<b>Bring Me Your Midnight</b> by Rachel Griffin

<u><b>Rate:</b></u> 3 ⭐️’s
<u><b>Spice:</b></u> 0/.5 🌶’s

<u><b>Tropes/Themes:</b></u>
✔️ YA Fantasy Romance
✔️ Witchy Vibes
✔️ Atmospheric & Lyrical Prose
✔️ Enemies-to-Lovers
✔️ Fast Freeze Romance
✔️ Forbidden Romance
✔️ Forbidden Powers
✔️ High Stakes
✔️ Familial Obligation
✔️ Secrets

<i><b>Review:</b></u>

<u><b>Bring Me Your Midnight</b></u> was my first Rachel Griffin book, and I have heard so many great things about her books that when I tell you I was <i><b>SO</b></I> excited to receive an eARC of this isn't even an understatement. I couldn't wait till I could finally cozy up in a knit sweater AND socks AND blanket (even though it was 80 degrees outside - I was going for that cozy witchy atmospheric vibes, ya feel me?), a big 'ol steaming mug of coffee (again 80 degrees outside), and my kindle with Bring Me Your Midnight loaded up in the other and begin reading.

Well, <b>I can tell you I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't amazed either.</b> I have very mixed feelings, 70/30. Don't get me wrong, it's beautifully written and very atmospheric, and I loved the coastal witchy vibes, the magic system (both high and low), as well as the high stakes of the ocean's currents and her coven's magic.

I also enjoyed Tana's relationships, whether with her dad, her mom (even as tumultuous as it was), her best friend, and even reading about the feeling and the intensity of having your first love, told through Tana and Wolfe.

I can also tell you I enjoyed watching Tana navigate between the difficult and heartbreaking decision to follow her heart or continue to follow the path of familial and coven obligation that has been drawn out for her ever since she could remember, as well as the rude awakening that things aren't always what they seem and having to navigate through forbidden waters and questioning all that she has ever known.

<b>HOWEVER…</b> The entire time I was reading, there were so many things I was finding that would ruin the story for me, and it became less enjoyable. Frustrating is more like it.

Don't get me wrong, Tana and Wolfe's romance was a whirlwind of all the feelings that come with your first love. Yes, it was deeply romantic but also deeply challenging to become invested in. It was <i><b>SUCH</b></i> a whirlwind romance that we never got a chance just to experience it, take it all in, melt into all that comes with the thrills, fears, desires of a first love whirlwind romance. And they were so hot and cold with each other <b>ALL. THE. TIME!</b> Tana more so than Wolfe. I was getting whiplash from how many times they would get mad.

This also shows that every single conflict that arises in Tana's life is quickly resolved within a chapter or two. Then it would start all over again of conflict, resolution, conflict, resolution. All the while, the plot is at a standstill and hardly moving forward even an inch.

Then we have Tana's maturity. I had to go back a second time just to reread that she <i><b>really</b></i> was a twenty-year-old because, for more than half of the book, I thought she was a young teen. Like with the plot and with Wolfe, Tana would get so mad (to the point of constantly storming off) whenever somebody challenged her or learned something that she thought she always knew was, in fact, a lie. Yet again, like the plot conflicts, she accepted it a chapter later and moved on. <b>Can you guess what happened next?…</b> She's challenged again, gets mad, and storms off, and when the next chapter rolls around, she has accepted once again and moved on.
Sure, there was some inner monologue questioning, and sure, she could be acting in such a juvenile way because she's been sheltered her whole life by not only her mother, coven, and the fear instilled by the humans. However, her voice throughout the story never seemed to mature and stayed very childlike.

Finally, did we ever see the currents situation resolved? I know there was talk about it, but wasn't this one of the main plots of the story? I would've loved to have an epilogue or something where we get an update on everything that changed (hopefully for the better) in a few years… or even months. We got nothing.

Overall, as I said previously, this was a mixed-feelings type of book for me, and believe it or not, I really did enjoy it (despite my rants above). But I really would've liked it more if it was a story that was shown more than it was told.
This story had so much potential to be so good, and it was so close. It was a light, cozy read that I still found entertaining, beautiful, and romantic. The concept was such an interesting idea, but I feel like I wasn't given everything that I needed for it to be <i><b>truly</b></i> fulfilling to me.
We could’ve had <i><b>more.</b></i>
More in-depth romance, more in-depth magic, more in-depth plot, more in-depth conflict, pain, emotions, self-discovery, and more in-depth substance to every single character that they <i><b>made</b></i> you want to invest in their story whole-heartedly, to feel and experience every single emotion they felt.

Would I still recommend this book to others? <b>Of Course!</b> I know that there are and are going to be <b>SO</b> many people that will read this (my sister included) and absolutely fall in love with Tana and Wolfe's story: their story of family, loyalty, devastating lies, beliefs, and desires.
But more importantly, their story of self-discovery, love, and finding one's light in embracing their darkness. 🤍🖤

Thank you NetGalley, Rachel Griffin, and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sending me this eARC in return of an honest review.

The is the first book I have read of Griffin’s and overall I enjoyed it though a few things did fall flat for me..

What I liked: The premise of this book was interesting. A group of witches, doing what it takes to survive, dulling down their magic in order to escape persecution, but in doing so, they begin destroying the island that keeps them safe. Griffin creates a beautiful, atmospheric setting that had me feeling the chill of the ocean, the smell of salt in the air and the rush of the currents.

I liked Tana as a main character, although I wished throughout the book that she would stop listening to her mother, who definitely did not have her best interest at heart. Tana wanted desperately to be what she thought she needed for others but in the end could only be what she truly was.

What fell flat: Ivy. I just never could connect with her as a best friend to Tana. She seemed very one dimensional. And though i liked the relationship between Tana and Wolfe, I do feel it developed a little too quickly.

I also felt that more could have been done with the high magic and Tana as a character. There were questions that i felt were never answered like why was Tana so quickly able to do high magic? Where did the witches begin and why did tbe mainland fear them? How far back does that go?

Overall though, a fun and interesting story that I think is worth a read.

WOW. I went into this book blind and I am so glad I did because it was beautiful. Incredibly detailed with the world building and the writing was just amazing!! I felt like I was right there with the characters while reading this. the epitome of escapism. ALSO the witchy atmosphere and the story?! Incredible. I was so attached to the way she was writing the story that the plot could have just been them eating dinner and I would have eaten that up BUT the plot was so fast-paced and I was always guessing what was going to happen that I could of kept reading. SO GOOD! Highly recommend.

This was a tough one for me. I really enjoyed the first half of the book but struggled with the second half. I settled on 3 stars because I liked it overall, but it’s more of an average. The first half was 4 stars, the second half was 2 stars, so ergo, 3 for the whole thing.

The worldbuilding was really wonderful. I was once again getting those Spells for Forgetting vibes…a small island community of witches feared by mainlanders, but in less atmospheric way as in Spells or A River Enchanted. Still, I really liked the quiet magic that pervaded the community and how it masked a darker side.

I also really liked Tana, right up until she made a choice that didn’t feel true to character for her and upon which the entire second half of the book hinged. So, while I really enjoyed watching Tana begin to question things and learn her own mind instead of listening to the lies perpetuated to her and her community and everything felt very organic up to the point when she made that crucial decision, it made the rest of the story stand out as less organic and more contrived. It isn’t about Tana making a decision that I disagree with (though, to be fair, I DO disagree with it). There have been plenty of times when characters have done this and it didn’t upset me the same way. The difference is that in those instances, it was completely in that character’s nature to do what they did. Not so in Tana’s case, at least, not in my perception of her.

Even apart from that turning point in the story, there were other things in the second half that felt contrived, convenient ends and means. I just didn’t like how it went down, but it all worked out in the end I guess. There were some unfinished threads that leave the door open for creating a series from the story, though there is resolution enough to sustain it as a standalone, which at the time of this review is all they have plans for it to be.

Still, this could be one of those scenarios where I’m a bit pickier about things than others. I mean, I also gave 3 stars to ACOTAR but loved other books in that series. So do with that what you will.

I couldn't tell you the last time I read a YA book. I find them pretty predictable after awhile but WOW "Bring Me Your Midnight" was definitely pleasant surprise. I throughly enjoyed the witchy romantasy!

What a beautiful cover and what a beautifully written story. Tana’s fate has always been set, follow the coven’s rules, practice only low magic, never touch a Moonflower and marry the mainland Governor’s son.
While she doesn’t feel any sparks from Landon, the boy she’s destined to marry, she hopes feelings will grow.

Tana accepts her lot until she meets Wolfe. At that point, her life changes and the storyline picks up. Rachel Griffin’s description of the island world and magic life enthralled me. The yearning emotion between the two MCs was potent. I highly recommend this YA novel full of family love and the questioning of tradition.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire, Sourcebooks Fire for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you love the ocean, if you know how it feels to be torn between duty and WANT, if forbidden romance is your jam, and if you’re a Midnight Rain girlie, this book is for you. Rachel’s tender prose and romantic witchy vibes are unique in each book, yet each feel like sisters.

Truly expect the unexpected!

I had never read a Rachel Griffin book before, but this book I'm so glad was my first. This book was such the perfect cozy summertime read for me. I found it very easy to immerse myself within the story.

This book was beautifully written, especially for a young adult novel. It was deeply complex, but the story moved in a way that allowed the complexity to be understood and learned throughout. This book was addicting, and I devoured it easily in one sitting. The witchy and nature vibes had me absolutely entranced. Griffin does such a marvelous job of describing the natural elements throughout the entirety of this story. The MC was super easy to follow, and I enjoyed reading her character and following her journey.

I will say this book started out a little slow for my liking. However, I do think the pacing was setup this way to allow for the more complex world to be explained and understood more easily. Once the romance really picked up, I felt like the pacing did as well. My biggest knock against this book is I wish there had been more. While this book works a standalone, part of me was wishing there would've been more to come. I think there were a lot of relationships I would've liked to see flushed out more personally.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book as much as I was hoping to if not more so. If you're looking for a witchy, cozy, nature-infused book with a magic system that will have you devouring one page after the next, this is definitely the read for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Another atmospheric witchy winner from Rachel Griffin. I love stories set on islands with SECRETS so this was basically catnip for me. One thing that kind of kept pulling me out of the story was I couldn't quite get a handle on what time period this took place in but that's a minor quibble.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62688758-bring-me-your-midnight" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Bring Me Your Midnight" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668621714l/62688758._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62688758-bring-me-your-midnight">Bring Me Your Midnight</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19902805.Rachel_Griffin">Rachel Griffin</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5492623517">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Tana's life has been decided for her. Marry the Governor's son in order to ensure an alliance between witches and non-witches. And she is okay with that all being chosen for her, understands how much this marriage means to her island and community. Or at least she thinks she does. Until she meets Wolfe, an infuriatingly charming member of the old coven, the one that practices dark magic, which has long been forbidden on the island. Tana soon learns that a lot of what she grew up believing is maybe not as true as she always thought. And once she gets a taste of dark magic, she can't help but want more. <br />---<br />To be completely honest, I'm struggling to write this review. Not because it was bad but because all of my thoughts right now are just *SQUEALS* *AHHHHH* "WOLFE WOLFE WOLFE". I would leave the review at that but I'm trying to be professional because Netgalley and the publisher were so kind to send me an arc of this and I am a professional book worm now gosh darnit! <br />---<br />It's been a long time since I stayed up late to finish a book, but with this one I just couldn't stop reading. I was absolutely entranced by this story. <br />Tana's story was heartbreaking but also inspiring. She was so willing to give up everything she wanted for the betterment of her people, but when she realizes that she is her own person and her happiness should come first, she becomes so powerful as her own independent person. She loves who she wants to love, not the one that she was born to. She practices the magic she wants to practice. She is who she wants to be. And in the words of Alexis Rose, I loved that journey for her. <br />I also loved Wolfe's character. In some scenes he actually reminded me of Cardan from The Cruel Prince series, in all the best ways. I highlighted some specific quotes that really gave me those vibes that I cannot wait to share once the book releases. <br />--<br />If you loved Nature of Witches, this book is for you. If you didn't love Nature of Witches, this book is also for you. Read it.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31487926-brittany-boyd">View all my reviews</a>

The magical world that Rachel builds is beautiful and complex. I very quickly and easily understood the parameters of the magical setting, and wanted to visit the island of Witchery.
Unfortunately, I felt the story line to be rushed and the relationships not fully developed. I would’ve liked to see this story as a trilogy to give more room for the characters to grow and the action to develop.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An amazing YA read for lovers of fantasy. Tana finds herself stuck between good and dark magic. She is then faced with the tough decision of what it means to be true to herself. While Tana may be on the path least taken, she will do everything in her power to save her family and home.

Great writing style! I really enjoyed the book. My only critique is that some scenes felt very rushed-especially in the last 1/4 of the book. I will certainly recommend to library patrons looking for witchy tales!

What a beautiful piece of work. The inclusion of witch lore that you've heard before but with a little bit of a twist. The first half of the book felt a bit slower for me as it was slow and there was a lot of setting up the world and and the history of a coven that lives in fear of the mortal "mainlanders." The second half of the book sucked me in.

If you love Rachel Griffin’s work, witchy, deeply romantic reads, or are just looking for an immersive story, put Bring Me Your Midnight on your radar. Everything you love about Rachel’s books is here plus more. I am a huge fan of all of her books, so I knew this one was not going to disappoint.

Imagine a small island that is a safe haven for a coven of witches. Enter Tana, the daughter of the coven leader who has known her whole life her role is to marry the Governor’s son and secure an alliance that will change everything for their island. Of course, we must mix in the mysteriously beautiful Wolfe, who practices “dark magic” and lives on a hidden side of the island Tana didn’t even know existed. And we can’t forget a love letter to nature and the ocean that Rachel’s books tell so well.

I was so absorbed in this story and completely swept off my feet. The journey that we are taken on felt so original with an elemental of unknown up until the very end. I continued to be surprised with the decisions Tana makes, including how the story ends. That is hard to do in a way that feels genuine to the character, but here, I thought it was done so well. This one is a beauty!

Pick this one up if you love:

-Witchy, deeply romantic reads
-A love letter to the ocean
-An element of “Will she, won’t she”
-Magic rooted in nature
-Character growth
-Atmospheric reads
-The love of a lifelong best friend
-Duty, honor, and sacrifice

For me, this was a five-star hit. Rachel just continues to grow and expand as an author, and it shows beautifully in these pages. I can’t wait to see what she is working on next.

Bring Me Your Midnight is a story so immersive, atmospheric, and breathtaking that it will leave you thinking about it long after you’ve closed the book and walked away. While some books have captivating opening lines, this book has a closing quote so powerful that you’ll want to tattoo it straight onto your heart.

Rachel Griffin brings a certain kind of magic to her book that I’ve yet to find elsewhere. While I was reading Bring Me Your Midnight, I found myself forgetting that it was a book. I wasn’t just looking at words on a page, I was living Tana’s story, feeling her heartache, and experiencing every salt and sea-soaked moment. This is the kind of book that envelops you and before you know it, you’re wiping away tears and blinking at your surroundings, realizing hours have passed and you spent them all on Tana’s beloved island.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an outdoors person – and not because I don’t want to be, but because I have countless allergies and a paralyzing fear of most bugs. That being said, the way that Rachel writes about nature, the love that she so clearly has for our earth… it plants a seed of desire in me to leave the comfort of my home and swim in the sea, visit the oldest forests, and watch more sunrises.

I found myself putting seaside ambience videos on in the background while I read, just so the sound of the lapping waves could surround me while I read. What I wouldn’t give to actually read this book in a seaside cottage.

This story takes its time, which is normally something that grates on me. Instead, I found myself soaking in the writing, even when the plot was at a bit of a standstill. It didn’t bother me to spend time in Tana’s mind because it helped me connect to her so much more and understand why she chooses certain paths. It’s a very emotional experience and I loved every moment of it.

The moments that pricked me the most were the tender encounters with her father. I feel like in so many young adult books, especially in the fantasy genre (where parents are so often a side thought), there’s a lack of fatherly love. It was precious to witness the love Tana and her dad had for one another. Also, I’d love to have one of his cinnamon buns. They sound so delicious!

The romance in Bring Me Your Midnight is a whirlwind of emotions, both high and low. There’s a forbidden aspect to it that made it all the more enticing. I absolutely adored the way that Wolfe encouraged Tana’s wildness and even when he was at his most frustrated with her and their situation, he loved every piece of her – even the parts she hadn’t discovered or learned to accept yet.

There was so much more to this book than just romance and witches. There’s a heavy emphasis on identity, honor and duty – and how that can look different to different people, and family (both blood and chosen). While Tana is the main character and the one you root for, you might find yourself falling a little bit in love with some of the other characters as well, even when they’re doing things that you don’t quite understand. There’s no real “villain,” and that was something I appreciated. You understand the motives without there being someone to truly despise. It was really comforting.

I spent a great deal of time highlighting quotes on my Kindle. I’m not someone who annotates, I could see myself purchasing an additional copy just for that purpose (which is precisely how I felt when reading The Nature of Witches as well). This book could easily land itself a spot in my favorites of all time. Bring Me Your Midnight is an absolute masterpiece and I can’t recommend it enough!

[CW: (major) Classism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship, (moderate) Cursing and Sexual content, (minor) Blood]

Wowee i loved this book. it was an adorable story, that had an amazing plot. I would say this is a cozy read, as it doesn’t shatter my world like some books do. But Rachel Griffen’s books all make me feel like this. I loved the concept but also the intricate designs and symbolism that appear throughout the novel. I always look forward to reading this author’s work because i’m not ever let down with a good cozy read. will definitely recommend this one to others!

Bring Me Your Midnight is a book filled with promise. From its stunning cover, it’s enthralling premise, to the first words that make you feel embraced by curiosity of magic…the promise of excitement, of romance, of story, and more is at the cusps of your finger tips as your turn the first page. There’s trepidation and intrigue at where this is to come.

But that promise is not easily found.

As beautiful as this book appears on its surface, its depths run shallow. The potential becomes cut short and the satisfaction is left incomplete.

》Tana《

Our main protagonist is one who I was glad to follow. I loved her curiosity and the way she refused to simply settle for given answers— she wanted to discover them for herself. She is a character who others have taken away so much agency, yet she strives to reclaim in.

》The Romance《

When Tana first meets Wolfe, the pace picks up, there’s a sense of exhilaration and electricity in the air. Instantaneously it’s clear there is an undeniable connection between the two, and the love story that will commence is one I felt would bring a sense of completeness to the story.

Instead, that initial fast pace never stops. The narrative fails to allow the romance to breathe. It’s rushed into place that all the follows, the good, the bad, the heart-warmth, the heartbreak, is felt unearned. It falls flat.

》The Magic《

I did enjoy how the witches magical system was described. I do with it had been fleshed out more, but overall, it felt original and fascinating.

》The Pace《

The story began at a cautious pace, allowing the reader to explore the world they've become immersed in....but when the romance hit, it picked up very nicely. And kept going and going, pacing far too fast to allow any time to take in its world. Never allowing a moment to just stop and let a scene breathe. An exchange stay in the air in thought. It moves fast and in the process denies any depth that could make betrayals, promises, tension, and love confessions ring true. It all rings hollows.

》An Ending & a Future《

Ultimately, this book is one I felt had such lovely potential— so much promise. But with all that water surrounding its world, it never broke past the surface.

That said, my desire for more never waned. I think there’s a particular mainlander character who could very nicely lead a spin off book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book that I have read by Rachel Griffin and I really enjoyed it. It is definitely in the same wheelhouse as Wild is the Witch so if you were a fan of that, then you will like this. The writing was great and the plot was interesting. The story did move a bit slow at times and the plot relies on miscommunication/withholding information.

This book was amazing and totally unexpected!!! It was every part romantic, magical, fantastical, addicting, and beautiful. The writing was everything and more. The impossible choice between love and duty and ultimately choosing between following her heart or avoiding destruction and doing what is necessary. I absolutely am in love with this book and am so glad I got the chance to read it. Thank you Rachel and NetGalley for the arc!!!