, and the angst! Overall, this was a 4.25 to 4.5 star read for me. I did feel a bit of a lull about two-thirds of the way in, but aside from that, I really enjoyed the ride. I think it's safe to say that I'll read (and love) anything that Rachel Griffin writes.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the romantic fantasy of my dreams!! Every detail of this book is finely crafted - from the lush, dreamy descriptions to the deep and well thought out relationships. The themes in this book are something every young person should read - questioning lifelong beliefs as a teen is something that everyone struggles with. And this book uncovers that struggle with nuance and care. Excellent!

Wow I loved this. The magic system was really interesting and I loved Wolfe & Tana. This is definitely Rachel Griffin’s best book (which is saying a lot because her other books are great too). Also loved the ending! I also really enjoyed her relationship with her dad - it was so nice to read a ya book where the mc has a good relationship with her dad. Honestly their moments together made me just as emotional as Tana’s moments with Wolfe.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how this book still had a climate themed to it. I also loved how this book was love to hate but was a super compeling story!! I also really liked the world and all the side characters in this read! I loved magic filled stories and this world fetl very magical to me. I also thought the romance was well done and this book was a very fast pace read and loved all the elements to the is read and loved the main character!!

This is my first book by Rachel Griffin and she is now an auto buy author for me. I’m so excited that she has another two books that I can go run and read! The setting of this story is captivating. I want to jump on a ferry to the Witchery right now! The characters have depth and the story is a beautiful one about staying true to yourself. Once I reached 65%, I could not put this book down. I was completely entangled and my heart was in knots until I got to the end of the book. Soooooo so so good. Highly recommend!

Griffin's latest book is probably her best yet! It has been such a joy to watch her grow as an author and in Bring Me Your Midnight, you are transported to an island you never want to leave. Between her unforgettable lines, her story building, and her character depictions, this book has become my favorite book so far of 2023.

Tana isn’t sure why she has such a deep connection to the sea, but she knows what her future holds. She will marry Landon and bring together the humans who do not trust the witches and the witches who are forced to live on an island and practice a form of mild witchcraft. Enter Wolfe who comes from the supposedly long gone witches who practice dark magic.
There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, but what really struck me was how easily I could do a Book Talk with my students. They would easily be intrigued to read it without committing to a series. Too many of my students who are low readers, low-interest readers, and ESOL enjoy Fantasy, but are thrown off by the thought of reading a series. This is perfect for them and frankly all the rest of our students.
Thanks #NetGalley!

I think Rachel Griffin may be the queen of atmospheric writing. The way she writes wraps around you, entangles every limb, catches each breath. Tana, a witch, has lived her entire life knowing her purpose: she will marry the mainlander Landon in order to save her people. But when she missee an important ritual and encounters Wolfe who claims he is from a coven that shouldn’t exist. After he saves her life, she finds herself inextricably drawn to him. Wolfe represents everything she is not, and she wars with herself. Does she choose the marriage that will ensure her people’s way of life, or does she choose the boy who may be the one she loves? And when truths are discovered to be lies, what life and which people can she trust?

I loved this book and Tana’s struggle between what she’s known and what she discovers. The magic system is so interesting and intricately woven into the island the story is set on. The relationship between Wolfe and Tana is absolutely delicious, but the other relationships in the story (between Tana and Ivy, Tana and Landon, and Tana and her parents) are all full of depth. There are so many layers of gray instead of easy black and white answers, and the characters’ struggles all feel important and realistic. The craft of the story is superb, and the way Griffin writes is magic itself.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bring Me Your Midnight had a really interesting concept - I think where it fell short for me was in the execution. You have Tana, a witch who lives on the Witchery (for some reason, this name irked me - couldn't be anything cooler?!), betrothed to Landon, the governor's son on the Mainland. Tana was adamant it was her duty to marry him to protect the Witchery... until suddenly she wasn't.

There wasn't enough world-building in this book for me, which is why I sometimes have an issue with standalone fantasies. We didn't understand anything about the Mainland - how big is it? Is it the only non-witch land? Is the Mainland part of a bigger country? Continent? What else is out there? And the witch's lore itself was not expanded upon enough for my taste.

Truthfully, I didn't understand Tana. It felt like her emotions were very surface-level, and she would think "The sky is blue!" and five minutes later, someone would tell her the sky is pink, would have zero evidence, would just say this very passionately, and she wouldn't question it, she would just immediately go "I guess I was wrong! The sky is pink!"

I was generally uninterested in the love interest since he was as interesting as a piece of seaweed.

My favorite part of the book was actually Tana's friendship with Ivy and her relationship with her parents. Both, at times, were tumultuous, but I felt like those relationships were a lot more interesting than either of Tana's love interests.

My biggest issue is that the concept was unique, but the author didn't capitalize enough on any of it. It felt like every other fantasy book I've ever read, and didn't stand on it's own enough.

In the end, I wouldn't say this was a bad book. It was just a little bland for my personal tastes.

This was literal perfection. Rachel Griffin is THE STANDARD for YA witchy reads and the most magical atmosphere. Each book she writes becomes my newest hyperfixation!

You could say I’ve been bewitched by Rachel Griffin’s writing. I’ve irrevocably fallen in love with every leading witch she’s written. Bring Me Your Midnight was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Rachel as an author. Strong character development, magical settings, a compelling storyline, and in depth magic systems all so believable and immersive, make you forget this is fiction, for a time. This was an instant five-star read for me. I was brought to laughter as well as tears while being swept away and immersed in this world. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooksfire for the advance reader copy.

This book was an exquisitely beautiful and enchanting read that captivated me from start to finish. It embodies the essence of cozy fantasy perfection, weaving an angsty and forbidden romance that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you yearning to uncover what lies ahead. Rachel Griffin's portrayal of the cozy little magical island is nothing short of delightful, resembling a fairy wonderland that comes alive through her vivid and picturesque descriptions. The author's masterful use of beautiful imagery effortlessly transports the reader into this captivating world.

The story resonated with me, reminiscent of the enchantment found in "The Little Mermaid," and yet it possesses a unique charm all its own. We are introduced to Tana, a young witch whose destiny has been predetermined since before her birth. She is meant to enter into a marriage to secure an alliance, safeguarding her coven and forging connections with the non-magical mainland. However, as her wedding day and the inevitable binding to her coven draw nearer, Tana begins to question the truths she has been taught her entire life. In her blossoming relationship with Wolfe, a member of a secret coven, she confronts the ultimate choice: to adhere to the prescribed path and meet everyone's expectations or to forge her own destiny, even if it means disappointing her entire coven.

The chemistry between Tana and Wolfe is palpable right from the start. Both characters exude a fierce determination to fight for what they believe in, harboring passion and loyalty deep within their hearts.
Their relationship is strictly forbidden and they must choose to fight for each other, in the face of so much adversity against them. Additionally, the endearing friendship between Tana and Ivy adds another layer of depth to the narrative. It is refreshing to witness a romance book that emphasizes the importance of meaningful friendships alongside romantic relationships.

Tana's struggles in this book are relatable to every person who has grappled with the desire to do what is expected of them, despite feeling an inner conflict. The torment of being torn between these opposing desires can feel paralyzing, but the story beautifully illustrates the power that comes with standing up for one's own convictions and choosing a path that aligns with personal truth, regardless of others' opinions.

The magical and alluring world created in this book effortlessly immerses readers, evoking a longing for oceanic adventures, soulful walks amidst nature, and the comforting warmth of a good cup of tea. It is a truly captivating and enchanting experience that will leave you yearning for more.

Another wonderful new adult witch book by R Griffin, where nature and magic merge beautifully, where good intentions lead to drama, where circumstances are the antagonists and healing is essential and healthy communication and lots and lots of feels.
I love the ocean, so I was excited to see the author tackle that type of wilderness, and while I enjoyed the story, I must say I don't think she is so familiar with beach living, contrarily to camping. There were lots of strange little details like salt-caking eyebrows and going actually swimming in your clothes. But those are details.
This is very much about a mother-daughter relationship, about the weight of responsibility, about love, about finding your role, about family, about becoming an adult, about having a passion. If you love cozy witch books talking about ecology with a central love story then this is for you.

thank you netgalley for the arc !

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚

read if you like:
♡ witchcraft
♡ lush island atmosphere
♡ longing & angst
♡ forbidden love

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ cascading with witchery and breathtakingly atmospheric, bring me your midnight is a lyrical fairytale of duty - to ones self and those we love.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ to tana fairchild, her future is not her own. she is the governor’s son landon’s intended, a loveless engagement founded for the purpose of an alliance the likes of which the mainlanders and witches such as tana herself, who populate the island she calls home, have never before seen. for her fellow witches, this is a great stride towards a more peaceable existence between the two peoples as the mainlanders have never quite ceased in their fear and subsequent hostility towards them. in order to pacify the mainlanders further, in a midnight rite, the witches have been expelling most of their magic. when tana thinks she’s spotted a flower which is deadly to her kind, she rushes off to investigate only to collide with the mysterious and scowling wolfe hawthorne. detained by him she then misses the ritual and must find a way to release her power before it kills her. forced to turn to wolfe, who alleges himself to be from a coven of black magic wielders - long believed to have died out - tana will soon find herself in dangerous waters, questioning the nature of her magic, her duty and everything she knows…

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ as many other reviewers have already drawn attention to, the gorgeous and wild atmosphere evoked within every page is truly a testament to rachel griffin’s prowess as a writer. the premise itself is rather unadorned in its pretty simplicity, pivoting around a sweet if perhaps a little puerile at times romance, tana’s dragging her heels over her future as she is torn between personal desire and a fulfilment of duty, and darker, more ambitious/higher-hanging fruit themes of “othering” and xenophobia.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ i admire how griffin conveys the strength of sensitivity in a ya literary world where most fmc are all grr rawr and perpetually cool-girl sneering and then we have tana who is both intrepid and a people-pleaser. these conflicting temperaments of hers create most of the intrigue and tension as the storyline moves forward. it’s her internal turmoil, mirrored often in the churning sea imagery and wildness of the island, which i hold in high esteem. apart from the use of the environment as conceit for introspection, there is alas, a marked lack in tension and intrigue. yes, there absolutely are complications and high-stake scenes, however there is a considerable flatness in tana’s voice which falls short of lending much real suspense and any conflict introduced is made short work of besides.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ conclusion:
a cozy, lilting tale of witches, the ocean and a young woman’s negotiation of her responsibility to herself and her people, bring me your midnight will immerse you in its ambience even if there is a certain lack of depth to its substance.

Once again, Rachel Griffin has stolen my heart. The moment I picked up Bring Me Your Midnight, I knew I was going to love it. Rachel Griffin has created such a unique and transportive world, that I immediately fell in love with the setting and story of this novel. As the plot progressed, I did find the romance to be a bit rushed, as well as the conclusion, but other than that, this was an incredible read. It made me want to go to a coastal beach town and learn magic, as well as reread all of this author's works.