This book has so many things to love! The world building is really intriguing and if you really enjoyed The City of Dusk, The Midnight Kingdom has even more challenging situations for the characters to handle. There are angry/manipulative Gods, cool monsters, new characters, amazing cultural representations, and some excellent twists and betrayals. The story is a great follow-up for Book 1.
Unfortunately despite all of that, I personally found it hard to digest at times. Much like Book 1, I struggled to follow the story due to the varying viewpoints with even more side characters to keep track of. I feel like this is one of those books you have to Marathon through, because whenever I had large chunks of time to read it was very gripping. However, if you’re going through this reading a chapter here or there or whenever you have time, it’s so easy to lose track of what’s happening in the different storylines/locations/character arcs/etc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me a digital advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! There was fantastic queer representation. Even though it is advertised as adult, it reads more as YA or a crossover novel. The characters were endearing, and the prose was really good.

There were parts of this book that I loved and parts that I hated.

What I loved:
- exploring new worlds like Noctus and Mortri; we only got Vitae in book one, so it was fun getting to further explore this universe.
- the addition of the side characters; they added so much depth and enjoyment to the different storylines. In particular, I enjoyed learning more about Cosima and Fin from book one. I loved the addition of Val (until I didn't lol), Kenji, Asami, Lilia, Marcellus, and Kallen.
- the magical creatures; Yvri the wyvern was a great addition to Angelica's story with his dry wit. I also absolutely loved the addition of the demons, especially Azideh.
- the ending; I really enjoyed having all the different storylines converge finally at the end. For me, that's where the book really shone.

What I didn't like:
- how long this book felt; I know it's almost 600 pages, however it was such a slow read that I felt like I was never making any progress.
- how many storylines were happening; for me, there was way too much going on. I found it hard to really get invested in any one plot because we would sometimes go 5 or 6 chapters before returning to it. I wish we cut out one plot and focused more on some of the other things happening. The one I disliked the most was Risha's. It felt so disconnected to everything else that was happening and it was pretty boring for me.
- the repetitiveness; it felt like I was reading the same thing over and over at times. Again, I feel like the book could have been condensed a bit to pick up the pace a bit.

Overall, I enjoyed being back in this world with these characters. I will definitely pick up the third book based on the ending of this one. It led into a potential plot that I think I'll enjoy more as a whole.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for a gifted advanced copy of this book in addition to my honest opinions.

I’m sorry I forgot to review this book before it was archived. I do appreciate the ARC! I enjoy books with many POVs and this book definitely delivers that. I find the author’s writing style descriptive but still easy to follow. This isn’t a book for people who aren’t a fan of world building, though! Luckily I am.

The Midnight Kingdom was a beast of a book. Under no circumstances should anyone try to read this story without reading the first book. There was so much going on, and things picked up right where book one left off. My only real problem with this book was the number of POVs/settings and the impact they had on the pacing. There were so many POVs that there were times it felt jarring to switch and others where the story would go so long before returning to a POV that I'd forget what was happening. That being said, I did like each of the subplots individually. I just didn't enjoy jumping between them so much.

Now that I've got my one major qualm out of the way, let's talk about the things I loved about The Midnight Kingdom. The world-building was breathtaking and added so much lore to this world. The magic took on new, fascinating dimensions, and I loved getting to finally experience Mortri and Noctus, as well as some new parts of Vitae. I walked away from this book feeling like I understand the magic and the realms, which wasn't really the case after finishing book one.

I still loved the characters in The Midnight Kingdom. Although, my favorites did shift a bit. I never would have guessed that Angelica would become a favorite, but here we are. She had such a fantastic journey in this book, and I appreciated how her motivations changed. In The City of Dusk, she largely seemed to want power for the sake of power, or because her mother wanted her to get it. In this story, she came to recognize that her desire for power came from feelings of inadequacy. She also grew to understand that power is best used to help people, especially those you care about.

Taesia. Taesia. Taesia. She was still a favorite of mine in The Midnight Kingdom, and she still had the personality and tact of a bull in a china shop. Her constant struggle with reconciling doing her duty and her personal freedom was compelling to read. All she wanted was to live her life without all the responsibility of being an heir, and now she found herself facing off with a demented god bent on destroying an entire realm. She stepped up in some big ways, and the end of her story here broke my heart.

I couldn't end a review of The Midnight Kingdom without discussing the ships. lol. There were so many pairings I wanted to see and most of them got at least a couple moments to shine. The romance was a bit lacking, which makes sense considering the life-altering circumstances, but I loved the moments we got. Nik and Fin did kind of get shafted, though, because Nik was stuck in his own head for most of the book. So, they didn't do as much as I'd have liked. Although, it did provide representation of dissociation, which was interesting to read. Also, I'm now shipping Dante and his demon because they are perfect for each other and will be together forever anyway...

In general, The Midnight Kingdom was a solid sequel. I enjoyed this outing with some of my favorite disaster queers, and I'm definitely anxious to see what happens to them next. I want them all to get their HEAs even though it seems doubtful. This book was a roller coaster full of magic and new realms, and it provided plenty of moments that made me gasp, cheer, and feel genuinely horrified. Therefore, I rate this book 4.25 out of 5 stars.

The Midnight Kingdom by Tara Sim is the second book in the Dark Gods series. The first book did not receive much attention upon its release, but I enjoyed it. The mystery, the uniqueness of the world, and the idea of five friends fighting for the crown were enough to keep my interest in spite of its slow start. As for the sequel, it is the type of story in which Ms. Sim had multiple directions from which to choose. With the five heirs and sidekicks in different locations, she opts for all of the above for The Midnight Kingdom.

As with the first book, you must wade through more world-building before the action heats up, something Ms. Sim keeps to a minimum. Unfortunately, she also does not recap anything from the first book. It took me a few chapters before I recalled details about the characters, their powers, and how the first novel ended. Once you get past that point, the story clicks.

The Midnight Kingdom follows each of the characters on their individual journies. While many authors tried to accomplish this and failed, Ms. Sim pulls it off by making each subplot compelling and surprisingly emotional. These subplots are unique in that each heir faces a very different challenge. Some tests of loyalty and desire are physical in nature, some mental, and some emotional. All are packed with twists you don't see coming, and all contain their own form of horror.

The journies the heirs are on serve two purposes. For one, they help forward the overarching plot. More importantly, however, they also develop the characters much more than you usually see in a fantasy novel. Through each decision an heir makes, we learn more about what they consider worth the fight. We also get insight into their mental states, which becomes key knowledge towards the end of The Midnight Kingdom.

Despite my struggles to remember any details of the first book, I ended up enjoying The Midnight Kingdom. The complex nature of the book, with its multiple subplots and shifts in POV, enhanced the story. I also appreciated the opportunity to get close and personal with the characters. It made me care about them, which, therefore, kept me vested in their stories. Plus, the ending of The Midnight Kingdom took a very unexpected turn, which only makes me want more of this intricate and dark novel.

Wow. I thought that The City of Dusk was promising, but I never would've predicted the sequel would be one of my favourite books of the year. This had a little bit of everything and I would absolutely recommend it, especially if you're the sort of person who love The Locked Tomb.

<b>POVs:</b>
So we've still got a lot of POVs going on-- 7, to be exact. The main six are in third person limited and a chapter may switch the POV character part way through, and the last POV is in first person (mysterious, ooOoo). In the first book this was difficult because all of the POVs need time to start their respective storylines and introduce all their characters and backstory. For Midnight Kingdom, I was invested in all the different POVs and suffered each time we changed because I just wanted to keep going with the story I was in!

I do really like how the writing gets rather playful in the way it handles Nik's perspective, but it's not a straightforward style so I can imagine other readers being slightly frustrated or confused by that.

<b>The Pacing:</b>
There's a slight disservice that each storyline mirrors the others. If one is going on a quest, it seems like they all are going on a quest. If one is getting betrayed, it seems like they're all getting betrayed. They are paced in tandem and all crescendo at the same time, so I think that telegraphed a few things and maybe made them overall a little less impactful.

<b>The Plot:</b>
There is soooooo much plot here. And lore! And world-building! I honestly don't even know what to say because it was >600 pages and I was engaged the whole damn time.

<b>Sequel:</b>
Generally when reading a sequel I am looking for: expansion of the world, expansion of the magic, furthering of the plot, and new discoveries. If I can fall in love with the characters and seem them grow/their relationships grow then that's perfection.

And this did all the things!

<b>Selling Points:</b>
I don't wanna spoil but I will just briefly mention some highlights--
- a sarcastic, talking decapitated head companion
- a demon called out on his nakedness who puts on a brief fashion show
- sorankun (essentially dragons)
- the author mentioned how much she learned about both volcanoes and blackholes while writing this book

<b>Pop Culture:</b>
I mentioned The Locked Tomb above because there's something in this writing style that felt very reminiscent of the inherent sarcasm and dry humor of Tamsyn Muir, as well as working in memes and pop culture to a very large, dark Fantasy world. There'd be modern slang like "Love that for us," and references that were so very clearly Brooklyn 99. And I had a blast with that!

<b>Do you hate eye stuff?:</b>
All eyes are endangered here. Proceed with caution and at your own peril.

<i>I received an ARC from NetGalley and Orbit, all opinions are my own.</i>

It's my own fault for not checking if this was a series. That being said my reasoning for not starting books in the middle of a series. I thought the book was fine at first but as the story progresses I can't find a character to like or be interested in. The story had it's moments of good story craft but other times not so much. I enjoyed what storyline I could follow reasonably well. I will not be picking up the first book in the series. Until next time Happy Reading!

I had a really hard time getting into The Midnight Kingdom despite enjoying the audiobook for The City of Dusk. I think I may wait to read this on audiobook. I think the world building is excellent, might just be a personal preference for me to feel connected to the characters being enhanced by an audio book.

*phew* this was quite a ride! and the cliffhanger? I need more!!! The battle picks up fright after the last book. The "friends" and heirs are dispersed across kingdoms and must work to save the entire world.

This was a satisfying follow up to the first book in this series. The political intrigue seemed to take a step back and more action was present in this book. The cast of characters was increased from the already large cast it was from the first book. So that was surprising but it wasn't too hard to follow overall. The world building continues to shine for me but I felt a few of the characters fell flat. Overall a good read that I'd recommend.

Where the city of dusk was full of political intrigue and magic, the midnight kingdom is non stop adventure and action.

We once again follow the heirs, who are now scattered after the events of City of Dusk. The characters continue to grow and develop and we meet a few new characters who bring an even wider breath of life to this book. I truly enjoyed it and the only bad part now is waiting for the third book!

Thanks Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Midnight Kingdom, the second book in the Dark Gods series by Tara Sim, was a magnificent read. This book was such a strong follow up to The City of Dusk.

This one picked up right where we left off in the first book. In true second book fashion this one was a lot of setup to get ready for the finale. A packed first half leading into an action packed ending. My favorite!

Tara Sim sure knows how to keep her audience captivated through a lengthy book. Her writing is so beautiful and captivating. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read this one.

Thank you, NetGalley!

An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

This was a satisfying sequel to The City of Dusk. Once again I enjoyed the characters and the world, but it took me longer than I would have liked to finish it.

If you liked The Jasad Heir, you’ll most likely enjoy this. I plan on reading book 3 when it comes out.

I am a big fan of Tara Sim. I think she’s very good at creating characters with depth and interesting worlds to put them in. This book certainly lives up to that standard.

That said, this series had a pretty large cast to start with - four primary characters, five secondaries that get a lot of attention - and it’s only gotten bigger in this book. You’re still mostly following the original four but the number of relevant people they interact with has increased significantly. Also, many of those secondary characters became more prominent in this part of the story arc.

Over the duration of the book, the characters are all scattered across different realms, and the chapters are not split by POV. So there are points where you might be following two or three of the main characters in the same chapter but in different places/situations. Which I think can get a bit confusing if you’re not paying close attention.

None of this makes the book bad in my opinion. The reason I bring it up is because I generally listen to Sim’s books while working and this is definitely one your better off physically reading. I think it will be easier to follow changes in perspective and also the more subtle details of the overall story if you do. This is definitely more of a high fantasy and heavily detailed approach to storytelling than her previous works. Likely because it is targeted at an older audience.

All of that aside, I did enjoy this book. I think it’s a good continuation of the previous setup and it wasn’t filler to draw out the final battle just because. We got a chance to see the characters deal with the consequences of their actions which is always interesting for me. We also got to see them struggle with right and wrong, though I’d argue the vast majority of them are morally grey regardless (and I love it!)

I think this book (and series) is great for someone who wants to get into high fantasy but isn’t ready to tackle the massive ones like Mistborn, Realm of the Elderlings, ect. Or someone is who is transitioning from YA (which Sim has written in the past) to Adult Fantasy.

If I had one request going forward, it’s more Nikolas.

Thank you for providing an ARC for me to review.

I struggled a lot with this one. I had to DNF around 30%. It’s too complex for me. I had no idea what was happening and who everyone was that far in.

I don’t think it’s a bad book. I just don’t have the capacity for it. I’m sure many will adore it.

I will not be reviewing this on other medias as I feel I did not finish it and cannot give a full opinion.

A strong sequel! Definitely picked up right where book one left off. There was a lot going on but I was enjoying all the different plotlines. I liked the fact that we got to travel and experience the different realms more in this one. I liked all of the new characters that were introduced. With the original characters/heirs, Taesia is still my girl but Rishi grew on me a lot with her journey through Mortri (the realm of death). Also, Angelica's journey and her character development almost had me actually liking her. Just a little though.

My only critique is that I did feel the book dragged in some areas but overall, I'm looking forward to book three. This was my most anticipated book for 2023, so thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the ARC!

The City of Dusk was easily the best in the 2022 class of "adult debuts" that I read from YA authors. It stopped on the cliffhanger of everyone being trapped in their respective realm (where they had previously been locked out) and now they have to find a way out back to their home. The heirs were just as bombastic as in the first book, and I really enjoyed that former secondary characters were allowed to step up and new characters were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story.

This book does suffer a bit from the middle child syndrome - it's not as exciting as the first and it's mostly about the journey - but the worlds are so interesting and I cared about the characters so it wasn't as much of a second book slog as it might have been otherwise. I'm also a huge "not everything has to be a love story" advocate, so the obvious pairing off of the heirs as love interests was expected but not necessarily welcomed. Can't some people just be friends? Sim is excellent at writing intimate, sexual scenes though, so it wasn't that' big of a deal.

It's a subtler continuation of this journey, but still a win! If you haven't read The City of Dusk yet, you should, then go check out The Midnight Kingdom.

Do you ever read a book that is so good it ruins other books for you?

I sped through the first one and was so eager for this one that I essentially finished it in a single sitting.

Highly recommend for anyone looking an incredible queer fantasy.

The book starts off with a brief reminder that gives details of the 4 houses which was good but I wish it was little a more detailed and it would have been beneficial to have a recap of the previous book. They could even use the same structure but talk about where each person left off to help the reader remember. Instead, the book jumps right into it, starting right after the events of the last book.

The first book was fairly localized and this one explored a lot more, sending our characters to all different locations. I liked this because we got to learn about new cultures and ways of living in the different areas they went to.

The book was told in multi POV format and I believe there were 6 main ones (plus a lot of side characters with each one) which made for some diverse storylines. The author did a really good job of giving each of them their own time to develop and all of their plot lines were fairly different so it kept it interesting. I feel like Angelica’s POV could have been an entire book but they all worked well together.

Out of all the perspectives, Risha’s was my least favourite. It was pretty slow to follow along with and was ridiculously predictable. This plot-line alone dropped my rating down a star. I believe her POV will be more exciting in the next book, plus necromancy magic is pretty cool. I thought my favourite perspective was going to be Taesia/Julian but Angelica definitely took that spot. She definitely has her faults but continues to grow as a character and learns more about herself. There is a lot of natural character growth with her and even all the side characters from her POV were top notch. The location she was in was also of intrigue and she had some really exciting events happening where she was. We even got to see her type of magic being further explored and expanded.

I’m very excited to read the next book. The characters are all getting stronger with their magic and I can only imagine how this next one is going to go. I will be anxiously awaiting its release.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Orbit in exchange for an honest review.