[Skye’s Review]: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.

Nirrim keeps her head down and a dangerous secret close to her chest.

But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the High Caste possesses magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, beloved author Marie Rutkoski returns with an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“So you tell me what would make a good, quiet girl get herself in trouble, especially when she had so much to lose. Tell me.”

With a quote like that, you know you’re in for a delightful ride. That quote is from the very first chapter. Needless to say, I was helpless to Marie Rutkoski’s spell; I was instantly enraptured with this story. The Midnight Lie is the type of book that appears one way on the surface but is entirely different underneath. It’s far, far more than you could imagine.

I was absolutely blown away by this book. All I knew coming into this book was that it’s written by Marie Rutkoski. That’s it, that’s all I knew. It’s all I needed to know. Rutkoski never lets me down. Her writing is always lyrical, utterly beautiful, and heart-wrenching with a little magic thrown in. 

“It is a midnight lie. A kind of lie told for someone else’s sake, a lie that sits between goodness and wrong, just as midnight is the moment between night and morning.”

This story follows Nirrim, a nineteen year old girl who lives in Herrath. Herrath has a very harsh class system. High Kiths are at the top. They live a life of decadence, wealth, and freedom. Half Kiths are at the very bottom of society. They’re treated harshly, cruelly, and extremely unfairly. They’re likely to be harshly punished for next to nothing. Half Kiths also cannot leave the Ward, the small city they live in that is completely surrounded by a massive wall. Middlings are in the middle of the pyramid. They’re treated better than Half Kiths but not as good as High Kiths.

Nirrim is a Half Kith. She’s an extremely hard worker and does her best to keep her adoptive mother and those around her happy. One day, she is accused of a crime and sent to prison–even though she’s innocent. In prison, she meets Sid, a traveler. Travelers are unheard of in the Ward. Talking with Sid causes Nirrim to question things she had never wondered about. Why can’t Half Kiths leave the Ward? How long has it been this way? Why are Half Kiths treated so badly? What made Herrath operate this way?

I can’t say enough good things about this book. Nirrim’s character arc? Executed perfectly. The romance? Absolutely swoonworthy and incredibly sweet. The pacing? Excellent. The ending? Cruel in the best way possible. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW.

Also, if you’ve read The Winners trilogy by Marie Rutkoski, you’ll stumble across a few Easter eggs in this book! The Midnight Lie is set in the same universe as The Winners trilogy.

Trigger warnings for: abusive relationships and manipulation, and bloodletting (for tithe purposes)

“I realized that wanting is a kind of power even if you don’t get what you want. Wanting illuminates everything you need, and how the world has failed you.”

Skye

Hi, I’m Skye! I’m a college student by day and a bookstagrammer and book blogger by night. 😉 I’m also fluent in the language of sarcasm, so my kryptonite in any book is great witty banter.

Check out my Instagram account if you want to see my latest book obsessions! Also, feel free to reach out to me on social media if you ever need someone to fangirl with! I love meeting new bookish friends. 🙂