The Girl at Midnight | Book Review

Title: The Girl at Midnight (The Girl at Midnight #1)

Author: Melissa Grey

Published: April 28th 2015 by Delacorte Press

Goodreads summary: Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

REVIEW

I was hesitant to read this book, because a lot of people said it was very similar to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. To be honest, it was. From the doors to go all around the world to a forever-going war between two species or even the resolution of the firebird arc (I expected it, but was so disappointed when I realized I was right), it was Daughter of Smoke and Bone. If you haven't read this one, then it won't be a problem in the Girl at Midnight, I'll advise you to read DOSAB though, because it is much better. 

That being said, I loved this book. I felt like Melissa Grey had read a lot of YA and done a list of dos and don'ts to apply at her novel. Secondary characters had their backstories, they were diverse characters, it is even asked why the main character has to be the hero. There were Lord of the Rings references, it was really funny. Moreover, the writing was beautiful.

"Ever since she'd found that music box, Echo's world had tilted on the axis, just a few degrees, but enough so that everything was different. She saw colors differently, smelled things differently, heard sounds that she had never deigned to notice before. It was as though she was experiencing the world for the first time, and everything was new. "

For this series, the main plot it to bring peace between the two species fighting, the Avicen and the Drakharin, who have been at war since the beginning of times (or so). This first book had his own plot, with finding the firebird. I really enjoyed that I knew what the book would bring to the bigger story, because sometimes, you don't really see the point. Speaking of which, finding the firebird felt like planning an enormous heist, because of the characters involved, like Jasper. It was a fast-paced book, with a lot of different settings, because it starts in New York and finish in the Black Forest. It made the book really rich, especially with places like the Oracle, I loved that part. 

I really enjoyed reading about these characters. Our main character, Echo, has been taken in by one of the Avicen, the Ala, when she was seven, and since then, she tried to belong. This is the reason she gives to Ivy when she asks her why she has to go on. It was interesting that she had a boyfriend before  the beginning of the book, because this way, she wasn't the kind of heroine who was almost waiting to fall in love (even if...). She was strong and witty, I enjoyed reading about her, and can't wait for more.

"Careful is my middle name."

"I thought your middle name was danger," he said.

"That was last week."

"Of course."

"Of course."

Caius was also a very interesting character, he intrigued me at first because I didn't understand why we got his point of view, but it made sense. He has a rich backstory (even if not surprising, see DOSAB), which is the reason we want to find the firebird. Secondary characters were diverse and they didn't feel useless: Jasper, who made me think of Magnus Bane, Dorian, who had a strong reason to be there, and Ivy, Echo's best friend who was there by mistakes but useful because a healer. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend you to read it, it was a strong debut, even if there is another book I mentioned you should read first. I'm excited for The Shadow Hour, because I think the series will go in its own direction and not be so much like other books.  

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?