The Girl at Midnight

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

The Girl at Midnight

Author: Melissa Grey

Length: 370 pages

Publication Date: April 28, 2015

Content notes: YA, 1 straight love triangle, 1 gay love triangle, violence

“She had gone to the library in search of hope, but what she'd found instead was a child. It would take her many years to realize that the two were not so different.”

This book is the first in a series of three, and book three just came out in July. I thought I would check out this series, because it sounded interesting.


Brief Synopsis:

This is the story of Echo. Echo escapes an abusive home as a child and is adopted by a magical being named “The Ala.” So, Echo is the only human in this story. She lives among the Avicen who are an ancient race of creatures with feathers for hair. The Avicen are at war with the “dragon” Drakharin people who have colorful scales on their cheekbones. This war has gone on for hundreds of years with untold legions of deaths among both the Avicen and the Drakharin. However, there is an old legend about a “Firebird” who can end the war. Both the Avicen and the Drakharin want to possess the firebird to achieve victory. Echo accidentally finds a clue that leads to this legendary creature. Then she embarks on a journey to help her adopted family and friends to uncover the firebird.


The setting:

This story does not involve humans but takes place on modern Earth. The characters are very aware of humans but they do not involve humans in their world of problems. They live magically along, above, or below humans. I found this interesting. The Avicen and the Drakharin both are human-like despite their feather or scales. The idea that they have a war of conflict going on without the knowledge of humans seems fantastic (even if it has been done before).


The characters:

Echo is a very smart, worldly, seventeen year old who ran away from home when she was seven. She is resourceful, optimistic, smart, independent, and a survivor. I like her strength and her loyalty to her friends. I also like that she chooses to live in a library (when she is not among the Avicen) so she can be around books. I am not crazy about the fact that she (and the other characters) are so proud of her because she is an accomplished thief. However sometimes it takes a thief when looking for clues to finding a firebird.


Caius is the former “dragon prince” of the Drakharin. He is weary of war and killing and he wants to find a peaceful way to stop the bloodshed for his people and for the Avicen. He lost the love of his life years ago, but Echo finds a way into his heart.


Dorian is Drakharin and Caius’ right hand loyal man. He has a real hatred for the Avicen because one cut out his eye before leaving him for dead on the battlefiend. Caius saved him the day he lost his eye and a fierce friendship started. He is a complicated man and is secretly in love with Caius.

There are other characters including Ivy (Echo’s best friend), The Ala (who adopted Echo after she ran from home), and Jasper (Echo’s friend and fellow thief).

Ivy is a minor character who shows incredible maturity and kindness. I am hoping for more of her as I read further.

The characters make up a band of rag-tag friends from both sides who work together to find the legendary firebird.


My thoughts:

I had a hard time getting into this book, but after a while I found myself enjoying the adventures when the plot picked up and started moving. I enjoyed the bits of humor splashed throughout the book, however, this book will probably only appeal to young adult audiences because of some snarky dialogue. There are TWO love triangles in this book. However, the characters try to ignore their feelings because ….well….there is a war… and a firebird to find ….


I will read the next book because I would like to find out what happens, but I am not exactly on the edge of my seat.