{Audiobook} Review: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

Title: The Girl at Midnight
Author: Melissa Grey
Narrator(s): Julia Whelan
Series: The Girl at Midnight, book #1
Length: 9 hrs 55 mins
Publisher: Listening Library (Random House)
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Source: received from publisher via Netgalley, borrowed audiobook from library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

This is going to be one big ole contradictory review because the things I liked about this book are also the things that bothered me about this book. The comparisons to both the Daughter of Smoke and Bone and The Mortal Instruments series were very apt because much of this book felt very familiar to me. And yet the author put her own unique spin on the story and characters, making them her own. I know that "new ideas" have pretty much been exhausted these days, and so I can't hold it against the author that her story seems inspired by other recent books. It's the execution of the story that makes this a worthwhile read, despite similarities to those other books.

I started out reading the review copy I had, but I was finding it difficult to get into the story. I think I got to 23% before I put it on hold in favor of waiting for the audiobook version to become available. That was probably the best decision because once I started the audio, I finished it within a day. It's narrated by the venerable Julia Whelan, and I don't think she's ever performed a book that I didn't like. This was going to be a 3 1/2 star read but because of the narration, I feel it deserves the full four stars.

Even after deliberating for a couple of weeks, I'm still not sure if my overall enjoyment of the story was due in part to the fact that it reminded me so much of one of my favorite series or if I just generally liked it. I know I enjoyed it…that much is certain. It had a snarky protagonist who went to great lengths for those she cared about. It also featured a love triangle that wasn't, which is my favorite kind…where the heroine grows and realizes that what she thought she had with one love interest was nothing compared to that which she could have, even if that love might be a bit star-crossed.

The characters themselves are very reminiscent of those in both of the aforementioned series and their dynamic was also strangely familiar, as it seemed to borrow heavily from The Mortal Instruments. You'll see what I mean when the two different groups converge and even their feelings are the same. Even the idea of reincarnation is present, though it manifests in a different way. The world was rich and fantastical, but I felt so comfortable with it because it was redolent of the two warring factions in Daughter of Smoke and Bone and even the use of portals for travel.

The Girl at Midnight was an enjoyable read but not a unique one. Even so, I find myself wanting the next book. I'm hoping that the similarities to other series will end with book one and the real world-building will really begin in the sequel.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Melissa Grey penned her first short story at the age of twelve and hasn't stopped writing since. As an undergrad at Yale, she learned how ride a horse and shoot a bow and arrow at the same time, but hasn't had much use for that skill since graduating in 2008.

Her debut novel, THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT, was published by Delacorte/Random House.

Find Melissa:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Read More

Labels: audiobooks, beautiful covers, dragons, fantasy, favorite narrators, magic, melissa grey, random house, reviews, the girl at midnight

Stacking the Shelves # 67

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to share with everyone all the goodies you've received through out the week. 

Just click the covers to be taken to their goodreads pages. 

For Review




That's it for the week. Haven't really been buying much these days. Just reading what I have with what little time there is. lol. :)

We went on our first hike of the season last Sunday.

It was gorgeous. We hope to hit up another trail this Monday. I hope you all have  a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Read More

Labels: stacking the shelves

The Weekend Update - 5.23.15

So, since my end-of-the-week post isn't just about what I got in my mailbox or on my Kindle each week -- though that is a big part of it, I won't lie -- I decided to change up the title and intro a bit.  I might tweak the format a bit over the next few weeks, but for the most part, it'll contain the same stuff: stuff I got, stuff I did, and stuff that's coming up on the blog.  Plus, I get to use the awesome GIF you see here and blow kisses to all the people who sent me lovely books and bookish things.  Oh, and I've started linking up to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews since I'm not using a specific meme title anymore.  April's also doing her own Stacking the Shelves posts on Sundays.  Stop by and say hi!  =)

Ugh. What a shite week. I don't think I've ever wished adults got summer vacation, too, as much as I'm wishing it right now. Work is the absolute worst right now, and it makes it hard to get motivated to do anything else when the thing that takes up more than 50 hours of your week is just dragging you downdowndown. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but I just feel I should warn you that I'm dealing with that and April's dealing with her own busy work schedule, so if we suddenly aren't posting as much, that's why. *cries*

BUT, whenever I'm feeling blue like this, the bookish community always reminds me I'm not alone, that there are freaking awesome people out there who really do care.

Anyway, here's what I scored this week:

For Review:

I think I might take some time off from review books, requesting them, reading them, etc. Clearing off my shelves and reorganizing them, and then seeing my physical TBR, was daunting but it helped me realize just how many awesome books I already own that I haven't read. It's sad.

Traded/Gifted:



Thanks to @Bridget_DFT, Ashley @TheQuietConcert, @HauntedOrchid, Fallon @BookInNeverland & @skrandolph76 for the #booksfortrade!!!

And super mega thanks to Silvia @tundrabooks for the Australian ARC of Shadows and the ARC of Every Breath. I am *this* close to completing my collections! My Aussie shelf is SO happy! But now I'll have to order myself the Aussie editions of the Paula Weston series, too, methinks. :D

And check out the amazing Doctor Who/Van Gough laptop skin my sister got me for my bday! I'm only just now showing this off because she ordered the wrong size, and I had to contact Society 6 for an exchange but they were SOOO awesome about it, and even told me to keep the wrong size and gift it to someone else or whatever I wanted to do with it. I will be giving them way too much of my business now for sure. :D :D :D

Library:



All audio because that's what I do best. =) Everything but A Cold Legacy is a re-listen/read.

Purchased:



Never Never Part Two - pre-ordered this one as soon as it was available. I know some people think this is one of CoHo's lesser works, but I freaking love it. I only wish I'd re-read Part One first. o_O


So, that's my haul. :) How about you? What did you get this week?

The Week in Review:

Reviews:

• Hold Me Like a Breath - Jen

Current Giveaways:



You can win the Summer series by Jenny Han, some awesome ARCs and bookish goodies, and for our international readers, we have a giveaway from The Book Depository. But hurry, this contest ends SOON!

Promotional/Discussion Posts:  

• Last call for #booksfortrade, though trading has picked up again, at least for me, so maybe not?
• #WoW - this week, we're waiting on What You Left Behind & Blood Passage
• SYNC Week #3 featuring X: A Novel and Here in Harlem
• The Magical World of Disney, in which April gives us a photo tour of her vacation at DisneyWorld

Jen's Currently Just Finished Reading/Listening To:

I just finished these last night and haven't decided on my next read/listen...

I probably shouldn't have read this until the third installment is released because of how cliffhanger-riffic this series has already shown itself to be, but I can't help myself.

Dude. Why am I just now reading this? Seriously, Elise is my girl. I loved this audio so much that I need a copy for my shelf. Also 'cause that cover is awesome. I added it to my wishlist for #booksfortrade in case anyone cares. ;0)

Upcoming Reviews:

It's been a rough week...but I will get these reviewed soon(ish)...

Like honest reviews & giveaways?  Be sure to follow us on Bloglovin' so you never miss out!

Like pretty pictures of books and bookish things? Follow me on Instagram! I also host IG giveaways from time to time. :D

Read More

Labels: in my mailbox (imm), stacking the shelves, the weekend update

The Magical World of Disney

Disney is truly a magical place. Every time we come home from there, I'm ready to book our next trip. We had such a fantastic time. The picture above was pretty neat because notice the massive crowds! It's practically empty. The park technically hadn't opened yet but we were able to get in because we made breakfast reservations at Belles castle. That was super neat. 

Not to mention, Delicious. So fancy too, and it was quick service so we were able to use our meal plan. We stayed at Pop Century, which wasn't my favorite hotel there, but for the amount of time you actually spend in your room, who cares. Overall it was nice, and we were really close to the main building which was a major plus. 

We met a lot of princess's. 

And a Fairy too! 

We wanted to meet Anna and Elsa, but did not get a fast pass for it, so an hour and a half wait.. nope.. Aubrey wasn't having it. I would have waited for her, but she said she'd rather go on rides. 

And the rides were a blast. It wasn't too bad as far as lines. The big ones we wanted to get on, we were sure to get fast passes for. Particularly Test Track. The last two times we went to Disney, it was down, and we couldn't get on. 

Now that is a gem. My family will forever make fun of me for this one. Since we went down with my in laws, we bought the Photo Pass package. It was so worth it with all the photos you get. Included the ones on the rides. Below is the Terror of Terror. As you can see, Aubrey was a huge fan. lol. 

Unfortunately, it pretty much ruined her for any scary ride for the rest of the trip, but don't worry. She talks about it like a badge of honor and has told everyone and their mothers how she survived it. lol

We didn't just go to Disney though, we went to Universal as well. We caught a shuttle over. 

That was such a fun day! Every day was fun. The Harry Potter sections though.. incredible. The amount of detail they put into it is crazy. It's just... wow. I'm still blown away. I will leave you all with a few more photos from the trip. 

I hope you all have fun vacay's planned for this summer! 

Read More

Labels: castles, disney, harry potter, princess's, terror of terror, Universal, Vacation