Starred review from November 1, 2021
The teen servants of three brutal legendary witches compete to obtain princes’ literal hearts in this fierce sapphic adventure set in an alternate 18th-century Poland. Imbued with powers such as riding the wind and manipulating the elements, each fetches the organs to power her ancient mistress: Beata, White Jaga’s servant, is known as Morning; Marynka, known as Midday, serves Red Jaga; and Black Jaga’s servant, Zosia, is called Midnight. When Beata and Marynka are dispatched to Warszów to obtain the exceptionally pure heart of Prince Józef, they soon encounter Zosia. As the three compete for the same prize amid the revels of the winter Karnawał season, Marynka and Zosia slowly discover a mutual attraction born of competition, danger, and shared monstrosity, but neither can afford to fail her unforgiving mistress. A raw chemistry links the duo, turning discord into wary courtship without blunting either’s passions or wits, and allowing for plenty of satisfying conflict. Jasinska (The Dark Tide) mingles human fears and goals with sharp-edged default-white protagonists in this rewarding high-stakes novel, drawing from Slavic fairy tales to craft an intriguing tale of bitter rivals exploring their bond. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rena Rossner, the Deborah Harris Agency.
July 8, 2022
Gr 8 Up-Teen girls Beatka, Marynka, and Zosia were snapped up under murky circumstances by witch sisters representing morning, noon, and midnight. There is competition among the witches for pure hearts, but it is fiercest between the noon and midnight sisters. Each heart taken by the girls is consumed by the witch controlling her. Eating them increases the power inherent in their magic. When the story opens, Marynka is determined to best Zosia, whom she believes is four hearts ahead of her. When the three girls are sent to steal the heart of Prince J�zef, it is the first time Marynka and Zosia have met, and coming face-to-face increases their determination to best each other. The first third of the story is quite slow and may cause some listeners to lose interest. That would be a big mistake. Like a freight train climbing a long, steep grade, then roaring down the other side with faulty brakes, this story suddenly propels ahead, mixing intrigue, danger, bouts of self-doubt, and a building attraction between these two girls who are viewed by many as monsters. Add in a secondary romance involving the prince and a looming civil war only heightens the complexity. The story is narrated by Emily Ellet. VERDICT The slow burn leads to an abundance of action and intrigue, leaving this as a purchase consideration for collections where that kind of pacing is of interest.-John R. Clark
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 6, 2021
Alicia Jasinska’s The Midnight Girls will be eagerly devoured by fans of her dark fantasy YA debut The Dark Tide. In Lechija, a kingdom much like 18th-century Poland, three witches rely on their servant girls to bring them the pure hearts of princes that sustain them. With the kingdom at war and the two-month-long festive season of Karnawał beginning, Beata, Marynka and Zosia—Morning, Midday and Midnight—join the crowds in Warszów to stalk Prince Józef and compete to rip out his heart. Marynka is desperate to prove herself, even after she realises that the girl she has been falling for on their journey is her enemy and rival Zosia. For Zosia, this is her chance to steal the heart for herself and finally have enough power to be free. Unbeknown to either, Prince Józef’s exiled soul mate wields a divine sabre and recognises the monstrous girls for what they are. The tension increases as the tsarina tightens her grip on Lechija, the Karnawał festivities grow wilder, and the Midnight Girls are torn between duty and desire. Jasinska’s creative use of Polish history and culture is dazzling, and the dark fairytale ambience of the novel will appeal to readers of retellings such as Erin A Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows.
Ilona Urquhart is a children’s and youth services librarian on the Surf Coast and has a PhD in literary studies.