Science Fiction & Fantasy
![Alicia Jasinska - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B086757XS7.jpg)
The Midnight Girls: Sapphic Monster Girl Romance
"Within a fiercely beautiful, cruel world, three young servants of three deadly witches change each other's lives forever. Alicia Jasinska's lush, darkly romantic The Midnight Girls is the subversive sapphic monster girl fantasy you've been waiting for."-Maya Gittelman, Tor.com
In a snow-cloaked kingdom, two wicked rivals secretly compete for the pure heart of a prince, only to discover they might be falling for each other.
Karnawał season is a time for mischief and revelry. For the next few weeks, all will be wintry balls, glittery disguises, and nightly torch-lit sleigh-parties.
Unbeknownst to the merrymakers, two uninvited girls join the fun. Zosia and Marynka are drawn to each other the moment they meet, until they discover they're rivals, who both have their sights set on the prince's heart. If one consumes a pure heart, she'll gain immeasurable power. Marynka plans to bring the prince's back to her patron in order to prove herself. While Zosia is determined to take his heart and its power for her own.
Their ambition turns into a magical contest with both girls vying to keep the prince out of the other's grasp, even as their attraction to one another grows. But their attempts on his life draws the attention of the city that would die for him, and suddenly their escalating rivalry might cost them not just their love for each other, but both their lives.
Perfect for fans of:
The Wicked Deep and A Curse So Dark and LonelyKilling Eve and WitcherWitchy talesDark fantasy fictionLGBTQ booksEnemies to lovers romance Praise for The Dark Tide:
"Striking the perfect balance, The Dark Tide demands to be read in one held breath as its tide bears down on all."-Foreword, Starred Review
"A dark scenic adventure, sensitively written for romantics, Jasinska's debut novel is a fantasy of promises, betrayal, unrequited love, and black magic."-School Library Journal, Starred Review
"The Dark Tide is the dark, queer fantasy of your dreams that's part beauty and the beast, part something entirely new and original... a lush world that begs to be lived in... It's beautiful, and fast paced, and everything I ever want from a fairy tale."-Cat VanOrder, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)
"Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will be ecstatic with this book...The Dark Tide offers an exciting and immersive story with a strong feminist slant that subverts common YA tropes and forges its own original path."-The Nerd Daily
In a snow-cloaked kingdom, two wicked rivals secretly compete for the pure heart of a prince, only to discover they might be falling for each other.
Karnawał season is a time for mischief and revelry. For the next few weeks, all will be wintry balls, glittery disguises, and nightly torch-lit sleigh-parties.
Unbeknownst to the merrymakers, two uninvited girls join the fun. Zosia and Marynka are drawn to each other the moment they meet, until they discover they're rivals, who both have their sights set on the prince's heart. If one consumes a pure heart, she'll gain immeasurable power. Marynka plans to bring the prince's back to her patron in order to prove herself. While Zosia is determined to take his heart and its power for her own.
Their ambition turns into a magical contest with both girls vying to keep the prince out of the other's grasp, even as their attraction to one another grows. But their attempts on his life draws the attention of the city that would die for him, and suddenly their escalating rivalry might cost them not just their love for each other, but both their lives.
Perfect for fans of:
The Wicked Deep and A Curse So Dark and LonelyKilling Eve and WitcherWitchy talesDark fantasy fictionLGBTQ booksEnemies to lovers romance Praise for The Dark Tide:
"Striking the perfect balance, The Dark Tide demands to be read in one held breath as its tide bears down on all."-Foreword, Starred Review
"A dark scenic adventure, sensitively written for romantics, Jasinska's debut novel is a fantasy of promises, betrayal, unrequited love, and black magic."-School Library Journal, Starred Review
"The Dark Tide is the dark, queer fantasy of your dreams that's part beauty and the beast, part something entirely new and original... a lush world that begs to be lived in... It's beautiful, and fast paced, and everything I ever want from a fairy tale."-Cat VanOrder, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)
"Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will be ecstatic with this book...The Dark Tide offers an exciting and immersive story with a strong feminist slant that subverts common YA tropes and forges its own original path."-The Nerd Daily
Editorial Reviews
"Bad girls steal hearts―literally―in this Sapphic sophomore novel...fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy and readers craving morally gray queer characters will happily make room on their shelves for this one." ― Kirkus Reviews
"Dark and delectable, you'll sink into this tale with utter delight. A magical, immersive and feminist fantasy - I wanted it to last forever. Keep your eyes on Alicia Jasinska." ― Amie Kaufman, New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author
"An additional purchase for readers who prefer slow-build romance or for fans of dark, fairy tale–inspired fantasy authors like Marie Rutkoski or Natasha Ngan." ― School Library Journal
"Two girls who discover that true power rests in alliances, whether witchy or romantic." ― The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Jasinska delivers a sharp, satisfying crash of mutual pining wrapped in bloodstained teeth and ruthless competition...This is a glittering, compelling, richly rewarding read." ― Tor.com
"...a slow-burn romance with murderous heat that fans of BBC's Killing Eve will devour." ― Booklist
"Jasinska mingles human fears and goals... drawing from Slavic fairy tales to craft an intriguing tale of bitter rivals exploring their bond." ― Publishers Weekly, STARRED
"Dark and delectable, you'll sink into this tale with utter delight. A magical, immersive and feminist fantasy - I wanted it to last forever. Keep your eyes on Alicia Jasinska." ― Amie Kaufman, New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author
"An additional purchase for readers who prefer slow-build romance or for fans of dark, fairy tale–inspired fantasy authors like Marie Rutkoski or Natasha Ngan." ― School Library Journal
"Two girls who discover that true power rests in alliances, whether witchy or romantic." ― The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Jasinska delivers a sharp, satisfying crash of mutual pining wrapped in bloodstained teeth and ruthless competition...This is a glittering, compelling, richly rewarding read." ― Tor.com
"...a slow-burn romance with murderous heat that fans of BBC's Killing Eve will devour." ― Booklist
"Jasinska mingles human fears and goals... drawing from Slavic fairy tales to craft an intriguing tale of bitter rivals exploring their bond." ― Publishers Weekly, STARRED
Readers Top Reviews
tpolenAbbie Hagen
The comp titles and cover drew me to this novel. The snow-cloaked kingdom set in Poland also seemed perfect for this time of year. The description gave me the impression Zosia and Marynka were in some sort of competition for the prince’s heart. Somehow I missed they were literally competing for his heart to take back to their jaga (witch) grandmothers (who are sisters) to eat. The purer the heart, the greater the power it contains. Now that was something I could get on board with. With a slow start, it took me a while to get into this novel. Pacing soon picked up, and well action scenes moved the plot along. Having competed in numerous quests to attain the hearts of princes in the past, Marynka has a losing record against Zosia. Marynka is determined to prove herself to her grandmother and gain her approval. Zosia is tired of being a servant and wants to keep the power for herself and escape the bonds of servitude. Clearly these girls are morally gray characters. Between the two of them, they’ve killed plenty of princes and have no regrets. Normally I’m a fan of this type of character, but I didn’t really care for either of them. Looking at other reviews, I’m in the minority on this, but I liked the relationship dynamic between Prince Jozek and Prince Kajetan better, but that’s just a personal preference. Beatka, Marynka’s friend who serves another jaga grandmother (and sister to the other two), also appealed to me more. Marynka is impulsive, which causes her to think before she acts, and Beatka is often the voice of reason, as well as a mediator when Marynka and Zosia argue. The poor girl is long suffering. The author’s note mentions some of the events are loosely based on late 18th century Polish history. I really enjoyed how Polish culture, including food, clothing, and traditions are woven into the background. Setting most of the plot during Karnawal season lends an atmosphere of festivity and mystery that adds to the story. This novel will appeal to fans morally gray, ambitious characters and the enemies to lovers trope, especially readers who enjoy the fantasy genre. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
