Today I'm excited to be sharing my thoughts on Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead. In and among my review, I've included pictures of Mira's book in places you might find her in the story (or my interpretation of them at least).
Midnight Jewel is the second in a companion series. See my thoughts on The Glittering Court as well. Aren't these books pretty together? I can't wait to add the third one to the collection.
Midnight Jewel is the second in a companion series. See my thoughts on The Glittering Court as well. Aren't these books pretty together? I can't wait to add the third one to the collection.
Midnight Jewel
by Richelle Mead
Read: May 20 - 25, 2017
Published: June 27, 2017 by Razorbill
Source: Galley from publisher (TY Penguin!)
Tags: YA, Alternate-Historical-Mashup
Series: The Glittering Court Trilogy, book 2/3
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| What could Mira be up to near the docks at night? |
A refugee of war, Mira was cast out of her home country and thrust into another, where the conditions were inhospitable at best. In a life-altering twist of fate, she is given the chance to escape once more, and she takes it, joining the Glittering Court.
Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. There, Mira finds herself subjected to persecution, not only from her fellow Glittering Court jewels, but from her suitors, as well—men she would potentially be expected to give her life to.
By day, she goes through the motions, learning the etiquette and customs that will help to earn her anonymity, even making a couple true friends in the process, the forthright ladies’ maid Adelaide and the ambitious laundress Tamsin. But by night, Mira hatches a different plan entirely—one that, if exposed, could get her hanged in the highest court of Adoria.
MIDNIGHT JEWEL is the extraordinary story of a girl with few options who courageously forges a new path, finding love, passion, lifelong friendships, and maybe even a way to freedom.
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | Indiebound
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It wasn't until I started Midnight Jewel that I realized the story would follow the same timeline as Adelaide's tale in The Glittering Court, but from a different point of view. I was surprised how much I liked that the book did this - though I didn't remember as much as I wish I had of the previous installment. It was fun to get a different perspective of this world, and find out everything happening with Mira, as it was clear she was up to a lot that Adelaide didn't know about. The stories also don't overlap many scenes, so it all feels fresh and not repetitive or stagnate. I thought of it as if the new story was adding on layers to the tale, and I enjoyed the added richness to a world and characters I'd already met.
I imagine the house in which the girls live in Adoria might look like a stately 1800s home from New England.
Mira's book focuses much less on the lead up to their trip to Adoria, and a lot more on her time on the continent, especially her adventures at night in the city once they get there. This story contains a lot more intrigue and action than Adelaide's did. Mira is more street smart than Adelaide and takes a turn as spy and vigilante both in this book. Mira also has a very specific reason for joining The Glittering Court, and though she still doesn't come across as jaded and broken as Tamsin - Mira is still very much an idealist to Tamsin's harder dose of reality (and Adelaide's innocent naiveté), she's willing to make hard decisions to get what she wants.
At night, you might find Mira having secret meetings in churches, or
sneaking out of the house and through the woods into town.
I wish this book contained a map - or some sort of a guide - to this world and the different countries/cultures, because there are so many and I got a bit confused on who was who and where they all come from. In my head, at least, this world looks like ours with just different mix of societies and country boarders. However, I do like that Mira mixes with a larger variety of people and cultures than Adelaide did. Also, I'll admit to getting a bit muddled about Mira's mission after a while with all the different plots and directions she was going in the middle of the story. But I was excited when the action picks up a lot more near the end.
sneaking out of the house and through the woods into town.
Of course, what's a Richelle Mead book without romance - it's always one of my favorite parts of her stories, and I enjoyed the building relationship between Mira and Grant. He is very much the "I don't do attachments" guy, who changes his tune when he meets Mira. This is not my favorite trope to read, but couldn't help but ship this couple. Mira and Grant have great banter and slowly acknowledge their feelings as they work together over time. I always looked forward to any scene they had together.
Mira spends time on the ship looking out over the water - much of it with a certain guy standing beside her.
Richelle Mead excels at building a story and world over time through multiple books. Although I ended up liking this about the same as the first installment (aka not as much as my favorite, Adrian and Sydney in the Bloodlines series), I'm definitely more invested in this story after two books, and I'm very eager for Tamsin's tale! I can't wait to have all the pieces together.
I wish this book contained a map - or some sort of a guide - to this world and the different countries/cultures, because there are so many and I got a bit confused on who was who and where they all come from. In my head, at least, this world looks like ours with just different mix of societies and country boarders. However, I do like that Mira mixes with a larger variety of people and cultures than Adelaide did. Also, I'll admit to getting a bit muddled about Mira's mission after a while with all the different plots and directions she was going in the middle of the story. But I was excited when the action picks up a lot more near the end.
Mira is as at home in a dress and in a carriage, as she is wearing pants and wielding a knife on the streets at night.
I definitely recommend Midnight Jewel for fans of The Glittering Court. But for those new to the series, this is a great time to start reading. I think it would be fun to read both books closer together. Not that many scenes actually repeat, and each girl's experiences are unique so the different books feel fresh and not repetitive. Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Low - the next book will be the same story from Tamsin's POV. I'm very eager to see what she has to say, as she spends the most time separated from Adelaide and Mira. Hopefully, we'll get an epilogue then too.
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RICHELLE MEAD is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series and its spin-off series, Bloodlines. Originally from Michigan, she now lives in Seattle, Washington.
Find Richelle Mead: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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Follow the Tour:
Week One:
June 26 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Top 5 Reasons to Read Glittering Court Before Midnight Jewel
June 27 – Mundie Moms – Favorite Quotes from Midnight Jewel
June 28 – Love Is Not A Triangle – Review
June 29 – A Perfection Called Books – Midnight Jewel Mood Board & Review
June 30 – BookCrushin – Top Leading Ladies Who Escaped Their Fates
Week Two:
July 3 – ButterMyBooks – Midnight Jewel Inspired Drink
July 4 – Books, TV, & More… Oh My! – Female Royalty By Birthstone
July 5 – A Page With A View – Midnight Jewel Photos & Review
July 6 – Once Upon A Twilight – Top 5 Reasons to Read Midnight Jewel
July 7 – YA Wednesdays – Couture Cloak & Dagger
Week Three:
July 10 – The Fandom
July 11 – Ex Libris – Review
July 12 – Novel Knight Reviews – A Book in Quotes
July 13 – The Eater Of Books! – Midnight Jewel Swoon Thursday
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GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a copy of Midnight Jewel*
GIVEAWAY LEGAL COPY:
Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead (ARV: $19.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on June 26th, 2017 and 12:00 AM on July 17, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about July 21, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
*grape arbor not included (in the book either)
*grape arbor not included (in the book either)
All photographs in this post taken by me. Find more of my bookish photographs on my Instagram @loveisnotatriangle
Stunning review Lauren :D Yay for enjoying this one. <3 And ahh, I love all your different photos so so much. Stunning :) But ahh. I don't think I would like that all these different books are written on the same time, just different point of views :\ Would bother me that the story isn't moving forward :p but glad you managed to enjoy it :D
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DeleteI loved reading your review today! I haven't read The Glittering Court yet. I love the idea behind this book--I loved middle grade books with the same idea of training girls for "higher society status" marriages.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds amazing, and I love the cover. I can't wait to read it. Thanks for this chance.
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